Former Deputy Premier Sean Astwood hasissued a powerful critique of the widening economic disparity in the Turks andCaicos Islands (TCI), spotlighting the financial struggles faced by averagecitizens amid a backdrop of government surpluses and corporate profits. Risingliving costs, stagnant wages, and high-interest loans are pushing families intofinancial insecurity, with nearly 60% of those surveyed unable to cover anunexpected $300 expense. Astwood highlights the increasing burden of housingcosts, medical expenses, and inflation, which have left many families teeteringon the brink of despair and retirees fearing they’ll lose their homes due tosoaring mortgage payments and unchanged incomes.

Astwood’s message captures a growingdisillusionment among voters, who feel their cries for help are ignored andtheir needs overlooked in favor of big business interests. However, he alsopresents a vision of hope, focusing on the upcoming elections as a chance tobring change. Astwood emphasizes the need for bold policies to address wagestagnation, affordable housing, crime, healthcare, and immigration reform. Akey pillar of his platform is a plan to reserve specific sectors of the economyexclusively for TCI citizens, ensuring 100% local ownership of businesses andassets. This initiative aims to eliminate "fronting," empower Turksand Caicos Islanders with greater access to capital, and create opportunitiesfor local entrepreneurs.

Astwood calls on voters to reclaim theirpower by choosing leaders who prioritize economic reform and social equity,urging unity to build a future where financial security and prosperity areachievable for all. Through targeted policies and programs, he envisions a TCIeconomy that works for its people, not just the privileged few. "It’s timefor TCIs," he declares, underscoring his commitment to a transformativeagenda that restores hope, dignity, and opportunity to the nation’s hardworkingmen and women.