TC Weekly News, June 21-27, 2025

TOURISM

TCIG unveils ambitious affordable housing plan

BY OLIVIA ROSE

In a bold move to tackle longstanding housing affordability issues, the Turks and Caicos Islands government has announced a comprehensive plan to deliver housing priced between $197,000 and $239,000 for Turks and Caicos Islanders.

The initiative, unveiled at the 2nd Annual Turks and Caicos Islands Business Outlook Conference, aims to revolutionise homeownership access through innovative financing and development strategies.

Addressing the conference at The Palms Resort, Minister of Physical Planning and Infrastructure Development, Hon Arlington Musgrove, emphasised the urgency of addressing the housing crisis.

“For far too long, the lack of affordable quality housing has constrained our social fabric and economic vitality,” Musgrove stated, adding, “It impairs workforce stability, limits

opportunity for upward mobility, and impedes our ability to attract investments and talent.”

At the heart of the government’s strategy is the involvement of the Mortgage Corporation, which will serve as a facilitator for affordable financing.

“At present, the Mortgage Corporation will serve as a facilitator. That’s where the banks come in, working to streamline processes, provide tactical support and help lay the groundwork for expanding homeownership opportunities.”

He continued: “The longterm vision for the corporation includes becoming a key player in delivering affordable financing, developing innovative mortgage products and building capacity within the housing sector.”

To make homeownership more accessible, the government plans to offer low-interest loans and grants. “Financial accessibility, developing innovative financial models, such as low-interest loans, grants, subsidies tailored

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to different income groups,” the Minister underscored.

“We will actively engage with our banking partners... to develop a product that offers low mortgage rate for persons with low to moderate income.”

A key component of the initiative involves the development of 10-acre parcels specifically for affordable housing projects. “We are identifying and preparing parcels of land specifically for affordable housing projects with emphasis on implementing environmentally sensitive development and climate resilience,” he revealed. “We intend to deal with 6-10 acre parcels.”

Dispelling previous reports, Musgrove clarified the target pricing for the new housing units.

“My goal is to bring houses to my people from $197,000 to $239,000,” Musgrove asserted, stating that the prices would range from “around $197,000 for the two-bedroom one bath, and it goes up to three-bedroom, two baths at $239,000 or so.”

The government is also looking to modernize construction methods to achieve these affordability goals. “It’s far too long we here in the Turks and Caicos Islands just rely on brick and mortar, that’s the old way. I mean, times have changed. We have more innovative ideas now, we could bring in homes at a very affordable rate and to withstand storms,” Musgrove stressed, referring to the need for climate-resilient housing in the

hurricane-prone region.

The plan has generated considerable interest and discussion. Following his presentation, a realtor and tourism executive asked, “When are these affordable housing schemes that you mentioned at $197,000 to $239,000, when are they coming?” Musgrove responded, “We have a RFP (Request For Proposal) sitting at the procurement department just waiting to go out, and once that goes out, we’re going to issue parcels of land.”

With these ambitious plans, the Turks and Caicos Islands government aims to transform the housing landscape, ensuring more citizens have access to safe, affordable, and resilient homes.

‘Love on Me: Girls Empowerment Seminar’ is back this summer – spaces limited, register early

Girls between the ages of 10 to 18 are welcomed back this year to the Department of Gender Affairs ‘Love on Me: Girls Empowerment Seminar’, now in its second year.

This year, the two-day seminar series has expanded from three sessions to four, all centred around the theme of ‘Purpose’. The sessions will be held from July 4 to 18, a press statement from the department said.

In South Caicos, the event will be held on July 4, Grand Turk from July 7-8, North and Middle Caicos July 14-15, and Providenciales on July 17 and 18.

Parents and students are encouraged to register for the session by scanning the QR code on the flyer on the department’s

Facebook page or contacting their school’s guidance counsellors.

The sessions are designed to assist girls in understanding their unique purpose in life and recognising that everyone has their own distinct path to follow, without being caught up in the purposes of others, the department said.

Carolyn Dickenson, Director of Gender Affairs, expressed her enthusiasm for bringing the programme back for a second year, noting the lasting impact it had on the participants from the previous year and their eagerness to participate again this year.

The seminar’s interactive activities, group discussions, and inspirational guest speakers are

designed to create an engaging and supportive environment for personal growth and selfdiscovery.

“You’ll have the opportunity to connect with like-minded peers, fostering a sense of camaraderie and support. We want you to feel comfortable and reassured as you embark on this journey of empowerment,” Dickenson said.

“By equipping young girls with the tools and mind-set to embrace their unique identities and pursue their dreams with confidence, the Department of Gender Affairs is investing in the future leaders and change makers of our community,” the release stated.

Registration for the seminar is now open, but spaces are limited.

Minister of Physical Planning and Infrastructure Development, Hon Arlington Musgrove, addressing the conference at The Palms Resort

Govt to “future proof” economy through diversification – Deputy Premier

BY OLIVIA ROSE

Faced with the inherent fragility of a single-sector economy and the imperative for sustainable growth, the Turks and Caicos Islands government (TCIG) is championing an ambitious shift towards robust economic diversification.

The very foundation of the Turks and Caicos Islands’ prosperity has long been anchored by its vibrant tourism industry, however a strategic pivot, rooted in empowering local entrepreneurs, embracing innovation, and meticulously building resilience across all sectors is underway to not only “future-proof” the islands against global shocks, but to foster a more equitable and enduring prosperity for all who call these shores home.

This is according to Deputy Premier and Minister of Immigration and Border Services, Jamell Robinson, who recently divulged ambitious plans, signalling a profound shift in focus at the 2nd Annual Business Outlook Conference.

“Prioritising inclusive, sustainable growth captures the essence of what our economy must become and underscores our unwavering commitment to this vision,” he said.

“We aim for an economy that grows not just in numbers, but in depth, reach and resilience, one that lifts people, specifically TCIslanders, protects nature and creates space for everyone to participate and thrive.”

Robinson, serving as acting Premier at the event, laid out a multi-pronged strategy to achieve this ambitious goal, emphasising diversification, smart investment, and robust private sector collaboration.

The scale of the tourism sector’s

dominance was underscored by the Deputy Premier.

This “fragility” is not theoretical, as it is already manifesting as tangible strain on the islands’ infrastructure.

The Minister revealed that a critical “carrying capacity study” exposed significant pressures.

With two million arrivals by air and sea in 2024, a historic record coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, the islands are experiencing unprecedented numbers of visitors.

In this vein, a concerned citizen raised a poignant question from the floor, highlighting a disturbing observation of reef degradation.

Robinson responded directly to this critical concern, confirming

the grim findings of the carrying capacity study.

“From the social standpoint right now, we’re actually at an inflection point where the economic growth, meaning dollars and cents are projected to continue to grow over time, but social and environment is on a downward trend,” he revealed, painting a sobering picture.

“So we have to make some serious decisions very early in this new term to be able to have both of those trending in the right direction, which is upward.”

He stressed that these forthcoming “tough decisions” would not be done in an ad hoc manner. “It’s being done with data-driven analysis and recommendations.”

equipment to human resources, emphasising that “without a secure country, don’t care how much you do, people will not be willing to invest and stay here.”

A pivotal aspect of this new direction is the commitment to local empowerment. Robinson proudly announced unprecedented support for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), with over 90% of allocated funding committed to date, benefiting 89 projects.

“Persons within those categories can get up to $30,000 in grants... They can also get, after six months of operation, an additional $10,000 in direct grants, as well as up to $15,000 in technical assistance,” he explained, totalling “at least $50,000 no-strings-attached support from the government of the Turks and Caicos Islands, which is unprecedented.” Furthermore, a recent amendment to the Real Estate ordinance will, by the end of the calendar year, mandate that “only Turks and Caicos Islanders will be able to sell real estate within these Turks and Caicos Islands.

To mitigate these pressures and future-proof the economy, diversification is paramount.

Robinson outlined key areas of investments: “agriculture and fisheries to strengthen food security and create value-added exports; renewable energy to reduce costs, ensure energy independence and meet our climate goals; financial services to position our jurisdiction as competitive, compliant and innovative; and the orange and digital economies, where creativity, culture and technology drive 21st century jobs, and, of course, infrastructure, the bedrock that drives any successful economy.”

He also highlighted crucial investments in security, from

Additionally, the government’s commitment to modern infrastructure is backed by significant financial allocation, with $86.7m earmarked for economic affairs in the coming fiscal year, covering infrastructure, land development, tourism enhancement, agricultural support, environmental protection, and disaster resilience.

Another major focus is on energy, with a target to generate “40% of electricity from renewable sources, with solar as a central driver.”

Robinson noted that while the long-term goal is renewable energy, the immediate priority is to “drive prices down today so persons can experience relief from the bill.”

The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force is appealing to any member of public who may have any information on any crimes. They can contact Chalk Sound Police Station on 338-5901 or make use of the confidential reporting system through Crimestoppers on 1-800-8477.

Deputy Premier and Minister of Immigration and Border Services, Hon Jamell Robinson

PDM LEADERSHIP

Leader of the People’s Democratic Movement, Hon Edwin Astwood says that “all offices in the party will be up” when the party’s national convention convenes in a few weeks. He said this includes his office.

Astwood told Weekly News that he is “willing to step aside” to give a better man (or woman) a chance to lead the territory’s oldest party.

“I think the party, going into the next election, they would need new leaders to come forward. The old team couldn’t get you there, so we need new persons to come forward,” Astwood stated. He insisted that he is there to serve in any capacity, “whether I am returned as leader or not.” He said if he could not win the battle (election) for the PDM, he has no issues giving another person the opportunity to try.

“I will surely move aside and let another lead us into battle and support that person as much as I can so that we—my team and my party—are successful,” the party leader stated.

Rebuild it

The entire PDM needs to rebuild; no doubt, and Eddy accepts that.

Passion and drive

The Hon Leader of the Opposition for the PDM is a great man. The reason is that he is not hungry nor desperate for power. He is the kind of person you want running your country because “greed nor avarice” drives him. A man of conviction, he flattened the government out during the so-called salary rebalancing exercise when ministers and permanent secretaries got huge increases and those at the bottom of the salary scale got “virtually nothing.”

The promise that he presented in the 2025 elections was that “I will fight for you, not for myself.” It is this kind of leader that this country needs. It is a message to the next leader of the PDM and anyone from “either side of the political divide craving the office of Premier.” Speaking with Edwin Astwood one-on-one, you get the impression that he is a kind, gentle figure without the guile and the greed that is normally found among today’s political leaders. They make ‘demigods’ of themselves and ask the people to worship them. This country lost a lot when it did not elect him as the Premier.

Chess vs checkers

The PDM continues to play chequers while the PNP are playing chess. PDM needs a new dynamic leader, who can up his or her game and take the fight to the PNP. They need to do so by adhering to all of the TCI. That period needs to understand that building a future is building a future for all, not for some. Although the majority of expats who live on the islands cannot vote, they are influential.

A trustworthy person

When it comes to the fact that the Hon Edwin Astwood is not in politics for himself, a voter could trust a man like that. The TCI needs more men like this. Educated, experienced, and selfless. Battle-ready, Edwin Astwood is leading by example, stepping down when the time is right and letting the battleship PDM sail on.

Time to rebuild from within

The PDM’s upcoming national convention could mark a turning point—not just in

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personnel, but in purpose. Hon Edwin Astwood’s decision to open all leadership positions, including his own, suggests a deep recognition that change must come from within. It’s a moment that invites not only new leaders, but a new direction.

Astwood’s readiness to “support that person as much as I can” is an important indicator of party unity. Too often, internal transitions become battlegrounds. But if this shift is embraced with openness and collaboration, it could revitalise the party’s public image and electoral prospects.

More importantly, this approach could reinspire citizens who’ve grown cynical about political stagnation. If the PDM brings forward bold, capable voices who reflect the realities and aspirations of modern Turks and Caicos, the party might not just rebuild—it might reimagine what leadership looks like for the next generation.

A statesman

There are precedents that when one loses an election, the captain of the ship would step aside. This is leadership—the acceptance of blame and responsibility—for that is how a real leader must function. He states, “I think the party, going into the next election, they would need new leaders to come forward. The old team couldn’t get you there, so we need new people to come forward.”

It is hoped that he stays on the team, no matter who leads the PDM into the next election, because Edwin Astwood brings a lot to the table. Twelve-plus years as a Member of Parliament, a great Minister of Health, and a public health expert at the postgraduate, master’s degree level. He is also a young man, to say the least. From his level of training and experience, he can develop and form health policy for these islands well into the future. You do not get rid of your greats in public life as they are an

asset to the nation.

Cross-over

Now is the time for people to jump ship. The backbenchers of the PNP, who were either blackballed or have had little push, need to show that they can cross party lines for the good of the people. There are quite a few bright prospects in the PNP if there are no options in the PDM.

An achiever

As the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon Astwood fought many serious and defining battles on the floor of Parliament. He fought all efforts to pass the Beach Vendors’ Law, which the government suffered a humiliating defeat over in the Supreme Court later on.

The Hon Astwood championed the plight of the civil servants who were paid next to nothing when the government went through the salary rebalancing exercise for the public sector. Ministers and civil servants at the top were paid huge amounts while the persons at the lower end were literally paid “peanuts.”

As Minister of Health, the Hon Astwood

PDM Leader Hon Edwin Astwood

TCI to undergo radical digital transformation

– Technology Minister aims for highperformance government

BY OLIVIA ROSE

The Turks and Caicos Islands is on the cusp of a technological revolution that will reshape governance, financial transactions, and citizen services.

The 2nd Annual Turks and Caicos Islands Business Outlook Conference, held at the Palms Resort on Providenciales, was recently the stage for a bold declaration from Hon Edwin Saunders, Minister of Innovation, Technology, and Energy.

In his speech, Saunders outlined an ambitious plan to catapult the Turks and Caicos Islands into

a digital future, leveraging AI, cloud computing, and blockchain to transform the government and economy.

With a fervour fuelled by his own background in technology, Minister Saunders emphasised the sheer economic power of the tech industry. “Today, technology is at the heart of global wealth and economic prosperity,” he stressed, citing the top four richest individuals in the world as “actual technologists, people who have their wealth and technology”.

He continued, “Elon Musk today, as of this morning, is worth $407bn. Larry Ellison is at number

developed and piloted a successful COVID plan for the TCI, which enabled the TCI to emerge from COVID restrictions well before the rest of the region. This is the kind of man a country needs in its public life. He should stay on the national stage, even run at large, because he is a “proven commodity.”

A man of the people

During his tenure as Minister of Health, it was the Hon Edwin Astwood, 2016–21, who initiated the investigation and audit of the InterHealth Canada contract. The ongoing audit is pivotal to what the country pays and the answer to the question, “Are we getting value for money?”

He participated in constitutional talks and achieved a lot for the people and the advancement of the idea of self-determination in the right time and circumstances. The Hon Astwood is a stellar parliamentarian and “youth is on his side.” He must stay the course, even though he is doing the principled thing by stepping aside for a new leader of his party.

A leadership shift rooted in integrity

Hon Edwin Astwood’s willingness to step aside speaks volumes—not just about political humility, but about leadership maturity. At a time when many leaders cling to power even after electoral defeats, Astwood’s openness to fresh faces in

by 2027

two at $242bn. Mark Zuckerberg is at $239bn. Jeff Bezos, from Amazon, is at $228bn. In addition, and impressively, all five of the world’s largest companies by market capitalization are technology-driven enterprises.”

Saunders went on to illustrate the potential for the Turks and Caicos Islands by highlighting global examples of successful digital transformations.

“Governments globally are leveraging digital technologies and are achieving far more transformative results,” he explained. “And for example, Estonia, and we did some work

the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) is commendable. He’s placing the party’s future above personal ambition, and that sends a strong message about servant leadership.

His statement—“the old team couldn’t get you there”—is both candid and brave. It acknowledges shortfalls without casting blame, and it invites accountability. Politics doesn’t often reward that kind of reflection, but it’s the very quality voters are increasingly demanding: authenticity.

Whether Astwood is re-elected as leader or not, his stance ensures that the PDM’s convention will be more than procedural—it will be a moment of opportunity. The real question now is who will rise with fresh ideas and the political backbone to carry the torch. If handled wisely, this could signal a powerful evolution for one of the territory’s longest-standing political entities.

Good man, outdated ideology

Edwin Astwood is a good man. He fights for his people, and I honestly think this is where it goes wrong all the time. He fights for one set of people, mostly the TCIslanders, and although being patriotic is perfectly fine, the electorate doesn’t always agree.

Don’t forget that some of the voters were originally not from the islands, while the younger ones don’t really see a difference in people. The PNP is seen as a more progressive party and the PDM more patriotic, so there is a seismic gap between the two ideologies.

Minister of Innovation, Technology, and Energy, Hon Edwin Saunders

with Estonia to help us with our National ID rollout, but Estonia is the face of digital governance due to its National ID platform and has improved public service efficiency, and as a result, grew their economy.”

He continued: Similarly, Singapore’s integration of AI and Digital Services has significantly boosted its GDP and citizen satisfaction. South Korea’s extensive digital infrastructure, innovative, friendly policies have fostered significant economic growth and Rwanda in Africa, through its ambitious digital transformation, has improved governance, transparency, and public service efficiency. Dubai, a leader in Smart City technologies that has dramatically enhanced its business ecosystem and citizens’ services.”

Drawing inspiration from these examples, Saunders laid out his “ambitious, but…achievable” vision for the Turks and Caicos Islands, one that aligns with the country’s Vision 2040 aspirations.

He said: “We will utilise technologies to transform the Turks and Caicos Islands government into a high-performance government…and what is that?

A high-performance government is a government that consistently delivers outstanding results for its citizens, a government that makes meaningful strides towards achieving a high quality of life for current and future generations of citizens and residents of the Turks and Caicos Islands.”

Key projects are already underway, including the National ID project, scheduled for rollout by early 2027. “This platform will streamline public services, enhance border security, facilitate ease of business, and lay a foundation for a comprehensive digital governance,” Saunders explained.

He also addressed the longawaited Automatic Clearing House (ACH) for financial transactions, acknowledging the delays and promising government intervention. “When I became

Minister of Innovation, I said, we’re going to drive the ACH project because I was a little bit tired of the banks promising me that it was coming, and it was never coming,” he revealed.

He added: “We’re going to do this, we’re actively working with the local banks to introduce the ACH, which will revolutionise financial transactions, reducing transaction costs, enhancing transparency, and boosting economic activity across the islands.”

AI & GOVERNMENT

The digital push extends to AI and business intelligence, with initiatives underway to roll out AI chatbots for government websites and intelligent border security systems.

“We’re going to roll out generative AI and business intelligence right across the government,” Saunders affirmed.

“Initiatives are underway in collaboration with Microsoft AI Copilot, and that’s the Microsoft AI Copilot master class to roll out AI chatbots for government websites.

“We’re going to be using it to help with an intelligent border security system and we’re going to advance data management for our land registry and our registered general databases.”

In response to questions about incorporating technology into education, Saunders advocated for early exposure. “We should be looking at technology from early on, because the kids are adopting it as soon as they’re two years old or whatever, maybe younger, they’re holding the devices in their hands, so it’s not alien to them,” he said.

On the recurring issue of unreliable ATMs, Saunders acknowledged the frustration and cited ongoing efforts to improve service. “We are hoping that the fibre optic cable coming in will allow them to speed up their rollout of their technologies and make it more robust,” he explained, referring to the connectivity challenges in the family islands.

Health care experts warn of crises, call for urgent reforms

BY OLIVIA ROSE

The 2nd Annual Business Outlook Conference at The Palms Resort on Friday, June 13th, witnessed a stark and sobering assessment of the Turks and Caicos Islands’ healthcare system, with leading medical professionals sounding the alarm on critical challenges and demanding immediate, comprehensive reforms.

Speakers at the conference delivered blunt appraisals of systemic fragmentation, workforce shortages, and unsustainable healthcare spending, painting a picture of a system at a crucial crossroads.

Medical Director of Family Care Medical Services, Dr Darren Hall, started the health-focused segment, presenting on the topic “Managing Growth: Creating a Competitive Investment Climate for Economic and Social Growth”.

In his opening remarks, Dr Hall emphasised the gravity of the discussion, stating, “I’m grateful to the organisers for inviting me to join in this important conversation and what I consider a think tank. I’m passionate about health care and health care delivery services.”

He set the stage for a detailed analysis by acknowledging primary healthcare and its crucial role in TCI’s economy.

Dr Hall provided a comprehensive definition of primary healthcare, citing the World Health Organization (WHO): “It’s the first point of contact for individuals, families, communities with the health care system. It provides accessible, continuous, comprehensive and coordinated care that addresses the majority of a person’s health needs throughout their life, including prevention, wellness, treatment of common illnesses and conditions and management of chronic

diseases.”

He stressed that primary healthcare is not just a social good but “foundational, just like roads, airports, for a productive and a resilient society and for inclusive growth.”

The financial realities of the TCI’s healthcare system were brought into sharp focus. Dr Hall revealed, “When I first came in and started practicing, we were spending in the region of $15-16m on the public spent, and that was in the early 2000s…. and if you’ve been listening to the recent budget debate, we’re consuming a quarter of the national budget in health care… As far as I’m aware, this year has a record budget in terms of the dollar figure, the highest we’ve ever been.”

Citing the 2025/2026 health budget at “around $87m,” he noted the significant increase from previous years and underscored that a major challenge in the territory’s health service is a

“serious workforce shortage”.

The issue of medical referrals overseas and its financial burden was a key concern.

Dr Hall asserted, “The Turks and Caicos Islands’ reliance on imported medical care services weakens our fiscal resilience.” He explained that “by that import, I mean that we are sending persons quite a lot to other places to access care.”

His advice to both the public and government was direct: “So the point here is, health is just not a social good. It’s an economic driver, improving primary care, boosting worker productivity, tourism appeal, and reducing outbound medical expenses.

“Primary Health Care offers the opportunity for you to partner with you in maintaining health. It helps to identify things early, long before they happen, and puts you on a path where you can maintain wellness.”

He lamented, “Unfortunately,

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our focus has not been there, but that’s where our focus needs to go.”

On the topic of data utilisation, Dr Hall expressed frustration: “We have a lot of data in Turks and Caicos that’s just sitting down in silos… NHIP has data. Hospital as data, I have data. All the other clinics have data. The government has a migrant health office that collects health data on everybody coming into the country, but we don’t have a system to bring all that data together, to analyse it and then to help us to be informed in decision making.”

