TCI News
TCI: PDM Deputy Leader labels PNP hypocritical as business tax breaks bill is passed
#Providenciales, March 6, 2019 – Turks and Caicos – The Deputy Premier and Deputy Leader of the PDM today in the House of Assembly accused the Opposition PNP of playing politics with the highly emotive issue related to an Amnesty from which Beaches Resort stands to benefit.
“… at the same time he was levying accusations against the PDM party, accusing us of somehow being influenced by Beaches that he could see Beaches’ hands on the bill, he made the comment about campaign contributions, simultaneously, Mr. Speaker while talking about elevating the debate.”
Astwood, the Member from Five Cays was bold in expressing outrage about the posture of Opposition Leader and former Finance Minister, Washington Misick.
The Hotel & Restaurant Tourism Taxation amendments were related to how companies are taxed; adjusting the law so that resort guests 10 years and under are not billed and taxed and the changes will allow for a 30-day amnesty to collect millions in revenue from 41 companies badly in arrears.
Sean Astwood called the PNP, which abstained from voting on the Amnesty bill, disingenuous.
“If you understand that a mistake was made, why would you criticise the government for fixing a mistake, especially since it was certainly not this government that made the mistake. Mr. Speaker, I would say this is hypocritical and I expect better from them. The members know better and unfortunately, they understand the political nature of our people and how sometimes for some people it is so easy to manipulate the situation.”
The DP shared that the PDM Administration has been tasked with fixing issues inherited from the Rufus Ewing Administration; the implication is that there were many lingering problems left by the last PNP Government.
“If they had done their job, Mr. speaker we would not be here today with this. We would not be here today with this. The Deputy Premier continued with, “It passed through their hands, it passed through the PNP hands repeatedly and not one of them can point to anything to show that they tried to deal with it…”
The Five Cays member accused the PNP, during its stint as government from 2012-2016 of turning a blind eye and not devoting time to addressing problems.
“There is always something out there that needs to be addressed and fixed and history will never give us the credit on how many issues we have faced, dealt with in such good style that public don’t even realise how serious those issues were and how potentially detrimental they were to this country. That’s what we were elected for Mr. Speaker, even when some of our people do not fully understand what is being done.”
Sean Astwood added, “…but what does not help Mr. Speaker is when you have an Opposition party that knows better and again, wants claim on one hand that they want to be fair and then on the other hand try to manipulate the unsuspecting voter.”
#magneticmedianews
#businesstaxbreakbill
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 20 February 2026 — The Informal Settlements Unit (ISU), in collaboration with key
government agencies, coordinated a multi-agency enforcement exercise on Thursday, February 5, 2026, at Block and Parcel 60609/33 in the Five Cays area.
The exercise was led by the Crown Land Unit, pursuant to its statutory mandate under the Crown Land Ordinance to prevent squatting and encroachment on Crown land. The ISU coordinated the operation, with support provided by the Planning Department and the Turks and Caicos Islands Border Force, while the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force ensured security throughout the activity.
The enforcement action followed a series of inspections conducted by the Crown Land Unit throughout Five Cays, which identified several illegally constructed buildings made of concrete and timber on sections of the subject parcel. In keeping with the provisions of the Crown Land Ordinance, occupied structures were served Letters of Illegal Occupation, delivered by hand to occupants and
posted on structures where individuals were absent. Incomplete and unoccupied structures were served Notices of Unauthorized Occupation pursuant to section 22 of the Ordinance. A total of ten (10) Letters of Illegal Occupation and three (3) Notices of Unauthorized Occupation were issued during the exercise.
The Informal Settlements Unit reiterates that these coordinated enforcement exercises form part of the Government’s ongoing efforts to uphold the law, protect Crown land, and manage informal settlements in a structured and lawful manner. Members of the public are reminded that unauthorised occupation and development on Crown land is unlawful and subject to enforcement action.
Almost two million visitors recorded in 2025
PROVIDENCIALES, TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS – The Turks and Caicos Islands saw an increase in stayover arrivals in December, seven percent higher than the corresponding period in 2024.
Preliminary data suggests that stay over arrivals by air for the month of December was 66,427 in comparison to 62,610 in December 2024.
From January to December 2025, preliminary visitor arrival numbers totalled 640,754; on par with the number recorded for the same period of 2024.
Stay Over Arrivals YTD December 2024/2025
The first quarter of the calendar year attracted the largest number of arrivals with visitor arrivals three percent higher than the first quarter of 2024. Reduced airlift from the United Kingdom and the United States, most notably the Virgin Atlantic and JetBlue services, was however felt from the second quarter (April to June). As a result, visitor arrivals dropped three percent in the second quarter.
By the third quarter of this year (July to September), geopolitical and economic conditions in the key source markets, namely the United States, led to further contraction of arrivals. In the last quarter of 2025, arrivals were impacted in October due to the passage of Hurricane Melissa but additional airlift from the USA and Canada resulted in an increase in arrivals in November and December.
Mr. Paul Pennicook, Interim CEO Consultant of Experience Turks and Caicos, said December’s increase in stayover arrivals is an encouraging indicator of the sustained interest in the Turks and Caicos Islands as a premier destination.
“While we note and continue to monitor geopolitical shifts that affect us, Experience Turks and Caicos is focused on increasing marketing initiatives in our primary source markets. We have spent the last two years investing in groundwork such as crucial travel advisor training to assist them in selling the destination more effectively. In the next fiscal, we will be building on those initiatives with co-op activities with partners as well as out of home advertising to increase visitation to our destination,” he said.
In Cruise, the preliminary count of passenger arrivals for the month of December 2025 was 129,346, a 22 percent increase over last December. This growth follows the berthing of 11 additional ships in Grand Turk this month.
From January to December, the cruise sector continued to outperform the same period last year, as the 1.3 million total cruise passengers recorded, marks a five percent Year-on-Year increase. 
The cruise sector experienced significant growth in the first quarter of 2025, with passenger arrivals surpassing last quarter by 53 percent. In the second and third quarter however, several cruise lines adjusted their itineraries as vessels were pulled from the fleet or from the Caribbean region, which resulted in fewer passengers.
Arrivals dropped seven percent and 10 percent in the second and third quarters, respectively. Double digit growth was recorded in the last two months of Quarter 4. This growth however, was not sufficient to outweigh the drop in arrivals experienced in October, following the cancellation of cruise calls due to the passage of Hurricane Melissa. Despite the late-quarter rebound, arrivals for the final quarter of 2025 closed six percent below the same period in 2024.
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