Cuban Migrants Land in Florida and Get Detained
20 Cuban migrants were picked up by U.S. Border Patrol agents when they responded to a migrant landing near the Key West Airport on Saturday afternoon.
Authorities said the migrants arrived on a wooden fishing boat at around 3 p.m.
Video footage circulating online shows the group of migrants celebrating as they reached land. However, the migrants were taken into custody and will undergo processing for removal proceedings, according to Adam Hoffner, assistant chief patrol agent for the U.S. Border Patrol’s Miami sector.
No additional details about the migrants or their journey have been released.
Cuban migrants have been making dangerous journeys to the U.S. in increasing numbers, often attempting to cross the Florida Straits by boat or raft. These migrants typically seek better economic opportunities, political freedom, or escape from the hardships and restrictions they face in Cuba. Many attempt to reach the Florida coast, where they hope to gain entry into the U.S.
The U.S. has specific policies regarding Cuban migrants, including the “wet foot, dry foot” policy, which allowed Cuban nationals who reached U.S. soil to stay and pursue legal residency, though this policy was ended in 2017.
Today, Cuban migrants are subject to the same immigration laws as other migrants, and those caught attempting to enter the U.S. illegally are typically processed for deportation. However, some may be eligible for asylum or other legal relief.
The U.S. Border Patrol, along with the Coast Guard, frequently intercepts migrant boats attempting to cross the Straits, but many continue to risk the dangerous journey due to the difficult conditions in Cuba.
TCI Police Officers Complete Training with the DEA
The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF) and the United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) have recently bolstered their strategic partnership through a
specialized initiative to enhance operational capabilities in combating criminal activity across the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI).
As part of this collaboration, RTCIPF Tactical Unit officers underwent advanced helicopter tactical rescue specialist training in the Bahamas. Delivered by DEA agents and their Tactical
Helicopter Section, the training equipped officers with critical skills to deploy rapidly from helicopters, addressing challenges in TCI's remote and difficult-to-access areas.
Following the intensive four-day program, Superintendent Jason James, head of the RTCIPF Tactical Unit, highlighted the initiative's importance: "This collaboration demonstrates our
commitment to ensuring the safety and security of our communities. The helicopter fast rope specialist training has enabled our officers to respond swiftly and effectively to criminal threats, no matter where they arise across the TCI.
"The partnership with the DEA under OPBAT underscores our shared dedication to preventing and detecting criminal activities, including drug trafficking and organized crime. This effort strengthens the RTCIPF's operational capacity and contributes to a robust, multi-agency approach to professional law enforcement." End quote
DEA representatives commended the RTCIPF’s proactive measures: "The Turks and Caicos Islands are a vital partner in the fight against transnational crime. Through this joint effort, we are enhancing the capability of local forces to protect their citizens and disrupt criminal networks." End quote
Acting Assistant Commissioner (Specialist Operations) Mat Newton also acknowledged the critical role of international partnerships: "As a Force, we remain dedicated to employing
innovative strategies and fostering global alliances to ensure the islands' safety. This is the first wave of training with the DEA and represents a key element of our fight against organized crime. Many thanks to the DEA for this opportunity.” End quote
The strengthened partnership between the RTCIPF and the DEA marks a significant step in enhancing the TCI’s capacity to combat complex criminal activities and maintain public safety.
43 Declarations Received on Nomination Day for TCI General Elections
Section 50(1) of the Constitution stipulates that each Candidate for election to the Parliament shall, on the date of his or her nomination for election, make a written declaration to the Supervisor of Elections that he or she is qualified under section 46
of the Constitution and that no disqualifications apply to him or her as set out in section 49 of the Constitution.
This would have been completed by those wishing to run in the upcoming election as Nomination day was Tuesday January 14, 2025.
Declarations were received from nineteen (19) candidates representing the Progressive
National Party and nineteen (19) candidates representing the People’s Democratic
Movement, and from five (5) independent candidates.
Section 50(3) of the Constitution further stipulates that within five (5) days of the
publication of Candidates’ declarations, a challenge to the veracity of the declarations may be brought by any registered voter or the Honourable Attorney General before the Supreme Court, and the Supreme Court shall hear and determine the matter as
expeditiously as possible and its decision shall be final and not subject to appeal.