He called this “an easy fix” that could lead to “better informed decisions in terms of policy making that can help to address that span almost immediately.”

Echoing similar sentiments, Vice President of Surgical Services at Doctors Hospital Health System in the Bahamas, Dr Wesley Francis, followed Dr Hall, speaking on “Prioritising Inclusive, Sustainable Health Services.”

Dr Francis began by referencing the 1978 Alma-Ata Declaration, which aimed to make healthcare “universally acceptable or accessible to individuals and families in the community through their full participation and at a cost that the community and the country can afford.”

He then questioned the progress made in the last 50 years, stating, “Have we achieved this? I would say at least. You know, I speak for the Bahamas, I don’t think we’ve completely achieved this. I don’t think we’ve completely achieved this in the region.”

Dr Francis presented alarming data on healthcare expenditure, particularly in the United States, “$4.8tn was spent in the US” in 2023, representing “almost 16.5% of their GDP.”

He then shocked the audience by noting, “It seems like Turks and Caicos spends the most. I mean, he just said he spent 24% of your GDP on health.”

He emphasised that healthcare costs are “a costly venture. It’s been going up, and it will continue to go up.”

Dr Francis stressed the importance of equity in healthcare, saying, “At its core, it’s really equity, and health policy should be built on equity… vulnerable groups and social groups are those who experience limited resources and consequent high risk of morbidity and premature mortality.”

He pointed out the prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the Caribbean, “high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and cancer,” which contribute significantly to mortality.

He bluntly stated, “Inclusive health care… It’s not free…the politicians always say that; you know, health care is free, it is not… You will have to contribute to your own health care.”

Workforce shortages were also highlighted as a critical challenge.

Dr Francis warned, “This is very crucial, because when you have workforce shortages, you can’t build capacity and again, migration…a lot of our young people we send to get educated, and they go abroad, the only way we build capacity is if they come home.”

He shared a poignant observation: “When the elderly parent gets sick, there are no children or no caretakers or caregivers there… And so if we don’t diversify our economy and attract these kids back home, it becomes a significant challenge and a weakness for us.”

Dr Francis offered strategies for sustainable healthcare, including investment in primary care and palliative care.

He also advocated for leveraging “high net worth people in our community… They come for the sun, sand and sea. They can probably contribute. We just have to be able to leverage them. Private-public partnerships are essential.”

He concluded his speech with a call to action: “Now is the time to act…leave no one behind in health.”

Vice President of Surgical Services at Doctors Hospital Health System in the Bahamas, Dr Wesley Francis, discussed the challenges of sustainable healthcare and the importance of equity, while addressing workforce shortages at the conference

TCI tourism boom strains infrastructure, sparks debate on sustainability

BY OLIVIA ROSE

While the Turks and Caicos Islands tourism sector boasts an impressive 80% contribution to the national GDP, this economic engine is simultaneously straining the nation’s infrastructure, sparking concerns about overdevelopment, and igniting a passionate debate about the equitable distribution of benefits for TCIslanders.

Speaking at the recent 2ndAnnual Business Outlook Conference held at the Palms Resort, Minister of Tourism Zhavargo Jolly laid bare the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead, and painted a vivid and complex picture of a nation grappling with its own success.

“Indirectly, we’ve assumed that [tourism] is responsible for about 80% of our national GDP,” Jolly declared, emphasising the sector’s sheer dominance. “Now that’s an incredible dominant figure, and to a lot of people, it’s something to celebrate, and in reality, it is. But when you think about it, it’s an incredible responsibility, the fragility associated with tourism. It’s

Agriculture,

almost like living in constant fear that your bread and butter can really turn left or sink at any moment.”

Jolly didn’t shy away from addressing the uncomfortable truths that accompany this booming industry.

He cited a critical “carrying

capacity report” that revealed significant strains on the islands’ infrastructure, a direct consequence of the surge in tourist arrivals. With over 800,000 overnight passengers annually, juxtaposed against a local population estimated at 50,00060,000, stressing that the pressure is palpable.

“On any day, our population could probably be around 100,000 in our walking-around weight. Our infrastructure isn’t really designed for those kinds of numbers, so we’re operating at a very strained position,” Jolly explained.

However, the Minister’s vision extends beyond mere infrastructure development.

He passionately advocated for “inclusive and sustainable tourism,” emphasising the need for local empowerment and ownership within the industry. “When I talk about inclusive tourism, I’m not just talking about giving our locals opportunities for jobs. We’re talking about creating opportunities for our locals to actually be owners, and that’s really what inclusiveness is about”.

He stressed the importance of locals feeling “represented, and making sure they’re in leadership, they’re leaders in our tourism product, they’re leaders in our tourism plan, and they feel like they’re actually contributing to the decisions we make.”

Diversification is another key pillar of Jolly’s strategy.

He pointed to the potential of medical, sport, and agri-tourism, along with encouraging tourists to explore the less frequented islands.

“The best strategy in terms of the infrastructural demand is to now try to encourage tourists, or make it my mandate and the department’s mandate…to encourage tourists to view the other islands and travel to the other islands.”

He further noted, “Many of our outer islands are home to our most visually and optically pleasant

attractions and historic sites.”

However, the challenges are multifaceted as illustrated when a young student in attendance posed a poignant question about opportunities for local youth, expressing concern about a “brain drain” and the need for more recreational and developmental spaces.

Jolly responded candidly, acknowledging the gap and stressed the importance of partnership and self-initiative. “It’s not going to fall out of the sky. You want these things, you’re going to have to be a part of making it happen as well,” he told the student, highlighting the need for systemic change and a cultural shift.

In his closing remarks, the Minister reiterated his vision for a future where Turks and Caicos Islanders feel a deep sense of ownership and pride in their tourism sector. “I want my legacy to be known as having made Turks and Caicos Islanders feel like they own the tourism product here at home,” he underscored.

“I want persons to have actual pride in the tourism market, because the truth is, we haven’t really embraced tourism from a local perspective.”

According to Minister Jolly, sustainable tourism requires a delicate balance between economic growth, environmental protection, and social equity.

the public for help

Forty-nine-year-old Beata Sylwia Young – a native of Poland, who now resides in Grand Turk, TCI – has been missing since Sunday, June 15, and police are asking anyone with information about her whereabouts to please come forward immediately.

Young was last seen on Sunday, at about 7:30pm at North Creek Road, Grand Turk, where she resides.

A number of residents have gathered search parties to scour the island, but at press time, there was still no report of her being found.

Anyone with information regarding her whereabouts is asked to contact 911 or the Grand Turk Police Station at (649) 946-2299.

Missing: Beata Young

Minister of Tourism,

Fisheries, and Environment, Hon Zhavargo Jolly delivers his speech at the 2nd Annual Turks and Caicos Business Outlook Conference (Photo: Olivia Rose)

Notices were affixed to two structures in Blue Hills (TCIG photos)

Dear Governor, yes you have the final say, but...

The applications should have gone back to the Commission

Dear Governor HE Dileeni DanielSelvaratnam

As a concerned citizen of the Turks and Caicos Islands, I am writing to you regarding your decision to grant the Turks and Caicos Islander Status to 49 individuals. Let me say on the outset, I do not have anything personally against these individuals, as I know some of these individuals and I believe some of them truly consider the Turks and Caicos their home and deserve the status.

On the other hand, some of these individuals do not deserve the status. The granting of Turks and Caicos Islander Status is a matter of profound significance, as it defines not only the legal rights of an individual within our society but also their symbolic inclusion in our unique community.

I am not a lawyer, but I can read and understand properly and therefore can interpret the laws of this country just as any well-versed lawyer. With that said, I believe that you have acted contrary to the law of this country and the ruling of the court.

While you have the ultimate

BY DREXWELL SEYMOUR

Drexwell Seymour is a certified public accountant and is the managing partner for HLB TCI. His favourite hobby, however, is writing. He has a personal website, www.drexwellseymour. com, where all of his writings are posted. He also has a YouTube channel where you can find inspirational videos. Drexwell has a BA in Accounting and an MBA in Finance.

say in the granting of status, our law states that the Governor, based on the Commission’s recommendation, may grant Islander Status to those covered by subsections 2 to 7. I know you may have a counterargument to say the word shall was not used. Although “shall” was not used, it is customary for the Governor to do so, and it is also a more transparent way of doing things. After all, what is the point of having a Commission?

Based on what I read, the court documents recommended sending the applications back to the Commission for reconsideration.

Now, according to your press release, the individuals applied between 2016 and 2018, their

applications were reviewed in 2021 and subsequently denied. You further stated that the Supreme Court ruled that the applications had to be reconsidered using the legal standards that were in place at the time they were originally evaluated.

Governor, are you and the Supreme Court aware that the Commission was not operational until three years after these applicants submitted their applications? Since when does one go retroactively and apply the law?

Furthermore, Governor, if that was the court ruling, then why did you not send these applications back to the Status Commission and give them an opportunity to

review the applications based on the relevant legal standards? That would have been the right thing to do. You said you made your decision based on legal advice. In the same way, the judge claimed he does not have jurisdiction to call for fresh elections, then the court should not have any jurisdiction to give you the power alone to make that decision. The decision should comply with our law, based on the Commission’s recommendation. Additionally, the Status Commission now consists of new members, and their decision may be different. This suggests you assume we are all the same. What adds more insult to this decision is that our Premier and his colleagues, who have lived in this country for donkey years, informed you that they opposed the grant to many of those people but yet you went ahead alone, making the decision rather than going back to the Commission.

Please put a hold on the grant of these statuses and provide a detailed explanation of the criteria and due diligence used in the selection process. Our people deserve the assurance that our

national identity will not be diluted or disregarded without due and meaningful discourse. The fact of the matter is not just because someone has a PRC and has been in this country for many years mean they are automatically entitled to a Turks and Caicos Islander Status. This is where the Turks and Caicos Islanders Commission comes into play. They will do their inquiries and due diligence. Given your twoyear tenure and limited information about these individuals, making a decision without consulting the Commission is not in line with standard protocol or our law. I am offended by the process because it seems to me that as soon as Turks and Caicos Islanders do something that others think is contrary to the law, we are put before the courts, and then we are considered corrupt. When a nonTurks and Caicos Islander appears to break the law, it is often deemed an interpretation issue, or they didn’t know.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. I trust that you will give the concerns of the Turks and Caicos Islanders the thoughtful consideration they deserve.

A big wide wonderful world

The Pacific Golden Plover is a physically unremarkable, medium-sized bird known for one remarkable thing. The bird spends most of the year in the freezing temperatures of Alaska and Siberia. Once a year, between September to November, this bird undertakes a breathtaking journey of 3000 miles in 3 - 4 days from the Arctic to Hawaii. This journey takes the Plover over the open ocean. It does not rest or feed on the journey and always lands on the same plot of land it did before, owing to its in-built navigational system. The Golden Plover’s flight is an amazing feature of the Wide Wonderful World we live in and a perfect analogy of our spiritual journey with Jesus.

PREPARE

Before its journey, the Plover prepares itself for the journey. It bulks up by adding reserves of fat and undergoes several physical transformations. It somehow times its departure and finds the perfect winds before taking off. In the same

way, Christians need to prepare themselves for life’s biggest journeys – career, marriage, trials, and relationships – and daily living.

Too often, we rush into life without preparation, without thought, and without the skill to make the journey. As we step into a new day, season, or phase of life, we need to prepare. We must lay up spiritual resources – scripture reading, prayer, rest, community, repentance – to equip us for the journey of life. Practically, spend time before each day “preparing” yourself through worship and prayer. Before making any major life changes, prepare yourself by seeking counsel, prayer, and meditating on

God’s counsel. During moments of peace, “bulk” up on your faith through memorization and practicing spiritual disciplines. Before making major moves, discern the times before jumping off. The Plover has a built-in clock that tells it the time to leave its winter home, in the same way we need to utilize the wisdom God has given us to sense the time we are living in and when to move or when to stay still. We have a good idea of what life is going to be like; not preparing for it is on us. One more thing, believers in Christ know that suffering is planned for us; we need to prepare for it. More on that another time.

PERSEVERE

Across its journey lasting 3 – 4 days, the Plover cannot rest or feed. It often cannot see ahead. It perseveres because it trusts, in the sense birds trust, its navigational system. Though the Plover does not have a GPS system, it does have strategies to plot its flight. It does not take the flight alone, so to conserve energy, the birds would adopt a flight formation that preserves their strength. With no land in sight, it relies on an innate magnetic compass calibrated by the sun, stars, and the Earth’s magnetic field to stay on course. Any slight deviation from its path it will miss its destination, and yet

year after year it lands on the same spot. There are several lessons for us, some I will leave for you to arrive at, but for one, we need each other. I have said so often that it has become a mantra: we cannot navigate through life alone. We need each other. Find your tribe and fly together. Persistence is important. When we cannot see the path ahead and resources run low, we must trust the Holy Spirit to sustain us through long seasons of waiting, illness, unemployment, and unanswered prayer.

RETURN

The plover often returns to the same area over and over again. Loved ones, let me invite you to return to your spiritual strongholds— Bible reading, prayer, worship— bit by bit rebuilding strength and reaffirming identity. Consistency in small things yields steady spiritual growth. Too often and sadly, I have heard well-meaning believers say that they need to move on from the

Kenyatta Lewis is the pastor of Harvest Bible Chapel, a growing church committed to taking followers of Jesus deeper and going further in their faith. Besides loving, serving, and helping people he has watched the extended Director’s cut of the Lord of the Rings trilogy multiple times.

KENYATTA E. LEWIS

A tale of two committees in New York City

In the city of New York, referred to as Gotham City in my childhood comic-book days, at the United Nations there are two committees that have to do with the distasteful matter of colonialism, and the centuries-long ongoing birth rightstealing of resources of indigenous peoples by the White Western European races and their cousins. They are the UN Decolonization Committees: the Fourth Committee and the Committee of 24. I, along with my Lorimers, Middle Caicos ally, Alpha Gibbs, have appeared before these committees for over a decade as petitioners, giving voice to matters related to the so-called British ‘dependent’ Caribbean territory of Turks & Caicos, the place of our birth. What a farce! T&C depends

OCTOPEN

BY BEN ROBERTS

Ben is a writer and published author of the novel ‘Jackals of Samarra,’ at Amazon.com. He is a Turks & Caicos Islander who often contributes articles to T&C local newspapers. He is a founding member of the NGO Turks & Caicos Forum (TC Forum) that gives voice to matters Turks & Caicos Islands. Contact him at: grandt730@aol.com

on the British for nothing, and I actually had to tell one of the committees in a previous year to stop referring to the place I came from as a ‘dependency’ for that very reason. In fact, that colonial kleptomaniac has, for almost four centuries, non-stop siphoned off the resources of these peoples,

leaving them in a continuous mostweakened, falling-down, anaemic state. The ongoing appearance of my NGO and me before this pair of committees is part of an attempt to mitigate this ongoing colonial assault.

Last year I appeared before one of these committees. It was

run by a White Chair of Eastern European origin. The experience petitioning before them was not a good one. Professionalism was very much in short supply, as was accommodation and consideration. A certain degree of dismissiveness prevailed in the interaction in this setting. These included not being allowed to speak on the day invited to do so, and being dismissively told to “Come back tomorrow”, when no prior extended arrangements had been made by me—and quite likely other invitees—some of whom travelled from the other side of the world for this event. For me, the realities were: I had made no previous overnight hotel accommodation arrangements; no prior notice to my bank for out-

of-town debit card usage had been made, since I had not planned on overnighting—meaning I would have been denied access to my bank account on the suspicion of fraudulent activity; and I could not return to my city three states away and come back the next day, as suggested by the committee, because I would arrive back way too late in the day to make the following day’s presentation time. All this happened because this particular committee did not do a good job of scheduling the presentations to ensure that the invited petitioners would get to deliver their important input into colonial conditions in an informative, fair, and orderly

The ‘modern man’

Let’s talk about the ‘modern man’—a rare breed somewhere between Jason Momoa and a barista who cares deeply about his oat milk froth art. He’s evolving, friends. No longer shackled by the ancient scrolls of “man up,” “real men don’t cry,” or “you have to pay the bill because you have a Y chromosome,” the modern man is shaking off outdated expectations like a linen shirt in a light summer breeze.

Here are 15 glorious ways we are doing so:

1. HE DOESN’T ALWAYS PAY FOR THE MEAL, AND THAT’S OK

Gone are the days of wallet duels at dinner. The modern man is confident enough to split the bill, let his date treat him, or even (gasp!) use a two-for-one coupon without shame. Equality looks good on him—and so does financial awareness…. Bring that credit card too ladies/men/ things/what-ever you identify as.

2. HE CRIES—AND NOT JUST AT PIXAR FILMS

Tears? Absolutely. Be it a sad movie, a rough day, or an inspiring TikTok of a dog being reunited with its owner after deployment—modern men are letting it out. Crying is human, not a hardware malfunction.

3. HE ASKS FOR HELP

BY DAVIDSON LOUIS

Rachel Wolchin once said: “If we were meant to stay in one place, we’d have had roots instead of feet.” On this quest to self-discovery, TC Islander Davidson Louis vowed to travel, write, paint, laugh and forgive. Subsequently, he hopes to find himself and or, leave behind a few pieces of himself. Contact him at hello. octopen@tcinews.tc

Whether its therapy, emotional support, or calling a professional instead of winging a bathroom renovation, the modern man knows asking for help is strength, not weakness. Or at least try to get help. Mental health is more important than a 6packs. I can’t believe I am saying this.

4. HE NEEDS SPACE—AND KNOWS YOU DO TO

He doesn’t ghost; he communicates. He just occasionally needs to lie on the couch like a sea cucumber, watching documentaries about Viking ships and not talking. It’s not you. It’s brain rest. It takes time, but give him some space to express his feelings.

5. HE WEARS PINK

It’s not “brave” to wear pink anymore—it’s stylish. Salmon, rose, bubblegum—whatever the shade, it’s a colour, not a challenge to his masculinity.

6. HE DRINKS MATCHA

Yes, it tastes like grass—that’s matcha. But he enjoys it. With almond milk. And maybe a dash of vanilla. Sue him. Get your match coffee in NEW ISLAND SCOOP LOCATION ON REGENT VILLAGE.

7. HE SKINCARE-SERUMS LIKE A PRO

The modern man exfoliates. He washes his face before bed. He knows what retinol is. He’s not aging “like fine wine”—he’s aging like someone who respects his dermis.

8. HE’S NOT A WALKING TOOLBOX

Sure, he might know how to fix a leaky tap. Or he might just have the plumber’s number saved in his phone. Both are valid. You know what he doesn’t do? Pretend to know things he doesn’t. Ego-free is the new sexy. Currently dealing with a toilet drip, however, I have no idea how to fix it. Anyone handy?

9. HE SAYS “I DON’T KNOW”—WITHOUT IMPLODING

When he doesn’t have an answer, he doesn’t make one up. “I don’t know” is now a perfectly acceptable sentence. Revolutionary.

10. HE READS BOOKS WITHOUT EXPLAINING WHY

He’s not reading The Power of Now to impress anyone. He just... enjoys it. He may even own a poetry collection. I’ve been reading the same book since 2021.

11. HE’S NOT A GYM GUY UNLESS HE WANTS TO BE Some modern men lift weights. Some do yoga. Some do absolutely nothing and walk around like spaghetti. All valid. All man.

12. HE COMPLIMENTS OTHER DUDES

“Nice haircut.” “That linen top fire.” “Your beard is majestic.” He uplifts the bros without feeling weird. Real kings fix each other’s crowns.

13. HE’S NOT INTO SPORTS, AND THAT’S FINE Not watching the game doesn’t make him less of a man. Maybe he’s into chess, birdwatching, or dramatic baking shows.

Masculinity is not measured in touchdowns. Please don’t invite me to the Laker’s night show thing meeting.

14. HE DOESN’T NEED TO “WIN” EVERY ARGUMENT Sometimes, the modern man just listens, nods, and says, “You’re right.” Not because he’s defeated—but because he’s wise. And he wants to keep the peace (and maybe still get a cuddle later).

15. HE’S STILL FIGURING IT OUT—BUT HE’S HONEST ABOUT IT

He doesn’t have all the answers, the six-pack, or the perfect morning routine. But he’s showing up, doing the work, and choosing growth over ego. And that? That’s peak masculinity. So here’s to the modern man: sensitive, self-aware, slightly addicted to matcha, and emotionally available. He might not know how to start a fire with two sticks, but he will light up your group chat with memes, offer to talk through your feelings, and remind you to moisturize.

And honestly, what more could you want?

Share your modern-man journey on: louisedens@gmail. com or @daviid.l2.

Whatever this may look like. Good luck!

Does the TCI have the mental toughness to go for Independence?

When the winds of uncertainty blow, will the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) stand firm, or will we retreat into passivity?

As we explore the question of independence, we must confront not just the external hurdles—but our internal fortitude.

True independence is not a ceremonial act. It is a national awakening. It requires leadership with vision, citizens with courage, and a culture that values collective responsibility over comfort.

As Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Mottley once declared, “True leadership is never about comfort. It is about calling, it is about timing, and it is about service.”

Leadership, however, cannot exist in a vacuum. The question is not whether someone will lead— but whether we, the people, are prepared to follow, support, and sacrifice alongside them.

It is easy to speak of sovereignty, but sovereignty without selfdetermination is merely symbolic.

For independence to have meaning, we must first cultivate a society that takes responsibility for charting its own course. That process begins with honest reflection.

The reality is that the United Kingdom, through its appointed governors, serves its own strategic interests, not ours. They are not inherently malevolent, but they are not accountable to the people of TCI. That should not be a controversial observation, but a catalyst for rethinking our future.

Paradoxically, we are among the most educated populations in the Caribbean, yet our civic engagement particularly in politics, remains shallow.

Why is that? Is it fear? Apathy? Or have we grown too comfortable in the margins, preferring silence to confrontation?

Over the next five years, TCI will undergo a political reckoning. The 2029 election will not simply be a contest between the PNP and PDM. It will be shaped by tone, by

BY ED FORBES

A concerned citizen of Grand Turk

national identity, and by a growing divide between rhetoric and results. We must prepare the next generation not only to vote, but to lead. We need young people to believe that politics is not dirty, but necessary and that public service can still be honourable.

