TCI News
TCHTA Members are Eliminating Plastic Straws
#Providenciales, November 2, 2018 – Turks and Caicos – Several hotel and restaurant members of the Turks & Caicos Hotel & Tourism Association [TCHTA] are banning plastic straws and replacing them with paper 
straws in an effort to reduce the use of single-use plastics and lessen their negative impacts on the environment.
Hotels such as The Grace Bay Resort, The TCI Collection, The Hartling Group and now Beaches TCI have all ditched the plastics and moved toward an eco-friendly paper straw to eliminate the consumption of plastic while addressing waste management and marine pollution across the islands.
“This is a big environmental win for destination TCI, we have all seen the negative impact of plastic, specifically the plastic straws,” said Stacy Cox of the TCHTA, “Our marine environment is an integral part of our brand, our island lifestyle, and we must make a commitment to say NO to plastic straws.”
“Plastic straws can take hundreds of years to biodegrade, and with the high number of guests we have visiting our shores, a large accumulation of plastic waste can create additional problems for the world-famous Grace Bay Beach and the oceans by extension,” Cox said.
This initiative is part of a larger effort to reduce plastic waste in the Turks and Caicos which welcomes over a million guests annually; many of whom are appreciative of the eco-friendly tourist destination. It is the goal of the TCHTA and its members to get the guests involved while making a meaningful environmental impact.
“I am so proud of our members’ response to this environmental hazard. Their swift actions to phase out their use of plastic straws and to provide their guests and customers with environmentally friendly, biodegradable paper straws shows not only an appreciation for sustainable tourism, but the ecological well-being of these islands,” Cox said.
Earlier this year the Department of Environmental and Coastal Resources [DECR] launched a ‘We say NO to straws’ campaign which saw a total of 17 hotels and restaurants pledge to not use plastic straws in their drinks during the months of April and May. This campaign was designed to bring awareness by educating the residents and to build momentum around a worldwide movement on the long-term effect of plastic, particularly straws.
According to Amy Avenant, Program Director for the DECR, by midcentury the amount of plastic in the ocean will outweigh the amount of fish. “It is estimated that 8 Million Metric Tons of plastic winds up in our oceans each year. The ‘no straw’ commitment is a small step towards a bigger and healthier future for us and the natural environment we depend upon.”
“The DECR is very encouraged by the tourism industry’s willingness to make a difference and lead by example, by banning straws from their establishments, in the TCI!” she said.
Association Members are committed to enhancing sustainable tourism and the environment of the Turks & Caicos and will take significant and preventative measures to reduce the usage of plastics and preserve the beautiful waters and marine creatures of the islands that bring meaning to the country’s slogan, “Beautiful by Nature”.
Press Release: TCHTA
Turks and Caicos, October 28, 2025 – We are closely monitoring the impact of Hurricane Melissa on Jamaica, and our thoughts and prayers are with our regional neighbours for their safety and well-being
We are now entering a critical period as Hurricane Melissa advances towards the Turks and Caicos Islands. Current projections indicate that Hurricane Melissa will begin to impact the Turks and Caicos Islands around midday tomorrow, Wednesday, 29th October.
This morning, Her Excellency the Governor and the Hon. Premier chaired a State of Preparedness Meeting. All Government agencies and critical services are mobilised. The safety and protection of every person across our Islands remains our highest priority. Our emergency response teams are prepared and the TCI Regiment is deployed across each of our Islands to support community readiness and immediate response. The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force are on active duty, with additional officers in North Caicos, Salt Cay, South Caicos and Grand Turk.
