Caribbean News
TCI: What if we – TOGETHER – invested the $11 Million?
#TurksandCaicos, March 8, 2021 – Spanx, now a billion dollar company was launched with just $5,000 of personal savings and family support to a then 27-year old Sara Blakely.
The Ritz-Carlton brand, which we are soon to see officially labelling a new luxury hotel on Grace Bay was started in the 1920s with just under $6 million; now the franchise has 30,000 resort rooms all over the world.
So far be it from possible to think $11 million dollars in capital couldn’t revolutionise the lives of ordinary Turks and Caicos Islanders.
Here is the man who dares us all to dream bigger, instead of flushing a free gift down the consumer toilet.
Benneth Williams is known as a hard-working man who wears a number of caps which lead him to lend to the development of children, protection of the environment, healthier living and cultural appreciation.
“My father’s name is Arthur Williams and my mother’s name is Winefred McIntosh. I’m from Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands. I was brought up in the Bight, Providenciales. I went to school in South Caicos,” said Williams when we asked him to tell us who he is.
The husband and father goes on to speak about the family he has now built and his personal passions including in sports and environmental sustainability.
Eventually he gets to the meat of the matter, that the money Government is giving in a cash stimulus could become the gift that keeps on giving.
This story started with Benneth Williams sending to me advice on what to do and what not to do once I received the government-granted $1,000 cash stimulus, as a relief to economic hardships brought on by the Coronavirus Pandemic.
“Create a budget; address essential needs; add to a personal emergency fund; pay down on debt; help your local community; open a high-yield savings account; invest in yourself and improve your skills; donate to those in need…just my two cents,” said Mr. Williams on March 2, 2021 in a WhatsApp message.
Williams is a man of many opinions and many ideas about what it takes for Turks and Caicos to be better. He put those thoughts to action, when he offered in the 2016 general elections. He was not successful in the bid, but this advocate is not silenced.
“You probably don’t want to hear what I think about this $11 million dollars. I think all of us should collectively open up our own bank and use this $11 million dollars. All of us would have shares or maybe if all of us decided, we’re not going to take this money and invest it in a hotel where all of us have shares in that hotel,” said Williams who added, “I understand there is a hotel on Grace Bay where its profit last year was $126 million dollars. A hundred and twenty-six million dollars! I’m not sure if what I heard was right but you’re talking $11 million dollars investing in something where everybody, all 11,000 of us could be shareholders!”
Williams sees the cash grant as a not-to-be-wasted opportunity for financial security of islanders.
The Progressive National Party ran an election campaign which promised residents that a substantial payout of cash was what the effect of the pandemic demanded and what the people of the islands required.
Seven days after taking office, the announcement of a $1,000 hassle-free cash stimulus to all Turks and Caicos Islanders and all British Overseas Territory Citizens (resident in TCI 12-months) came. Two days later the registration portal was opened and two days after that, residents began receiving e-mail messages that they had been approved for the money.
“People should really consider this money and see what we can do with this money, because you don’t have the money now and you’re still living so maybe use it for something bigger.”
Benneth and Shauna, his wife have been married for 22-years and have three children.
One son wants to attend what Mr. Williams called, “an expensive football school…” and as parents of the talented athlete, they want to give him the best possible education and experience they can. Williams said a national coming together of this kind would make that lofty dream more of a reality for Turks and Caicos families.
“This is $11 million dollars and if you give it to me and with my $1,000 I go ahead and invest it, then five years from now what really is my investment going to be? Not much. But I think if collectively we put that money together and decide that we are going to invest it into something that is tangible and unique to the Turks and Caicos Islands we can see something that our children can say, this is the sacrifice our parents made and this is the reward I am getting right now from their investment, that they did 10 years or 15 years ago.”
Key ideas coming from the swimming and football coach were for a re-boot of a Turks and Caicos bank or a 100% Turks and Caicos Islander owned hotel, in the northwestern end of Providenciales.
