TCI News
FortisTCI rate increase application goes to the public for consultation
#Providenciales, June 21, 2019 – #TurksandCaicos – A determination on whether or not FortisTCI will get that rate increase for which the company has applied is inching closer to completion; now, the public is being asked to weigh in on the controversial application.
“As part of the process to inquire into the reasonableness of the proposed variation of the prescribed tariff of rates by FortisTCI Limited and Turks and Caicos Utilities Limited the general public is now informed that the inquiry is open to the public and that any interested person may attend the inquiry and may make written or oral representations to the person holding the inquiry, pursuant to section 39(5) of the Electricity Ordinance.”
The mission of Governor appointed, J Paul Morgan P.E., CEng. Is to conduct an inquiry into the reasonableness of the FortisTCI and TCU Ltd. Rate Variation Application.
FortisTCI, since July 2018 informed the general public that it made a rate increase request; looking to get approval for an average of 6.8% more on electricity bills.
That request was declined by the Governor in August of 2018.
Morgan, who has over 40 years of experience in utilities, engineering, utility regulation, management and consulting, was appointed last month.
The public is invited to given written and oral submissions.
A TCIG media released advised: “If you wish to make a written presentation, it should be submitted on or before 24th June 2019. All written submissions must be emailed to the following addresses jeffreypaulmorgan@gmail.com or jason.abraham@avisobviconsulting.com with the caption “Submission to the FortisTCI Proposed Rate Variation Inquiry.”
However, to speak to Mr. Morgan in person, there was this instruction: “If you wish to make an oral presentation at the inquiry your intention should be communicated to Mr J Paul Morgan, and should include a reference to your specific concern as it relates to the reasonableness of the proposed variation of the prescribed rates of tariff by FortisTCI Limited and Turks and Caicos Utilities Limited, on or before 26th June 2019.
Please note that oral presentations at the inquiry shall be limited to 15 minutes per person. The public is also informed that the inquiry which is opened to the public is scheduled [to commence on the 2nd and 3rd July 2019, at the Gustavus Lightbourne Sport Complex, Providenciales, from 4pm to 8pm.”
FortisTCI in multiple official reports and public meetings explained that the request for the rate increase was largely as a result of the catastrophic impact of Hurricanes Irma and Maria on electricity infrastructure nationwide.
“The rate variation application seeks to restore the company to a stable financial position following the impact of the 2017 hurricanes. The financial impact on FortisTCI of Hurricanes Irma and Maria is estimated at $42 million.”
In considering the rate variation application, the Government explains that consumers are classed in two categories: Residential and All Others. The rate increase request is between 5.5 percent and 5.7 percent for residential customers and for All Others, the increase is requested at 7.9 percent.
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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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