Grand Turk Cruise corridor unsightly; hurricane destruction still there

#TurksandCaicos, June 19, 2021 – At the front door of Grand Turk cruise corridor is a heaping mess; ravages left behind by two record setting Atlantic basin hurricanes which, in 2017, slammed the capital of the Turks and Caicos Islands. 

South Base is government owned and it is a painful reminder of the losses and unacceptable welcome mat for the 1.1 million passengers which visit Grand Turk via cruise ship. 

While some buildings remain in use, others were decimated and the reason we know is because, four years later they are still there… now with the additional unsightliness of rotting. 

It is the first thing guests exiting the cruise center see, and the ugliness stretches almost all the way up to the JAGS McCartney Intl airport entrance. 

Giora Israel, Sr VP of Carnival Corporation, who opened the Grand Turk Cruise Center agrees that it has got to go. 

Premier Washington Misick, who heads finance, investment, trade and is the democratically elected ‘boss’ of government said he will take care of it. 

Long term, it will take two years to completely tackle the problem, but the premier has a short term idea to beautify the corridor. 

The lingering reminders of the hurricane’s hit in Grand Turk are everywhere, and was among the criticisms heaped upon the last government; now ousted People’s Democratic Movement (PDM).  Repairs, refurbishment and clean-up moved at a snail’s pace; for many it was unacceptable.

When the Opposition Leader, Hon Edwin Astwood (PDM) spoke at the town meeting, he warned that there are people within the public sector who stymie projects.

“…let me put you on guard, that a lot of the stuff has been worked on.  The South Base project, that has gone out to tender a few times and has been turned around and around.  Do not let, whomever the powers may be turn that around again please,” explained Hon Astwood at the public meeting at the Parade Grounds in Grand Turk on June 17.

This was the reason presented to the throngs of residents and officials for the incomplete clean-up; stated by the former Minister of Health and only re-elected member of the former PDM Government.

There are reports that the old buildings pose an asbestos threat; but this is unsubstantiated as government employees continue to work from the site.  If Cancer-causing asbestos is trapped in the rubble, the threat of sending it airborne in another fierce weather event should hasten, not delay the removal of the ‘contaminated’ structures.