“How about that? Banking with your own bank. Doing business with your own bank. Make your money, make money for you. Or what about a hotel down in Northwest Point? Nothing much is up there, but there is a hotel in that area raking in millions of dollars. Why not, we do the same thing! Villas are making money, private villas are making money and that is the same thing in northwest point. Let us invest in something that is tangible, that we can have somebody run it and all I am looking at is the bottom line so that I can get the return on my investment. Something I can use to send my kids to school, I can use to make other investments, I can help my daughter with swimming lessons, help my kid in going to the school he really wants to.”
Williams said so many islanders have to face an often heart-breaking reality when they are unable to provide for their families in more meaningful ways.
Williams said the stifling feeling of lack can all be a thing of the past if recipients of the free-cash were to merge the money for this cause of greater financial security.
“We don’t own anything in Grace Bay and that can all change. It’s just my thought, maybe we could invest the money versus all of us going to pay a company that is already raking in millions of dollars to take yourself out of a hole only to still be in indebt years from now.”
The message of Mr. Williams is not a unique one, though at this time it grabs special attention.
Economic empowerment for Turks and Caicos Islanders is often touted by politicians, preachers, corporate and civic leaders and the layman, but unlike any other time in history, the Government has been given the green light to distribute funds to help and indigenous islanders and those funds could wisely be used to build a revenue generating future.
“We can all sell this destination for ourselves but we have to do it collectively, together and that is all I’m saying.”
KINGSTON, October 8 (JIS): Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has invited Indian investors to explore business opportunities in Jamaica.
He cited prospects for innovative business investment in tourism, infrastructure development, renewable energy, animation, medical tourism and health.
He noted that, with the island’s extensive harbour and port systems, “We are the gateway for Indian innovation in the Americas. I think the time is right for a trade and business delegation from India to visit Jamaica. I mentioned this to Prime Minister [Shri Narendra] Modi and he welcomed the possibilities of such a trade delegation.”
The Prime Minister was addressing a dinner reception on Tuesday (October 1), during his working visit to India.
He said that his trip is intended to herald a new era of Jamaica-India friendship and partnership.
Dr. Holness said that Jamaica is looking forward to working with the Confederation of India Industry (CII) to explore areas of cooperation.
Of special interest, he noted, is working with Indian companies on joint research projects and technology transfer “to enhance Jamaica’s research and development landscape, particularly in the areas of biotechnology, as well as products and drug development, using Jamaica’s natural resources”.
“We also want to welcome Indian companies providing software development and maintenance, cybersecurity, back-office, finance and accounting services,” he added.
Based in New Delhi, CII is a non-governmental trade association and advocacy group that represents the interests of Indian businesses in various sectors, chiefly engineering, manufacturing, consulting, and services.
The organisation works to create and sustain an environment conducive to the development of India.
CONTACT: SIMONE HYLTON
KINGSTON, October 8 (JIS): Some students at Old Harbour High School in St. Catherine, now have reliable transport after the institution received a 29-seater bus, donated by the Japanese Government.
The vehicle, valued at more than $11 million, will cater mostly to students who travel long distances, filling a gap for safe, reliable, and efficient transportation.
It will also be used to transport students on field trips, sporting events and other activities.
Speaking at the handover of the bus at the school on October 4, Minister of Education and Youth, Hon. Fayval Williams, lauded the Government of Japan for providing the funds through the Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security project (GGP), to purchase the bus.
Mrs. Williams said that special thanks must be given to the people of the donor country as “we continue to deepen the partnership with
Japan”, adding that the GGP project “has played a vital role in the development of our schools”.
Meanwhile, Ambassador of Japan to Jamaica, His Excellency Yasuhiro Atsumi said his country “stands together with Jamaica to strengthen the education system, so that all students can pursue their education and lifelong skills training opportunities”.
