Turks and Caicos SUN Newspaper, Providenciales (2025)

11/10/2025

250 PERSONS FROM ST. VINCENT COMING TO WORK AT BEACHES TURKS & CAICOS NEXT YEAR

By Hayden Boyce- SUN Publisher

Beaches Turks and Caicos will employing 250 workers from St. Vincent at its latest extension, Treasure Beach Village which is scheduled to open next March.

Adam Stewart, Executive Chairman of Sandals Resorts International, made the disclosure earlier this week during a signing ceremony for a new Beaches Resort in St. Vincent.

“We have 250 Vincentians on the cusp of going to Turks and Caicos to go and take over and lead the latest Beaches Resorts which opens in Turks on March 1, 2026, and we could not be more proud,” Stewart said, adding that 150 Vincentians are working in four other countries across the Caribbean region.

The new $150 million Treasure Beach Village will have 858 rooms, including 101 suites , a 15, 000 square feet swimming pool, several restaurants and a cinema.

With 1,400 employees, Beaches has been the largest private sector employer and largest foreign exchange earner in Turks and Caicos Islands for many years and has often been forced to hire foreign employees because the skills set and numbers locally are not adequate to effectively serve its huge operations.

A few years ago, Beaches founder and chairman, the late Gordon “Butch” Stewart, said that when all available avenues are exhausted they have to fill the positions using suitable personnel from elsewhere.

“The labour shortage at Beaches simply cannot be eliminated utilising the employment pool in the Turks and Caicos Islands alone and our need to recruit from overseas is out of necessity,” he said back then.

“The fact of the matter is that we have to fill certain positions in order to run the resort and if Turks and Caicos Islanders are not willing or able to fill them, we have a responsibility to find people who are,” Stewart said.

“We are operating one of the biggest and most successful resorts in the region bar none but that can quickly change,” he added. “Operating a resort of this size to the kind of standards we expect requires a huge workforce…To operate a resort without enough staff, as is the case at Beaches Turks and Caicos, results in lower standards and subsequently lower demand, not to mention the detrimental effect it has on the existing staff body, whether they are Turks and Caicos Islanders, Jamaicans, or from any other nation

He added: “The result of less demand or even the closure of Beaches Turks and Caicos would create a domino effect that would impact a huge amount of people within the TCI. The employment for taxi drivers, tour operators and local contractors not to mention the taxes and duties we provide to the country’s coffers would all drop significantly.
“Make no mistake about it; an underperforming Beaches Turks and Caicos would have a hugely negative impact on the entire country.”

"Furthermore, less demand at Beaches Turks and Caicos would result in reduced airlift. Airlines currently anchor their schedule to Beaches Turks and Caicos and should that change, it would create a situation that would affect every resort in the country and with it, their staff.”

11/10/2025

GOVERNOR’S EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH THE SUN

11/10/2025

TCI LISTED IN STATE DEPARTMENT’S 2025 TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS REPORT

By Hayden Boyce – Publisher & Editor-in-Chief

Turks and Caicos Islands has been mentioned three times in the recently-released 2025 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report from the US State Department.

The report, which was published on the State Department’s website, makes three specific references to Turks and Caicos Islands under the United Kingdom/British Overseas Territories, Dominican Republic and Haiti country sections, clearly highlighting this country’s role in, and exposure to, trafficking networks.

“Trafficking in persons” and “human trafficking” are umbrella terms—often used interchangeably—to refer to a crime whereby traffickers exploit and profit at the expense of adults or children by compelling them to perform labour or engage in commercial s*x.
Turks and Caicos Islands is one of 15 Caribbean countries, and the only British Overseas Territory in the region, that is mentioned in the report.

The Department of State prepared the report using credible information collected from U.S. embassies, government officials, non-governmental and international organizations, published reports, news articles, academic studies, consultations with authorities and organizations in every region of the world, and information submitted to [email protected]

On the State Department’s website, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the report “pushes countries to take serious action against forced labour and s*x trafficking and ensures that those who fail to act face consequences".

