TCI News
Slow down! TC Reef Fund launches ‘more consultation time’ petition on oil exploration
#Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – October 18, 2020 — For those on the front line of environmental protection and preservation, the Turks and Caicos Islands Government is moving too rapidly toward creating legislation which allows petroleum or oil exploration in TCI waters and on TCI land; over 600 people have so far signed a petition to extend the time and improve the consultation process.
In a poorly promoted process, residents of the Turks and Caicos Islands are asked to comment on the legislation which remains unavailable at the government’s website.
On October 1 the invitation for public consultation was issued by email and posted to the TCI government website. The consultation process was due to expire on October 14 according to the notice issued by the Department of Energy & Utilities of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Many question whether there is any real interest in public input when there was no public education, no public or official announcement about the consideration of oil exploration and when the Bill is nowhere to be found.
The Turks and Caicos Reef Fund, in a letter to authorities, made a case against the rapid pace and missing information toward the consultation process of such an environmentally invasive and potentially damaging industry.
“Firstly, two weeks is not a sufficient amount of time to allow for true public consultation and understanding of the proposed Bill. Furthermore, there is no copy of the Draft Bill available for download anywhere on the Government’s website. Only through multiple contacts working together was I able to get a copy of the Draft Bill. Without access to the information, there is no ‘public consultation’. I am now aware that it was printed in the recent copy of the Weekly News which was published on the 10th October, giving anyone who purchased the paper 4 days to digest the Bill.”
The Turks and Caicos Reef Fund also believes the Bill, if one gets their hands on a copy, is difficult to digest.
“I have some top notch environmental lawyers reading the bill and making comments so that we the people can understand. TCIG should give us a digestible version of the Bill as, I’m not a lawyer and it’s a dense 43 page document! The stakeholders are fishermen and people working in watersports, I doubt they can understand this document either.”
The draft legislation called: Petroleum Exploration and Exploitation Bill 2020, essentially outlines what will be permitted to happen, who is allowed to enter the market and who will manage the industry.
Specifically the draft says: “This Ordinance applies to activities for and associated with the search for and recovery of petroleum in the territorial waters, exclusive economic zone, continental shelf and land of the Islands.”
A Commissioner, as is stated in the draft, will govern the industry with six key functions. Some of those functions are: “to consider and determine applications for licences; (b) monitor licensees and determine whether licensees are in compliance with the terms and conditions of the licences and this Ordinance and (c) to monitor the effectiveness of the Ordinance and any Regulations in providing for the supervision and regulation of the activities undertaken by the licensees within the islands to internationally accepted standards…” – Excerpt from draft Petroleum Exploration and Exploitation Draft Bill 2020.
Concerns may be calmed by the fact that the draft explicitly states, the exploration process does not include drilling and no exploration can take place in areas protected under the National Parks Ordinance.
Still, the distribution, access and mixed messages linked to the consultation on the draft law is sloppily done.
“Currently, as of mid-day on the 13th October 2020, there is an update on gov.tc stating that public consultation has been extended by a week. The information however is incongruous as it now says that there is a two-week on-line consultation from 1st October to 21st October, 2020 (this is a three-week period) whilst also saying that consultation has been extended by one week to the 21st November, 2020. This extension of time for public consultation has no meaning if the Draft Bill is not available and consultation meetings aren’t happening.”
The TC Reef Fund has reminded the Ministry of Home Affairs of best practices when it comes to consultation by outlining the guidance for conducting meaningful public consultation as crafted by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a recognized authority on environmental assessment and public consultation.
Among the eight actions shared with TCIG’s Ministry of Home Affairs are: identification and engagement with key stakeholder groups; provision of a workable strategy and timeframe to the public for the proposed project; provision of available information to give background of the proposal and a public information campaign which ensures affected people are aware and have sufficient time to respond.
Consultation should make the effort to reach out to specialty groups including women, vulnerable and religious groups and the process should include public meetings and hearings, surveys and polls and in the end, reflect the concerns of the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
PUBLIC NOTICE
FROM THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS BORDER FORCE
The Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) Border Force informs the yachting community and marina operators of a new requirement for using the SailClear platform. Effective 1 May 2024, the Caribbean Customs Law Enforcement Council (CCLEC) implemented a $25 annual subscription fee for SailClear users. This fee allows unlimited application submissions, helps improve service quality, and expands SailClear’s capabilities.
SailClear, introduced by the TCI Customs Department in February 2023, provides a secure and efficient platform for submitting electronic customs declarations. The annual subscription ensures continued investment in maintaining rigorous service standards including system reliability and efficient processing of notifications implement upgrades and to expand the services to additional maritime jurisdictions.
Pleasure craft operators are reminded that electronic pre-arrival and pre-departure notifications via SailClear are mandatory. The master of a vessel must electronically submit a Sailclear notification to Border Force at least 24 hours prior to the vessel’s estimated time of arrival at a port. Additionally, before departing, the master must submit a Sailclear clearance notification to Border Force at least 24 hours prior to the estimated departure time.
