TCI Crown Land Amnesty Program Extended with Enhanced Eligibility Criteria.
The Turks and Caicos Islands Crown Land Unit (TCICLU) announced the extension of the Crown Land Amnesty Program with an expansion of the eligibility criteria effective as of October 4, 2024.
The Crown Land Amnesty Program aims to offer opportunities for individuals to regularize their land ownership status, contributing to the sustainable development of the islands. The extended program now allows residents who have been residing on Crown land for five years or more, or those who have made substantial property improvements, to apply for regularization, thereby providing a pathway to secure legal title and promoting security, investment, and development.
This expansion allows a broader range of individuals to benefit from the initiative, promoting fairness and inclusivity in land ownership processes.
In a statement, Keisha Holder‑Lopez, Director of the Crown Land Unit said, "The extension of the Crown Land Amnesty Amendment Bill 2024, effective October 4, 2024, signals a commitment to providing further opportunities for individuals regarding Crown land matters.”
She continued, “By extending the amnesty period until May 31, 2026, this amendment enhances the inclusivity of the initiative. Now, individuals with offer letters for Residential Conditional Purchase Leases (RCPL) or Freehold Title (FHT) have access to terminal amnesty options, even if their lease was terminated before expiration. This allows for lease renewal or conversion to FHT under specific conditions, including land development initiation before 2023 or financial commitments toward acquiring formal land title."
Under the current Crown Land Amnesty program, applicants have the opportunity to acquire the freehold title with a 50% discount on the property's market value through various options.
Option 1: Enables the conversion of a Residential CPL to a FHT without the obligation to settle any outstanding arrears owed to the Crown. This initiative aims to streamline the process of transitioning from leasehold to freehold ownership, providing a pathway for individuals to secure their property rights under favorable terms.
Option 2: Allows applicants to acquire an FHT through installment payments, contingent upon meeting specific conditions. To be eligible for this option, applicants must be residents of the Islands and use the property as their primary residence during the application process. Additionally, the freehold purchase price must exceed $75,000, and applicants must demonstrate their inability to secure a mortgage or loan to purchase the freehold title. This provision aims to facilitate property ownership for individuals facing financial
constraints, ensuring that residency and genuine need are prioritized in the acquisition process.
Option 3: Allows for the conversion of a Residential CPL to a long lease, subject to specific criteria. Applicants must reside in the Islands and use the property as their primary residence during the application process. They must also demonstrate an inability to secure a mortgage or loan for freehold purchase. Furthermore, applicants must be either over 60 years old or incapacitated due to illness, preventing them from working. Compliance with property boundaries is essential, ensuring that no buildings encroach on adjacent parcels. This option extends to Executors or Administrators of an estate if the property was the deceased's primary residence, expanding accessibility to property rights within the framework of the program.
Option 4: Allows for parcel adjustment, reconfiguration, or exchange to facilitate the acquisition of an FHT. This option provides flexibility for applicants who may benefit from modifying the layout of their land parcels to meet the requirements for freehold ownership. By accommodating adjustments, reconfigurations, or exchanges, this option aims to streamline the process of acquiring freehold title under the program, enabling individuals to optimize their land holdings to secure long-term property rights effectively.
The extension of the Crown Land Amnesty Program not only underscores the organization’s commitment to good governance, transparency, and equitable land distribution, but also represents a significant step towards resolving land tenure issues and promoting sustainable development in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Director Lopez said, “By offering a pathway for individuals to secure legal title to their occupied land and broadening eligibility criteria, the program aims to facilitate a more comprehensive and accessible process, fostering security, investment, and development.”
She continued, “We encourage all eligible individuals to take advantage of this opportunity to formalize their land tenure status. By participating in the Crown Land Amnesty Program, residents can secure their rights, contribute to the economic growth of the islands, and build a more prosperous and sustainable future for all.”
Harris concedes presidential election but not 'the fight that fueled this campaign'
Vice President Kamala Harris said her heart is "full of resolve" after losing the presidential election to former President Donald Trump.
