News
TRADE MISSION TO HAITI DEEMED SUCCESSFUL
August 16, 2013 — PROVIDENCIALES, TCI – “Trade Mission TCI-Haiti” organised by the Haitian Consulate in conjunction with the Providenciales and Grand Turk Chambers of Commerce, took from the 9th – 13th August 2013.
Supported by the Turks and Caicos Islands Government Investment Unit, the main objectives of this mission were: a) to highlight Haiti assets as an international trade hub; b) to identify commercial and business opportunities ideally suited for the TCI private sector participants; c) to engage in dialogue with Government officials on ways to develop and enhance trade between TCI and Haiti; and d) to explore avenues for trade agreements and further strengthen bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
The delegation departed Providenciales for Haiti on Friday, August 9th arriving in Cap-Haitian where they were welcomed at the airport by the Minister of Tourism, Mrs Stephanie B. Villedrouin, who accompanied the delegates on tours of the Citadel Laferrière in Milot and the Museum of Money in Cap-Haitian. Mrs Villedrouin in expressing her happiness about the visit stated that she is looking forward to “leading a reverse trade mission to the Turks & Caicos Islands to discuss further a partnership between the two countries on tourism related initiatives.”
On Friday afternoon the delegates were treated to lunch by the members of the Chambers of Commerce of the Northern region of Haiti and the Tourism Association, and that evening they attended the “Celebration of the Festival of the Sea” hosted the Minister of Tourism.
Saturday morning saw the delegation touring the Industrial Park of the North, where they witnessed among other thing paint being manufactured. Next, the team visited a number of farms, including a multipurpose farm that grows Sisal, Egg Plant, Thyme, and other plant products; while raising bees – for use in the production of honey and wax – and livestock.
The delegates flew to Port-au-Prince late Saturday afternoon where they stayed at the newly completed Best Western Premier in Pétion-Ville. On Sunday morning the delegation visited the Museum of Haitian National Pantheon and the Boutiliers Observatory. Monday morning saw the delegates attending a Press Conference and a presentation on “Doing Business in Haiti” by Andy Rene, General Director of Center For Facilitation of Investment (CFI), whereby in the afternoon the delegates attended a lunch meeting with the Minister of Finance and Commerce, Wilson Laleau. That evening business meetings were arranged for the delegates by the Haitian Chamber of Commerce (CCIH), who matched the delegates with Haitian business of suitable commercial interests. The trip ended on Tuesday with the delegates attending a lunch meeting with the Ministry of Agriculture. After a packed 5 days the delegation arrived back in the Turks & Caicos at 7 p.m. on Tuesday evening. The members of the included:
Mrs. Margarette Lemaire, Consul/Commercial and Cultural Affairs Hon. Akierra D.M. Missick, Deputy Premier – Minister of Education, Youth, Sport and Culture, and Library Services Mr. E. Jay Saunders, CEO Digicel TCI /President Providenciales Chamber of Commerce Mr. Arthur Been, Deputy Secretary of Ministry of Finance, Trade and Investment Mr. Kingsley Russel Been, Chairman Tourism Board Mrs. Rebecca Astwood, Director of Investment Unit Mr. Peter Keriggan , Director EDS Ltd Mr. Andrew Tolleson, PE, D.GE Owner & CEO Tolleson Limited Company Mrs. Deborah Manos, Owner of Tradewinds Dr. Simon Anthony Slattery, MB.BS. MAS., Inter Island Medical Services Mrs. Hazel Hegewald, Regent Palms Hotel Mr. Philip Mcrae Robinson, Inter Islands Builders Mr. John Spencer Missick, Green Acres Farm Mr. Darrel Emmanuel Missick, Green Acres Farm Ms. Deandrea Hamilton, Journalist Magnetic Media Mr. Donald Metellus, PDG Radio VHTC
The delegates flew on Sunrise Airways, a new start-up airline based in Port-au-Prince. Sunrise a co-sponsor of the Trade Mission has just entered the final stages of securing the necessary approvals to begin scheduled flights between Haiti and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, March 17, 2023 – Revenue from the Turks and Caicos’ Financial Services Sector will more than double in the next few years, if E Jay Saunders, Deputy Premier and Finance Minister gets his way. It ‘s one of the reasons the country is investing so much capital into getting off of the EU blacklist and becoming a secure trustworthy financial destination.