Failure to comply with these requirements constitutes an offence under the Customs Ordinance. Those found guilty of this offence will be subjected to a fine of $5000.
Important Reminder for Yacht and Watercraft Owners:
- Non-Registered Users: SailClear use is enforceable under section 5 of the Customs (Pleasure Craft) (Amendment) Direction 2022 (Legal Notice 82 of 2022). For those not yet subscribed to SailClear, visit sailclear.com and click “Subscribe Here” to follow the registration process.
- Pre-Arrival and Pre-Departure Notifications: All pleasure craft owners arriving or departing the Turks and Caicos Islands must submit pre-arrival/departure notifications to Border Force through SailClear. Failure to submit electronic notifications via SailClear constitutes an offense under the Customs Ordinance.
- For Inquiries: Contact support@cclec.org for further information or assistance.
This update ensures the continued efficiency and reliability of the SailClear platform, allowing for a seamless customs clearance experience for the yachting community in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
For all media enquiries, please contact:
Carlencia Lightbourne
Public Relations and Communications Officer
PRESS RELEASE
FROM THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Tuesday, 17 September 2024: On 4th September 2024, The Environmental Health Department commenced the first of several sessions of food handlers training for staff members of Beaches Resort and Spa. The training session was attended by 115 food handlers who received essential education and certification in safe food handling practices. The primary objective of the training was to ensure that all food handlers are knowledgeable in the standards for food safety, hygiene, and sanitation. These sessions are crucial for minimising the risks of foodborne illnesses, maintaining high standards of food
safety, and ensuring a safe dining experience for all customers.
The training covered a wide range of topics, including proper food storage, personal hygiene, cross-contamination prevention, and safe cooking temperatures. Participants engaged in interactive sessions and practical demonstrations of proper handwashing techniques to ensure they fully understood the importance of their role in maintaining food safety. The Environmental Health Department commends Beaches Resort and Spa for their ongoing dedication to food safety and their willingness to work collaboratively to achieve these goals.
All food establishments, which include restaurants, bakeries, catering, mobile food vendors, retail and wholesale food stores, will be required to have workers with a certified food handlers permit issued by the Environmental Health Department upon completion of the food handlers training programme. The Environmental Health Department will continue to offer training programmes to these various establishments, ensuring that food handlers across the Turks and Caicos Islands are equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to uphold public health standards.
For more information on food safety training, upcoming sessions or to organise training for your organisation, please contact the Environmental Health Department at Tel. 338-2142/2143/2144 or email us at EHD@gov.tc.
PRESS RELEASE
FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND COASTAL RESOURCES
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 17th September 2024 – In honour of Interantional Coastal Clean-up Day, on Saturday the Turks and Caicos Islands proudly participated in the 11th annual nation-wide initiative to protect its pristine coastlines and marine ecosystems. Residents, students, businesses and community groups joined the Department of Environment & Coastal Resources (DECR) for a day of action aimed at preserving the natural beauty that makes our Islands a global treasure. 
Organised by the DECR the clean-up day saw volunteers combing beaches, bays and mangroves to remove plastic debris, fishing gear and other pollutants harmful to wildlife and coral reefs.
Minister of Tourism and the Environment, Hon. Josephine Connolly, applauded the enthusiasm of the volunteers, noting the event’s importance: “The Turks and Caicos Islands are renowned for our stunning coastlines and vibrant marine life. Protecting these resources is not just about today – it is about ensuring that future generations can enjoy the beauty and biodiversity of our islands. The outpouring of support from the community demonstrates how deeply we care for our environment”.
In Providenciales the Bight Park Beach Day was a resounding success this past weekend, bringing together families, friends, and organisations working towards a safer and healthier environment for us all. Hosted at the scenic Bight Park, the event was a fun-filled day of beach clean-up, activities, music, and environmental awareness.
Sponsored by the DECR, the day highlighted the importance of preserving the Islands’ natural beauty – this was beautifully expressed through the official unveiling of the new mural, TheOctopus Garden, painted by volunteer Hernan Jurado Quintero (Visions4Nature), and sponsored by Andaz Resort and Grace Bay Paint and Supply. 
The DECR would like to extend a big thank you to Dive Provo and Experience TCI for sponsoring great prizes! The Department would also like to thank the following organisations for assisting in making the Bight Park Beach Day great success:
– Department of Agriculture
– Department of Gender Affairs
– Department of Youth Affairs
– Red Cross TCI
– Salt Raker Swim Club & the TCI Swim Federation
– Turks and Caicos Reef Fund
– Levenia Bishop
– Turks and Caicos National Trust
– TCI Whale Project
– TCI Turtle Project
International Coastal Clean-up Day, spearheaded by the Ocean Conservancy, is the world’s largest volunteer effort for ocean health. Each year, thousands of coastal communities around the globe participate in clean-up efforts to raise awareness of the importance of reducing marine litter and preserving the health of oceans.
For more information about how to get involved in future clean-up efforts or to learn more about sustainable practices in the TCI, please contact the DECR at environment@gov.tc or follow us on Instagram (@decrtci) or Facebook (@DECR Education and Outreach).
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