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TCI: Give Belongers Amnesty Too – Says Attorney Mark Fulford

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#Providenciales, March 6, 2019 – Turks and Caicos

THE AMNESTY FIGHT: RIGHT FOR THE WRONG REASONS AND LIMITED IN SCOPE – GIVE BELONGERS AMENESTY ON GOVT DEBTS TOO
by- Mark A. FULFORD LLB

The recent Amnesty Bill passed by the Turks and Caicos parliament on the 4th of March 2019, has caused some consternation. The government says it was necessary as a part of doing business. The Opposition responds that it should have been done in a more prudent and transparent manner.

What if both parties have missed the point?



The current Government says previous administrations got the valuations of tax rates wrong over the years, including the Interim Government i.e. The British. They all failed year-after-year to identify the miscalculation or the “handshake agreement” upon which it was based.

Both parties may have missed the real issue. There maybe two solutions that includes Belongers and is fair to all Turks and Caicos Islanders:

I. The Government is right: governments of both parties and the Interim Government, led directly by the British missed this issue. As such, there should be no pointing of fingers at anyone. The Government is also right that in business (and reality), one must make decisions based on the larger picture, rather than narrow concerns or political emotions.

Let’s take Beaches for example, which is large and dominant because they are the best at what they do. Every other international brand in this region has fallen into bankruptcy, except Beaches.

In practical terms Beaches brings the most tourists to our shores. If Beaches accounting says that we have priced them out of the market, we must remember that affects the airlifts to our shores. This means that Beaches is actually caught between the TCIG and the airlines. Any good government understands these levels of pressure and knows that too much tax, too much red tape, means not only Beaches but eventually airlines will abandon the Turks and Caicos Islands, which presents an even bigger problem.

II. However, the Opposition is also right: More should have been done to gain a specific understanding of the actual accounting behind the Amnesty Ordinance.  Governments should never try to solve just the problem before them. But a progressive government would have used this problem of misevaluation of tax, to do a “Super Development Agreement” with Beaches and other Accredited Hotel Properties which would craft a solution that will provide a stable stream of revenue for the next 10-15 years.

I am aware how fast things change, but that only means our foresight and adaptability must be on the cutting edge, so that we can create e a new model for the hospitality industry that present and  new investors find attractive and will flock to our shores.



The Opposition is also right to have raised the point – argued by its leader the Hon. Washington Misick MP –  that provision be made for the “little man” in this extension of Amnesty. I don’t think we went far enough and it may be a legal question.

Under the TCI Constitution (2012 Edition), the rule against discrimination is clear: No benefit can be extended to one Turks and Caicos Islander that is denied or even not extended to any other. (Under our law, Mitt Romney is right, companies are citizens). Therefore, the Opposition should have demanded and the Government should have proposed that every Belonger, whether in arrears for NIB, NHIB, Business License, Crown Land Lease etc. should all be extended Amnesty on the same terms given to the 21 entities to whom this Ordinance applies.

Since the government argues that the People of Turks and Caicos will lose no principal under the Ordinance, but the companies will have the benefit of time through an extended grace period, it is my view that the same grace is the constitutional right of every Belonger and should be extended to all of us.

Mark A  Fulford


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Invest Turks and Caicos Islands Takes Platinum Sponsor Role at Premier Hotel Investment Summit  

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Turks and Caicos, May 23, 2026 – Invest Turks and Caicos Islands took center stage at one of the region’s most influential hospitality investment gatherings this spring, serving as a Platinum Sponsor at ALIS CALA 2026 in Coral Gables, Florida.

Held April 28 to 30 at the Loews Coral Gables Hotel, the conference brought together more than 600 tourism, hotel and investment leaders from over 35 countries focused on the future of hospitality investment in the Caribbean and Latin America.

ALIS CALA — short for the Americas Lodging Investment Summit Caribbean and Latin America — is widely regarded as the region’s premier deal-driven hospitality investment conference. The platform emerged from the merger of the long-running Caribbean Hotel & Resort Investment Summit (CHRIS) and Hotel Opportunities Latin America (HOLA), creating what organizers describe as a high-level space where investors, developers, lenders, hotel brands and government leaders connect around major regional projects and opportunities.

The event is known for attracting senior decision-makers, with roughly one in three delegates holding titles such as Chairman, CEO, President, Owner or Principal.

Invest Turks and Caicos said its participation focused heavily on showcasing investment opportunities across the territory, particularly in the Family Islands.

CEO Angela Musgrove delivered a presentation highlighting development opportunities in the Turks and Caicos Islands to what the agency described as a full room of attendees and strong stakeholder interest.

In a statement following the conference, Invest Turks and Caicos said discussions centered on tourism expansion, sustainable development and long-term investment partnerships designed to position the Turks and Caicos Islands as a leading investment destination in the region.

