TCI News
TCI: Savory favors investor residency status, heralds KPMG economic report, says Caicos link is economic lifeline
#Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, Monday May 21, 2018 – A report by #KPMG is expected to expose exactly what the Turks and Caicos needs to hear about its economy and its economic potential in the Financial Services thanks to a state of the industry assessment which will be completed in a matter of weeks.
The subject and advent of the economic report was touted in the third annual #BordierBank(TCI) Investment Conference held May 16-18 2018 at Beaches Resort Villages and Spa in Providenciales. 
Peter Savory, director of Chartered Trust and Savory & Associates, both in the Turks and Caicos Islands, was among the opening ceremony speakers and said the Turks and Caicos is certainly in a period of transition.
Mr. Savory cited the shift in the financial services is evidenced in, among other things, the arduous re-registering of every company in the islands in time for an October deadline due to new requirements of a re-booted Companies Ordinance; updated for the first time in 37 years, he said.
But Mr. Savory, in his remarks, largely focused on how to make investing more attractive to multi-millionaires who are dawdling on the fence, instead of taking the plunge.
“…what I think it is going to contain, and if I am right, it is going to say that TCI has very good potential in the area of private trust companies and there is a very interesting aspect I suppose or feature in there for Trusts to own company shares that I think will have good potential…” Savory whose LinkedIn profile says he is a financial graduate of the University of Auckland added, I believe we have a great future in attracting high net worth individuals here in the Turks and Caicos Islands.” 
Peter Savory believes the Turks and Caicos would be on the winning side if it were to establish a quota of how many investors could attain legal residency, which would or could be tied to the type and value of investment these qualifiers would be prepared to make.
“I have been told that the Cayman Islands has a quota for residency certificates that they have never met. Now is it because there is more due diligence, that it is extremely robust or is it that they have just not been successful enough in marketing their residency program. Whatever the reason, there are great parallels to draw with places like the Cayman Islands…”
Savory said while he is not suggesting citizenship for the wealthy investors, he believes it may help the sector if there was more structure and a plan to sweeten the pot for inward investment to bolster the country’s number two industry.
I think our future lies in trying to attract people where they have the capacity to invest good amounts of money…” Peter Savory explained that he is already having referrals of people who are in the Turks and Caicos, average people who have been extremely successful and who are willing to pump millions into the economy via the financial services if they were given some sort of investor status; he continued, “and it is certainly something that I am actively lobbying the government on.”
Mr. Savory talked about alternative investment and touted an infrastructural addition to link the Caicos Islands.
“Imagine a road bridge, a bridge connecting the island of Providenciales and #NorthCaicos and how that might change the economic face of the Turks and Caicos Islands if we were to open up North Caicos and #MiddleCaicos, which are joined by causeway an are potentially three times the size of Providenciales; Providenciales itself being twice the land there in Bermuda. Bermuda having a population of 60,000 people.”
Mr. Savory sees a bounty of potential in this infrastructural enhancement, which as been touted for decades but remains undone; an economic and development dream unrealized.
“And it could be made to tie in quite nicely with an investment product and with other things such as a permanent residency program to make it a viable alternative.” 
Kenrick Walters, Chief Risk Officer at Bordier Bank TCI, who has seen a draft of the document said of the KPMG report that, “I can’t get ahead of the Premier (who is also finance Minister) in saying what is in that report, but I can tell you that it addresses some of the major concerns that we have faced in the industry for a long time. Immigration, business licenses, business processes in general; things like dispute resolutions at the courts, all of these issues and all of these areas will be addressed and the Premier has committed to looking at the industry from a holistic standpoint and working with the private sector, with regulators and so on to really change the game.”
The KPMG survey team arrives in the country this week.
by Deandrea Hamilton | Editor
PROVIDENCIALES, TCI — In a country where government press conferences are virtually non-existent, ministers are often difficult for
journalists to access and regular broadcast television news has disappeared, TCI Innovation, Technology and Energy Minister E. Jay Saunders has challenged Caribbean media to become “impossible to ignore.”
Speaking at the Caribbean Broadcasting Union gathering, Saunders argued that the Caribbean does not have a relevance problem but a “discoverability and positioning problem.”
Discoverability is precisely the issue in Saunders’ home country. Even Government’s own attempts at video news broadcasting have struggled against the realities of consistently producing a daily, weekly or even monthly newscast.
The difficulties confronting TCI media extend well beyond algorithms: limited advertising revenue, underfunding, shortages of trained professionals and insufficient human capacity leave newsrooms struggling for both staff and stamina.
Then there is the reality of operating in one of the region’s smallest societies. Politicians, journalists, advertisers, businesses and the subjects of stories often exist within the same tight economic and social circles. A controversial report that might create a ripple elsewhere can produce a tsunami in TCI, intensifying concerns among journalists about commercial and professional victimisation.
Saunders believes AI can help.
He urged Caribbean media to use the technology to transform one original story into television, radio, web, podcast, social and translated content without multiplying newsroom workload.
He also wants regional journalism structured so AI systems can find, understand and trust Caribbean sources, moving media beyond traditional SEO into Answer Engine Optimisation.
His ultimate message was emphatic: “Use AI not to make Caribbean media more artificial — but to make Caribbean voices more visible.”
For Turks and Caicos media, however, becoming visible may require more than technology. It requires an environment in which journalism can survive.
That last sentence is where I think we land the plane. It acknowledges that EJ actually has some us
Bahamas News
Bahama Brass Band Invitation Sparks Heritage Debate Ahead of TCI Constitutional Holiday
Turks and Caicos, August 20, 2026 – The planned participation of the Bahama Brass Band in the Turks and Caicos Islands’ inaugural Constitutional Holiday celebrations on August 30 has sparked public debate over culture, heritage and the historical contributions of Turks and Caicos Islanders abroad.
