CHALMERS MISICK JR. APPOINTED DEPUTY DIRECTOR MECHANICAL SERVICES
The Office of the Deputy Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Chalmers Misick Jr. as the Deputy Director of Mechanical Services within the Ministry of Physical Planning and Infrastructure.
Mr. Misick brings over 20 years of experience in the automotive and mechanical services industry to his new role. He most recently served as Sales and Fleet Manager at Caicos Oil, where he oversaw fleet procurement, inventory and mechanical servicing.
His career includes significant leadership roles, where he developed preventive maintenance programmes and managed government vehicle fleets. Mr. Misick also gained valuable technical experience as a Lead Pump Station Operator with the South Florida Water Management District and as a Diesel Mechanic with Fortis TCI.
Mr. Misick holds a Diploma in Automotive Technology from the New England Institute of Technology. His professional development includes various certifications in diesel engines, power generation and mechanical systems, with specialised training from the Wartsila Land and Sea Academy, the Crane Inspection and Certification Bureau and the National Center for Construction Education and Research.
Reflecting on his appointment, Mr. Misick shared, “I am honoured to accept this appointment and grateful for the opportunity to serve. I look forward to contributing my experience in fleet management, mechanical operations and leadership to support the continued development and efficiency of the Turks and Caicos Islands’ infrastructure.”
Deputy Governor and Head of the Public Service, Her Excellency Anya Williams in congratulatory remarks said, “Congratulations are extended to Mr. Chalmers Misick Jr. on his appointment as the Deputy Director of Mechanical Services within the Ministry of Physical Planning and Infrastructure. We warmly welcome him to this senior position and are confident that his technical background, leadership in fleet management and broad industry experience will be valuable assets as the Ministry continues to strengthen its mechanical services and infrastructure support.”
Congratulations your well-deserved appointment, Mr. Misick.
Public Accounts Committee Hosts 2 Day Workshop in Grand Turk
By: Danae Dennie - News Reporter RTC
--- The TCI’s Public Accounts Committee recently held a 2 day accountability workshop in Grand Turk on April 13 to the 14th.
We spoke with the Leader of the Opposition Hon. Edwin Astwood about the significance of the workshop.
We also heard from Auditor General Mr. Khalid Hamid on his thoughts on the workshop and its benefits.
Associate Professor Henry Midgley also gave remarks
During the workshop there were members of parliament present, permanent secretaries, and other accounting officials. We got to hear some of their thoughts on the effectiveness of the workshop.
Many attendees expressed hopes for this workshop to be done at least once a year to assist with the budget cycle.
Please see full audio version of story below:
3 DAY PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST
GENERAL SITUATION: A strong high-pressure system north of the region interacting with a nearby surface trough is producing fresh to strong northeast winds across the Turks and Caicos Islands. As the trough drifts west toward the islands today, it will increase the likelihood of showers tonight.
ALL AREAS
WEATHER: A mix of sun and clouds with a low (20 to 30 percent) chance of showers and an isolated thunderstorm. Mostly fair with isolated showers possible tonight.
WINDS: Northeasterly at 15 to 20 knots with gusts up to 25 knots
SEA STATE: Slight with wave heights of 3 to 5 feet in the Caicos Bank; Moderate with wave heights of 4 to 6 feet, building up to 8 feet in Atlantic waters.
DAYTIME HIGH TEMPERATURE 83°F 28°C
OVERNIGHT LOW TEMPERATURE 73°F 23°C
SUNSET: 07:08 PM
NEXT LOW TIDE: 01:35 PM (0.7 FT)
NEXT HIGH TIDE: 07:49 PM (2.6 FT)
EXTENDED FORECAST: The surface trough will remain nearly stationary through Friday while gradually weakening, keeping the chance of showers in the forecast. Breezy conditions and rough seas will persist through tonight, with gradual improvement expected thereafter as the trough weakens.
THURSDAY: A low (20 percent) chance of widely scattered showers in the morning. Partly cloudy, with a high near 84°F (29°C).
THURSDAY NIGHT: Mostly fair, with a low around 75°F (24°C).
WINDS: Northeast to east at 10 to 15 knots
SEA STATE: Slight with wave heights of 2 to 4 feet in the Caicos Bank; Slight to moderate with wave heights of 3 to 5 feet, building up to 7 feet in Atlantic waters.
