News
Gov’t will not go to FortisTCI for you; Premier responds to our question on Representation
#TurksandCaicos, July 25, 2022 – Residents must take concerns about their consumption to FortisTCI themselves according to Premier Washington Misick who says the government cannot step in to seek clarification.
“First of all, if people are unhappy or feel as if they have been billed wrongly the first step would be to approach Fortis about why their bill is so high or why consumption has gone up,” Misick said.
He maintained that Fortis had a system where they would come in and assist with an audit of power consumption for residents. He said questions alluded to ‘potential sleight of hand’ and the government would not insert themselves.
“The government wouldn’t get involved in any fight until there is hard evidence to prove—- the court system also exists for people to take their issues to. Yes we do have a department of that deals with consumer protection and yes if that matter is reported and there is justifiable reason to suspect that something untoward is happening we will look into it and engage on behalf of consumers generally.”
He maintained though that this type of investigation would be terrible for FortisTCI.
“That would be a really bad reflection on Fortis, which is a publicly listed company from a reputational point of view.
It could be extremely damaging if it could be proven that they are stealing from people.”
At the same time Misick unapologetically cast doubt on other companies and whether they were truly passing on the proceeds from the Food and Fuel Tax Break sanctioned in March. This was despite acknowledging earlier in the press conference the massive increase in shipping costs and costs of goods.
“We reduced the CPF on fuel from seven percent to five percent and we expected that it would have had an impact on the power bills. At the same time prices continued to rise. Fortis has indicated that it has had no impact or very little impact on the bill. We could have gone several ways with the stimulus we could have reduced taxes by that amount or more through customs duty or CPS and leave it to the force of economics and have it trickle down to the population but we’ve learned that it doesn’t work that way because the merchants whether they be Fortis or the supermarkets or any other entity never seem to pass the savings on.”
The Premier maintained that it was a misunderstanding to say the government had not done anything about the electricity bills as the stipend would help and there would possibly be several stimulus payments in a single household to offset costs.
Additionally Missick maintained that they were in negotiations with Fortis about several issues including renewable energy and investments which could ‘potentially impact the cost of power.’
“For those people who are saying we haven’t touched the fuel factor or the decisions that we made we left Fortis out of the loop that is not the case.”
In March the government confirmed they had not met with any business owners including Fortis TCI to consult on the implementation and logistics of the Food and Fuel Tax break. FortisTCI had also explained in March that because of the rising fuel costs the 2.5 percent decrease was unlikely to make a dent in electricity prices.
Residents still have questions about the raised consumption on their June bills which combined with the raised fuel bills sent some bills up hundreds of dollars.
In three days, the current FortisTCI electricity billing cycle ends.
Caribbean News
Liberty Caribbean Supports Regional Forum on AI, Cyber Resilience and Digital Inclusion
Port of Spain, TRINIDAD & TOBAGO (February 24, 2026) — Liberty Caribbean, the operators of Flow, Liberty Business and BTC, recently served as Gold-Level Partner of the two-day Trinidad and Tobago Internet Governance Forum (TTIGF), themed “The Innovation Paradox – Balancing Progress with Responsibility and Resilience”.
The Digital Divide is of particular interest to Liberty Caribbean and is being addressed through its Charitable Foundation across the region. Low broadband penetration in the Caribbean contributes to diminished opportunities for individuals, communities, and local economies, but with the support of funding partners, this gap can be addressed through a comprehensive programme – JUMP – that focuses on providing access, devices, and digital skills.
“Liberty Caribbean was proud to serve as Gold-Level Partner of the TTIGF because the conversations taking place here shape key digital
policies for multiple stakeholders,” said Simone Martin-Sulgan, Vice President and General Manager, Flow Trinidad.
“As technology accelerates at an unprecedented pace, we must ensure that innovation strengthens our societies rather than fragments them. The theme, ‘The Innovation Paradox – Balancing Progress with Responsibility and Resilience,’ speaks directly to the work we do every day: building networks that are not only fast and reliable, but secure, inclusive and future-ready.”
Across the Caribbean, the digital divide remains one of the most pressing barriers to equitable growth. Low broadband penetration limits access to education, entrepreneurship and essential services, and that is why we are deeply committed to closing this gap.
