TCI News
TCI: Mangrove Planting at Social Media On The Sand
#Providenciales, October 31, 2019 – Turks and Caicos – As part of efforts to increase the resilience of the Turks and Caicos coastline, approximately 25 guests of the Beaches Resort recently joined the Turks and Caicos National Trust and the Sandals Foundation to plant 100 mangroves at Little Water Cay.
The initiative formed part of environmental awareness activities at the Beaches Resorts’ recently held event, Social Media On The Sand.
Executive Director of Sandals Foundation, Heidi Clarke was delighted to have the participants, which included parents and social media influencers take part in the environmental conservation activity.
“We are super excited to have our (Beaches) moms and influencers join us as we work to increase the mangrove coverage along the coastline in Turks and Caicos. Over the years, a major focus of our environmental work has been in marine and coastal protection and conservation. We welcome all guests to share in these projects as we strive to positively impact the precious environment upon which we rely.”
Mangroves are a great network of filters to purify water sources, they are a strong defense mechanism against storm surges, flood and wind and are home to juvenile fish, crab, shrimp and mollusc species.
While speaking at the recent planting exercise, Winema Sanders Penn, Director at the Turks and Caicos National Trust encouraged more nationals to join the conservation efforts by planting mangroves.
“Mangroves are amazing for protecting our coastline, ensuring our environment is safe for future generations. We encourage everyone to go out and plant some mangroves, and if you do not know how to, come down to the National Trust and we will teach you. ”
The recent mangrove restoration activity forms part of a wider marine conservation program executed by the Sandals Foundation across the Caribbean. Last year, the Foundation partnered with the Grenada Fund for Conservation to out plant close to one thousand mangroves at various locations across the country.
The Foundation manages two fully operational marine sanctuaries and supports five others in Jamaica. It supports coral nursery restoration activities in St. Lucia, Jamaica and the Turks and Caicos as well as spearhead awareness and educational programs in all 7 countries in which it operates.
Release: Sandals Resorts
Sandals Foundation:
The Sandals Foundation is a non-profit organization launched in March 2009 to help Sandals Resorts International continue to make a difference in the Caribbean. All costs associated with administration and management is supported by Sandals International so that 100% of every dollar donated goes directly towards funding impactful and meaningful initiatives within the key areas of Education, Community and Environment.
Captioned Photos – Beaches moms, dads and social media influencers join the Turks and Caicos National Trust and the Sandals Foundation to plant 100 mangroves at Little Water Cay. The initiative formed part of environmental awareness activities at the Beaches Resorts’ recently held event, “Social Media On The Sand”.
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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