Over the past weeks, Turks and Caicos Islanders have been immersed in a whirlwind of political fervour, listening as their leaders unveiled visions for the future of the islands. Today, citizens head to their respective polling stations to cast their votes for the candidates and party of their choice. It's a day of decision, where every vote holds the power to shape the trajectory of the islands for years to come.
BY OLIVIA ROSE
Testament to its allure as a worldclass destination, the Turks and Caicos Islands saw a staggering surge in tourism arrivals for 2024, reaching nearly two million visitors.
The breath-taking archipelago, renowned for its pristine beaches, turquoise waters, and luxurious resorts, witnessed an impressive 1,959,563 arrivals throughout the year, marking a significant increase from previous years. This remarkable achievement underscores the islands' growing popularity and the effectiveness of strategic tourism initiatives.
A recent statement from
Experience Turks and Caicos revealed that air arrivals alone soared to 734,308, representing a substantial 10.66 percent yearon-year increase, while cruise passenger arrivals reached an astounding 1,225,255, a remarkable 30.48 percent year-onyear increase.
These figures highlight the islands' appeal to both air and sea travellers, solidifying its position as a premier Caribbean destination.
Minister of Tourism, Hon Josephine Connolly, expressed her elation at the news, stating, "I am elated at the continued upward trajectory of our tourism sector.
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partners, our 'Beautiful by Nature' island has become one of the top trending destinations in the Caribbean.”
Minister Connolly's optimism for the future is palpable, as she anticipates even stronger performance in 2025 and beyond.
"I am optimistic that as we enter the 2025 season, we will perform even better," she affirmed. "I am looking forward to the many exciting initiatives planned to boost our tourism industry and
ensure that all of our citizens benefit from it."
Several key factors have contributed to the Turks and Caicos Islands' tourism success including enhanced relationships with travel advisors, new property developments, expanding room capacity, and increased media coverage have all played a crucial role in attracting visitors from around the globe.
The islands' commitment to training and educating travel
advisors has been instrumental in showcasing its unique offerings and fostering strong partnerships within the travel industry, Experience Turks and Caicos stated.
Additionally, the opening of new properties, such as South Bank by Grace Bay Resorts and The Strand, and the renovation of existing resorts, have further enhanced the islands' accommodation offerings, catering to a wide range of travellers.
CAFFE to monitor TCI’s general election for fairness and transparency
BY OLIVIA ROSE
In a bid to underscore the importance of transparency and democratic integrity, the Citizens Action for Free and Fair Elections (CAFFE), a Jamaican election monitoring group, has been called upon to observe the general election in the Turks and Caicos Islands on February 7, 2025.
This comes in the wake of growing concerns about the fairness and transparency of the electoral process in the territory.
In a recent statement, the Governor's Office in the Turks and Caicos Islands said it has formally requested CAFFE's presence, and the organisation has responded by dispatching a four-member team to the islands.
The team, comprising two CAFFE directors and two other
members, will be led by Mr Anton Thompson, the Deputy Chairman of CAFFE.
Other members of the observation team include Ms Audre-Lois Reynolds, CAFFE Director and Treasurer, and Mr Robin Baston and Ms Danielle Dunbar, both CAFFE members.
Arriving in two groups on February 4th and 6th, the CAFFE observers will be on the ground to scrutinise the voting and counting processes on election day.
Their mandate is to provide a non-partisan and independent assessment of the election's preparedness and conduct, benchmarking it against international standards and the domestic laws of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The involvement of CAFFE is expected to bring a heightened
level of scrutiny to the electoral process in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The organisation's reputation for impartiality and its commitment to upholding democratic principles are seen as crucial in ensuring a free and fair election.
CAFFE's assessment will be eagerly awaited by both domestic and international stakeholders.
The organisation will release a preliminary statement following the election, and a comprehensive final report with recommendations will be submitted within 30 days.
This report will undoubtedly play a significant role in shaping the public's perception of the election's legitimacy and could potentially influence future electoral reforms in the territory.
In the heated run-up to the Turks and Caicos Islands General Elections on February 7th, 2025, the Supervisor of Elections, Lister Dudley Lewis has issued a stern warning to all candidates, political parties, and their associates: any attempt to influence voters through gifts, food, drinks, or entertainment –a practice known as "treating" – will be met with severe consequences.
This reminder came as allegations of political parties paying residents to disrupt rallies of opposing parties have sparked condemnation online.
“Treating: has long been a criminal offense, but the supervisor emphasised that his
office will show zero tolerance for such behaviour this election season. Any individual found guilty of “treating” faces a hefty fine of $5,000, a year in prison, or both.
“Every person who corruptly, by himself or by any other person, either before, during or after an election, directly or indirectly, give or provides or pays, wholly or in part, the expenses of giving or providing any food, drink, entertainment, or provision to or for any person for the purpose of corruptly influencing that person or any other person, to vote or to refrain from voting at such election, or on account of such person or any other person having voted
or refrained from voting at such election; Every voter who corruptly accepts or takes any such food, drink, entertainment, or provision”, the Supervisor said in a statement.
The supervisor warned that both the gift-givers and the recipients are breaking the law.
He urged political parties and candidates to spread the word within their organisations about the need to comply with the law, ensuring a fair and level playing field for all.
The supervisor's office is prepared to investigate all reports of "treating" and will not hesitate to involve the police in criminal investigations, Lewis stressed.
(Olivia Rose)
Supervisor of Elections, Lister Dudley Lewis
By the time the Weekly News has gone to press, there will be a new government in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI). Regardless of whether it's a PNP or PDM government, it will steer the country into the next decade. Moving the country forward will require comprehensive strategies that address crime, housing, continuous economic development, and other pressing issues. To truly benefit the people and the country as a whole, the new government must focus on driving positive changes that resonate with the everyday lives of TCIslanders. This includes investing in education and skills development to empower youths and create a more skilled workforce, which would translate to economic growth and social stability. Moreover, recognising and valuing traditional values and the diverse voices within the growing population will lead to more informed and effective governance, ultimately contributing to a stronger and more cohesive society. What are your thoughts, and what changes would you like to see?
This is a battle between the current Premier and the last man standing from the 2021 elections, Leader of the Official PDM Opposition, the Hon Edwin Astwood. It will be a test of when the Premier is “past his prime” and if his axe has truly “fallen into the water”.
There are many allegations of corruption against this government, and there is the perception that the government is there for a select few in the private sector and the cronies that surround the throne. The challenge for this government is to demonstrate that they would change direction and pursue policies that would benefit the people and that projects like the highly controversial RED Project would be a thing of the past. This is a daunting and challenging task because in the heat of the election season, RED is still there, and the boat captains are still complaining.
The economic model of favouring the rich is still in play. The PDM Leader would need to show that he can redirect budgeting to directly impact and improve the lives of the average man. Further, the PDM must demonstrate that it truly empowers the average Turks & Caicos Islander. There must be a change in direction for these islands. Issues like crime require more focus
social stability. Alas, we have a political culture intent on making money for “me, myself and I”.
If the electorates are tricked by the fake promises made so far, they will be fooled into electing the wrong government. There needs to be a retreat away from reducing scholarships and a pivot in budgeting to increase scholarship funding to realistic levels. The $12m promise by the opposition would be a step in the right direction.
This country has seen many internally generated disasters and mishaps of a constitutional nature where governments rob and pillage the treasury. This would result in constitutional suspensions, British takeovers, and consolidations of power by the Grace Bay elite, and when the remains of a constitutional order would be returned, the people are left behind.
The government kicked out of office would change faces, and go into hibernation, only to return four years later to continue the pillage. In some countries, this would lead to revolt and endless warfare. It is not the model of government that the TCI needs. The class of politicians that would pillage, and destroy must be removed from the political high command. It seems that the race for power is a match between those who can take more or less for themselves.
than currently held.
Where the government was forced to direct new monies to crime after the killing of the Chicago deputy sheriff shows how unprepared they were for dealing with this spiking crime rate. Crime of this nature, if unabated, can destroy the economy.
This mandate of moving the country forward, requiring comprehensive strategies that would “address crime, housing, continuous economic development and other pressing issues” is a rather daunting one. The question arises, “Are they good for it?” or “Up to the task?”
The typical politician is in it for what he can get. A mandate of a serious nature looms, but can they overcome themselves and stop the greed? This mandate includes an administration intent on enabling true benefits for the people and the country as a whole. The new government must focus on driving positive change that resonates with the everyday lives of TCIslanders.
This includes investing in education and skills development to empower youths and create a more skilled workforce, which would translate to economic growth and
The PDM promises that they will enable grants of $100,000 for Small Business Development under the MSME programme at InvestTCI. If they could only do measures of that nature for as many Turks & Caicos Islanders who are prepared to start businesses, this will go far to empower the people. The money is there, and there is no debate on this as major resorts with wealth equivalent to the wealth of the TCI got much more than that promised $100,000.
With the PDM Leader making this promise, it may well be that he ought to retain the portfolios of Development and Finance to ensure that these promises are kept. It would go much further where the government would create a financial facility or bank to extend long and shortterm development loans in the millions and at low-interest rates. If we have money for developers, we ought to have money to empower and take care of ourselves.
A Weekly News column that puts you on the spot for your opinions on the issues of the day
Ronald Reagan era from 1980 through 1988. There is in the TCI no plausible evidence of a trickle in the direction of the local people. To this end, government policy must be more direct and immediate towards the empowerment of the people. In addition to small business grants and low-interest loans, the youth must be prepared to take the reins of the economy. Trade schools should include provisions for training in business management, accounting, and bank reconciliation. A line from the Belizean National Anthem speaks to a pious aspiration: “By the might of truth and the grace of God, No longer shall we be hewers of wood.” By the same measure, when the youth are trained in carpentry, masonry, electricity, plumbing, potential multi-million dollar earning professions, they must also be prepared to run businesses, to earn and keep the money. It is then that tradesmen would no longer be “hewers of wood” but also take control of the commanding heights of the economy.
Concentration on management and efficiency, combined with a huge improvement in the quality of work permit holders. The economy is now very risky. It is overwhelmingly concentrated on highend tourism. The high-value-added western sectors are ignoring us for good reason.
We need to get along. We are living amongst each other, and we need to do more to protect all of our brothers and sisters. I would like to see more unity and less division, despite which party wins. We must also work collectively together to protect our nation. The young people are lacking pride and patriotism in the TCI.
They have forgotten their fore-parents and the struggles they went through to help build this great nation. Let’s forgo the crime lords as our heroes and focus on our churchgoing, God-fearing brothers and sisters, our athletes, and the countless workers who make this country great. Time to refocus our energies.
The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force is investigating the discovery of a decomposing body found near Delco Yard, Snake Hill, Blue Hills last month.
At approximately 7:45pm on January 15, officers received reports about a body located in a ditch close to Delco Yard.
A team of officers, along with members of the TCI Regiment, was dispatched to the scene, where they made the gruesome discovery.
Authorities have not yet disclosed further details regarding the individual's gender, identity, or cause of death.
Kewtown man found guilty of threatening police officers, fined $2k
Karonno Munnings, a resident of Kew Town, Providenciales, was sentenced by the court on January 28 to pay a fine of $2,000 or face sixty days in prison. He has until April 28 to pay the fine.
During the court proceedings, evidence showed that on Monday, October 28, 2024, at approximately 9:30 pm, a team of officers was conducting routine patrols along Pete Close in Kew Town, Providenciales. While the officers were interviewing two individuals, Munnings approached them and made threats, declaring, "I will shoot one of you in the head any day." He was subsequently arrested and charged.
Following the verdict, Acting Superintendent Grantley Williams, Head of Crime, Safeguarding, and Public Protection, welcomed the decision. He stated: "Any threats of violence against police officers or law-abiding citizens will be met with swift action. We encourage respectful interactions with our officers to maintain public safety, especially while they are carrying out their duties."
He emphasised that threats against the lives of police officers are taken seriously: "Officers uphold the law, and such statements made during our duty are unacceptable and will not be tolerated."
BY OLIVIA ROSE
In an effort to fortify the islands' security apparatus, HE the Governor, Dileeni Daniel Selvaratnam, recently welcomed Ms Suzanne Krumbhols of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) to the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The high-level meeting underscored the commitment of both nations to deepen their collaborative efforts in combating shared security threats.
In an Instagram post, Governor Daniel Selvaratnam expressed her enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, "I was pleased to welcome Ms. Suzanne Krumbhols of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to the Turks and Caicos Islands. Our discussions focused on strengthening cooperation between Canada and the Turks and Caicos Islands in countering shared threats."
The RCMP's ongoing partnership, which includes strategic deployments of personnel to the Turks and Caicos Islands, is seen as a cornerstone of the territory's operational response to transnational criminal activity.
"The RCMP’s partnership, including their supporting deployments to the Turks and Caicos Islands, remains a valued
part of our operational response, helping to tackle shared challenges and build capability across our law enforcement agencies,” the Governor emphasised.
The RCMP's boots-onthe-ground support has been instrumental in bolstering the islands' security infrastructure.
In 2023, RCMP officers were deployed to the Turks and Caicos
Fifty-year-old Stephen Lyn is on a $5000 bond awaiting a court hearing later this month for allegedly sexually assaulting a teenage girl.
Lyn was recently picked up by police following a report made by the 13-year-old of an alleged assault carried out on her person on September 24, 2024.
The matter has been referred to the Grand Turk Magistrate’s
Court where Lyn will appear on February 17 to answer to the charge.
The middle-aged man was arrested, questioned and subsequently charged by officers of the Safeguarding and Public Protection Unit attached to the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force.
He remains on bail until his next hearing.
A 61-year-old man is dead following an early morning snorkelling trip in the nation’s capital. Police in a statement this week, said the incident occurred shortly after 10 am on Sunday, February 2. Grand Turk police responded to a report that a man on a boat charter was experiencing difficulties while snorkelling. The man was
transported to the Cockburn Town Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead by a medical doctor at 10:29 am.
Condolences are extended to the relatives and friends of the deceased. Police said they are continuing investigations into the circumstances surrounding the death.
Islands to assist with critical border security efforts.
This collaborative initiative encompassed a range of law enforcement activities, including border security, immigration enforcement, and general policing duties.
The strengthened partnership between the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Turks and Caicos Islands marks a significant step forward in the ongoing fight against shared security threats.
The appointment of an Honourary Consul of The Bahamas to the Turks and Caicos Islands marks a significant step in strengthening diplomatic ties between the neighbouring nations.
To this end, the new Consul, Mrs Jenesta Messam, during a welcome reception at the Beaches Resort on February 5, said it was “a humbling moment” for her.
“I’m excited and ready to serve the Bahamian people living in the Turks and Caicos Islands,” Messam, who previously served as TCI’s Chief Protocol Officer, explained.
Bahamian Foreign Minister Hon Fred Mitchell revealed the appointment is part of a broader diplomatic strategy outlined in their 2021 “Blueprint for Change” campaign platform. “We have been trying to do it for many years, and we’ve been talking about a
seamless border between ourselves and the Turks and Caicos,” he said, adding that there’s a five-year plan to establish a full Consul General office.
The appointment process was carefully considered to ensure broad community acceptance. “You needed someone who was well-known in the community and would be accepted by the British,” Mitchell explained. “A couple of times we tried, and for one reason or another, the Bahamian community objected to this person or the next person. But we finally got someone that people generally agree has the ability to represent the broadest cross-section of people.”
The position required British approval due to TCI’s status as a British Overseas Territory. “When you appoint a diplomatic officer in another country, the government
of that country has to approve the appointment. And so because the British are responsible for external relations for this country, we had to submit the name to them,” Mitchell clarified.
The two nations share deep historical ties, dating back over two centuries when Great Britain governed the Islands as part of The Bahamas until Bahamian independence in 1973. Mitchell emphasised this connection, stating, “We have long considered the people of the Turks and Caicos as our kith and kin, so we don’t feel any difference coming here.”
Messam emphasised the growing Bahamian presence in TCI and her focus on strengthening business ties. “The number of Bahamians is really growing here... Bahamians want to expand business opportunities for Turks and Caicos Islanders and people of
the Turks and Caicos that want to do business in The Bahamas,” she said.
In her new role, Messam will handle various consular issues including “passports, certification of documents, sometimes renunciations of citizenships,” according to Mitchell. She will also work to establish a database of Bahamians living in the territory.
Due to the short notice of the ceremony, attendance was limited. Some members of the Bahamian community, including those affiliated with opposition parties, were unable to attend the impromptu event. Minister Mitchell acknowledged the timing constraints but emphasised that Mrs Messam’s appointment received broad community support during the selection process, noting that “people are always excited when
the officials come from overseas because it gives them a sense of belonging and strengthens the culture. So the feedback has been great.”
The Honorary Consul appointment is part of The Bahamas’ wider diplomatic expansion, which includes new embassies and consulates in Abu Dhabi, Bermuda, Jamaica, and Trinidad. Mitchell noted that this expansion reflects The Bahamas’ commitment to strengthening regional ties and supporting its citizens abroad.
Through CARICOM, The Bahamas also maintains a special responsibility for relationships with associated states, including TCI, Bermuda, Montserrat, Anguilla, and the Cayman Islands, further underlining the importance of this diplomatic appointment in the region.
BY OLIVIA ROSE
A wave of frustration and anger has crashed over the Turks and Caicos Islands as local water sports operators accuse the government of abandoning them to the monopolistic practices of a foreign tourism company.
In a heated meeting with Premier Hon Charles Washington Misick, boat captains, jet ski owners, and other local business owners expressed their outrage at the ongoing takeover of their industry by RED Leisure, a subsidiary of the Texas-based investment firm Ashford Inc.
The meeting, held at the Krusty Krab bar in Providenciales, was marked by accusations of broken promises, political maneuvering, and a deep sense of betrayal.
Local operators, who have been voicing their concerns since June 2024, feel that the government has turned a deaf ear to their pleas for help.
Ron Misick, CEO and Boat Captain of Ron's Mystery Tours, spoke to the Weekly News after the meeting, his voice thick with frustration.
“Just a bunch of broken promises and talks about policies are being put into place.”
Ron was particularly critical of the timing of the meeting, just three days before a general election.
“Why you coming to us with this before election?" he demanded.
He said: "From the time this matter was going on, we addressed it to you guys. You guys turned a deaf ear and never, never replied back to us, but three days before election, because, you know, the worst is coming, that is a big, a big number for you, because we have families that we take care of as well, and there's hundreds of us. So you come three days before election to try to sell us false hope when nothing can actually be done, because what can you do now ?.”
“THEY'RE TAKING US FOR FOOLS”
The sentiment of betrayal was echoed by other local operators including Captain Wayne Hall, owner of Ocean Vibes, who spoke directly to Premier Misick and All-Islands Candidate Hon E Jay Saunders during the meeting.