Declarations received from the forty-three (43) candidates nominated on Tuesday,
January 14, 2025 to contest the general elections scheduled for Friday, February 7, 2025 are as follows.
ELECTORAL DISRTICT 01 GRAND TURK NORTH
Progressive National Party
Otis Chuck Morris
People Democratic Movement
George Lightbourne
ELECTORAL DISTRICT 02 GRAND TURK SOUTH
People Democratic Movement
Edwin Astwood
Progressive National Party
Walter Frederick Lake Gardiner
ELECTORAL DISTRICT 03 SOUTH CAICOS
Progressive National Party
John Malcolm
People Democratic Movement
Hynetta Lenore Forbes
ELECTORAL DISTRICT 04 MIDDLE AND NORTH CAICOS
People Democratic Movement
Denaz Williams
Progressive National Party
Arlington Alexander Musgrove
ELECTORAL DISTRICT O5 LEEWARD, PROVIDENCIALES
Progressive National Party
Akierra Mary Deanne Missick
People Democratic Movement
Keith Cox
ELECTORAL DISTRICT 06 THE BIGHT, PROVIDENCIALES
Progressive National Party
Matthew Timothy Stubbs
People Democratic Movement
Kimbule Audric Skippings
ELECTORAL DISTRICT 07 RICHMOND HILL AND CHESHIRE HALL
People Democratic Movement
Finbar Albert Grant
Progressive National Party
Samuel Ernest Been
ELECTORAL DISTRICT 08 BLUE HILLS, PROVIDENCIALES
Progressive National Party
Randy Dexter Howell
People Democratic Movement
Anthony Mc Cleaver Walkin
ELECTORAL DISTRICT 09 FIVE CAYS, PROVIDENCIALES
People Democratic Movement
Bryant R. Cox
Progressive National Party
Rachel Marshall Taylor
ELECTORAL DISTRICT 10 WHEELAND, PROVIDENCIALES
People Democratic Movement
Vaden Delroy Williams
Progressive National Party
Kyle Robert Knowles
INDEPENDENT DISTRICT CANDIDATE
Electoral District 02 Grand Turk South
Derek Been Independent
Electoral District 03 South Caicos
Tamell Seymour Independent
ALL ISLAND CANDIDATES
Progressive National Party
1. Sharon Anne Simons
2. Erwin Jay Saunders
3. Charles Washington Missick
4. Jameka Lashawn Williams
5. Willin Antoni Belliard
6. Josephine Olivia Connolly
7. Shaun David Malcolm
8. Zhavargo Jermaine Jolly
9. Jamell Ryan Robinson
People Democratic Movement
1. Ralph Lewis Higgs
2. Dwayne Taylor
3. Sabrina Green
4. Alvin Kingsley Garland
5. Robert Antonio Been
6. Karen Evadne Malcolm
7. Sean Richard Astwood
8. Ruth Ariza
9. Temard Butterfield
ALL ISLAND INDEPENDENT
1. Paul Bernard Beresford
2. Phillip Mc Rae Robinson
PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE
All Island Candidate
Winston Mc Laughlin
Please remember Turks and Caicos that voting is your democratic right. You determine the country's future. See you at the polls on February 7th 2025.
TCI Methodist Minister Takes Regional Presidency Role
The TCI is not just making significant moves in the tourism sector, but we are also making moves in the religious sector.
The Bahamas, Turks and Caicos Islands District Conference (BTCIC) is one of the eight Districts of the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas. This District comprises two territories: (1) The Bahamas, a Sovereign State, Commonwealth Nation and (2) the Turks and Caicos Islands, a British Overseas Territory; both are English speaking nations.
BTIC comprises six Circuits: Andros (3
congregations), Grand Bahama (3 congregations), Nassau (6 congregations), North Turks and Caicos Islands (2 congregations), South Eleuthera (1 congregation) and South Turks and Caicos Islands (3 congregations).
After serving as Secretary for the conference for several years, Rev. Robinson has now been elected as the first female to hold the presidency of the conference in the 213 years of existence. She takes over from Bishop Theophilus N. Rolle.
Rev. Claire has had many milestones in her religious journey.