Organizers defended the invitation, saying the band’s inclusion is intended to highlight the deep historical ties between the two countries
and honor Turks and Caicos men who helped establish and develop the institution in Grand Bahama.
According to the organizers, the Bahama Brass Band began in 1955 in Pine Ridge, Freeport, with Turks and Caicos Islanders, including the late Deacon Reuben Hall Sr. of Middle Caicos and Jenkins Williams and Mervin Hendfield of North Caicos, among those who helped build its foundation. The band eventually grew to more than 50 men.
The organizers also pointed to the participation of Turks and Caicos men in The Bahamas’ Independence celebrations on July 10, 1973, arguing that their contributions became part of Bahamian history while maintaining strong connections to their homeland.
Supporters say bringing the band home represents an opportunity to honor those pioneers, showcase their regional influence and expose younger generations to an important part of Turks and Caicos history.
However, concerns raised publicly described the invitation as potentially disrespectful to local culture and heritage. Organizers acknowledged those concerns, apologizing to anyone who felt overlooked or offended, while maintaining that no disrespect was intended.
The committee said the event should ultimately unite rather than divide, presenting the band’s history as evidence of the reach and resilience of Turks and Caicos heritage.
PHOTO CREDIT: Bahamas Brass Band
News
BermudAir Launches New York Area’s First Nonstop Service to South Caicos, Now Just a 3.5 Hour Flight from Newark
Twice-Weekly Nonstop Flights Begin December 20 with Fares from $347 One Way, Creating Direct Access to Salterra Resort & Spa
– New Route Expands BermudAir’s Winter Turks & Caicos Network –
[New York, NY – August 20, 2026] – BermudAir, the leading premium leisure carrier to Bermuda and the Caribbean, today announced it will introduce nonstop flights to South Caicos from Newark this winter. The route places one of the Caribbean’s most secluded island destinations just 3.5 hours from the New York area for the first time.
The new service starts on December 20, 2026, operating on Sundays and Thursdays, and will be the only nonstop service to the destination
from the New York area. This seasonal service will operate through April 25, 2027. Fares start at $347 one way ($773 roundtrip) and go on sale today.
The new South Caicos route creates gives travelers two distinct luxury resort options, with direct access to Salterra, A Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, recently named the No. 1 resort in Turks and Caicos by Condé Nast Traveler.
Set across 85 beachfront acres with a 3,000-foot private white-sand beach, Salterra brings a full luxury resort experience to an island still defined by its historic salinas, pristine waters, bonefishing flats and uninhabited cays. Upon landing at South Caicos International Airport (XSC), guests are approximately 10 minutes from the resort.
While flights go on sale today, the airline’s BermudAir Holidays vacation-packaging division will offer curated travel to South Caicos from next month, featuring flights, hotels and authentic island experiences, with bundled discounts and value-added perks, making it even easier to explore the destination.
Previously BermudAir announced seven new routes to Providenciales in Turks and Caicos, from Newark (EWR), Boston (BOS), Baltimore-Washington (BWI), Raleigh-Durham (RDU), Fort Lauderdale (FLL), St Petersburg/Tampa (PIE) and Toronto (YYZ) which will all start in December except for Fort Lauderdale which begins October 26.
Expanded Winter Season
- To South Caicos:
- Twice-weekly nonstop from Newark (Sundays and Thursdays) from December 20 through April 25, 2027.
- To Turks and Caicos:
- Weekly nonstop from Newark (Saturdays) and one weekly direct service (Thursdays) from December 19 through April 29, 2027;
- Weekly nonstop service from Boston (Saturdays), from December 19 through May 1, 2027;
- Weekly nonstop service from Baltimore-Washington (Thursdays), from December 24 through April 29, 2027;
- Twice-weekly nonstop service from Raleigh-Durham (Thursdays and Sundays), from December 20 through May 2, 2027;
- Thrice-weekly service from Fort Lauderdale (Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays), from October 26 through May 3, 2027;
- Twice-weekly nonstop service from St Petersburg/Tampa (Mondays and Thursdays), from December 21 through May 3, 2027; and
- Weekly nonstop service from Toronto (Saturdays), from December 19 through May 1, 2027.
“We’re thrilled to continue expanding our Caribbean network as the premium leisure carrier from North America,” said Adam Scott, Founder and CEO of BermudAir. “Now New Yorkers can fly nonstop to two distinct sides of the Turks and Caicos Islands — Providenciales and the secluded island of South Caicos, home to the exquisite Salterra and Sailrock South Caicos resorts.”
The airline consistently earns Net Promoter Scores of 70+, one of the highest ratings in the airline industry. All flights will be operated on comfortable Embraer E190 aircraft, offering passengers the airline’s signature warm service and authentic island hospitality.
“South Caicos has always felt worlds away, and that is part of its magic,” said Michael Tibbetts, Founder and CEO of Salterra. “Beginning this winter, guests can fly nonstop from Newark in 3.5 hours, land at one of the newest international airports in the region and be at Salterra minutes later. This route makes a long weekend escape and an extended stay to one of the Caribbean’s most unspoiled islands remarkably easy, without changing the sense of discovery that makes South Caicos so special.”
For more information or to book flights, visit www.flybermudair.com. Salterra will offer dedicated stay packages timed to BermudAir’s Thursday and Sunday nonstop service. To book a stay at Salterra, A Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, visit www.salterra.com