"Frustration tonight among all the people in the sporting sports industry, and most of it is because we are being used as pawns," he stated.
“Tonight is days before the election, you find yourself here to us …we've been fighting this. We spoke to the government about it. We had two meetings. And word on the street was the government wasn't going to do anything about it…and then they come back two days before telling us they're going
to fix it now.”
RED Leisure, the company at the centre of the controversy, is accused of using its financial muscle to engage in what locals describe as "predatory" business practices.
The company allegedly uses a "vertical integration" strategy to control every aspect of the water
sports industry, from booking and concierge services to tour operation and equipment rental.
The TCI Watersports Association, representing 150 local business owners, has accused RED/Ashford Inc. of attempting to monopolise the industry.
In a scathing letter last year, the association warned that RED/ Ashford "will assess the market and bring in equipment to fully control that market, displacing many local
operators in the process.”
The association also criticized RED/Ashford's disregard for the local community and its traditions.”
Generations of Islanders have survived by resourcefully handmaking small boats to fish with and larger, ocean-going boats to trade with," the letter states. "It is insulting for a Texas-based Investment Group with many billions in assets to land on our shores and ask our mariners to step aside, suggesting that they have a better way to do it."
In response to the angry crowd, Premier Misick promised to address the issue through policy changes if his government is reelected. "Everything starts at some point," he said.
“If there was a legislation in place, and it had passed we wouldn't be having this conversation, legislation is developed by people involvement, you have to start with a policy, you have to speak to people, you have to find out things…”
However, for many local operators, these promises ring hollow, as they have heard similar assurances before, only to be met with inaction. With their livelihoods and the future of their industry at stake, they are demanding action, and they are demanding it now.
I think one of the issues we have in many organizations is that too many people focus on getting credit for themselves rather than focusing on what is best for the organisation. While you may have a significant role in the organisation, there may be some things you just do not know how to do but there may be people below you or even on the same level as you who know how to do it.
However, some people want praise for themselves, so they would rather delay the implementation of a project and seek external help than to use the people within their organisation who can help.
At the end of the day, what really should matter is that the job gets done. Who did it and who gets the praise should not matter. You will still look good though because the project was done under your supervision.
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.
There is no need for competition among your peers or validation from others. Stop promoting and focusing on yourself. Appreciate and value the skills of your team. It should not be about “I” but about us. Of course, no one should be taking credit for the work of others.
We need to do what is best for the organisation no matter who is doing it. The organisation should
not be about you. It is about delivering the best to your internal and external customers. One of the things that most organisations want to improve is the effectiveness and efficiency in their service delivery. If this can be done, it will not only improve the customer service level, but it may also save the customers dollars and cents in the long run. Therefore, get it done without looking for praise or without worrying that other people will look better than you when it
comes out who was responsible for doing it. That should not matter.
Everybody has different skills and talents. It is important for you to recognise the skills of your team and use them in the areas that require their expertise. You must accept the fact that you do not know everything, and some people will know more than you in certain areas. Consider that an asset for your organisation and allow them to do what they were called or trained to do. In doing so, it will create a great working relationship and make others feel appreciated.
You do not need to promote yourself. At the end of the day, if things get done, the entire
organisation will look great and guess what if you are at the head, it will be a great reflection of you as a leader even if you were not the one that physically did the job.
Sometimes we let our positions get to our head and we think it is all about us, so we end up focusing on promoting ourselves and looking for credit. The truth is you will still look good if your organisation does something good. I know one thing if something goes wrong within your organisation, you will not want to take credit for it, you will want to blame someone else. Therefore, don’t focus on yourself. Focus on your team and your customers and do the right thing by putting people in the right positions.
Things may not get done effectively if you are just focusing on yourself.
At a time when there are more resources imaginable – books, seminars, podcasts, gurus and experts, etc. – for helping couples experience a thriving marriage, marriages are suffering the most. It probably is because the amount of resources available does not represent its quality.
On the other hand, some of the best marriage advice comes from one of the oldest set of books around, the Bible. Look at what Paul says to a group of Christians living in a city called Colossae, which is located in modern-day Turkey: Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. (Colossians 3:18-19).
While this does not sum up what the Bible says about healthy marriages, it is very relevant.
These verses cover the various roles and responsibilities in marriage. However, they are not suggestions but divine instructions that outline a framework for marital harmony, one that emphasises mutual respect and love.
Paul begins by addressing wives, instructing them to submit to their husbands “as is fitting in the Lord”. This idea of a wife submitting to her husband often meets resistance, mainly due to a societal misunderstanding of
KENYATTA E. LEWIS
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.
submission that implies inferiority or subservience. However, the meaning behind the word used here refers to a voluntary act of placing oneself under another’s leadership, signifying respect rather than subjugation. In the context of marriage, this means a wife chooses to support and respect her husband’s leadership, not out of societal pressure but out of obedience to God.
THERE ARE THREE KEY ASPECTS TO A WIFE’S SUBMISSION:
1. It is prompted by Love: A wife’s submission is encouraged by her husband’s unselfish love.
2. It is a voluntary act: Submission should be a willing choice, not coerced.
3. It is fitting in the Lord: Such submission is proper and reflects Christ’s lordship in their lives. Submission in marriage is often misrepresented by dangerous and
failed contemporary perspectives as detrimental, but within Christian teaching, it mirrors Christ’s relationship with the Church. It is a heart matter where a wife cannot fully submit to God without also submitting to her husband. This does not imply blind obedience but a conscious, voluntary, and respectful partnership. Often neglected but equally important is Paul’s word in Ephesians 5:21, which calls everyone to submit “to one another out of reverence for Christ.” Imagine a marriage where both the husband and the wife are loving and submitting to each other out of their devotion and worship of Jesus Christ.
In verse 19, Paul then turns to husbands, commanding them to “love your wives and do not be harsh with them.”; Unlike his more detailed instruction in Ephesians 5, Paul keeps it succinct in Colossians, emphasising two
primary duties for husbands:
1. Love Your Wives: Here, Paul uses the term “agape”; which denotes selfless, caring love focused on the well-being of the wife. This love transcends romantic or affectionate feelings, embodying a deliberate, sacrificial concern for the wife’s best interests.
2. Do Not Be Harsh: Husbands are warned against exhibiting a bitter or irritable attitude towards their wives. This entails maintaining a kind, courteous demeanour and avoiding any form of discourteous or harsh behaviour.
In the cultural context of Paul’s time, where women were often seen as possessions rather than partners, these instructions were revolutionary. Paul calls for a balance where husbands exercise their authority with love and respect, and wives respond with supportive submission. This mutual respect
and love create a harmonious and God-honouring marriage. For couples today, especially those who follow Jesus as Lord, these biblical principles remain relevant. Husbands should lead with Christ-like love and patience, making it easier for their wives to follow with respect and support. This dynamic fosters a healthy, balanced relationship reflecting God’s design and witnessing to a world steeped in a moral malaise. Marriage is not without its challenges, and Paul’s teachings remind us of the importance of repentance and continuous improvement. Couples are encouraged to reflect on their actions, seek forgiveness for past mistakes, and implement strategies to safeguard their marriage. Whether you are married or planning to get married, adhering to these divine instructions can help ensure a strong, fulfilling marital relationship. Ultimately, honouring God’s code in marriage means embracing the roles and responsibilities He has outlined, fostering a relationship built on love, respect, and mutual submission. This divine blueprint not only strengthens marital bonds but also glorifies God through a harmonious and loving partnership. Love and respect your spouse today.
The USA and Canada are the major tourism source markets for most, if not all, Caribbean destinations. A trade war that most likely results in rising consumer prices may impact the tourism industry. Vacationing is not something one needs but rather something one wishes and wants. Rising costs of living and increasing inflation result in having less funding for what one wants or wishes for and therefore having to afford what is needed, the cost of living. Slowing economies in major tourism source markets are not favourable for vacations.
How much it will impact the tourism industry will first depend on how long the trade conflict lasts. But once turmoil is created in an economy, it may take ample time to balance things out again. It will not happen overnight. There may be a variety of side effects in those major source markets, from prices in the grocery store to fuel costs at the pump. Inflation often results in increased interest rates being imposed by a national bank,
CDR BUD SLABBAERT
Commander Bud Slabbaert from Sint Maarten is the initiator and chairman of the Caribbean Aviation Meetup conferences.
Throughout his professional activities, he was involved in international aviation promotion, development and management matters in the region and in Europe.
thus lending rates and credit card debts will be affected. A poor economy may kill jobs. The costs of imported products from the countries directly involved in the trade will increase.
It all sounds catastrophic and disastrous, and it has the potential to be so. Even a fraction of the calamity is not something desirable for the tourism industry, especially if a country’s revenues depend highly on that type of commerce. The prospective dangers of it, no matter in what dimension, should be all the more reason to explore economic
Bud has written numerous articles and columns for international and regional magazines.
As a specialist in strategic communication, he aims to ensure that the essential information is noticed by the senses, sticks in the mind, and affects thinking, behaviour, or activities of an audience.
diversification and become less dependent on tourism. Fiftyfifty can be acceptable; all else should be considered a risky nono. Diversification means that an economy should become more producing and less consuming, subsequently changing a trade deficit. A risk-averse attitude is a needed direction.
Diversification could also happen within the tourism segment. For instance, the highend individual’s segment will be less affected, although stock markets may be shaking, rocking, and rolling. Yet, sometimes the
trading marketplaces offer profitmaking opportunities for some when there are these changing ups and downs. However, this clientele typically has the reserves to maintain its lifestyle anyway. Destinations wanting to change their clientele should realise that it is a total specialisation, and a mix of mass and quality will not
work.
It may need bright spirits to propose realistic, sustainable and beneficial diversification. It may require a think-tank of qualified, impartial individuals. Brainstorming by the brainless doesn’t work well. No matter what a current or future situation is, intelligent positive thinking is always desired.
Eeny meeny miny moe. What is behind this variability spreads from different parts to every playground? Substitute it with one’s own words as the mood takes them, but be alert, realistic, and consider the potential both from the negative and positive perspective. A panoramic view and a track record of true wisdom will determine survival and flourishing.
No one wants to know what your favourite colour is. If you prefer the country over the city. If you are a cat or dog person or the differences between fruits and vegetables. These are unoriginal - and should be removed from your repertoire of conservations faster than the time it takes Usain Bolt to cross the street.
The next time you meet someone or a group of folks, leave these boring topics behind you like the cheap aftershave you put on this morning, for no one will remember the guy who settles the insignificant pronunciation for Po-tay-to or Po-tā-to.
Instead, find something that punches. Hit them up with some real questions and topic of interests. Why should any divorced woman walk away with 50% of the ex-husband’s income! Heck no!
You should also remember to not just go with the common viewpoints. Spice it up with the contrary positions. Take the
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
opposite stand _ the unpopular ideologist. Why not. It’s only fun. Right?
I guess I must clearly state that you should do so without being a total jerk. You can take the alternative approach without totally dismissing anybody or upset them. Here then, are eight ways to cook up controversy like a pro:
FIRST THINGS FIRST
Pick up a somewhat emotive issue, and size up its headlinemaking capabilities. It could be something you’ve heard. Or your brother-in-law has heard. Or both of you have overheard.
Don’t fuss too much about the facts. Just make them up as you go along.
BE TONE DEAF
You don’t want to listen to the context of what was said. And, you are not interested in the spirit in which it was said either. You certainly can’t be bothered about the previous history of the parties.
PRETEND TO LISTEN
This is all part of it. You must listen with all of your attention but still dismiss what is said. It’s the trick to make them think that they are convincing but in reality,
you are really thinking about that cupcake on your felt side.
MORE THE MERRIER!
Crowd out good sense. Don’t give readers/viewers/browsers the luxury of a pause. The fire will rage only as long as people don’t have the time to step back and think. If possible.
Cooking up a spat is not hard work - it won’t call for the proverbial ‘90 hour’ workathaon! Once you have lit the fuse, sit back and watch the issue taking a life of its own.
Every good controversy has a villain at one end, and a victim at the other. On offer is a good menu of victims. Exploited labour, women unfairly treated, exploited environment … any card will do, provided you play it deftly.
BALANCE BE DAMNED!
While the one-sided debate is coming along nicely, some party poopers will call for balance and tell you to look at both sides of the picture. Shush them at sight. You shouldn’t lose focus.
Somewhere along the way, your target will attempt a throttled clarification. Pounce on that one fact you have and never let go. Repeat it until they are fed up! Controversies have the life expectancy of fireflies. So, get the drum rolls and the bugle blast. Make the most of what you have in hand before the next controversy comes along and gives this one a well-deserved burial.
If you wish, apologise for being radicle in the end. Maybe then you will be invited back to the party. But whatever happens, you’ll be known for having some spice. A kick. Like a good spiced rum.
Share if
BY SHANICE LIGHTBOURNE
Grace Bay Resorts marked a pivotal moment in Turks and Caicos luxury development with the ground-breaking of "The Point," showcasing an unwavering commitment to boutique hospitality that spans more than two decades. The new residential condominium hotel, situated adjacent to the iconic Point Grace Resort, represents a delicate balance between growth and preservation. This historic event was celebrated at the Grace Cottage on February 1, where the CEO of Grace Bay Resorts, Mark
Durliat, revealed the core value of ‘The Point’.
"This is a 10-acre site where we have the rights to build 400 bedrooms under the code in this country," Durliat said. "We are building 150. Why? Because we know scarcity builds value. It allows us to give a better product."
The development will feature 38 beachfront condominiums and 16 single homes, with 75% of properties already claimed by eager buyers.
The project's vision stems from a promise made years ago to Point Grace's previous owner, who sought to preserve the property's
intimate character. Lana, a Grace Bay employee, shared during the ceremony, "He didn't want them to do anything that would cause Point Grace to lose the essence of what it is - a boutique property, a gem hidden in Grace Bay Beach, one that prides itself on personalized service."
This approach aligns perfectly with the territory's economic strategy, according to the Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands, Hon Washington Misick. "Our economy is booming," he noted, citing the territory's remarkable GDP growth from $920m to $1.75bn over four years. "But
growth is quantitative... while we focus on the quantitative, we must also focus on the human development index. We will continue to be true to high value, high revenue, instead of large numbers of people."
The development has attracted significant financial backing from Republic Bank, the Caribbean's largest financial institution. "When visionary developers and committed financial partners come together, amazing things happen," stated the General Manager of Corporate and Investment Banking at Republic Bank, Riah DassMungal. "This development will
stand as a testament to what can be achieved when we think beyond the ordinary and build something extraordinary."
Employment impact will be substantial, with staff numbers expected to grow from 90 to approximately 350 upon completion. The project builds upon Grace Bay Resorts' 24-year legacy in Turks and Caicos, supported by longstanding partnerships with Project Tech construction company and Sotheby's Turks and Caicos, among others.
The Point is expected to be completed in 2027.
BY OLIVIA ROSE
The Progressive National Party (PNP) said it has delivered on a remarkable 140+ pledges outlined in its previous Manifesto.
These accomplishments, the party explained, have significantly bolstered the economy, national infrastructure, social welfare, and community development across the islands.
"These 140 wins are the result of a clear vision, responsible governance, and an unwavering commitment to the people," declared party leader, Hon Charles Washington Misick. "Our Manifesto was not just a campaign document - it was a contract with the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Today, we are proud to show that we have honoured that contract by delivering on our promises.”
Key achievements
PNP said its achievements span a wide range of critical areas and including; economic growth & financial stability: The government has forgiven millions in debt for small business owners and TCInvest/TOLCO loans, reduced customs processing fees, and launched TCI Finance to boost the financial services sector. A
$150m investment in national security and the establishment of a National Delivery Unit for project management further underpin the nation's economic stability.
Education and social development: Free tuition at the Turks and Caicos Community College, expanded scholarship programmes, a national school
nutrition program, and the launch of the Social Enrichment Academic Afterschool Programme highlight the PNP's commitment to education and youth development.
Healthcare and public health: The opening of TCI's first mental health facility, the Center of Hope, a sweeping healthcare reform
The Department of Special Education Needs Services (SENS) has expanded its speech therapy programme with the addition of interns to Grand Turk and South Caicos (Zone 1), further expanding access to essential therapy services for children in the islands.
The interns were dispatched in mid-January, providing speech and language therapy, and ensuring that children on these islands receive dedicated support.
The initiative is a part of the department’s ongoing partnership with Therapy Abroad, aimed at increasing speech therapy capacity across the country. Local data indicates that in addition to autism spectrum disorder, speech delays and disorders are the highest presenting issues among children in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
“By integrating speech therapy interns into our program, we are taking a significant step toward addressing these challenges. With
this expansion, our department’s speech therapist can now accommodate more children in Providenciales and the twin islands, ensuring a broader reach and measurable improvement in early intervention and longterm outcomes for children with communication difficulties,” the department said in a statement this week.
Director of SENS department, Dr. Anya Malcolm-Gibbs said their statistics clearly show that speech delays and disorders and among the most common issues affecting local youth.
She said: “By integrating speech therapy interns into our program, we are not only expanding access to these critical services in Grand Turk but also paving the way for a more comprehensive approach to early intervention. This initiative is a key part of our strategy to address the communication needs of our
children and help them reach their full potential.”
Permanent Secretary of Education, Mr. James Astwood shared that the expansion is a significant milestone in the local education and health sectors. “It demonstrates our commitment to leveraging international partnerships, such as those with Therapy Abroad, to bring best-inclass support to our communities.”
It is hoped that through this collaboration, the Turks and Caicos Islands will see an influx of trained therapists in the areas of speech and occupational therapy in the near future, improving access to specialised care for children with speech and communication challenges.
Parents and guardians are encouraged to register their children with the Department of Special Education Needs Services to ensure they receive the necessary support.
upgrades, road and bridge construction, water management systems, and renewable energy incentives demonstrate a focus on modernizing infrastructure and promoting environmental sustainability.
Public safety and crime prevention: Increased stop and search powers for police, the launch of the Gangs, Drugs, and Guns Unit, and stricter rules for importing used cars reflect the government's commitment to maintaining law and order.
Under the banner of "Promises Made, Promises Kept," the PNP said it invited the public to review the comprehensive list of accomplishments over the last four years in office.
Looking forward, the Citizen’s Contract 2.0 outlines a plan to build on these accomplishments and further advance the nation.
ordinance, expanded access to health clinics, and funding for a state-of-the-art MRI machine and CT Scanner showcase the government's dedication to improving healthcare access and quality.
Infrastructure and environmental protection: Significant investments in port redevelopment, airport
The party’s manifesto stressed that the PNP's track record of delivering on its promises stands as a testament to its commitment to transparent and effective governance.
With a focus on sustainable development, social progress, and economic prosperity, the PNP underscored that it is steering the Turks and Caicos Islands towards “a brighter future”.