The foundation of any stable society is its ability to care for the most vulnerable. Yet poverty, both visible and hidden, persists in TCI.

It is a major contributor to both violent and white-collar crime. If we are to build a nation worthy of independence, we must address inequality head-on, investing in the sectors that sustain life like; agriculture, fishing, housing, trade schools and public infrastructure.

We must also reform how we engage foreign investors. Do we need more resorts and villas or smarter partnerships that empower our people and preserve our environment?

Key reforms include modernizing public services, establishing a digital identity system, fixing our immigration crisis, and ensuring everyone has a legal address for emergency services. These steps aren’t just administrative, they’re essential for sovereignty. It’s the only way to address our acute demographic challenges.

Premier Hon. Washington Misick has an opportunity to redefine his legacy. With renewed leadership and the political runway to make bold changes, the question is no longer about capacity, but will.

In the words of Goethe: “Property lost, something lost. Honour lost, much lost. Courage lost, everything lost.” We must not wait for leaders to demonstrate courage; they must be inspired by our collective will.

The path to independence is not paved with slogans, it is walked by a people determined to stand tall. We must begin to chart our own course and create benchmarks. If not, I’m afraid the premises on which we have based our governance, policies and security on, will continue to be challenged, eroded or simply gone.

The million dollar question is, do we have the mental toughness to do it? The answer lies not in our leaders, but in ourselves.

A tale of two committees in New York ...

CONTINUED

A big wide wonderful ...

CONTINUED FROM  10

things that have built them and will continue to build them in their faith in Jesus.

Believers have chucked prayer for prophetic nonsense from a charlatan, and Bible reading for heretical, even occultic books that lead them away. Loved ones, return to the solid foundations that you have been built on.

A JOURNEY WORTH TAKING

Oftentimes, we are called to take journeys that lead us away from the comfort of our routines and friends. Know this, we are led by faith and not sight. Prepare, knowing that God is with you, persevere with determination, and return, season after season, to the same foundation— Christ—where our lives take root and flourish.

manner. Worse yet is that when I contacted that Chair at her UN Mission, on the advice and assist of the Secretary General’s Office Spokesperson (she made the call to them with me on the line), the Mission’s receptionist hung up on her. This Spokesperson, frustrated and possibly in an attempt to save face, then hung up on me without explanation. An all-round horrible display of diplomacy and basic human interaction. Not good for an agency such as the United Nations. For an in-depth on what transpired on this UN visit, please be sure to read the accompanying piece, Petitioning the UN Decolonisation Committees: “Come Back Tomorrow”, sent to this committee’s Chair and the Secretary General following this incident.

Now for petitioning on Monday, a week ago—9 June—before the other committee. The Chair here was a Black woman from the Caribbean. Very professional, very organised, and unlike her counterpart from her sister committee, seemed very engaging and open to opinion. She and her committee secretariat organised the petitioners’ presentations into am. and pm blocks. A crucial difference from the other committee that attempted to pack all the presentations into a single

pm. session—hence the inability to present, and the unsuitable “Come back tomorrow” situation. In fact, the pacing of presentation by this Chair and committee was so structured that all petitioners were heard in an easy flow on that invited day for their designated four minutes (a pet peeve with me, as I think nothing less than five minutes is more dignified and productive, in terms of the committee getting a better picture of circumstances from the petitioners), with more than an hour left over before the usual 6:00 pm. closing time. This made for a window of extended social interaction and engagement in the hearing room. A difference of night and day. On the one hand, one committee quite capable and efficient in its objective; on the other, a breakneck speed of rushed presentations, multiple presentations from one place and none from another, with unsatisfied and inconvenienced participants. In closing, it is hoped that the observation of this disparity will be noted by, and be of importance to, the UN and its decision-makers in the choosing of its Chairs and Secretariat for these important Decolonisation Committees in their vital task—that of decoupling the throngs of humanity worldwide from this centuries-old colonial

parasitism against indigenous peoples that has long sold itself as benevolent caretakers prioritising the interests of their ‘dependent territories’. One tell of this is the observation of well-known—and quite refreshing—South African activist Julius Malema. At a rally some time ago, in the wake of Queen Elizabeth’s passing, he stated (paraphrasing): “How can it be that England has so much gold in its Treasury when that country does not possess any gold mines?” Talk about being outed—stellar! You see, this man understands that his South African gold, and the resources of Turks & Caicos and ‘colonies’ spread far and wide, is

how that 310-ton unexplainedto-the-rafters windfall possession of gold was had. The United Nations and their Decolonisation Committees should understand this as well, and make a point of seeing to it that the petitioners they invite get ample opportunity to make the circumstances of their national predicaments known to all. Thank you.

Yours truly, R. Benjamin (TC Forum [NGO]) The writer here is also a published author of the military action-adventure novel Jackals of Samarra, available at Amazon and other book outlets. © June 2025 R. Benjamin. Permissions required

Police headquarters renamed ‘Albert

Alexander Grant Sr Headquarters’

– Honour a titan of law enforcement

BY OLIVIA ROSE

In a powerful ceremony that reverberated with decades of distinguished service, the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force Headquarters on Airport Road, Providenciales, was officially renamed the Albert Alexander Grant Sr Headquarters on Wednesday, 18 June 2025.

This historic dedication stands as a profound tribute to the enduring legacy of a man whose tireless commitment and pioneering spirit profoundly shaped law enforcement and public service across the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The naming ceremony drew a distinguished assembly, including Her Excellency the Governor, the Hon Premier, the Hon Chief Justice, Cabinet Members, Parliamentarians, Hon Grant Sr himself, his family, and representatives from the Judiciary, Force Executive, TCI Regiment, Border Force, and the wider community.

Each attendee gathered to honour the remarkable dedication of Hon Grant Sr and acknowledge his lasting impact on the nation.

The Governor, HE Dileeni Daniel Selvaratnam, underscored the significance of the occasion in her remarks, stating: “Today is a celebration not just of a name, but of a legacy of integrity and unwavering commitment. Let us honour that legacy by renewing our collective pledge to protect the promised peace of the Turks and Caicos Islands.”

She further emphasised Grant’s pioneering role, noting: “He charted new paths with determination and vision. In a time when few sought formal professional advancement, he pursued qualifications in fingerprinting and photography, becoming the very first ever certified person in these disciplines. His efforts led to the first recorded conviction—as the Premier said—which is a testament to his pioneering role in the Royal Turks

and Caicos Islands Police Force.”

Commissioner of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force Fitz Bailey eloquently posed the question: “What is a name?”

He then answered with profound meaning: “Today, we officially name this structure the Albert Alexander Grant Sr building. As we do so, we are not simply unveiling a replica or attaching a new title to a physical space—we are honouring a man whose life and service shaped policing in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

“We are placing the name of Mr Grant Sr—an officer, a leader, a public servant, and a musician—at the heart of our law enforcement institution. This building is not just brick and cement. It is a symbol: a symbol of order, protection, integrity and beauty. And now, with this name, it also becomes a structure of national pride.”

Commissioner Bailey lauded Grant’s extensive career, which saw him rise from constable to

Deputy Commissioner of Police, excelling as a “fingerprint expert, an instructor, a disaster planner and a peacemaker.”

Premier Hon Charles Washington shared a deeply personal reflection, revealing his own history with the honouree. “Today is very personal for me, and you would forgive me if I speak from memory and not from notes... When I became a police officer in 1967, just a few years ago, the honouree, Albert Alexander Grant, was my boss.”

The Premier highlighted Grant’s mentorship, adding: “He certainly has been a mentor to me as a young police officer.” He also stressed Grant’s broader contributions, emphasising: “The one thing that has not been mentioned here today is the fact that he also served as a legislator.” The Premier further underscored Grant’s foundational achievements. He said: “I remember Mr Grant as the first fingerprint expert in the Turks and Caicos, if my memory serves me

I also remember him being involved in the first conviction of a crime in these islands through fingerprint detection.”

In a moment of spiritual reflection and benediction, BishopElect Wilbur Jennings, President of the Christian Council and Force Chaplain, offered a prayer for the newly named headquarters and all who serve within its walls.

Mr Albert Alexander Grant Sr, visibly moved, delivered a message that resonated with humility and profound gratitude. “Today, as I stand before you, I ask myself the question: Why am I here at this place and time? I suppose it is to give an account of my stewardship and receive honour I never saw, but one that touches my heart deeply.”

He recounted his journey, which began in 1960 when he enlisted in the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force.

He highlighted key milestones,

right.

Commissioner Fitz Bailey delivers remarks on the significance of naming the police headquarters in honour of Albert Alexander Grant Sr

Governor, Premier, Police Commissioner and Honoree, Mr Alexander Grant unveiled a plaque bearing his name

Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Hon Charles Washington shares personal reflections on his mentorship by Albert Alexander Grant Sr

A visibly moved Albert Alexander Grant Sr addresses the attendees at the unveiling ceremony of the headquarters bearing his name

Honoree Mr Alexander Smith (centre) flanked by the Governor, HE Dileeni Daniel Selvaratnam; Premier Hon Charles Washington Misick; Deputy Governor, HE Anya Williams and Cabinet Ministers at the renaming ceremony of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force Headquarters, now the Albert Alexander Grant Sr Headquarters (Photos: Office of the Governor)

Police headquarters renamed ‘Albert Alexander Grant ...

including his initial policing training in Jamaica, obtaining certification in fingerprinting and photography in Nassau, Bahamas, and becoming the first uniformed officer transferred to Providenciales in 1968, where he was responsible for policing, customs, and immigration.

Grant also proudly spoke of the establishment of the first police training school on First Street in Grand Turk, where he later became

International Domestic Workers Day

Dear Editor

I hope this message finds you well. To coincide with International Domestic Workers Day (16 June 2025).

I’m reaching out to share an op-ed piece that I believe would resonate with your readers, particularly as the Caribbean grapples with labour rights, gender equity, and the growing care crisis.

Titled “Domestic work is care work: Settling the historical debt to millions of women domestic workers” and authored by Ana Virginia Moreira Gomes, Regional Director of the International Labour Organization (ILO) for Latin America and the Caribbean, the piece offers timely insights into the vital role of domestic workers and the urgent need to value care work through better protections and policies.

With domestic work forming a crucial part of the Caribbean’s informal economy, particularly among women and migrant workers, the op-ed draws attention to persistent challenges such as informality, low wages, and lack of social security. It also outlines a clear roadmap from the ILO for advancing decent work and gender equality in this sector.

We would be honoured if your outlet could consider running this piece on or close to 16 June, to help shine a spotlight on these critical issues and elevate the voices of domestic workers across the region.

Warm regards.

the commandant. Among his most notable achievements, he recalled the successful negotiation with a Boeing 727 hijacker in December 1988 at Grand Turk.

He concluded with a powerful

Averlon

message to current officers:

“Throughout my career, I sought only to serve with integrity, fairness, honesty, truth and with a deep respect for the law and those we swore to protect... I say to you, as Churchill once said, don’t give

up. Don’t give up. Don’t give up. Serve with honesty, integrity, trustworthiness, respect. To protect this country with courage, lead with heart.”

The unveiling of the Albert Alexander Grant Sr Headquarters marks not just a change in nomenclature, but a solidification of national pride and a permanent reminder of the values that have guided—and will continue to guide—the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force.

TCI fortifies defences at Critical Disaster Management Summit

As the Turks and Caicos Islands gears up for a potentially devastating 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season with predictions of up to 19 named storms, including several major hurricanes, the islands has underscored its unwavering commitment to national resilience and regional solidarity.

To this end, the Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies (DDME) proudly announced its robust participation in the Annual British Overseas Territories Disaster Management Conference, held from May 20-22, 2025, in Miami, Florida.

This pivotal gathering, orchestrated by the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), served as a vital forum for disaster management professionals, senior officials from Governor’s Offices, and Ministries of Defence representing seven British Overseas Territories (BOTs) to forge stronger collaborative ties, exchange invaluable best practices, and collectively bolster regional disaster preparedness.

Representing the TCI with distinction were DDME Public Information and Media Manager, Ms Bernadya Smith, and Community Preparedness Officer. Ms Ashley Paulk. Their active and impactful contributions to the conference spotlighted TCI’s resolute dedication to elevating its national preparedness framework and fostering robust regional cooperation.

The conference commenced on day one with an urgent focus on the 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season Forecast and the critical imperative of preparedness. Discussions centred on crucial

topics including: “Updates on UK disaster planning efforts,” “The FCDO’s humanitarian response framework,” “Insights from the Defence Attaché, Kingston,” and “Seasonal resilience concerns from across the BOTs”.

The gravity of the impending hurricane season set a serious tone for the proceedings, emphasising the immediate need for enhanced strategies and coordinated action.

Day two delved into priority issues confronting the region, with Ms Smith delivering a compelling and dynamic 45-minute presentation that offered a penetrating examination of TCI’s recent disaster response efforts.

The session, lauded for its interactive elements, fostered vigorous attendee participation and meaningful dialogue, a statement from the Government explained.

Demonstrating a united front, DDME Acting Director, Ms Kevaun Lucas, DDME Deputy Director Mr Kevern Lucas, and NSS Threat Lead, Ms Swarzuette John, joined the presentation virtually, providing crucial support and assisting in responding to questions. Other vital sessions on Day two included: “Cyber emergency preparedness and cyber attaché coordination,” “UNICEF’s approach to emergency preparedness,” “Effective supply chain management; mitigation of unsolicited donation and working with suppliers,” and “Strengthening regional resilience and peer support mechanisms.” The breadth of these topics underscored the multifaceted nature of modern disaster management and the imperative for comprehensive strategies.

The final day was dedicated to addressing individual country

needs under the comprehensive Civil Resilience Programme. The Turks and Caicos presentation, delivered by Ms Smith with vital support from Ms Paulk, provided a detailed exposition of DDME’s strategic priorities. These critical objectives include:

• “Enhanced disaster response training”

• “Development of a comprehensive early warning system”

• “Community-based vulnerability and capacity assessments (CERT)”

• “Flood mitigation strategies and hazard mapping”

• “Strengthening community outreach and education”

• “Upgrading the National Emergency Operations Centre”

• “Policy and framework updates, including legislative reviews”

• “Shelter retrofitting and addressing critical infrastructure needs”

• “Regular tabletop exercises and simulations to strengthen

readiness”

The presentation culminated in a clear articulation of the key resilience-building actions currently underway in TCI. These actions include “strengthening critical communications,” “expanding volunteer engagement,” “updating flood risk data,” and the crucial integration of “evidence-based standards into national plans and policies.”

Additional highlights from Day 3 encompassed: “Civil Resilience programme,” “MAGIC and DVI training,” and “Open discussions and group activities,” further emphasizing the collaborative spirit of the conference.

Upon her return to TCI, Ms Smith provided an insightful reflection on the significance of the conference, stating, “Participation in this conference has provided the Turks and Caicos Islands with critical insights and renewed strategies to strengthen our national disaster management framework.

“The collaborative discussions

and peer exchanges underscored the importance of unified action, proactive planning, and strong regional partnerships. I look forward to DDME incorporating some of the strategies and initiatives learnt to our already robust program.” Her words underscore the tangible benefits derived from such international collaboration.

Ms Lucas echoed this sentiment, offering a strong endorsement of the TCI delegates’ efforts. “Ms Smith and Ms Paulk worked tirelessly to research and complete their presentations. I am proud of their involvement at this conference”.

With a stark reminder of the looming threat, she emphasized, “As we are now in the 2025 Hurricane Season, which is predicted to have the potential for up to 19 named storms, including several major hurricanes, disaster preparedness is not an option—it is a necessity. This Department reaffirms our commitment to building a safer, more resilient Turks and Caicos Islands.

In the face of increasing natural hazards, it is only through collective effort, information sharing, and sustained community engagement that we can protect lives, preserve livelihoods, and ensure national resilience.” Ms Lucas’s powerful declaration serves as a rallying cry for continued vigilance and proactive measures in the face of an increasingly unpredictable climate.

The TCI’s proactive engagement in this critical summit underscores its unwavering commitment to safeguarding its citizens and securing its future against the formidable challenges of natural disasters. (OLIVIA ROSE)

Participants at the Summit

DDME Public Information and Media Manager Ms Smith, and its Community Preparedness Officer Ms Ashley Paulk

DDME Public Information and Media Manager Ms Bernadya Smith, during presentation (TCIG photo)

TCI charts course for a sustainable future at 2nd Annual Business Outlook Conference

BY OLIVIA ROSE

Critical discussions on the intersection of economic prosperity and environmental stewardship took centre stage last Friday, June 13, 2025, as the 2nd Annual Turks & Caicos Islands Business Outlook (TCIBO) convened under the timely theme, “Prioritising Inclusive Sustainable Growth.”

This pivotal conference, held at the luxurious Palms, served as a dynamic forum, bringing together a diverse array of stakeholders, from senior government officials and influential local and regional business leaders to seasoned investors, media representatives, and ambitious students, to meticulously dissect the economic trajectory of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

A notable highlight of the opening proceedings was the

keynote address delivered by Deputy Premier Hon Jamell Robinson, who stepped in for Premier Hon Charles Washington Misick, who was engaged in offisland business.

The Deputy Premier’s remarks underscored the administration’s unwavering commitment to fostering a more business-friendly environment within the TCI.

He outlined the government’s comprehensive strategies and ongoing initiatives, emphasising that sustainability is not merely an afterthought but an intrinsic core principle embedded within every long-term economic blueprint.

Robinson’s address delved into the government’s multi-pronged approach to national development.

He detailed the current sharp focus on revenue growth, a cornerstone for self-sufficiency and reinvestment.

Simultaneously, significant attention is being directed towards bolstering national security, evidenced by planned investments in increased tactical officers, modern vessels, and the implementation of sophisticated digital border projects, all aimed at safeguarding the nation’s borders and citizens.

Furthermore, the Deputy Premier reiterated the government’s unwavering commitment to continued infrastructure improvements, citing critical projects encompassing roads, seaports, and airports, essential for facilitating commerce and enhancing quality of life.

The morning sessions of the TCIBO offered a deep dive into innovative policy and investmentled development models. Medical Director at Family Care Medical Services, Dr Darren Hall, provided

compelling insights into crafting a competitive investment climate that serves as a powerful engine for both economic expansion and social progress.

Following this, the esteemed Minister of Innovation, Technology and Information, Hon Erwin J. Saunders, presented on the crucial topic of elevating the digital technology landscape across the TCI, a vital step towards a modern, globally competitive economy.

The conference also featured prominent voices from key sectors of the TCI economy.

Furthermore, the vital tourism sector was addressed by Minister of Tourism, Hon Zhavargo Jolly, who elucidated the government’s forward-thinking plans for ensuring the long-term sustainability of this cornerstone industry.

Complementing this, Executive Director of The Bahamas’ Tourism

Development Corporation, Mr Ian Ferguson, offered valuable insights into the transformative growth opportunities that tourism presents for small island economies, drawing parallels and lessons from The Bahamas’ own experiences.

Affordable housing, a pressing societal concern, was tackled by the Minister of Physical Planning and Infrastructure Development, Hon. Arlington “Chuck” Musgrove, who detailed sustainable solutions aimed at addressing this critical need for the islands’ residents.

A spirited and engaging panel discussion provided a platform for robust dialogue on the financial landscape of the TCI.

The panel featured leading figures from the banking

sector: Terrance Gibson of CIBC, Na-

The 2nd Annual Turks & Caicos Islands Business Outlook (Photos: Olivia Rose)

Attendees listen intently to presentations and discussions on the economic future of the TCI, united by the theme of “Prioritising Inclusive Sustainable Growth”

CEO of Magnetic Media, Deandrea Hamilton, moderates a lively panel discussion featuring Terrance Gibson of CIBC, Na-amh Barker of Scotiabank

A secondary school student participates in a question-and-answer segment during the 2nd Annual Turks & Caicos Islands Business Outlook

DECR expands ‘Junior Park Wardens’ Summer Programme to other islands

– 25 years later the programme remains highly sought after

For the past 25 years, the Junior Park Wardens youth summer programme has been dedicated to fostering appreciation and respect for the environment among TCI children. Now, children on the family islands will also be able to take part in these activities.

In celebration of its quartercentury anniversary this year, the programme will be extending its engaging and educational activities across the family islands, the Department of Environment and Coastal Resources (DECR) announced this week, while sharing dates for the summer’s highly anticipated children’s event.

“This milestone marks a quartercentury of providing hands-on environmental education to young people aged 10 to 17 through field trips, presentations, expert visits, and practical how-to courses,” the DECR said this week. Notably, many former Junior Park Wardens participants have gone on to pursue careers in the environmental sector, including roles within DECR.

The programme will kick off with two weeks on Providenciales:

from 7 to 11 July for ages 10–12; and from 14 to 18 July for ages 13–17.

This year also marks the firsttime expansion to Grand Turk, with a three-day camp scheduled from 23 to 25 July for ages 13–17, as well as two new one-day programmes on South Caicos and North Caicos.

In South Caicos, children aged 10–17 will be hosted on 21 July. The programme then travels to North Caicos on 24 July for children aged 10–17 (this event will be held in collaboration with the Kew Public Library).

Parents are reminded that the programme is free of charge. DECR said registration for all camps opened on 18 June.

To sign up for the Providenciales, Grand Turk, and South Caicos camps, look for the QR code on the promotional poster on the department’s Facebook page. Spaces are limited and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Applicants will be contacted after registration closes on 2 July to confirm their participation.

TCI charts course for a sustainable future at 2nd Annual Business ...

amh Barker of Scotiabank, and Steward Howard of British Caribbean Bank. The insightful exchange was skilfully moderated by CEO of Magnetic Media, Deandrea Hamilton, ensuring a dynamic and informative session.

Beyond these core presentations, the TCIBO also welcomed other significant contributions.

For the North Caicos programme, registration will be handled through the Kew Public Library.

The DECR shared that each location will offer unique content to enrich the children’s learning experience. In Providenciales,

Grand Turk, and South Caicos, there will be a focus on general conservation and environmental management. In North Caicos, held under the theme ‘Birds and Books’, this programme will combine bird research and conservation with reading activities.

