Afternoon News - September 10th, 2026

0:00The Minister talks plans for fire and rescue services in the TCI. Four members of an American family found dead off Bahamas after playing crash. Only one thousand dead as Bangladesh battles suspected measles outbreak. We'll take a look at sports on the weather forecast, tune in for those stories and more on RTC 89.1 FM.

1:26The incident in several communities, the Minister responsible says the government is looking beyond the immediate crisis. Outlining future plans to strengthen fire prevention, improve emergency response and provide fire departments with the resources needed to protect lives and property. Ardena Denny has the story. Two vehicles were destroyed by fire early Wednesday morning on South School Lane in Grand Turk. The Turks and Kekas Islands fire and rescue service says the deputy chief fire officer was notified by the 9-1-1 emergency communications center at about 5.33 AM. When firefighters arrived around five minutes later, both vehicles were fully engulfed in flames. Firefighters initially used portable fire extinguishers to tackle the fires. A fire truck Alpha 1 arrived shortly after 5.40 AM and crews deployed hoses and used about 350 gallons of water and firefighting foam to bring the fires under control. Both fires were fully extinguished by about 5.58 AM and the firefighters remained on the scene to make sure the vehicles did not reignite.

2:34The scene was handled over to the Royal Turks and Kekas Islands police force at around 6.10 AM. The cause of the fires is not yet known and is under investigation. Minister responsible for public safety honorable Sean Malcolm brings the fire and rescue service for what he described as a swift and coordinated response. He said their timely intervention brought both fires under control and helped to reduce the risk of flames spreading to nearby property. This incident again demonstrates the importance of maintaining a well-trained, properly equipped and operationally ready fire and rescue service. I also thank the 9-1-1 emergency communications center and the Royal Turks and Kekas Islands police force for their continued partnership in protecting our communities. The public is reminded to stay a safe distance from active fire scenes and to call 9-1-1 immediately to report fires or other emergencies. Residents in Grand Turk are expressing concern following a second vehicle fire on the island within 24 hours.

3:37The latest incident occurred shortly after 4 AM this morning on Saunders Pond Road where the Turks and Kekas Islands fire and rescue service responded to reports of a vehicle fire. The deputy chief fire officer arrived at about 4.15 AM and found a Honda Fid fully engulfed in flames. A crew aboard the Alpha-1 fire appliance arrived shortly after and firefighters began suppression operations. The fire was brought under control and fully extinguished by approximately 4.35 AM. Firefighters then inspected the vehicle and surrounding areas for hot spots with the all-clear issued around 4.45 AM. No injuries were reported and the owner of the vehicle could not be identified at the scene. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. The incident comes just one day after another vehicle fire was reported on South School Lane. The fire and rescue service says this crew returned to the station following Thursday's incident where the Alpha-1 appliance was replenished and firefighting equipment cleaned, inspected and restored to operational readiness.

4:41The two incidents have caused residents to be concerned that a pattern of fires could be returning to the Capitol. Some residents have also expressed frustration over what they say as a lack of information from police regarding both incidents, including whether anyone has been arrested, whether the fires are being investigated as suspicious, or whether authorities have identified any possible connection between them. That is all the information we have at this time. We will bring you more updates once received. With the various fires happening across the Turks and Kegas Islands, there are still fresh concerns being raised about the territory's ability to respond to major fire emergencies. The minister with responsibility for public safety, honorable Sean Malcolm, shared in Parliament that there are measures being put in place to reduce the impact of fires. He gave this response after the leader of the opposition warned that a TCI remains vulnerable, particularly on Providencia-Ali's. Honorable Aswood also said that even a small fire at a hotel or other large property could quickly become a major incident if firefighters do not have the equipment needed to respond immediately.

5:49He then called for a change in the government's approach to fire preparedness. Honorable Malcolm then gave an update on the measures. Mr. Speaker, there is the highest level of fire mitigation that is enthroned in the construction of these resorts. And as a matter of fact, Mr. Speaker, the fire and the hotel the other day only clearly demonstrated for the first time that it actually works. Because if the fire mitigations was not enthroned in the building codes, tell me whatever catastrophe cabinet has already approved just about a couple of days before that fire.