BY OLIVIA ROSE
In a bold campaign promise, Premier Hon Charles Washington Misick has outlined an ambitious plan to invest at least $1bn in infrastructure over the next five years if the Progressive National Party is returned to power.
The centrepiece of this plan is a controversial spine road link connecting all the inhabited islands in the Turks and Caicos archipelago.
Misick, speaking on Radio Turks and Caicos, passionately defended the project, dismissing concerns about its feasibility and emphasising the potential benefits for the nation's economy,
education, and healthcare systems.
"Investing heavily in our infrastructure is crucial," Misick declared. "We have planned out projects, including building a spine road link from Providenciales all the way into South Caicos. There's probably some risk in that, but there's a lot of benefit."
Misick envisions a future where the spine road facilitates the consolidation of essential services, such as schools, clinics, and hospitals, leading to improved facilities and better access for all citizens.
"Just imagine you have a school in North Caicos and one in Middle Caicos," Misick explained. "Maybe the primary school could
be relocated somewhere else, and all of the kids can go there. You may not need as many teachers. You can put in better facilities, better playgrounds."
The Premier also highlighted the potential social benefits of the project, suggesting that it could reduce the need for families to relocate to Providenciales for work or education.
"People can sleep at home… instead of coming to Providenciales for weeks on end and leaving their wives and their kids unattended," Misick stated. "The development
February 5 is World Read Aloud Day, encouraging children and adults to pick up a book, find an audience, and share a story. To commemorate the day the Royal TCI Police Force visited schools to engage with students through reading.
Commissioner of Police
(acting) Fitz Bailey visited the Special Needs Association Providenciales (SNAP) Center, where he read to students aged five to 11 and later spoke with students 12 to 20. He reminded them that they are not just special but unique in God’s image and likeness, emphasising that they
will spread more evenly across the islands."
Misick acknowledged concerns about the environmental impact of increased development but argued that the Spine Road would help to distribute tourism and economic activity more sustainably.
"We don't want tourism to become a commodity," Misick emphasised. "We prefer there to be specialisation in the tourism sector. That will happen if people are able to determine whether they go into North and Middle Caicos."
Misick's ambitious plan
represents a significant gamble, but one that he believes is necessary to secure the future of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
"When my parents were talking about this," Misick reflected. "There was nothing to link together. There was no real economic benefit. Now we have the benefit of having two major standards of development, South Caicos and Providenciales, and people could live at home."
The spine road, if realised, could reshape the nation's landscape and redefine its future.
are all children of God.
The Commissioner also engaged the students in song, earning applause. He expressed gratitude to Principal Regena Little and her dedicated staff for their patience, commitment, and genuine care for the students.
Commissioner Bailey assured
everyone that this would not be his last visit to the Centre.
Meanwhile, Inspector Delton Robinson and Constable Janefer Stubbs engaged students with lively readings at the Ianthe Pratt Primary School, while Constables Rhoan McKoy and Roan Waugh from the Tactical Unit captivated
students with animated storytelling sessions at the Oseta Jolly Primary School.
In a statement this week, the Royal TCI Police Force said it is committed to collaborating with local communities and fostering education, engagement, and positive connections.
The TCIHRC commends the cooperation of the prison’s leadership and staff during the visit and recognises the ongoing efforts to uphold human rights standards within the facility. The Turks and Caicos Islands Human Rights Commission (TCIHRC) carried out a scheduled review of His
Majesty’s Prison in Grand Turk on January 30, 2025, as part of its mandate to oversee the welfare of individuals in places of detention.
The visit focused on assessing the facility’s conditions, following up on previous recommendations, and engaging with prisoners to ensure fair treatment and adherence
We’ve arrived at a moment that feels like the calm after a thunderstorm. The ballots have been cast. The debates have ended. The excitement of campaign events is behind us. Now comes the challenge that’s bigger than any single-party victory—governing together as one nation.
After all those heated rallies and passionate promises, how do we unite? The answer is simple: we have no choice. Turks and Caicos Islands deserves our best, not a second helping of yesterday’s disagreements. Like neighbours sharing a fence, we’re bound by geography, culture, and destiny.
Campaigns can feel like a neverending tug of war. One side pulls right. The other side pulls left. Yet Turks and Caicos is more than a political battleground. It’s our shared home, our family of islands, our collective future. We must stand as one to protect it. Our economy, our healthcare, our environment—they don’t carry membership cards. They affect every one of us. Why should solutions be locked behind party lines? Our people crave progress, not partisanship. Our future hinges on practical solutions, not personal spats.
I remain hopeful about the possibilities ahead for TCI. It begins with respect—respect for each other, respect for our shared hopes, and respect for our future. Sure, our voices might differ, but our goals line up. Who doesn’t want economic security? Which parent doesn’t want a great education for their children? Which worker doesn’t want a fair chance to succeed on these shores? Those shared values are the bedrock of our national identity.
I believe we can rise above party labels. I believe we can break free from stale rivalries. I believe we can turn our diverse ideas into a single vision. Yes, we campaigned as PDM and PNP, but now that the
to human rights standards. In accordance with the Human Rights Commission Ordinance, the Turks and Caicos Islands Constitution, and international treaties to which the country is a signatory, the TCIHRC remains committed to safeguarding human rights in all detention facilities nationwide.
During the visit, the Commission was welcomed by the prison superintendent, Mr Michael Woodbine, and participated in discussions on various operational and rehabilitative programmes. Special attention was given to the facility’s efforts in prisoner
BY AUDLEY ASTWOOD
election is over, we must move forward as one people with the shared goal of a better Turks and Caicos Islands.
Our differences are like spices in a stew—too much of one, and the flavour is off, but in harmony, they create something rich and satisfying. We can debate. We can even disagree. But we must aim for the greater good. Moving forward means leaning into compromise, not running from it.
Our islands deserve a chorus, not a competition. Let’s give life to that dream. Let’s lift each other up in prayer. Let’s unite in purpose to build a better TCI. Let's create fair opportunities, and protect our natural wonders for generations to come.
The people have spoken and we must respect the will of the people. Our people aren’t asking for perfection. They’re asking for proof that we can work together. Let’s show them. Let’s seize this chance to shape history with honest dialogue, respectful collaboration, and a commitment to serve every corner of our islands.
We are one Turks and Caicos. When we unite, our potential is boundless. When we hold each other’s hands—no matter our party colour—the future sparkles with possibility. Let that be our pledge: to push past politics and stand as one for the good of all.
rehabilitation and reintegration, as well as the ongoing implementation of human rights-centred policies within the prison.
The TCIHRC delegation, which participated in the review and discussions with prison officials, included Ms Donisha Williams, Finance Manager; Ms Jabrinia Gardiner, Investigations Officer; and Mr Vernal Lightbourn, Education Officer.
The Commission remains dedicated to working alongside relevant authorities to ensure that places of detention maintain an environment that aligns with
human rights principles and best practices.
Looking ahead, the Turks and Caicos Islands Human Rights Commission will continue conducting regular assessments of detention facilities, advocating for human rights protections, and supporting initiatives that foster fairness, dignity, and rehabilitation. Following this visit, the Commission will produce a report outlining its findings and recommendations, which will be shared with the prison to support ongoing improvements and adherence to human rights standards.
That which we do not measure – we cannot manage
The RTC National Leadership Debate 2025 of Thursday January 30, by all accounts was a well presented production. The political party leaders demonstrated a high degree of familiarity with the subject matters presented by the moderators – except in the instance where the Premier seemed not to be willing to accept and address fully the current crisis state of violent crime in our beautiful by nature Turks and Caicos Islands. The Premier’s response to the question on crime was: ‘You said that there is a crime and safety crisis let us assume that you are correct….’
The ‘let us assume that you are correct’ phrase represents a number of things, among them are doubt, denial and disavowal. Is the Premier suggesting that crime and public safety are not at a crisis level in TCI, particularly in Providenciales? If the Premier is willing to disavow this reality how can we expect that he and his team are capable of crafting a suitable solution to this crisis. TCI is a tourist driven economy! A high crime rate is a death sentence to the fragile product of a tourism based economy of any destination! Is the Premier aware of the crime statistics in TCI? If he is unaware of such statistics then it is fair to inquire, if full and complete statistics on incidents, nature, perpetrators, victims of crimes are maintained by our police. If the Premier is unaware of any measurement (statistics) on crime how can we possibly expect him to manage it? Under any of the scenarios the Premier’s performance in this regard is unacceptable – on this count alone the voting public should remove the Premier and his team from office. Vote them out!
During the debate we heard of varying levels of budgetary commitments to scholarships which in an effort to inflate the numbers the Premier included the expenditures of the Community College and possibly the equivalent market value of the tuition granted to our students, and
amplified that tuition is now free at the Community College. The truth of the matter on tuition at the Community College is that even during the era when tuition and fees were assessed on the students, the Community College was not collecting much of it at all! The bad debt rate was astronomically HIGH; typically at about 67% of total revenue (normally bad debt is not measured on revenue but in this case the enormity of the bad debt makes it relevant) and understandably at the same rate on the accounts receivable! In short very few students were paying the assessed fees! So it might as well have been ‘free’ all along! Here again poor measurement and thus poor management!
Free tuition at the Community College is NOT a demonstration of proactive higher education policy but one of failed management, very much in the same manner that this Premier is known to ‘forgive’ the hospitality tax owed by financially well-heeled operators in the hospitality industry. That which we do not measure - we cannot manage. Vote them out!
Further into the debate the Premier spoke of his government’s ‘plans’ through a ‘youth plank’ in their manifesto to provide future scholarships and incorporate returning students into the economy; but why is such a plan not being implemented and executed under his current administration now? The Premier is a senior and long experienced politician in TCI why is he not presenting a track record of successful deliverables to the citizenry on the matter of education and absorption of trained Turks and Caicos islanders into the civil service and general workforce NOW? ‘We have a plan – many plans’ he says, but what about the performance? The British Army has an adage known as the seven Ps: Proper Planning and Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance. Are these plans of which the Premier speak properly laid out with defined timelines, allocated resources and expected outcomes? Or will we see Piss
BY ALPHA GIBBS
Poor Performance? Vote them out!
In all of the Premiers planning I did not hear any mention of building public schools to properly house our growing elementary and secondary school age populations. It is rather difficult to obtain public statistical data on many areas of interest in TCI; however it is communicated to me that between 2006 and 2024 there were 2 new public schools constructed in TCI; 1 elementary school and 1 secondary school. Meanwhile the public elementary schools realized a student population increase from 1994 students in the 2020/2021 school year to 2863 students in the 2024/2025 school year! An astounding 44% increase! Are we managing this reality? The public secondary schools realised a student population increase from 981 students in the 2020/2021 school year to 1741 students in the 2024/2025 school year! A catastrophic 77.5% increase! Are we measuring this data in a timely manner? How are we managing our education deliverables under these circumstances? Does the Premier and his team have suitably structured and formulated plans to address this catastrophe? Where is the minister of education on this matter? With statistics of this nature it is highly evident that every public school on Providenciales must be overcrowded and little wonder that Turks and Caicos Islander parents are being forced to burden themselves daily with private school tuition and fees! The minister of education MUST be shown the door! This is a failing grade! Vote them out!
Here is further evidence of where Poor Planning yields Poor Results. On the eve of elections here is a notice from the Water Undertaking Unit:
‘NOTICE Grand Turk, 27th January 2025 –
In light of the recent government write-off, moratorium on water bills, and the implementation of free water for 90 days, water demand has increased significantly across the island. Unfortunately, this surge has exceeded the production capacity of the Water Undertaking Unit, resulting in intermittent water supply challenges.
To address this critical situation and ensure the safe management of water distribution, the following emergency measures will be implemented immediately:
1. ADJUSTED OPERATING HOURS:
The operating hours for water distribution tanks on Grand Turk will now be as follows:
• Monday, Wednesday, and Friday: 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM
2. THROTTLED WATER DISTRIBUTION:
Water distribution from the Water Production site will be reduced daily at 9:00 PM to allow storage levels to recover. These measures are essential to stabilize water supply and prevent further disruptions. The Water Undertaking Unit sincerely regrets any inconvenience this may cause and deeply appreciates the patience, cooperation, and understanding of the Grand Turk community as we work to resolve this issue’.
It is a grievous disservice and demonstration of an out of touch Government to the population of Grand Turk and to us all to learn that their Government thinks that they are deserving of affordable potable water only once every four years; and now it is likely to become a five year cycle. Civil servants are so underpaid that they are unable to pay their water bills!
This is just another example of an uncaring and poorly performing Government and a deficiency in the seven Ps. What happens at the end of the 90 day free period?
Where is the Minister responsible for Public utilities in this fiasco of a temporary election induced ‘treat’ to an intractable problem?
Where is the Minister responsible for Government Infrastructure?
This pre- election ‘vote buying gimmick’ is not a solution to the ever present problem of sufficient potable water on Grand Turk. The citizens of Grand Turk should not allow this election era ‘treat’ to influence their vote! This election era inducement is merely
evidence of improper planning and insufficient preparation resulting in poor performance! Vote the Minister for Public Utilities out! Vote the Minister for Government Infrastructure/Deputy Premier Out! Vote these poor planning and poorly performing PNP parliamentarians out!
It is said that one is judged by the company that one keeps. I am appalled when I see and hear certain campaign surrogates of the PNP in highly visible roles on the campaign trail. Why would Mike Misick and Floyd Hall have such positions of influence within the PNP and ultimately any government formed by the PNP? Do we wish to return to the era of fraud, waste, abuse and theft of public assets orchestrated by these individuals? The transcripts of the Commission of Inquiry and the transcripts of the ongoing SIPT trials clearly demonstrates the above deficiencies. How can we forget the many fraudulent ‘flips’ of public property for personal gain? Unfortunately the ‘flipping’ of property has now taken a different structure; there are numerous accounts of acquisitions by Government of private lands that were previously acquired by well positioned party insiders and immediately ‘flipped’ to the Government at exorbitant prices . Given the reports received it appears that Government did not previously have any defined purposes for the acquisitions nor did the transactions follow the prescribed procurement processes. We can, and must do better Turks and Caicos! Vote this PNP administration out!
The leader of the PDM the Hon Edwin Astwood presents to the public that a primary difference between a PDM team which he leads and the PNP are the characteristics of accountability, honesty and forthrightness. These are characteristics desirable in all public servants. One cannot assert that a PNP government will demonstrate such characteristics.
Hon Astwood and his team should be afforded the opportunity to form a government which demonstrates accountability, honesty and forthrightness!
The writer Alpha Gibbs of Lorimers, Middle Caicos is a founding member of TCForum an NGO which advocates for good governance in Turks and Caicos. Mr. Gibbs is available at TCForum2001@gmail.com
New York City Council, the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC), and community partners on Wednesday launched New York City’s first-ever Community Interpreter Bank and the Protect NYC Families initiative to support Caribbean and other immigrants amid the implementation of President Trump’s deportation agenda.
NYIC, an umbrella policy and advocacy organization that represents over 200 immigrant and refugee rights groups throughout New York, told Caribbean Life that The NYC Community Interpreter Bank centralises interpretation services available to Caribbean and other immigrants across the five boroughs and will recruit, train and dispatch interpreters to Cityfunded legal service providers, community navigation sites and City Council offices.
NYIC said interpreters fluent in the most commonly requested languages will help ensure that every immigrant in the city can access services and information in their preferred language.
In Fiscal Year 2025, the City Council allocated $1.4 million to initiate the Community Interpreter Bank.
Through the Protect NYC Families initiative, the Council allocated over $2 million in funding to over 60 nonprofit organizations to provide more support for increased legal services, rapid response efforts, helplines, and critical community trainings.
NYIC said this new funding will allow providers to expand their capacity and respond to evolving challenges facing New York City’s immigrant communities.
This initiative comes as nonprofit providers continue to face overwhelming demand for services, given Trump’s escalating immigration enforcement and abrupt policy shift.
“New York City is a proud city of immigrants, and we must support our city’s families from attacks by the Trump administration,” said City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams. “The Council is proud to allocate more than $2 million in emergency funding for our Protect NYC Families Initiative, which will provide flexible funding for dozens of nonprofit organizations that serve immigrant New Yorkers.
“We are also proud to celebrate the Council’s investments to create the city’s first Community Interpreter Bank, which will help
ensure that services are available in the languages that residents speak,” she added. “I thank my Council colleagues, the New York Immigration Coalition, and the many partner organizations whose work is critical to protecting and strengthening our city.”
Murad Awawdeh, NYIC’s president and chief executive officer, said language interpretation services are “a vital pillar of a healthy, thriving and diverse New York City, for both new and long-term immigrants navigating complex systems in an unfamiliar language.
“The NYC Community Interpreter Bank ensures these individuals can access critical services in their preferred language while also creating a direct pipeline to employment for New Yorkers trained in interpretation,” he said.
“We are deeply grateful to the New York City Council and our partners for their vision and investment, recognising the vital role of language access in fostering a more inclusive city.”
A pivotal component of the Language Justice Collaborative’s (LJC) “Language Access Workforce Initiative,” the NYC Community Interpreter Bank will create sustainable pathways for community members to gain certification and employment as interpreters to provide essential language services to limited English proficient (LEP) New Yorkers, Awawdeh said.
He said the LJC is led by the
NYIC, African Communities Together (ACT), Asian-American Federation (AAF), HaitianAmericans United for Progress (HAUP), and Masa.
The second of its kind in the country, and the first in the state, Awawdeh said the NYC Community Interpreter Bank will recruit interpreters from all over the city including from other worker-owned language cooperatives and interpreters who have completed City University of New York (CUNY) Hostos interpreter certification courses.
He said eligible interpreters will either be contracted with one of the co-ops and certified by their cooperative, or have completed Hostos Community College’s first-ever Community Interpreter Certification course.
“These interpreters will work as independent contractors, delivering vital language services across the city,” Awawdeh said.
Recognizing the diverse and growing immigrant population in New York City, he said the City Council allocated funding through the Language Access Workforce Initiative to establish the NYC Community Interpreter Bank in FY 2025.
“The investment acknowledges the vital role of language access in fostering a more inclusive city and addressing the unique challenges faced by asylum seekers arriving in unprecedented numbers,” Awawdeh said.
Before Trump’s heightened
“Together, we are re-affirming our status as a sanctuary city and protecting the millions of immigrants that make our city whole.”
Council Member Crystal Hudson, whose grandmother hailed from Jamaica, said: “As a body, the City Council has stood firm in its support of our immigrant communities across the five boroughs.
“While legislation and advocacy are vital in improving the lives of millions of New Yorkers, these budget initiatives will deliver tangible change and work to protect some of our most vulnerable populations,” said the representative for the 35th Council District in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.
clamp down on immigrants, immigration advocates said many of the immigrants arriving in major US cities, such as New York, were nationals of Cuba, Haiti, Venezuela and Nicaragua.