Under the British Overseas Territories, the report stated: “In 2024, local police identified and repatriated potential s*x trafficking victims from the Dominican Republic in the Turks and Caicos Islands; however, authorities did not report whether the potential victims were provided or referred to additional care. The government did not report other victims identified in the BOTs in 2024 nor efforts to train law enforcement in the territories.

Previously, there were reports of Cuban regime-affiliated medical professionals working in the BOTs, including in the Turks and Caicos Islands, British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, and Montserrat. It was likely these workers departed; however, the Cuban regime may have forced Cuban regime-affiliated medical professionals to work while in the BOTs.”

The report further noted that trafficking in persons occurs in the British Overseas Territories (BOTs), which includes 14 territories with a constitutional link to the UK, adding that the UK is responsible for foreign relations, security, defence, and good governance in the territories, and stating that UK officials monitor serious and organized crime risks, including human trafficking, in the BOTs.

When contacted for a comment of the State Department’s report, Her Excellency Governor Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam, told The SUN: “Human trafficking remains a serious global concern and the Turks and Caicos Islands are not immune to the challenges that such crimes present, particularly given our geography. The National Security Council, with all agencies, remains firmly committed to protecting the rights and dignity of all individuals within our jurisdiction. Efforts continue to strengthen our capacity to identify, investigate and prevent all forms of human trafficking. This includes the establishment of a dedicated Human Trafficking Unit within the Police Force, which will adopt a multi-agency approach to coordination and enforcement.”

“Through this structure, we will ensure that potential victims are safeguarded, that investigations are pursued with diligence and integrity, and that perpetrators are held accountable. The Human Rights Commission and other oversight bodies, provide additional avenues for reporting and awareness. We take seriously our responsibilities and continue to enhance inter-agency and regional collaboration, training and public awareness to combat human trafficking in all its forms across the Turks and Caicos Islands.”

Meantime, Turks and Caicos Islands was also explicitly named in the report as a location of exploitation in the Dominican Republic section.

The report stated: “Of the 16 Dominican victims exploited abroad, one was a victim of forced labour in Argentina and 15 were s*x trafficking victims (four in Nigeria, three in Bahrain, and eight in Turks and Caicos). The government reported coordinating with consulates and embassies to repatriate foreign victims and with foreign governments to support repatriation of Dominicans victimized abroad.”

The report added that Dominican women and children, particularly from impoverished areas, are exploited in s*x trafficking throughout the Dominican Republic, the Caribbean, South and Central America, Europe, the Middle East, and the United States.
In the Haiti country report, the State Department indicated that Turks and Caicos Islands is among countries through which persons are trafficked to wealthier jurisdictions.

“Migrants remain at risk of trafficking, including from migrant smugglers who exploit migrant women in commercial s*x to repay alleged debts. Haitian maritime migrants seeking to enter the United States illegally are highly vulnerable to migrant smugglers, who charge exorbitant fees for passage to Florida and Puerto Rico through The Bahamas, Jamaica, Turks and Caicos, Cuba, Dominican Republic, and international waters, and Colombia to cross the Darien Gap, often under false pretences to exploit them,” the report revealed.

It was stated that Haiti remains a “special case” for the second consecutive year, noting that limited territorial control, lack of funding, weak law enforcement capabilities, corruption, security threats, and social unrest hindered the government’s efforts to combat human trafficking.

In March, 2025, two individuals in Providenciales were charged with multiple offences, including trafficking in persons, controlling prostitution for gain, and keeping a brothel used for prostitution.

On October 3, 2024, acting on intelligence, officers raided the “Red Bar” on South Dock Road, Providenciales, searching for human trafficking paraphernalia, receipts, books, fi****ms and other records. During the operation, several items were seized and 20 women from Colombia and Dominican Republic, suspected to be victims of human trafficking, were discovered at the establishment.