6:50Honorable Malcolm then shared his plans for a country-wide fire station initiative. So Mr. Speaker, through the Good Ministry, the good leadership of the PBID, my government is advancing a country-wide fire station development initiative. New stations are planned for five keys. New fire station coming for Blue Hills and Reel and New one coming for Leigh Watt. Long back. Thank you. Mr. Speaker, but then the end of the story. Because we are reforming straight through the country and fire station is on the way also planned for Wigby North Peckers.

7:58Then it, then it. New fire station coming for Bambara, Metal Cakers. And by Godly, Mr. Speaker, New one coming for Soul Cakers, Soul Key and Grand Talk. The minister also went on to discuss the hiring of a new fire chief, new policies and accountability standards and specialized training for investigating fire incidents and the comprehensive rebranding. The government says it is working to strengthen the territory's fire response capabilities. Thank you so much, Dene. And teachers across the Churches and Ecos Islands are preparing to test new National Secondary School curricula in the classroom following four days of training led by the Department of Education. The DCI National Standards Secondary School curriculum implementation training brought together secondary school teachers, curriculum officers, education officials and other stakeholders as the territory moves closer to introducing national standards for secondary education.

9:06The draft curricula covers four core subject areas, social studies, mathematics, English language and general science. During the training teachers examined learning objectives, subject content, teaching approaches and assessment expectations while considering how the proposed standards would work in actual classrooms. The Department of Education said the curricula were developed using research, educational data, national priorities and comparisons with other education systems while also taking into account the cultural and educational context of the Turks and Cekos Islands. Education Minister Onwell Rachel Taylor described the development of the National curricula as an investment in the future of the country's children and said the teachers will play an important role in shaping the final product. The Minister said education must continue to evolve alongside the changing needs of students, society and the economy. She added that teachers classroom experience and professional knowledge will be critical in ensuring the curricula are academically strong, locally relevant and practical to implement.

10:16Head of the curriculum development unit, Klee On Ashtwood also stressed that the pilot phase is not simply about teachers following the draft documents but evaluating how well they work. Teachers are expected to examine whether learning objectives are clear and appropriate, whether topics are properly sequenced, whether enough instructional time has been allocated and whether there are gaps or areas requiring revision. She said the teachers will be expected to question and test the curricula, reflect on their classroom experiences and provide meaningful feedback before the documents are finalized. Local history and culture also featured prominently during the social studies component of the training. With the training now completed, participating teachers will begin piloting the draft curricula in their classrooms. They will document what works, identify challenges and submit recommendations to the curriculum development unit. That feedback will be used to make further changes before the curricula are finalized and introduced across secondary schools in the Turks in Kekos Islands.

11:22And the retreat Turks in Kekos has appointed experience Caribbean hospitality professional love Vern Daniel as hotel manager ahead of the boutique properties plant opening in October of 2026. Daniel brings more than 12 years of experience in the luxury hospitality industry having worked across resort operations, guest relations, housekeeping, concierge services, sales, reservations and operational strategy. In her new role, she will oversee preparations for the opening of the retreat, including establishing operational and service standards, developing the hotel's team and managing the overall guest experience. Daniel's background includes managing reservations and hotel operations while working with marketing teams and ownership on brand development and management strategies. She's also works closely with travel advisors, tour operators and other tourism industry partners. Her experience also includes familiarity with international luxury travel networks and programs, including small luxury hotels of the world.

12:29Daniel was named manager of the year in 2025 and was selected to participate in the Caribbean hotel and tourism associations, young leaders forum for 2025, 2026. Throughout her career, she's held a number of operational leadership positions with responsibilities ranging from staff training and interdepartmental coordination to quality assurance and guest satisfaction. Daniel holds a master's degree in sustainable management of tourism and a bachelor's degree from Monroe College. She's also proficient in English, Spanish and St. Lucien Creole. The retreat Dirk Sinquecos is a locally developed boutique hotel being established in Grace Bay, Providencia, L.E.S. The property was founded by Dirk Sinquecos Islander Trevor Musgrove and a schedule to welcome its first guest in October. That was local news regional is up next. Your local news segment is being brought to you by Lobster Fest 2026 happening in the nation's capital on October 16 and 17.