“The New York City Community Interpreter Bank will greatly expand language access to our vibrant immigrant communities, enabling people to more easily receive legal services from city-funded partners, receive translation services at community navigation sites, and get support from local City Council offices,” said Council Member Alexa Aviles, chair of the City Council’s Committee on Immigration. “Not only will translation services now be dispatched to meet people on site, this program will open up new job opportunities to multilingual New Yorkers.
“This, alongside the roughly $2 million in new funding that the Council is distributing across immigration service providers to expand their programs, will equip our immigrant neighbors with greater resources during a terrifying political moment,” she added. “At a time when our communities are expressing need, the Council is being responsive in distributing funds to vulnerable community members.
“I’m proud to stand alongside immigration advocates in implementing these new initiatives,” continued Aviles at a press conference on the steps of City Hall in lower Manhattan.
“Information is currency, and we must do everything we can to ensure every New Yorker has full access to available resources and services—including in the languages they speak,” Hudson continued.
Elsie Saint Louis, chief executive officer of Haitian Americans United for Progress (HAUP), an immigration advocacy group, said her organization is “proud to be a part of the transformative Language Justice Collaborative.
“Creating a Haitian language services worker cooperative empowers our community by combining economic opportunity with cultural preservation,” she said. “This initiative ensures that Haitian Creole speakers can access essential services in their native language while contributing to a more inclusive and equitable New York City.”
Camille Mackler, executive director, Immigrant-ARC, said it was “an honor to be partnered with NYIC and all the member organizations of the Language Justice Collaborative, as this historic Community Interpreter Bank is launched in New York City.
“Language access plays a vital role in enabling our immigrant community members to access effective legal representation and access to justice,” she said.
“We at I-ARC are grateful for the opportunity to further the organization’s mission as the interpreter bank initiative will allow those in our legal services provider network to access trained and certified interpreters in a wide array of languages which will be essential in the days ahead,” Mackler added. (Caribbeanlife)
The British Overseas Territories in the Caribbean are some of the hottest destinations for tourism.
With the introduction of the United Kingdom’s new electronic travel authorisation (ETA) protocol, many are wondering how it will impact their travel plans to the islands, including the Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands, and Turks and Caicos Islands.
The UK’s ETA policy came into effect on January 8.
Nationals from 48 countries, including the United States, Canada, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, and Australia, which currently have visa-free access to the UK, must now obtain the ETA before entering UK territory.
The UK has stated that the ETA is being introduced as part of efforts to strengthen border security and digitize border controls by 2025.
We reached out to a few of the tourist boards to find out how the
new protocol will affect travellers from visa free countries arriving on their soil.
Officials from both the Turks and Caicos Islands and BVI have confirmed that the ETA does not apply to the overseas territories.
Keith Dawson, the Public Relations Manager of the BVI Tourist Board, told Loop News via email: “I confirmed with Immigration that the UK’s new ETA travel protocols do not apply to persons entering the British Virgin Islands.”
He directed us to the BVI’s Visas and Exemption Programme, which came into effect on September 1, 2016.
The visa policy states that if a national from a country requiring a BVI visa holds a valid UK, US, or Canadian visa and is visiting for business or tourism, they can enter the BVI without a visa for up to six months.
Holders of valid visas issued by the United Kingdom, United States, or Canada must have at least six months of validity remaining before traveling to the BVI.
Nationals from over 40 countries including the Philippines, Haiti, China, Colombia, Cuba and Saudi Arabia currently require visas to
visit the BVI. Dawson also told Loop News there has not been “any noticeable
drop in visitor arrivals since the measure was implemented as it does not apply to us.” (Loop News)
Claiming that American leadership is back in the Western Hemisphere, new US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Saturday that President Donald J. Trump is paying closer to the Caribbean and other regional countries in his foreign policy agenda.
“And we’re ready to stand with our regional partners,” said Rubio, a former US senator who was born in Miami to Cuban immigrants, in a Feb. 1 statement. “Putting America First means paying closer attention to our own hemisphere.”
Over the weekend, Rubio – who headed to Panama, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Guatemala and the Dominican Republic – said that “focusing on mutual priorities will bolster stability, security, and
prosperity at home and in our region.”
“American foreign policy has too long focused on other regions while overlooking our own, missing opportunities and neglecting partners and friends,” he said. “That ends now.”
“We need to work with countries across our region to stop further migrant flows and to repatriate all those who are in the United States illegally,” Rubio added. “These conversations may not always be easy, but they are necessary.”
He said Trump “envisions a prosperous Western Hemisphere full of opportunities” and that “all stand to benefit tremendously from greater cooperation with the United States.”
Trump’s shock proposal to rebuild Gaza and turn it into “the Riviera of the Middle East” triggered a flurry of condemnations in the Middle East and deep reservations among US allies.
Gaza rulers Hamas said that Trump’s proposal “will only put oil on the fire”. The militant group said in a statement: “Our Palestinian people ... will not allow any state in the world to occupy our land or impose guardianship on our great Palestinian people who have offered rivers of blood to liberate our land from occupation and to establish our state with Jerusalem as its capital.”
Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas hit back at Trump’s proposal. Abbas and the Palestinian leadership “expressed their strong rejection of calls to seize the Gaza Strip and displace Palestinians outside their homeland,” Abbas’s office said in a statement, adding that “legitimate Palestinian rights are not negotiable”.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who stood next to Trump as he unveiled his surprise plan, said it was “worth paying attention to this” idea and that US control of the Gaza strip “could change history”.
Far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich later vowed to “definitively bury... the
dangerous idea of a Palestinian
The head of the UN refugee agency called Trump’s statement “very surprising”. Filippo Grandi, the United Nations’ high commissioner for refugees, told AFP it was not “clear” what the idea entailed, which made it difficult to comment on such a “sensitive issue”.
UN rights chief Volker Turk later insisted that deporting people from occupied territory was strictly prohibited. “The right to selfdetermination is a fundamental principle of international law and must be protected by all states,”
Turk said.
China said it opposed the “forced transfer” of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip. Asked about Trump’s statement at a press conference, foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said “China has always maintained that Palestinian rule over Palestinians is the basic principle of the post-war governance of Gaza.”
The French Foreign ministry said Gaza should not be controlled by “a third party”. “France will continue to campaign for the
implementation of the twostate solution, the only one that can guarantee long-term peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians alike,” the ministry said.
Turkey lashed out at Trump’s proposal, calling it an “unacceptable issue”. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told the official news agency Anadolu that relocating Palestinians from Gaza was something “neither we nor the region can accept”. He added it was “wrong to even bring it up for discussion”.
Egypt gave strong support to Palestinian Authority president Mahmud Abbas, calling for the authority to govern the Gaza Strip. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty called for the swift reconstruction of Gaza, without the displacement of Palestinians. In talks with Palestinian prime minister Mohammed Mustafa in Cairo, the two agreed on “the importance of moving forward with early recovery projects” and “at an accelerated pace”.
Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said “it is clear that Gaza –- like the West Bank and east Jerusalem –- belongs to the Palestinians. They form the basis for a future Palestinian state.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his country’s long-standing support for a two-state solution in the Middle East had not changed. “Australia’s position is the same as it was this morning, as it was last year, and it was 10 years ago,” he said.
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Trump’s idea was “something almost incomprehensible”. Lula told Brazilian radio that “what happened in Gaza was a genocide, and honestly, I don’t know if the United States, which is involved in all this (in terms of support for Israel) would be the best placed to take care of Gaza.” (France24)
Shattered glass and a broken door covered with police tape mark the entrance to the apartment where the reported suspect in Sweden’s worst mass shooting is believed to have lived as a recluse.
Rickard Andersson, 35, has been named by the Swedish national broadcaster and multiple media outlets, including Reuters, citing police sources, as the man who opened fire, killing 10 people and himself, at an adult education center in Örebro, Sweden.
When asked whether police have found any of Andersson’s family members, Chief Investigator Anna Bergqvist told CNN: “We don’t have identification yet. It will take a couple of hours or days before we have that but, of course, we have spoken to his relatives.”
Police said that the attacker was not known to them, that he was not
connected to any gangs and that he was not believed to be acting based on ideological motives.
PJ Samuelsson has lived next door to Andersson since May last year but says he has never seen or even heard his neighbour.
He says he was in a state of shock after returning home on Tuesday and finding his quiet apartment block surrounded by heavily armed police.
“I couldn’t come up here, they said you’ll have to wait a couple of hours,” Samuelsson told CNN in an interview at his home Thursday.
He said he knows “nothing at all” about his neighbor Andersson.
“I’ve only seen his name on the door, that’s the only thing,” describing it as “very unusual” because he says hello daily to his other neighbors in the small block.
He said he doesn’t know
Rickard Andersson has been named as the shooting suspect
why his neighbor acted like a recluse but knowing he is the suspect is “terrible.” He said it’s a “disgusting” thought that he had weapons next door.
A second neighbor CNN
spoke to said she had never seen Andersson and she goes in and out of the building a lot. She finds it “weird” she has never seen him. Andersson’s name and social security number matched the same
address that was held on record by the Swedish tax agency.
The agency told CNN that as of 2023, its current data, it has no record of “any income from work” for Andersson since 2015.
Bergqvist told a news conference Thursday: “We have a perpetrator who was found inside the school and he was not known to us from before.
“He has a gun license for four guns and all these four guns have been confiscated. Three of those weapons were next to him when police secured him inside the building.”
Bergqvist added that “there is information that he is somehow connected to the school, that he may have attended this school before. But that is also something that we need to look deeper into to be able to fully confirm.”
El Salvador has offered to take in criminals deported from the US, including those with US citizenship, and house them in its mega-jail.
The deal was announced after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Salvadorean President Nayib Bukele during his visit to the central American nation.
Bukele - whose iron-fist approach to gangs has won him plaudits from voters but been heavily criticised by human rights groups - said he had offered the US “the opportunity to outsource part of its prison system”.
Rubio said the US was “profoundly grateful” to Bukele, adding that “no country’s ever made an offer of friendship such as this”.
Rubio told reporters: “He has offered to house in his jails dangerous American criminals in custody in our country, including those with US citizenship and legal residency.”
Referring to two of the region’s most notorious transnational
crime gangs, Rubio added that El Salvador would also take in deported migrants and “criminals from any nationality, be the MS-13 or Tren de Aragua”.
Bukele later confirmed the offer on X, specifying that “we are willing to take in only convicted criminals (including convicted US citizens) into our mega-prison (CECOT) in exchange for a fee”.
He added that “the fee would be relatively low for the US but significant for us, making our entire prison sustainable”.
Since he came into office in 2019, Bukele has made cracking down on crime his government’s priority.
The newly built maximumsecurity jail he referred to, Cecot [Terrorism Confinement Centre], is at the centre of his drive to lock up and punish the most violent gang members.
The government celebrated the opening of the jail - which it says can hold up to 40,000 inmatesby releasing photos and videos of shaven-headed and tattooed
prisoners stripped down to the waist being frogmarched along its corridors.
The treatment of inmates at Cecot, where scores of inmates are locked up in each windowless cell, has been criticised by rights groups.
But Bukele’s crackdown on crime continues to be very popular with the vast majority of Salvadoreans who say they can go about their lives without threats from gang members for the first time in years.
However, some relatives of the tens of thousands of people which have been rounded up and jailed
under emergency measures brought in by Bukele say their loved ones have been wrongfully rounded up in sweeping police round-ups.
Amnesty International has criticised the “gradual replacement of gang violence with state violence” in the country - a criticism dismissed by Bukele, who points out that his hardline approach to crime last February won him re-election to a second term with more than 84% of the votes.
El Salvador was the second stop on Secretary of State Rubio’s first overseas tour as the US top diplomat.
His first stop was Panama, where he demanded that Panama make “immediate changes” to what he called the “influence and control” of China over the Panama Canal.
On Tuesday, he will hold meetings with officials in Costa Rica and Guatemala expected to focus on migration as well as countering Chinese influence in the region.
Since coming to office, US President Donald Trump has focused on speeding up the removal of undocumented migrants, with the promise of “mass deportations”. (BBC)
A federal judge has temporarily halted President Donald Trump’s plan to offer a resignation package to federal employees.
The White House had said that more than 40,000 US government workers had accepted the offer to resign in exchange for pay through 30 September - though workers expressed confusion about the terms of the deal.
Federal Judge George O’Toole Jr said the plan would be paused until a hearing on Monday when he could hear the merits of a lawsuit filed by federal employee unions who questioned the plan’s legality, according to the BBC’s US partner CBS News.
The order came hours before Thursday’s 23:59 ET (04:59 GMT) deadline for federal workers to accept the deal.
A lawyer for the Justice Department said the White House’s Office of Personnel Management (OPM) would notify federal employees that the deadline had been paused, CBS reported.
An OPM official told the news outlet that the agency would continue processing resignations until the Monday hearing.
The White House, which previously said it hoped for as many as 200,000 people to accept its offer, told US media they expected a spike in participation just ahead of the deadline
The White House, which previously said it hoped for as many as 200,000 people to accept its offer, told US media they expected a spike in participation just ahead of the deadline.
“We expect the number to increase,” Leavitt told reporters outside the West Wing on Thursday.
“It’s going to save the American people tens of millions of dollars.”
Leavitt added that the administration encourages other workers to “accept the very generous offer”.
“If they don’t want to show up to the office, if they want to rip the American people off, then they’re welcome to take this buyout, and we’ll find highly competent individuals who want to fill these roles,” she said.
An analysis of the federal workforce by the non-profit Partnership for Public Service found that the annual attrition rate among federal employees is about 6%, suggesting that some workers may have been intended to leave government.
The resignation scheme’s announcement - delivered in the form of a late-night email with the subject line “Fork in the Road”is part of an ongoing effort by the Trump administration to slash the size of the federal government and cut spending.
The worker union American Federation of Government Employees filed the lawsuit against the White House’s Office of Personnel Management, arguing it had violated the law as it did not have the funds to back the deal and have given conflicting guidance about its terms.
AFGE had previously warned its members “NOT to resign or respond” to the White House’s resignation package.
The union had said in an email to members that the offer was part of an “effort to dismantle the civil service and replace the skilled, professional workforce with unqualified political appointees and for-profit contractors”.
The union noted that Congress has not passed a budget past 14 March, meaning it was unclear whether agencies could pay workers through September.
“There is not yet any evidence the administration can or will uphold its end of the bargain, that Congress will go along with this unilateral massive restructuring, or that appropriated funds can be used this way, among other issues that have been raised,”
AFGE said in the message.
Some federal employees had said that they buyout proposal came as a shock. They said they worried about unanswered questions with the process and its legality, which has piled on uncertainty to an already hectic start to Trump’s second term.
“The tone of the initial email was like ‘you may be cut anyway,’” Monet Hepp, a medical support specialist at the US Department of Veterans Affairs, previously told BBC. “People were blindsided by it.”
Some employees thought the email was spam, as it was such a departure from typical government communcations, causing them to delete it intially.
“I want to confirm that this is a legitimate communication from OPM,” a public affairs officer with the VA wrote in an email that was sent to employees and shared with the BBC.
More than 150 female prisoners were raped and burned to death during a jailbreak last week when fleeing male inmates set fire to a prison in Goma, in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, a United Nations spokesperson has said.
UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Seif Magango told CNN that most of the 165 female prisoners who were raped by escaping male inmates died in the fire.
Between nine and 13 female inmates, “all of whom had also been raped,” survived the blaze, Magango added, citing a judicial source in the DRC.
“We did not independently verify the judicial official’s report ourselves, but we do consider his account to be credible,” Magango told CNN Thursday.
The male inmates, some of whom were killed by prison guards, plotted a mass escape on January 27 as the M23 rebel alliance battled with Congolese forces in Goma over control of the city, the UN-sponsored Radio
Okapi reported Monday. More than 4,000 detainees fled the Muzenze prison that day, it
added, stating that the facility was now “completely empty” and left in ruins.
DRC communications minister Patrick Muyaya confirmed the rape of the 165 women, telling CNN
Wednesday that “the government condemns with the greatest energy this barbaric crime.”
The killings and mass rape mirror recurring scenes of conflictrelated sexual violence that have plagued the DRC for decades.
On Friday, the UN’s Human Rights Office said it had received reports of other cases of sexual violence involving the DRC’s army and its allied forces.
“We are verifying reports that 52 women were raped by Congolese troops in South Kivu, including alleged reports of gangrape,” said Jeremy Laurence, a spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, in a statement Friday.
CNN has contacted the Congolese military for comment on the allegation.
This week, the M23 rebel group, which has claimed to have captured the city of Goma, called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire after clashes with government forces left nearly 3,000 people killed. (CNN)
Argentina has announced it will pull out of the World Health Organization (WHO), mirroring a similar move by US President Donald Trump last month.
“President (Javier) Milei instructed (foreign minister) Gerardo Werthein to withdraw Argentina’s participation in the World Health Organization,” presidential spokesperson Manuel Adorni said at a news conference on Wednesday.
“We Argentinians will not allow an international organization to intervene in our sovereignty, much less in our health,” he added.
Adorni said Argentina’s decision was based on “profound differences regarding… health management, especially during the pandemic that… led us to the longest lockdown in human history and a lack of independence in the face of the political influence of some states.”
A statement later released from Argentina’s presidential office accused WHO of causing economic damage during the Covid-19 pandemic by “(promoting) endless quarantines.”
“It is urgent to rethink from the international community why supranational organizations exist, funded by all, that do not
Argentina President Javier Milei speaks at Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in February 2024, in National Harbor, Maryland
meet the objectives for which they were created, engage in international politics, and seek to impose themselves above member countries,” the statement read.
Though WHO works in Argentina, Adorni said his country does not receive financing from WHO for health management.
“Therefore, this measure… does not represent a loss of funds for the country nor does it affect the quality of services,” he said.
He claimed the withdrawal would provide “greater flexibility to implement policies” in
Argentina’s interests and “greater availability of resources.”
“It reaffirms our path towards a country with sovereignty also in health matters,” he added.
CNN has reached out to WHO for comment.
WHO has previously defended its response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, when Trump threatened to pull US funding from the body during his first term in office, Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus responded, “If you don’t want many more body bags, then you refrain from
politicizing it.”
Last month, on the first day of his second term in office, Trump once again put WHO in his crosshairs, announcing he planned to withdraw the United States from the health body, drawing criticism from public health experts.
The US president, whom Milei considers an ideological ally, criticized the United Nations’ health agency in his executive order on January 20, citing its “mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic that arose out of Wuhan, China, and other global health crises, its failure to adopt urgently needed reforms, and its inability to demonstrate independence from the inappropriate political influence of WHO member states,” as reasons for the US withdrawal.
