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Point Grace, Turks and Caicos Islands is #1 pick for Condé Nast readers

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#Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – November 22, 2020 – The story never gets old or less impressive for tiny Turks and Caicos; the archipelago with around 50 islands and cays set in some of the most pristine waters in the world manages to dazzle visitors and rank with top destinations globally year after year. 

Still it is a fabulously remarkable feat that Grace Bay Resorts has achieved best in the Caribbean and finds that each of its luxury resort properties in the Turks and Caicos Islands is in the top 10 in the Atlantic Ocean, according to travel magazine leader, Condé Nast Traveler.

Point Grace Resort, a boutique escape elegantly situated on the World’s Leading Beach, Grace Bay Beach is known for its bespoke charm and its classic European architecture. In October, Condé Nast revealed that Point Grace was #1 amongst its legions of readers.

Advdertisement

Managed by Beverly Howell, a native Turks and Caicos Islander, the achievement for Point Grace as #1 in the Atlantic in the 2020 Condé Naste Traveler Reader’s Choice Awards, is amazing.

Grace Bay Resorts celebrated the win with accolades for the hotelier who is no stranger to snagging coveted travel prizes.

“TCI women run the best resorts in the Caribbean.  First, we had Adelphine (Pitter; General Manager at West Bay Club) and now Beverly,” said Nikheel Advani, Chief Operating Officer, who toasted the pair and summarized, “It makes us very proud.”

Adelphine Pitter, in February was congratulated for leading West Bay Club, one in the Grace Bay Resorts family of resorts to among world’s best as rated by Condé Nast Traveler.  Pitter was named general manager of the resort, acquired by Grace Bay Resorts in 2013.

Condé Nast Traveler, which boasts nearly two million followers on Facebook, encourages feedback from the travelling public.  “For our 33rd annual Readers’ Choice Awards survey—yes, more than three decades—registered voters weighed in on their favorite resorts in the world. As we reviewed the 2020 results, they were especially exciting for us, pulling in new openings and new parts of the world. We’re ever curious about where you go, what you loved, and who you went with; and as you continue to travel, we continue to listen.”

Point Grace, Grace’s Cottage

Point Grace earned #1, and was joined in the leading hotels in the region by both West Bay Club (again) and Grace Bay Club (again).

A modest Beverly Howell was beaming. A 15-year career in hotel management in Providenciales has produced another stellar accolade.  Howell, one of the first native women to accomplish running a resort, was in 2010 named general manager of Point Grace.

Point Grace Resort named #1 by Travel + Leisure magazine in Summer 2020

This is the second major award for the 28-suite Point Grace Resort, in July Travel + Leisure named the property #1 in the northern Atlantic Ocean on its World’s best list. 

The executive of Grace Bay Resorts, joined by Pamela Ewing, TCI Tourist Board director was on hand for the announcement where Beverly Howell was thankful, mainly to her team.

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“We thank you for your support in achieving this award.  We feel privileged and are grateful to have a team of individuals who are sincerely dedicated to delivering exceptional hand-made experiences and I take this opportunity to say a very special thank you to my team here at Point Grace.

Your passion and drive attribute greatly to this coveted recognition by Travel + Leisure and we are excited about what the future has to offer.”

At that time, West Bay Club was also congratulated as among the 25 best properties in the northern Atlantic by Travel + Leisure magazine.  

Point Grace is also home to two restaurants; Hutchings and Grace’s Cottage.

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

Stunning Space Opened for Turks & Caicos in Nassau

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Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer 

 

#TheBahamas, December 2, 2023 – The golden ribbon is cut and the Nassau-based Turks & Caicos diaspora office is officially unveiled. The opening ceremony, held at the new office, was attended by high-level delegates including Washington Misick, TCI Premier.

“I’m very proud and very privileged to be able to stand here and speak to you and I would especially like to thank someone who has become a friend in the person of the honorable Prime Minister of The Bahamas,” he said.

Bahamian support was critical in the venture, which sprung up as an answer to the TCIs desperate employment and immigration crisis. With hundreds of vacancies open across the public and private sector, and no one to fill them, the country needed more people but immigration rates were already far too high, posing a risk of disenfranchisement of islanders.

In order to fix both issues the government introduced a migration scheme allowing third-generation islanders with bloodline connections to claim citizenship. They quickly partnered with The Bahamas, one of the closest and the largest parts of its diaspora

Philip Davis, Prime Minister of The Bahamas was on hand while the Premier spoke and also brought remarks. The strong bond between the Turks and Caicos and the Bahamas was emphasized by Davis, as he spoke

“The Turks and Caicos’s islands were part of the Bahamas, they even had a representative in our parliament. We were one nation,” he said.

Bahamian parliament has been supportive of the diaspora plan, which could see TCI-Bahamians migrating away from the Bahamas and into the Turks and Caicos, since its inception in early 2023.

The colors of the Turks and Caicos islands were on proud display in the newly office. Attendees were allowed to tour the building during the Grand Opening on November 28th.

Bright white and modern meeting areas with turquoise accents and TCI logos will be the backdrop for immigration negotiations

Also present at the event, a strong proponent of the grafting in third generation plan, Immigration Minister Arlington Musgrove, and Deputy Governor Anya Williams. The officials have now concretized a journey they started together in February when the idea of a Diaspora office was announced.

