Connect with us

TCI News

TCHTA calls for resolution in Beaches Resort matter

Published

on

American Airlines arrives; July 22 marked reopening of TCI borders to tourism

#Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – October 21, 2020 – Since the reopening of the Turks and Caicos to international travel, opening day for the country’s largest employer and taxpayer has been a standout concern for many with the resort accounting for approximately 70% of long-stay visitor arrivals to Providenciales.

Airlift demand is highly dependent on its reopening and, sadly, other large properties have consequently delayed their re-openings. For those who have reopened their doors, small amounts of rooms are filled.  This, in turn, means a damning plight for the approximately 13,000 individuals employed by the hospitality industry.

Advertisement

Taxis remain off-line, a torrent of layoffs has been experienced, restaurants have opted to close their doors, and local musicians and craft vendors whose livelihoods are completely dependent on the local tourism industry have not earned anything in months. The vitality of the local industry hinges on the reopening of this property, and its continued closure translates to devastating fallout for the overall economy in Turks and Caicos. Turks and Caicos Islanders are ready to get back to work and be afforded the opportunity to adequately care for their families and households.

The effects of this unfortunate situation have the potential to be far-reaching. At an extremely fragile time where all Caribbean countries are fighting for the rebounding of their tourism product, travel partner confidence is essential. Unfortunately, this can be quickly lost with our partners, with frustrations being felt by those working diligently to sell Turks and Caicos to a limited market, only to have to manage cancellations with no real answers to provide to travelers.

Advertisement

The TCHTA is gravely concerned with the negative impact this may have, and fears that interest in the destination will wane as travelers’ attention is poached by destinations whose product is more accessible.

The Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association remains dedicated to the achievement of sustainable growth in tourism for the benefit of our members and the entire Turks and Caicos community. As such, the association is calling for an urgent resolution to this critical matter, and extend our unwavering support to all parties, offering any assistance we can provide. 

A valued, long-standing member of the TCHTA, Beaches Resort’s importance to the local economy and the tourism industry is undeniable. Over the years, Beaches has been an exceptional community partner, giving invaluable support through youth and mentorship programs, their marine conservation and protection efforts, their iCare program, direct support to local schools, and the much-needed support provided during times of crisis. Management has stated they remain confident that the matter can be brought to closure by month’s end and has emphasized that their commitment to the people and communities of Turks and Caicos has not waivered.

Advertisement

The TCHTA is not party to the details of the underpinnings of these legal issues and stands free from favor toward either side. The settling of this matter in an amicable way is paramount to the health and success of the industry and the economy, and we lend our full support to that end.

These past months have certainly brought with them challenges to the tourism sector and to the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands.  Through the collaborative efforts of TCHTA members and our partnership with the Government, we have made great strides in providing safe and sustainable responses to this global challenge, and are proud of programs like TCI Safe which have proven to yield continued confidence in the strength of brand TCI alongside TCIG’s robust protocols.

Turks and Caicos tourism is now seeing light at the end of the tunnel. At a time where many will seek to enjoy the upcoming season basking in the beauty of our shores, we encourage all parties involved to move to resolve this matter with expedience, and we are ready to help in whatever way possible.

PRESS RELEASE, the Turks & Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association

Magnetic Media is a Telly Award winning multi-media company specializing in creating compelling and socially uplifting TV and Radio broadcast programming as a means for advertising and public relations exposure for its clients.

Bahamas News

CARICOM Sec Gen speaks on Gender Based Violence

Published

on

Rashaed Esson

 

Staff Writer 

 

“Everyone must continue to invest in preventing violence against our women and girls (VAWG). It is an investment in our shared future,” were the words of Dr. Carla N. Barnett, CARICOM Secretary-General, as she reiterated the need for solutions against VAWG.

 

She called attention to VAWG as she gave a speech surrounding the annual campaign “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence,” which runs from November 25 to December 10, 2023.

 

Barnett expresses the well-known fact that VAWG is one of the most prevalent issues affecting all corners of society.

 

“VAWG remains one of the most pervasive forms of human rights violations in the world and cuts across all races, cultures, genders, and educational backgrounds,” she maintained, as she continued to point out the sad reality that this is still a major issue despite regional and global policies.

 

“Despite the existence of regional and global policies and legislation to combat VAWG, weak enforcement and discriminatory practices remain significant barriers to ending VAWG.”

 

The Secretary-General highlighted statistics for VAWG, bringing attention to how serious and embedded this issue is in society.

 

She said that globally, 736 million women—nearly one in three—have experienced violence—physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or even both.

 

For the Caribbean region, she said surveys conducted between 2016 and 2019 inform us that one in two women experience intimate partner violence, which is higher than the global average. 

 

In continuation, Barnett expressed that the campaign calls everyone to action against VAWG, including “development partners, civil society organizations, women’s organizations, youth, the private sector, and the media.”  Also, world governments are being asked to share how they are investing in gender-based violence prevention.

 

Ending her address, the Secretary-General urged everyone to wear the color orange for the duration of the campaign, as well as on the 25th of each month, “as a symbol of hope for a brighter future where women and girls live free from violence.”

Continue Reading

News

Sea Patrol Vessels Approved by Cabinet, October 11 Meeting

Published

on

#TurksandCaicos, November 25, 2023 – Her Excellency the Governor, Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam, chaired the 26th meeting of Cabinet on Wednesday, 11 October 2023 at the Governor’s Office, Providenciales.

