Turks and Caicos, March 30, 2026 – The Turks and Caicos Islands Government has signaled changes to its tourism funding framework, with Cabinet approving draft amendments to the Destination Management Fee Act 2023.

The decision was confirmed in the Post Cabinet statement following the February 5 meeting, chaired by Governor Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam, where members agreed to move forward with revisions to the law governing the collection and administration of the fee.

The Destination Management Fee, introduced in 2023, is applied to travelers entering the country and is embedded within the cost of travel. The charge was designed to support tourism-related development, including marketing, infrastructure, and sustainability initiatives.

At the time of its introduction, the fee was linked to the establishment of a Destination Management and Marketing Organisation (DMMO), which was expected to coordinate tourism strategy and enhance the visitor experience.

However, recent developments have shifted that landscape.

The DMMO has since been discontinued, raising new questions about how funds generated through the fee are being managed and what structure will now guide tourism development efforts.

The Cabinet note does not outline what specific changes are being proposed under the amended legislation.

It also does not indicate whether adjustments will be made to:

• who pays the fee,
• how it is collected, or
• how the revenue is allocated and overseen.

The move to amend the law comes amid broader government efforts to strengthen revenue collection and compliance, including updates provided to Cabinet on the work of the Drag-Net Steering Committee — a multi-agency initiative focused on improving government revenue systems.

The lack of detail surrounding the amendments leaves several key questions unanswered, particularly given the fee’s direct impact on both visitors and residents and its role in supporting the country’s tourism economy.

Any changes to the Act would require further legislative steps, including presentation to the House of Assembly, before taking effect.

For now, the Cabinet’s approval signals that the government is moving to revise a policy that is already in force — but without yet disclosing how those revisions will alter the current system.

As tourism remains the backbone of the Turks and Caicos Islands economy, clarity on the future of the Destination Management Fee — and the framework it supports — is expected to be closely watched in the weeks ahead.

Developed by Deandrea Hamilton • with ChatGPT (AI) • edited by Magnetic Media.

Turks and Caicos, March 30, 2026 – Electricity costs in the Turks and Caicos Islands are climbing again, with Pelican Energy reporting increases in the fuel factor for March, while warning that global instability could push prices even higher in the months ahead.

In its latest update to customers, the power provider confirmed that fuel factor rates — the portion of electricity bills tied directly to the cost of fuel — have risen across most service territories.

Providenciales, North Caicos and Middle Caicos will see a 3.4 percent increase, bringing the rate to $0.1658 per kilowatt hour, while Grand Turk and Salt Cay will experience a 2.8 percent rise to $0.1569 per kWh. The rate for South Caicos is still pending, though in February it climbed by 2.8 percent to $0.1728 per kWh.

The fuel factor is a variable charge, meaning it moves in response to international oil prices — and right now, those prices are under pressure.

Pelican Energy pointed to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, including ongoing conflict affecting key global shipping routes such as the Strait of Hormuz, as a major driver of recent increases.

That narrow waterway near Iran is one of the world’s most critical oil transit corridors, with a significant share of global fuel supply passing through it daily. Any disruption — whether from conflict, threats, or shipping delays — has a direct impact on global prices.

Energy markets have remained volatile as a result, with production decisions by OPEC and its allies also influencing supply levels and pricing trends.

For the Turks and Caicos Islands, which relies heavily on imported fuel for electricity generation, the impact is immediate.

“Because we rely on imported fuel to generate electricity, these market conditions can influence fuel costs in TCI,” the company said, noting that it is closely monitoring developments.

While the upward movement in fuel costs is concerning, Pelican Energy also indicated that infrastructure upgrades are underway — projects that may cause short-term inconvenience but are expected to improve long-term energy reliability.

Those improvements could include enhancements to generation capacity and distribution systems, though in the near term, residents and businesses may experience disruptions, including traffic impacts linked to ongoing works.