Tedros has said he regrets Trump’s decision to withdraw, emphasizing the US also gains from the agency to which it contributes.
WHO was founded in 1948 in an attempt to protect the world’s health. Its constitution, signed by all UN members at the time, warned that “unequal development” in the health systems of different countries was a “common danger.”
Today, the agency works in
more than 150 locations around the world, leads efforts to expand universal health coverage and directs the international response to health emergencies, from yellow fever to cholera and Ebola.
Argentina’s decision is just the latest in a series of recent policy announcements across the region that have echoed Trump’s own rhetoric on border security, trade and migration control.
Milei’s Ministry of National Security has also said it will reinforce its border with Bolivia by erecting a 200-meter fence in Argentina’s Salta province – a measure to prevent drug trafficking, it said.
Earlier this week, Ecuador announced it would apply a 27% tariff on Mexican goods to “ensure fair treatment” of Ecuadorian producers, until a fair free trade deal is struck.
And El Salvador on Monday offered to imprison convicted criminals deported from the US – in what Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele framed as a potentially profitable deal struck for his country. “The fee would be relatively low for the US but significant for us, making our entire prison system sustainable,” he said in a post on X. (CNN)
IS INVITING APPLICATIONS FOR THE FOLLOWING: APPLICATION DEADLINE: MONDAY 24TH FEBRUARY 2025
Applications not accompanied by all required supporting documents, and applications received after the deadline may not be processed. This is a contract position. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
The Financial Intelligence Agency of the Turks and Caicos Islands (FIA-TCI) is a key competent authority within the Turks and Caicos Islands Anti-Money Laundering, Counter Financing of Terrorism and Counter Proliferation Financing (AML/CFT/ CPF) regime. Its main functions are to receive, analyse, and disseminate financial intelligence to aid in the identification, investigation and prosecution of persons involved in money laundering, terrorist and proliferation financing, and associated predicate crimes.
LOCATION: Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands.
SALARY: USD54,670.00 – 57,438.00 per annum (subject to qualifications and experience).
JOB SUMMARY:
The post holder will be responsible for effective and efficient office administrative functions of the FIA, the Board of Directors and maintenance of the Agency’s finances. The Business Operations Manager (BOM) will conduct his/her duties with high professional standards, integrity, and confidentiality. Honesty, transparency and integrity are key attributes of the BOM’s character. The BOM will conduct his/ her functions in accordance with TCI laws, FIA policies and guidelines. The BOM may be required to carry out other duties as may be required within the scope of the administrative functions of the FIA.
REQUIREMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS:
• Undergraduate degree in accounting, finance or related field with at least 5 years’ experience in office administration.
• Prior experience as a senior administrative or business operations manager is a plus.
• Experience in the preparation, recording, presentation and explanation of budget, payroll, expense and accounting reports, including monthly and quarterly accounts; profit and loss, balance sheet, accounts payable and receivables, cash flow, reconciliation and variance reports. Ensuring that these are done in accordance with IFRS accounting standards and the TCIG prescribed reporting formats.
• Efficient preparation of papers and minutes for the Board of Directors, and logistical preparations for board meetings.
• Office management; includes reception and recording of visitor movements, timely notification to relevant persons of maintenance issues, ensuring adequate office supplies and inventories are procured, maintained and recorded.
• Supervision of administrative/secretarial or clerical staff.
• Proficiency in the use of QuickBooks.
• Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office Suite - Word, Excel, Power Point, and Outlook.
• Valid TCI driver’s license.
TO APPLY PLEASE COMPLY AND SUBMIT:
1. Application cover letter stating how you meet the job and qualification requirements for the post;
2. Copy of updated Curriculum Vitae including your contact details;
3. Two recent reference letters with a date (no older than 6 months); one of which must be from a person who can speak to your competencies and professional capacity for the job;
4. Copies of relevant qualifications for the job;
5. Copy of passport Bio page; and
6. A Police certificate of character no older than 6 months.
Applications along with copies of your CV and supporting documents are to be submitted electronically to hr@fia.tc by the deadline. Only applicants with the legal, unrestricted right to work in the Turks and Caicos Islands need apply. By applying for this post shortlisted applicants agree to be subject to a vetting process including background checks with the police. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
( 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 Natacha Prosper by virtue of marriage to a Turks and Caicos Islander.
South Bank Marina Ltd, located in Long Bay Hills, Providenciales, invites applications to fill the position of MECHANIC.
MECHANIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Through understanding of marine system and competency with all major brands of outboard engine.
• Complete scheduled maintenance tasks on time and within budget in accordance with the maintenance schedule.
• Complete emergency repairs as required and follow up with appropriate customers the next working day.
• If appropriately qualified, undertake electrical repair. Assist with maintenance tasks at other marinas or homes as directed.
• Service and repair the workboat as applicable. Undertake other maintenance tasks as directed by the General Manager.
• Continuously monitor the general level of maintenance of the workshop areas as informed.
• Ensure parts needed are coordinated with the parts department regularly and associated parts billed to customers.
• Record all hours spent on jobs to ensure an accurate amount is billed to customers.
• Monitor various maintenance task carried out by dockmasters. Provide training/instruction to other staff members when appropriate. Self-motivated ability to work some weekend and holidays.
WAGE RATE:
Wages are in the range of $15.00 per hour based on experience. Application: Applications are invited from qualified Turks and Caicos Islanders and copies of the same should be submitted to the Labor Board. These positions are currently held by eligible Work Permit Holders.
DATE OPEN: FEBRUARY 03RD, 2025
JOB REQUIREMENTS:
• Maintains a clean kitchen, properly washes, and sorts soiled dishes. Keeps dish area free of clutter and organized.
• Sets up dish stations, including dish machines and sinks.
• Maintains clean/dry floors throughout the shift.
• Properly washes, stacks, and stores china, glassware, silverware, cookware, and storage containers.
• Changes water of machines and sinks every two hours, or more often as required by business levels, and properly uses chemical dilutions set by Ecolab.
• Maintains trash cans throughout shift and removes full trashcans and boxes at the end of each shift.
• Maintains the dry storage area and the organization of storage shelves.
• Follows the posted daily dish cleaning duties.
This position is currently held by an expatriate worker.
Salary Range: $8.00 per hour.
JOB REQUIREMENTS:
• Making sure all rooms are clean and in top condition for new arrivals and existing guests.
• Ensure lobbies, lounges, common areas, restrooms, corridors, stairways, locker rooms, and other work areas so that health standards are met.
• Disinfect equipment and supplies, using germicides or steam-operated sterilizers.
• Work quickly and efficiently so guests aren’t left hanging around.
• Liaise with the head housekeeper and supervisor when rooms are ready for guests.
• Ensure the equipment’s use, such as shampooers, polishers, and trolleys, is in good working condition.
• Being able to use the equipment safely and efficiently.
• Ability to bent, lift, and walk upstairs.
• Report on any shortages, damages, or security issues.
• Handle reasonable guest’s complaints/requests and inform head of department.
This position is currently held by an expatriate worker.
Salary Range: $8.00 per hour.
JOB REQUIREMENTS:
• Clean and tidy all areas to the standard cleanliness within time limits.
• Frequent bending, pushing, pulling, and kneeling.
• Re-set dinner rooms tables and terraces.
• Clean dining rooms tables and terraces.
• Clean windows, sweep floors, mop floors and polish furniture fixtures in and outside restaurant.
• Remove dinner wares, pushcart, and lift trays from dining rooms.
• Work cohesively with restaurant waiters, waitresses and supervisors.
• Work with minimum supervision and remain motivated.
This position is currently held by an expatriate worker.
Salary Range: $8.00 per hour.
JOB REQUIREMENTS:
• Perform combination of duties to maintain kitchen work areas, restaurant equipment, utensils clean and in an orderly condition.
• Wash worktables, walls, refrigerators, mop, sweep floors, and meat blocks.
• Prepare ingredients to use in cooking (chopping, peeling vegetables and cutting meat etc.)
• Ensure all food and other items are stored properly.
• Proven experience as kitchen helper.
• Experience in using cutting tools, cookware and bake ware.
• Knowledge of various cooking procedures and methods (grilling, baking, boiling etc.)
• Very good communication skills.
• Work cohesively with head chef and sous chefs. This position is currently held by an expatriate worker.
Salary Range: $8.00 per hour.
JOB REQUIREMENTS:
• Must be able to lift 20lbs pounds on a consistent basis.
• Load all laundry into washer and add specified cleaning agents.
• Operated liner feeder, and table’s linen ironing machines.
• Monitored and operated computer driven washers and dryers according to recommended capacity and manufacture guidelines.
• Take wet, clean items and dry as directed.
• Sort and fold or hang clean dried items.
• Prepared and distributed towels, linens, and rags to different departments.
• Arranged and maintained a sanitary hallway and area outside of the laundry and rooms.
This position is currently held by an expatriate worker.
Salary Range: $8.00 per hour.
JOB REQUIREMENTS:
• Operator buggy and perform daily beach clean-up.
• Clean building floors by sweeping, mopping, scrubbing, or vacuuming them.
• Gather and empty trash, service, clean, and supply restrooms.
• Working within the constraints of Health and Safety and adhere to any Health and Safety policies.
• Perform nightly deep cleaning of common areas of resort; work overnight and split shifts.
• Collect towels from around beach and pool.
• Ability to bent, stand for long hours and knowledge of cleaning equipment’s and machines.
• Ability to walk up and down stairs, bent, physical strength, stamina, and lifts 50lbs.
• Ability to comprehend and communicate in fluent English.
• Excellent communication skills through effectively communicating with guests and management.
This position is currently held by an expatriate worker.
Salary Range: $8.00 per hour
Candidates must have the ability to be on time and present for all scheduled shifts, split shifts, overnight shifts and including weekends and Holidays.
The music industry came together for an ambitious Los Angeles fire relief effort the week of the Grammy Awards that is estimated to have raised more than $120 million.
Of that, $9 million raised during the Grammys telecast on Sunday night, a representative for the Recording Academy told CNN. Host Trevor Noah made calls for charitable donations throughout the show that aired on CBS, both to viewers watching from home and also to guests inside the Crypto.com arena. QR codes were at each seat inside the venue, as well as displayed on-screen during the Grammys broadcast.
Another $15 million was raised at Grammy-related events last weekend, including Clive Davis’ pre-Grammy gala on Saturday evening, MusiCares Persons of the Year and the Special Merit Awards.
A Recording Academy representative told CNN that money raised during the Grammys
will be split between MusiCares, Direct Relief, the California Community Foundation, the Pasadena Community Foundation. (MusiCares, the charitable arm of the Recording Academy, is funding ongoing initiatives to support music professionals in need.)
The FireAid benefit concert last Thursday, which featured artists like Billie Eilish, Gwen Stefani, Green Day and Pink, is expected to exceed $100 million in proceeds, the FireAid organization announced in a press release on Tuesday.
Held at the Intuit Dome and the Kia Forum in Los Angeles, the performances garnered more than 50 million viewers across 28 streaming platforms, per the organization. Funds were raised through ticket sales, sponsorships, merchandise sales, donations from the public and large private donations from the Azoff family, the Eagles, U2, Andrew Hauptman, Ellen Bronfman Hauptman, as well as Steve and
Connie Ballmer, who matched every pledge made during the broadcast.
“FireAid funds will support the Los Angeles-region’s immediate needs and long-term recovery from the recent wildfires made possible through the overwhelming generosity of those throughout Southern California and around the world,” the release stated.
Speaking to CNN days before the Grammys, Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr.
and the show’s executive producer Ben Winston explained why they were continuing with the show during a time of so much loss and devastation in Los Angeles.
“We know we’ve got the biggest stars in the whole world that are sitting there, and we bring real awareness to what’s happened. We do some really serious fundraising for the causes that need it so much right now. We pay tribute to our first responders. We showcase LA businesses,” Winston said about
the show.
“Some of our community, from the music community, have lost their homes. They’ve lost their instruments,” Mason Jr. added. “I know one guy that lost his entire studio. All his collections, all his instruments, and this is how they make a living.”
Sunday’s Grammy ceremony received a largely positive reception with critics for successfully blending music’s biggest night with philanthropic efforts. (CNN)
Supermodel Naomi Campbell is to appeal against her ban on being a charity trustee, claiming that a fake email address was used to impersonate her and gave a false impression of her involvement.
In September 2024, the 54-yearold was banned from being a charity trustee for five years after a UK watchdog found a mismanagement of charity funds at Fashion for Relief, which she founded.
The model’s representatives claim some documents submitted to an inquiry by The Charity Commission gave a misleading impression of her role in running the UK charity.
They claimed there was evidence of a fake email account which they said was used to impersonate Campbell in communications with lawyers.
As a result, they said she was therefore not made aware of the allegations being made in the watchdog’s inquiry and did not have the opportunity to answer them.
The Charity Commission inquiry found that money raised was being spent on luxury hotels, spa treatments, cigarettes and security.
At the time, Campbell said she was “extremely concerned” by the findings and added that she was not the person “in control” of the charity.
Her case will come before a tribunal on Friday (7 February).
In a statement on Wednesday, Campbell said she wants to “ensure that those responsible are held accountable and justice is done”.
‘UNCOVER THE FACTS’ Campbell added that she has
“fought to uncover the facts” since the commission’s report and “what has been unearthed so far is shocking”.
“I want to shine a light on how easy it is to fake identities online and prevent anybody else going through what I have been through. I want to ensure that those responsible are held accountable and justice is done.”
A Charity Commission spokesperson said: “The Commission notes the Tribunal’s initial ruling and the judge’s comment that the case will require Ms Campbell to prove very serious allegations of wrongdoing against a fellow trustee.
“These are significant allegations for the courts to consider, and we will continue to cooperate fully with the Tribunal as it does so.”
Campbell was one of three of the charity’s trustees to be disqualified as a result of the probe last year.
Bianka Hellmich and Veronica Chou have been banned for nine years and four years respectively.
A probe into Fashion for Relief was opened by the commission in 2021, with the charity dissolved and removed from the register of
charities in March 2024.
The inquiry, which looked at Fashion for Relief’s expenses between April 2016 and July 2022, found that just 8.5% of funds raised were spent on grants to charity.
Some £344,000 has been recovered and a further £98,000 of charitable funds protected, the Charity Commission said in September.
Fashion for Relief had been set up with the aim of uniting the fashion industry to relieve poverty and advance health and education, by making grants to other organisations and giving resources towards global disasters.
In a statement on Thursday, Campbell said: “Ever since the commission’s report, I have fought to uncover the facts. What has been unearthed so far is shocking.
“I want to shine a light on how easy it is to fake identities online and prevent anybody else going through what I have been through. I want to ensure that those responsible are held accountable and justice is done.”
She added: “Having begun legal action, I will have more to say in due course.” (BBC)
Visit Turks and Caicos Islands secured a coveted live television feature for the country on Tuesday morning on "Live with Kelly and Mark," the American morning show watched by millions and hosted by actors Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos.
Content provided exclusively by VisitTCI.com helped promote Turks and Caicos as one of only six destinations highlighted in the segment as the best spots for a romantic getaway.
“That’s what it actually looks like,” said Ripa, pointing to the VisitTCI.com image of Middle Caicos, while Consuelos mused about the country’s trademark white sand and turquoise water.
The feature comes less than a month after Visit Turks and Caicos Islands collaborated with NBC’s TODAY and Travel + Leisure on a segment that featured the archipelago as one of the 50 best places to travel in 2025.
The Turks and Caicos Islands is a popular destination for weddings, honeymoons, and proposals. Several celebrities have chosen to marry in Turks and Caicos, from model Emma Heming and actor Bruce Willis—a former long-time owner of property on Parrot Cay—to Roxy Music frontman Bryan Ferry and Amanda Sheppard.
Ripa and Consuelos, who are married, visited the Turks and Caicos for a kid-free getaway themselves in 2009.
"Live with Kelly and Mark" is one of the most-viewed entertainment talk shows on American television, with an audience of more than 2.5 million total viewers.
The show joins a collection of dozens of media companies and
publications that Visit Turks and Caicos Islands has partnered with to promote Turks and Caicos as
a leading tourism destination. VisitTCI.com has collaborated with powerhouse publications such as National Geographic, The Wall Street Journal, AFAR, and Condé Nast Traveler.
You can watch a recording of the show at livewithkellyandmark. com.
Casting Call is set for February 15
The TCI Top Model Contest –En Vogue is set to make history in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Organisers have announced a significant expansion, making the contest Co-Ed for the first time. This ground-breaking decision allows both male and female contestants to vie for the distinguished title of The FACE of the Turks and Caicos, TCI Top Model.
The move to broaden the contest aligns with the fashion industry's increasing demand for inclusivity. By welcoming male contestants, the event now provides an equal opportunity for aspiring models of both genders to showcase their talent and compete for the coveted title of TCI Top Model.
“Over the years, we have observed a growing interest from male participants, many of whom questioned why they could not compete for the title. The show has never been exclusive to women, only the contest. With this expansion, we are ensuring that all talented individuals have the opportunity to be recognised in the boldest possible way. We feel that this year, the time is right; the talent is here, so why not?!” stated Courtney Robinson, Executive Producer of the TCI Top Model Contest.
The TCI Top Model Contest was relaunched in response to the increasing demand for quality entertainment, creative expression, and professional opportunities in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
"The TCI Top Model Contest has always been designed as a platform to discover and nurture talent in fashion, media, and the creative arts. We are committed to providing participants with exposure, industry connections, and career-building opportunities. This year, we recognise that the time is right to make the TCI Top Model Contest fully inclusive," Robinson added.
The judging criteria remain the same, ensuring fairness, transparency, and integrity. Contestants will be evaluated by top fashion industry professionals in categories such as Industry Readiness, Portfolio Folder, Impact Appeal, Runway Walk, Fitness, and Fashion Forward. These professionals know what to look for in a model, as they sign, submit, and book models for castings, campaigns, runway shows, film, and television roles routinely.
Contestants and model castings
There will be a second round of castings for contestants and fashion models on Saturday,
February 15th, 2025, at the Edward C. Gartland Youth Centre in Downtown Providenciales from 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM.
ELIGIBILITY
REQUIREMENTS
• Contestants: Females and males must be aged 16 and older.
• Females: 5’6” and taller; dress size 00 to 6.
• Males: 5’10” and taller; waist 28 to 34.
• Female models: Must be 5’6” or taller; size 00 and larger.
• Male models: Must be 5’10” and taller; waist size 28” to 36”. The TCI Top Model event is open to ALL individuals residing full-time in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Aspirants must bring government-issued identification (passport, driver’s license, or status card), along with recent photographs. For the contestants and model search, it is advisable to wear fitted clothing (e.g., t-shirts, tank tops, leggings, jeans, or shorts). Female participants should bring heels (minimum 3 inches) and wear minimal makeup.