“The FSC’s revenues for 2020/21 was $10.5M— the figures for 2021/22, would be about similar,” he said. He further explained that $10.5 million from the FSC represented about 2.6 percent of the country’s 408.5-million-dollar
revenue. Though it increased to $14 million in the 2021/22 financial year, finance is still a small fry compared to tourism or even stamp duties but that will change, says Saunders.
“My revenue goal for the Government by the year 2029 [or] the election after the next election – is $500M. By that time, I want the financial sector (FSC) revenues to represent at least 5% ($25M). So that’s my goal for the financial sector by 2029.”
This goal, should it be met, would increase the Government’s revenue by 100 million dollars, a significant increase in spending power for local upgrades and improvements for Turks and Caicos residents and visitors.
Saunders says it’s time for the TCI to diversify its sources of revenue to make sure that what happened in the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw residents out of a job for months, will not happen again. Tourism now makes up around 80 percent of the country’s GDP. The Minister of Finance wants to push that down to 60 or even 50 percent.
Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#Haiti, March 17, 2023 – When a CARICOM delegation visited Haiti earlier this month, conspicuously absent was the Turks and Caicos Islands despite being one of the nations most directly affected by the multi-dimensional crisis there. There is no comment, as yet from the Premier, to say why this was the case.
Still, from the expedition, CARICOM heads of Government have informed that there will be lobbying in Africa for assistance in Haiti. They say they have decided that the best course of action for the Caribbean country is to bolster the Haitian National Police and act as intermediaries with Africa and the world. The decision follows a one day visit on February 27th, and a March 5th meeting chaired by the Bahamas.
CARICOM says during the trip delegates ‘met with a broad range of Haitian stakeholders to hear their views on the
way forward to a Haitian-led solution’. With that in mind it has made a decision on how to proceed.
“The Heads of Government agreed to support the Haitian National Police in their efforts to address the security situation. The focus of the Community will be the provision of training for the HNP and the provision of humanitarian assistance to HNP and the wider Haitian society, taking into account the challenging humanitarian and security situation”
It’s not clear yet where and how this training will take place. Also distinctly absent from the report, no more mention of boots on the ground from other countries despite CARICOM Member States indicating they were ready and willing should it come to that.
In addition, recognizing ‘the common historical experiences and the strong African-Caribbean relationship’ CARICOM says,
“Heads of Government also agreed to seek support from African countries for Haiti. They also agreed to work with the Governments of Canada and the United States as well as the UNDP”
Magnetic Media has reached out to the Premier’s Office to get a full debrief of the February 27th visit (led by Jamaica; including The Bahamas and Trinidad and Tobago) to learn of Turks and Caicos’ posture following the critical sessions.
Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, March 17, 2023 – Musicians from the New World Symphony will be in the Turks and Caicos in concert next month and residents are invited to attend in support of the future of Ashley’s Learning Center. 
A fairly young orchestral academy based in Miami, the New World Symphony was launched in the 1980s by 1987, Michael Tilson Thomas and Ted Arison,Carnival Cruises founder. From the 1500 applicants who vie for a spot each year, the symphony accepts around 35 music graduates annually for training fellowships.
A select few of those graduates will be in country on April 8th headlining at the Ashley’s Learning Center concert ‘We’re all in this together’. The concert which also feature local artistes will be held at Brayton Hall on Venetian Road from 6 pm to 8:30 pm
Tickets are available ON ISLEHELP $75 PER GENERAL SEAT $125 PER PREMIUM SEAT $195 PER GALLERY SEAT – with /FREFRESHMENTS.
For TICKET RESERVATIONs you can call: 649-341-2304 or email EVENTS@ASHLEYSLEARNINGCENTER.ORG
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