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Turks and Caicos Post Cabinet Meeting Statement

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#Providenciales, 24 December, 2019 – Turks and Caicos THis Excellency the Governor, Nigel Dakin, chaired the 31st meeting of the Cabinet on Wednesday 18th December, at the Hilly Ewing Building, Providenciales. 

All Ministers were in attendance.

At this meeting Cabinet:

·         Approved a development agreement between BELB East Development Ltd and the TCI Government for the construction of beach cottages and a boutique resort on Beach Enclave, Providenciales;

·         Approved a development agreement between Windward Long Bay Ltd and the TCI Government for the construction of a mixture of ocean homes, lagoon villas, boat houses and condominiums on Long Bay, Providenciales and further action for TCI Government;

·         Approved the appointment of Mrs Mary Doreen Quelch-Missick as President of the Labour Tribunal for a period three years with effect from 1 January 2020 and further action to handle outstanding applications;

·         Welcomed and discussed a Criminal Justice Stakeholder’s Group Strategic Plan and Actin Plan 2020-2023;

·         Approved a paper setting out pre-emptive visa conditions for Venezuelan nationals and discussed the need for the Minister of Immigration to review the Ministry’s 2018 policy on Venezuelans in response to the recent update to the UNHRC Guidance Note on the Outflow of Venezuelans;

·         Approved a 99 year lease to Desarrollos Hotelsco Turks and Caicos Ltd. for Crown Land Parcels 60905/214, 215 and 60906/227 on Leeward Going Through, Providenciales;

·         Approved for Crown Land parcel 60003/231 at Northwest and North Central Providenciales to go out to tender for the development of a public cemetery;

·         Approved for Crown Land Parcel 61113/341, Providenciales to go out to tender;

·         Approved a request from the Airports Authority to reallocate existing funds ($250,000) from within its FY 2019/20 Capital Budget;

·         Approved a variation to the terms of a lease of Crown Land Parcels 20313/22, 23 and 24 on South Caicos offered to Fortis TCI Ltd. in accordance with the 1986 Take Over Agreement;

·         Approved a three year lease for accommodation on Providenciales for HE the Governor with effect from 1 January 2020;

·         Welcomed an Information Paper on the stony coral disease and discussed in-depth the need for urgent decision on recommended treatments to the disease;

·         Informed of waivers granted for the quarter July to September 2019 under the Public Procurement ordinance, Section 21;

·         Agreed on amendments required to the proposed Notary Public Bill for consideration by Cabinet early in the New Year;

·         Discussed in-depth a paper on the FortisTCI Rate Variation Application and agreed on next steps early in the New Year;

·         Noted a draft Population Policy report dated December 2019;

·         Approved an application from Jamal Williams for a license to use the parking lot at the Lighthouse on Grand Turk to host an annual Christmas event;

·         Approved planning application PR 12606 by Emerald Point Ltd. to remove and replace three existing T-head groynes with a single terminal groyne in Leeward Marina, Providenciales;

·         Approved a request from the Integrity Commission to reallocate existing funds ($170,000) from within its FY 2019/20 budget;

·         Approved a lease agreement of the Franklyn Missick Buildings on Grand Turk for a period of two years for use by the Ministry of Education;

·         Were informed of issues affecting the ferry service between Providenciales and Parrot Cay and agreed urgent action required;

·         Discussed the issue of fires at the municipal waste facility on Providenciales and urgent action required;

Further information on these matters will be provided by Ministers in due course.

Release: TCIG

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Fredrico Johnson Appointed to Permanent Secretary

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Turks and Caicos, November 2, 2024 – The Office of the Deputy Governor is excited to announce the appointment of Fredrico Johnson to Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Mr. Johnson is a distinguished senior management leader with over ten years of experience in both public and private sectors.  Most recently, he served as Deputy Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Home Affairs, where he directed the development and implementation of essential policies, ensured public service accountability, and promoted strategic initiatives focused on talent development and succession planning. His contributions to policy development included leading a delegation to the Bahamas for insights into a local government policy initiative and addressing public service backlogs, which greatly enhanced operational efficiency.

Additionally, Mr. Johnson previously served as District Commissioner, managing government services, projects, and financial planning on the island while collaborating with various government departments to deliver critical community services.

Currently, Mr. Johnson is pursuing a Master of Science in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Walden University (expected 2025) and holds a Bachelor of Science in Management with a concentration in International Business from Johnson & Wales University. His ongoing professional development includes certifications in emergency management, urban search and rescue, and results-driven development.

In response to his appointment, Mr. Johnson shared his thoughts: “I am deeply honoured and humbled to be appointed as the Permanent Secretary within the Ministry of Home Affairs. This role presents an incredible opportunity to serve our nation and its people, and I am driven by the belief that we must let our passion drive our success. I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to my support system and mentors, who have offered encouragement, guidance, and prayers throughout the years. Their unwavering support has been invaluable on this journey. A special thank you goes to Permanent Secretary James Astwood for his exemplary leadership over the past few years. His dedication and commitment have laid a strong foundation for us to build upon. I am also grateful to our Deputy Governor for her visionary approach, which has provided young leaders in the public service with the platform to grow, flourish, and lead. To the entire team, I am excited to work alongside you as we continue progressing and enhancing our ministry’s service to the public. Together, I am confident we will achieve great things.”

H.E. Anya Williams, Deputy Governor and Head of the Public Service, expressed her congratulations, stating, “It is with great enthusiasm that I congratulate Mr. Johnson on his appointment to Permanent Secretary. Throughout his career, he has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership and a deep commitment to public service. He assisted in leading strategic initiatives that not only improved operational efficiency but also significantly elevated the level of service within the Ministry of Home Affairs. I have every confidence that he will bring the same dedication and innovative thinking to this new role, and I look forward to witnessing the continued positive impact he will have on the Ministry and the public service at large.