At this time, the hurricane is moving north-northeast. The country is expected to experience tropical storm conditions, heavy rainfall and
significant storm surge. The storm surge poses a serious concern for low-lying coastal areas especially along our western and southern coastlines, which may result in coastal flooding. Based on the most current weather projections and anticipated impacts for the Turks and Caicos Islands, the National Executive have agreed the following actions:
1. Evacuation Advisories
Residents in specific low-lying and flood-prone coastal areas are likely to experience significant storm surge of 2-4 feet with accompanying rainfall. Strong advice is now place for residents in these areas to relocate to designated shelters which will be open from 4pm this afternoon. These areas include:
Middle Caicos
- Conch Bar Nearest Shelter: The Community Centre
North Caicos
- Sandy Point Nearest Shelter : Sandy Point Community Centre
- Whitby Nearest Shelter: Adelaide Oemler Primary School
- Bottle Creek Nearest Shelter: Adelaide Oemler Primary School
Providenciales
-
-
- Chalk Sound Nearest Shelter Enid Capron Primary School
- Five Cays Nearest Shelter: Enid Capron Primary School
- Discovery Bay Nearest Shelter: All Saints Church, Leeward Highway
- Juba Sound Nearest Shelter: A. Louise Garland High School
- Long Bay Nearest Shelter: A. Louise Garland High School
-
South Caicos
- Cockburn Harbour Nearest Shelter: Community Centre
- Old Airport Road Nearest Shelter: Community Centre
Should an evacuation order become necessary, it will be issued following the 6:00 PM Advisory this evening from the TCI National Weather Service.
2. Activation of Emergency Operations Centre
The National Emergency Operations Centre in Providenciales and all Islands Emergency Operations Centres will be activated at 4:00 PM today.
3. Shelters Access
Shelters across all Islands will open today at 4:00 PM to receive members of the public.
4. Shelter-in-Place
A Strong Shelter-in-Place Advisory is in place for all islands, commencing at 10:00 PM tonight. This will be in place until the all clear has been issued.
This means that from 10:00 PM tonight, all residents should be off the road, in a safe location, either at home or a designated shelter.
Please note that this position may be revised following the 6:00 PM Advisory from the TCI National Weather Service, depending on updated storm projections.
The Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority (TCIAA) has confirmed that all airports remain fully operational for today. They will advise the public about ongoing operations dependent on the weather impacts.
In times such as this, the role of commercial entities extends beyond business – it becomes a vital part of the community’s resilience. All retailers and service providers are urged to uphold their humanitarian responsibilities by maintaining fair pricing and ensuring essential goods and services remain accessible to all.
Residents and visitors are reminded to adhere strictly to all official advisories and evacuation orders as they are issued. Avoid unnecessary movement, secure your property, and ensure that you and your family are prepared with essential supplies. Stay prepared and stay safe.
Turks and Caicos, October 24, 2025 – Commissioner of Police Fitz Bailey delivered an impassioned address to male students at Clement Howell High School, calling on them to recognize their power, seize their potential, and “awaken the sleeping giants” within.
In a message that blended humility, faith, and personal experience, the Commissioner reminded the boys that the decisions they make today will shape their future.“The choices you make today determine who you become tomorrow,” he said.
Bailey, who revealed he was the first in his family to attend high school, urged the students to embrace education and discipline as tools of
transformation.“Knowledge is power. If you want to be a real man, you need to read,” he told them. “Remember your potential — if others can do it, so can you. Some of you are sleeping giants waiting to be awakened.”
He emphasized that circumstances of birth do not dictate destiny, challenging the young men to carry self-respect, faith, and moral conviction wherever they go. “Self-respect is key; respect yourself, respect others, and respect God,” he said. “The circumstances you were born into do not define who you are.”
The Commissioner also spoke about resilience, advising that true strength often lies in restraint.
“There will be challenges, and people may try to impede your development — but rise above negativity. Sometimes, strength means walking away,” he said. “Some of you are sleeping lions; it’s time to awaken that instinct and rediscover your true potential.”
In closing, Commissioner Bailey delivered a stirring challenge:
“Each morning, look in the mirror and remind yourself that you were created by God and are capable of great exploits. You are a possibility with potential. Step forward with confidence — this is your country, your islands. Be the best version of yourself.”
Following his speech, the Commissioner engaged the students in open dialogue, answering questions and listening to their perspectives on issues affecting young men in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Developed by Deandrea Hamilton • with ChatGPT (AI) • edited by Magnetic Media.
