TCI News
TCI: Premier addresses nation on her government’s 3rd anniversary in office
#Providenciales, 19 December, 2019 – Turks and Caicos – My fellow Turks and Caicos Islanders, Residents and Visitors, three years ago today, December 16th, the people of this country elected my Party overwhelmingly. The past few years has been met with great challenges never before imagined but equally marked by accomplishments never before seen.
Three years later, we must give God thanks despite the winds of encouragement to complain, we are a blessed nation and many more blessings are on the horizon.
On being elected to Office in December 2016, we were able to finalise financial priorities within three months and passed the country’s Budget by March 31st. Our focus in a supplementary in two months benefitted the vulnerable, prison management and other critical needs. We were able to purchase three buildings for purposed retrofitted Government Offices for the Police, Immigration, Customs and Road Safety. We were on our way to tackle all the big issues left unaddressed by the past 14 years.
Hit by two hurricanes nine months later, my Government was put to the test like no other before. Though devastating and disruptive, with the help of God, and valuable partners locally, regionally and internationally, my Government rose to the challenge and made critical policy and executive decisions that saw an early recovery that earned us respect at home and abroad.
I have personally been invited regionally and internationally to speak of our accomplishments as a people including conferences in London, St Maarten, New York on two separate occasions and here in our region on multiple occasions. We remain grateful to God and while our agenda became more recovery focused, my Government has been able to deliver on and advance most of our key Manifesto promises contained in The Change Document. We intend to fulfill our contract with the people and will give our annual account of our work on January 7, 2020.
We remain proud of the major changes made and the critical work ongoing in national security, border protection and immigration. We are proud of our achievements and critical work ongoing in repairing and rebuilding the crumbling infrastructure we inherited (and worsened after the Storm); in advancing constitutional work and crown land changes; for ground breaking changes in health, special needs, education including our Trade School, culture, the delivery of social services, tourism, maritime, disaster management, environment, housing, delivery of public utilities services, safe reliable public service transportation, agriculture, youth and sporting programs, critical studies relating to our economy, economic stimulants, airport and port redevelopment, reviews of social safety net programs, progressive changes for the civil service and police, critical policies and laws that will empower our people in our economy including 100% service charge for hospitality workers, improvements, trade, business support, international obligations in the financial services sector and many other critical areas.
On January 7, 2020, we will set out, as you have become accustomed, our record of work across Government. Hold us into account. Much has been done but there is much more to do. Through stable, visionary leadership and with government and people uniting around our Vision 2040 National Plan, I am confident that we can achieve a united Turks and Caicos Islands. Working together, we can become a global leader in levels of prosperity and human development and our people can be positioned to be fully responsible for our collective future as a nation; we can have a more resilient country that balances economic, social and environmental development for the greater benefit of all our people and our posterity. This is in our reach: together we can; together we must.
We remain grateful for your trust and continued support, but more importantly, your prayers. My Government has been tested and scrutinized like no other and we know our record will stand the test of times. We are a working Government and while you see visible evidence of the changes on the way, there is much more underway.
May God continue to bless us and may He continue to bless these Beautiful by Nature Turks and Caicos Islands.
Release: TCIG
Turks and Caicos, October 28, 2025 – We are closely monitoring the impact of Hurricane Melissa on Jamaica, and our thoughts and prayers are with our regional neighbours for their safety and well-being
We are now entering a critical period as Hurricane Melissa advances towards the Turks and Caicos Islands. Current projections indicate that Hurricane Melissa will begin to impact the Turks and Caicos Islands around midday tomorrow, Wednesday, 29th October.
This morning, Her Excellency the Governor and the Hon. Premier chaired a State of Preparedness Meeting. All Government agencies and critical services are mobilised. The safety and protection of every person across our Islands remains our highest priority. Our emergency response teams are prepared and the TCI Regiment is deployed across each of our Islands to support community readiness and immediate response. The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force are on active duty, with additional officers in North Caicos, Salt Cay, South Caicos and Grand Turk.
