News
Ministerial Statement by Finance Minister E. Jay Saunders on Home Owner’s Policy
Delivered in the House of Assembly on March 17, 2022
#TurksandCaicos, March 24, 2022 – Mr. Speaker, on the 16th February 2022, Cabinet approved amendments to the First Time Home Owner’s Policy, aimed at assisting in promoting homeownership for Turks & Caicos Islands Status Holders and BOTCs, with commencement set for the 1st April 2022.
Mr. Speaker, our Government’s First Time Home Owner’s Policy allows first time property buyers, and persons renovating their homes after 10 years, to receive $50,000 in Stamp Duty and Import Duty concessions.
Now Mr. Speaker, this policy was first rolled out in 2019 by the then Government of the day, and unfortunately, but not surprisingly, it had a low uptake. Specifically, Mr. Speaker, during the period April 2019 to January 2022, the Ministry of Finance received approximately 100 applications, with 80 being approved for concessions totaling $570,000.
The breakdown of the concessions awarded are:
- 31 Stamp Duty Waivers for a total of $441,035, and
- 49 Import Duty Waivers for a total of $129,897.
Mr. Speaker, the previous Government had this policy in place for 34 months, and during that time less than 3 persons per month benefitted from it, with the average payout being approximately $17,000.
Mr. Speaker, our enhancements remove many, if not all, of the nuisances and obstacles that made the old policy
unattractive. In addition to increasing the concession amount from $20,000 to $50,000, our Government also:
- Allows concessions to be applied to both Stamp Duty and Import Duties rather than one or the other, and
- Removed the restrictions limiting concessions to land purchases of $150,000 or less, and land + building purchases of $500,000 or less.
Mr. Speaker, imagine that. The old policy actually had restrictions that limited the concessions to land purchases of $150,000 or less, and land + building purchases of $500,000 or less. Mr. Speaker, as the previous Government crafted and/or signed off on this policy, this is tantamount to them intentionally punishing Turks & Caicos Islanders for wanting to own nice property. Mr. Speaker, the old policy basically said to Turks & Caicos Islanders (particularly Turks & Caicos Islanders) that if they could afford to buy land worth more than $150,000 or land + a building worth more than $500,000, that the Government didn’t think that they deserved the concession.
Mr. Speaker, our Government want Turks & Caicos Islanders to Live Best Lives, and that’s why we took a Red Pen to First Time Home Owner’s Policy. When we got to the restrictions that punished our people for wanting to own nice property, we told the Technocrats to “take it out!!!”. As a matter of fact, Mr. Speaker, I didn’t even wait for them to do it, I took it out myself.
Mr. Speaker, our desire to empower Turks & Caicos Islanders through property ownership didn’t stop at the First Time Home Owner’s Policy. We went further Mr. Speaker. Our Government also increased the Zero-Rated transactions under the Stamp Duty Ordinance from $25,000.00 to $100,000.00 for Turks & Caicos Islanders. Going forward, Turks & Caicos Islanders who purchase property worth $100,000.00 or less will pay zero (0) Stamp Duty. And those who purchase property for greater than that amount on: the islands of Grand Turk, Salt Cay, South Caicos, North Caicos and Middle Caicos, will pay a Stamp duty rate of just 4 per cent, and Providenciales and elsewhere in the Turks and Caicos Islands, just 6 per cent.
Mr. Speaker, with these policies, our Government just made private land as affordable for Turks & Caicos Islanders as Crown land. Mr. Speaker, we said that we will have people living their best lives, and that’s exactly what we’re doing.
The Bahamas, August 27, 2026 – The Royal Bahamas Police Force wishes to inform members of the public that several individuals are scheduled to appear before the Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, 27th August 2026, at 12:00 noon.
The individuals and charges are as follows:
An 18-year-old female is scheduled to be arraigned on the following charges:
Three (3) counts of Murder
Three (3) counts of Attempted Murder
Three (3) counts of Possession of a Firearm with Intent to Endanger Life
Three (3) counts of Possession of an Unlicensed Firearm
Two (2) counts of Possession of Ammunition
Armed Robbery
Abetment to Armed Robbery
Stealing
Receiving
The charges stem from three separate shooting incidents and an armed robbery that occurred on Friday, 21st August 2026, and Saturday, 22nd August 2026.