Registration link: https://forms. office.com/Pages/ResponsePage. aspx?id=cKiNia50akSW0oK_ TIRP7OMMdXsaBW5Nq C6uwtQSK7RUNlhKNzhFU0 4zWE5ZSkhTSkZaTTBT VUYyUSQlQCN0PWcu& origin=QRCode

Director General of the Telecommunications Commission, Kenva Williams, shared updates and insights on the nation’s communications infrastructure. The lucrative real estate investment opportunities within the TCI were highlighted through a detailed presentation by Snjezana Andrews of White Rock Realty.

The day concluded with a networking lunch, allowing participants to forge new connections and strengthen existing partnerships.

Participants of the 2014 Junior Park Warden Programme (Source: TCIG’s website, photograph provided by Amy Avenant)

TCI hosts landmark UK

OTs Civil Service Summit

The Turks and Caicos Islands hosted the distinguished United Kingdom Caribbean Overseas Territories Public Service Summit for the first time last week, signifying a significant milestone in the territory’s history.

Held on June 11, under the leadership of Deputy Governor and Head of Public Service, HE Anya Williams, the event brought together regional leaders under the theme ‘Collaboration, Innovation, Impact: Driving Public Value

Together’. The summit provided a platform for strategic discussions and knowledge-sharing, bringing together high-ranking officials from all six UK Overseas Territories in the Caribbean.

Attendees included notable figures such as Hon Franz Manderson, Hon Dr David Archer, Hon Perin Bradley, Hon Lindorna Lambert-Sweeney, and Hon Cherie Whitter, representing territories including the Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Montserrat, and Bermuda.

In her opening address, Deputy Governor Williams highlighted the summit’s significance in fostering

unity and progress among the territories: “As the current Chair of the United Kingdom Caribbean Overseas Territories heads of public service, it is an honour to welcome my fellow deputy governors and heads of public service to the ‘Beautiful by Nature’

Turks and Caicos Islands for this year’s public service summit.

“This summit speaks directly to the heart of what we aim to achieve and comes at a pivotal moment in our collective journey as public service leaders.”

She stressed the importance of adaptability, innovation, and cooperation amidst shared challenges. “Across our territories, we are navigating an increasingly complex and interconnected world, one that demands not only resilience, but also adaptability, innovation and strong regional cooperation.”

Williams added that though the responsibilities as heads of public service are as diverse as the individual islands, “we are united by a common mission: to serve our

CONTINUED  21

What is prediabetes and why early detection matters

Prediabetes is a silent condition that affects millions of people around the world. It represents an intermediate state between normal metabolic health and type 2 diabetes. While it usually shows no symptoms, early detection can help prevent serious and chronic health complications.

On February 6, 2025, Diabetes UK reported that more than 12 million people in the United Kingdom are now living with either diabetes or prediabetes. This total includes 4.6 million diagnosed with diabetes (of which 90% have type 2, 8% type 1, and 2% other forms), 1.3 million undiagnosed, and 6.3 million with prediabetes. The numbers continue to rise year after year: 4.6 million new cases were diagnosed this year, up from 4.4 million the previous year.

WHAT IS PREDIABETES?

Prediabetes also called impaired fasting glucose, impaired glucose tolerance or glucose dysregulation is a metabolic condition defined by specific blood sugar levels.

According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the International Expert Committee, prediabetes is diagnosed when fasting blood glucose ranges between 100 and 125 mg/dL, or when blood glucose measures between 140 and 199 mg/dL two hours after a 75-gram oral glucose tolerance test. It can also be identified by a haemoglobin A1c level between 5.7% and 6.4%, or 6.0% and 6.4%, depending on the criteria used. Although not yet diabetes, prediabetes signals that the body is struggling to regulate blood sugar properly and carries a high risk of progressing to type 2 diabetes if left unaddressed.

WHO IS AT RISK?

Several well-known factors increase the risk of prediabetes: being overweight or obese, leading a sedentary lifestyle, having a family history of diabetes, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, or in women a history of gestational diabetes.

THE PATH BACK TO HEALTH

The good news is that prediabetes can be reversed. Lifestyle changes such as healthier eating, regular physical activity, and weight loss can significantly reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

The Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) in the United States, first published in 2002 and supported by more recent studies, showed that losing 5% to 7% of body weight and engaging in at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes by 58%. In older adults, the reduction was even greater.

In addition, today there are more self-care tools available than ever: mobile apps to monitor blood sugar, accessible glucose sensors, and community health programs offering education and support.

A WARNING NOT TO IGNORE

Even if you don’t feel it, prediabetes is real and dangerous if

Dr Lena Sanchez is a General Practitioner and a graduate of the Universidad Tecnológica de Santiago (UTESA) in the Dominican Republic. She also holds diplomas in Nutrition and Diet Therapy, as well as in Diabetology and Obesity, awarded by the Central University of the East in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

untreated. Early detection is an effective way to prevent a lifelong condition. A simple blood test is

DR LENA SANCHEZ

Last week several Deputy Governors and Heads of Public Service gathered for the United Kingdom Caribbean Overseas Territories Public Service Summit right here in the TCI. (TCIG photo)

Govt unveils 5-year public service roadmap at leadership forum

The Turks and Caicos Islands marked a milestone last week with the hosting of its second Public Service Leadership Forum which saw the unveiling of an ambitious ‘Public Service Roadmap 2025–2030’.

Held from June 12 to 13, the event brought together senior executives and public sector leaders to craft the future of governance under the theme ‘Public Service Reimagined’.

According to Deputy Governor, HE Anya Williams – under whose patronage the event is held - the newly launched roadmap is not merely a plan but a forward-thinking blueprint for revolutionising the TCI public service. It focuses on creating a resilient, efficient, and peoplecentred government, she said.

The plan also outlines six key strategic goals supported by 18 objectives and 80 targeted initiatives. The pillars are aimed at fostering public service excellence and achieving the national aspirations laid out in the PNP Government’s Vision 2040.

The Deputy Governor, who also heads the TCI public service placed focus on the central role of the roadmap in the country’s development.

In her address, she said, “As public servants, our primary responsibility is to support government policies, to serve our communities and to safeguard the rights and interests of the public.”

She added that the new strategic plan “challenges us to become more people-focused, better led and organised and more effective in the use of our resources as we continue to deliver value to the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands”.

Williams noted that the roadmap is tied to two pillars of national development: delivering first-rate public services aligned with the government’s strategic priorities and advancing the longterm national vision of achieving developed country status by 2040.

To achieve these ambitious goals, she said the plan is built on six foundational strategies:

creating a people-focused culture, driving institutional strengthening strategies, providing exceptional customer experience, leveraging technology, pursuing governance excellence and promoting effective communication.

“The overall aim of the roadmap is to be the golden standard in public service,” the Deputy Governor said.

The launch of the roadmap signals the beginning of active implementation across the public service, the government said this week.

Following the launch, the roadmap will be actively implemented through a series of stakeholder engagements and implementation briefings with members of the public service.

Beyond the framework, government said the strategic plan highlights 80 key projects spread across five years tied to each strategic pillar, ensuring that “progress is both measurable and aligned with national priorities”.

The development of the roadmap was led by the Office of the Deputy Governor through a cross-sector steering committee which included consultations with both the public and private sector, emphasising a comprehensive approach to public service enhancement.

(DELANA ISLES)

TCI hosts landmark UK OTs Civil Service ...

people with integrity, efficiency, and purpose”.

She said the summit, followed by the Turks and Caicos Islands Public Service Leadership Forum, provides an invaluable opportunity to learn from one another, to share best practices and to identify impactful strategies to strengthen governance and service delivery across the region.

Acting Premier and Minister of Border Control and Immigration Honourable Jamell Robinson

echoed these sentiments, stating: “The decision to host this year’s UKOT heads of public service summit in the Turks and Caicos Islands is both a powerful endorsement and a symbolic milestone, a clear affirmation of our territory’s rising leadership and influence within the region.”

He shared that this was more than a gathering of leaders, “it is a bold call to action”. “It reaffirms our collective commitment to excellence, adaptability, and the pursuit of meaningful public value that reaches every citizen, every institution, and every future

generation,” Robinson added.

The Governor, HE Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam, welcomed the attendees, while underscoring the importance of the event: “You gather at a critical moment, as we collectively navigate complex challenges and bold public service reform to meet the evolving expectations of a modern world.”

She said for the Turks and Caicos Islands, hosting the event along with its own leadership forum, featuring 200 of its brightest talents, offers a unique opportunity to share

insights collectively and connect future leaders with the wealth of experience of the Deputy Governors and Heads of Public Service.

“It is through this kind of collaboration that we cultivate innovation, inspire excellence and ensure our public service remains resilient and responsive in a rapidly evolving world,” the Governor observed.

The Summit unfolded amidst a week-long series of activities hosted by the Office of the Deputy Governor. (DELANA ISLES)

(L-R) Opposition Leader Hon Edwin Astwood; the Governor, HE Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam, Deputy Governor, HE Anya Williams and Deputy Premier, Hon Jamell Robinson (TCIG photos)

Deputy Governor HE Anya Williams last week unveiled the Public Service Roadmap during the second annual public service leadership forum

Regional

Bahamas to cancel contracts with Cuban doctors after talks with Washington

The Bahamas is preparing to cancel contracts with Cuban healthcare professionals after discussions with the US government, Bahamian Health Minister Michael Darville said in a parliamentary address this week.

Darville said his ministry would enter into direct employment contracts with Cuban healthcare professionals in The Bahamas. “Those who are not interested in this new arrangement will be given time to wrap up their affairs and

return to Cuba.”.

Darville added that recruitment efforts for Cuban teachers and health workers were also on hold, pending the outcome of discussions with the United States.

Cuba’s health service generates major export earnings by sending doctors and health workers around the world.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has accused officials involved in Cuba’s labour export programme of being involved

Dad donating Kidney

A ground-breaking kidney transplant is set to take place today at Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH), where a father will donate a kidney to his son, who suffers from end-stage renal disease.

The operation marks the country’s first-ever living donor transplant under the Public Hospitals Authority’s (PHA) newly launched Renal Transplant Programme.

The names of the father and son have been withheld for privacy reasons.

The son has reportedly been on dialysis for the past three years.

At a press briefing held at PMH yesterday, officials emphasised the significance of this medical milestone. Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Michael Darville clarified that while this is not the first kidney transplant in The Bahamas — similar procedures have taken place at Doctors Hospital and PMH — this surgery represents a new era of structured

in human trafficking and labour exploitation, accusations denied by Cuba and many Caribbean leaders, who say the Cuban medical programs are essential and comply with international labour laws.

Currently, there are only 35 Cuban healthcare professionals in The Bahamas, most of them engineers, lab technicians and X-ray technicians, Darville said.

The Bahamas faces a shortage of local healthcare professionals, the minister said. (Reuters)

Police operation in Haiti kills 100 gang members: Report

Police in Haiti killed more than 100 gang members during a 48hour operation using unmanned aerial vehicles, according to local media reports on Wednesday.

The drone strikes targeted gang-controlled areas across different parts of the capital Portau-Prince. At least 100 gang members died and many others sustained injuries as a result of the operations.

Authorities have not issued an official statement regarding the operation. However, the National Network for the Defense of Human Rights confirmed that the police

action took place.

Police continue operations at multiple locations, reports indicate.

Haiti faces a severe security crisis with armed gangs controlling large portions of territory. The United Nations Integrated Office for Haiti reported that 1,617 people were killed and 580 others sustained injuries in violent incidents during the first three months of this year alone.

The casualties resulted from clashes involving armed gangs, self-defense groups, unorganised civilians and security forces, according to UN data. (AA.com.tr)

to son in Bahamas’ first living donor transplant

critical component in treating endstage renal disease, haemodialysis, and peritoneal dialysis.

According to a STEPS survey, The Bahamas ranks highest in the region for end-stage renal disease, a troubling indicator driving the urgency of such healthcare initiatives.

In the 2025/2026 national budget, the government allocated $1.59m to the National Organ Transplant Programme, with projections to increase this to $3m in 2026/2027 and $4.5m in 2027/2028. Dr Darville noted that further funding increases may follow based on demand.

can meet the growing and complex needs of our people,” Ms Rolle said.

To qualify for a transplant, patients must undergo comprehensive medical and psychological evaluations.

Dr Vantario Taylor, consultant general surgeon and a member of PHA’s transplant surgical team, stressed the importance of voluntary donor consent.

“If we get wind that they may be motivated by anything other than the kindness of their heart to donate the kidney, then they’re off the table as a donor,” he said. “A kidney transplant is a gift of life.”

public care involving local and regional collaboration.

A team of Bahamian specialists is performing the transplant in collaboration with surgeons from Trinidad and Barbados. Dr Darville said the government is committed to expanding the initiative through the broader National Transplant Programme.

PHA managing director Aubynette Rolle said the nation’s healthcare system is evolving to meet the growing and complex needs of its citizens.

He added that after consulting with local nephrologists and transplant surgeons, kidney transplants were identified as a

“We are building it right here in The Bahamas and, in partnership with regional expertise and global best practices, we are demonstrating that The Bahamas

An external review board and committee oversee each donor-recipient pair to ensure transparency and ethical standards. Dr Taylor also noted that kidney removal is not uncommon, and recovery is generally swift, with patients typically discharged within a week if no complications arise. (Tribune242)

Police are trying to regain control of Haiti

Consultant transplant nephrologist and director of nephrology services at Princess Margaret Hospital Rhea Thurston-Carroll and consultant general and transplant surgeon Dr Vantario Taylor

Cuban doctors and other healthcare workers have been instrumental to the region

Regional

Bahamas: Cooper says FNM is ‘eager for a beatdown’ dismissing suggestions of early election

Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper, seemingly dismissing speculation of an early election, said the Free National Movement (FNM) appears “eager for a beat down”.

“Nearly four years ago, the Bahamian people gave us a mandate to move this country forward, and since then, we haven’t missed a beat, not to say that there haven’t been missteps, not to say that there isn’t more to do, but we have stayed the course,” Mr Cooper said during his Budget Contribution in the House of Assembly.

“But we do have at least another year left, notwithstanding the politricksters opposite standing firm in their delusion about an early election. I’ve never seen a crew so eager for a beat down.”

FNM leader Michael Pintard has claimed — without evidence

— that the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) is planning to call an early election, possibly as soon as September.

Last month, amid speculation about an early poll, Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis did not rule it out but stressed such a move was not imminent.

He told reporters the date “is here in my heart” and would be announced at the appropriate time. When asked, he neither confirmed nor denied any early election.

Mr Davis emphasised that his administration still has significant work to complete before sending voters to the polls.

“I’m hearing the talk of early election,” Mr Davis said last month, “but we have a lot of work to do, and we are executing our work, and I have still a number of

BVI aiming to exit financial services grey list within two years

The government has pledged to complete key reforms within two years as it works to remove the territory from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list.

Junior Minister for Financial Services Lorna Smith reaffirmed the government’s commitment in a recent statement, noting that the political pledge she made to the FATF to implement its Action Plan was “well received”.

“In February 2024, the FATF published its report on the Virgin Islands. Since then, we have made significant strides—progress that has been acknowledged and applauded by the FATF,” Smith stated in a recent Facebook post titled ‘FATF Reflections – A Call to Action for Team BVI’.

She described the coming period as one that will require “unity, determination, and collective action,” stressing that all sectors— regulators, industry leaders, public officials and citizens—must work together to reclaim the BVI’s

things to get started before I call an election and when they get started and on the way, then you can say election is imminent but it’s not imminent now.”

Earlier this month, Mr Davis urged PLP supporters to prepare for the next general election, encouraging them to rally their family and friends. He made the call during a celebratory event at Clifford Park honouring his birthday, where dozens of PLP supporters gathered after attending the annual Sir Randol Fawkes Labour Day march.

He said announcements would soon be made regarding voter registration and other key steps leading up to the election.

The next general election is not constitutionally due until October 2026. (Tribune242)

US target restrictions targets several Caribbean islands

Four Caribbean countries –Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, St. Lucia, and St. Kitts and Nevis – have been named in a leaked US State Department memo as potential additions to expanded US travel restrictions.

standing.

“Our legislative and institutional frameworks are fundamentally sound, but there are still areas where improvement is needed. That’s why we have set ourselves the shortest timeframe possible—two years— to complete the necessary work and achieve delisting,” she explained.

Smith drew inspiration from industry veteran Robert Mathavious, who said: “The FATF has placed us on their Grey List. We are down but not out. How long we stay down will be determined by the effective resolve of a united and joined-up team of BVI stakeholders to work together to rectify the deficiencies catalogued in the BVI Report.”

She agreed that while the task ahead is challenging, a “truly BVI First, non-partisan” approach is the only way forward.

“This is our moment to rise. Let’s stay focused, stay united, and move forward with urgency and purpose,” Smith asserted

Although Cayman Islands’ residents from those countries would find it more difficult to travel if the restrictions are implemented, there would be little to no impact here otherwise, mainly because Cayman does not bestow citizenship by investment – or even a path to citizenship by investment – with no requirement of residency.

The document, dated 14 June and signed by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, outlines a draft list of 36 “countries of concern” that “might be recommended for full or partial suspension of entry” into the US if they do not meet specific benchmarks within 60 days. The issues to be addressed involve “questionable security” of passports, data sharing, visa overstays and antisemitic or antiAmerican activity.

Other countries included on the draft list are Angola, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cote D’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Egypt, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, South Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Tonga, Tuvalu, Uganda, Vanuatu, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

St Kitts and Nevis is among four Caribbean islands allegedly listed

‘CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT’ UNDER SCRUTINY

Among the more detailed reasons for the potential restrictions provided in the leaked memo is “the availability of citizenship by monetary investment without a requirement of residency.”

The Cayman Islands does not offer citizenship as part of its “Residency by Investment” programme.

The xitizenship By investment programmes offered allow individuals to obtain a passport in exchange for financial contributions – typically without needing to live in the country. All four Caribbean nations listed in the memo offer such programmes. There is concern, outlined in a London School of Economics report, that these policies provide a loophole for citizens from banned

countries to gain entry to the US using secondary passports.

As an example of the international demand that has drawn US scrutiny, Chinese nationals made up the majority of Antigua and Barbuda’s 739 citizenship by investment applications received between January and June 2024 – 12% of all applications received – with another 9% coming from Nigerians. Other countries with citizenship by investment programmes that were also included on the list include Vanuatu, Cambodia and Egypt.

LITTLE DIRECT IMPACT ON CAYMAN

Cayman is not on the draft list and is unlikely to be significantly affected by the proposed travel or immigration restrictions. Cayman’s Residency by Investment model does not offer a non-resident path to citizenship or a “golden passport”. According to the most recent Cayman Islands Compendium of Statistics, there are 51 St. Lucians on work permits in Cayman, with even smaller populations from Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Antigua and Barbuda. With Cayman’s reliance on US gateways for air access, the proposed restrictions – if implemented –could potentially disrupt those wishing to travel between Grand Cayman and affected countries. However, none of those countries provide a significant number of tourists for Cayman and those wishing to do business here from the impacted countries would have the option of traveling through Jamaica. (Cayman Compass)

Deputy Prime Minister of the Bahamas Chester Cooper

UK: First Windrush commissioner announced

The first Windrush commissioner has been announced by the government - seven years after the scandal was first exposed and following the serious impact on thousands of Caribbean migrants in the UK.

The Reverend Clive Foster, a senior pastor who works at the Pilgrim Church in Nottingham, will take up the newly created role on a three-year term.

He is the founder of the Nottingham Windrush Support Forum and serves as vicechair of the Windrush National Organisation, where he volunteers.

A top priority will be looking at how to improve the Windrush Compensation Scheme which has been described by campaigners as “torturous”.

It has been heavily criticised for taking too long to process claims, low offers and unfair rejections reversed on appeal.

There are ongoing calls for the scheme to be run independently but the Home Office says it is “determined to ensure that victims of the Home Office Windrush scandal are heard, that justice is sped up, and that the compensation

scheme is run effectively”.

Mr Foster said: “My aim is to deliver change that the Windrush generations can see and feel in their everyday lives, particularly in how the Windrush status and compensation schemes operate.”

He added: “I will carry out this role independently, without fear or favour, while creating a constructive relationship with government where challenge is welcomed and scrutiny leads to specific, transparent improvements.”

The Windrush scandal was

first revealed in April 2018 after it emerged that the Home Office failed to keep records of people with indefinite leave to remain and had not issued the paperwork they needed to confirm their legal status.

Thousands of Caribbean migrants who came to the UK from the late 1940s legally had the right to remain in the UK.

But they were wrongly classed as illegal citizens because of a hostile immigration policy which meant they were denied access to homes, jobs and NHS care.

Some were detained and deported.

In January 2023, the thenConservative government decided to scrap three recommendations made in an independent review, including a new migrants’ commissioner.

When Labour came into power in 2024 it reversed that decision.

Earlier this week a new report by the charity Justice, the University of Sussex and a London law firm suggested two-thirds of Windrush claimants had not received any compensation, while others are getting significantly less than they may be entitled to due to the lack of funded legal assistance.

Windrush is one of very few major state compensation schemes that does not provide legal assistance and the Home Office has so far rejected calls for it to be introduced.

The new commissioner will be responsible for speaking up for migrants and those affected by systems such as the Windrush Compensation Scheme.

So far the government has paid out nearly £110m towards more than 3,000 claims, according to

latest Home Office data.

But 15,000 people were thought to be eligible when it was set up in April 2019.

A Home Office spokesperson said: “Earlier this year, we launched a £1.5 million advocacy support fund to provide dedicated help from trusted community organisations when victims are applying for compensation.”

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “The story of the Windrush generations is woven into the fabric of our nation and this government is absolutely determined to right the wrongs they suffered at the hands of the Home Office.

“This is why I am delighted to welcome Reverend Clive Foster as our new Windrush Commissioner. His deep understanding through his own connections and dedicated community work makes him the perfect champion for those affected by this historic injustice.”

The announcement comes in the lead up to Windrush Day on 22 June, which celebrates the contribution Caribbean migrants and their families have made to the UK. (BBC)

MI6 appoints first female chief in 116-year history

MI6 will be led by a woman for the first time in the foreign intelligence service’s 116-year history.

Blaise Metreweli, who joined the Secret Intelligence Service in 1999, will become the 18th chief of the organisation and take over from Sir Richard Moore later this year.

She is currently responsible for technology and innovation at the service and said she was “proud and honoured” to have been asked to lead.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer called the appointment “historic” at a time “when the work of our intelligence services has never been more vital”.

