Welcome to this week's Sunday Edition. It is brought to you by mango.tc. Your one-stop shop for everything TCI!
The Ministry of Tourism in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands has accepted responsibility for an administrative oversight affecting Miss Kemani Sweeting, winner of the Tourism Youth Congress Speech Competition. Despite the error, Miss Sweeting's achievement is affirmed, and she will retain her awards and be recognized as Junior Minister of Tourism. In other news, Mango News has released its latest epaper, featuring local news and updates for readers to stay informed about current events in the islands.
Turning to government initiatives, Justice Simons has warned that informal settlements in the Turks and Caicos Islands pose a "massive problem" to inhabitants and the territory's luxury image. As Strategic Lead of the Informal Settlements Unit, he unveiled alarming statistics, with 6,065 structures in 51 sites, and a new "zero tolerance" objective. Authorities have removed 756 illegal structures, served over 2,000 legal notices, and are conducting a Social Needs Assessment Survey to inform future policy and legislation to address this crisis.
Meanwhile, the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force is cracking down on illegal jitney taxis in Providenciales, sparking debate over public transport and livelihoods. The police remind that operating a jitney is a criminal offence under the Road Traffic Act, with fines and imprisonment possible. In related news, Immigration Minister Hon Jamell Robinson has announced a partial relaxation of the moratorium on Haitian nationals in the Turks and Caicos Islands, allowing skilled workers to apply for work permits from February 1.
The Turks and Caicos Islands Government has also announced plans to dismantle the Destination Marketing and Management Organisation (DMMO) due to non-compliance with the Public Finance Management Ordinance. This decision signals a setback for the government's tourism reform agenda, which aimed to drive economic growth through destination marketing and tourism development. The government will establish a new entity to ensure financial governance and transparency.
In a significant development, Premier Charles Washington Misick has announced a $20 million commitment to establish the Mortgage Corporation, underscoring his government's commitment to land reform and housing equity in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The funding will provide affordable housing solutions to residents, addressing systemic issues in land management.
As the Turks and Caicos Islands continue to evolve, the community is coming together to celebrate excellence in youth leadership and service. The Department of Youth Affairs will host the National Youth Awards 2025-2026 on Saturday, 7 February 2026, to honor outstanding young people and youth groups in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The event, themed "Youth with Purpose: Building a Sustainable TCI," recognizes strong leadership, service, and community service. With a focus on island culture and current events, the Turks and Caicos Islands are poised for a bright future, and the community is looking forward to a year of growth, development, and celebration.