The agency added that it looks forward to continuing conversations started at ALIS CALA and building new partnerships with investors, developers and strategic stakeholders interested in growth opportunities throughout the islands.

The conference itself focused heavily on capital access, hotel development pipelines, mixed-use tourism projects and investment confidence throughout the Caribbean basin — sectors where Turks and Caicos continues to attract increasing international attention.

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Multi-Agency Enforcement Action Conducted in Lower Bight

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Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands — The Informal Settlements Unit (ISU), in coordination with the Planning Department and key partner agencies, conducted a multi-agency enforcement exercise on Thursday, May 7, 2026, in the Lower Bight area in Providenciales. The exercise resulted in the complete removal of a total of eight (8) unauthorized structures and all associated debris from a privately-owned parcel of land.

The operation was led by the Planning Department, with coordination by the ISU and support from the TCI Border Force, the Crown Land Unit, and Pelican Energy.  Security for the exercise was provided by the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force. All agencies worked collaboratively to ensure the exercise was carried out in a safe, orderly, and controlled manner.

The enforcement action followed a structured and lawful process in accordance with the Physical Planning regulatory framework of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Section 45 Enforcement Notices were first issued on the affected parcel in December 2024, identifying unauthorized structures erected without the requisite approvals. This was followed by the issuance of Warning Notices on April 16, 2026, which advised occupants that they were in breach of planning and land use regulations and provided notice that demolition activities would proceed following the prescribed compliance period. Despite these notices and the time afforded for compliance, the unauthorized structures remained in place.

This exercise represents part of an ongoing commitment to ensuring that development within the Turks and Caicos Islands is lawful, safe, and aligned with national standards.

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Beaches Turks and Caicos and Sandals Foundation Champion Early Childhood Literacy with Star-Studded Reading Road Trip

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PROVIDENCIALES, Turks & Caicos Islands: The grand opening of the Treasure Beach Village at Beaches Turks and Caicos brought more than just high-energy celebrations to the shores of Providenciales as the Sandals Foundation led a star-studded Reading Road Trip at four local primary schools.

Dozens of celebrities, global media representatives, resort guests, and hospitality executives took a purposeful break from the weekend’s festivities to connect directly with the island’s youngest learners. The initiative transformed standard kindergarten classrooms at Enid Capron Primary, Thema Lightbourne Primary, Ianthe Pratt Primary and Oseta Jolly Primary into dynamic literacy hubs as visitors including American Actor and Playwright Jesse Eisebberg, and Real Housewives of New York City and author Kelly Bensimon read books and engaged in fun literacy games and activities.

The carefully designed activities aimed to strengthen students’ foundational reading comprehension skills and saw visitors actively animating characters, reading aloud, playing interactive literacy games, doing phonetic exercises and collaborative arts and crafts.

For local educators, the initiative represented a valuable opportunity to broaden students’ horizons. Through meaningful interaction with media representatives, students learned firsthand about exciting careers in writing, photography, and broadcasting.

Nelene Swann, Vice Principal of Enid Capron Primary, highlighted the profound impact of the unique global connection. “The experience for the children was good as they interacted and shared in a cultural blend while learning about new cultures and different career options,” Swann shared.

For American actor and playwright Jesse Eisenberg, who spent his afternoon volunteering at Oseta Jolly Primary School, his visit coincided with a special occasion on the school’s calendar, creating an even more memorable atmosphere for the youngsters.

“Our school was celebrating Boys Day which allowed [Eisenberg] to share in the experience and even provide great mentorship advice. Lessons such as the importance of consistency were well received by students in this developmental phase,” says Handsfield.

The Sandals Foundation has long championed early childhood education as a fundamental pillar of its philanthropic mission across the region.

Heidi Clarke, Executive Director of the Sandals Foundation, expressed her pride in the weekend’s grand opening educational outreach noting, “The Reading Road Trips provided a one-of-a-kind experience to guests and students as they shared in the power of play, imagination and life – all through the wonders of books. At the heart of our mission is to facilitate the creation of fun and dynamic learning environments that inspire students. We are proud to be a partner in TCI’s education tapestry and will continue to support initiatives that enable students’ holistic development.”

While the grand opening festivities brought a special influx of international participants to the classrooms, the commitment to local schools remains a consistent, year-round priority for the local resort staff. Employees regularly dedicate their personal time to mentor, tutor, and read with primary school students, fostering an incredibly strong bond between the hospitality sector and the local education system.

General Manager Deryk Meany emphasized the immense joy these initiatives bring to his dedicated staff. “This was a blast for the resort team members. The heart of the hospitality industry extends far beyond the resort’s doors and through the Reading Road Trip and other team member volunteer initiatives, we are proud to share our time, resources and expertise to the school community.”

Even as the official grand opening celebrations conclude, the positive impact of these classroom interactions will continue to resonate deeply throughout the Providenciales community and the world – example of a powerful model for community-integrated tourism.

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