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TCI: Minister Taylor announces J.O.B. Registration Drives, Nationwide Effort for Unemployed & Underemployed

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STATEMENT:  “The greatest thing in this world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving.”  Oliver Holmes

#TurksandCaicos, June 10, 2021 – As the Minister with responsibilities for Education, Labour and Employment Services, my colleagues and I from the Ministry saw it fitting to address the nation on our initiatives and the way forward to improving the Employment Sector in the TCI.

COVID-19 has impacted the global economy and the Turks and Caicos Islands, has had its share of the impact.  To date, four hundred and seventy-six (476) persons have registered with the Labour Department with 80 per cent of registrants being Belongers, 9 per cent As Naturalized persons, 5 per cent being holders of Spousal Residence Permits, 4 per cent Residence Permits Holders and 2 per cent Being Free Lance Work Permit. Of the total two hundred and sixty-one (261) are female and two hundred and twenty-five (225) are male. 

The Government is committed to ensuring that on this road to recovery, our people are gainfully employed in positions that are aligned with their skillset.

The Employment Services Department is pleased to announce our new initiative – J.O.B.S.  – Job, Opportunity and Basic Skills. This initiative seeks to assist job seekers with obtaining basic skills prior to applying for vacancies and attending interviews with potential employers.

This initiative will commence, Tuesday, June 8th 2021 at IGA Parking Lot in the nation’s capital Grand Turk.  We realize that Grand Turk does not have the largest population, however, we sympathize with those who have been unemployed for over one year due to the closure of the Grand Turk Cruise Center. This is to ensure that residents are fully prepared for the anticipated opening. 

The drive will continue throughout the family islands on Friday, June 11th at Sunny Foods in Five Cays

Wednesday 16th June Butterfield Square, Downtown, Providenciales.

Friday, 18th June Nell’s Gift Shop, Leeward Highway

Monday, 21st June PTV Parking Lot

Thursday, 24th June IGA Gourmet

Friday, 25th June North Caicos

Monday, 28th June South Caicos, Digicel Parking Lot

This registration drive aims to account for all local unemployed and underemployed persons, so that the Department of Labour and Employment has the opportunity to properly evaluate their resumes and ensure  they have continuous health coverage during this period…..

If you are already registered, the Department of Labour and Employment Services will be making contact with you to update our records.  There is no need to re-register at this time unless there has been a material change to any information on your resume.  We are asking you to monitor your phone and emails for any correspondence from our department. 

Shortly following this Press Conference our Registration Drive Calendar will be circulated on the Government’s Website and on Social Media.  Currently, persons have the option of submitting their resumes in the Red Drop Boxes located in Providenciales at the following grocery stores: Graceway IGA, Smart and Sunny Foods.  If persons prefer to communicate electronically, their submission can be sent via email to  jobregistration@gov.tc .

In continuing our efforts to ensure that the unemployed are job ready, the Department has set aside the month of July 2021 to host numerous workshops geared towards Job Readiness Training, inclusive of but not limited to basic skills, focusing on resume building, interview skills including dress code and communication skills throughout the islands.  Further updates will be circulated at a later date.

As part of our training, we have partnered with the Ritz Carlton and the Marriott Ambassadors who are on island to provide hospitality training for their staff.  They have lent support to assist us from Wednesday, June 9th to Friday, June 11th for persons registered as unemployed and interested in hospitality careers.  These persons have already been identified and are eager to commence the workshops. The training will cover Food & Beverage, Front Office and other key hospitality functions.  The Human Resource Manager has promised an ongoing series of workshops in partnership with Employment Services.

The recent Moratorium that came into effect on May 1st 2021 has provided the Department of Labour and Employment Services the opportunity to assess the employment market and strategize as to how best unemployed and underemployed residents can benefit from any available jobs that would have been occupied by First Time Work Permit Holders.

The Moratorium also speaks to the consultation period with key stakeholders. In light of this, the Ministry has already begun consultation and will continue its initiative with the Hotel   Association, Chamber of Commerce, Water Sports and Restaurant Groups. Discussions at these meetings will be centered around local recruitment, training, and communicating the government’s plans moving forward. We will also request staffing information from companies throughout the TCI to build on our current employment database in order to compare wages, gender information, youth employment, skills deficit across various sectors and predict potential job growth in the next two years.