The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force said then that this case represented “a major step forward in the fight against human trafficking” in Turks and Caicos Islands, adding that officers remain committed to identifying, investigating, dismantling and prosecuting those who seek to exploit vulnerable individuals for personal gain.

Previous Trafficking in Persons reports placed Turks and Caicos Islands in the human trafficking spotlight. The most serious was the 2017 report which stated: “Turks and Caicos Islands are a destination for men, women, and children subjected to s*x trafficking and forced labour. According to local experts, the large population of migrants from Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Jamaica are vulnerable to s*x trafficking and forced labour, with stateless children and adolescents especially at risk. Local stakeholders, including law enforcement officials, have reported specific knowledge of s*x trafficking occurring in bars and brothels and noted trafficking-related complicity by some local government officials was a problem.”

The United States recognizes two primary forms of trafficking in persons: s*x trafficking and forced labor. The basic meaning of these forms of human trafficking and some unique characteristics of each are set forth below, followed by several key principles and concepts that relate to all forms of human trafficking.

The U.S. Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, as amended (TVPA), defines “severe forms of trafficking in persons” as:
• s*x trafficking in which a commercial s*x act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such an act has not attained 18 years of age; or
• the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bo***ge, or slavery.
CAPTION: Her Excellency Governor Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam.
CAPTION: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

11/10/2025

COMMISSIONER FITZ BAILEY SAYS POLICE FORCE WORKING ON RESTORING NORMALCY TO NIGHTLIFE WHICH IS ‘VITAL TO THE ECONOMY’

By Daisy Handfield

As the official start of the tourist season approaches, Commissioner of Police Fitz Bailey said he is working on the restoration of normal nightlife, which he says is vital to the Turks and Caicos Islands economy.

Speaking during an interview with Drexwell Seymour on October 9, 2025, he announced that the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force is developing a new strategy to police nightlife across the Turks and Caicos Islands, following growing concerns about safety, structure, and compliance within the entertainment sector.

“We’ve had to put restrictions on, on nightlife activity. (But) we want to go back to the place where nightlife, which is vital to the economy, can continue to run and people can enjoy themselves without any fear. We want to bring TCI to the place that it used to be, to its former glory, if I may use that term. In terms of people going about their business. What you find is that the violence has impacted business in so many ways that nightlife, if you're not careful, does not exist. We are not going to allow the hostile forces to put the people in fear. We are taking back our country and we're never going to stop."

Commissioner Bailey also said the force is holding high-level discussions to create a structured and consistent approach to nighttime operations, including clubs and entertainment venues. He emphasized that while the force intends to strengthen policing during the night, he does not support the idea of permanently assigning police officers to nightclubs.

“We are trying to create a strategy to police nightlife,” he said. “I don’t like the idea of posting police at nightclubs. You need to have security guards for that. Policing is a public good, and we want our officers’ presence to impact the broader community.”

The Commissioner said discussions are underway to reorganize the police force to ensure better oversight and enforcement of nightlife operations, including licensing, safety standards, and compliance requirements.

“There needed to be some level of structure in some of the activities,” Bailey said. “An ideal situation is where clubs operate under proper licensing, with the right fire and police inspections. Once those standards are met, then you operate. Personally, I don’t have an issue with the operating hours. What we want to do is ensure that this is properly policed.”

Bailey added that he supports a rigorous licensing regime that includes background checks and inspections by fire and police departments to ensure that venues are safe and accountable.
“What we want to do is ensure that this is properly policed,” he said. “That is something we are working on.”

Bailey’s remarks also came in response to concerns raised by nightclub owners who have criticized the government’s current midnight closure restriction, arguing that it will not effectively address crime or disorder. One nightclub owner also suggested that the legal drinking age, currently set at 18, should be increased to 21.

Commissioner Bailey’s comments come as the government continues to balance public safety with business operations, while law enforcement works to maintain order and prevent violence in the Turks and Caicos Islands’ nightlife scene.