13:30It's the Lobster Fest cultural extravagance of 2026. Two days, one epic experience, all happening at the library in Grand Tour on Friday, October 16 and Saturday, October 17. Kick things off on Friday night from 9pm on tip with TCI's most wanted DJ Shay, DJ PUN and select our Red Zook. Can't forget about DJ Scanca and the Dazzle Bank. General admission is $60 per person. Then on Saturday is the cultural extravagance with the entertainment lineup that you don't want to miss. DJ R.D.B. DJ Taylor Hyde. DJ Puppie, the provision bank. Mission to boys. And also cultural activity. Cultural display. Cultural motorcade. Represent your country. Off for $2500 cash prize. Come dressed in your country's cup. Bring your flag. Showcase your culture. And represent your nation with pride. Saturday's admission is $5 per kid. $10 for adults. That's two days of celebration with live music. Cultural entertainment.

14:30Food drinks. Music. Good vibes. That's the Lobster Fest cultural extravagance of 2026. Sus meta 2019 strong liquor. Give it up for $11FP at $10,50 millions. Give it up for $1700. 1036? Harmony and Grandeur especially for age 30. ìI'm So I'm So I am So I am Come To crewî Music. Celtics of the world. 第一 toườiun имier. ders of the ciento of chemicals. Musik. Fertile glory. in, crashed off the coast of North Andrus, Bahamian authorities confirmed on Tuesday. The victims were identified as 80-year-old pilot Mario Lamar, his 79-year-old wife Lili Lamar, and their grandchildren, 28-year-old Sophia Sosa, and 22-year-old Christian Sosa. The family had been returning to Miami following a long weekend in the Bahamas when their Piper PA-34 aircraft, registration N-212ML, went missing.

15:36Bahamas police said the aircraft departed Great Harbor Key in the Barry Islands at approximately 10-12 a.m. Monday, bound for Miami Executive Airport in Miami-Dade County. Air traffic control lost contact with the aircraft at about 11-04 a.m., approximately 13 miles west of Andrus Island. Authorities later received reports that the aircraft may have crash-landed off red-base in North Andrus. The Royal Bahamas Defense Force confirmed Tuesday that the four bodies had been recovered, relative searching by boat located some of the victims and brought them aboard their vessels. Bahamian authorities had requested assistance from the U.S. Coast Guard after the aircraft was reported missing. A Coast Guard HC-144 Ocean Century aircraft was deployed to assist with the search, although adverse weather conditions affected search operations. The family said they were working with the U.S. Coast Guard to return their loved ones to Miami. Following the recovery of all four victims, the family expressed gratitude to those who

16:39participated in the search and supported them during the ordeal. The incident comes less than two months after another aircraft crashed in North Andrus, claiming the lives of 10 people underscoring ongoing concerns about aviation safety in the region. Authorities have not yet released details on what caused the latest crash. That was Regional News World News, is up next. Bangladesh is battling a severe measles outbreak that has sickened tens of thousands of people and pushed the suspected death toll to nearly 1,000 with young children among those hardest hit. Bangladesh has been trying to contain the outbreak since March, when more than 100 children reportedly died in less than a month. By Tuesday suspected measles deaths since the beginning of the year had reached 999, this

17:43according to the country's Directorate General of Health Services. More than 166,000 suspected cases have been recorded since March, including 19,835 infections confirmed through laboratory testing according to the Ministry of Health. In response, authorities launched an emergency vaccination campaign back in March with support from the World Health Organization, UNICEF and the Vaccine Alliance. The campaign initially targeted children between 6 months and 5 years old before being expended across the country in phases. Measles is an extremely contagious airborne infection that typically causes fever, respiratory problems and a distinctive rash. For many patients who recover, the disease can cause serious complications and death, particularly among young children. Two vaccine doses offer strong protection against measles. The World Health Organization says that vaccination coverage of about 95% is needed to prevent

18:48sustained transmission and provide broader protection to people who cannot be vaccinated. Bangladesh has fallen below that threshold, an estimated 86% of children received their recommended second measles vaccine dose last year. This according to the World Health Organization, UNICEF estimates compared with 93% in 2024. The country had previously made major progress in controlling measles through its long-standing Childhood Immunization Program. Between 2021 and 2025, annual measles cases were generally between 100 and 300 compared with 2,410 cases recorded in 2020. That progress has been undermined by disruptions to routine immunization. Vaccination services were interrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving some children without scheduled doses. The situation worsened in 2024 when Bangladesh largely missed a mass vaccination campaign

