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TCI: Government Signs Amended Development Agreement with Vista Development Ltd.

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#Providenciales, June 21, 2018 – Turks and Caicos – The Turks and Caicos Islands Government has signed the Amended Development Agreement with Vista Development Ltd. for the over $100 million dollar, branded five-star resort on Grace Bay Beach.

The low density, seven storey luxury resort will be located on the 5.5 acre old Toscana site and will feature a modern contemporary design across 59 hotel rooms and 74 residential units, totaling 170 nightly rental rooms and suites, featuring breathtaking views of the ocean from every unit.  The thoughtfully designed master plan will offer guests exceptional dining choices at four restaurants and bars; health and wellness amenities at the state of the art indoor fitness facility, including an outdoor garden yoga studio and full service indoor and outdoor spa; and a full array of lifestyle options with dedicated luxury concierge services.

“As Developers, we are extremely pleased with the assistance and prompt responses of the Hon. Premier and Minister of Finance & Investment, Hon Cartwright-Robinson and her team for agreeing new timelines for the Development Agreement, which now allow us to move forward with the confidence and assurances that a development of this scope require from a local Government.  We are indeed grateful for the expertise and guidance of Ms. Rochelle Thompson, Investment Executive of Invest Turks and Caicos, who has been working with us from day one in seeing this project come this far,” said Co-Managing Director of Vista Development Ltd., Matt McDonald.

Construction of the project is set to begin in late 2018 and will emphasize the use of local contractors, providing employment for Turks and Caicos Islanders during the development phases. Set to open in 2021, the resort will also create a number of positions across many segments in the hospitality industry as they assemble their branded five-star service team.  “Pairing the built environment and superlative services, the resort is sure to raise the bar for excellence on Grace Bay Beach by many measures. We anticipate announcing the new lifestyle brand in the coming month,” said Co-Managing Director of Vista Development Ltd., Jon Siegel.

The Principal Developers, Matt McDonald and Jon Siegel, have decades of experience in successful real estate development in the TCI and the United States, and will be working with an experienced Director team of John Fair who has a 30-year track record in real estate development as a co-founder of Grace Bay Club Resort in Providenciales and local businessman Ramez Hakoura.

 

Release: Seventy Two West Ltd

 

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Register of Interests of the Members of the House of Assembly 

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#TurksandCaicos, September 29, 2023 – The Integrity Commission advises that the Register of Interests for Members of the Turks and Caicos Islands House of Assembly, as at 31st December 2022 has been completed.

Members of the House of Assembly are required by the Turks and Caicos Islands Constitution, Section 103(2), and the Integrity Commission Ordinance (the Ordinance), as amended, Section 52(1), to file with the Commission, Statements of Registrable Interests.  The Commission would, therefore, like to inform members of the public that, it has compiled the information contained in these Statements of Registrable Interests and has produced The Register of Interests 2022 for the Members of the House of Assembly, as at 31st December 2022.

The Register of Interests 2022 is now available for public inspection at the following locations:

  1. House of Assembly in Grand Turk
  2. Office of the Premier – Grand Turk and Providenciales
  3. Office of the Integrity Commission – Grand Turk and Providenciales (during the hours of 8:30am to 4:30pm from Mondays to Thursdays and 8:00am to 4:00pm on Fridays.)
  4. Office of the District Commissioner – Middle Caicos, North Caicos, Salt Cay and South Caicos.

The Register can be viewed at these locations during normal working hours or at a time that is convenient for the respective offices.

For further information or any assistance please contact the Integrity Commission:

By telephone at:  946-1941(Grand Turk Office) or 941-7847 (Providenciales Office) By e-mail at: secretary@integritycommission.tc or info@integritycommission.tc

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Students not in school cite Fees as Roadblock

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Dana Malcolm and Wilkie Arthur 

Editorial Staff

 

#TurksandCaicos, September 29, 2023 – Concerning reports are coming out of Providenciales regarding the placement of students as the new term got started.

Wilkie Arthur, Magnetic Media Court Correspondent, had the opportunity to speak with several young people who were supposed to be in school.  Instead, they were hanging out close to home, as they said they couldn’t afford the fees of the private schools they had been placed in.

Edgar Howell, Director of Education, during an August 31st press conference, had indicated that at least 26 students were awaiting assistance with placement in private high schools and 35 students were awaiting placements in primary schools.  Parents should have heard from the ministry within days.

Arthur fielded concerns from them and their families who wished to remain anonymous.

“The schools are full and they don’t have any more money to continue the [private] schools they were going to.  So, this bright September morning these children are actually just idle,” he explained.

By law (Education Ordinance 2009), all children between four and 16 years old in the Turks and Caicos Islands are considered of ‘Compulsory School Age’ meaning, they must be enrolled in an institution.

It has long been the practice of the Ministry of Education to place students in private schools and subsidize the fees when space has run out in public schools.  This year was no different.

“The Ministry continues to provide assistance to the parents through the private school subsidy program and 375 students are being assisted for the 2023/24 school year,” Howell explained.

It’s not clear if these students were a part of that number.

We have since reached out to representatives at the Turks and Caicos Ministry of Education for information on students who are not in school, how many remain unable to fit into public school classes and what provisions are in place for those students; there has been no update.

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Grand Turk residents say they suffered lack attention from TCIAA

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Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer

 

#TurksandCaicos, September 29, 2023 – Upgrades are underway at the JAGS McCartney International Airport but Grand Turk Residents say they were subject to subpar conditions for far too long; the comments came at a town hall meeting hosted by the Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority in the capital on Thursday September 21, at Dillon Hall.

“I am speaking on behalf of Grand Turk residents.  It is unacceptable for the Airports Authority to treat residents how they do,” one resident told TCIAA executives at a town hall meeting in Grand Turk.

The airport was hit during Hurricane Fiona in late 2022, resulting in a destroyed roof and serious damage to the terminals from extensive flooding plus damage to the domestic and international arrival areas, deeming the area unfit for use.

The hurricane damage last year only exacerbated the destruction wrought by previous storms including 2008’s Hurricane Ike and 2017’s Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

The JAGS McCartney International was reopened for domestic arrivals just this past June after phase one of a restoration project.  The international terminal was scheduled to open soon after but repairs are still ongoing.  Residents told TCIAA executives, the work was simply not executed quickly enough.

“The lack of attention that they paid to the JAGS McCartney Airport after the hurricane, having the residents of this island come in like we’re from a third world country for months?  It’s unacceptable for residents of this island for you all to leave us like that,” a resident maintained.

Ongoing updates include fixing the perimeter fence and parking lot as well as the fire station. Residents appeared grateful but cautiously optimistic.

“We see the plans that you have— which is good, and we hope that the next time we have a disaster we don’t have to be waiting for months [and]  be treated like that.”

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