09/10/2025

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01/10/2025

TWO CAREGIVERS ARRESTED FOR ALLEGED ASSAULT OF BABY

On Monday, September 29th, 2025, the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force received a referral from the Department of Social Development regarding a one-year-old female child who was taken to the hospital with an injury.

According to a police press release, following coordinated efforts, two female caregivers, aged 37 and 45, were arrested. They remain in police custody on suspicion of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and child abuse.

The RT&CIPF wishes to reassure the public that the matter is being treated with the utmost seriousness. The safety and well-being of children remain a top priority, and support services are being provided to the families affected. Investigators are also collaborating with key stakeholders as part of the safeguarding process.

The public is strongly urged not to share images or video footage of the incident on social media or any platforms. Doing so risks retraumatizing the children and parents involved, violates their right to privacy, and may interfere with the ongoing investigation.

The Safeguarding and Public Protection Unit of the RT&CIPF strongly emphasizes that if you suspect a child is being abused or there are allegations of abuse, IMMEDIATELY use any of the following options:

* Report to the nearest police station,

* Contact the Safeguarding and Public Protection Unit at 232-6696.

*The Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) at 338-4013,

*The Department of Social Development at 338-4008 or call 911.

30/09/2025

BARBADOS, BELIZE, DOMINICA AND ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES READY FOR FULL FREE MOVEMENT ON OCTOBER 1, 2025

Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Member States -Barbados, Belize, Dominica and St. Vincent and the Grenadines- will implement full Free Movement of their nationals among themselves from tomorrow, October 1, 2025.

This means that nationals of these four countries will not be limited to temporary entry of up to six months, or to work under the CARICOM skills regime. Nationals from these four countries will be able to travel to any of these four countries to reside, work and remain indefinitely, with the right to access emergency and primary health care as well as public primary and secondary education for their children.

The decision by the four Member States to implement full Free Movement ahead of the other Member States, was approved by CARICOM Heads of Government during their meeting in July 2025. This arrangement falls under the Enhanced Cooperation Protocol to the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas which provides for groups of at least three CARICOM Member States to pursue deeper regional integration efforts among themselves, with the option for other Member States to join later.

The four Member States have been meeting to finalize common approaches and have confirmed that the necessary arrangements are in place to support the full free movement of their nationals among the four Member States as of 1 October 2025. Extensive preparations have been undertaken to ensure a smooth and secure rollout of full Free Movement among these four Member States. These include:
• INDEFINITE STAY AT ENTRY: Nationals of the four participating Member States will receive a stamp or digital record of indefinite stay on arrival.
• REGISTRATION: Systems have been established to allow for registration of incoming nationals, enabling access to services such as education and healthcare, and allowing national agencies to plan for any increased demand.
• SECURITY AND HEALTH SAFEGUARDS: Effective oversight measures are in place to ensure that individuals who pose a threat to national security, public health, or would become a cost to the public are either denied entry or subject to removal. These measures will be supported by the CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS) which coordinates Member States security cooperation and administers the Advanced Passenger Information System (APIS), which mandates submission of passenger data before travel.
• COMPLAINTS MECHANISM: Nationals who experience difficulties at ports of entry or after entry may use the CARICOM Complaints Procedure, which is already operational under the CSME. Forms are available at all ports of entry, and complaints will be reviewed within two weeks, with investigations completed within eight weeks, where necessary.
With systems in place and preparations complete, the four countries are ready to manage the new Free Movement arrangements effectively in the best interest of their citizens and the wider Region.
The other Member States that participate in the CSME and have not signed on to full free movement will continue to facilitate movement of their nationals under the existing regime for skilled workers, for the provision of services and the operation of businesses.