In July once the government has had its first 60 days to consult with stakeholders and consider the state of employment in the country there will be a further update.

All in all, the people of these islands can rest assured that their government is making every effort to collect relevant information in an effort to make informed decisions.  In closing, I encourage unemployed persons to register with the Labour Department, help us to help you! If the government is unaware of the current state of employment, it would prove challenging to be effective in crafting policies to assist its citizens. We encourage you to Register and take advantage of these opportunities.

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Crown Land Unit Leads Multi-Agency Enforcement Exercise in Five Cays

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Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Wednesday, 21st October 2026: The Crown Land Unit, with coordination and support from the Informal Settlements Unit (ISU), conducted a multi-agency enforcement exercise in the Five Cays area of Providenciales on October 8, 2026, as part of the Government’s ongoing efforts to address the illegal occupation and unauthorized use of Crown land.

The exercise brought together representatives from the Crown Land Unit, ISU, TCI Border Force and Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force. Inspections were conducted across several parcels of Crown land in Five Cays, where instances of illegal occupation and unauthorized use had been identified.

During the exercise, a total of seven (7) Section 22 Notices of Unauthorized Occupation were issued in accordance with the provisions of the Crown Land Ordinance. The notices related to the unauthorized placement of shipping containers and derelict vehicles, as well as the construction of an incomplete concrete structure on Crown land. Where occupants or other responsible persons were not present, notices were affixed to the relevant structures or items.

The exercise forms part of the Crown Land Unit’s continuing efforts to prevent squatting and encroachment on Crown land and to ensure that instances of unauthorized occupation are identified and appropriately addressed.

The Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands reminds the public that occupying, developing or otherwise using Crown land without lawful authority is an offence under the Crown Land Ordinance. These inspections and enforcement activities form part of a sustained program aimed at safeguarding public lands, discouraging unlawful development and ensuring that Crown land is managed in the best interests of the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The Crown Land Unit will continue to work closely with the ISU and other partner agencies to identify and address instances of illegal occupation across the Islands. Persons occupying Crown land without authorization are encouraged to comply with all notices issued and to seek guidance from the relevant authorities where necessary.

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Invest TCI Strengthens Regional Investment Connections at Caribbean Investment Forum 2026 in Barbados

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Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Monday, 19th October 2026: Invest Turks and Caicos Agency (Invest TCI) strengthened its regional presence at the Caribbean Investment Forum (CIF) 2026, held October 5 – 7, 2026, in Bridgetown, Barbados, participating as both a sponsor of the Forum and representative of the Turks and Caicos Islands’ investment landscape.

The Caribbean Investment Forum brought together regional and international investors, government representatives, business leaders, entrepreneurs, investment promotion agencies, and development partners to explore investment opportunities, strengthen partnerships, and advance sustainable economic development throughout the Caribbean.

The Agency’s sponsorship of CIF 2026 formed part of its continued commitment to strengthening the visibility of the Turks and Caicos Islands within the regional investment community and building relationships with investors, development partners, investment promotion agencies, and businesses across the Caribbean.

The opening of the Forum was attended by the Honourable Mia Amor Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados, who emphasised the importance of scaling regional investment, strengthening economic cooperation, and transforming innovative ideas into commercially viable opportunities. Invest TCI was represented by Ms. Alexa Cooper, Domestic Investment Officer, and Mr. Hezron Henry, Marketing Support Officer. Throughout the Forum, the delegation engaged with stakeholders and promoted the Turks and Caicos Islands as a competitive investment destination while exploring opportunities for greater regional collaboration and knowledge exchange.

