TCI News
Beaches Resort Turks and Caicos’ Upsurge Philanthropic Spirit
All-Inclusive resort increase its philanthropic efforts during COVID-19 Pandemic
#Providenciales, Turks and Caicos –May 29, 2020 – Beaches Resort, the leading All-Inclusive resort in Providenciales, may be closed but the hotel’s philanthropic reach and contribution to the Turks & Caicos community during the COVID-19 pandemic is still very active.
This week, the resort and its employees took to the streets to host a much-needed clean-up. Over 34 Team Members donated their exercise hour on Tuesday, May 26, 2020, to collect nearly 140 bags of garbage between Lower Bight, Royal Avenue and the public beach access road as well as the picnic area adjacent to the Key West Village.
Beaches Resort is no stranger to The Bight community clean-up initiative, and its Green Team has been active through the years in keeping that neighborhood clean, while sensitizing its members on the importance of a clean environment to the tourism product.
Beaches General Manager, Jamie McAnally, who joined the group in the early morning clean-up, said that he is incredibly proud of the team, especially during this challenging time and he applauded their commitment to not only the resort and its mandate, but also to The Bight community.
“I am very proud of the team and the contribution they have made to this clean-up, it’s good to know that even during this challenging time they still have the heart and the spirit to do something good for the community.”
McAnally continued, “The condition of the public beach access road and picnic area was quite disheartening, and in dire need of care, the amount of garbage collected in that small area was immense. As a community, we have to do better to protect this beautiful island. So, I encourage beachgoers to ‘pack out what you pack in’ and leave the area clean for others to enjoy.”
Beaches Resort has been increasing its philanthropic reach since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and has assisted its 1,800 plus team members with food and financial support to soften the economic downfall that has affected so many people in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Additionally, the resort has been an active contributor several locally run charitable organizations. Over 15 thousand pounds of food items have been donated to charities such as The Salvation Army, TCI Red Cross, The Soroptimist Club, The Provo Children’s Home and The Catholic Mission. These organizations assisted with distributing the donated items to the families that are most affected on Providenciales as well as the sister islands.
“The community clean-up and the meaningful donations show that the resort is keen on playing its part to taking care of and improving the community. We have been working closely with the local charities, who know the grounds and can identify the families that are most affected by the economic downturn of this pandemic,” McAnally continued, “We are excited to say that we have donated over 15 thousand pounds of food items to their pantries and we have seen our donations going to areas where they are needed the most. I am glad that we are able to make a difference through those organizations.”
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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