ABOUT CARICOM:

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) was established on July 4, 1973 with the signing of the Treaty of Chaguaramas, which was revised in 2001 to allow for the establishment of a single market and economy. CARICOM comprises fifteen Member States and six Associate Members and is home to approximately sixteen million citizens, 60% of whom are under 30 years old. CARICOM’s work rests on four main pillars: economic integration; foreign policy coordination; human and social development; and security cooperation.
CARICOM consists of 15 Member States: Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Montserrat. The six CARICOM associate members are Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Curacao, and Turks and Caicos Islands.
The members of CARICOM work together to create a Community that is integrated, inclusive and resilient; driven by knowledge, excellence, innovation and productivity; a Community which is a unified and competitive force in the global arena, where every citizen is secure and has the opportunity to realise his or her potential with guaranteed human rights and social justice, and contributes to, and shares in, its economic, social and cultural prosperity.

29/09/2025

GOVERNOR ANNOUNCES INTERIM APPOINTMENTS FOR AUDITOR GENERAL, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS

Her Excellency Governor Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam announced the interim appointments of Mr. Khalid Hamid as Auditor General and Mrs. Christine E. Johnson Spence as Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), while the substantive recruitment campaigns are concluded.

These interim arrangements are designed to provide continuity, resilience and effective leadership within two critical institutions of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Mr. Hamid has been appointed as interim Auditor General, following consultation with Premier Hon. Washington Misick and Leader of the Opposition Hon. Edwin Astwood. He brings over 30 years of extensive public audit experience.

Throughout his distinguished career, Mr. Hamid has contributed to a wide range of projects including international standard-setting and capacity development within the global supreme audit institution community. He has also served on several influential committees including chairing the Financial Audit and Accounting Subcommittee of the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI).

In addition, he is currently a member of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) Professional Accountancy Organization Development and Advisory Group (PAODAG). For the past five years, Mr. Hamid has held the role of International Director at the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA), advancing public financial management and oversight.

The Governor said this interim appointment ensures strong leadership and grip at a critical juncture for Office of the Auditor General and the audit of the government accounts, safeguarding transparency and accountability during this period of transition.
Mrs. Christine E. Johnson Spence’s appointment as interim Director of Public Prosecutions, was also done in consultation with the Hon. Premier, the Hon. Leader of the Opposition and the Judicial
Services Commission.

She brings more than 17 years of prosecutorial and legal experience, including her role as Senior Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions in Jamaica, where she led specialized units including human trafficking and s*xual offences.

She has successfully prosecuted some of Jamaica’s most complex and high-profile criminal cases, including landmark cybercrime convictions and multi-appellant appeals before the Court of Appeal.

Mrs. Johnson Spence’s experience extends to legislative reform, international representation, and the training of prosecutors and law enforcement officers in trial preparation and evidence handling.
She holds advanced legal qualifications and is also a gazetted mediator, certified corporate governance and labour relations specialist, and NAGTRI International Fellow.

Her interim appointment serves to ensure immediate and robust leadership during a period of heightened demand on the criminal justice system. The appointment reflects the need for proven
expertise in managing complex criminal cases and strengthening prosecutorial support to law enforcement agencies at this critical time.

Commenting on these appointments, Governor Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam stated: “I would like to place on record my sincere thanks to Ms. Sandra Stehens-Malcom as Auditor General, and Mr. Philip Bennetts KC as Director of Public Prosecutions, for their dedicated service to the Turks and Caicos Islands. The respective interim appointments of Mr. Hamid and Mrs. Johnson Spence are not only for the purposes of continuity, but to ensure that two of our critical institutions are equipped with the firm
leadership and expertise they need at this pivotal time. Sound oversight of government finances and the effective prosecution of complex crime are central to safeguarding public trust, accountability and security.”

She added: “During this period of transition, these two appointments ensure the work of both institutions will remain robust, resilient and focused firmly on upholding accountability and the delivery of outcomes that are vital to the governance and security of the Turks and Caicos Islands.”

27/09/2025

ROBBERY VICTIM SUCCUMBS TO INJURIES

Marjorie Gaudard Astwood, the woman who was shot last week during a robbery at Tower Drive in Long Bay, Providenciales, succumbed to her injuries on Thursday, September 25, 2025, after she was sent overseas for medical treatment, The SUN can confirm.

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11/10/2025

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