TCI News
TCI: Nearly $10 million in public projects announced by Infrastructure, Housing and Planning
#Providenciales, May 11, 2019 – Turks and Caicos – Eleven new undertakings to the tune of $9.78 million were announced during Budget Debate by the now former Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Planning, Hon Goldray Ewing.
Minister Ewing, who on May 8 took over the Home Affairs ministerial portfolio told the Speaker of the House of Assembly that the new $309 million budget of the PDM Administration included funding for a Central Storage for Government Departments; $3 million in repairs to the NJS Francis Building in Grand Turk which is home to the House of Assembly and Office of the Premier; Phase Five of road development which includes monies for boat ramps; reconstruction of the Regatta Village and the wharf in South Caicos at a combined cost of $650,000; repairs to the Salt Shed in Salt Cay and works at the Treasury building.
There is money allotted to an Environmental Impact Assessment for drainage infrastructure in Blue Hills and three vehicles will be replaced and new equipment will be purchased for the Public Works Department, according to Ewing’s report.
There is also $1 million earmarked for the consultancy on the construction on the anticipated Government Office Complex in Providenciales.
“As Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Planning, one of my foremost aims was to make viable decisions that would inevitably lead to better economic prospects for the people in the Turks & Caicos Islands. Mr. Speaker, one of the best ways to accomplish this, is through urban revitalization, which in turn leads to economic revitalization, which has been what both my Government and I have strived to achieve through the last budget cycle.”
In addition to physical work, there will be a focus on modernizing policies and enforcing current regulations.
“Mr. Speaker, In this financial year, PWD is hoping to achieve the following initiatives;
The successful creation of a Public Works Ordinance, as well as finalizing the approved Maintenance Ordinance. Going forward measures are being instituted to ensure that the TCIG vehicle policy document, will be enforced. PWD will also review and update all their current operational manuals for the various divisions, which will improve on the delivery of projects, maintenance of assets and ultimate support to all other reliant Ministries and Departments.”
The Minister explained that security enhancement at government offices is a significant priority for the PWD team. Perimeter lighting is coming for public buildings with special attention being given to the government-run schools around the country.
“Work has begun on both the draft Estate Policy/Strategy, as well as the Draft Security and Health Policy to better protect TCIG properties and enhance the working environment, improving their safety for staff and visitors alike. Burglar alarms have been installed in a number of Government Departments and plans are underway to continue the installation of burglar systems in the rest of TCIG Departments in this Financial Year.”
While spending this fiscal year on capital projects is around $5 million less at the Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Planning; the Minister explained that is chiefly due to the progresses made in works at his ministry and the continuation of efforts to reconstruction, refurbish and repair in the aftermath of Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017.
Hon Goldray Ewing moves over to the Ministry of Home Affairs following a cabinet shuffle by Premier Sharlene Robinson; he had these departing words for his team in his final ministerial presentation from the Infrastructure, Housing and Planning desk: “To my Team, I say a special thank you for all your hard work and dedication, none of this would be possible without you. Committed to the vision without excuse!”
The historic budget was passed on May 3, 2019.
The new Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Planning is Hon Sean Astwood, the TCI’s Deputy Premier.
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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.
News
The Department of Trade, Industry & Fair Competition to Host Export Readiness Workshop Under the theme “Empowering TCI Businesses for Local Growth and Global Markets.”
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Wednesday, 11 February 2026: The Informal Settlements Unit (ISU) coordinated a multi-agency enforcement operation on Thursday, 29 January 2026, led by the Planning Department, with support from the Crown Land
Unit, the Turks and Caicos Islands Border Force, and security provided by the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force. The operation, carried out at three different locations in Providenciales, formed part of ongoing government efforts to address unauthorised development and illegal occupation of land in accordance with governing legislation.
The operation commenced in Blue Hills, where five Section 58 Enforcement Notices were issued on unauthorised structures identified on Block and Parcel 60502/48.
Enforcement activity then moved to a second location off the Leeward Highway near Caicos Lodge, where six Section 58 Enforcement Notices were issued on additional unauthorised structures on Block and Parcel 60802/66.
The final phase of the operation took place in The Bight, where three unauthorised structures were removed, with all debris cleared from the site in keeping with established safety and environmental protocols.
The Informal Settlements Unit remains committed to working alongside its partner agencies to support lawful development, protect public and private land, and ensure that planning regulations are enforced in a coordinated and transparent manner across the Turks and Caicos Islands. Similar joint operations will continue as part of the Government’s wider strategy to address unauthorised development and informal settlement activity.
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