TCI News
TCI: ‘Wheelanders’ fed-up with toxic air from dump site
#Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – September 27, 2019 — Even right now the air is stink; putrid with the smell of a mix of garbage and smoke and residents are threatening to protest in the name of good health and quality living for themselves and their families.
“The situation is getting worse. The disposal of waste is polluting the air we breathe and they have no alternative to get rid of the waste here.”
A comment from a resident of Belglade Parker Gardens, who like many of her neighbours, no longer believe the dump is plagued by surrounding coal kilns or spot fires within it. This resident, a mother of four, believes the dump is being lit to cope with the overwhelming amounts of rubbish coming in from across the fast-developing island of Providenciales.
Photographs used to support the comments of this news report were shared with Magnetic Media by a male home owner of the community; he prefers to remain anonymous.
The home owners of the phase one affordable housing are getting the worst of the smoke, they especially from dusk to dawn.
“Last night was the worst. I turned on my A/c and my entire bedroom was in smoke. I’m ready to work on my placard to go protest if need be.”
The woman says her son is coughing continuously now. She too has developed sinusitis since last September as a result of the consistent burning of the dump, she said. “The slightest smoke and other air particles trigger my sinus. I have no recourse, no one is responsible enough to take charge of this recurring plight.”
The sentiments of this resident are common and have been taken to government officials before. In fact, a meeting was granted to residents of both Belglade Parker Gardens and Millennium Heights, where Minister of Health, Edwin Astwood and his Permanent Secretary, Desiree Lewis were present with the Environmental Health Director, Kenrick Neely and the Member of Parliament, Delroy Williams. At the time, the MP was acting Premier.
Among the actions which were to be taken as a result of the meeting, which was held at the Office the Premier in Providenciales in November 2018, was an air quality test.
It was also in 2018 that the Turks and Caicos Island Cabinet approved a loan for a solid waste management consultancy through the Caribbean Development Bank.
Member of Parliament for Wheeland, Delroy Williams has informed Magnetic Media that over the weekend government officials, including the Premier Sharlene Robinson, will update the thousands of residents affected by the toxic air, on a resolution.
The Providenciales landfill or dump is currently being managed by the Ministry of Health after the contract for Turks and Caicos Environmental Management expired as of October 28, 2018. ((CORRECTED))
TCIG knew from April that fuel factor could surge almost 80%; Minister says $500 cost-of-living payment was part of Government’s response
PROVIDENCIALES — The Turks and Caicos Government knew months before July’s shocking electricity bills that consumers faced a potentially massive increase in the fuel factor.
Minister of Information Technology and Energy E. Jay Saunders revealed Friday that Pelican Energy warned his Ministry in April that generation fuel costs were projected to rise from $3.09 per gallon in May to $4.79 in June and July.
That translated into a projected fuel factor jump from about 17.5 cents to 31 cents per kilowatt-hour — an increase of almost 80%.
Saunders said he personally advised Cabinet of the projected increase and presented options for cushioning the impact.
He characterised Government’s $500 cost-of-living payment as its “initial response” to rising fuel costs, before a separate fuel-factor subsidy was approved.
Cabinet records show Government agreed on June 24 to provide funding to mitigate the fuel-factor impact, with the relief programme approved July 8.
Eligible residential customers — those averaging less than $1,500 monthly over the previous three bills — are capped at 22 cents per kWh from July through October.
Pelican confirmed Friday that Government’s contribution was already applied to July bills, meaning the bills now triggering widespread public outrage would have been even higher without the subsidy.
Saunders did not disclose the programme’s total cost.
His admission that Government knew since April, however, raises another question amid the backlash: why were consumers not directly warned by Government about the scale of the approaching increase?
PROVIDENCIALES — New commercial Crown Land applications are facing a six-month pause as the Turks and Caicos Islands Government takes inventory of its holdings.
During Cabinet meetings held July 15 and 16, an immediate six-month moratorium was approved on the acceptance, processing
and approval of new applications for commercial Crown Land grants, leases and allocations.
The pause will remain in place pending completion of the Crown Land Inventory Review. Cabinet’s summary did not state what prompted the review or indicate whether availability of commercial Crown Land is a concern.
The two-day meeting also advanced major consumer legislation. Cabinet approved the National Fair Competition Policy 2026 and drafting instructions for a Fair Competition Ordinance, moving TCI toward stronger consumer protection and fair competition rules.
In Grand Turk, Cabinet approved rezoning land in the North West Suburbs from low-density to medium-density residential use to facilitate a new apartment development.
Cabinet also advanced fisheries reforms, water legislation allowing private and public-private investment, minerals legislation and appointments across tourism, health and finance.
Progress toward establishing a TCI Credit Union was also noted.
PROVIDENCIALES — Major development projects outside Providenciales received Cabinet attention on July 8, with Government approving agreements connected to the redevelopment of Dellis Cay and a resort development in North Caicos.
Cabinet approved a Development Agreement between the Turks and Caicos Islands Government, Desarrollos Hotelco DC Ltd. and
Desarrollos Hotelco Astoria Ltd. for the redevelopment of Dellis Cay.
The long-discussed private island development sits between Providenciales and North Caicos and its return to Cabinet signals another step toward redevelopment.
Cabinet also approved amendments to an agreement involving SPR LND Ltd. (Royal Reef) and TCIG Development Agreement for a resort/hotel development in North Caicos.
Other decisions included approval of the First Supplementary Appropriation Bill 2026 for onward transmission and the appointment of Cindy Ewing as Chair of the Invest TCI Board, effective August 1 for three years.
Cabinet also noted consultation outcomes concerning changes to business licensing, approved professional membership expenses for qualifying Telecommunications Commission staff and approved advice relating to the Interim Clinical and Estates Services PPP.
The July 8 meeting was chaired by Acting Governor Anya Williams.
Photo Credit: Royal Reef (Keith)
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