19:52that had previously been conducted every four years. Most of the visuals are now racing to close those vaccination gaps and prevent the outbreak from claiming more lives. That was World News Sports is up next. After more than two decades of waiting, Kurosawa is once again on top of the Little League Baseball World. On the 30th of August, 2026, Kurosawa captured the Little League World Series Championship, with an impressive 11-to-2 victory over the US champions from Henderson, Nevada. The win gave the Caribbean Island its second Little League World Series title and ended

20:55a 22-year championship drought, dating back to its historic first crown in 2004. Represented by Pariba, Little League of Willemstad, Kurosawa put together a remarkable tournament run, finishing undefeated with a 5-0 record. The championship game did not begin in Kurosawa's favor, Nevada jumped out to an early 20 lead in the second inning, putting Kurosawa under pressure. But instead of backing down, the Caribbean champions responded in spectacular fashion. Kurosawa's road to the championship included another memorable performance in the International Championship, where the team defeated Japan 4-0. The victory carried special meaning for an island with a proud Little League tradition. Since winning its first championship in 2004, Kurosawa had come painfully close to another title several times, finishing as runner up in 2005, 2019, 2022, and 2023.

21:58This time, there would be no heartbreak. The 2016 completed the journey bringing the Little League World Series trophy back to Kurosawa after 22 years. For the players, coaches, and supporters back home, the championship was more than a victory on the baseball field. It was the celebration of years of persistence, pride, and belief. After 22 years, Kurosawa was finally World Champion again. And the 2026 NFL regular season officially kicked off on Wednesday, September 9th with a super bowl rematch, where the defending champions, the Seattle Seahawks, defeated the New England Patriots 13-10 at Lumen Field. Seattle starting quarterback Sam Darnold was injured on the very first drive and had to leave the game. The New England took advantage of the back-up quarterback entering the game and built a 10-0 lead by the third quarter. Seattle's back-up quarterback Drew Locke threw a 45-yard touchdown pass to Jackson Smith

22:58and Aghiva in the fourth quarter to tie the game. Seattle's defense took over the game late, intercepting New England's quarterback three times in the fourth quarter to seal the 13-10 victory. That wraps up sports the weather forecast. Special Warnings, members of the public are advised to wear protective clothing and sunscreen and seat-shaded areas while outside during peak sunshine hours, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. as UV indices are expected to be in the high range. Extended forecast, tropical moisture will continue to bring the chance of occasional afternoon showers and thunderstorms across the TCI through Friday. Thursday's forecast, the low 10% chance of isolated showers, mostly cloudy skies with the high near 93. Thursday night, a low 10-20% chance of showers, mostly cloudy with a low around 82. Windsor Easterly attended 20 knots, Caesar slighted to moderate with wave heights of 2-4 feet,

24:01building up to 5 feet offshore. Sun set at 6.57 p.m. low tied to 20 a.m. and 2.28 p.m. high tide at 8.16 a.m. and 7.43 p.m. On Friday's forecast, the low 10% chance of isolated showers possible, partly cloudy skies with a high near 93. Friday night, a low 10-20% chance of isolated showers and isolated thunderstorms, mostly cloudy skies with a low around 82. Windsor Easterly attended 20 knots, Caesar slighted to moderate with wave heights of 2-4 feet, building up to 5 feet offshore. Sun rise will be at 6.34 a.m. Sun set at 6.56 p.m. low tied at 2.28 a.m. and 2.28 p.m. high tide at 8.16 a.m. and 7.43 p.m. And rear tropical weather outlobe tropical cyclone activity is not expected during the next seven days. That wraps up the weather forecast.

25:08And so listeners, that was a look at the news today. If you missed today's presentation, any other newscast or any of your favorite shows, you can always visit our website at www.rtc89fm.com or you can download the radio, turtics, and k-coast app in the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store. If you have an event or a store you'd like us to cover, please email us at news at RTC 899fm.com. Thank you so much for tuning in to the nation station. It's always a pleasure to have you join me. I'm Soyah Fassler.