The first shooting occurred in the area of Soldier Road and Baillou Hill Road, resulting in the death of a 51-year-old male.
The second shooting occurred in the area of Joe Farrington Road, resulting in the death of a 52-year-old male.
The third shooting occurred in the area of Gladstone Road, resulting in the death of a 36-year-old male.
The armed robbery occurred at a business establishment in the area of Carmichael Road and Baillou Hill Road.
A 21-year-old male is scheduled to be arraigned on one charge of:
- Murder
The charge stems from a shooting incident that occurred on Tuesday, 21st July 2026, in the area of Samson Street, Nassau Village, which resulted in the death of a 28-year-old male.
A 32-year-old male is scheduled to be arraigned on the following charges:
- Murder
- Attempted Murder
These charges stem from a shooting incident that occurred on Wednesday, 24th December 2025, in the area of Graham Drive, Yellow Elder, which resulted in the death of a 25-year-old male.
RBPF, PACD
by Deandrea Hamilton | Editor
PROVIDENCIALES, TCI — In a country where government press conferences are virtually non-existent, ministers are often difficult for
journalists to access and regular broadcast television news has disappeared, TCI Innovation, Technology and Energy Minister E. Jay Saunders has challenged Caribbean media to become “impossible to ignore.”
Speaking at the Caribbean Broadcasting Union gathering, Saunders argued that the Caribbean does not have a relevance problem but a “discoverability and positioning problem.”
Discoverability is precisely the issue in Saunders’ home country. Even Government’s own attempts at video news broadcasting have struggled against the realities of consistently producing a daily, weekly or even monthly newscast.
The difficulties confronting TCI media extend well beyond algorithms: limited advertising revenue, underfunding, shortages of trained professionals and insufficient human capacity leave newsrooms struggling for both staff and stamina.
Then there is the reality of operating in one of the region’s smallest societies. Politicians, journalists, advertisers, businesses and the subjects of stories often exist within the same tight economic and social circles. A controversial report that might create a ripple elsewhere can produce a tsunami in TCI, intensifying concerns among journalists about commercial and professional victimisation.
Saunders believes AI can help.
He urged Caribbean media to use the technology to transform one original story into television, radio, web, podcast, social and translated content without multiplying newsroom workload.
He also wants regional journalism structured so AI systems can find, understand and trust Caribbean sources, moving media beyond traditional SEO into Answer Engine Optimisation.
His ultimate message was emphatic: “Use AI not to make Caribbean media more artificial — but to make Caribbean voices more visible.”
For Turks and Caicos media, however, becoming visible may require more than technology. It requires an environment in which journalism can survive.
That last sentence is where I think we land the plane. It acknowledges that EJ actually has some us
Bahamas News
Bahama Brass Band Invitation Sparks Heritage Debate Ahead of TCI Constitutional Holiday
Turks and Caicos, August 20, 2026 – The planned participation of the Bahama Brass Band in the Turks and Caicos Islands’ inaugural Constitutional Holiday celebrations on August 30 has sparked public debate over culture, heritage and the historical contributions of Turks and Caicos Islanders abroad.
Organizers defended the invitation, saying the band’s inclusion is intended to highlight the deep historical ties between the two countries
and honor Turks and Caicos men who helped establish and develop the institution in Grand Bahama.
According to the organizers, the Bahama Brass Band began in 1955 in Pine Ridge, Freeport, with Turks and Caicos Islanders, including the late Deacon Reuben Hall Sr. of Middle Caicos and Jenkins Williams and Mervin Hendfield of North Caicos, among those who helped build its foundation. The band eventually grew to more than 50 men.
The organizers also pointed to the participation of Turks and Caicos men in The Bahamas’ Independence celebrations on July 10, 1973, arguing that their contributions became part of Bahamian history while maintaining strong connections to their homeland.
Supporters say bringing the band home represents an opportunity to honor those pioneers, showcase their regional influence and expose younger generations to an important part of Turks and Caicos history.
However, concerns raised publicly described the invitation as potentially disrespectful to local culture and heritage. Organizers acknowledged those concerns, apologizing to anyone who felt overlooked or offended, while maintaining that no disrespect was intended.
The committee said the event should ultimately unite rather than divide, presenting the band’s history as evidence of the reach and resilience of Turks and Caicos heritage.
PHOTO CREDIT: Bahamas Brass Band
