Deputy Governor Issues Notice to Public Servants Regarding Engagement in Political Activities
Her Excellency the Deputy Governor, Anya Williams has issued a circular notice to all civil servants regarding the engagement of public officers in political activities.
The next General Election in the Turks and Caicos Islands will be held on Friday, 7th February 2025.
Voting is a privilege and a constitutionally protected democratic right that all willing and interested persons, including public servants, should freely exercise. However, public servants are reminded that as servants of the people, no matter your personal political persuasion, you are required to serve the government of the day in a politically impartial manner.
This ensures that there is no perceived or actual negative influence or bias in the delivery of government services and that the public service is not brought into disrepute.
In light of the upcoming election period, public servants are reminded of the following relevant sections from the Public Service Ordinance and the Public Service Handbook, which outline the expectations of political impartiality:
Public Service Ordinance:
Section 24:
- : An officer shall not engage in campaigning on behalf of a political party.
- : An officer shall neither represent a political party nor be a candidate for political office.
- : The Deputy Governor may, by notice, specify such additional restrictions on political activity by officers as may seem to him proportionate and appropriate for the preservation of the political neutrality of the public service.
Section 2.5.13:
Officers must not engage in political activities at any time on behalf of any party or candidate in an election to the Legislature. They must not act as agents, sub-agents, or canvassers at such elections. Political activities would include, but are not limited to, activities such as:
. Distributing leaflets about a political party or candidate;
. Wearing political badges or t-shirts or using other political paraphernalia;
• Sitting on a dais or stage at a political public meeting or conference.
Section 2.5.14:
Officers will not:
- Act as editor of any newspaper, magazine, periodical, or website or take part directly or indirectly in the management of such; or
- Contribute to or publish in any newspaper, magazine, periodical, or website (including blogs and other social media) anything which may be regarded as of a political or administrative nature; or
- Allow himself or herself to be interviewed on questions of public policy, or on any matter of a political or administrative nature or on matters affecting the administration or the security of the Islands; or
- Speak in any public broadcast in any way on matters which may be regarded as of a political or administrative nature; or
- Indulge in activities that would bring himself or herself or the public service into disrepute, and at all times shall discharge his or her duties and generally conduct himself or herself with integrity, impartiality, and honesty.
Guidelines for Political Activity During the Election Period:
Acceptable Participation:
- Attending political rallies as part of the crowd as a non-participative observer (without wearing a party colour or use of party paraphernalia) or as an online viewer (without using official social media accounts, liking, or commenting).
- Receiving campaign literature privately, but not displaying it publicly in CIG offices or on personal social media accounts, personal or company vehicles.
- Listening to political podcasts, radio shows, or similar content.
Meeting candidates privately to discuss their policies or ask questions.
Discussing political matters privately with family, friends, or in confidential settings.
Please be mindful of these policies, refer to the civil service handbook and act accordingly.
Young Turks Island Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Murder
A young man, named Brian Alexander Francis has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Justin Cox-Beckles.
Based on the ruling handed down on Tuesday January 07th, Francis, 29 years old, must serve a minimum term of 29 years and six months before becoming eligible for parole.
The court also ordered the destruction of the firearm recovered during the investigation.
Francis was found guilty on December 18, 2024, of the murder of Cox-Beckles. And was remanded in custody pending his sentencing.
Background of the Case
On Sunday, July 24th, 2022, the Police Control Room received a report of a male with a gunshot
wound to the abdomen at Rock Plaza, Millennium Highway. The victim was later identified as
Justin Cox-Beckles of South Caicos.
He was transported to the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre, where he succumbed to his injuries.
A murder investigation was immediately launched, and on July 26, 2022, Francis, a mechanic residing on South Dock Road, was arrested and cautioned on suspicion of the murder
of Cox-Beckles.
On August 4, 2022, Francis was formally charged with the following offences:
Murder of Justin Cox-Beckles,
Carrying ammunition,
Carrying a firearm,
Discharging a firearm, and
Discharging ammunition.
Again, as per changes to the legislation, Francis will have to serve 29 years and 6 months before becoming eligible for parole.
Former and Current Presidents of the United States Attend Carter's Funeral
As they filed into the front pews at Washington National Cathedral, wearing dark suits and mostly solemn faces, five current and former presidents came together for former president Jimmy Carter's funeral.
For a service that stretched more than an hour, the feuding, grievances and animosity that had marked their rival campaigns and divergent politics gave way to a reverential moment for one of their own.
Barack Obama and Donald Trump, the first two of the group to take their seats Thursday, shook hands and chatted at length. Trump, the former president who will retake the Oval Office in 10 days, leaned in and listened intently to his predecessor. At times, the two flashed smiles.
Former President Barack Obama, who attended without his wife, Michelle, shared a second-row pew with former presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, along with their spouses.