MI6 is tasked with gathering intelligence overseas to improve the UK’s security, with its core aims being to stop terrorism, disrupt the activities of hostile states and bolster cyber-security. Its chief, commonly referred to as “C”, is the only publicly named member of the service.

Ms Metreweli, 47, is currently Director General “Q” - head of the crucial technology and innovation division that aims to keep the identities of secret agents secret, and come up with new ways to evade adversaries like China’s biometric surveillance.

“MI6 plays a vital role - with

MI5 and GCHQ - in keeping the British people safe and promoting UK interests overseas,” she said.

“I look forward to continuing that work alongside the brave officers and agents of MI6 and our many international partners.”

Ms Metreweli, who studied anthropology at the University of Cambridge, has previously held director level roles in MI5 - MI6’s sister, domestic security agency - and spent most of her career working in the Middle East and Europe.

On the King’s overseas and international birthday honours list in 2024, she received the Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) for her services to British foreign policy.

Speaking to the Telegraph in December 2021 when she was at MI5, under the pseudonym of “Director K”, Ms Metreweli said threats to UK national security “really are diverse”.

“The threats we are looking at primarily exist around protecting government, protecting secrets, protecting our people - so counterassassination - protecting our economy, sensitive technology and critical knowledge,” she said.

She added that “Russian state activity - not Russia itself - remains

a threat” and that China was “changing the way the world is and that presents amazing opportunities and threats for the UK”.

WHAT DOES ‘C’ DO?

• C is the head of MI6, officially known as Secret Intelligence Service, and they report to the foreign secretary.

• C is also part of the Joint Intelligence Committee, alongside heads of other departments and senior government officials. It receives intelligence reports, analyses ongoing situations and advises the prime minister

• It is a common misnomer to think that the “C” stands for Chief. It does not. Britain’s very first spy agency was called the Secret Service Bureau, established in the 1900s. It was

led by a Royal Navy officer, Captain Mansfield Cumming. He always signed his letters “C” and the codename has stuck.

• Captain Cumming wrote in green ink. To this day, the head of MI6 is the only person in Whitehall who will write in green.

• And does C give his or her agents a “licence to kill”? No. But the foreign secretary can. Under Section 7 of the Intelligence Services Act 1994, an MI6 agent can be authorised to carry out certain actions which would otherwise be illegal - including using lethal force. But it is a long and complicated legal process.

The organisation she will be running faces unprecedented and multiple challenges.

Geographically, these emanate primarily from Russia, China, Iran and North Korea, as the four

nations co-operate ever more closely to undermine UK and Western interests across the globe.

But there are technical challenges too.

MI6’s role is to recruit human agents to steal secrets from Britain’s adversaries, which include both hostile nations and non-state groups like al-Qaeda.

In an age of rapid digital innovation, MI6 is having to pedal ever faster to stay ahead of its enemies and to remain relevant, when so much intelligence is now gathered online and from space.

Last September, outgoing chief Sir Richard - alongside then-CIA chief William Burns - warned that the international world was “under threat in a way we haven’t seen since the Cold War”.

Writing in the Financial Times, the pair said that beyond the war in Ukraine, the two foreign intelligence services were continuing to “work together to disrupt the reckless campaign of sabotage across Europe being waged by Russian intelligence”.

Sir Richard and Mr Burns added that they saw the rise of China as the main intelligence and geopolitical challenge of the century. They also said they had pushed “hard” for restraint and de-escalation in the Middle East.

The Reverend Clive Foster will take up the role on a three year term

Blaise Metreweli will take over from Sir Richard Moore

Can the Israeli and Iranian economies survive a war?

As Israel and Iran carry out strikes against each other for a seventh straight day, the region is anxiously bracing for a potentially wider conflict. But question marks remain over the two sides’ ability to finance a sustained war effort.

On Friday, Israel killed several of Iran’s top military commanders and nuclear scientists and damaged some of its nuclear sites. It has since damaged parts of Iran’s fossil fuel sector. In response, Iran has launched missile attacks at government buildings and metropolitan areas in Israel.

As of Thursday, the Israeli attacks have killed 240 people while Iranian strikes have killed at least 24 people.

But the conflict is also costing both nations billions of dollars and could choke their economic growth and trigger concerns over longterm fiscal planning.

WHAT ARE THE COSTS OF THE WAR FOR ISRAEL?

Israel’s prolonged military operations in Gaza since October 2023 and the recent escalation with Iran have plunged the country into the most expensive period of conflict in its history.

According to a January report by the Israeli business newspaper Calcalist, the cumulative cost of the Gaza war alone had reached 250 billion shekels ($67.5bn) by the end of 2024.

A June 15 report by the Israeli news outlet Ynet News, quoting a former financial adviser to the Israeli military’s chief of staff, estimated that the first two days of fighting with Iran alone cost Israel 5.5 billion shekels (roughly $1.45bn). At that rate, a prolonged conflict with Iran could see Israel surpass the end-2024 Gaza war expenses within seven weeks.

Even before the current escalation with Iran, Israel had dramatically increased its defence budget amid its multiple regional conflicts and the war on Gaza. From 60 billion shekels ($17bn) in 2023, it grew to 99 billion ($28bn) in 2024. Projections for 2025 suggest it could reach 118 billion shekels ($34bn).

The Ministry of Finance set a deficit ceiling of 4.9 percent of Israel’s gross domestic product (GDP) for this fiscal year, equating to 105 billion shekels ($27.6bn). Higher military spending would put that to the test.

HOW WILL THE LATEST CONFLICT IMPACT

ISRAEL’S

DEBT PROFILE?

Despite a recent increase in projected tax revenues – from 517 billion to 539 billion shekels ($148bn to $154bn) – Israel’s 2025

growth forecast has been revised down from 4.3 to 3.6 percent.

According to the business survey company CofaceBDI, roughly 60,000 Israeli companies closed in 2024 due to manpower shortages, logistics disruptions and subdued business sentiment. In addition, tourist arrivals continue to fall short of pre-October 2023 levels.

Those trends could be aggravated in the event of a fullfledged war with Iran.

S&P Global Ratings issued a stark warning about the vulnerability of the Israeli economy on Tuesday.

The agency stated that a continued Israeli war campaign, particularly if met with a sustained and strategic Iranian response, could lead to a downgrade of Israel’s credit rating from A to A-. Were that to happen, it would likely raise borrowing costs and soften investor confidence in the Israeli economy.

HOW HAS IRAN’S FOSSIL FUEL INDUSTRY BEEN IMPACTED?

In recent days, Iran’s oil exports appear to have fallen dramatically. Total Iranian crude and condensate oil exports are forecast to reach 102,000 barrels per day (bpd) in the week ending on Sunday. That’s less than half the 242,000 bpd it was averaging in exports this year, according to data from the analytics firm Kpler.

Critically, exports from Kharg Island, from which Iran exports

more than 90 percent of its oil, appear to have completely halted since Friday. No tankers were anchored at Kharg Island on Monday, according to LSEG satellite ship tracking data.

In 2025, Iran has produced an average of 3.4 million bpd of crude, according to the United States Energy Information Administration (EIA), with China appearing to be the main foreign buyer. Most of the oil Iran produces is for domestic consumption.

On Saturday, Iran partially suspended gas production at the South Pars gasfield in the Gulf after it was hit by Israeli missiles. South Pars, which Iran shares with Qatar, is the world’s biggest gasfield. It produces about 80 percent of Iran’s total gas output.

For now, the extent of the damage to the South Pars field is unknown. In addition, Israel has targeted the Shahr Rey refinery outside Tehran as well as fuel depots around the capital. The full impact of these strikes on production is unknown.

HOW DO SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAN PLAY A ROLE?

Iran has faced economic sanctions from the US after the Islamic Revolution and the US embassy hostage crisis in 1979 and then over its nuclear programme.

In a bid to pressure Tehran to agree to a deal on its nuclear programme, the administration of then-US President Barack Obama coaxed multiple major economies around the world to cut down

challenging than during the IranIraq War in the 1980s.

In March, he openly criticised the latest round of US sanctions targeting tankers carrying Iranian oil.

WHAT ARE IRAN’S OTHER CHALLENGES?

Iran also faces a string of other constraints – energy and water shortages, a collapsing currency and military setbacks among its regional allies – all amplified by the sanctions.

A lack of investment, declining natural gas production and inefficient irrigation are all leading to power blackouts and water shortages.

or stop their oil purchases from Iran, using a wave of additional sanctions.

Those sanctions were relaxed after Iran struck the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) deal in 2015 with the US, Russia, China, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the European Union.

The following year, Iran exported 2.8 million bpd of petroleum products.

But US President Donald Trump reimposed the sanctions in 2018 during his first term as president and added more, again pressuring most other nations to stop buying Iranian crude. The result, according to the EIA, was that Tehran generated only $50bn in oil export revenue in 2022 and 2023, which amounts to roughly 200,000 bpd of crude exports, less than 10 percent of 2016 levels.

The upshot is that sanctions have gutted Iran’s foreign exchange earnings.

Iran has staved off economic collapse in part thanks to China, the main buyer of its oil and one of the few nations still trading with Tehran.

Still, the loss of revenue because of the sanctions has deprived the country of long-term economic development and has hit Tehran’s ability to fix dilapidated infrastructure.

President Masoud Pezeshkian has repeatedly highlighted the severity of the economic situation facing the country, stating that Tehran’s situation is more

Meanwhile, the rial, Iran’s currency, has shed more than 90 percent of its value against the dollar since the sanctions were reimposed in 2018, according to foreign exchange websites. And while the official inflation rate hovers around 40 percent, some Iranian experts said it is actually running at more than 50 percent. “Precise numbers are hard to come by,” said Hamzeh Al Gaaod, an economic analyst at TS Lombard, a political research firm.

“But what we can say is that years of sanctions have triggered inflationary pressure, including through devaluations of the rial. In turn, that makes goods imports from abroad more expensive,” Al Gaaod told Al Jazeera.

In January, the Tasnim news agency quoted the head of Iran’s Institute of Labor and Social Welfare, Ebrahim Sadeghifar, as saying 22 to 27 percent of Iranians were now below the poverty line.

Unemployment is running at 9.2 percent. However, Iran’s Supreme Assembly of Workers’ Representatives, which represents labour interests, estimated the true figure of people without access to subsistence-level work is far higher.

WHAT CAN IRAN SPEND?

According to Al Gaaod, Tehran has a “relatively small budget for military purposes”. He estimated that anywhere from 3 to 5 percent of Iran’s GDP is spent on defence, which amounts to roughly $12bn. Tehran does have $33bn in foreign exchange reserves it could theoretically draw on. But Al Gaaod said: “This is where Iran is on the backfoot. To use reserves for short-term military conflict would cripple them over the longer term.”

“We’ve seen a ‘rally under the flag’ sentiment in recent days. But if Iran experiences more strikes and civilian evacuations, that could easily unwind,” he said. (AlJazeera)

Israel attacked Iran first, killing several top military commanders and nuclear scientists

Argentina top court draws curtain on Cristina Kirchner’s political era

Argentina’s top court effectively banned two-term former President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner from office and upheld a six-year jail sentence, likely drawing a curtain on one of the country’s most flamboyant and divisive political careers.

Kirchner, 72, a polarizing opposition figure and leftist president from 2007 to 2015, was convicted by a trial court in 2022 for a fraud scheme that steered public road work projects in the Patagonia to a close ally while she was president.

The ruling scuppers Kirchner’s plans to run in Buenos Aires provincial legislative elections, but could galvanize her divided Peronist opposition coalition, which has been licking its wounds since being ousted in 2023 by current libertarian President Javier Milei.

The Supreme Court’s three judges rejected Kirchner’s appeal and left in effect an appellate court decision that had upheld the guilty verdict. A lower court will decide whether to grant Kirchner house arrest due to her age.

“The complaint is dismissed,” the Supreme Court said in a ruling. Kirchner has denied wrongdoing and claims she is a victim of political persecution.

In Buenos Aires, her supporters blocked roads across the city. Some banged on drums. Others carried banners with the image of Evita Perón, the wife of Juan Perón, the founder of the political movement who was known as a defender of the poor.

“A triumverate of unpresentables,” Kirchner said of the Supreme Court judges after the ruling, speaking before thousands

of supporters who rallied in downtown Buenos Aires outside the headquarters of her Peronist Justicialista party.

Kirchner’s shadow looms large over the Peronist movement, which needs to identify a new generation of leaders.

“The fact that she goes to jail and can’t be a candidate doesn’t eliminate her political movement,” said political analyst Carlos Fara. “Obviously though it won’t be the same.”

A government source said that it could both weaken or strengthen the opposition. Peronism “can either entrench itself or break into a thousand pieces,” the person told Reuters.

JUSTICE?

Prosecutors accused Kirchner of directing hundreds of millions of dollars to construction magnate Lázaro Báez. During her government and that of her late husband, Néstor Kirchner, companies tied to Báez were awarded dozens of government contracts for roadwork projects in Patagonia but nearly half of them

LABOURER

were abandoned, prosecutors said. Báez and other officials were sentenced to prison terms.

Peronism and Kirchner’s popularity have suffered in recent years. She served as vice president in 2019 under President Alberto Fernández, whose government oversaw a slide into economic crisis by overprinting pesos that led to sharp spike in inflation.

But she has still been able to maintain a hardcore support base, particularly from working-class voters who relied on government subsidies under her and her husband’s governments.

“As a figure she’s not been overshadowed on the political scene by anyone,” said Carolina Barry, an expert on Peronism at the Universidad Nacional de Tres de Febrero in Buenos Aires. “Her words resonate with many groups.”

Kirchner has been sharply critical of Milei’s austerity, accusing him of cutting pensions and defunding public education. Milei has shot back that he would “love to bang the last nail in the coffin of Kirchnerismo, with Cristina Kirchner inside.” (CNN)

Erick makes landfall as a Category 3 hurricane, the strongest to hit Mexico so early in the year

Hurricane Erick slammed into Mexico’s Oaxaca state as a dangerous Category 3 storm Thursday morning, unleashing powerful winds at the coast while spreading heavy rain over the region.

The hurricane made landfall about 20 miles east of Punta Maldonado, Mexico, just after 6 a.m. CDT Thursday, according to NOAA’s National Hurricane Center. Winds of 125 mph were roaring around its center at landfall.

The storm came ashore about 100 miles east of Acapulco, the city devastated by Hurricane Otis in October 2023.

Erick is the first major hurricane – Category 3 or greater – on record to hit Mexico before July. The hurricane maxed out as a ferocious Category 4 storm with 145 mph winds just off the coast in the earliest hours of Thursday morning.

It underwent extreme rapid intensification from Tuesday night into Wednesday night, strengthening from a tropical

storm to a Category 4 hurricane in just 24 hours. Rapid intensification is becoming more frequent in a world warming due to fossil fuel pollution.

Erick will deteriorate quickly as it tracks through Mexico’s steep mountains Thursday and is should dissipate by early Friday. It was already a Category 1 hurricane a few hours after landfall. Despite that, it will drop a troubling amount of rain in a short period that could cause dangerous flooding.

The East Pacific hurricane season has been very busy since it began in mid-May. Erick is already the fifth named storm of the season – storms are named when they reach at least tropical stormstrength – and the second hurricane.

The basin doesn’t typically have its second hurricane until mid-July, according to NOAA.

The Atlantic hurricane season is also underway, but has yet to churn out its first named storm and there’s little prospect for it in the next few days. (CNN)

Chinese student who drugged and raped 10 women in UK and China sentenced to life in prison

A serial rapist who was convicted of raping 10 women in the United Kingdom and China has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 24 years.

Zhenhao Zou, 28, was sentenced Thursday at Inner London Crown Court. Judge Rosina Cottage told him he would serve 22 years and 227 days before he was eligible for parole, taking into account time spent on remand, according to the UK’s PA Media.

Zou was found guilty in March of 11 counts of rape, one count of false imprisonment, three counts of

voyeurism and a number of other offenses, including the possession of extreme pornographic images and the possession of a controlled drug with intent to commit a sexual offense.

Many of his victims were “unconscious and rendered defenseless” after being drugged, according to prosecutors.

Police and prosecutors said Zou, who also used the name “Pakho” online, contacted students of Chinese heritage on WeChat and dating apps, inviting them to his apartments in London and China to

drug and assault them. The police said he also took items from his victims, including jewelry and clothing.

The UK’s Crown Prosecution Service said Zou filmed some of the attacks using a mobile device and hidden cameras. The police said he “manipulated and drugged women in order to prey on them in the most cowardly way.” Zou was a PhD student at University College London. He was arrested in January 2024 after one of his victims came forward to police.

Mexican Navy members help with the clean-up after Erick passed through Puerto Escondido in Oaxaca

Kirchner addresses supporters outside the headquarters of her Peronist Justicialista party after the verdict

Undated handout photo issued by the Metropolitan Police of Chinese PhD student Zhenhao Zou, 28, who could be one of the UK’s worst sex offenders

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CARETAKER

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TCI original film

‘Ripple Effect’ makes historic debuts at Caribbean Film Festival

A historic first was recorded for the Turks and Caicos Islands when the locally produced and directed film ‘Ripple Effect’ debuted at the Caribbean Film Festival in Trinidad and Tobago on June 11 to 15.

Representing the TCI was a delegation led by Director of Sports Jarrett Forbes, the Commission’s media representative and the film’s executive producer Nandina Hislop and Project I.D.E.A. media club member Malachi Jarrett, who also served as the student director of the film.

‘Ripple Effect’ is a short film developed through the Commission’s youth-focused initiative, Project I.D.E.A. The film earned its place as an official selection from a highly competitive field of over 1,000 entries, and was screened on Saturday June 14, at CinemaOne, alongside productions from Haiti, Jamaica and Canada.

“This milestone marks a historic first for the Turks and Caicos Islands, as Ripple Effect becomes the country’s debut entry in a regional film festival, in 4DX,” a government statement this week said.

Created by youths under the guidance of the Sports Commission and One Island Media, the film has surpassed expectations and affirmed the value of investing in creative, sport-based storytelling.

Director Forbes noted: “Project I.D.E.A. Media Club is a powerful extension of our mandate to foster youth development through sport and innovation. By combining sport, storytelling, and media, we are creating new opportunities for cultural expression, economic diversification, and national branding.”

He said a film like ‘Ripple Effect’ not only showcases the creative talents of TCI youth but also positions Turks and Caicos Islands as a destination for sport tourism and cinematic exploration.

Commenting on the film’s debut, Sports Minister Rachel Taylor said ‘Ripple Effect’ is a powerful demonstration of how sport can be a gateway, not just to physical development or competition, but to leadership, creative expression, and social impact.

“Born from a sports-based

initiative, this film shows how programs rooted in sport can cultivate life skills, unlock talent, and open new pathways for our youth. When we invest in platforms for young people to express themselves, we’re also investing in national identity, social awareness, and emerging industries like film and media,” Taylor expressed.

She noted that sport is a global force that transcends boundaries, reaching into media, health, education, justice, and economic development. “Through sport, we gave birth to a project that goes beyond the playing field and speaks directly to the heart of social change.”

She emphasised: “We are building confident, conscious citizens with the power to shape their future through storytelling, advocacy, and innovation.”

“The Caribbean Film Festival offers a platform that helps us to contend in the world,” Festival director Asha Lovelace shared. She said the “festival is ours, built by us, for us to assert our presence and provide a point of reference for the region’s films”.

She added that it offers audiences a rare and powerful experience of seeing themselves reflected in honesty, complexity and care. “For the wider world, it announces that the Caribbean is not a backdrop, it is a source, a source of vision and immense talent.”

Meanwhile, looking ahead, the team said it plans to expound on Ripple Effect, making it into a feature-length film that will expand on its central theme ‘the consequences of our actions’ through a bold and twisted narrative with a young athlete.

Executive Producer Nandina Hislop shared: “The team is immensely proud of what we were able to accomplish. With limited resources and gifted minds, we were able to position ourselves where we could tell such a complex story, uplifting local talent and becoming recognised among the top 7% of entries in the Caribbean region.”

She asserted that talent exists in copious amounts within the TCI, “but a powerful engine is needed to get us moving”.

Hislop said the project is

currently seeking funding from both private and public sector partners to take the film to the next level. To support this initiative,

please contact project lead Nandina Hislop at nehislop@gov.tc.

Tyler Perry accused of sexual assault in actor’s $260m lawsuit

US film and TV giant Tyler Perry has been sued for $260m (£194m) by an actor who has accused the mogul of sexually assaulting him while working on his TV shows.

Derek Dixon has filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles accusing Perry of using his influence in the entertainment industry to create a “coercive, sexually exploitative dynamic” while he was acting on The Oval and Ruthless.

He alleges Perry promised him a successful acting career but then subjected him to “escalating sexual harassment, assault and battery, and professional retaliation” when he didn’t reciprocate Perry’s “unwanted advances”.

Tyler Perry is one of Hollywood’s most successful actors, writers, directors and producers

Perry’s lawyer denied the allegations and called the lawsuit a “scam” to make money.

“This is an individual who got close to Tyler Perry for what now appears to be nothing more than setting up a scam,” his attorney Matthew Boyd told the BBC. “But Tyler will not be shaken down and we are confident these fabricated claims of harassment will fail.”

Dixon said he met Perry in 2019 at a work event for Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, and the pair talked over several months about an acting career. The lawsuit states Perry also allegedly made numerous sexual comments and remarks about wanting a sexual relationship, and made several advances on Dixon - which he rejected.

(l-r) Director of Sports Jarrett Forbes, Filmmaker Vashti Anderson, Media and Communications Specialist, Nandina Hislop and Filmmaker Malachi Jarrett (Source: TCIG)

Logan and Violet Quelch win ‘DaddyDaughter HairLove competition

Logan Quelch and his daughter

Violet Quelch, Jarret Forbes and daughter Jarrah Forbes, and Tommy Urena and daughter Tammy Urena were the respective first-, secondand third-place winners of the annual Daddy-Daughter HairLove competition.

The event was hosted on Friday, 13 June by the Department of Gender Affairs in collaboration with Eliza Simons Primary School in Grand Turk.

In a statement following the competition, the department noted

that this year marked a major milestone, as the event transitioned from a virtual format to a live, inschool celebration for the very first time.

Other proud participants included Lancelot Ceasa and daughter Melissa Ceasa, Jeffrey Basco and Neveah Basco, Lemar Lewars and Armarissa Lewars, and Tito Williams and Tianna Williams.