"My heart is full today -- full of gratitude for the trust you have placed in me, full of love for our country, and full of resolve," Harris said Wednesday at her alma mater, Howard University, in Washington, D.C.
"The outcome of this election is not what we wanted, not what we fought for, not what we voted for. But ... the light of America's promise will always burn bright as long as we never give up," Harris said.
Harris said she told Trump on the phone Wednesday that she'll help with a peaceful transfer of power, which got a cheer from the crowd at Howard.
Harris stressed, "While I concede this election, I do not concede the fight that fueled this campaign."
"The fight for freedom, for opportunity, for fairness and the dignity of all people -- a fight for the ideals at the heart of our nation -- the ideals that reflect America at our best," she said.
Harris vowed that she’ll "never give up the fight for a future … where the women of America have the freedom to make decisions about their own body."
"We will never give up the fight to protect our schools and our streets from gun violence," she continued. "And America, we will never give up the fight for our democracy, for the rule of law, for equal justice, and for the sacred idea that every one of us, no matter who we are or where we start out, has certain fundamental rights and freedoms that must be respected and upheld."
She said that fight will continue not just out loud, but also "in quieter ways."
"In how we live our lives: by treating one another with kindness and respect, by looking in the face of a stranger and seeing a neighbor," she said. "By always using our strength to lift people up, to fight for the dignity that all people deserve."
To her young supporters watching, the vice president said, "It is OK to feel sad and disappointed, but please know it's gonna be OK."
"Sometimes the fight takes a while. ... The important thing is don't ever give up," she said. "This is not a time to throw up our hands, this is a time to roll up our sleeves."
Source-ABC
Caribbean leaders congratulate Donald Trump
Antigua and Barbuda and Jamaica have extended congratulations to Republican Donald Trump following his victory in Tuesday’s United States presidential elections.
“Jamaica remains committed to strengthening our close and enduring partnership with the United States and looks forward to advancing the goals of growth, stability, and prosperity for our people,” Prime Minister Andrew Holness wrote on social media site X.
Opposition Leader Mark Golding said he was “looking forward to continued strong relations and collaboration between Jamaica and the United States” wishing Trump “best wishes as you embark on this new term.”
Trump a former president defeated the Democratic nominee and Vice President, Kamala Harris, winning 277 of the Electoral College votes as against 224 for Harris, who was aiming to become the first woman to be in the White House.
In his letter, Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne congratulated Trump on his “ resounding victory” noting that “the electorate of the United States, through democratic means, has decisively reposed their confidence in you and your policies.
“In this regard, I look forward to a strengthened and cooperative relationship between the United States and Antigua and Barbuda, a small nation with which the US enjoys a perennial balance of trade surplus and a history of close cooperation on matters of national and regional security.”
Browne said that his government “stands ready to work with yours to help make your leadership contribute to a period of peace, progress, and prosperity for our hemisphere and the world”.
Apart from Trump’s, the Republican party has also taken control of both the Senate and the Congress.
Source-ABC
Ben Affleck praises Jennifer Lopez's 'spectacular' acting skills amid divorce
Ben Affleck is praising ex-Jennifer Lopez's performance in the upcoming film Unstoppable.
The Oscar winner, who produced the movie alongside longtime pal and collaborator Matt Damon, called the "Let's Get Loud" singer's work in the project "spectacular" in an interview with Entertainment Tonight published Nov. 3.
Unstoppable tells the story of wrestler Anthony Robles, who won the NCAA national championship despite being born with only one leg. Robles is played in the film by Moonlight actor Jharrel Jerome, with Lopez playing Robles' mother, Judy.
Affleck credited the positive reception of the film, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September and opens in theaters on Dec. 6, to it being "rooted in the passion of really talented artists."
The Good Will Hunting writer and actor also lauded director William Goldenberg and the entire cast — which includes Bobby Cannavale, Michael Peña and Don Cheadle — for "the passion that they had to bring this story to life."