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden arrived last and sat in the pew just in front of them.
Funerals are among the few events that bring members of the presidents' club together.
In a way, former President Gerald Ford was there, too: Ford's son Steven read a eulogy for Carter that Ford had written before he died in 2006.
Jimmy Carter formally named, James Earl Carter Jr was the 39th president of the United States from 1977 to 1981. He died in December 2024 at the age of 100 years old.
Elections to be held Across Several Territories in the Caribbean
It’s a super year for politics in the Caribbean region as General Elections will be called in several countries where constitutionally due.
These elections will command the attention of the region as voters either choose to keep current governments in power or decide whether it’s time for a changing of the guard.
Many of these governments during their tenure would have contended with the effects of COVID-19, increasing gun violence and natural disasters coupled with the effects of climate change.
Here are the Caribbean countries that will be holding General Elections in 2025:
Anguilla: TBA
While campaign launches are being prepared in the UK overseas territory, an election date is yet to be announced. The ruling Anguilla Progressive Movement (APM) led by Premier Dr Ellis Webster is already looking to launch its campaign in January.
General elections were last held in Anguilla on June 29, 2020.
Belize: TBA
No date has been announced yet for Belize’s General Election which is constitutionally due in 2025. Prime Minister John Briceno continues to keep the date close to his chest.
Belize last went to the polls on November 11, 2020.
Bermuda: February 18, 2025
Bermuda, which is a self-governing British Overseas Territory, and an Associate Member of CARICOM, will hold its election following a bombshell announcement on the night of January 8, 2025, from Bermuda Premier and leader of the Progressive Labour Party (PLP), David Burt.
The last election in Bermuda was held on August 21, 2020.
Curacao: March 21, 2025
Over 110,000 residents in Curacao are eligible to vote in the March 21 Parliamentary elections. Candidate lists are being finalised for February 7th.
Notably, Curacao recently became an Associate Member of CARICOM under the leadership of Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas. In late November 2024, the coalition government escaped challenges and was able to hold on to its majority in Parliament.
The country held its last Parliamentary elections on March 19, 2021.
Guyana: TBA
An official date has not been announced for Guyana’s General Election; however, there have been some hints, as according to a local media report, Vice President Bharat Jagdeo disclosed the next General Election will likely be held in November 2025.
The last time the country went to the polls was on March 2, 2020, with President Irfaan Ali emerging the victor.
Jamaica: TBA
No date has been announced for Jamaica’s General Election which has seen the People’s National Party (PNP) and Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) charging up for when the date is dropped.
At the JLP's last party convention, the message was clear that a third consecutive term is being sought.
Jamaica’s last General Election was held on September 3, 2020.
St Vincent and the Grenadines: TBA
No election date has been announced yet but the General Election in St Vincent and the Grenadines will be one to watch as Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves, 78, was recently re-elected unopposed as the ruling Unity Labour Party’s (ULP) political leader. The ULP is seeking a historic sixth term in office unless the main opposition New Democratic Party (NDP) can break its long run.
SVG’s last General Election was held on November 5, 2020.
Suriname: May 25, 2025
The Dutch-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country, Suriname, was placed on notice by President Chandrikapersad Santokhi last year that they will be going to the polls on May 25, 2025.
In 2023, Suriname’s parliament amended the electoral law so elections will be held based on national proportionality instead of the district system.
Suriname has faced its share of challenges.
Suriname’s last election was held on May 25, 2020.
Trinidad and Tobago: TBA
As the country awaits an election date there has been a major political shakeup in the twin-island Republic as Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, who is the political leader of the ruling PNM, confirmed he would not be offering himself up for reelection and in fact plans to resign before his term as Prime Minister comes to an end.
It is an election to keep your eyes on.
T&T's last general election was held on August 10, 2020.
Turks and Caicos Islands: February 7, 2025
More than 9,000 people are registered to vote in the British Overseas Territory after the election bell was rung for voters to go to the polls on February 7, 2025.
This election will be historic, as it will be the first five-year parliamentary term instead of four, for the TCI.
The TCI held its last general election on February 19, 2021.
United Way Hosted Special Holiday Camp
Non-profit organization, United Way Turks and Caicos hosted a special holiday camp on December 27th 2024, to assess children's reading skills and expand their educational outreach.
Sponsored by the Schechter family, a unit owner at the Grace Bay Club, the camp, which was staged at the Salvation Army's Brighter Futures Center in Providenciales, was geared to provide both fun and meaningful engagement for local children.
The Schecter family volunteered to spend time with the kids and get involved in what they're sponsoring.
The camp included a mix of activities, from reading assessments and painting to athletics and jewelry-making.
Grace Bay Resorts, another key partner, sponsored and prepared lunch for the event.