She was the first itinerant minister for Turks and Caicos, first superintendent female minister of the North and South TCI Circuit, and now first female and first Turks and Caicos Islander to hold the conference Presidency.
Listeners, this is a significant milestone for us in the Turks and Caicos Islands as one of our own has climbed the ranks.
We at RTC, your TCI Methodist church family and by extension the Turks and Caicos Islands wish you all the best in your new role. You are truly blessed and highly favored.
Experience Turks and Caicos Hires New Events Organizer Specialist
Experience Turks and Caicos is pleased to welcome Charmony Hislop to the team as the new Events Organizer Specialist effective Monday, December 2nd, 2024.
In her role, Hislop will plan, develop, and execute cultural and entertainment events across the Turks and Caicos Islands.
She will also be responsible for creating distinctive signature events that are promoted by Experience Turks and Caicos in source markets and establish an annual event calendar for travel and leisure.
She will partner with the Finance and Operations Department to design and execute fundraising activities associated with events, manage logistics for events, and work with the Product Development Manager for the execution and management of activities such as the weekly Fish Fry in Providenciales and the weekly Taste of Turks in Grand Turk.
Hislop holds a Master of Science in Tourism Management from the University of Derby, UK and a Bachelor of Arts in Event Management from the University of Winchester, UK.
She previously worked as the head of events and writer at Brain Food TCI and events coordinator at WAVES Magazine.
Hislop is a proud resident of North Caicos.
Cross Appointed As New Governor of Montserrat
Harriet Cross has been appointed as the new Governor of Montserrat, succeeding Sarah Tucker, who will be transitioning to another Diplomatic Service role. Cross is set to officially begin her tenure in April 2025.
With an extensive and distinguished career in the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), joining in 1997, Cross brings a wealth of diplomatic experience to her new position.
Most recently, she served as the British High Commissioner in Port of Spain from 2020 to 2024. Prior to that, she was the British Consul General to New England in Boston from 2016 to 2020.
In her diplomatic career Harriet has also served at the British Embassy in Morocco and at the UK Mission to the UN in New York. She has also worked in London on EU trade policy, and human rights policy.
During her career Harriet has taken time out from diplomacy to work as an International Policy Advisor for the UK’s National Crime Squad (now the National Crime Agency). She has also worked in International Relations at the University of York and helped establish a micro-brewery in Yorkshire which is now a thriving business.
Harriet has a Master’s degree in International Relations from the Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy at Tufts University and a First Class honors degree from the University of Warwick in Politics with French. She has an Executive Certificate in Management & Leadership from MIT.
As she prepares to take on the role of Governor of Montserrat, Cross’s diverse diplomatic background is expected to bring valuable insight and leadership to the island.
Guyanese Prison Officer Sentenced to Jail for Drugs
Joel Johnson, a 21-year-old prison officer from Guyana, was sentenced to three years imprisonment after a quantity of marijuana was discovered in his bag during a mandatory search.
The incident occurred at the Mazaruni scanning area on Tuesday, January 14, 2025.
According to reports, around 6:30 PM, Johnson returned to duty after being granted four days off. He was subjected to a mandatory search and surrendered a green bag which was in his possession.
The bag contained eight Irish Spring soap boxes and two Colgate toothpaste boxes, containing marijuana leaves, seeds, and stems, wrapped in transparent plastic.
Johnson was placed under arrest and escorted to the Bartica Police Station. At the station, the suspected narcotics were weighed, totaling 804 grams or 1.7 pounds.
He appeared at the Bartica Magistrate’s Court before His Worship Teriq Mohamed on Wednesday, January 15th. He plead guilty and was sentenced to 3 years imprisonment with a fine of $30,000.
Starship 7 Explodes Over Turks and Caicos Islands
Elon Musk's starship flight 7 broke into pieces in space causing a light show and debris falling in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The booming sounds and trail of fire and smoke seen in the skies on Thursday, January 16, 2025, came from Elon Musk’s Starship Flight 7 which broke apart just 8.5 minutes after it was launched into mission.
In an exclusive interview, Tariq Malik, Editor-in-Chief of Space.com, told The TCI SUN that SpaceX is studying the incident to understand why the Ship vehicle failed during ascent, and what changes will be needed for the next Flight 8 test later this year.