"It kind of speaks to a certain kind of thing I guess we're drawn to, which is we really believe in the power of storytelling when the people involved in it are deeply emotionally connected to the story," he said.
Affleck's comments come just over two months after Lopez filed for divorce after two years of marriage.
Source-ABC
Donald Trump wins 2nd term in historic return to White House
Former President Donald Trump is projected to win the presidential race by ABC News, defeating Vice President Kamala Harris in a frenzied contest to stage an improbable historic comeback.
Trump ended up with at least 279 electoral votes after clinching wins in the swing states of Pennsylvania, Georgia and Wisconsin. Harris has won at least 219 votes. The race was marked by literal history, including two assassination attempts and 34 felony convictions against Trump, already having been impeached twice and faulted for mismanaging the COVID-19 pandemic response.
Maybe even more memorable was President Joe Biden's decision to drop out of the race after a ruinous June debate in which he struggled at times to form sentences.
Trump's victory underscores just how deep voters' frustrations were surrounding inflation and immigration, Republicans' two top issues this election cycle as polls consistently showed Americans' unhappiness with how Biden handled them.
His return to the White House also suggests that Democrats were not motivated enough by the prospect of electing the first female president and that its base's fury over the Supreme Court's revocation of constitutional abortion protections has waned since 2022.
For Trump personally, the win offers both political retribution and legal protection. Since his win, he and his brand have been soundly rejected in 2018, 2020, and 2022. Once in office, he'd be able to undermine criminal cases against him surrounding his handling of classified documents while out of office and efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.
"I want to thank the American people for the extraordinary honor of being elected your 47th president and your 45th president," Trump said in his victory speech.
Trump's victory is likely to set off transformations in both parties.
His win will likely help cement his "Make America Great Again" brand of politics as the dominant strand of Republicanism for the foreseeable future, with Vice President-elect JD Vance seemingly well-positioned to carry on Trump's mantle after the current administration ends in a little over four years.
Democrats, meanwhile, will likely have to sift through the rubble to understand what voters found so unappetizing about them that they'd choose instead to support a twice-impeached convicted felon who had already been voted out of office once.
The former and future president has not substantively outlined his goals for a second term -- at his debate with Harris he boasted of having "concepts of a plan" when it comes to health care -- though he has warned that he could go after his political opponents and journalists. He also could use his familiarity with the federal bureaucracy to help install civil servants who are loyal to him.
He will at least have a friendly, GOP-controlled Senate, though the House majority remains up in the air.
Among the chief policy areas where Trump could leave his imprint are on the world stage, where he has forecasted less support for Ukraine; on trade, where he has boasted of tariffs of as high as 100% on some imports, and on immigration, where he supports a mass deportation force and eliminating the Temporary Protected Status program.
He's also vowed to "drill, baby, drill" and lower costs, though his tariffs would likely raise the price of many goods, economists say, and he promised to eliminate tax on tips, overtime and Social Security benefits for seniors.
Perhaps more than anything, though, Democrats will be on the lookout for any form of retribution from a candidate who repeatedly dubbed his detractors the "enemy from within," though he never went after Hillary Clinton after leading chants of "lock her up" in 2016.
Source-ABC
Another Homicide recorded
Officers of the Serious Crime Unit are currently at the scene of a suspected homicide.
Initial reports state shortly after 6:42 pm, a call was placed to the Police Control Room indicating gunshots were heard at a location in South Dock, Providenciales.
Officers arrived at the location and saw the motionless body of a male with what appeared to be gunshot wounds.
A further update will be provided as additional information becomes available.
The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force is asking members of the public to notify the closest police station, contact 911, the Serious Crime Unit at 231-1842, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-8477 to anonymously provide any information on this shooting.
Additionally, individuals are encouraged to download the Crime Stoppers P3 app to share information anonymously.
Quincy Jones, hitmaking producer and music industry titan, dead at 91
Quincy Jones, a longtime music industry powerhouse and hitmaking producer of multi-platinum albums, including Michael Jackson's Thriller, the best-selling album of all time, died on Sunday. He was 91.