The office is the first of its kind established by the Turks and Caicos Islands. It is located on the 2nd Floor of The Bahamas Financial Center, Shirley and Charlotte Streets.

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Bahamas News

Turks & Caicos Islands Government Opens Diaspora Office in Nassau

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#TheBahamas, December 2, 2023 – The Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) Government earlier this week proudly inaugurated the Turks and Caicos Diaspora Office in Nassau, New Providence in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, on Tuesday, November 28th, 2023, in the presence of the Prime Minister, Hon. Philip “Brave” Davis, Premier Hon. Charles Washington Misick and the Deputy Governor of TCI, Her Excellency Anya Williams.

Deputy Governor Her Excellency Anya Williams expressed her sincere appreciation to The Bahamas government for the outstanding collaboration between the two countries, particularly in national security.  She asserted, “The opening of this office here in The Bahamas will undoubtedly strengthen our ties with The Bahamas and create opportunities for even greater partnerships that will benefit the Turks and Caicos Islands.”

Premier Misick emphasized that The Bahamas and TCI have always had a strong bond, and the benefits of this relationship have been felt for many years.  He declared, “The establishment of a Diaspora of the Turks and Caicos Islands Office in The Bahamas is a crucial initiative that will restore links with the diaspora and open up a productive line of communication to gauge interest in employment opportunities, investment and contributing to the development of the Turks and Caicos Islands.” He further added: “Whether in national security operations, education (many of our students have studied here), health care, or even cultural enthusiasts who partake in junkanoo, we must continue to learn and lean on each other.

Minister of Immigration and Border Force Hon. Arlington Musgrove, who initially led the establishment of the office, stated: “This evening signifies a significant and timely accomplishment in the long history of our two nations.  Progressive relationship building is the term I use to describe the establishment of this office today.   Beyond a diaspora office, we hope to foster closer ties through business, investment, education, and training to benefit our two countries.  I am proud of my government taking this bold, progressive step and proud of the vision of our Premier, who has worked so assiduously to make this evening a reality.”

The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas brought remarks on the evening and joined the other dignitaries for the ribbon cutting.

The office is a part of the government’s broader diaspora policy, which aims to aid in the creation of programs to capture, connect and harness contributions and connection from the TCI citizens residing outside of the TCI, increase the representation of the number of persons in the population with connection and roots in the TCI and lastly, to provide opportunity and incentive for eligible members of the diaspora to invest and have access to investment and philanthropic opportunities in the TCI.

The office is now open at The Bahamas Financial Centre.  Two Liaison Officers have been appointed; Canon Curtis Robinson is based in Freeport, Grand Bahama, and A. Vernay Mills is based in Nassau, New Providence.

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News

Energy & Utilities Commissioner says new legislation will help to stabilize energy costs in Turks & Caicos Islands

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Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Thursday, 30th November 2023: The Energy and Utilities Department (EUD) of the Turks and Caicos Islands, today reminds the public that the comprehensive Renewable Energy Legislation is currently before the House of Assembly and that the Legislation not only addresses the existing challenges posed by fuel price volatility but also lays the foundation for a sustainable and resilient energy future for the TCI.

In a recent press release, FortisTCI cited global factors such as production cuts and increased demand for fuel, leading to a surge in market prices. The EUD acknowledging these challenges thanks our power supplier for its proactivity when it comes to informing consumers of any changes in the cost of electricity.  Further, the Government of Turks and Caicos wants residents and guests to know that it is committed to taking proactive measures that will transform the energy landscape through robust Renewable Energy Legislation. 

In that vein, Delano Arthur, the new Energy and Utilities Commissioner looks forward to working with FortisTCI in the upcoming days to find innovative and collaborative solutions to reduce the cost of Fuel and Energy in the Turks and Caicos Islands.  This initiative aims to not only mitigate the impact of volatile fuel prices but also secures a sustainable, reliable and affordable energy future for all of us.

 Key components of the Renewable Energy Legislation include:

  • Integrated Resource Plans: A formal planning process to prioritise renewable energy in addressing evolving energy needs.
  • Competitive Tendering Process: Government-run initiatives to promote healthy renewable energy competition, achieve low-cost energy, and meet Paris Agreement goals.
  • Administrative and Regulatory Measures: Establishing clear processes and responsibilities for all players who are in the renewable energy market.
  • Licensing and Safety Standards: Comprehensive licensing provisions to ensure accountability and safety standards for renewable energy systems.
  • Net Billing Program: Allowing building owners to self-generate and sell surplus electricity back to the grid.

The Renewable Energy Legislation serves as a mitigation against volatile fuel prices. By transitioning to cleaner energy sources and fostering a diverse renewable energy infrastructure, these Islands aim to reduce dependency on fossil fuels. The competitive tendering process introduced in the legislation ensures the selection of the most cost-effective renewable energy solutions, contributing to energy affordability and stability.

As the Islands invest in renewable energy, the increased share of clean, locally produced electricity provides a stable alternative to fluctuating fuel prices. The Net Billing Programme further incentivises distributed energy generation, offering a predictable path for building owners to contribute to the grid and receive compensation, thus reducing reliance on traditional fuel sources.

 

For further information, please contact:

Delano R. Arthur

Commissioner

Energy and Utilities Department

Turks and Caicos Islands Government

eud@gov.tc

649-338-3514

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