"The fireballs and debris visible that are being reported over Turks and Caicos appear to be the remains of SpaceX's Starship Flight 7 Ship vehicle, which failed and broke apart as it was launching to space on Thursday. SpaceX launched the Starship vehicle and its Super Heavy booster from the company's Starbase facility near Boca Chica Beach in South Texas, but reported an anomaly with the Ship vehicle as it was nearing its final engine burn,” Malik explained.
The Starship Flight 7 Ship was a new version of Starship that carried several upgrades. It had redesigned flaps and 25% more fuel onboard. This Ship was carrying 10 dummy satellites to be deployed on the test, but those were lost, too.
Persons across the Turks and Caicos Islands were left in a state of confusion, shock and fear as to what was taking place. Videos circulated across the islands of people watching the grand show, while others had pieces of debris falling by their sides.
And on Friday, 17 January, TCIG Officials convened a meeting with relevant partners in the United Kingdom including the UK Space Agency, who are supporting the post incident response, including technical expertise on the handling of debris, health and safety risks, protocols and procedures after Elon Musk's starship 7 exploded over the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The UK Air Accident Investigation Branch have been notified and discussions are ongoing with the US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) who will liaise with SpaceX.
This is now an active investigation led by the US FAA in liaison with UK and TCI counterparts.
We are not at this time aware of any specific risks related to the re-entry of space debris on Thursday 16 January. However, space objects can sometimes contain hazardous materials which can cause serious harm to health.
Members of the public who come across objects that they think might be space debris should take the following actions:
- Do not touch the object
- Make a note of the location (Island and exact coordinates) of the object and the time (including any maritime observations of debris)
- If possible take a photograph of the object (without touching it) alongside another object for scale
- Notify the authorities by sending the details to nationalsecurity@gov.tc with the subject title Space X Debris.
- Space debris remains the property of the spacecraft owner
If you have already handled what you think might be space debris please put it in a safe place where others will not handle it and inform the authorities at nationalsecurity@gov.tc. Further advice will be provided for the collation of the debris.
Elon Musk, on his X feed, (formerly Twitter) on the video over the Turks and Caicos Islands, stated quote, "Success is Uncertain, but Entertainment is Guaranteed."
US Swears in Donald J Trump as 47th President
The United States has sworn in Donald J. Trump for a second term, making him the 47th president of the United States of America.
Trump is also the second president, after Grover Cleveland in 1982, to serve two non-consecutive terms and the first president to have been criminally convicted.
Trump also experienced two assassination attempts, including surviving an incredibly close call at a rally in Pennsylvania in July that left him bloodied from a bullet wound to his right ear and one of his supporters dead.
And the morning of inauguration…. The coldest air of the season moved into the Northeast and a huge part of the U.S., including the Gulf Coast, after a snowstorm. At least 40 states were on cold alerts. Meaning, The inauguration of President Donald Trump in Washington was going to be a cold one, the coldest since President Ronald Reagan's 1985 inauguration.
Donald John Trump who was born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, businessman, and media personality who has been the 45th and now the 47th president of the United States. He is a member of the Republican Party.
Trinidad & Tobago Successfully Passes Bill to Amend Coat of Arms
A new bill to remove the ships of Christopher Columbus from the Coat of Arms of Trinidad and Tobago has successfully passed with unanimous support from both government and opposition members in the Lower House.
The National Emblems of Trinidad and Tobago (Amendment) Bill, 2025, was approved late last Monday night, as reported by local news outlet CNC3.
The bill will see the removal of the three Columbus ships—Niña, Pinta, and Santa Maria—and their replacement with the Steelpan, the national instrument of Trinidad and Tobago.
Under Clause 4 of the bill, the “gold Steelpan and its iconic two pan sticks” will be incorporated into the national emblem, marking a significant shift in the nation’s symbolic representation.
Clause 5 ensures that licenses issued under the current legislation will remain valid, and the former emblem will be allowed until January 1, 2026. The redesigned Coat of Arms will be created by renowned designer and jeweler Gillian Bishop.
Prime Minister Keith Rowley first announced the change at a People’s National Movement (PNM) convention in August 2024. Speaking to a crowd of supporters, Rowley highlighted the need to break from colonial symbolism.