SUNRISE: 06:28 AM
SUNSET: 07:08 PM
LOW TIDE: 02:08 AM (0.7 FT) 02:17 PM (0.7 FT)
HIGH TIDE: 08:07 AM (2.6 FT) 08:38 PM (3.0 FT)
FRIDAY: A low (10 to 20 percent) chance of isolated showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 84°F (29°C).
FRIDAY NIGHT: Isolated showers possible. Mostly fair, with a low around 75°F (24°C).
WINDS: Easterly at 10 to 15 knots
SEA STATE: Slight with wave heights of 1 to 3 feet in the Caicos Bank; Slight to moderate with wave heights of 2 to 5 feet in Atlantic waters.
SUNRISE: 06:27 AM
SUNSET: 07:09 PM
LOW TIDE: 03:00 AM (0.7 FT) 03:01 PM (0.3 FT)
HIGH TIDE: 08:53 AM (2.6 FT) 09:26 PM (3.0 FT)
FORECASTER: H. HAMILTON
‘We will not survive’: Toyota, Honda and Ford CEOs issue chilling warning about China — and it could hit your portfolio
China has long been considered not only an ever-more-efficient manufacturing force to be reckoned with, but the "world's factory", responsible for upwards of 30% of total industrial production — and, its mastery of certain sectors, like automotive, is a growing cause for concern among stakeholders.
A whopping 70% of all new electric vehicles (EVs) now hail from China, with Shenzhen-headquartered brand BYD far outpacing Tesla and others in sales, and scaling worldwide operations as a result. It has automakers like Toyota, Honda and Ford panicking about projects and overhauling strategy, with Ford executives saying even three years ago that China was way ahead of the game.
And, a recent tour of one of the Asian powerhouse's vehicle plants has proved this beyond a shadow of a doubt, at least to Honda President and CEO Toshihiro Mibe.
"We have no chance against this," Mibe said upon a visit to a Shanghai parts factory, commenting on its seamless automation across all levels of production. Logistics, procurement and all aspects of the process were so automated, in fact, that he did not spot a single human worker on the supplier's floor.
The Chinese edge
Ford and Toyota leaders have expressed similar sentiments regarding Chinese makers' sheer speed in not just building cars, but designing them. The nation is known for its expedient development of all sorts of products, and its ability to bring vehicles from concept to market in half the time of competitors is one of the more unignorable examples of this.
China's cheap labour costs, lack of red tape, well-harmonized supply chain, tax rebates and more have also helped to create an unmatchable cost-competitive edge that other industry players are understandably spooked about. And, investors with money on the line have a right to be apprehensive, too.
Honda's sales within China — a country that was once a boon for the maker — have plummeted from some 1.6 million new cars in 2020 to just 640,000 in 2025, with the brand expected to produce even less than 600,000 vehicles this year at its Chinese facilities, which are only operating at 50% capacity due to waning interest. Toyota has also just reported year-over-year sales declines within the country in March as homegrown BYD's lead in the EV sector continues to grow.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's move to drastically slash tariffs on Chinese EVs in January have also made companies like BYD more of a threat closer to home.
Potential portfolio implications
Automotive stocks are a common part of many broad-based mutual funds and ETFs — historically even a cornerstone for some — with Tesla perennially serving as one of the more contentious picks.
This week, some experts doubled down on Tesla stock as prices slid, while others warned of a crash. The Musk-helmed company, Ford and Toyota remain among the best-known investment options in the sector. But, big shifts in focus under the threat of Chinese manufacturing, along with disappointing sales numbers, could understandably make investment feel risky.
Honda recently reanimated its shuttered R&D arm in hopes to spur more innovation, with Mibe telling journalists in March that the company needs to focus on digitization, and quickly. At the same time, executives announced huge "losses associated with the reassessment of its automobile electrification strategy" at the end of March following the cancellation of a number of Honda's EV projects, including the 0 SUV, 0 Sedan, and Afeela models.
Toyota's CEO has likewise said regarding not just his company, but the industry in general, "unless things change, we will not survive", calling for some major productivity pivots to match Chinese manufacturers. Meanwhile, homegrown EV competitors like Rivian and Lucid are showing promise in the face of deterioration elsewhere in the sector.