Eliza Simons Primary School graciously hosted the event on campus, offering a vibrant and welcoming setting for a day

filled with creativity, love, and community spirit. The department extended heartfelt thanks to the school’s leadership, staff, and students for their exceptional hospitality and enthusiasm.

The HairLove competition was created to highlight and celebrate the unique bonds between fathers and daughters.

Six proud fathers participated in this year’s event, each styling their daughters’ hair live in front of an energetic audience of classmates, teachers, and family members.

The room echoed with laughter, cheers, and heartfelt applause as fathers showcased their hairstyling skills, dedication, and care, the department related.

The judging criteria included creativity, neatness, interaction, and time management.

“This event is about more than hair—it’s about fatherhood, love in action, and redefining traditional gender roles in positive, meaningful ways,” the department noted.

The department said it is dedicated to supporting and

expanding initiatives that challenge stereotypes, promote gender equality, and uplift the role of fathers in everyday family life.

The department is inviting families, schools, and communities across the Turks and Caicos Islands to join in future celebrations. They said: “By participating, you can create more moments of connection and joy between parents and children and be part of a growing movement that celebrates the unique bond between fathers, daughters and sons.”

Dedicated fathers hard at work on their daughters’ hair during this year’s HairLove competition days ahead of Father’s Day (TCIG photos)

SUNNY FOOD BLUE HILLS

Blue Hills, Providenciales

Turks and Caicos Island

Contact No: 1649-9468384

IS NOW HIRING

REFRIGERATION MECHANIC

SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• With 5 years experience in maintaining, repairing, and installing commercial refrigeration systems is required.

• Strong understanding of refrigeration principles and components, including compressors, condensers, evaporators, and controls.

• Ability to identify and resolve issues related to refrigeration systems in a timely and efficient manner.

• Adherence to safety protocols and practices to ensure a secure work environment.

• Excellent communication skills to effectively collaborate with team members and provide exceptional customer service.

• Salary for this position is $10.00 - $11.00 per hour

• This position is for work permit renewal and for first time work permit Holders

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Primary responsibilities will include inspecting, repairing, and maintaining commercial refrigeration systems. This includes diagnosing issues, replacing defective components, and conducting regular preventative maintenance tasks. You will also be required to keep accurate records, order necessary parts, and collaborate with other technicians or contractors as needed. Overall, your expertise will ensure optimal functionality and performance of the company’s refrigeration systems.

FROZEN FOOD STOCKERS

• Stock the shelves with frozen products and fill them back up when it sell

• Pick items for customers order

• Physically able to reach, stretch, bend, and walk during work hours

• Committed to working flexible hours, days, nights, weekends & holidays

• Loading and unloading Container

• Able to work in freezer at temp -20digrees

• Rate per hour $8.00 to $11.00.

PURCHASER

• Must have prior experience purchasing Asian & American Products.

• Must be have prior experience with Quick Books 2020.Must be available to work on Holiday, Nights and weekends. Both Saturday and Sunday nights are required with a day off during the middle of the week.

• Must be have good communication skills in able to commutate with overseas vendors and logistics companies .

• Ensures orders are placed in timely manner, customer request are met quick and efficiently.

• Must have extensive knowledge on NCR 7456 or similar POS system.

• Setting up training programs for employees on proper merchandising and customer service skills.

• Most work is required by standing for long periods of time and working in an environment that is not air conditioned such as a dry warehouse.

• Salary $10.00-$11.00 per hour.

• This position is for renewal and work permit application.

Whereas, JOHN FFOULKES WILIAMS and GILLIAN MARY WILLIAMS care of Miller Simons O’Sullivan, Regent House West, Regent Village, Grace Bay, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, British West Indies has declared that the Land Certificate for the above mentioned title number(s) registered in the names of JOHN FFOULKES WILIAMS and GILLIAN MARY WILLIAMS was inadvertently mislaid and cannot be found.

Take Notice that I, Lasana Murray, The Register of Lands, shall cancel the Land Certificate for the said title six weeks of date of the first publications of this Notice in a Local Newspaper and the Gazette

HOTEL ARTIST

JOB DESCRIPTION

The Hotel Artist will play a key role in shaping the creative and visual direction of the hotel by curating, designing, and installing artistic elements throughout the property during its construction and pre-opening phase.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Collaborate with architects, interior designers, and hotel leadership to develop the artistic concept and direction for the hotel.

• Curate and create original artwork, installations, murals, sculptures, and decorative pieces suited for various hotel spaces such as the lobby, guest rooms, corridors, restaurants, and outdoor areas.

• Source local and international artists or vendors to contribute to the hotel’s collection, when necessary.

• Prepare mock-ups, sketches, or visual proposals for art concepts and seek necessary approvals.

• Oversee the production, transportation, and installation of all art pieces to ensure they are completed to specification and within the construction timeline.

• Manage the art budget, timelines, and procurement of materials in coordination with the project team.

• Ensure all artwork complies with safety standards and local codes.

• Support the hotel’s branding through artistic storytelling and immersive design experiences.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts, Visual Arts, Interior Design, or a related creative field (preferred).

• Formal training or certifications in artistic disciplines such as painting, sculpture, digital design, or installation art is an asset.

• Minimum of 3–5 years of professional experience in creating and curating artwork for commercial or hospitality spaces.

• Proven portfolio demonstrating large-scale projects, especially those involving public art installations or design integration within architectural spaces.

• Experience collaborating with interior designers, architects, or hospitality developers.

AC TECHNICIAN/ INSTALLER LABOURER

BABYSITTER LABOURER

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We’re looking for an honest, professional and motivated individual with a passion for properties. Impeccable attention to detail, flexible schedule, punctuality and ability to work on weekends and holidays is a necessity.

MAIN DUTIES:

• Purchasing furniture, decor and fabrics that align with the aesthetics of each individual property.

• Arranging and stylizing properties for promotional photoshoots.

• Produce captivating written property descriptions.

• Must be able to communicate

with vendors, clients and team members and have a positive attitude.

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

Bachelor’s Degree in Interior Design or Interior Architecture

Written English language qualification

Past experience in property staging and purchasing

Ability to use Adobe Photoshop, Indesign, Excel would be an asset

Salary: $54,000 per annum

The position is full time and in person on Providenciales.

APPLICANTS CAN SUBMIT THEIR RESUME TO STAY@VILLAS. TC ISLANDERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO SEND A COPY TO THE LABOUR BOARD. ALL APPLICANTS MUST HAVE A VALID POLICE RECORD AND SUPPLY TWO REFERENCE LETTERS WITH THEIR RESUME

Coriats Trust Company is looking for an experienced corporate and compliance literate manager to join us at a senior level .

We are looking for someone with extensive experience in onboarding clients, managing a stable of companies , dealing with the Registry and the wider regulatory landscape .

Ideally you’ll be familiar with FATCA and CRS , and you’ll have 5 or more years of experience in corporate management and compliance at a senior level

We are looking for an ambitious self-starter who is used to using the Viewpoint management system , or willing to learn

We are only accepting applications from those with an unrestricted right to work in the Turks and Caicos Islands

Salary will be according to experience but will not be less than US$70,000.00

Coriats has an interesting and demanding client base of international families located all over the world

FLIGHT DISPATCHER

Preparing preflight administration, flight plans and flight briefings. Maintaining the aircraft schedule to ensure they meet airport and airspace regulations. Constant communication with pilot. Acting as the middle man between the pilot and ground services. Signing dispatch release forms to provide authorization for aircraft flight

DEPUTY DIRECTOR

REPORTING TO: Director, Human Rights Commission

LOCATION: Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands

SALARY: Grade 10.1 $87,000 per annum

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 20th June, 2025

EMAIL: kabathasmith@hrc.tc

POSITION SUMMARY

The Deputy Director is a senior leadership role within the Human Rights Commission (HRC) responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operational and legal implementation of the Commission’s mandate. The incumbent will serve as the internal lead for staff coordination, human resource oversight, and legal compliance functions supporting the Director in achieving strategic goals and delivering results in line with international human rights standards. This position complements the strategic role of the Director by ensuring that institutional systems, staff management, and legal outputs are aligned, effective, and responsive to the evolving needs of the Commission’s work.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

OPERATIONAL LEADERSHIP AND SUPPORT TO THE DIRECTOR

• Manage the daily operations of the Commission to ensure effective workflow and task execution.

• Support the Director in implementing institutional initiatives and key strategic activities.

• Coordinate the development, implementation, and monitoring of internal policies and procedures.

• Provide technical and legal advice to the Director on matters impacting the Commission’s mandate.

• Serve as Officer-in-Charge when delegated during the Director’s absence.

LEGAL OVERSIGHT AND MANDATE COMPLIANCE

• Review and analyze proposed legislation, public policies, and regulatory frameworks to ensure compliance with international and regional human rights standards.

• Prepare legal briefs, human rights position papers, and formal recommendations to relevant authorities and stakeholders.

• Oversee the casework and investigative process, ensuring complaints are handled in accordance with due process and legal best practices.

• Interpret and advise on domestic and international human rights law as it applies to the Commission’s statutory functions.

HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

• Supervise and mentor staff, fostering a culture of accountability, professionalism, and continuous learning.

• Oversee human resource functions including staff recruitment, onboarding, performance management, and professional development, in consultation with the Director.

• Support the Director in enforcing fair HR policies that promote diversity, equity, and staff wellbeing.

• Facilitate internal communication, collaboration, and conflict resolution to maintain a productive and respectful work environment.

STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT AND OUTREACH

• Assist in the design and coordination of human rights education and advocacy campaigns.

• Maintain relationships with government entities, civil society, and international organizations to enhance collaborative impact.

• Represent the Commission at meetings, consultations, and relevant forums in support of the Director’s engagements.

REPORTING AND INSTITUTIONAL STRENGTHENING

• Prepare internal and external reports on investigations, facility reviews, public engagements, and legal reviews.

• Contribute to annual work planning, monitoring and evaluation exercises, and capacity-building efforts within the Commission.

• Assist with grant writing, project proposals, and other resource mobilization activities where relevant.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor of Laws (LLB) or equivalent legal qualification – Required

• Master’s degree in Human Rights, Public Policy, Law, or a related field – Preferred

• At least 5–8 years’ experience in legal or human rights-related leadership roles

• Proven experience managing people, systems, and legal or institutional processes

• In-depth knowledge of international human rights treaties and regional human rights mechanisms

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including policy drafting and stakeholder dialogue

• Fluency in Spanish or Creole is considered an asset

KEY COMPETENCIES

• Leadership and team coordination

• Legal and human rights analysis

• Policy review and implementation

• Staff development and HR oversight

• Strategic and operational planning

• Discretion, diplomacy, and ethical integrity

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Interested applicants should submit:

• Cover Letter

• Resume

• Certified copies of qualifications

• Two (2) professional references (one from a former employer preferred)

DOMESTIC

2 CLEANERS

BABYSITTER

2 CLEANERS

SALES CLERK

2 COSMETOLOGIST

MASON HELPER DOMESTIC WORKER LABOURER

LABOURER

Cleaning outside the property with sweeper, pick up yard waste and collect leaves, dispose of trash, clean windows, and doorframes. Salary: $8.00

2 FINISHING WOOD CARPENTERS

Trimming wooden structures and ornaments and complete final details. Installing windows and doors, finishing rough edges, and making adjustments. Salary: $8.00

LABOURER DOMESTIC WORKER

Cleaning outside the property with sweeper, pick up yard waste and collect leaves, dispose of trash etc. Salary: $8.00 Hourly

$8.00 Hourly

OPERATIONS SUPERVISOR

BROKING SERVICES OFFICER

GraceKennedy Limited is seeking to recruit a Broking Services Officer for one of its subsidiaries, GK Insurance Brokers, located in Turks and Caicos.

PURPOSE

To administer the insurance needs/portfolios of clients through insurer negotiations, processing transactions, follow up and auxiliary services to the clients’ satisfaction and within the Company’s guidelines, vetting of all documents to ensure that they represent negotiated terms and are delivered to clients within the shortest possible time. In addition, the role involves the signing/authorizing of critical insurance documents.

THE ROLE

• Administer the handling of assigned Corporate and Personal Accounts

• Update system with client information and all changes

• Prepare and dispatch renewal notices and renew policies

• Process new business transactions and receipts as required

• Ensure that invoices, binders and policies are dispatched to clients according to service standard

• Sign cover notes, binders and certificates of insurance

• Ensure accurate documentations are dispatched to insurers in a timely manner

• Ensure all compliance documents are completed and collected from clients and uploaded to the System

• Ensure premiums are collected or payment plans in place and payment follow-up executed with clients

• Assist with queries from clients, insurers and team members

• Adhere to all compliance guidelines, procedures and audit recommendations of the company

THE CANDIDATE

• Certificate in insurance

• Degree or associate degree in Business administration (desirable)

• Five (5) years’ experience in a similar capacity

KEY COMPETENCIES

• The ability to work on own initiative.

• The ability to facilitate team concept and foster team effort.

• Good time management skills and excellent organizational skills.

• Must be able to handle multiple priorities

• Working knowledge of Microsoft office suite

• Ability to communicate verbally and in writing with others to explain complex issues.

• Ability to receive and interpret complex information and respond appropriately.

THE

have experience in driving oversized vehicles along with

• Must be a team player Salary commencing at US$3,002.00 per month. Medical and Pension benefits provided.

HELPER

DAIRY STOCKERS

•

•

•

Blue Hills, Providenciales Is seeking to employ a

EDNOL SIFFRARD (347-1888) Cherokee Road, Providenciales

$8.00 hourly - heavy lifting, cleaning, etc.

LYNDA E. JOSEPH (342-1962)

Blue Hills, Providenciales

$8.00 hourly- general house chores etc.

Leeward

SECURITY OFFICER

Secures

Creek, North Caicos

$8 hourly (NEW) Heavy lifting, digging trenches etc.

HEMINGWAYS RESTAURANT (941-8408)

S&F WHOLESALE CASH & CARRY LTD.

Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Islands

Contact No: 1649-9462811

Is in search of a skilled:

MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN

SKILLS AND REQUIREMENTS:

• Proven and with 10 years experience as a Maintenance Technician or a similar role

• Solid knowledge of refrigeration, and mechanical systems

• Ability to diagnose and repair technical issues

• Proficiency in reading and interpreting technical manuals and diagrams

• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills

• Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities

• Physical stamina and ability to work in different environments

• Conduct general upkeep procedures and other tasks as assigned (painting, carpentry, etc.)

• Compile with all policies for the safe storage, usage and disposal of hazardous materials

• Salary for this position is $17.00 -$18.00per hour.

• This position is for work permit renewal and for first time work permit Holders

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Conduct inspections and surveys of buildings. Repair and maintain refrigeration and mechanical systems for optimal functioning. Ensure compliance with safety and quality standards. Diagnose and troubleshoot issues with equipment and systems. Perform regular preventive maintenance tasks. Keep accurate records of maintenance activities. Collaborate with other team members and communicate effectively. Follow company policies and guidelines.

DOMESTIC WORKER

• Maintain cleanliness & tidiness of the grocery store premises, including aisles, restroom, entrance & parking areas.

• Perform routine cleaning task such as wiping down surfaces, disinfecting high touch areas emptying trash receptacles.

• Restock and organize cleaning supplies as needed.

• Assist in maintaining inventory of store supplies, such as paper towel, toilet paper, and cleaning products.

• Committed to work flexible hours, days, nights, weekends and holidays.

• Salary starts at $8.00 to $10.00 per hour.

• For Work permit renewal and first-time work permit holder

ALCIUS JULIEN

LABOURER

Cleaning outside the property with sweeper, pick up yard waste and collect leaves, dispose of trash, clean windows, and doorframes.

CONTACT: 344-1177

POSITIONS AVAILABLE

The Turks and Caicos Islands oldest and leading publishing house is in need of additional staff to fill the following posts:

WRITERS/ PHOTO JOURNALIST

Candidates must have at least five (5) years’ experience working full-time for daily newspapers and/or news/features magazines, reporting on hard news, features and parliamentary/court proceedings. Salary paid weekly will commensurate with experience.

FOR MAGAZINES AND OTHER PERIODICALS GRAPHICS PRODUCTION DESIGNER/ PAGINATOR

This position requires someone with at least five (5) years’ experience working with Macintosh or PC computers. Must be skilled in the make-up of advertising and pagination. Proficiency using InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop software for print is essential. Some technical, networking and web design knowledge an asset. Salary paid weekly will commensurate with experience.

COURT REPORTER

College or high school graduate with at least five (5) years’ experience in community reporting. Ability to drive and use a camera a desirable asset. Salary paid weekly will commensurate with experience.

ADVERTISING SPACE SALES PERSON

Candidates must have had actual hands-on experience selling advertising space for newspapers and magazines. Ability to assist clients with the writing of copy for ads and gathering of collateral an asset. Salary is commission based.

BABYSITTER

The Somerset Resort Management Ltd. is seeking to fill the below mentioned position. The ideal candidate will possess extensive high-end luxury resort experience, be professional in attitude, demeanor and must read and speak English fluently. Position requires a flexible schedule which includes holidays, weekends, evenings, and extended hours on occasion.

JOB SUMMARY:

As a Houseman, you are responsible for cleaning guest rooms, carrying linen and replenishing amenities to deliver an excellent Guest and Member experience.

REQUIREMENTS:

A Houseman is always working on behalf of our Owners, Guests and working with other Team Members. Must speak, read, write, and

understand the primary language (English) used in the workplace. Must work PM shifts as business demands according to the operations policy.

Must work weekends and holidays.

BASE SALARY RANGE: $8.00 / Hour to commensurate with qualification & experience.

BENEFITS: service gratuity, vacation & employee meals.

PUBLIC NOTICE

TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDER STATUS APPLICATION

( SECTION 4(3) OF THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDER STATUS ORDINANCE)

Take notice that I, Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam, Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands in exercise of the powers conferred in me by Section 6(4) of the Turks and Caicos Islander Status Ordinance intend to grant a Certificate of Turks and Caicos Islander Status to Andrew Mario Miller by virtue of marriage to a Turks and Caicos Islander.

VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY!!

CLAIMS OFFICER

GraceKennedy Limited is seeking to recruit a Claims Officer for one of its subsidiaries, GK Insurance Brokers, located in Turks and Caicos.

PURPOSE OF JOB

To advise and assist clients in the timely reporting and correct preparation of their claims and to negotiate the best claim settlements in a timely manner on their behalf. Administer third party claims and liaise with insurance companies and adjusters to facilitate prompt resolution. Complete reports to insurers, management and auditors as required.

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Receiving verbal and written incident/claim reports from and on behalf of clients

• Evaluate client’s portfolio to determine appropriate coverage, excess and policy terms for filing claim

• Advise and guide customers in the reporting and preparation of claims, including claim forms and support documents as necessary

• Prepare all related reports as required

• Manage the claim process with adjusters, insurers, and clients for optimal results

JOB VACANCIES

NV LIMITED IS SEEKING TO FILL THE FOLLOWING POSITIONS

IRRIGATION TECHNICIAN

• Set up irrigation systems, including valves, sprinklers, and pipework.

• Regularly inspect, repair, and adjust irrigation systems to ensure efficient water usage.

• Identify and resolve issues with irrigation systems, such as leaks or malfunctions.

• Understanding water sources and irrigation techniques to optimize water usage.

• Perform irrigation inspections at various properties.

SKILLS/ QUALIFICATIONS/ COMPETENCIES: 2-3 years’ experience working with irrigation systems.

POOL TECHNICIAN

• Ensure pools are clean by brushing, vacuuming, and skimming debris.

• Empty and clean filters or change them as needed.

• Dispense appropriate chemicals to treat water, address imbalances, or prevent algae growth.

• Regularly test and adjust water chemistry (pH, chlorine, alkalinity, etc.) to maintain safe and comfortable conditions.

• Check and maintain pumps, chlorinators, and other equipment.

• Remove debris, clean pool surfaces, and ensure the surrounding pool area is clean.

SKILLS/ QUALIFICATIONS/ COMPETENCIES: 2-3 years’ experience working in the field.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Police Record/Driver’s License

• Qualified belongers are encouraged to apply. Salaries commensurate with experience.

• Prepare claim settlement documents for clients and third parties

• Pursue recovery, where instructed to do so

• Handle all aspects of third parties claims and negotiate with their insurance representative

• Maintain accurate and frequent communication with all stakeholders to expedite claims efficiently and effectively

• Be available outside normal working hours on matters pertaining to the company

• Any other duties that may be assigned

THE CANDIDATE

• Certificate in insurance

• Degree or associate degree in Business administration (desirable)

• Three (3) years’ experience in a similar capacity

• Experience in the general insurance industry with working knowledge of Motor, Property, Liability and Accident classes of general Insurance

• Experience in the general insurance industry with working knowledge of Motor, Property, Liability and Accident classes of general Insurance

KEY COMPETENCIES

• Developed leadership skills and ability to work independently and utilize initiative

• Excellent time management and prioritization skills

• Exceptional Interpersonal skills. The ability to communicate orally and in writing with others to explain complex issues, receives and interprets complex information, and responds appropriately.

• Microsoft suite proficiency

• Knowledge of local insurance products and usages.

• Problem solving, negotiation skills and critical thinking skills

• Ability to handle multiple priorities

LABOURER

CLEANER

Science & Technology

Why your fingers wrinkle in water and what it can reveal about your health

The skin on our fingertips and toes shrivels like prunes when soaked for a few minutes in water. But is this an adaptation that occurred to help us in our evolutionary past? And what can it reveal about your health today?

Spend more than a few minutes soaking in a bath or paddling around a swimming pool and your fingers will undergo a dramatic transformation. Where there were once delicate whorls of lightly ridged epidermis, engorged folds of ugly pruned skin will now be found.

And according to a recently published study, this striking change is worth a closer inspection each time your fingertips pucker in this way, the wrinkles create the same pattern.

It is the latest discovery about a phenomenon that has occupied the thoughts and work of scientists for decades. Bafflingly, only the skin on our fingers and toes wrinkles when immersed in water. Other body parts such as our forearms, torso, legs and face remain no more crinkled than they were before being submerged.

Most researchers in the field have puzzled over what causes this puckering in the first place, but more recently the question of why and what purpose it may serve, has attracted their attention.