Under the theme En Vogue, this year’s event promises to elevate fashion, entertainment, and competition into an unforgettable
evening of opulence and pure glamour. Scheduled for May 31st, 2025, at Brayton Hall, Providenciales, this highly anticipated event is set to be more extravagant than ever, featuring an array of prizes, surprises, influencers, and celebrity guest appearances.
“It’s been a humbling experience to see so much creativity and
passion unfold on this platform, and we’re honoured to play a part in supporting the incredible talent in our community. The countdown to the 2025 TCI Top Model Contest: En Vogue has begun. Join us on this exciting journey, where passion, talent, and opportunity converge to shape the future of fashion in the Turks and Caicos Islands,” added Robinson.
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of vehicles
• Maintain proper logs of work and issues.
• Maintain equipment and tools in good condition
• Must be able to work six days a week
• Must be able to work outdoors in all types of weather
• Must be able to work on weekends, holidays and at nights if necessary
• Provide roadside assistance to customers during normal working hours and after hours as required
• Must have a valid TCI driver's license
• Must have a clean Police Record
• Must have the ability to speak fluent English
• Must have excellent customer service skills
• Salary is based on experience and qualifications
• Handle all customer contacts efficiently and professionally, in accordance with Hertz/Thrifty standards and guidelines
Perform regular system inspections. Maintain systems and equipment. Use gauges and diagnostic tests to detect malfunctions. Repair or replace broken aircraft parts Perform troubleshooting
.Keep maintenance and repair logs Use power and hand tools (e.g. cranes, grinders) Understand and apply guidelines from manuals and blueprints .Ensure compliance with regional safety regulations Collaborate with other mechanics and electricians. Salary will
QUALITIES
• Graduate from an accredited school of medicine, as an M.D., M.B.B.S. or the equivalent.
• Candidate must have no less than 4 years specialty graduate experience as a licensed physician.
• Candidate must be fluent in English, with knowledge of a 2nd language being an advantage (SPANISH/ CREOLE).
RESPONSIBILITIES
• Provide high quality primary
patient care for outpatients.
• Refer patients for specialty care and hospitalization as clinically indicated.
• Maintains effective communication and positive relationships with staff, referral physicians and other members of the medical community in the TCI and most ESP patients.
• Responsible for accurate, timely, and complete documentation in patient records.
• Assist in business development for practice.
Acting on behalf of DANNY BUOY’S/SKULL ROCK/CABANA BAR #353 GRACE BAY ROAD, PROVIDENCIALES
- $8.50 Hourly
Preparing the workstation. Keeping the kitchen clean.
$8.50 Hourly Washing dishes.
$8.50 Hourly Cleaning.
$8.50 Hourly
Setting up workstations with all needed ingredients and cooking equipment. Cooking food in various utensils or grillers.
$8.50 Hourly
Take orders and serve food and beverages to patrons at tables in dining establishment.
$8.50 Hourly
Set up beach chairs and umbrellas for cruise ship passengers, to offer and sell drinks to customers.
$8.50 Hourly
Measure and mix raw ingredients, bake and decorate items, and ensure that all raw and finished goods adhere to quality and food safety standards.
$8.50 hourly
Apply paints, stains, and coatings to various structural surfaces.
$8.50
Follow blueprints and building plans. Install structures and fixtures.
$8.50
$8.50 hourly Inspecting and testing vehicles, engine tune-ups, oil changes, tire changes, wheel balancing, and replacing filters.
HERBERT SAINT CRY Kew Town / 241-1490
Maintaining up keeping of apartments rental, painting & cleaning. $9.00
ANGEL ARTHUR Kew Town / 345-1260
$8.00
Caring for my year-old infant, bath, feed her, monitor her, clean the house, wash, cook and iron
JOCELYN A. HAMILTON 342-1459
Cleaning the property, pick up waste and dispose waste and assist with ongoing construction on the property. $8.00
OLONDIEU CELEUS Five Cays / 242-0912
Cleaning the property, pick up waste and dispose waste and assist with ongoing construction on the property
WROLDA LIGHTBOURNE
Jones Hills, Blue Hills / 343-6068
Caring for Android 4 years old, bath & feed, change diaper and clean the house. $8.00
The Turks and Caicos Islands oldest and leading publishing house is in need of additional staff to fill the following posts:
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.
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.
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.
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.
As General Manager for the first-time opening of the Hyatt Andaz Turks and Caicos Residences and Hotel, you will be responsible for overseeing and directing all aspects of the hotel’s operations to deliver an extraordinary guest experience. In this pivotal role, you will manage the successful preopening and seamless launch of the property, ensuring it adheres to Hyatt Andaz brand standards while meeting financial and operational goals. Your leadership will drive the team to perform at their best, ensuring that both hotel operations and guest satisfaction are prioritized from the very beginning.
• Collaborate with the corporate and regional teams to manage all preopening activities, including recruitment, marketing, branding, and operational setup.
• Lead the execution of preopening strategies, ensuring deadlines are met for soft and grand opening timelines.
• Oversee the coordination of construction, finishing touches, and onboarding of suppliers and contractors.
• Develop preopening budgets, P&L forecasting, and ensure all necessary permits and licenses are in place.
• Hire, train, and mentor the leadership team and staff for the successful launch of the hotel.
• Ensure all departmental policies, procedures, and systems are in place and align with Hyatt’s global standards.
• Create and implement service protocols
to deliver a luxury guest experience consistent with Hyatt Andaz brand.
• Ensure financial goals are met, including revenue targets, budget management, and cost control.
• Drive sales and marketing strategies to ensure high occupancy rates postopening.
• Monitor daily operations to ensure profitability while balancing guest satisfaction and operational efficiency.
• Uphold the Hyatt Andaz brand’s philosophy of personalized and elevated guest services.
• Ensure that all operations, from front-ofhouse to back-of-house, reflect the luxury and quality of the Hyatt Andaz experience.
• Provide ongoing training and development opportunities to ensure a highly motivated and professional workforce.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Hospitality Management, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Master’s Degree (optional but preferred): A Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) or Hospitality Management.
• 10-15+ years of progressive experience in hotel management,
• Previous experience with a Hyatt brand or luxury property.
Salary: $90k to $150k per annum based on qualifications and experience.
Pine Cay is looking for a Management Couple, a Senior Executive director role, responsible for overseeing the operational aspects of the Meridian Club, HOA Management, Resort Development, Hotel Operation, Purchasing, and Marina functions. With a comprehensive range of responsibilities, the general managers play a pivotal role in ensuring the seamless and effective operation of a premier luxury community.
In charge of the asset management and support services of the Club, the directors serve as the bridge between the Club senior staff, Homeowners and Board of Directors. The Management couple directly or indirectly coordinates real estate, operational, commercial, administrative, and financial activities.
Accomplished and visionary leaders, with a passion for the hospitality industry, a large portion of the scope includes real estate development and promotion, property management, maintenance and repair, project management and refurbishment, procurement and inventory management of supplies and equipment, as well as brand management.
To directors need to display high energy, enthusiasm, and a strategic mindset, to lead a resort team in delivering exceptional guest experiences, driving revenue growth, and ensuring operational excellence.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Reports directly to the Chairman and Board of Directors and owns day-to-day operations, explicitly emphasizing enhancing the value of the homeowners properties, the lifestyle for member residents and guests, and the health, safety, and welfare of the community and staffs
• MUST have prior expertise in HOA management, legal compliance, and operational functions of homeowners associations involving disputes over rule enforcement, financial assessments, maintenance issues, governance practices, contract negotiation and development.
• Must have a strong level of financial acuity, and be proactive in evaluating reserve needs, projecting future projects and budgets, and work collaboratively with counterparts at the Club to ensure a high level of understanding of what each is working on or proposing that may have a financial or other resident impact.
• Manage the annual and capital budgets, including monthly analysis and findings. The GM presents key findings to the board at least monthly, with follow-up actions aligning with the annual and strategic plans.
• Project Management: oversee various
construction and renovation projects to maintain and enhance the community. These projects can range from simple repairs to significant infrastructure upgrades. Deep understanding of construction processes, regulations, and best practices is essential. Ensure construction processes are completed efficiently, safely, and within budget.
• Oversee all aspects of island operations, including Sales and marketing, and PR.
Develop and execute strategic Marketing plans to achieve business objectives and drive profitability. Website design, on-location photography, marketing collateral development, social media, and digital advertising. Monitor market trends and competitor activities to stay ahead of the curve
• Operational role: responsible for the overall operational execution and strategic direction of the resort, the directors foster a culture of exceptional guest service and employee engagement. Implement and maintain high operational standards and quality control. Lead and inspire a diverse team of department heads and associates. Establish and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including owners and investors.
• Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management or related field
• 10+ years of experience as a General Manager in remote Luxury Resort with prior Relais & Chateaux Experience, HOA, Project Management and Food & Beverage background required.
• Strong financial acumen and proven success in managing budgets, revenue, and expenses
• Excellent leadership and team management skills
• Strong Marketeer with Real Estate, Hospitality revenue management.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and customer service skills; ability to communicate effectively with your team, owners and officials.
• Ability to think strategically and drive results
• Autonomous with remote place expertise, strong problem-solving and decision-making skills
• Passion for delivering exceptional guest experiences
BENEFITS:
• Annual Salary Net of Taxes 150K USD for couple
• Housing and Food Allowance included
Job Grade: 5.1
Annual Salary: $39,600 – $59,300
The Acquisition Sales Officer is Responsible for executing sales strategies and maintaining relationships with affiliates on the assign ECR country. Comply with the sales plans and initiatives that are carried out, in accordance with current internal regulations, policies and procedures.
• Leads and drives a customer-centric culture for his entire team to deepen customer relationships and leverage the Bank’s extensive relationships, systems, and knowledge.
• Execute sales strategies to attract and affiliate new businesses for all cards, including amex with the migration from the American Express network direct model.
• Identify and manage the creation of new business sequences already affiliated and be aware of new locations or branches from existing business so they can be onboard.
• Responsible for maintaining and expanding business relationships, ensuring acceptance and coverage within assigned portfolio; to achieve growth and profitability objectives. Ensures activation of new merchants by conducting after-sales call-out activities after confirmation of Point of Sale (POS) deployment programmed with Scotiabank and visiting the merchant for post sales follow up for (POS) with BNS credit/debit card. this is to ensure that the merchant is satisfied with the third-party services.
• Contact E-commerce referrals within the given SLA once assigned and closely monitor lead.
• Ensures activation of new merchants by contacting them immediately after E-commerce configuration, completion of “live- tests” including settlement confirmation. (Scotia ecom+)
• Identify and update (weekly) pipeline database of potential customers for onboarding.
• Participate in marketing initiatives to grow awareness for Scotiabank’s merchant products when requested by the product team.
• Understands the Bank’s risk culture and how
risk appetite should be considered in daily activities and decisions.
• Creates an environment where your team conducts effective and efficient operations in their respective areas, while ensuring the adequacy, compliance and effectiveness of day-to-day business controls to meet obligations to reduce operational risk, the risk of regulatory noncompliance, the risk of money laundering and financing of terrorism and conduct risk, including the responsibilities established under the Operational Risk Management Framework, the Regulatory Noncompliance Risk Management Framework, the International Manual for the Prevention of Money Laundering and the Financing of Terrorism and the Guidelines for Business Conduct.
• Promotes a high-performance environment and implements a workforce strategy that attracts, retains, develops, and motivates its team, and to achieve this, fosters an inclusive work environment, communicates the vision, values and business strategy and manages a succession and development plan for the team.
• Tertiary Education in Business or related areas:
• Three (3) years work Experience in Business, Sales, Commercial Banking, Customer Service or related areas.
• 1 – 2 years experience in project and portfolio management
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite of applications.
• Spanish language proficiency (Desired)
• Ability to be self motivated and work with minimum supervision.
• Excellent communication skills.
on or before February 28th, 2025.
– We are seeking two audit managers who are professionally qualified chartered/public accountants with a minimum of six years post graduate professional experience gained within a major public accounting firm. These individuals are required to manage the external audit process from planning through to completion including leading the engagement team. They will report to the senior managers and directors of the firm. Salary ranges from US$70,000 to US$90,000 per annum. One audit manager position is currently held by a work permit holder.
Neil French Baker Tilly Ltd., P.O. Box 357, 18 The Village at Grace Bay, Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands
The Labour Commissioner Labour Office, Butterfield Square, Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands
Or email your particulars to neil.french@bakertilly.tc
SKILLS REQUIRED:
• Qualified ACA, ACCA, CPA or ACMA
• Minimum of 6 years’ post graduate experience
DUTIES:
• Conduct audits of various clients in accordance with International Standards on Auditing and GT audit methodology, reporting to the responsible partner.
• Lead engagement teams through the planning, execution and completion stages of audits, validation of financial reporting packages of multinational concerns and other varied special nature engagements.
• Establishing overall strategy and preparing Audit Plans in context of applicable financial reporting framework, International Standards on Auditing (ISAs), and other industry specific reporting requirements.
• Supervising progress of audits including resolution of differences of professional judgment, addressing significant accounting and auditing questions arose during the audit, and review of work performed by team members.
• Assessing business and audit risks, coordinating with professionals of various fields such as legal, actuarial and IT experts and decision making for resolution of critical matters.
• Key liaison with clients.
• Evaluating internal controls identifying weaknesses therein and making appropriate recommendations to management for improvement.
• Coach staff by providing candid, timely and constructive feedback, and act as a counsellor for assigned associates and senior associates and coach them throughout the course of audit.
SALARY RANGE:
$80,000 - $120,000 per annum based on level of experience
This position is currently held by a work permit holder - Turks & Caicos nationals encouraged to apply
ARCHELUS ROBINSON Juba Sound 348-2224
LABOURER
$9.00
Assist with loading
Australian scientists have produced the world’s first kangaroo embryo through in vitro fertilisation (IVF), a breakthrough they say could help save other species from extinction. Using specimens from eastern grey kangaroos, the researchers successfully injected a single sperm cell into an egg, but said achieving a live birth would require more work and “technical advancements”.
The feat provides important insights into marsupial breeding and could aid efforts to improve the genetic diversity of endangered species such as the koala, Tasmanian devil, northern hairynosed wombat and Leadbeater’s possum, lead researcher Andres
Gambini said.
Australia houses the largest variety of marsupial mammals, but it also has the highest rate of mammal extinctions.
The University of Queensland experiment looked at the growth of kangaroo eggs and sperm in a laboratory setting before creating embryos using a method known as intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).
The technique, which is already used on humans and some domestic animals, was tried on eastern grey kangaroos that had died. The species was selected because it is not endangered and has existing high populations.
Despite how iconic marsupial
Patricio Palacios was one of the scientists involved in the groundbreaking study
species are in Australia and the crucial role they play in its biodiversity, studies into their tissues have been limited, scientists say.
“We are now refining techniques to collect, culture and preserve marsupial eggs and sperm,” said
To operate and realize strategic plans for the daily operation of indoor hydroponic farm, with responsibility for all aspects of farm operations, including overseeing crop growth by strategizing crop production over the course of the plants lifecycle and monitoring the progress of such crops for optimal quality, health and yield. RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:
• Operation of a computerized climate control systems to ensure that crops benefit from optimal environmental conditions;
• Regulate plant nutrition and chemical requirements to ensure the unique nutritional needs are met for each plant variety over the plant life cycle to optimize growth;
• Oversee farm operations including ensuring accountability and proper maintenance of sensitive NFT systems;·
• Monitor and adjust all aspects of plant lighting and environmental factors;·
• Plan all crop schedules to ensure a smooth production schedule·
• Understand and adhere to company food safety policies including FSMA and HACCP compliant; MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
6 years of experience in NFT based farmer production facility, 5 years of experience as an indoor farmer, ANSI-CFP certification. STARTING SALARY: $32,000.00 per annum
Dr Gambini, adding that such methods would play a crucial role in safeguarding “the genetic material of these unique and precious animals”.
IVF is being used as a tool to try and preserve endangered species the world over.
Last year, scientists achieved the world’s first IVF rhino pregnancy, successfully transferring a labcreated rhino embryo into a surrogate mother in Kenya. In 2018, IVF was also used to create the world’s first donkey embryo. (BBC)
Responsible to take care of the facilities, carry out cleaning and maintenance duties; keep branches clean and orderly, ensuring a safe and tidy environment in all TCI branches. Wage: $1,400-$1,700/m
Set and implement digital strategy by working with cross-functional various partners to transition from traditional to digital processes. Promote a digital culture and build digital business technology platforms. Cross-sell company products and services; assist Sales Team in promoting products and services in different languages. Skills/Qualifications: Proven certifications and experience in the international digital space; Training, experience and certification in AntiMoney Laundering; Demonstrates ability to organize and manage a complex product, service and procedures environment; Fluent in written and verbal English. SALARY $1,400 - $2,000.00/m
Cross-sell company products and services; assist Sales Team in promoting products and services; Interpret and translate for efficient service delivery; record transactions for money transfer; prepare / maintain multiple reports. Skills/Qualifications: Proven certifications and experience for the role. SALARY $1,500 - $1,800.00/m
Microplastics, plastic particles fewer than 5 millimetres in size, have infiltrated the environment at an alarming rate as worldwide plastic use increases. Levels of microplastics found in the environment have surged in the past few decades, with current plastic production at more than 300 million tons annually, and an estimated 2.5 million tons floating in the world’s oceans as of 2023, over ten times their 2005 levels.
A new study in Nature Medicine finds that microplastics and nanoplastics—which are even smaller at 1 to 1000 nanometres in size—accumulate at higher levels in the human brain than in the liver and kidneys. The study also finds significantly higher concentrations of microplastics and nanoplastics in 2024 samples compared to 2016 samples, and higher levels in brains from people diagnosed with dementia.
Although the study does not establish a cause-and-effect relationship between these plastic particles and dementia, it raises questions about the possible health consequences of exposure to plastics. While scientists know these plastics are in our bodies, how they impact our health is unclear.
“We think this is simply mirroring the environmental buildup and exposure,” says study author Matthew Campen, professor of pharmaceutical sciences at the University of New Mexico. “People are being exposed to everincreasing levels of micro and nanoplastics.”
PLASTIC POLLUTION IS GROWING EXPONENTIALLY
Microplastics and nanoplastics (MNP) can be invisible to the naked eye and come from larger plastic products—like soda bottles, shopping bags, and Styrofoam containers—breaking down in the environment.
Scientists have studied MNPs in the oceans since the 1970s. Marine animals have been found to have microplastics in their bodies, absorbed from the water and from eating contaminated fish. Microplastics also accumulate in the tissues of other animals that people eat like pigs, cows, and chickens.