All Members were present except the Hon. Josephine Connolly.

At this meeting Cabinet:

  • Approved the Consultation Report on the Proposed Amendments to the Turks and Caicos Islands Immigration Ordinance with amendments and agreed for the amended document to be brought back to Cabinet for final approval for onward submission to the House of Assembly.
  • Approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Turks and Caicos Islands Government (TCIG) and Geta Crew Holding Ltd. for a mixed use development project on the island of Grand Turk, with the view of entering into a Development Agreement as per the Encouragement of Development Ordinance and the National Investment Policy.
  • Approved the renewal of rental lease agreement, for various Government offices, between TCIG and Waterloo Property Management, Grand Turk.
  • Approved the awarding of the following contracts:
  • PN 005694, TR 23/13, Furniture and Equipment for NJS Francis Building; and
  • PN 005696, TR 22/10, Purchase of Patrol Vessels.
  • It noted the update from Her Excellency the Governor regarding the upcoming visit of UK Ministers to the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Continue Reading

News

Grand Turk Tourism Career & Entrepreneur Fair, Showcasing Jobs in the Industry  

Published

on

#TurksandCaicos, November 25, 2023 – The theme for Tourism Environmental Awareness Month is “Investing in Today for Tomorrow”. Students of the HJ Robinson High School in Grand Turk were given an opportunity on Tuesday, November 14th to learn about job opportunities in the tourism industry.

The students were part of the Tourism Career and Entrepreneurial Fair held at the Yellowman and Sons Auditorium. The career fair was the first of three that Experience Turks and Caicos is staging as part of Tourism Environmental Awareness Month. The other two will be held in South Caicos on November 21st and Providenciales on November 30th.

In her address, Minister of Tourism, the Honourable Josephine Connolly stressed that tourism is the biggest employer in the Turks and Caicos Islands and everything is related to the tourism industry.

“Over the past decade, we have enjoyed immense popularity. We have direct flights from the US every day, we have over 25 flights from the US into the Turks and Caicos Islands on a Saturday and sometimes on a Sunday. We have two direct flights from Europe, Virgin which started last Wednesday and we have British Airways twice a week. There are flights from Canada connecting us and we have flights connecting us in the Caribbean. We have Caicos Express and InterCaribbean,” she said.

“We have to prepare ourselves because we want our tourists to have the best experience from the time they arrive until the time they leave. The industry is changing, the skills are changing and it all matches what the travel and tourism industry needs.”

“Tourism accounts for a large percentage of the workforce and there are many other jobs and businesses that support the tourism industry like cleaning services, landscaping, banking, groceries, shipping companies, utility companies, lawyers and so many more. Although these organisations are not directly into tourism, tourism accounts for a significant portion of their business,” she said.

“Investing in Today for Tomorrow is not solely for economic growth but it is about investing in our environment, communities and most importantly investing in yourselves. Seek membership, acquire knowledge and never underestimate the power of perseverance.”

Also giving remarks was the Honourable Shaun Malcolm, Minister of Health and Human Services, who urged the students to take in everything they can learn.

“This is a great initiative. I had the privilege of working in the hotel industry, in the tourism industry for over 19 years so this is something that is very close and dear to my heart. The Minister of Tourism is working tirelessly every day to ensure that not only do we remain the envy of the Caribbean but that we bring our people along and I want you to know that we spent hours under her leadership as a Government working on improving every island and you will see in the not too distant future, many good things, big things coming to fruition. As the Minister said, Tourism is our business, it is our bread and basket and we don’t take that lightly,” he said.

In his remarks, Jamel Robinson, the Honourable Minister of Physical Planning and Infrastructure pointed out the careers that people would not normally associate with tourism.

“You have your firemen, you have your Airports Authority, you have Invest TCI, the police and many others, because we all work together to make that 85 percent of our GDP work for all of us,” he said, noting that his Ministry provides the support infrastructure to help the tourism industry in the Turks and Caicos to be the best in the world.

In his keynote address, Junior Minister of Tourism Kiajé Williams said the theme ‘Investing In Today for Tomorrow’ resonates with his role.

‘It signifies the importance of strategic value of decision making, recognizing the choices you make today directly impacts the future we are building for the generation to come. In the Turks and Caicos, a nation of pristine beaches, rich culture and warm hospitality, investing in today for tomorrow is not only sustaining our tourism industry but also ensuring its responsible growth. It involves equipping our future generation with the skill and knowledge to be stewards of our natural resources and ambassadors of our unique heritage,” he said.

The Tourism Career and Entrepreneurship Fair saw participation from a number of agencies and vendors. We would like to recognise and thank the following for their support: the TCI Community College, Beaches Resort, the Turks and Caicos Airport Authority, the Human Resource Management Directorate, the Royal Turks and Caicos Police Force, the Turks and Caicos Fire Services, the Department of Environmental Coastal Resources (DECR), Department of Maritime and Fisheries, Funtastic Tours, Splash Tours, Invest TCI, Blue Water Divers, Aunty Nanns, Tasty Treats and the Department of Tourism Regulations (DTR).

Continue Reading

FIND US ON FACEBOOK

TRENDING