Mrs. Patsy Thompson Appointed as Assistant Registrar in Land Registry
The Office of the Deputy Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands is pleased to announce the appointment of Mrs. Patsy Thompson as the Assistant Registrar within the Land Registry Department of the National Lands Secretariat.
Thompson has more than 36 years of experience in the Land Registry department, having first joined the Turks and Caicos Islands Government in 1984. She served in the department until 2001 and subsequently returned to public service in 2007 as Senior Land Administrative Officer.
In her new role, she will contribute her substantial knowledge and experience to strengthening administrative processes and enhancing customer service delivery. Throughout her career, she has remained committed to the mission of maintaining accurate, efficient and transparent land registration services while supporting the continued modernization of the system.
Thompson has completed several professional certificate courses in areas including Land Registration Training, Public Speaking and Civil Litigation. Her professional development is further supported by Customer Service training with the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College and Land Tenure and Property Rights training with the United States Agency for International Development.
Reflecting on her appointment, Mrs. Thompson shared, "I remain humble in accepting this senior position and give God thanks for His continued favour in my life. As Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us, 'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.' I truly believe that what God has ordained for you will be yours in His perfect timing. I intend to contribute my institutional knowledge and dedication to strengthening administrative processes and supporting the integrity of the land registration system in the Turks and Caicos Islands."
Deputy Governor and Head of the Public Service, Her Excellency Anya Williams in congratulatory remarks said, "It is with great pleasure that I extend heartfelt congratulations to Mrs. Patsy Thompson on her appointment as Assistant Registrar of the Turks and Caicos Islands Land Registry following the retirement of Mrs. Naomi Simmons-Been.
I take this opportunity to sincerely thank Mrs. Naomi Simmons-Been, who dedicated over 30 years of exemplary service to our islands and to wish her continued success, good health and fulfilment in her retirement.
Mrs. Thompson’s appointment is well deserved as she has consistently demonstrated a high level of professionalism, integrity and a strong commitment to delivering excellent customer service in her previous role. I am confident that she will excel in this new role and will continue to make meaningful contributions to the Land Registry.
Congratulations once again, Mrs. Thompson, on your well-earned promotion.”
CARIFTA Track and Field 2026 - Team TCI Returns with 2 Medals
Jamaica topped the medals table at the Carifta Games for the 40th straight time after amassing 71 medals at the 53rd staging which ended on Monday at the Kirani James Athletics Stadium in Grenada.
Jamaica's total saw 28 gold, 27 silver and 16 bronze.
Trinidad and Tobago were next with 35 medals- nine gold, 11 silver and 15 bronze, followed by the Bahamas with 30 medals- eight gold, 12 silver and 10 bronze.
Team TCI secured 2 medals at the track and field competition...
David Hall winning a gold medal in the U20 High Jump and Herwens Guerrier securing a silver medal in U17 high jump.
The team returned home yesterday with a fun filled welcome at the Howard Hamilton International Airport, a motorcade followed by a press conference.
For the first time a Turks and Caicos Islander took command as Head Coach, a former athlete himself Courtney Missick... says we need to take a chance on our youth.
Now we also brought home a bronze medal.. and this was in CARIFTA Swimming... Luc Durliat took a third place podium finish in the Boys 11-12 200m Butterfly.
TCIG presented all 3 medalista with a special token of appreciation. An enhancement fund to assist them with continued development in their athletic disciplines.
Bronze medalist Luc Durliat received $4,000
Silver medalist Herwens Guerrier received $6,000
Gold medalist David Hall received $10,000
Congratulations Team TCI! A job well done.
Colombia to kill dozens of "cocaine hippos" linked to Pablo Escobar
Colombian officials on Monday authorized a plan to cull dozens of hippos roaming freely through a region in the center of the country, where they threaten villagers and displace native species years after notorious drug lord Pablo Escobar brought in the first ones.
Environment Minister Irene Vélez said previous methods to control the population of the so-called "cocaine hippos" have been expensive and unsuccessful, including neutering some of the animals or moving them to zoos. Vélez said up to 80 hippos would be affected by the measure. She did not say when hunting would begin.
"If we don't do this we will not be able to control the population," Vélez said. "We have to take this action to preserve our ecosystems."