The company emphasized that the fuel factor will continue to fluctuate in line with global trends, rising when international prices increase and falling when they decline.

For consumers already facing high utility costs, the latest adjustment reinforces how closely local electricity prices are tied to global events far beyond the region’s control.

With tensions in key oil-producing areas showing no clear resolution, and global supply routes remaining vulnerable, the outlook for fuel costs remains uncertain.

For now, Pelican Energy says it will continue to monitor international developments and keep customers informed — but the message is clear: what happens in global oil markets is being felt directly on electricity bills at home.

Developed by Deandrea Hamilton • with ChatGPT (AI) • edited by Magnetic Media.

Turks and Caicos, March 30, 2026 – Millions of dollars in stalled projects and unspent staffing allocations came under fire in the House of Assembly on Monday, as Opposition Leader Edwin Astwood questioned the government’s efficiency during debate on a third Budget Supplementary.

Astwood’s critique came following the presentation by Premier and Finance Minister Charles Washington Misick and zeroed in on what he described as a troubling pattern of inefficiency, poor execution, and systemic underperformance across government.

Central to his argument was what appears to be a significant gap between what the government says it needs — and what it actually delivers.

“There is a serious issue that I’m seeing in the government in terms of staffing,” Astwood told the House, pointing to approximately $8.5 million in unspent human resource allocations.

“That can be misleading… it is positions that were not hired… positions that last year at this time we were told we greatly needed… but yet this year again we have some $8.5 million that was supposed to be spent on human resources, but sadly it never came to fruition.”

The Opposition Leader argued that the failure to fill key roles is directly linked to broader inefficiencies, including delayed or cancelled projects and reduced performance across ministries.

“You say you need these staff but you existed a whole year without these staff? Help me understand why you need this?” he challenged, adding that departments are being held accountable for outcomes without being given the necessary resources.

In a pointed analogy, Astwood compared the situation to sending an under-resourced army into battle.

“If I am a general… and I tell you what I need to accomplish the task… and you don’t give it to me… when I don’t accomplish my goal you can’t blame me.”

He said civil servants are repeatedly requesting manpower, skills and support, only for those requests to go unmet, while expectations remain unchanged.

The result, he suggested, is a cycle of underperformance driven not by lack of effort, but by lack of capacity.

Astwood also tied the staffing gaps to what he described as a consistent pattern of project cancellations across successive budget supplementaries.

“This is our third supplementary… at each one we had projects being cancelled or ‘rescoped’… but sadly many of those projects we do not see return to the budget.”

Among the projects cited as cut or delayed were community centres in Bottle Creek and The Bight, the Blue Hills signage project, upgrades to Fuller and Clementina Walker Park, and critical works to landfill infrastructure — all identified as important national priorities.

Particularly concerning, he said, is the timing of project execution.

Astwood revealed that as many as 20 projects were only put out to tender in the final weeks of the financial year, raising serious questions about planning and delivery.

“So one has a whole year, 52 weeks… and 49 out of 52 weeks these projects didn’t move,” he said.

“Is that efficiency… tendering projects in the last three weeks of the year?”

Projects ranging from road works and community infrastructure to mobile clinics, airport services, and police station repairs were all listed as being advanced only at the end of the fiscal cycle.

While some may argue that progress — even late — is better than none, Astwood rejected that notion.

“People might say better late than never, but is this efficiency? Is this how we want our government to be working?” he asked.

The Opposition Leader also raised concerns about leadership and accountability within government, questioning whether clear direction is being given to senior public officers.

“Were your instructions clear to your permanent secretaries, your directors, your heads of departments?” he asked.

“If it was clear, it is not your fault… but if it’s not clear… it is directly your fault.”

The remarks have now added to growing scrutiny over government performance, particularly as the country prepares for a new budget cycle and faces increasing demand for infrastructure, services and delivery.

With millions allocated but not spent, and key projects either delayed or removed entirely, the debate now turns to whether the issue is one of resources — or of execution.

Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.