At this time, the hurricane is moving north-northeast. The country is expected to experience tropical storm conditions, heavy rainfall and
significant storm surge. The storm surge poses a serious concern for low-lying coastal areas especially along our western and southern coastlines, which may result in coastal flooding. Based on the most current weather projections and anticipated impacts for the Turks and Caicos Islands, the National Executive have agreed the following actions:
1. Evacuation Advisories
Residents in specific low-lying and flood-prone coastal areas are likely to experience significant storm surge of 2-4 feet with accompanying rainfall. Strong advice is now place for residents in these areas to relocate to designated shelters which will be open from 4pm this afternoon. These areas include:
Middle Caicos
- Conch Bar Nearest Shelter: The Community Centre
North Caicos
- Sandy Point Nearest Shelter : Sandy Point Community Centre
- Whitby Nearest Shelter: Adelaide Oemler Primary School
- Bottle Creek Nearest Shelter: Adelaide Oemler Primary School
Providenciales
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- Chalk Sound Nearest Shelter Enid Capron Primary School
- Five Cays Nearest Shelter: Enid Capron Primary School
- Discovery Bay Nearest Shelter: All Saints Church, Leeward Highway
- Juba Sound Nearest Shelter: A. Louise Garland High School
- Long Bay Nearest Shelter: A. Louise Garland High School
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South Caicos
- Cockburn Harbour Nearest Shelter: Community Centre
- Old Airport Road Nearest Shelter: Community Centre
Should an evacuation order become necessary, it will be issued following the 6:00 PM Advisory this evening from the TCI National Weather Service.
2. Activation of Emergency Operations Centre
The National Emergency Operations Centre in Providenciales and all Islands Emergency Operations Centres will be activated at 4:00 PM today.
3. Shelters Access
Shelters across all Islands will open today at 4:00 PM to receive members of the public.
4. Shelter-in-Place
A Strong Shelter-in-Place Advisory is in place for all islands, commencing at 10:00 PM tonight. This will be in place until the all clear has been issued.
This means that from 10:00 PM tonight, all residents should be off the road, in a safe location, either at home or a designated shelter.
Please note that this position may be revised following the 6:00 PM Advisory from the TCI National Weather Service, depending on updated storm projections.
The Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority (TCIAA) has confirmed that all airports remain fully operational for today. They will advise the public about ongoing operations dependent on the weather impacts.
In times such as this, the role of commercial entities extends beyond business – it becomes a vital part of the community’s resilience. All retailers and service providers are urged to uphold their humanitarian responsibilities by maintaining fair pricing and ensuring essential goods and services remain accessible to all.
Residents and visitors are reminded to adhere strictly to all official advisories and evacuation orders as they are issued. Avoid unnecessary movement, secure your property, and ensure that you and your family are prepared with essential supplies. Stay prepared and stay safe.
Turks and Caicos, October 24, 2025 – Commissioner of Police Fitz Bailey delivered an impassioned address to male students at Clement Howell High School, calling on them to recognize their power, seize their potential, and “awaken the sleeping giants” within.
In a message that blended humility, faith, and personal experience, the Commissioner reminded the boys that the decisions they make today will shape their future.“The choices you make today determine who you become tomorrow,” he said.
Bailey, who revealed he was the first in his family to attend high school, urged the students to embrace education and discipline as tools of
transformation.“Knowledge is power. If you want to be a real man, you need to read,” he told them. “Remember your potential — if others can do it, so can you. Some of you are sleeping giants waiting to be awakened.”
He emphasized that circumstances of birth do not dictate destiny, challenging the young men to carry self-respect, faith, and moral conviction wherever they go. “Self-respect is key; respect yourself, respect others, and respect God,” he said. “The circumstances you were born into do not define who you are.”
The Commissioner also spoke about resilience, advising that true strength often lies in restraint.
“There will be challenges, and people may try to impede your development — but rise above negativity. Sometimes, strength means walking away,” he said. “Some of you are sleeping lions; it’s time to awaken that instinct and rediscover your true potential.”
In closing, Commissioner Bailey delivered a stirring challenge:
“Each morning, look in the mirror and remind yourself that you were created by God and are capable of great exploits. You are a possibility with potential. Step forward with confidence — this is your country, your islands. Be the best version of yourself.”
Following his speech, the Commissioner engaged the students in open dialogue, answering questions and listening to their perspectives on issues affecting young men in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Developed by Deandrea Hamilton • with ChatGPT (AI) • edited by Magnetic Media.