MNPs can end up in the air too: indoor air especially tends to contain more MNPs than outdoor air, due to shedding of particles from plastics in clothing, furniture, and household products.
After we inhale these particles, they can travel through the body and end up in various organs. Studies have found MNPs in
study found higher levels in brains from people diagnosed
human lungs, placentas, blood vessels, and bone marrow.
A 2024 study found evidence that MNPs can pass through the blood-brain barrier, a selective filter that controls what can enter the brain from the bloodstream. While it was previously thought only the smallest nanoplastics could pass the barrier, this study found larger microplastics can enter the brain too.
MICROPLASTICS AND NANOPLASTICS IN THE BRAIN
This study published today confirms the presence of MNPs in the brain—and at shocking levels.
The study examined 52 human brain samples from 2016 and 2024, all taken from the frontal cortex, the part of the brain responsible for judgment, decision making, and muscle movement. The researchers also looked at liver and kidney samples from the same bodies, analysing all tissue using microscope imaging and molecular
analysis to identify the chemical composition.
Brain and liver samples from 2024 had significantly higher concentrations of MNPs compared with those from 2016. The total mass of plastics in the brains studied increased by about 50 percent between 2016 and 2024, and the researchers suggest drastically increasing concentrations of MNPs in our homes, air, and water could be to blame.
“I’m quite shocked by the amount of microplastics they find,” says Emma Kasteel, neurotoxicologist at Utrecht University in the Netherlands. “It was a lot higher than I would have expected.”
Growing levels of microplastics in the environment are reflected in the new findings, says Kasteel, with more exposure likely the cause of more plastic particles in the organs.
The brain samples overall had 7 to 30 times more MNPs compared with liver and kidney samples.
Particles found in the brain were mostly tiny shards or flakes of polyethylene, one of the most common plastics in the world, often used in packaging.
It makes sense that MNPs accumulate more in the brain compared to other organs, says Kasteel. Inhalation through the nose to what’s called the olfactory bulb, the part of the brain that processes smell, gives MNPs in the air a more direct route to the brain than to other organs.
Campen points out the age of the person was not associated with the amount of plastic in the organs, meaning the body does clear the plastic in some way—if not, older individuals’ organs would just continue to accumulate more and more plastic over the years.
Another notable finding was that MNP levels were about three to five times higher in 12 brains from people who had been diagnosed with dementia. The researchers clarify this does not necessarily mean MNPs cause dementia, but it shows an association that should be studied further.
Kasteel says the connection is likely because people with dementia tend to have blood-brain barriers that don’t function as well as a filter as in healthy people, meaning the high concentration of MNPs could be a consequence of dementia rather than a cause.
While scientists don’t fully understand the health impacts of MNPs in the brain, they are calling for more research to better understand whether they are harmful. Studies have shown MNPs in arteries can be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease,
and that cancer cells in the stomach can spread faster after contact with MNPs.
“More and more studies show that plastics are present in the brain, including this new one, and they shouldn’t be there,” says Kasteel. “We don’t know that much about the health effects, but the fact is that they are there and they shouldn’t be there, and maybe that’s worrying enough.”
Campen’s research team wants to look at the whole brain next, to understand if there’s more plastic accumulation in one specific area, and to see if that links to any specific health outcomes.
While there is no way to completely avoid exposure to plastics, Kasteel says that on a personal level there are small choices you can make that can reduce exposure: minimizing single-use plastics, ventilating your home well and vacuuming regularly to remove dust and plastic debris, and avoiding cosmetic products that intentionally add MNPs like scrubs with plastic beads.
Scientists are also developing solutions to reduce microplastics in the environment. There’s a type of worm that eats polystyrene, and fungi and microbes that break down plastics in the environment. Scientists are developing new types of filters to remove MNPs from drinking water.
“Plastic is everywhere. Most people cannot imagine a world without plastic… even if we stop producing plastic right now, the world will still be full of microplastics,” says Kasteel. “So it’s good to think about mitigation measures, applying a precautionary principle, and seeing what we can do to minimize exposure, to maybe prevent certain health risks that there might be.” (NatGeo)
A North Yorkshire hospital has introduced AI technology that could speed up the detection of lung cancer and other serious illnesses.
Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust said the software would "significantly improve" the efficiency and accuracy of chest X-ray analysis.
All X-rays were now read by AI in under 30 seconds of being taken at hospital, with abnormal cases prioritised.
The software would act as a second pair of eyes for clinicians
and help to identify serious conditions earlier, a spokesperson for the trust said.
The software can detect up to 124 potential findings on chest X-rays in under a minute, streamlining the reporting process.
Dr Daniel Fascia, consultant radiologist at HDFT, said: "This technology will greatly speed up the time it takes for clinicians across our trusts to accurately report and diagnose each X-ray, helping us to reduce historical backlogs in our organisations, spanning back to the
The proportion of new cases of schizophrenia associated with a cannabis use disorder has risen from 4% pre-legalization to 10% after cannabis legalisation in Ontario, according to new research.
A new study from researchers at ICES, The Ottawa Hospital, University of Ottawa’s Department of Family Medicine, and Bruyère Health Research Institute and published in the journal JAMA Network Open used data capturing the health care visits of everyone living in Ontario, Canada to track whether the liberalisation of medical cannabis in 2015 and legalisation of non-medical cannabis in Canada in 2018 were linked to changes in how much cannabis use disorders (CUDs) were associated with new schizophrenia cases.
The paper is titled “Changes after cannabis legalisation in incident schizophrenia diagnoses associated with cannabis use disorder in Canada.”
“Regular cannabis use is strongly associated with an increased risk of schizophrenia, and one of the main areas of uncertainty surrounding cannabis
Regular cannabis use is strongly associated with an increased risk of schizophrenia
legalisation is whether there would be changes in the number of new cases of schizophrenia,” says Dr. Daniel Myran, a Canada Research Chair in Social Accountability at the University of Ottawa, ICES Adjunct Scientist, Investigator at the Bruyère Health Research Institute, and Associate Scientist at The Ottawa Hospital.
“We found that there have been concerning increases over time in
the percentage of people with a new schizophrenia diagnosis who had received care for a cannabis use disorder before their diagnosis.”
The study included all Ontario residents aged 14 to 65 years and eligible for universal health care (over 13.5 million individuals) and considered three policy time periods between 2006 and 2022: before legalisation, after liberalisation of medical cannabis,
and after legalisation of nonmedical cannabis.
A total of 118,650 individuals (0.9% of the population of Ontario) had an emergency department visit or hospitalisation for a CUD. Over the study period, 10,583 (9%) of individuals with CUD developed schizophrenia compared to 80,523 (0.6%) of individuals without CUD.
1. The number of individuals in Ontario who require hospital care for a CUD has increased by 270% (1.3 in 1,000 people to 4.6 in 1,000 people) since before legalisation to after the legalisation of non-medical cannabis.
2. Over the same period, the percentage of all new cases of schizophrenia in Ontario who had received hospital care for a CUD before their schizophrenia diagnosis increased from 7% to 16%.
3. After adjusting for differences between individuals with and without hospital care for a CUD the authors estimated that during the legalisation period, 10% of new cases of schizophrenia
could have been prevented if people with cannabis use severe enough to require care in the emergency department or hospital had not stopped using cannabis. In men aged 14 to 24, that percentage rose to 18%.
“Our study highlights the growing public health challenge posed by the combination of increasingly high-potency cannabis and rising regular cannabis use,” says Dr Myran. The authors highlight that the study does not settle ongoing debates about whether or not heavy cannabis use can cause schizophrenia. Nevertheless, the authors note that heavy cannabis use does worsen symptoms and the prognosis for those living with schizophrenia and caution about the trends observed in the study.
“The tripling of schizophrenia cases associated with a cannabis use disorder over the past 17 years and rising cases of psychosis underscores the urgent need for targeted prevention strategies, particularly for younger populations who appear to be at the greatest risk,” says Dr Myran. (Medicalxpress)
Scientists have cracked the perfect way to boil an egg – astonishingly, it takes half an hour.
It is one of the undisputed facts of life that it is notoriously difficult to cook a perfectly boiled egg. Breakfasts can often be disappointing affairs when, after cracking the shell and dipping your toasted soldier into what you hope will be a culinary delight, you instead find that your yolk is dry and crumbly, or even worse, the egg white is a slimy watery mess.
The problem is that the yolk and albumen (the white part of the egg) cook at two different temperatures. Yolk requires a temperature of just 65C (149F) to cook, while the albumen needs a little more heat at 85C (185F).
Conventional methods for cooking eggs, therefore, represent a compromise between those two seemingly incompatible truths. Hard-boil an egg at 100C (212F), and the white will soon become tender and just right. The yolk, however, will be fully set – which is alright if you like that sort of thing, but disappointing if you’re after a soft, runny yolk. Another method of cooking an egg, known as sous vide, involves placing the egg in a water bath at temperatures between 60 and 70C (140-158F)
for one hour. This leaves the yolk deliciously runny, but the white can be left slimy and clear.
However, worry not, as researchers have now discovered the perfect method for boiling an egg. What’s more, they have shown that the result is not only tastier, but better for you too.
In their new paper, researchers led by Pellegrino Musto, a scientist working at Italy’s National Research Council in Pozzuoli, first simulated the egg-cooking process using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). CFD is the science of using computers to predict how liquids and gases flow based on the physical laws governing them, such as conservation of mass, momentum and energy.
The simulations suggested a new method – one likely to be entirely unfamiliar to most chefs and amateur cooks – that might give superior results. The approach, which the authors call periodic cooking, involves alternating between cooking the egg in a pan of boiling water kept at 100C (212F), and placing it into a lukewarm bowl kept at 30C (86F). To get the best results, the egg must be transferred between the two temperatures every two minutes for a total duration of 32 minutes,
To get the best results, the egg must be transferred between two temperatures every two minutes for a total duration of 32 minutes
so it is probably not best suited to home cooks who like to dip in and out of the kitchen leaving their egg unsupervised.
If you are willing to put in the effort, however, your rewards will be plentiful. When scientists tried the new method in real life, the resulting egg was exceptional. The researchers confirmed this superiority by analysing the texture, sensory qualities and
chemical structure of their perfectly boiled egg using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry. The results showed that periodically cooked eggs had a soft yolk similar to that of a sous vide egg – so far so good. However, unlike eggs cooked sous vide, the white albumen was not runny and uncooked, but instead had a consistency closer to that
of a traditionally soft-boiled egg. According to the paper’s authors, this is probably because, while temperatures in the periodically cooked egg white ranged between 35C (95F) and 100C (212F) during cooking, the yolk remained at a consistent temperature of 67C (153F) throughout.
Perhaps most interestingly, chemical analysis revealed that the yolk of periodically cooked eggs contained more polyphenols – a group of micronutrients mostly found in plants, and touted for their health benefits – than eggs cooked by other methods. This class of compounds is renowned for its antioxidant and antiinflammatory properties. Plants make them as a defence against stressful environmental conditions such as UV radiation, droughts or predation by insects. However, research increasingly shows they can benefit humans too. For example epidemiological studies suggest that high dietary intake of polyphenols is associated with decreased risk of cardiovascular disease, specific forms of cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. Even more reason to try periodically cooked eggs next time you fancy dippy eggs and soldiers for breakfast. (BBC)
Six dairy herds in Nevada have tested positive for a newer variant of the H5N1 bird flu virus that’s been associated with severe infections in humans, according to the Nevada Department of Agriculture.
Scientists say these infections with a different type of virus mark an inflection point in the nation’s efforts to contain the virus: It may be here to stay.
The strain is not the same one that has been circulating in other dairy herds throughout the United States, a virus called B3.13. The newer version, D1.1, has previously been detected only in birds and in people who had contact with infected birds.
This is the first time it has been found in dairy cattle, meaning that these cows caught it from wild birds, instead of another infected herd. This is the second known instance of a type of avian flu being introduced into cattle herds by birds and It suggests the virus could be seeding itself into herds through introductions from wild birds, which are ubiquitous.
That could mean the H5N1 infection might become endemic, or continuously circulating, in birds in North America, and that may eventually spell trouble for people, too.
“In my opinion, it is now endemic, and it should be classified as an endemic virus,” said Dr. Louise Moncla, a pathobiologist at the University of Pennsylvania who runs a lab that studies how viruses emerge in human populations and spread.
The US Department of Agriculture currently classifies H5N1 as a foreign animal disease, meaning an infectious disease in animals that is not currently present in the United States. In an October news briefing, Dr. Eric
Deeble, deputy undersecretary for marketing and regulatory programs at the USDA, said agriculture officials were still confident that H5N1 could be eliminated in the national herd.
Experts said repeated infections of cattle by wild birds will make that that possibility more remote.
“It’s much easier to control virus spread when you’re talking about a virus spreading from cow to cow than controlling spread from birds to cows,” said Dr. Scott Hensley, a microbiologist who studies the evolution of flu viruses at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine.
This isn’t the first time the US has had to contend with such a destructive bird flu outbreak.
In 2014, highly pathogenic H5N8 bird flu viruses from Europe arrived in North America, resulting in the destruction of more than 50 million commercially farmed birds. This aggressive culling worked. North America remained free from highly pathogenic bird flu viruses for years.
Moncla thinks this go-round with the virus will be a different story, however. Moncla and her team recently posted a preprint
study on how the H5N1 virus was introduced in North America in late 2021 and quickly found its way onto farms. By studying the evolution of the virus, they determined spread into poultry flocks was driven by somewhere between 46 and 113 different introductions of the virus from wild to farmed birds. Now, she says, with the virus spreading in so many different species of mammals and birds, it is likely to be here to stay.
Though all six of the recently infected Nevada herds are located in the same valley, Dr. J.J. Goicoechea, director of the Nevada Department of Agriculture, said that after conversations with the farmers and with his state veterinarian, they believe the infection was introduced separately at each of the dairies by wild birds.
Goicoechea said there doesn’t seem to be a lot of movement of people or equipment between the dairies, which have been following strict biosecurity protocols. He said the state is working with the US Department of Agriculture on genetic testing to see if there are changes to the virus that might help them understand its spread.
It is the latest of six Yorkshire radiology departments to introduce the newest software.
'INNOVATION'
Funding for the technology has been secured through NHS England's AI Diagnostics Fund (AIDF).
It will provide £21m to 11 imaging networks, covering 64 NHS trusts across England, to support them with early lung cancer detection.
UK Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, Peter Kyle MP, said the roll out of the tool
could "save lives up and down the country".
"As someone who has lost their mum and dad to cancer, I know how important it is to accelerate medical innovation, through genuine collaborations like this one, to prevent this disease from breaking up families," he added. (BBC)
D1.1 has been associated with two severe infections in people: a teenager in British Columbia who was hospitalized in critical condition last fall but eventually recovered and a senior in Louisiana who died from their infection in January. Farm workers in Washington state have also tested positive for D1.1 after culling infected poultry. Their symptoms were described as milder.
Scientists are studying the D1.1 strain to try to learn more about its capabilities and how it appears to be spreading so aggressively.
“D1.1 was initially found, I believe, in August of 2024 in the Pacific Flyway. It’s now in all four flyways, and so we know it’s in the environment, but this is the first time it’s been documented that D1.1 has been in a dairy cow,” said Goicoechea.
The affected dairies have provided the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services with contact information for workers who are being monitored for signs of infection, and they are being offered personal protective equipment, Goicoechea said.
To date, no humans have tested positive in connection with the infected herds in Nevada.
Notably, the D1.1 infections in cows do not appear to be more severe than B3.13 infections, Goicoechea said. “We’re seeing exactly the same clinical signs,” Goicoechea said. Cows lose their appetite, and their milk production drops. Most recover with veterinary care. “It’s very, very similar signs to what we’ve seen for really the last year, since this started in Texas and Kansas,” he said.
The newly infected Nevada herds were detected on January 31 through a US Department of
Agriculture program that is testing milk in large silos across the US. “Lots of different bulk tanks from different farms can come into one silo. And then they trace it back,” said Dr. Seema Lakdawala, a microbiologist and immunologist at Emory University who has been studying how the H5N1 virus is infecting cows.
Lakdawala says the finding raises critical questions about how dairy cattle are being exposed and whether it’s possible to contain the H5N1 outbreak, which is rapidly spreading among animals and birds, though health officials say most people are still at low risk from the virus.
Since March 2024, H5N1 avian influenza has been detected in 957 herds in 16 states, according to the USDA. There have been 67 infections confirmed in humans in the US, nearly all of them farm workers who had contact with infected animals, according to the CDC. That number is believed to represent a fraction of the true number of human infections, however. A CDC study testing the blood of exposed farmworkers found 7% of them had developed antibodies against the virus, suggested they had previously been infected.
A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine on the first 46 documented human infections in the US determined that all had mild symptoms that began with red, inflamed eyes and a fever. None of these first patients who became ill after contact with sick animals was hospitalized.
Researchers don’t know why most human infections with avian flu in the US — which have primarily been with the B3.13 strain — have been mild. One reason may be that H5N1 is clumsy at infecting people. It prefers to latch onto a certain configuration of a sugar called a sialic acid that’s plentiful on the cells of birds. Humans have these kinds of sialic acids, too, but they’re relatively rare on cells in the human respiratory tract, which is where flu viruses need to land to make us really ill.
Scientists agree that the more H5N1 spreads, the more likely it is to change in ways that could help it get better at infecting people.
“I would say everybody’s really interested in D1.1 right now, because it seemingly came out of nowhere and then caused two very severe human infections,” Moncla said. “So people are quite worried about it.” (CNN)
More than 200 gold medals will be contested at the scaled-back Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.
Swimming, track cycling and Para sports will each boast more medallists than in any of the previous 22 iterations of the Games.
And athletics will have two new events - the mixed 4x400m relay and the Commonwealth Mile, which replaces the 1500m.
Para sports will be fully integrated across six of the 10 disciplines, with a Games record of 47 medal events in total.
The 10-sport Games programme will based at four venues within an eight-mile corridor of the city
and be held across 10 days from 23 July to 2 August.
While the overall number of sports has halved from 20 in Birmingham in 2022 to combat rising hosting costs and time demands, the schedule remains intense.
A total of 26 cycling golds will be fought for at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, with eight of those in Para-track cycling. That is double the amount on offer three years ago.
And 56 will be on offer at Tollcross International Swimming Centre, with the men’s 800m and women’s 1500m freestyle races included for the first time.
Omitting the 1500m - in which Scotland’s Josh Kerr and Laura Muir are Olympic medallists - is a surprise move.
It has been replaced by an event
last run in 1966. Organisers say the Commonwealth Mile - the equivalent of 1609m - is a tribute to ‘The Miracle Mile’ run at the 1954 staging in Vancouver.