The family has committed to sponsor a reading intervention program at the lanthe Pratt Primary School. The program will mirror successful interventions already in place at Thelma Lightbourne and Enid Capron Primary Schools.
The intervention program starts with grade two students. A dedicated teacher will work full-time at the school, pulling out small groups of children for focused reading sessions. The program has already shown great success, helping children graduate who might otherwise have struggled.
United Way also plans to expand its after-school programs to support older students in grades four through six who are still developing foundational reading skills.
Without this support, many children would struggle to progress academically and could become vulnerable to negative influences.
SIPT Defense Lawyer Passes Away in the UK
From our news partners, Weekly News, we have been made to understand that a key prosecutor in the SIPT trial has passed away.
The Swansea Crown Court held a minute's silence in honour of defense attorney Huw Evans before it sat for business on Thursday, January 9th.
Evans - a native of Carmarthen, Wales - has been the attorney for SIPT defendant Thomas Chalmers Misick for several years in the Turks and Caicos Islands Supreme Court.
Evans, along with other lawyers and defendants in the high-profile corruption case were to resume sitting the final SIPT trial involving Chal Misick, his brother Michael Misick and McAllister Hanchell last week.
However, due to the unfortunate development, the trial has been pushed to February 3, 2025, for resumption.
Speaking with the Weekly News last Thursday, Chief Prosecutor, King’s Counsel Andrew Mitchell related that Oliver Smith KC will be taking over for Evans on Misick’s defence team for the remainder of the trial, along with attorney Kayode Smith.
Evans – the eldest of three boys – was called to the Bar in 1985 before serving in the Royal Navy. According to his profile at his chambers, 30 Park Place in Cardiff, he completed his pupillage in Swansea before starting to practice in Cardiff in 1989. He joined 30 Park Place in 2005.
The long-running trial has not been without its tragedies, with this being its latest development.
The second retrial finally got started December 2nd 2024, after being put on hold for more than a year as the Judiciary searched assiduously for an appropriately qualified judge to preside over the complex case.
This followed the conclusion of the first re-trial in 2022, with a mixed verdict. That verdict was appealed, and a decision is expected from the Court of Appeal sometime this year on the more complex issues.
The entire trial process had to be restarted in 2021, following the death of the trial judge Paul Harrison.
TCI Mourns the Loss of Boxing Coach - JimKelly Joseph
On the afternoon of Saturday January 4th, an incident at sea occurred in Providenciales.
3 males including a 9 year old minor, went on an afternoon fishing trip and experienced difficulties at sea.
Shortly after 3:00 PM on Saturday, the Police Control Room received a report of a vessel in distress
which had departed Cooper Jack Bay.
The vessel experienced engine failure and began taking on water in the bow.
With the swift response of boating volunteers, the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force
Marine Unit, the Department of Environmental and Coastal Resources, Fisheries and the United States Coast Guard air support, two individuals—a male in his mid-twenties
and the minor—were successfully rescued and transported to Cheshire Hall Medical Center for medical evaluation.
Efforts to locate the third individual, a well known athlete and boxer - Jim Kelly Joseph, continued until about 9:30pm Saturday night.
Efforts continued Sunday morning resulting in the finding of Joseph's body around 9:10am, near Morley's Reef.
Jim Kelly, 32 years old was described by the hundreds who gathered as a strong young man, determined and a fighter. His motto, Humble, Discipline, Respect.
He was recently released from a 4 year and 9 month stint in prison for firearm related offences.
Upon release from prison, Joseph said that the only thing which kept him motivated was seeing his son again.
Joseph sat at the head of the boxing federation hoping to restart the sport and possibly open his gym once he was released from prison.
The boxing champ in an exclusive interview with TCI Sun newspaper, said God has a way of working in mysterious ways, adding that he took God for granted.
He stated quote,
“God has a way of working in mysterious ways and I took him for granted because he got me up top, but I forgot that He was the reason why I got there so He had to remind me that all that I worked hard for, He was the one that gave it to me so He will take it away from me in order to remind me that He was the one who brought me there, so now I have to walk that line straight according to His actions and His way and will,” end quote
He will be missed by the entire community of the Turks and Caicos Islands. He was a determined, disciplined young man helping the youth of today.
May his soul rest in peace and rise in glory.
TCI Has Youth Advocate for Mental Health
A'Janae Robinson was appointed as a Caribbean National Mental Health Focal Point for 2023-2025 representing the TCI.
Following an application process, Robinson joins many youth advocates who have been appointed from 17 Caribbean countries and territories to join in a new partnership between UNICEF and youth led regional mental health advocacy organization Let's Unpack It.
The Caribbean Youth National Mental Health Focal Point network will help to design and implement initiatives and campaigns around mental health and wellness.
They will also represent the Caribbean youth at global events, helping to mobilize other youth to end the stigma and prioritize mental health and wellness.
