TCI News
Tourism Environmental Awareness Month Commences in Turks & Caicos
#Providenciales, November 7, 2019 – Turks and Caicos – The Turks & Caicos Islands Tourist Board in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Environment, Heritage, Maritime, Gaming and Disaster Management commemorated the commencement of Tourism Environmental Awareness Month (T.E.A.M.) at a press conference on November 4, 2019 at the Office of the Premier in Providenciales. The Tourist Board will celebrate for the final year under the theme ‘Tourism Is Key, It Starts With Me’.
Senior officials of the Tourist Board including Chairman Adelphine Higgs-Pitter and Acting Director of Tourism Mary Lightbourne were joined by executives of the Hotel and Tourism Association to officially declare Tourism Environmental Awareness Month open.
During the press conference, the Clement Howell High School was announced as the winner of the annual Tourism Song Competition. The competition, which was issued to public and private high schools throughout the Turks & Caicos Islands, tasked students with composing an original song based on the theme ‘Tourism Is Key, It Starts With Me’.
Training Manager of the Tourist Board Ms. E. Blythe Clare used the occasion to announce the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s (CTO) Tourism Education for the Caribbean E-Learning Series. The E-Learning Series will be introduced to government primary schools in the Turks and Caicos Islands this year and to private primary schools in 2020. A copy of the educational software was presented to Minister of Education Hon. Karen Malcolm. The objective of the E-Learning Series is to create national awareness of the value of tourism as well as allow for the promotion and protection of the Turks and Caicos Islands and Caribbean’s identity and develop in its youth a sense of pride and confidence in projecting the unique image of the Caribbean.
Chairman of the Tourist Board Adelphine Higgs-Pitter touted the growth in visitor arrivals for the destination. She stated, “We had an overall 18% increase in visitors seeing 1.4 million arrivals in 2018 to our shores. Together with our partners and stakeholders we are committed to working to increase those numbers.”
Acting Director of Tourism Mary Lightbourne gave a brief overview of scheduled events and encouraged the public to join the Tourist Board as we journey throughout Turks and Caicos Islands spreading awareness of the importance of tourism. She assured the public that the Tourist Board team would be making an appearance on each Sister Island during the month. She further commented, “This is a period where we sensitive the population about the importance of our environment and tourism as we focus on sustainability and on our people, our product and our partnerships. It is our objective to create tourism and environmental awareness among our people that will positively improve the Turks and Caicos Islands for the pleasure and livelihoods of its citizens and the delight and comfort of our many visitors. At the same time, helping each other to understand and appreciate tourism and the impact it has on the Turks and Caicos Islands”.
The highlights of the Tourism Environmental Awareness Month calendar include:
· Tourism Fair at the Raymond Gardiner High School on November 12th from 10am to 2pm
· Tourism Fair at the Marjorie Basden High School on November 14th from 10am to 2pm
· Sustainable Tourism Symposium on November 19th (invitation only event)
· Youth Congress (Junior Minister of Tourism Competition) on November 20th at the Gustarvus Lightbourne Sports Complex beginning at 10am
· Turks and Caicos Islands Community College Open House on November 22nd from 10am to 2pm
Follow the Turks and Caicos Tourist Board’s public relations unit via its Facebook page ‘Turks and Caicos Tourist Board Press’ or Instagram @tcitbpr for updates and information on all T.E.A.M. events.
Release: TCI Tourist Board
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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