News
“Every Child Deserves a Chance: Parents Demand Support for Special Needs Students!”
Turks and Caicos, August 22, 2024 – As the Leader of the Peoples’ Democratic Movement, I want to address a pressing issue that impacts our most vulnerable citizens—our special needs children, particularly those facing the critical transition to high school. Recently, Hon. George Lightbourn, Apostle Ruth Ariza, and I had the opportunity to meet with dedicated parents who courageously shared their experiences and concerns regarding the inadequacies in our education system for their gifted and special needs children.
As these children approach the crucial transition to high school, it has become painfully clear that our educational system is not adequately equipped to support them and their families. This is a matter that transcends politics; it is about our moral responsibility to ensure that every child has the opportunity to thrive.
The government knows that our high schools are not equipped to provide the necessary support, care, and accommodations for our special needs students, particularly during this pivotal transition period. Therefore, certain actions need to be taken NOW, as parents have strongly expressed their fears about the lack of tailored resources and trained staff, which are essential for fostering an inclusive and nurturing environment for their transitioning children.
I urge the government to take immediate action on these concerns. We must ensure that our high schools are prepared to meet the diverse needs of all students, particularly as they transition from elementary education. This includes implementing comprehensive training programs for educators, increasing accessibility to specialized services, and prioritizing individualized learning plans.
For those expected to transition in the next two to three weeks, I call upon the current government to take immediate action to address this situation. We, the PDM, propose a comprehensive plan, which we will urgently share with the current government. This plan includes:
- Establishing special scholarships for our current transitioning special needs children to attend specialized schools in the United States, ensuring they receive the education and support they deserve.
- Creating partnerships with U.S. institutions to facilitate access to specialized programs, potentially through remote learning options that can benefit our students right here at home.
- Allocating resources for assistive technologies and teacher training, enabling our local schools to accommodate special needs students effectively.
Establishing special scholarships can be put on the agenda for the next Cabinet Meeting, with funds identified and allocated. A Supplementary Expenditure Bill should be immediately brought to the House of Assembly. I will fully support this Supplementary Bill going through all three readings in that sitting so that the Premier and his government can expeditiously offer the emergency help our special needs students and their parents require.
As your future government, I commit to championing these reforms. We will continue to work collaboratively with parents, educators, and specialists to create a robust support system that empowers every child to succeed, regardless of their abilities. We will ensure that no child is left behind due to a lack of resources or support.
I urge the current Premier and his government to act now, and I promise that under my leadership, we will turn these commitments into reality.
Together, we can build a more inclusive education system that honors the potential of all our children. The time for action is now.
Hon. Edwin A. Astwood
Leader of the Peoples Democratic Movement
TCIG knew from April that fuel factor could surge almost 80%; Minister says $500 cost-of-living payment was part of Government’s response
PROVIDENCIALES — The Turks and Caicos Government knew months before July’s shocking electricity bills that consumers faced a potentially massive increase in the fuel factor.
Minister of Information Technology and Energy E. Jay Saunders revealed Friday that Pelican Energy warned his Ministry in April that generation fuel costs were projected to rise from $3.09 per gallon in May to $4.79 in June and July.
That translated into a projected fuel factor jump from about 17.5 cents to 31 cents per kilowatt-hour — an increase of almost 80%.
Saunders said he personally advised Cabinet of the projected increase and presented options for cushioning the impact.
He characterised Government’s $500 cost-of-living payment as its “initial response” to rising fuel costs, before a separate fuel-factor subsidy was approved.
Cabinet records show Government agreed on June 24 to provide funding to mitigate the fuel-factor impact, with the relief programme approved July 8.
Eligible residential customers — those averaging less than $1,500 monthly over the previous three bills — are capped at 22 cents per kWh from July through October.
Pelican confirmed Friday that Government’s contribution was already applied to July bills, meaning the bills now triggering widespread public outrage would have been even higher without the subsidy.
Saunders did not disclose the programme’s total cost.
His admission that Government knew since April, however, raises another question amid the backlash: why were consumers not directly warned by Government about the scale of the approaching increase?
NASSAU, Bahamas — More Bahamians are accessing HIV and sexually transmitted infection-related healthcare through National Health Insurance, a trend the NHI Authority says should be viewed positively.
NHIA stressed in an August 6 statement that its 2025 figures measure healthcare utilisation, not newly diagnosed infections. They include beneficiaries screened, treated, monitored or receiving follow-up care, including people diagnosed previously.
“Increased utilisation of these services should be viewed as a positive development,” NHIA said.
The Authority pointed to “greater enrolment and use of NHI, improved access to screening and testing, continued treatment and monitoring of existing conditions, and increased willingness to seek medical care.”
The development comes amid a mixed three-year HIV picture. New diagnoses rose from 130 in 2023 to 156 in 2024, before declining to 142 in 2025.
NHIA said increased utilisation demonstrates that more beneficiaries are accessing needed healthcare and actively managing their health, reinforcing the importance of screening, early diagnosis and continued treatment.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Americas has recorded 47,459 confirmed measles cases and 44 deaths in 2026, the region’s highest case count in 22 years, prompting the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) to urge stronger vaccination, surveillance and rapid outbreak response.
As of July 18, cases were already more than triple the 15,011 recorded during all of 2025. Guatemala, Mexico, the United States and Peru
account for 95% of confirmed cases. Guatemala leads with 30,371 cases and 26 deaths, followed by Mexico with 12,255 cases and 17 deaths.
PAHO classifies the regional public health risk as very high, citing active outbreaks, immunity gaps, international travel and populations with inadequate vaccination coverage.
The organization says prevention starts with vaccination. Countries are being urged to achieve and maintain at least 95% coverage with two doses of measles-containing vaccine, particularly protecting children and under-vaccinated communities.
Measles spreads through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes. Symptoms can include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and a rash.
PAHO is urging health authorities to detect suspected cases early and respond rapidly to stop transmission. Unvaccinated and under-vaccinated people, young children and communities with limited healthcare access face increased risk of severe illness and death.
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