Robinson travelled to Barbados last November, as one of over 40 youth advocates chosen across 15 countries to be part of the first cohort of Latin American and Eastern Caribbean youth to participate in UNICEF's Youth Advocacy Guide training.
As an aspiring psychologist, Robinson says that she is honored to have been provides this opportunity to help fight to destigmatize mental health not only in the TCI but around the region and even worldwide.
Jamaica wins two tourism awards in Dubai
Over the weekend, Jamaica received two major accolades at the prestigious 30th World Travel Awards held at the iconic Burj Al Arab in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Jamaica won the titles of "World's Best Family Destination" and "World's Best Cruise Destination."
Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett, founder and chair of the Jamaica-based Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC) ‘Think Tank,’ accepted the awards on behalf of Jamaica.
Additionally, Bartlett presented five Global Tourism Resilience awards to two prominent Middle Eastern corporations and three countries. The audience consisted of government leaders, officials, global corporate executives, and travel industry stakeholders.
The Global Tourism Resilience awards recognized entities and nations that exemplify global leadership, visionary foresight, and innovation in overcoming critical challenges and adversity.
The inaugural awardees included Qatar, the Maldives, and the Philippines; as well as UAE corporate giants DP World, an Emirati multinational logistics corporation specializing in cargo logistics; and Dnata, a prominent global air and travel services provider that offers ground handling, cargo, travel, catering, and retail services across six continents in over 30 countries.
Source- Loop News
Premier League agrees record £6.7bn domestic TV rights deal
The Premier League has agreed a new record £6.7bn domestic television deal for Sky and TNT to show up to 270 live games a season.
The deal includes the BBC continuing to show highlights on Match of the Day.
The top flight said the deal, which covers the four years from the 2025-26 season, is the "largest sports media rights deal ever concluded in the UK".
The Saturday 3 pm blackout will remain in place, but every 2 pm Sunday kick-off will be televised.
The BBC's deal includes MOTD2 and Football Focus plus additional digital rights for its online platforms.
Sky has been awarded four of the five packages and will show a minimum of 215 matches a season including Saturday 5.30 pm kick-offs, Sunday 2 pm and 4.30 pm kick-offs, plus evening games on Mondays and Fridays and three midweek rounds.
TNT will show a minimum of 52 matches a season including all 12.30 pm kick-offs on Saturdays and two midweek match rounds.
Sky Sports will also broadcast all 10 matches on the final day of each season.
Amazon, which shows 20 matches per season under the league's current deal, has not secured rights in the new agreement.
This is the first time the Premier League has been through a tender process for its rights since 2018.
The current £5bn domestic TV rights deal, which expires at the end of the 2024-25 season, was allowed to be extended because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Premier League said the new deal will "provide financial certainty for clubs throughout professional football until at least 2029".
"The outcome of this process underlines the strength of the Premier League and is a testament to our clubs, players, and managers who continue to deliver the world's most competitive football in full stadiums, and to supporters, who create an unrivaled atmosphere every week," said Premier League chief executive Richard Masters.
Barbara Slater, Director, of BBC Sport, said: "Match Of The Day remains enduringly popular with audiences and this new agreement with the Premier League is brilliant news for football fans all over the UK.
"For almost 60 years it has been the UK's most discussed football programme, delivering a complete digest of the weekend's action and this enhanced deal with more digital content means we can tell the story of the Premier League every day across BBC Sport platforms."
Even though they are selling significantly more games for marginally more money, the Premier League will be privately satisfied with the figures given they believe additional growth in TV revenues over the medium term will come from the overseas market.
This announcement solidifies Sky's position as the main Premier League broadcaster partner, keeps TNT in the mix, and will deliver more digital content to BBC Sport, which is part of its overall strategy in a period when it will also show highlights of the Champions League.
We are still to see the true emergence of streaming platforms as a player in the market for weekly content, with Amazon - who this week will screen 10 matches - dropping out after the Premier League opted to put its five-midweek rounds into their packages, rather than selling them off individually, as was the case when they last properly negotiated its domestic TV rights in 2018.
The Premier League has confirmed the intention to screen all Sunday 2 pm games, most of which involve clubs playing in either the Europa League or Europa Conference League the previous Thursday.
There is no wholesale switch to Saturday or Sunday nights, which had been feared, although there are some weekend matches that have been sold as part of the packages that do not have timeslots. It remains to be seen what happens with them. In Italy, two matches are routinely played with different kick-off times on Fridays and Mondays.
TNT retaining the 12.30 pm kick-off slot on a Saturday points towards Sky continuing the current trend of screening EFL matches at that time.
However, there is no additional space created for the Women's Super League, which is why there have been suggestions it might benefit from using the 3 pm 'blackout' slot.
Source- BBC