Colombia is the only country outside of Africa with a wild hippo population. The hippos are the descendants of four brought to the country in the 1980s by Escobar as he built a private zoo in Hacienda Nápoles, a gigantic ranch in the Magdalena River valley with a private landing strip that served as his rural abode.
A study published by Colombia's National University estimated that around 170 hippos were roaming freely in the country in 2022.
Colombia has declared them an invasive species and experts have said sterilization alone is not enough to control the growth of the animals, which is why the government previously arranged for the possible transfer of hippos to overseas sanctuaries. But the cost of deporting the hippos is also expensive — an estimated $3.5 million.
Recently, hippos have been spotted in areas that are more than 60 miles north of the ranch.
Environmental authorities in Colombia say the mammals pose a threat to villagers who have encountered them in farms and rivers. They also compete for food and space against local species such as river manatees.
Independent journalist Audrey Huse, who has lived in Colombia for years, previously told CBS News that because the hippos roam freely, they end up killing fish and threatening endemic species like manatees, otters and turtles.
"Because they have no natural predators here, as they would in Africa, the population is booming an it's affecting the local ecosystem," Huse said. "Because they are such large animals, they consume considerable amounts of grassland and produce significant waste, which then poisons the rivers."
Despite the challenges, the hippos have also become a tourist attraction, with residents of villages surrounding Hacienda Nápoles offering hippo spotting tours and selling hippo-themed souvenirs.
The hippos are also one of the main attractions at the Nápoles ranch, which was confiscated by Colombia's government as it seized Escobar's properties. It now functions as a theme park, featuring swimming spools, water slides and a zoo that includes several other African species.
Last October, Colombian President Gustavo Petro announced the country handed over a chunk of Escobar's ranch to women caught up in the nation's armed conflict.
Animal welfare activists in Colombia have long opposed proposals to kill the hippos, arguing they deserve to live. They say that addressing the problem through violence sets a poor example for a country that has gone through decades of internal conflict.
Andrea Padilla, a senator and animal rights activist who helped draft a law against bullfights in Colombia, described the plan to cull the hippos as a "cruel" decision, and accused government officials of trying to take the easy way out.
"Killings and massacres will never be acceptable," Padilla wrote on X. "These are healthy creatures who are victims of the negligence" of government entities.
Over the past 12 years, spanning three presidential administrations, Colombia has tried to neuter some of the hippos in a bid to reduce their population. But the initiatives have had limited scope due to high costs that come with capturing the dangerous animals and performing surgeries on them.
Because Colombia's hippos come from a limited gene pool and could carry diseases, taking them back to their natural habitat in Africa has been considered unfeasible.
Is your phone listening to you?
A lot of people have had a very creepy experience with their phones. One woman told us, "Sometimes when I talk about something with my friends, then I'll, like, look on TikTok 30 minutes later – and the same thing will show up."
One visitor to New York told us, "We were talking about this trip before we came, and then my Instagram reel was just full of New York content for weeks."
Another woman described talking about trying a type of food with her friends. "And then the second you open the app, it shows you exactly that," she said. "It's a bit strange!"
So, is your phone listening to you? "It is not," said Ari Paparo, an ad industry veteran, consultant and author. "I've been asked about this a million times. And I can guarantee you that your phone is not passively listening to you for advertising purposes."
Paparo has been asked this before. "Oh, my whole family thinks it's true!" he laughed.
Paparo says that there is no way anyone could process audio from billions of phones. "Listening to every conversation around the world, and interpreting them and looking for certain words, and then matching them to the ads is impossible," he said.
So, why does it seem like the phone is listening? First, because advertisers do target you with ads tailored to your interests. But they don't need to listen to what you say to do that. Paparo said, "They can infer or deduce things about you, like where you live, and your age, and probably what you're interested in, based on what's websites you went to or what apps you've used. And that whole combination can get pretty precise."
Secondly, because you might live with someone who searched for a product online.
Why did Facebook show me an ad for a carrot peeler, after I told my wife we should get a better peeler? "Your wife could have looked for a peeler, and then the ad company couldn't really tell the difference between her and you, because you're using the same internet in the same household," Paparo said. "That happens a lot."