His death was announced by his publicist, Arnold Robinson, who said Jones died at his home in Bel Air, California. Jones was surrounded by his family, including his children and siblings, at the time of his death, the announcement said.
"And although this is an incredible loss for our family, we celebrate the great life that he lived and know there will never be another like him," the family said in a statement.
Jones was nominated for 80 Grammy Awards during his decades-long career, winning 28. He was the all-time most-nominated composer and producer, his publicist said on Monday.
His career was punctuated often by chart-topping hits, many of which were also critical successes. He produced albums for Michael Jackson, including Off the Wall, Bad and Thriller, which ranks as the best-selling album of all time.
Quincy was a seasoned producer by the time Thriller came out in 1982. He won his first Grammy in 1963 for an arrangement of "I Can't Stop Loving You" by Count Basie.
He then partnered with Frank Sinatra for Sinatra at the Sands, an album that included "Fly Me to the Moon." Jones' publicist noted on Monday that that version of the song was "the first recording played by astronaut Buzz Aldrin when he landed upon the moon's surface in 1969."
He also produced and conducted "We Are the World," which brought together pop luminaries of all ages and became the best-selling single of all time.
Jones was often referred to as entertainment royalty -- and it would be difficult to overstate the breadth of his career or the depth of his influence on popular culture. He had begun his career as a composer and became a music producer. And he would eventually also make his mark on Hollywood.
He was a co-producer with Steven Spielberg on The Color Purple, a 1985 film starring Oprah Winfrey, Danny Glover, and Whoopi Goldberg. That film was nominated for 11 Academy Awards, including two nominations for Jones' original song and score.
He also served as executive producer on The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, the TV series starring Will Smith that premiered in 1990. Jones also founded VIBE Magazine in 1991.
Jones' family said on Monday that Jones was "truly one of a kind," adding that "we take comfort and immense pride in knowing that the love and joy, that were the essence of his being, was shared with the world through all that he created."
They added, "Through his music and his boundless love, Quincy Jones' heart will beat for eternity."
Source-ABC
Police probing robbery, abduction of Guyanese and Brazilians
The Guyana Police Force is investigating the alleged robbery and abduction of a group of Guyanese and Brazilians in Marudi, located in region nine,to the south of here.
According to a Police statement on Saturday, the alleged robbery and abduction was carried out by unidentifiable men, wearing masks and carrying firearms.
Four Guyanese and six Brazilians were said to be the victims.
The incident occurred at the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission
“A Joint Services team on the ground pursued the suspects who abandoned their vehicle with the persons abducted, all of whom were rescued unharmed,” the police statement noted.
The Police said additional details will be provided in a subsequent report.
Source- CMC
Haitian authorities confirm target date for inauguration of newly-elected president
The Organization of American States (OAS) and the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe say Haitian authorities have confirmed their intent to maintain February 7, 2026 as the target date for the inauguration of a newly-elected president.
The Washington-based OAS said it continues its work to assist Haiti in developing the “enabling legal framework” for its next general elections in collaboration with the European Commission for Democracy through Law, known as the Venice Commission.
The Venice Commission is the Council of Europe’s advisory body on constitutional matters that provides legal advice to its member states and, in particular, assists states wishing to bring their legal and institutional structures into line with European standards and international experience in the fields of democracy, human rights and the rule of law.
The Venice Commission also helps to ensure the dissemination and consolidation of a common constitutional heritage, “playing a unique role in conflict management, and provides emergency constitutional aid to states in transition,” the OAS said.
In keeping with the Commission’s policy and in line with the OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro’s commitment, the OAS said the work of the Venice Commission is being conducted “in close collaboration with the Haitian state and proceeds from the basis that all solutions to the current crisis must be Haitian-led and Haitian-approved.”
“While participants discussed establishing intermediate steps toward this goal, all parties stressed that the reestablishment of security is a fundamental precondition for holding the referendum and the elections,” said the OAS and the Venice Commission in a joint statement on Friday after a series of high-level meetings, from October 28-30, with a delegation from Haiti.