For her part, Custos of St. Catherine, Hon. Icylin M. Golding, who is also Chairman of the school, told her audience that the bus will enable the students to reach school much easier, and to “participate in more sporting events”.
Principal of the institution, Lynton Weir, said the students will reach school and return to their homes on time, with the acquisition of the bus.
He added that this will also result in reduced cost for parents who used to pay the public transport operators.
For Executive Director of the National Education Trust (NET), Latoya Harris Ghartey, getting the Japanese to fund the acquisition of the vehicle shows the strength of partnerships.
“It also stands as a testament to the deep-rooted commitment we have in providing our children with the tools they need to excel,” she said.
Student at the school, Ashanti Jones, said the “life-changing donation and invaluable gift will aid in students not missing classes due to unreliable transportation”.
Another student, Dormel Hamilton, said the students will have a safe and reliable vehicle in which to travel to school, and appealed to motorists to take care on the roads.
CONTACT: GARFIELD L. ANGUS
RELEASE: JIS
Caribbean News
Sanovnik Destang Elected New President of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA)
Bay Gardens Resorts Executive Director to Lead Organization for Next Two Years
Sanovnik Destang, a respected hotelier from St. Lucia and Executive Director of Bay Gardens Resorts, has been elected as the new President of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA). His appointment was confirmed at CHTA’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) last week, succeeding outgoing President Nicola Madden-Greig. Destang will serve a two-year term, leading alongside a newly elected slate of executive officers.
Destang brings extensive leadership and hospitality experience to his new role, having served as a key figure in the growth of Bay Gardens Resorts in St. Lucia. His commitment to CHTA began in 2012, and he is ready to lead the organization into a new chapter, focusing on people and technology as well as creating stronger linkages with other sectors of the Caribbean economy.
Destang expressed gratitude to his predecessors and emphasized the importance of collaborative leadership: “Thank you all once again for putting your faith in me and my generation. Being CHTA’s first president born in the 1980s, I fully understand the responsibility ahead of me. I’m ready to lead, but, more importantly, I’m ready to serve. My focus areas will be people, technology and linkages to other sectors of our economies and communities. This strengthened advocacy is aimed at attracting more members to our association, bolstering our
collective voice and impact.”
Reflecting on her tenure, Madden-Greig highlighted CHTA’s achievements during a challenging period. She praised the resilience of the Caribbean region as it emerged as the fastest-recovering tourism market in the world post-COVID-19. Under her leadership, CHTA along with regional and international stakeholders helped implement and promote recovery measures and initiatives, including Caribbean entry portals and the Caribbean Public Health Agency’s (CARPHA) Healthier Safer Tourism program.
“The past three years, taking over at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, were both challenging and very rewarding,” said Madden-Greig. “Nothing has given me more joy than having headed the hard-working team that led the Caribbean to be the fastest recovering region in the world, coming out of a once-in-a-century pandemic,” she added.
The newly elected CHTA Officers will work closely with Destang over the next two years, along with CHTA Regional VPs, Committee Chairs, and other Executive Committee Members, who will be announced shortly.
The officers include:
- 1st Vice President: Karen Whitt, The Hartling Group, Turks & Caicos
- 2nd Vice President: Craig Marshall, Blue Diamond Resorts, Antigua & Barbuda
- 3rd Vice President: Clifton Reader, Palace Resorts, Jamaica
- 4th Vice President: Kendra Hopkin Stewart, Blue Horizons Garden Resort, Grenada
- 5th Vice President: Bill Clegg, BW Hotels, At-Large
- Treasurer: Jim Hepple, Tourism Analytics, Aruba
CHTA, as the voice of Caribbean hospitality and tourism, will build on the strong foundation laid by Madden-Greig. Destang’s leadership will advance growth through innovation, people-centered initiatives, and stronger linkages with key sectors, keeping the Caribbean at the forefront of global tourism.
Supported by a team of regional leaders, Destang will drive new initiatives that propel the industry and CHTA members to greater heights.
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