David Choffnes, a professor of Computer Science at Northeastern University, wanted to test whether your smartphone is spying on you. "We did a study with thousands of apps on an Android device, and wanted to see, as you interact with these apps, are they recording your audio and sending it off?
"We didn't see any surreptitious recording of information," he said. "But these companies are very good at watching everything you're doing online."
And what you're doing in your home. Choffnes has set up a fake apartment filled with online devices – smart appliances, cameras, smart speakers – to study how much data they send. "We try to identify, are they sending data to places we're not comfortable with?" he said.
Now, advertisers do not know who you are; they don't have your name or address. But they do know what categories you fit into.
And many states require data collection companies to give you your advertising on request. Choffnes, for example, got a copy of his data report, which clocks in at more than 300 pages: "Just filled wall-to-wall with inferences about me," he said.
Although it's not especially accurate. For example, it says he has an Xbox ("I do not have an Xbox," he said), and that he's extremely likely to go on a cruise ("Which is interesting, 'cause I never want to go on a cruise!" he laughed).
If you'd like to minimize the data you're feeding advertisers, there are a few steps you can take.
Choffnes also said, "You can push your lawmakers to come up with laws that are favorable for consumers and not just favorable for the businesses that are collecting data from us."
And Ari Paparo says your choice of web browser matters, too. "The Safari browser doesn't allow a lot of this," he said. "Advertisers are not big fans of Apple and Safari."
To confirm, he doesn't believe smartphones are eavesdropping: "I'm sure the phone is not overhearing you," he said.
And he's equally sure of something else: "I'm positive that no one will believe me!"
- Story produced by Mark Hudspeth. Editor: Karen Brenner. (CBS News)
InterCaribbean Airways and Air Canada Sign Interline Agreement
InterCaribbean Airways has announced the launch of an interline agreement with Air Canada, strengthening travel connections between the Caribbean and Canada through key hubs in Barbados and Antigua and Barbuda.
The partnership expands travel options for customers seeking access between the Caribbean region and Air Canada’s extensive North American and international network.
Under the agreement, customers will be able to book connecting flights on a single ticket, enabling travellers to and from the Caribbean region to access Air Canada’s flights to Toronto, Montreal and other destinations, while also benefiting from interCaribbean Airways’ comprehensive Caribbean network.
The partnership is aimed at addressing the needs of Canada’s substantial Caribbean community, concentrated primarily in Toronto and Montreal, by offering enhanced travel options. At the same time, Canadian travellers will gain improved access to explore destinations throughout the Caribbean.
Both airlines said the agreement reflects their commitment to service quality and improved connectivity for customers travelling between the Caribbean and Canada.
InterCaribbean Airways is a privately owned airline headquartered in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
With a network spanning Georgetown in the south, Barbados to the east, Havana to the west, and Nassau to the north, interCaribbean connects 24 cities across 18 countries in the Caribbean.
Air Canada is Canada’s largest airline, serving domestic and international destinations across six continents. The airline is a founding member of the Star Alliance, providing a worldwide air transportation network.
New Radar System to be Installed at Barbados Int'l Airport
The Government of Barbados plans to install new radar and airspace management technology at Grantley Adams International Airport to help air traffic controllers manage the growing number of aircraft entering the country’s airspace.
Minister of Tourism and International Transport Ian Gooding-Edghill said the upgrade, announced during debate on the Appropriation Bill 2026 in the Barbados House of Assembly, will improve both safety and efficiency as the island experiences record airlift.
A key component of the project is a new monopulse secondary surveillance radar system valued at about $7.2 million. The equipment forms part of a broader $17 million aviation technology programme supported by the CAF Development Bank.
Chief Executive Officer of the airport, Hadley Bourne, said the radar system will allow controllers to better track aircraft and manage spacing between planes, particularly during busy periods when congestion occurs in the airspace before aircraft even land.
The Minister of Tourism said the airport, built about 40 years ago, was not designed to handle the current volume of traffic. The facility recently recorded 2.4 million passengers passing through its terminals — the highest number in its history.
The surge has created pressure on airport infrastructure, particularly during peak travel periods when multiple aircraft may be waiting for parking positions on the apron.
To address the growing demand, the government is planning the first phase of a $120 million expansion of the airport to increase capacity and improve services.
Officials say investments are also being made in equipment to improve aircraft handling and passenger processing as traffic continues to grow.