TCI News
Islanders invited to donate for the preservation and showcase of TCI history; new National Museum design unveiled
#Providenciales, April 24, 2019 – Turks and Caicos – A monumental undertaking will allow residents, citizens and visitors of the TCI to be a part of the multi-million-dollar construction of the Providenciales location of the Turks and Caicos National Museum.
Announced today were plans for an inaugural gala banquet at the Shore Club in June and several intriguing opportunities for islanders to make financial investments which will also make them a part of history; literally.
A ‘Brick Fund’ will be accepting donors ranging from $100 to $500; the engraved bricks are described as a lasting tribute which will be used to pave the walkway to the coming museum building.
“You can purchase bricks by coming into the museum, contact us on email, we will have a Paypal account with that set up so people can do it online. We are going to do everything we can and we are going to hit every media,” explained Dr. Michael Pateman, Museum Director.
The design of the new museum was a gift from celebrated local architect and builder, Ron Shaw of RA Shaw Designs and when asked about how it could be described, Seamus Daye, President of the Turks and Caicos National Museum Foundation said it reminds him of a fortress.
“There are many different architectural elements of an historical Turks and Caicos design, so you will see there is a Bermudian-styled chimey which is particularly prominent in the Turks Islands. You will see that you’ve got the sloping roof which is similar to some of the cisterns and water tanks and the big buttresses as well. I think, if I were to describe this, I would say it is a fortress.”
Director of the National Museum, Dr. Pateman concurred with the characterization of the modern, yet classic structure, which will be 7,556 square feet, two stories tall with second floor mezzanine and built to the tune of $3.5 million inclusive of interactive exhibits and renewable energy programs.
Dr. Pateman said the ‘fortress’ will be a more safe and secure site for holding the treasure trove of national secrets, native traditions, historic artifacts and precious mementos.
The razzle and dazzle of the gala will feature fabulous opportunities, with ticket donation set at $250.
Karen Whitt, representing the Hartling Group said more and more guests to the island are on the hunt for “experiential travel” and the museum, to be constructed on the eastern side of the current building in the Grace Bay Village area, presents the opportunity for visitor and resident immersion in TCI culture.
“From a corporate sponsor level, we are really so excited about this launch event which will take place on June 8th, at the Shore Club and it’s not just a typical gala dinner evening because we are really planning to learn and see something that is a vision which has been in the works for so many years… but now we have the chance to truly learn how the vision becomes reality into execution and we are at that stage now so it is only fitting that with such an important milestone in the country’s history that we would do it in a very big way; Hartling style.”
The inaugural fundraising event is already touted to receive wide support including special guest and keynote speaker, former Prime Minister of Aruba, Mike Eman.
The theme for the night, where the dress code is island chic, is ‘Building for the future, to protect the past.”
#magneticmedianews
#tcinationalmuseum
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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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