On that occasion, England’s Roger Bannister and Australian John Landy competed two months
after the former became the first athlete to run a sub-four-minute mile.
“The mile is the quintessential Commonwealth athletics event whose return I very much welcome,” said World Athletics President Sebastian Coe, who suggested the event to Glasgow
organisers.
“From 1930 through to 1966, the mile was the blue-riband event of each Games and the magic of the mile continues to resonate.
“A ticket to watch its Commonwealth final will be one of the must-have seats in Glasgow next year.” (BBC)
Holders Liverpool booked their place in the final of the Carabao Cup against Newcastle as they thrashed Tottenham.
With a 1-0 deficit to overturn from the first leg of their semifinal, the Reds got the job done at a lively Anfield against a Spurs side who looked devoid of ideas.
Liverpool were on top from the start and went ahead on 34 minutes when Yves Bissouma gave the ball away in midfield and Mohamed Salah played a clever cross for Darwin Nunez, who missed his effort before Cody Gakpo drilled in.
The visitors, who had held hope of ending a 17-year trophy drought after what has been a miserable Premier League campaign, struggled to get going and barely threatened the 10-time winners of this competition.
Salah fired in from the spot just five minutes into the second half after Nunez was wiped out by goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky.
The home supporters saw that as their cue to begin the Wembley chants as Tottenham looked sapped of energy.
Dominik Szoboszlai stamped out any chances of an already unlikely comeback when he slotted home from Conor Bradley’s cross before a textbook Virgil van Dijk header from a corner ensured
the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. But they got it done without ever really getting out of third gear.
LIVERPOOL BID FOR FIRST TROPHY OF SEASON
Liverpool are flying under head coach Arne Slot and triumph in the EFL Cup would present the Dutch manager with a first piece of silverware at Anfield - with his side also sitting six points clear at the top of the Premier League, still in the FA Cup and cruising through to the Champions League last 16.
And while this would be seen as the least important of those four trophies, it could mark the beginning of a spectacular season for the Reds.
It was Liverpool who arrived in the second leg with work to do, having trailed after the first leg at
Tottenham stuttered their way through the first 45 minutes and it felt like a matter of when, not if, Liverpool would score to level the tie on aggregate.
Gakpo’s opener came after Szoboszlai had his slotted effort chalked off for offside, with Liverpool’s front line were a constant threat - Salah seeing his rising effort tipped over the bar after sending one just wide of the post - while Caoimhin Kelleher was untested at the other end.
The second half started much the same and once Salah had dispatched his penalty to give Liverpool the lead for the first time in the tie, the home supporters
were already chanting about their trip to Wembley.
Goals for Szoboszlai and Van Dijk were just reward for a dominant performance and Liverpool have the opportunity to make it back-to-back EFL Cups when they face a confident Newcastle side at Wembley next month.
Tottenham arrived on Merseyside with what was a fine opportunity to end their 17-year trophy drought.
They held a one-goal aggregate lead against Liverpool and pressure on boss Ange Postecoglou looked to have subsided somewhat after wins against Brentford and Elfsborg following a run of only three wins in 10 games.
But the visitors looked edgy from the first whistle. The full throttle, all-out attacking style that has become synonymous with Spurs under Postecoglou was nowhere to be seen.
Spurs spent much of the match sat deep in their own half, having to defend waves of Liverpool attacks with just 35.9% possession of the ball and failure to register a single shot on target in the 90 minutes, the first time that has ever happened
under Postecoglou. They looked lacklustre in what was a poor showing for a semifinal and questions will once again be raised about the club’s management, ownership and ambition.
Protests have been directed at the club’s owner Daniel Levy in recent weeks but Spurs did bring in reinforcements in the January transfer window and this performance once again brings into sharp focus Postecoglou’s future at the club.
To further rub salt in the wound, Postecoglou could find himself with more injury problems after Richarlison went to ground clutching his calf and immediately smacked the Anfield turf in frustration.
The Brazilian, who was not shown much sympathy from the home supporters as a former Evertonian, was replaced by Spurs’ new 19-year-old forward Mathys Tel, making his debut following a deadline day move from Bayern Munich.
It compounds a severe injury crisis for Spurs, who were already missing 10 first-team players. While Spurs remain in contention in the Europa League, they will undoubtedly see this as an opportunity missed and a disappointing effort. (BBC)
England’s Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan will go ahead, despite calls for a boycott.
A cross-party letter, signed by nearly 200 UK politicians, was sent to the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) asking for England to refuse to play in response to the Taliban’s human rights record.
Female participation in sport in Afghanistan has effectively been outlawed since the Taliban returned to power in 2021.
The matter was discussed at an ECB board meeting on Thursday, after which the governing body confirmed the match in Lahore on 26 February will take place as scheduled.
In a statement, the ECB said the situation in Afghanistan “is nothing short of gender apartheid”, adding a co-ordinated international response by the cricketing community is the appropriate way forward.
“At a cricketing level, when women’s and girls’ cricket is growing rapidly around the world,
it is heartbreaking that those growing up in Afghanistan are denied this opportunity, but the appalling oppression of women and girls by the Taliban goes so much further,” it read.
It added the ECB donated £100,000 to the Global Refugee Cricket Fund to help female cricketers in exile, and it will continue to press the ICC to take action, including supporting the women and girls of Afghanistan who want to play cricket.
England will also play Australia and South Africa in the Champions Trophy, which takes place in Pakistan and Dubai from 19 February.
England have played Afghanistan twice – at the 2022 T20 World Cup and the 2023 50over World Cup – since the Taliban returned to power in 2021.
Calls for a boycott of this fixture were led by Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi, who said England’s players should use their “power” to “make a difference”.
Her fellow Labour MP and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said the game should go ahead, adding that boycotts were counterproductive.
When asked last month about the possibility of the players leading a boycott, similar to England’s refusal to play in Zimbabwe during the 2003 World Cup, captain Jos Buttler said: “I don’t think a boycott is the way to go about it.”
As a Test-playing nation, Afghanistan are classed as full members of the International Cricket Council (ICC).
ICC regulations state full membership is conditional upon a country having women’s cricket teams and pathway structures in place.
Real Madrid have ‘lost their head’ over referee attack
La Liga president Javier Tebas says Real Madrid have “lost their head” after the Spanish club launched an unprecedented attack on the league’s referees.
Real Madrid sent a formal letter of complaint, external to the Spanish FA (RFEF) and Spain’s High Council for Sports after suffering a 1-0 defeat at Espanyol on Saturday.
The only goal of the game was scored by Espanyol defender Carlos Romero, who Real felt should have been sent off for an earlier challenge on Kylian Mbappe.
In the letter they claimed that officials - including video assistant referees (VAR) - are biased against them, “rigged”, and “completely discredited”.
The letter said: “Decisions against Real Madrid have reached a level of manipulation and adulteration of the competition that can no longer be ignored.”
Speaking at a meeting with La Liga clubs, RFEF and representatives of Spain’s refereeing committee (CTA) on Thursday - which Real Madrid did not attend - Tebas said: “Real Madrid wants to harm the
competition, not just the refereeing group.
“They have built a story of victimhood and I think the cherry on top was the letter they published the other day.
“The issue has been blown out of proportion, they have lost their head. Football doesn’t revolve around Real Madrid.”
Meanwhile, earlier on Thursday, RFEF chief Rafael Louzan had his seven-year ban from holding
public office overturned by Spain’s Supreme Court.
In 2022 a provincial court ruled against Louzan for misconduct during his tenure as president of Pontevedra Provincial Council.
He was elected RFEF president in December after the Supreme Court allowed him to run.
“Let this be the beginning of a new, different era, we have the opportunity to create it together,” said Louzan.
However, Afghanistan have been allowed to continue playing Test cricket and in ICC events despite the disbanding of their women’s structure.
ECB chief executive Richard Gould wrote to the ICC, calling for more action from the global governing body.
He stopped short of calling for an immediate boycott but did ask the ICC to place “immediate condition” on Afghanistan’s full
member status to provide women’s cricket by a certain date.
In 2020, 25 female players were given professional contracts by the Afghanistan Cricket Board.
When the Taliban returned to power the following year, more than 20 members of the Afghanistan women’s team fled to Australia.
Last week, an Afghanistan Women’s XI played an exhibition match in Melbourne, their first match as a collective since arriving in Australia.
Doncic.
Doncic completed a shock trade to the Lakers from the Dallas Mavericks last weekend with Anthony Davis, an NBA champion with the Lakers in 2020, moving in the opposite direction to the Slovenian.
Doncic, 25, has been an NBA All-Star for the past five seasons and finished as the league’s top scorer in 2024.
“It’s going to be special,” James said. “We’re gonna attract a lot of eyes.
“Listen, Luka is a big-time player. [He’s] 25-years-old, hasn’t even reached his prime yet, and
he’s done some amazing stuff in our league already.
“I’m happy to have him and LA is happy to have him. It’s still a little bit surreal, to be honest.”
James was speaking shortly after the Lakers’ 122-97 win against the LA Clippers on Tuesday night.
James, a four-time NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) winner, hit 26 points, nine assists and eight rebounds as the Lakers strolled to victory.
Doncic, who has had a calf injury since December, watched on from the side of the court alongside his new team-mates.
Speaking before the game, Doncic expressed his shock at his move to the Lakers.
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim says Marcus Rashford left the club because he couldn’t get the attacker to see eye-to-eye with him.
On Sunday, Rashford, 27, joined Aston Villa on loan until the end of the season having not featured for United since expressing his desire for a “new challenge” in December.
Villa have the option to make the deal permanent for £40m, which would bring an end to Rashford’s near-life long association with United.
“I couldn’t get Marcus to see the way you’re supposed to play football and to train the way I see it,” Amorim said.
“Sometimes you have one player that is really good with one coach, and the same player with another coach is different.
“I wish the best to Rashford and to [Villa manager] Unai Emery, and they can connect because he’s
a very good player.”
Asked whether Rashford said that he did not agree with Amorim’s ideas about football, Amorim said: “You know, like me, that it’s not the way that occurs.
“It’s something that you feel as a coach and as a player. It’s quite
Mary Fowler scored a 95thminute winner as Manchester City avenged last Sunday’s defeat by Arsenal and reached the Women’s League Cup final.
In a semi-final played just five days after the Gunners claimed a thrilling 4-3 victory over City in the Women’s Super League, Fowler had a second-half penalty saved - but redeemed herself with a late, low strike into the bottom right corner.
The Australia forward had opened the scoring in the 26th minute when she rifled past Daphne van Domselaar, but the visitors were pegged back when Mariona Caldentey converted from the spot 10 minutes after the break.
The semi-final reached a boiling point moments later as Fowler was left with her head in her hands after
sending her penalty straight at the Arsenal keeper.
But as the threat of extra time loomed, Fowler ended the night as the hero and City’s reward is a meeting with WSL leaders Chelsea in the final on 15 March at at Derby’s Pride Park Stadium.
It will be a chance for underpressure City boss Gareth Taylor to win his first trophy with the club since the League Cup in 2022.
However, their victory was somewhat overshadowed by the absence of the club’s top scorer Khadija Shaw.
The Jamaica striker withdrew from the semi-final to “protect her mental well-being” after she was subjected to racist and misogynistic abuse following Sunday’s game.
(BBC)
normal. It happened with a lot of coaches.
“The important thing is that I’m here saying that was my decision, like Ty [Malacia] and Antony was my decision to do these loans, and to keep some players even without any transfers.”
When asked if there is any chance Rashford could return to Old Trafford in the summer, Amorim said he is focussed on the current season because “we
are fighting for our jobs until the summer”.
‘WE ARE TAKING A RISK’ Amorim admitted it was his decision to take the “risk” of not signing more players in the January transfer window.
The Red Devils completed two signings in the window, with leftback Patrick Dorgu, 20, arriving from Italian side Lecce and centreback Ayden Heaven, 18, signing from Premier League rivals Arsenal.
However, having allowed Rashford and Antony to leave on loan to Villa and Real Betis respectively, many expected United to bring in at least one player in attack.
Amorim said before the window closed that the club were “trying everything” to strengthen the squad but they failed to make any further additions.
“We are taking a risk but we want a different thing in the team, different profiles. It was my decision to do that,” said Amorim.
“What I feel is that the club is taking its time. We know the
urgency of the moment of the team (but) everybody here does not want to make the same mistakes of the past.
“In the summer we will see but like I said we are being really careful with transfers because we did some mistakes in the past.” United take on Leicester City (20:00 GMT) at Old Trafford in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Friday, when Dorgu and and Heaven could make their debuts. Amorim’s side are through to the last 16 of the Europa League but are 13th in the Premier League.
“I’m not naive, I said that many times, this is a sport of results and we are in a difficult situation,” said Amorim.
“I know when I choose this profession that you have the risk of results and I knew when I came here I look at the schedule, I look at the team, my decision changing everything in the middle of the season without new signings is a danger for a coach, but I have a clear idea of what I want to do and I take these risks because in the end it’s going to pay off.” (BBC)
Jimmy Butler is leaving South Beach for the Bay Area, according to the Associated Press.
The Miami Heat are reportedly finalizing a deal Wednesday night that would send the six-time AllStar forward to the Golden State Warriors.
ESPN’s Shams Charania and Brian Windhorst report that the Warriors and Butler have also agreed on a two-year, $111 million extension through the 2026-27 season.
After the reports, Butler posted on X, a song with the lyrics “Welcome to the Wild Wild West, where the dogs don’t sleep, and the sun don’t set.”
The Heat will receive forwards Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson and a top-10 protected 2025 firstround selection from Golden State as well as power forward PJ Tucker from the Utah Jazz in the multiteam deal, per Charania.
CNN has reached out to the Heat and Warriors for comment.
The trade ends a tumultuous season for both Butler, who was in his sixth season with the organization, and Miami.
Butler was eligible to receive a two-year, $113 million extension by the Heat, according to the AP, this season but that deal was never offered.
In his six seasons in Miami, the most games Butler played in an 82-game regular season was 64 in
2022-23
In January, the Heat suspended Butler three times for “a continued pattern of disregard of team rules, engaging in conduct detrimental to the team” which included the 35-year-old walking out of team’s shootaround after reportedly being told he would not start and missing a team’s flight.
Most recently, the disgruntled star was suspended indefinitely on January 27. He last played on January 21, a 116-107 home loss to
the Portland Trail Blazers. Butler played and started in 25 games this season, averaging 17 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game for the Heat.
During his tenure in Miami, Butler led the Heat to two NBA Finals and three Eastern Conference Finals appearances. Only LeBron James and Dwyane Wade have scored more playoff points than Butler in franchise history. He was an AllStar in Miami twice.
Rohan Hinds scored an unbeaten half-century to lead Omar’s Cricket Club to a six-wicket victory against Kischo when action in the Turks and Caicos Islands Cricket Association (TCICA) T10 competition recently concluded at the Downtown Ball Park in Providenciales.
In the final of the competition, Kischo were asked to take first strike but faltered. Only Mario Smith, with a defiant 20 (3x4s, 1x6) at the top, and Smijo Devassy with 12 (2x4s) managed to get a few shots off, as Scott, Hardware and Campbell took two wickets each to restrict Kischo to 85-8 from
Two-time Grand Slam champion and former world number one Simona Halep has retired from tennis.
The Romanian announced her decision on court at the Transylvania Open following her 6-1 6-1 first-round loss to Lucia Bronzetti.
The 33-year-old recently said she was considering retirement, external because of a knee injury that forced her to withdraw from Australian Open qualifying last month.
This week’s event was just her fifth tournament since returning to the WTA Tour following a doping ban, in a case which went on for almost two years.
Making an emotional statement, external to the crowd, Halep said: “I’m making this decision with my soul.
“It’s a beautiful thing. I became
world number one, I won Grand Slams, it’s all I wanted. Life goes on, there is life after tennis and I hope that we will see each other again.
“I’ll come to the tennis here as often as I can and of course I will continue to play - but to be competitive it requires much more and at this moment it is no longer.”
Halep memorably won her first major title at the French Open in 2018, defeating Sloane Stephens, having lost her previous three Grand Slam finals.
She then won at Wimbledon in 2019, committing just three unforced errors in a stunning final victory over Serena Williams.
She won 22 other WTA Tour titles and spent 64 weeks as world number one.
Halep was given a four-year ban for two separate doping offences after initially testing positive for a
their allotted overs.
Needing just 86 for victory, Omar’s started the chase confidently, but Hardware fell early for two. Xavier Scott played a few shots before he fell for 10, but it was the Hinds show as he dominated.
banned substance in August 2022.
She always maintained her innocence and appealed against the ban at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in 2024.
The panel ruled Halep, “on the balance of probabilities”, had not taken roxadustat intentionally and her ban was reduced to nine months.
“I’ve always been realistic with myself and with my body,” Halep said.
She subsequently returned to the WTA Tour in March 2024 but played just six matches through to 2025 and won only once.
“Where I probably was, it’s very hard to get there and I know what it means to get there.” (BBC)
Long-standing President of the Turks and Caicos Islands Cricket Association (TCICA), Michael Pereira was re-elected to the post when the association held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) and elections last week.
Mr Pereira will lead the association for the next two years.
Ancel Williams was elected as First Vice President; Robert Johnson as Second Vice President; Mario Smith as Secretary; Kenesha Thompson as Assistant Secretary; ‘Andy Khuthalingham as Treasurer and Sabuton John as Assistant Treasurer.
The HJ Robinson High School Stallions clinched a win in the Turks and Caicos Islands Rugby Football Union (TCIRFU) Boys Tag Rugby Tournament.
Five teams from four schools competed, including the eventual winners, Provo Middle School, Wesley Methodist, and Louise Garland Thomas (with two teams).
The tournament for grades 7-9 followed a round-robin league format, where each team played against each other twice, earning points for wins, draws, and losses.
This competitive atmosphere was complemented by the presence of the TCI Regiment, who engaged with the players, answered questions, and conducted training exercises and competitions. During lunchtime, the players were treated to an impressive demonstration by the Regiment’s K-9 Unit.
In the tournament, HJ Robinson showcased their dominance by securing 23 points, winning seven games with one draw.
According to information from the TCIRFU’s RDO, Toby Sheppard: “Special thanks go out to Austin Dickenson for ensuring
the team from Grand Turk could participate, as well as to all the players, teachers, parents, coaches, and volunteers who made the day a tremendous success. The standard of play was exceptionally high, showcasing some fantastic rugby and exemplary sportsmanship.”
He added that Mervin Berthier from Wesley Methodist School, caught the attention of the coaches and referees and will be awarded
a prize for the player of the tournament and is anticipated to continue developing his rugby skills, potentially advancing to the national team.
Looking ahead, more tournaments are planned throughout the year, offering opportunities for students (both males and females) of all ages to get involved in the exciting world of rugby.