Through the Liberty Caribbean Charitable Foundation and initiatives like the JUMP Programme, the company is expanding access to technology, affordable connectivity and digital skills training so that individuals and communities are empowered to participate fully in the digital economy.
Martin-Sulgan further stated “at Liberty Caribbean, we believe progress and responsibility must move in lock step. By investing in resilient networks, inclusive programmes and trusted partnerships, we are helping to build a Caribbean that is innovative, secure and prepared for the opportunities ahead.”
Topics covered during the Forum, with over 140 participants, included “Securing Critical Infrastructure”, Integrating AI into Digital Transformation”, “The Digital Divide”, The Human Cost of Innovation – Mental Health and Well-being in the Digital Age’, and AI, Cyber Resilience and Regional Innovation”.
Focused on the underlying mandate of the Conference theme thought leaders, innovators, policymakers, technologists, researchers, and community stakeholders were invited to explore how countries can evolve boldly without compromising values or long-term stability.
Photo Caption:
TTIGF – l-r Darren Campo, Regulatory & Compliance Officer; Yolande Agard-Simmons, Senior Manager Communications; and Kevon Swift, Senior Manager Government and Regulatory Affairs of Flow Trinidad in attendance at the Post Event Mixer at Caribbean Telecommunications Union’s Head Office in St Clair, Port of Spain
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 20 February 2026 — The Informal Settlements Unit (ISU), in collaboration with key
government agencies, coordinated a multi-agency enforcement exercise on Thursday, February 5, 2026, at Block and Parcel 60609/33 in the Five Cays area.
The exercise was led by the Crown Land Unit, pursuant to its statutory mandate under the Crown Land Ordinance to prevent squatting and encroachment on Crown land. The ISU coordinated the operation, with support provided by the Planning Department and the Turks and Caicos Islands Border Force, while the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force ensured security throughout the activity.
The enforcement action followed a series of inspections conducted by the Crown Land Unit throughout Five Cays, which identified several illegally constructed buildings made of concrete and timber on sections of the subject parcel. In keeping with the provisions of the Crown Land Ordinance, occupied structures were served Letters of Illegal Occupation, delivered by hand to occupants and
posted on structures where individuals were absent. Incomplete and unoccupied structures were served Notices of Unauthorized Occupation pursuant to section 22 of the Ordinance. A total of ten (10) Letters of Illegal Occupation and three (3) Notices of Unauthorized Occupation were issued during the exercise.
The Informal Settlements Unit reiterates that these coordinated enforcement exercises form part of the Government’s ongoing efforts to uphold the law, protect Crown land, and manage informal settlements in a structured and lawful manner. Members of the public are reminded that unauthorised occupation and development on Crown land is unlawful and subject to enforcement action.
February is National Self- Check Month and family medicine physician at Cleveland Clinic, OH, John Hanicak, MD, highlights why at home self-checks are extremely important when it comes to not just early cancer detection but identifying other illnesses too and offers tips on what to look out for.
“Sometimes I look at them as sort of like your check engine light on the car, just like there would be a red flashing light that tells you that
there’s something wrong with a car and prompts you to bring that in and get serviced. Your body does the same thing. It gives you warning signs to look into that symptom a little bit further,” said Hanicak.
Dr. Hanicak said self-checks are going to be a little different for everyone.
However, in general, he recommends looking for anything that may seem abnormal, such as unexplained weight loss, blood in your urine, bumps and bruises that won’t heal, and changes in bowel habits.
For example, if you suddenly start going to the bathroom a lot more than you used to, that could be a sign of something more serious.
He also suggests doing regular skin checks and documenting any moles or spots that start to look different.
“Realize that you are your own person. There’s nobody else in the world exactly like you. You’ve got your own set of ideas, your own family history and your own genetics. Know what is normal for you, and when that changes, that’s the kind of thing that we would be interested in talking about,” said Dr. Hanicak.
Dr. Hanicak notes that self-checks are not meant to replace cancer screenings, as those are just as important to keep up with.
Press Release: Cleveland Clinic