Perhaps more intriguing still, however, is what our shrivelled fingers can reveal about our own health. Scientists have discovered changes in how our fingers wrinkle can point to diseases including type 2 diabetes, cystic fibrosis, nerve injuries and even cardiovascular problems.

WHAT CAUSES OUR FINGERS TO WRINKLE

It takes around 3.5 minutes in warm water 40C (104F) is considered the optimal temperature for your fingertips to begin wrinkling, while in cooler temperatures of about 20C (68F) it can take up to 10 minutes. Most studies have found it takes around 30 minutes of soaking time to reach maximum wrinklage, however. (Interestingly, recent research has shown that soaking your hands in warm vinegar can make your skin wrinkle far faster in around just four minutes.)

Fingertip wrinkling was commonly thought to be a passive

After a few minutes in warm water, the skin on our fingertips wrinkles like a shrivelled prune

response where the upper layers of the skin swelled as water flooded into the cells via a process known as osmosis where water molecules move across a membrane to equalise the concentration of the solutions on either side. But as long ago as 1935, scientists have suspected there is more to the process than this.

Doctors studying patients with injuries that had severed the median nerve one of the main nerves that run down the arm to the hand found that their fingers did not wrinkle. Among its many roles, the median nerve helps to control socalled sympathetic activities such as sweating and the constriction of blood vessels. Their discovery suggested that the water-induced wrinkling of fingertips was in fact controlled by the nervous system.

Later studies by doctors in the 1970s provided further evidence of this, and they proposed using the immersion of the hands in water as a simple bedside test to assess nerve damage that might affect the regulation of unconscious processes such as blood flow.

Then in 2003, neurologists Einar Wilder-Smith and Adeline Chow, who were working at the National University Hospital in Singapore at the time, took measurements of blood circulation in the hands of volunteers as they soaked them in water. They found that as the skin on the volunteers’ fingertips began to wrinkle, there was a significant drop in blood flow in the fingers.

When they applied a local anesthetic cream that caused the blood vessels in the fingers of healthy volunteers to temporarily constrict, they found it produced similar levels of wrinkling as water immersion.

“It makes sense when you look at your fingers when they go wrinkly,” says Nick Davis, a neuroscientist and psychologist at Manchester Metropolitan University, who has studied fingertip wrinkling. “The finger pads go pale and that is because the blood supply is being constricted away from the surface.”

Wilder-Smith and his colleagues proposed that when our hands are immersed in water, the sweat ducts in our fingers open up to allow water in, which leads to an imbalance in the salts in our skin. This change in the salt balance triggers the firing of nerve fibres in the fingers, leading to the blood vessels around the sweat ducts to constrict. This in turn causes a loss of volume in the fleshy area of the fingertip, which pulls the overlying skin downwards so that it distorts into wrinkles. The pattern of the wrinkles depends on the way the outermost layer of skin the epidermis is anchored to the layers beneath it.

There have also been suggestions that the outer layers of skin may also swell a little to enhance the wrinkling. By osmosis alone, however, our skin would need to swell by 20% to achieve the wrinkles we see in our fingers, which would leave them hideously enlarged. But when the upper layers of skin swell slightly and the lower levels shrink at the same time, the wrinkling becomes pronounced far sooner, says Pablo Saez Vi as, a biomechanical engineer at the Technical University of Catalonia, who has used computer modelling to examine the mechanism.

“You need both to have normal levels of wrinkles,” he says. “If you don’t have that neurological

response, which happens in some individuals, wrinkles are inhibited.”

But if wrinkling is controlled by our nerves, it means our bodies are actively reacting to being in water.

“That means it is happening for a reason,” says Davis. “And that means it could be giving us an advantage.”

WHY DID OUR FINGERS EVOLVE TO WRINKLE IN WATER?

It was a question from one of his children during a bath about why their fingers had gone wrinkly that recently led Davis to dig into what this advantage could be. With the help of 500 volunteers who visited the Science Museum in London during 2020, Davis measured how much force they needed to use to grip a plastic object. Perhaps unsurprisingly, those with dry, unwrinkled hands needed to use less force than people whose hands were wet so their grip on the object was better. But when they submerged their hands in a water bath for a few minutes to turn their hands wrinkly, the grip force fell between the two even though their hands were still wet.

“The results were amazingly clear,” says Davis. “The wrinkling increased the amount of friction between the fingers and the object. What is particularly interesting is that our fingers are sensitive to this change in the surface friction and we use this information to apply less force to grip an object securely.”

The object that Davis’ volunteers were gripping weighed less than a couple of coins, so the amount of

grip required was small. But when performing more arduous tasks in a wet environment, this difference in friction could become more important.

“If you don’t have to squeeze as hard to grip something, the muscles in your hands get less tired and so you can do it for longer,” he says. His findings match those by other researchers who have found that the wrinkling of our fingertips makes it easier for us to handle wet objects. In 2013, a team of neuroscientists at Newcastle University in the UK asked volunteers to transfer glass marbles of varying sizes and fishing weights from one container to another. In one case the objects were dry, and in the other they were at the bottom of a container filled with water. It took 17% longer for the participants to transfer the submerged objects with unwrinkled fingers than when they were dry. But when their fingers were wrinkled, they could transfer the submerged marbles and weights 12% quicker than when their fingers were wet and unwrinkled. Interestingly, there was no difference in transferring the dry objects with wrinkled or unwrinkled fingers.

Some scientists have suggested that the wrinkles on our fingertips and toes may act like rain treads on tyres or the soles of shoes. The channels produced by the wrinkles help to squeeze water away from the point of contact between the fingers and an object.

This suggests that humans may have evolved fingertip and toe wrinkling at some point in our past to help us grip wet objects and surfaces. (BBC)

PUBLIC APPEAL

The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force is appealing to any member of public who may have any information on any crimes. They can contact Chalk Sound Police Station on 338-5901 or make use of the confidential reporting system through Crimestoppers on 1-800-8477.

Science & Technology

FDA approves twice-a-year injection for HIV prevention

A drug currently used to treat certain HIV infections has also, on Wednesday, received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration to be used to prevent HIV.

Gilead Sciences, maker of the drug, announced that a twice-ayear injection of lenacapavir has been approved in the United States for HIV prevention under the brand name Yeztugo. In clinical trials, the drug was found to dramatically reduce the risk of infection and provide near-total protection against HIV, significantly more than the primary options available for pre-exposure prophylaxis or PrEP.

Therapies called PrEP have been used to prevent HIV infections for years. In the United States, this may involve taking pills, such as a daily medication called Truvada, or getting shots, such as injections every two months of the medication Apretude. But a twice-yearly shot of lenacapavir has now become another option in the prevention toolbox making it the first and only such shot for HIV prevention.

Yeztugo could be the transformative PrEP option we ve been waiting for offering the potential to boost PrEP uptake and persistence and adding a powerful new tool in our mission to end the HIV epidemic, Dr. Carlos del Rio, a distinguished professor of medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Emory University School of Medicine and co-director of the Emory Center for AIDS Research, said in a Gilead news release. A twice-yearly injection could greatly address key barriers like adherence and stigma, which individuals on more frequent PrEP dosing regimens, especially

Lenacapavir is now approved to prevent HIV infection as well as to treat certain infections

daily oral PrEP, can face. We also know that, in research, many people who need or want PrEP preferred less frequent dosing.

With any PrEP drug, by having that medicine in your bloodstream or in your body, if you encounter HIV, it blocks it from taking hold. It arrests infection from taking hold, said Dr. Jared Baeten, senior vice president of clinical development and the virology therapeutic area head at Gilead Sciences.

The human immunodeficiency virus or HIV, spread primarily through unprotected sex or sharing needles, attacks the body s immune system, and without treatment, it can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or AIDS. Although rates of new HIV infections have fallen in the US, about 1.2 million people are estimated to have HIV, and about 13% of them may not know it.

PEOPLE CAN GET IT PRIVATELY

A study called the PURPOSE 2 trial found that just two shots a year of lenacapavir can reduce the risk of HIV infection by 96%, proving it to offer near-total protection against HIV. Another study, the PURPOSE 1 trial, found

that lenacapavir demonstrated 100% efficacy for HIV prevention in women.

Lenacapavir is a unique option for people for HIV prevention because it s an injection given just twice a year. So people can get it privately, discreetly, and then set it and forget it and not have to think about it until six months later, Baeten said. For many people, that might be the empowered, private option that might make HIV prevention workable in their lives.

In 2012, the FDA approved Truvada, also made by Gilead Sciences, making it the first PrEP medication for HIV prevention in uninfected adults in the United States but even though PrEP has been around since 2012, people don t really know what it is, and they often kind of conflate it to having HIV or being extremely promiscuous, Haddock said.

So this just opens up a completely new opportunity, he said of lenacapavir.

A MILESTONE MOMENT

Last year, Gilead Sciences released data from the PURPOSE 2 trial that showed 99.9% of the participants who received an injection of lenacapavir twice a

year for HIV prevention did not become infected.

There were only two cases among 2,180 people, effectively proving 89% more effective than the PrEP pill Truvada. The trial was unblinded early because it met its key endpoints, allowing lenacapavir to be offered to all participants, and the drug was found to be well-tolerated.

The most common side effects, as you might expect, are injectionsite reactions, Baeten said, such as rash or discomfort.

The PURPOSE 2 trial included cisgender men, transgender men, transgender women and nonbinary people 16 or older who had sex with partners assigned male at birth. Some of the study participants became pregnant during the trial and continued to receive lenacapavir during pregnancy without complications, Baeten said.

This is a milestone moment in the decades-long fight against HIV. With twice-yearly administration and remarkable efficacy, lenacapavir will help us prevent HIV on a scale never seen before, Daniel O Day, chairman and chief executive officer at Gilead Sciences, said in an emailed statement.

After 17 years of research and pioneering clinical trials, Gilead scientists have delivered the next frontier in HIV innovation: a prevention medicine with remarkable efficacy that only needs to be delivered twice a year, O Day said. It s a true scientific breakthrough that could help millions of people around the world.

PRICE ANNOUNCEMENT STILL TO COME

Now that lenacapavir has been approved for prevention, people should be able to visit their providers and ask about the drug within two days, Gilead Sciences said in an email. The company added that it could take up to two months for someone to receive their first injections, based on coverage decisions.

The list price for lenacapavir, when used for HIV prevention, will be announced soon, Baeten said. The list price is expected to be different from when lenacapavir is used for the treatment of multidrugresistant HIV, in which other HIV medications have not worked and the patient meets certain other requirements for lenacapavir treatment.

One study published in November in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy found that for treatment, lenacapavir costs up to nearly $45,000 per person per year without insurance, as an average wholesale list price but it could be mass-produced for less than $100 per person per year.

The team of researchers behind the study projected a possible minimum price based on the drug s current ingredients, production models and cost models. They demonstrated that lenacapavir could be mass-produced for up to $93 per person per year, potentially falling to about $40 per person per year if voluntary licences are in place and competition between generic suppliers substantially improves.

Voluntary licensing and multiple suppliers are required to achieve these low prices, the researchers wrote in the study abstract. This mechanism is already in place for other antiretrovirals. (CNN)

Older US adults are increasingly dying from unintentional falls, according to a new federal report published Wednesday, with white people accounting for the vast majority of the deaths.

From 2003 to 2023, death rates from falls rose more than 70% for adults ages 65 to 74, the report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. The

rate increased more than 75% for people 75 to 84, and more than doubled for seniors 85 and older. Falls continue to be a public health problem worth paying attention to, said Geoffrey Hoffman, a University of Michigan researcher who was not involved in the new report. It s curious that

Science & Technology

Gen X, millennials three times more likely than their parents to get appendix cancer

The pain was so sharp that Chris Williams took himself to the hospital.

It was a Tuesday evening in September 2021 when Williams started to feel throbbing abdominal pain and nausea. By the next morning, it had gotten worse.

I had to go to the ER, said Williams, who lives in Brooklyn.

At the hospital, he was diagnosed with appendicitis and had his appendix surgically removed. About a week later, he met with his medical team to get the staples removed and discuss next steps and that s when he received shocking news.

They found a tumor sitting on my appendix, and they biopsied that tumor and determined it was cancer, said Williams, who was 48 at the time.

It was actually a blessing, he said. This was really just a godsend, in my eyes, and a blessing for me to detect the tumor for the tumor to trigger my appendix to almost rupture for them to find it because later on, they discovered it was stage III. Had it stayed in me for a while longer, it would have been stage IV, which is the most advanced stage of cancer and more difficult to treat.

Williams, who is now cancerfree after finishing treatment in November 2022, is among a growing group of appendix cancer patients in the United States who were diagnosed at a young age.

ALARMING AND WORRISOME

The appendix, which plays a role in supporting the immune system, is a small pouch-like organ that is attached to the large intestine at the lower right side of the abdomen.

Although cancer of the appendix is rare typically, it s estimated to affect about 1 or 2 people for every 1 million in the United States each year diagnoses are rising sharply among Generation X and millennials, according to a new study.

Compared with people born from 1941 through 1949, incidence rates of appendix cancer have more than tripled among people born between 1976 and 1984 and more than quadrupled among people born between 1981 and 1989, according to research published this week in the Annals of Internal Medicine. These increases in incidence were found to have

occurred from 1975 through 2019.

It s alarming overall, said Dr. Andreana Holowatyj, the lead study author and an assistant professor of hematology and oncology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and VanderbiltIngram Cancer Center.

We re seeing some of these generational effects for cancers of the colon, the rectum, the stomach, and so that s one of the reasons why we were curious to explore this in rare appendix cancers. But nonetheless, the rates and trends which we observed were alarming and worrisome, she said.

The researchers on the new study from Vanderbilt University Medical Center, West Virginia University and the University of Texas Health Science Center analyzed data on 4,858 people in the United States, 20 or older, who had been diagnosed with appendix cancer between 1975 to 2019. The data came from the National Cancer Institute s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program database.

The data was separated into fiveyear age groups and showed rising rates in appendix cancer incidence by birth cohort, particularly among people born after 1945, the researchers wrote in the study.

Although the new study did not examine specifically why this incidence is on the rise, the

researchers say it s unlikely to be explained by advances in screening for the disease or diagnostic tools.

There are no standardized screening techniques for appendiceal cancers. Many of them are incidentally found after presentation of something like acute appendicitis, Holowatyj said.

Rather, the trend may be tied to environmental exposures that may increase risk for generations now entering mid-adulthood, the researchers wrote. And similar trends have also been reported for colon, rectal, and gastric cancer, suggesting that possible risk factors may contribute to gastrointestinal cancers as a whole.

For instance, obesity has been identified as a risk factor for appendix cancer diagnoses and is recognized as a risk factor for colon cancer, Holowatyj said, adding that identifying what risk factors might be driving these trends in cancer incidence could help reveal ways to prevent disease.

The fact that we re seeing these trends parallel across other cancers of the gastrointestinal tract does tell us, or suggest, that there may be both shared and distinct risk factors that can contribute to cancer development across younger generations in the gastrointestinal tract, Holowatyj said.

That s going to be important to

the cancer has spread, patients are often given chemotherapy. This is a disease where, if not caught before the appendix ruptures, tumor cells disperse throughout the abdominal cavity often, Holowatyj said. That s why up to 1 in every 2 patients are diagnosed with metastatic disease or cancer that has spread.

RISING CANCERS IN YOUNG ADULTS

The study showing an increase in incidence of appendix cancer among younger adults comes as no surprise to Dr. Andrea Cercek, co-director of the Center for Early Onset Colorectal and GI Cancers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, who treated Williams.

understand what are those shared factors, or how do those risk factors differ, both in magnitude and absolute risk across these gastrointestinal cancer types to help us support the development of effective prevention strategies and ultimately aim to reduce this burden or reverse these trends, she said.

There are no specific screening recommendations for appendix cancers, but symptoms of the disease typically include abdominal or pelvic pain, bloating, nausea and vomiting which often can mimic symptoms of appendicitis. Appendix cancer may be treated with surgery, in which the appendix is removed. If

We ve known that early-onset appendix cancer is part of the bigger story of early-onset GI cancers, including colorectal cancer, said Cercek, who was not involved in the new research. She has seen the trend firsthand among her own patients but it still remains unclear what specific factors may be driving these increases.

There are a lot of suspects, including lifestyle changes, dietary changes. People talk about obesity, less activity. But there s nothing that quite fits everyone. And then there are environmental changes, Cercek said. I think it s probably some type of combination, something multifactorial, but we have not yet identified it. There is thankfully now a lot of work, a lot of research going into this. Despite the rising incidence, Cercek emphasized that appendix cancers remain uncommon. (CNN)

The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force is appealing to any member of public who may have any information on any crimes. They can contact Chalk Sound Police Station on 338-5901 or make use of the confidential reporting system through Crimestoppers on 1-800-8477.

Chris Williams was 48 when he was diagnosed with appendix cancer

Science & Technology

The new coronavirus variant surging in China is in the US

A new coronavirus variant is spreading in many parts of the world.

The variant, NB.1.8.1, has been identified as the cause of Covid-19 resurgence in China and several other Asian countries. Experts in Europe are predicting a possible increase in cases there.

A summer wave also could occur in the United States. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, NB.1.8.1 already represents about one-third of new Covid-19 cases as of June 7. This is a significant increase from just a month before, when the new variant represented just 5% of new Covid-19 cases.

Could another summer wave really occur? Do current vaccines still work, and if so, who should consider getting another dose now? And what precautions should people take to reduce their risk of contracting Covid-19?

To help us with these questions, I spoke with CNN wellness expert Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and clinical associate professor at the George Washington University. Wen previously served as Baltimore s health commissioner.

Wen: The SARS-CoV-2 virus is constantly mutating, and it s entirely expected that there will be new variants. The more opportunities the virus is given to spread, the more opportunities it has to mutate.

Every time a new variant arises that appears to be outcompeting previous strains, it s important to ask three questions: Is it causing more severe disease, is it more contagious, and do existing vaccines still work against it?

This new variant, NB.1.8.1, also called Nimbus, is a descendant of the Omicron strain

This new variant, NB.1.8.1, also called Nimbus, is a descendant of the Omicron strain. The World Health Organization has deemed the new strain a variant under monitoring. However, WHO also reports that surveillance data do not show that it has increased severity compared with previously circulating variants. Given that this strain is outcompeting previous variants, it s possible that it could be more contagious, but there is nothing to suggest that it is being spread differently compared with past variants.

As for whether existing vaccines work against this variant, the answer is not known. WHO cites laboratory data showing that it could have some immune escape, which means it may be less responsive to the immunity provided by vaccines or prior infection and suggesting a possible

reduction in vaccine efficacy. At the same time, NB.1.8.1 is a close descendant of other strains against which the vaccines have efficacy. I expect there will be more data available in the coming weeks, as federal health officials will soon decide the formulation of this fall s updated Covid-19 vaccine. Knowing that NB.1.8.1 constitutes a growing proportion of cases, they will most likely try to ensure that the formulation has efficacy again this variant.

CNN: WHAT ARE SYMPTOMS OF N.B.1.8.1 INFECTION?

Wen: The symptoms appear to be similar to infection with other variants. There is a large range of symptoms and severity. Some patients may have allergy-like symptoms, such as stuffy and runny nose. Others may have cold-

or flulike symptoms, with fever, sore throat, fatigue, headache and muscle or body aches. Some people may develop cough and difficulty breathing. Some may have nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.

While most people will recover, some could become severely ill and require hospitalisation. Some individuals who contract Covid-19 may also develop the post-viral condition known as long Covid.

CNN: COULD ANOTHER SUMMER WAVE REALLY HAPPEN AGAIN?

Wen: Yes. It could be triggered by a new variant that s more contagious and that has some degree of immune escape. A wave also could occur simply because of declining population immunity. Some experts believe that the emergence of this new strain combined with less recent Covid-19 activity could start a wave in the next couple of months.

What we have seen from several years of experience with Covid-19 is that infections tend to come in waves. A surge in cases leads to many people falling ill, then recovering and developing short-term immunity to infection. Infection rates decline for several months, then they begin to increase again.

Summer waves of Covid-19 have occurred over the past few years. It s certainly possible that the pattern repeats this year.

Wen: This is a difficult question to answer because the landscape around Covid-19 vaccination has been changing. Just last month, US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that Covid-19 shots

are no longer recommended for healthy children and pregnant women. These shots appear to still be accessible for children; for instance, the CDC s guidance now reads that children can get the shots after consulting with their health care provider. However, there are already reports of pregnant women having more difficulty obtaining these vaccines.

This and other guidance could soon change, as Kennedy has reconstituted the panel of external experts who advise the CDC on vaccine recommendations, and this new panel could make different decisions during their upcoming meeting in late June. Another uncertainty is when a new round of vaccines will be made available. One way to approach this decision is to consider your risk of severe outcomes if you were to contract Covid-19. Those who are 65 and over or who have chronic underlying medical conditions should consider getting another dose of the vaccine now, if they are eligible. That way, they have additional protection in case there is a summer wave, since the existing vaccine probably retains some efficacy against the new variant. And they can still get another dose in the fall when the new formulation will presumably be released.

As for those who are younger and generally healthy, some who have not yet received the 202425 formulation also may consider getting the vaccine now before guidelines change and they may no longer be eligible. People should discuss their specific medical situations with their primary care physician. (CNN)

Older adults in the US are increasingly dying from unintentional ...

these rates keep rising.

The CDC researchers did not try to answer why death rates from falls are increasing. But experts say there may be a few reasons, like gradually improving our understanding of the the role falls play in deaths and more people living longer to ages when falls are more likely to have deadly consequences.

More than 41,000 retirementage Americans died of falls in

2023, the most recent year for which final statistics based on death certificates are available. That suggests that falls were blamed in about 1 of every 56 deaths in older Americans that year.

More than half of those 41,000 deaths were people 85 and older, the CDC found, and white people accounted for 87% of deaths in the oldest category.

Falls can cause head injuries or broken bones that can lead to permanent disability and

trigger a cascade of other health problems. A number of factors can contribute to falls, including changes in hearing and vision and medications that can cause lightheadedness.

Death rates varied widely from state to state. In 2023, Wisconsin had the highest death rates from falls, followed by Minnesota, Maine, Oklahoma and Vermont. Wisconsin s rate was more than five times higher than the rate of the lowest state, Alabama. Ice and wintry weather may

partly explain why fatal falls were more common in states in the upper Midwest and New England, but experts also pointed to other things at play, like differences in how well falls are reported and to what extent they are labelled a cause of death.

