TCI News
TCI: No dedicated manager, no consultation started as Provo dump smoke blamed for another wretched night in NW Provo
#Providenciales, October 3, 2019 – Turks and Caicos – The dump contract with TCEM should never have been allowed to expire without a new company identified to take over management of the site which is laden with worrisome problems; it is the perspective of many residents suffering sickening smoke from the property adjacent their homes.
It is unclear which is fuming more; the residents of northwestern Providenciales, the dump itself or the illegal fires being lit near it.
Government, nearly one year after allowing the Turks and Caicos Environmental Management (TCEM) contract to expire, still has no company to take over proper management of the solid waste facility.
There has also been no plan shared either about the repeated problem of fires in the surrounding bushes of the Provo landfill.
Illegal people camp out in these bushes and they are reportedly setting up coal kilns.
The dump or landfill has been plagued lately with spot fires and residents are in fear for their health.
It has also been a year since the Caribbean Development Bank loan was approved at Cabinet. The CDB, is to facilitate consultative expertise when it comes to solid waste management nationwide in the Turks and Caicos.
There are garbage management issues on just about every ‘Beautiful by Nature’ Turks and Caicos Island.
Salt Cay, South Caicos, North Caicos, Grand Turk and Providenciales dumping grounds have all been a subject of news reports in recent years.
Magnetic Media research has found that Grenada is also on the receiving end of help from the Caribbean Development Bank when it comes to solid waste management. A consultation job was originally due to recommend a way forward for Grenada between March 2015 and September 2016.
It has taken four years for that project to get off the ground and three years later, in 2019 the job was re-ordered by the CDB with a new deadline for bids on the project advertised as this past May.
Years later and Grenada is no closer to a solution because there is simply too much waste coming in and nowhere to relocate the outgrown space, according to Myrna Julien, Senior Public Relations Officer with the Grenada Solid Waste Management Authority in speaking to Now Grenada news in September 2018.
Residents of the two Wheeland communities are now also questioning the location of the dump site in Providenciales. These residents are convinced it was the dump which, last night polluted the air and filtered into homes where windows were opened or air-conditioning was used.
The PDM Administration had promised a comment on the weekend; that comment came today and informed that there was a tour of the property on October 1, by acting Health Minister and Premier, Sharlene Robinson and Delroy Williams, MP or Wheeland.
The comment, issued this morning also invited residents to a community meeting on Thursday October 3, 2019 at 6:30pm at Kingdom Dominion International Church in Millennium Heights commercial complex.
Premier Sharlene Robinson in her Mid-Term Address in January 2019 said that: “…As we are now embarking on a joint CDB/TCIG funded consultancy on Solid Waste, we await the findings before determining the Body to govern waste management.”
That was nine months ago and residents have boldly expressed in various WhatsApp chat groups and to their House of Assembly representative, Delroy Williams, that they are fed up and ready to see a change in the conditions at and around the Providenciales Landfill.
#magneticmedianews
#provodumpfires
Photo Captions:
Header: Photo by Belglade Parker Gardens resident, taken September 25, 2019.
Insert: Billowing black smoke from Saturday’s fire. (Magnetic Mdia photo)
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.”
TCI News
Experience Turks and Caicos and Aquila Host Product Development Workshops to Strengthen Sister Islands Tourism
PROVIDENCIALES, TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS – Experience Turks and Caicos, in collaboration with the Aquila Center for Cruise Excellence, successfully hosted a Product Development Workshop for tourism stakeholders from North Caicos, Middle Caicos, and South Caicos on Wednesday, January 14 and Thursday, January 15, 2026.
The workshop was designed to support tour operators, entrepreneurs, and tourism-related businesses as they adapt to the evolving demands of the global tourism industry. Participants engaged in hands-on exercises and structured sessions aimed at reimagining existing tourism products and developing new, innovative, and sustainable experiences that are market-ready and aligned with current visitor expectations.
Throughout the workshop, attendees were equipped with practical tools and strategies to develop high-impact tourism offerings, strengthen
product packaging and pricing, assess market readiness, and enhance value creation. Emphasis was also placed on collaboration, partnership development, and the promotion of sustainable practices to ensure that the Turks and Caicos Islands remain a fresh, competitive, and appealing destination. More than 20 participants representing tourism businesses across the islands took part in the training sessions.
“Experience Turks and Caicos has a responsibility to ensure that all communities across the Turks and Caicos Islands benefit from tourism. These workshops are designed to equip local businesses with the essential tools and knowledge needed to maximise the opportunities within the industry, and we look forward to supporting their continued growth,” said Mr. Paul Pennicook, Interim CEO Consultant.
Speaking on the importance of the initiative, Candesha Mills the Product Development Manager at Experience Turks and Caicos said: “We are actively working on destination development by supporting our stakeholders as they reimagine their products and experiences. Workshops like this are critical to helping businesses identify opportunities for collaboration, create bundled offerings, and develop cohesive tourism experiences that align with emerging trends and evolving visitor expectations.”
The workshops were facilitated by Ms. Ambra Attus, who guided participants through strategies for designing distinctive and engaging tourism experiences that resonate with today’s travellers.
She said: “Product development is where destinations truly define their identity, and these trainings are designed to help operators in North, Middle and South Caicos create experiences that are not only market-ready, but meaningful, high-quality, and rooted in what makes these islands truly special. These sessions reflect a forward-thinking commitment by Experience Turks and Caicos to invest in their people and in the long-term quality of the destination’s tourism product. Aquila is proud to be your training partner.”
The workshop also featured the Invest TCI MSME Team, who were on site with an information station available throughout both sessions. Stakeholders had the opportunity to engage directly with the team, gain insights into the MSME Programme, and learn more about the range of support services, incentives, and resources available to assist business growth and development.
Experience Turks and Caicos commended participants for their commitment to investing in their businesses and contributing to the continued enhancement of the destination’s tourism product. The organisation expressed appreciation for the active participation and innovative ideas shared during the session, which are expected to contribute meaningfully to the sustainable growth of tourism in North and Middle Caicos and South Caicos.
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Thursday, 5 February 2026: The Informal Settlements Unit (ISU), in collaboration with
partner agencies, coordinated a multi-agency enforcement exercise on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at Silverado Wells in Five Cays. 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 Immigration and Border Services, 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 an illegal concrete structure on the subject parcel. In keeping with the provisions of the Crown Land Ordinance, a Section 22 Notice of Illegal Occupation was posted on the structure. Following the failure of the responsible party or parties to comply within the prescribed timeframe, enforcement action was authorised.
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.
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News3 days agoThe Department of Trade, Industry & Fair Competition to Host Export Readiness Workshop Under the theme “Empowering TCI Businesses for Local Growth and Global Markets.”
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TCI News5 days agoExperience Turks and Caicos and Aquila Host Product Development Workshops to Strengthen Sister Islands Tourism