TCI News
Turks & Caicos Cyclists dominate Tour of Grand Bahama; Rodgers is 2020 Champion
#Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – February 2020 — The 6th Annual Tour of Grand Bahama was held in Freeport Grand Bahama on the 1st and 2nd February 2020. This was a three stage race that included a 3.5 miles individual time trial followed by a 40 miles Circuit race on 1st February with a 62 miles and 86 miles road race for Masters and Elite categories respectively on 2nd February. This championship saw participants from across the Bahama islands as well as Canada and Trinidad and Tobago.
Team TCI consisted of 3 cyclist competing over 2 categories. They included 2019 defending Champion Sean Rodgers who competed in the Elite 2 Category, Kavin Ewing and Devaughn Williams who both competed in the Masters Category. On day 1 of the competition, brothers Sean Rodgers and Devaughn Williams both captured 1st place in the Individual time trial and the 40 miles criterium race in their respective categories. Kavin Ewing came in a close second to Devaughn in both events.
On day 2 cyclist lined up for what turned out to be a very grueling race. This was due to the 24 Miles an Hour head wind as well as the level of competition at the event. The cyclist from Canada at the event was a semi-pro, former Olympian, while one of the Trinidad cyclist is the current National road race champion. The lineup also included the current Bahamas National Road race and Time trial champions.
From the beginning of the race there were attacks from the various cyclist, forcing the other competitors to give chase to reel them back in. This went on for the first 2 hours until finally the Canadian former champion made a breakaway, leaving the other competitors to battle for second place.
At the end of the race, Sean and Kavin finished first place in elite 2 and Masters categories respectively. Devaughn finished 2nd in the Masters category.
After all scores were tallied, Sean Rodgers is now the 2020 champion in the Elite category, with younger brother Devaughn Williams capturing 1st place and Kavin Ewing placing 2nd in the masters category.
TCCF President Shanwell Gardiner stated that this has been a historic performance by the TCCF cyclist, being able to match performances with champion cyclists from around the region and Canada. This is the direct results of lots of hard training and discipline by the TCCF cyclist. We will continue to train hard and make the TCI proud.
The TCCF would like to thank Mr Ralph Dietsche from CBMS, who donated generously to ensure that our team was successful. We will also like to thank the Ministry of sports who was able to donate four brand new TREK bicycles to assist the federation in jumpstarting our school cycling program. These bicycles are greatly appreciated.
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)
-
News1 week agoFacts According to the Turks & Caicos Premier About His Constitutional Amendments
-
News1 week ago80 DAYS. $80 MILLION. – PDM Demands Answers from Government
-
News1 week ago“The Contract is The Problem, Not The Hospitals”
-
News1 week ago
Premier Lays Out Cost of Hospital Dispute
-
News7 days agoPAY FIRST. QUESTION LATER.
-
Education1 week agoDr. Candice Williams Appointed First Vice-President of Regional Higher Education Association
-
Health3 days ago47,459 MEASLES CASES, 44 DEATHS ACROSS AMERICAS
-
News3 days agoELECTRICITY BILL SHOCKER: PELICAN ENERGY WARNED GOV’T