Congratulations to Mr. Johnson on your well-deserved promotion”.

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Edgar Howell appointed as Deputy Secretary

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Turks and Caicos, November 2, 2024 – The Office of the Deputy Governor is delighted to announce the appointment of Mr Edgar Howell as the new Deputy Secretary within the Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports, and Culture.

Mr. Howell brings a rich educational background, holding an Associates Degree in Biology from the College of the Bahamas (now the University of the Bahamas), a Bachelor’s Degree in Zoology and Biochemistry from the University of the West Indies, and a Master’s Degree with distinction in Education Management. He embodies the philosophy that “Education is a lifelong journey,” continually pursuing professional development opportunities that enhance his skills and benefit his responsibilities.

Most recently, Mr. Howell served as Director of Education for fifteen years, following a five-year tenure as Deputy Director of Education. His extensive experience also includes four years of teaching Math, Chemistry, and Integrated Science at Clement Howell High School and one year as Head Teacher at Oseta Jolly Primary School.

Mr. Edgar Howell shared his thoughts on his new role, “Stephen Covey advised – ‘You have to decide what your highest priorities are and have the courage—pleasantly, smilingly, non-apologetically, to say ‘no’ to other things. And the way you do that is by having a bigger ‘yes’ burning inside.’ I accepted that my bigger yes is to nation-building and focused on education and families. While this appointment as Deputy Permanent Secretary includes wider TCIG responsibilities, my values of Faith, Family, Patriotism, and Stewardship keep my bigger yes well aligned. My parents instilled a belief that ‘a charge to keep have I, a God to glorify…’ As always, I lean on the promise of Isaiah 41:10 – ‘So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

E. Anya Williams, Deputy Governor and Head of the Public Service expressed her confidence in Mr. Howell’s capabilities, stating, “I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Mr. Howell on his new appointment. His unwavering dedication to the education sector over many years, coupled with his passion for nurturing the potential of our youth, is truly commendable. We eagerly look forward to the contributions he will further bring to our educational initiatives and the positive impact he will make in fostering the development of our community and the bright future of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Congratulations, Mr Howell, on your well-deserved promotion.”

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Turks and Caicos Cruise Tourism Earns US$116 million for 2023/2024  

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PROVIDENCIALES, TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS  – Cruise Tourism in the Turks and Caicos Islands is booming, earning the destination a whopping US $116 million over the 2023/2024 period.

A new Business Research & Economic Advisors (BREA) report entitled “The Economic Contribution of Cruise Tourism to the Destination Economies, a Survey-based Analysis of the Impacts of Passenger, Crew and Cruise Line Spending” revealed that passenger and crew visits along with additional expenditures by the cruise lines and the destination itself generated a total of US$116.1 million in cruise tourism expenditure during the 2023/2024 cruise year.

The expenditure supported direct employment of 1,197 residents of the Turks and Caicos Islands paying $21.8 million in annual wages.

Quoting data collected from the Ministry of Tourism, the report said 945,040 cruise passengers arrived aboard cruise ships during the 2023/2024 cruise year. Of these, an estimated 796,670 passengers (84%) disembarked and visited the Grand Turk destination where the cruise port is located.

Utilising additional industry data and visiting cruise lines, the survey said 288,515 crew were aboard the cruise ships and 30 percent, or 87,710 crew, disembarked and visited the destination.

The report noted that passenger arrivals are up 15 percent from the last study in 2017/18.

“This is fantastic news, particularly for Grand Turk, our cruise capital,” said Minister of Tourism, the Hon. Josephine Connolly in response to the results of the surveys. “I am very proud of the work that our taxi drivers, tour operators, vendors and suppliers have been doing in Grand Turk to enhance the service and offerings to all who visit our shores. They have shown a commitment to truly develop the cruise industry and it is paying off.”

The Minister said that the Ministry of Tourism and Experience Turks and Caicos have been supporting tourism stakeholders in Grand Turk through a variety of initiatives.

“Through the TIDES programme from the Department of Tourism, we are ensuring that everyone is knowledgeable about the destination and can operate at a high standard. Experience Turks and Caicos recently held two workshops in collaboration with the Aquila Centre for Cruise Excellence in Product Development and Vendor Excellence for the cruise industry and the team has been working on developing new products such as Taste of Turks and Caicos which will introduce our enticing cuisine to cruise passengers every Thursday from November 7th as well as enhancing existing products with signage and maps,” Minister Connolly said.

The FCCA report is based on results from a survey conducted among passenger and crew onboard ships of member cruise lines. The surveys were undertaken during the eight-month period beginning in October 2023 and ending in May 2024 and were distributed onboard the ships via QR codes. Guests and crew completed the surveys online and they were only surveyed once during a cruise itinerary.

The survey found that passengers accounted for the group that spent the most followed by crew and cruise lines and destinations. For the entire 2023/2024 cruise year, the estimated 791,730 cruise passengers who disembarked and spent a total of US$81.4 million.

Passengers spent 73 percent of their onshore expenditure on shore excursions, watches and jewelry, and food and beverages.

Crew spent money on food and beverages, clothing, and other purchases which accounted for 74 percent of their onshore spending. For the entire 2023/2024 cruise year, the estimated 95,780 crew who went ashore and visited Grand Turk spent an estimated total of $4.5 million ($US).

Cruise lines made payments to local businesses for a variety of goods and services, including payments for port fees and taxes, navigation services, utilities and other supplies. The destination itself had employees and employee wages related to its cruise operations. Based upon data provided by the FCCA member cruise lines and the destination, the report estimates that cruise lines and the Turks and Caicos Islands itself were responsible for approximately $30.2 million in direct spending during the 2023/2024 cruise year.

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