We ve yet to unravel why you see such differences in state rates, said Hoffman, who studies falls among the elderly.

Researchers also can t yet explain why white seniors die of falls at higher rates than people

in other racial and ethnic groups. In the 85-and-up age group, the death rate for white Americans is two or three times higher than any other group, while older Black people had the lowest fallrelated death rate.

Kind of a flip of the traditional disparity lens, Hoffman said, referring to the fact that for most other rates of illness and injury, people of colour are disproportionately affected.

Staying active can help people avoid falls, experts say. (CNN)

Sports International

Duplantis breaks pole vault record in Stockholm

Armand Duplantis broke the men’s pole vault world record for a 12th time with a clearance of 6.28m at the Diamond League meeting in Stockholm.

This one was extra special for the 25-year-old, however, as it was the first time he had improved the world best in Sweden.

Born in the United States, Duplantis - who is commonly known by his nickname ‘Mondo’ - represents his mother’s native country.

He had already secured victory in the event when he cleared the new record height at the first attempt before removing his vest, celebrating with friends and family, and taking the acclaim of his home crowd.

“I feel full to the brim right now,” said double Olympic champion Duplantis.

He had said before the event, external that breaking the world record in Stockholm “felt like the only thing missing” and “kind of a thing I can’t get off my mind”.

After achieving his goal, he said: “The first time I jumped in this stadium when I was 11 years old, it was rainy, cold and I jumped right under four metres. It was quite high for how young I was.

“They etch the names of world record holders here. It’s going to be really special to have my name etched in the stadium. It’s the most beautiful stadium, in my biased opinion.

“It’ll be one of the greatest

memories for me, I think, in my career.”

Duplantis first broke the world record, then held by Renaud Lavillenie of France, in February 2020 with a 6.17m clearance in Poland.

On a memorable evening for the home crowd in the Swedish capital, Andreas Almgren set a European record to win the men’s 5,000m.

‘I ran that all wrong’ - but Hunter-Bell claims stunning win

There was also British success on the track as Georgia HunterBell finished strongly to claim victory in the women’s 800m in a time of 1:57.66.

Hunter-Bell was last with 200m to go, but overhauled all her competitors, including world champion Mary Moraa, with a

sensational sprint finish.

“I ran that all wrong, making some bad decisions but the whole time I felt good so I knew I had something left,” said the 1500m bronze medallist at the Paris Olympics.

“I was stuck at the back for a bit long and then ran on the outside longer than I should have, but I did feel really strong and very good.

“I tried to find space on the inside that wasn’t there and I ran wide, but the 800m is all about positioning so I need to work from it.”

Britain’s world indoor champion Amber Anning was third in the women’s 400m in a season’s best of 50.17 seconds, while Dina Asher-Smith ran 10.93 seconds to finish second behind Olympic champion Julien Alfred in the

women’s 100m.

Asher-Smith said: “Today was something to ask for, from running in Oslo three days ago, but I travelled well and the body felt good. So to run 10.9 low is really great, and it’s very exciting to be getting so close to my PB.”

British duo Innes Fitzgerald and Hannah Nuttall smashed their personal bests to finish third and fourth respectively in the women’s 3,000m, which was won by Australian Linden Hall.

Fitzgerald, 19, ran 8:32.90 to beat her fastest mark by more than seven seconds, while 27-year-old Nuttall finished in 8:33.82, more than six seconds quicker than her previous best.

Fitzgerald said: “I went into the race with no expectations and I

think that is the best way to race. Sometimes I have let the pressure get to me a little bit, but today I was relaxed and I was determined to enjoy it. I absolutely loved every minute of it.

“This gives me so much confidence going forward. It shows where I belong and hopefully I can get into the big championship races.”

George Mills was fifth in the men’s 1500m, just three days after breaking Sir Mo Farah’s British 5,000m record in Oslo.

“Obviously I was looking for the win, but I came here on the back of a very good 5,000m in Oslo so I did what I came to do, which was to run fast with only a short recovery,” said Mills, who finished in 3:32.67, just over a second behind winner Samuel Pihlstrom of Sweden.

“It worked pretty well until the last lap or so when the legs started to get heavy, but I think it was a good couple of days’ work.”

Femke Bol of the Netherlands broke her own meeting record to win the women’s 400m hurdles in 52.11 seconds, while Kenya’s Olympic champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi ran 1:41.95 - the fastest time in the world this year - to win the men’s 800m.

In a star-studded final race, Rai Benjamin of the United States got the better of Brazil’s Alison dos Santos and Norway’s world record holder Karsten Warholm to win the men’s 400m hurdles in 46.54 seconds. (BBC)

The Women’s Super League will expand from 12 to 14 teams from the 2026-27 season - but the threat of relegation will remain.

At the end of next season, the top two sides from the second tier, WSL 2, will automatically be promoted.

In addition, the third-placed team in the WSL 2 will face a playoff with the WSL’s bottom side for a place in the top flight.

The plans were approved on Monday following a vote by clubs.

The announcement ends months of speculation about changes

following suggestions in March that relegation could temporarily be scrapped in the WSL.

This notion prompted a backlash, but WSL bosses had always insisted no firm proposal on this had been put forward and they were simply weighing up the pros and cons of ways to increase the size of the league.

A BREAKDOWN OF THE CHANGES

The proposal was presented at a shareholders’ meeting on Monday by WSL Football - the company

Armand Duplantis, commonly known as Mondo, first broke the world record in February 2020

Arsenal won the Women’s Champions League for a second time in 2025

Buss family agrees to sell majority stake of Los Angeles Lakers in reported record $10B deal

The Buss family has agreed to sell majority ownership of the Los Angeles Lakers, one of the most storied franchises in all of sports, to Los Angeles Dodgers owner Mark Walter, a source familiar with the agreement told CNN.

The valuation of the agreement is approximately $10 billion, representing the most lucrative deal for a professional sports team, according to the Associated Press.

ESPN’s Shams Charania was first to report the agreed sale.

CNN has reached out to the Lakers and Dodgers for comment.

Aside from being the chairman and controlling owner of the Dodgers, Walter is the CEO and founder of the holding company TWG Global.

The diversified business also holds stakes in the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks, the Premier League’s Chelsea FC and the newly formed Cadillac Formula

The valuation of the agreement is approximately $10 billion, representing the most lucrative deal for a professional sports team

One team, which is scheduled to make its debut on the grid in 2026, among other sports franchises.

On Wednesday, TWG said

Walter is entering into an agreement to acquire additional interests in the Lakers. He has owned a minority stake in the

franchise since 2021.

Basketball Hall of Famer Jerry Buss bought the Lakers in 1979 and oversaw the franchise winning 10 NBA titles. After his death in 2013, his daughter Jeanie Buss took over the role as governor of one of the most successful franchises in sports.

Los Angeles added another Larry O’Brien trophy to the collection in 2020, led by LeBron James, the team’s 17th NBA championship.

Last season, the Lakers finished in third place in the Western Conference with a 50-32 record before being eliminated by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the NBA playoffs.

James still remained one of the better players in the league in his 22nd season, averaging 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists.

But the team shocked the world

by executing one of the most stunning blockbuster trades in NBA history.

Los Angeles acquired NBA superstar Luka Doncic, as well as Maxi Kleber, Markieff Morris from the Dallas Mavericks for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and the Lakers’ 2029 first-round draft pick.

The NBA’s all-time leading scorer reportedly signed a twoyear, $104 million maximum contract to return to the Lakers ahead of 2024-2025 season and has a player option to return next season.

Team president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka had previously said James will be keeping an eye on how the roster improves in the offseason.

Buss reportedly will continue in her role with the franchise after the sale. (BBC)

Trawlerman smashes record in Gold Cup win at Ascot

Trawlerman went one better than last year to win the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in a track record under a brilliant front-running ride from William Buick.

The 2024 runner-up, trained by John and Thady Gosden, led all the way and left Illinois back in second, with Dubai Future third.

Buick punched the air as he crossed the line on the 85-40 favourite, who was giving the Gosdens a fifth win of the week.

“I was just a passenger. I didn’t have to touch the brakes once,” said Buick after winning the Gold Cup for the first time.

“It’s an extreme distance, two and a half miles, so you need an extraordinary horse with an extraordinary set of skills.

“He’s got that lung capacity and stamina. He got in a great rhythm, but he’s so genuine.”

Trawlerman had finished second 12 months earlier to the nowretired Kyprios, whose trainer Aidan O’Brien and jockey Ryan Moore relied on Illinois this time.

The pair enjoyed a Thursday treble with Charles Darwin, Garden Of Eden and Trinity College, but there was no catching the sevenlength winner of the Gold Cup.

Trawlerman made every yard of the running at Royal Ascot

John Gosden was winning the race for a fifth time, all in the last eight years, after three triumphs with Stradivarius between 201820, and victory with his son Thady thanks to Courage Mon Ami in 2023.

French contender Candelari was among the leading fancies but could only finish sixth, 29 lengths behind the victor.

Temperatures hit 30C at the Berkshire track as the sunny weather continued, and a course

spokesperson said one person was taken to hospital while a further 42 received treatment on Wednesday for heat-related conditions.

The good to firm going helped Trawlerman set a new track record of four minutes, 15.02 seconds, beating the time of 4:16.92 set by Rite Of Passage 15 years ago.

It was first top-level Group One winner to be sired by 2015 Derby winner Golden Horn.

RYAN MOORE INTO ALL-

TIME TOP 10

Moore’s treble puts him on 2,595 British winners as he passed Edward Hide into 10th among the all-time Flat jockeys’ list for victories.

The rider first made it three from three in juvenile sprints for O’Brien this week with 8-13 favourite Charles Darwin a clear victor of the Norfolk Stakes.

The winner broke sharply from the stalls and Moore was in control from thereon, sending his mount

clear in the final furlong to beat runner-up Wise Approach by two and a quarter lengths.

“He’s a big, powerful, strong horse. He really looks like a fouryear-old racing against two-yearolds,” said O’Brien.

O’Brien and Moore combined again to win the Ribblesdale Stakes with 7-1 chance Garden Of Eden.

Stablemate Island Hopping set a strong gallop and as he faded, Moore was well positioned to take advantage.

He completed a 45-1 treble on Trinity College in the Hampton Court Stakes after taking the initiative against the rail.

The jockey had also looked set to grind out victory on Serious Contender in the King George V Stakes, but 3-1 favourite Merchant swooped late to win.

Tom Marquand came with a driving run on his mount to triumph for trainer William Haggas and owners Highclere Racing.

After Godolphin’s first and third in the Gold Cup, Sheikh Mohammed’s team had a second victory with Arabian Story, ridden by Oisin Murphy, in the Britannia Stakes to give trainer Saeed bin Suroor his 40th Royal Ascot win.

Sports International

More than 400,000 empty seats at Club World Cup so far

More than 400,000 (423,004) seats have been left empty during the opening round of Club World Cup group matches in the United States.

Stadiums have been 56.8% full, with more than half a million (556,369) spectators attending.

Nine stadiums have been used for the first 16 matches of the tournament, with a combined capacity of 979,373.

The expanded tournament is being treated as a dress rehearsal for the international men’s World Cup next summer, which will be held in the USA, Canada and

Mexico.

Of the 16 matches played so far, half of the matches have seen attendances below 50% of the capacity of the stadium.

The lowest attended game was South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns win over South Korean side Ulsan HD in front of 3,412 spectators at Inter & Co Stadium in Florida.

The fixture between Ulsan HD and Mamelodi Sundowns was by far the worst attended match.

The official attendance meant the stadium was just 13.6% full.

Local journalist Maher Mezahi claimed to have counted 97 fans before kick-off and 577 with 10 minutes left to play.

The stadium for River Plate’s win over Japanese club Urawa Red Diamonds was 17% full, while it was 20% for Salzburg’s win over Pachuca in Cincinnati.

Only 31% of the capacity of Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium saw Chelsea beat LAFC in their opening match.

Despite the setbacks, Fifa is optimistic that attendances will increase. In a statement on Tuesday,

WSL expanding to 14 teams - but ...

third tiers.

the bottom club in the WSL relegated - essentially one up and one down.

These are the changes that will take place next season to achieve expansion of the league:

• WSL 2 champion - automatic promotion

• WSL 2 runners-up - automatic promotion

• WSL 2 third-place - play-off match

• WSL bottom club - play-off match

However, that will change as the WSL expands from 12 teams to 14 teams for the 26-27 season. From then onwards, there will be one automatic promotion spot for the winner of WSL 2, with the bottom team in the WSL relegated.

In addition, there will be a play-off between second bottom of the WSL and runners up in WSL 2.

The FA will decide the next steps for the lower tiers.

It is expected the winners from the National League Premier Division North and the National League Premier Division South will gain automatic promotion into the WSL 2 next season.

The runners-up from those third-tier divisions would then take part in a play-off match for the final promotion spot in the second tier.

It is expected there will be two teams relegated from WSL 2 from 2026-27 onwards, and two automatic promotions from the

All clubs must meet the licence criteria to play in the WSL 2 and the WSL.

WHY DO THEY WANT TO EXPAND THE WSL?

Expansion is just the first step in WSL Football’s 10-year plan.

Substantial changes have been made to the licence criteria to improve minimum standards as WSL Football aims for two fully-professional top tiers in England.

Requirements now include improved facilities, extra player contact hours, additional staffing and focus on club academies.

Analysis carried out by the body showed there were not enough games where the outcome had an effect on standings in the WSL. There is a belief that several clubs have stayed in the top flight for too long without threat of relegation and have not progressed as a result.

In the second tier, some clubs have elite standards, others have semi-professional environments and many have toyed between the two in the past decade.

However, with three WSL 2 clubs potentially earning promotion there may be more movement in the leagues going forward - and more incentive for clubs to invest.

WHAT CHALLENGES DOES EXPANSION FACE?

Expanding the WSL means clubs will play 26 matches, not 22, from the 2026-27 season. But

Empty seats were spotted at a number of matches during the first round of Club World Cup fixtures

it said that “four of the five topselling group stage matches are still to come”.

Fifa says nearly 1.5m tickets have been sold for the tournament and despite the issues there have still been some large attendances.

space in the calendar is already limited.

Schedule constraints include Fifa’s Women’s Club World Cup, a competition that will run every four years starting from 2028, the introduction of a Women’s Champions Cup from 2026 and the expansion of the Women’s World Cup to 48 teams from 2031.

In addition, Women’s Champions League semi-finals take place on weekends - unlike in the men’s game - and WSL matches are not played on the same weekend as the Women’s FA Cup.

There are also guidelines around player welfare including a six-week break after a major tournament, a two-week winter break, a maximum of two midweek games in a row and no midweek games directly following an international break. This all reduces the available dates to play the additional games.

Plus WSL clubs must navigate fixture clashes with their male team counterparts in shared stadiums, as Arsenal experienced in November.

Discussions take place between governing bodiesUefa, Fifa, the Premier League and the FA - but they often each have their own priorities.

Meanwhile, preferred kick-off times and broadcasting requests can cause discord among clubs.

There are plans to scrap the Saturday 18:45 evening slot on Sky Sports as average attendances at that time have been low across the WSL. (BBC)

The highest-recorded crowd of 80,619 watched Paris St-Germain’s 4-0 win over Atletico Madrid at the Rose Bowl Stadium in California.

The three matches in Miami, which has a large Hispanic and Latino population, have been highly attended. Fifa said the opening game between Inter Miami and AlAhly was watched by 60,927.

Boca Juniors’ Group C match against Benfica had more than 55,000 in the 65,000-capacity Hard Rock Stadium.

The third game in Miami had 62,415 attend Real Madrid’s 1-1 draw with Saudi Arabian side AlHilal.

Inter Miami and Boca Juniors

are playing in Miami again later in the group stage.

FIFA SCHEDULING HEADACHE

There were gates of 18,161 for Juventus’ win over Al-Ain and 21,152 for Bayern Munich’s 10-0 win over Auckland City.

The stadium’s were 91% and 81% full, respectively - with the games taking place in smaller stadiums.

Fifa may come to rue not doing the same with some of the matches scheduled during regular work hours.

On Monday at 3pm local time, Chelsea beat LAFC in front of 22,137 fans - but in a stadium which can hold 71,000 spectators.

Doug Roberson of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution thinks there were several factors, but “it’s not because people here don’t care about soccer”.

Real forward Mbappe in hospital

Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe is in hospital with gastroenteritis after missing their Club World Cup opener against Al-Hilal.

The France captain, 26, missed training on Tuesday with a fever and did not play in Wednesday’s 1-1 draw against the Saudi Arabian side.

A Real statement on Thursday said Mbappe has “an acute case of gastroenteritis” and was admitted to hospital for “a series of tests”. Gastroenteritis is an infection in the gut which can cause vomiting and diarrhoea.

Real’s next game is against Pachuca on Sunday at 20:00 BST.

Kylian Mbappe was involved in Real Madrid training earlier this week in Palm Beach, Florida

Sports National

JOHN LEADS POLICE TO CRICKET VICTORY OVER JAGUARS

A feisty spell of bowling from Sabuton John propelled the Police Cricket Club to an emphatic sixwicket victory over the Jaguars as action in the Turks and Caicos Islands Cricket Association (TCICA) T20 competition continued over the weekend.

The Jaguars won the toss and elected to bat first, but Lyndon Tyson made an early impact by removing both openers—Daniel

Borne (9) and Randy Laulys (9).

There was a brief resurgence, with Ryan Wagner playing like a man possessed, smashing 22 off just 10 balls (5x4s), while Kurtley Charley, batting at four, stabilised the innings. Despite hitting six boundaries, it was Charley’s sharp running between the wickets—singles and twos— that helped him to a match-high 53 before falling to John.

Bowling his medium pace, the

Provo U19 rugby team battle and train with GT counterparts

In an effort to continue spreading the game of rugby to all the islands in the TCI, the Turks and Caicos Islands Rugby Football Union (TCIRFU) recently took a Provo U19 squad to Grand Turk for a weekend of competitive rugby and community building.

The visit kicked off with a spirited joint training session two Saturdays ago, as players from both Provo and Grand Turk gathered on the beach in front of the Osprey under the guidance of Coach Gus Miller.

Secretary of the RFU, Nik Hight, said the session introduced players to contact rugby skills in a unique setting—on sand—to enhance their technique, balance, and teamwork.

Later that evening, under the lights at the Parade Ground and in front of a lively home crowd, the two sides played an exhibition match that highlighted the physicality, pace, and tactical growth of the young athletes. Grand Turk narrowly edged out

veteran John dismantled the lower middle order, finishing with figures of 4-13 from three overs. Alongside Tyson, Alphonso Graham also picked up two wickets to help

Provo with a 5–4 win in a thrilling showcase of determination and skill.

The teams later split into four mixed squads for a spirited touch rugby tournament, blending players from both islands. This promoted teamwork and adaptability.

“It was great to see their maturity as athletes as they adapted to playing with teammates whom they had never met before,” Hight said.

Sunday concluded with another beach training session, reinforcing the weekend’s emphasis on athletic growth and cross-island collaboration.

Hight extended heartfelt thanks on behalf of the TCIRFU to Coach Aussie Dickenson for the genuine Grand Turk hospitality he and his team showed.

“The young men from both teams showcased their athletic abilities as well as the core rugby values of integrity, discipline, and respect. We look forward to hosting Grand Turk in the future.”

restrict the Jaguars to 138.

In reply, Damian St Ange played a composed, unbeaten knock of 41 (3x4s, 2x6s), guiding the Lawmen to 139-4 in 17 overs. Alpha Edwards

added a brisk 30 (3x4s, 2x6s), while John chipped in with 14. Borne was the pick of the Jaguars’ bowlers, claiming 2-37 from his four overs.

Sabuton John (with the man-of-the-match trophy) and St Ange (with bat) played well to ensure the Lawmen’s victory

The players had some spirited training sessions

The Provo and Grand Turk players with rugby and government officials

LIONS AND DOLPHINS WIN FORTISTCI U9 AND U12 PROVO TITLES

The Lions and the Dolphins registered overall victories when the FortisTCI League U9 and U12 Provo finals were played on Wednesday.

In the younger age group battle, the Falcons defeated the Dolphins 2–1 to claim third place, before the Lions got the better of the Jaguars 2–0 in the final.

The Lions’ Ethan Jackson was named MVP, while Tejas Gururaja, with a whopping 22 goals, finished as the leading goal scorer.

In the U12 clash, the Falcons

Rugby legends Robinson and Coghlan to headline TCIRFU fundraiser

Two of international rugby’s most celebrated stars—Jason Robinson and Fiona Coghlan— are set to grace the Turks and Caicos Islands as special guests of the Turks and Caicos Islands Rugby Football Union (TCIRFU) for a special evening celebrating the spirit and growth of the sport.

The event will take place on Saturday, 21st June, at the elegant Lands and Sea venue at Wymara Villas, beginning at 6:30 pm.

Jason Robinson, known

globally as one of England’s most electrifying players, was a key figure in England’s historic IRB Rugby World Cup victory, earning 51 caps for his country and appearing in five Test matches with the British and Irish Lions.

His speed, agility, and leadership made him a household name and an inspiration to athletes worldwide.

He will be joined by Fiona Coghlan, one of Ireland’s most distinguished rugby ambassadors. Coghlan led the Irish women’s

team to Grand Slam and Triple Crown glory during a stellar career that included 85 international caps and a legacy of transformative leadership both on and off the pitch.

The evening promises more than just glamour—it will be an opportunity to connect local fans and youth athletes with rugby royalty. Attendees can expect inspiring stories, lively conversation, and a celebration of how far rugby has come in the TCI.

stormed to a 6–0 win over the Eagles in the third-place match, before the Dolphins edged the Lions 1–0 in the final.

Amari O’Neil finished as the

U12 MVP, while Nick Andy Leguerre, with 19 goals, was the leading goal scorer. Altheo Roullet received the Golden Glove award.

Jason Robinson and Fiona Coghlan have had illustrious careers

The Lions surged to a 2-0 win in the U9 final

Tejas Gururaja with a whopping 22 goals, finished as the Leading Goal Scorer in the U9 division

Nick Andy Leguerre finished with 19 goals and the Leading Goal Scorer award in the U12 division

Amari O’Neil finished as the U12 MVP Ethan Jackson finished as the U9 MVP

The Dolphins edged the Lions 1-0 in the U12 battle