The OAS hosted the meetings through its Department of Electoral Cooperation and Observation (DECO) in following up to the OAS Permanent Council Resolution 1237.
“These sessions focused on essential constitutional and legislative measures needed to facilitate future elections in Haiti,” the statement said. “Haitian authorities reiterated their call for international support, particularly through a United Nations peacekeeping mission, to assist in restoring safety and stability.”
In parallel with these efforts, the OAS and the Venice Commission said the Haitian Steering Committee plans to launch a national consultation on constitutional reform beginning November 7, 2024, with a draft constitution anticipated by the end of December.
This draft is expected to be presented to the Haitian public ahead of a referendum planned for 2025.
“The Venice Commission has offered to provide recommendations to the draft constitution, while DECO remains available for technical cooperation on specific issues, if requested by Haitian authorities,” the statement said. “Haitian authorities have pledged to keep both the public and international partners informed on the progress of these initiatives.”
In a collaborative spirit, the statement said Haiti, the Venice Commission and the OAS have “committed to open communication channels and to considering a roadmap to support Haiti’s next steps following the adoption of a new constitution.”
Conclusions from these discussions will be made available next week.
The Venice Commission is scheduled to issue its final opinion in December 2024 on potential constitutional and legislative solutions for Haiti’s electoral processes.
“This opinion will address several areas discussed during the meetings, such as the stability of electoral institutions, gender equality in elections, youth representation, voting for Haitians abroad, electronic vote, party funding and formation, security conditions for voters and materials, and voting rights,” the statement said.
At the request of Almagro, the statement said the Venice Commission issued an Interim Opinion in June 2024 on potential constitutional and legislative approaches to elections in Haiti.
“This opinion, while provisional, highlighted the importance of a secure and inclusive electoral framework, and underlined the principle that the Haitian people and their representatives will determine the terms and timing for resolving the current crisis.”
The OAS expressed its gratitude to the governments of Canada, France, and the United States for their “generous contributions, which made it possible to hold these meetings and to secure the participation of the Haitian delegation in these productive discussions.”
Source-CMC
Inter-High School Boys Basketball season reemerges
From November to January, the Turks and Caicos Islands School Sports (TCISS) Inter-High School Boys Basketball season reemerges as one of the most exciting times of the year. Schools across the Turks and Caicos Islands submit their names to compete for the coveted champion title.
This year the groups are as follows:
Group A
British West Indies Collegiate - BWIC
Marjorie Basden High School - MBHS
Raymond Gardiner High School - RGHS
Precious Treasures International School - PTIS
Clement Howell High School - CHHS
Elite High School - EHS
Group B
Maranatha Academy - MA
Alpha Christian Academy - ACA
HJ Robinson High School - HJRHS
Holy Family Academy - HFA
A. Louise Garland Thomas High School - ALGTHS
Wesley Methodist High School - WMHS
Last year's champions the Clement Howell Eagles are keen to defend their two-year standing title. Likewise, schools like the Wesley Methodist High Stingrays and HJ Robinson Stallions are gearing up to upset the season.
On the new season, Hon. Rachel Taylor shares, "As this Basketball Season commences for the academic year 2024-2025, we take this opportunity to express profound gratitude to our schools for their continuous effort in the engagement of our students through sports in building human capital. Our students must be engaged in extracurricular activities, ensuring that mentorship is in place through our PE teachers and coaches who continue to have a meaningful impact on the lives of our athletes. Our partnership with the Sports Commission is a testament of our collective efforts in bridging the gaps in the social skills of our youth. Congratulations to our student-athletes! They are all winners and may the best team win!"
Turks and Caicos Islands School Sports 2024-25 Schedule
TCISS Inter-High School Basketball - November 2024 - January 2025 (All-Island)
TCISS Inter-High School Softball - November 2024 - February 2025
Track and Field Development Meets - February & March 2025
TCISS Inter-High School Track and Field - March 2025 (Providenciales)
TCISS Inter-Primary School Track and Field - April 2025 (Providenciales)