Speaking on her experience at the Forum, Ms. Alexa Cooper, Chief Domestic Investment Officer, said:

“CIF 2026 provided another valuable opportunity to engage with donor organisations, investors and Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs) from across the Caribbean. A highlight for me was the introduction of an exclusive masterclass for fund managers, investors and support organisations, which offered practical insights into unlocking capital, strengthening investment ecosystems and supporting investment-ready businesses. I was equally impressed with the quality of projects pitched, which showcased the region’s innovation and investment potential. It was encouraging to see projects presented with a clearer understanding of investor expectations, reinforcing the importance of not simply developing projects, but ensuring they are well-structured, investment-ready and positioned to attract the right investment partners.”

Accompanying the Invest TCI delegation was Mr. Sean Penn, Chief Executive Officer of Sky Poultry Farm Ltd., the first commercial egg and poultry production facility in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Mr. Penn’s participation provided an opportunity to showcase the development of domestic enterprise within the Turks and Caicos Islands while highlighting the potential of agriculture and food production as part of the country’s broader economic diversification efforts.

Through his participation at CIF 2026, Mr. Penn had the opportunity to engage with regional stakeholders, gain exposure to developments within the Caribbean agricultural sector, and explore potential partnerships and opportunities related to agricultural investment, innovation, and enterprise development.

For Invest TCI, the combination of sponsorship, investment promotion and local business representation provided a multifaceted platform to advance the Agency’s mandate. It allowed Invest TCI not only to promote the Turks and Caicos Islands to prospective investors but also to facilitate greater exposure for a local enterprise operating within an emerging sector of the economy. The Forum also provided opportunities for the Invest TCI delegation to exchange knowledge with regional counterparts, strengthen institutional relationships, and gain insight into investment trends and opportunities affecting Caribbean economies.

As the Caribbean Investment Forum continues to expand its regional reach, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, was announced as the destination for the next edition of the Forum, providing another opportunity to bring together investors, policymakers, investment promotion agencies and businesses from across the Caribbean and beyond.

Invest TCI looks forward to the continued growth of the Caribbean Investment Forum and the opportunities it creates to deepen regional partnerships, promote investment, and connect Caribbean businesses with new markets and sources of capital. The Agency remains committed to attracting sustainable investment, supporting domestic enterprise, encouraging economic diversification, and developing partnerships that contribute to the long-term economic development of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

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Energy Minister Delivers Electrifying Keynote Opening Address at CAREC 2026  

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NASSAU, The Bahamas – The Bahamas’ Minister of Energy, Utilities and Aviation, The Honourable JoBeth Coleby-Davis, delivered an electrifying address during the opening ceremony of the 2026 CARILEC Resilient/Renewable Energy Community (CAREC) Conference and Exhibition, being held October 18–22, 2026, at the British Colonial Hotel in Nassau, The Bahamas.

Under the theme “Empowering Progress: Strategic Policy and Planning for the Energy Transition,” the event draws more than 200 industry leaders, policymakers, regulators, and energy professionals committed to advancing practical strategies for sustainable and reliable Caribbean power systems through renewable energy and emerging technologies.

During her address, titled “The New Energy Era: Transforming Policy into Progress,” Minister Coleby-Davis reminded attendees that The Bahamas’ national motto, “Forward, Upward, Onward, Together,” aptly describes what the region’s energy transition demands.

“Empowering Progress speaks directly to our national motto. Not waiting for progress, but creating the conditions that allow progress to happen. Meaningful progress, however, does not occur by accident. It requires vision, sound policy, strategic planning, strong institutions, and the determination to turn decisions into results,” said Minister Coleby-Davis.

Participants acknowledged that small island developing states share similar pressures, compounded by geographical challenges, small electricity markets, ageing infrastructure, geopolitical influences, and the growing threat of severe weather.

Tasked with ushering in a new energy era across the islands while addressing the challenges posed by The Bahamas’ unique archipelagic composition, Minister Coleby-Davis said, “Every island needs a different answer, but the same logic. As an archipelagic nation, we must provide electricity across many islands, each with its own demand and infrastructure needs. Our strategy, therefore, must be national in direction, but responsive to individual communities.”

Restating her Ministry’s three core messages—that energy is an economic and security priority, technology must be viewed as a tool to support strong institutional leadership, and natural gas should be considered a bridge, not a destination—Minister Coleby-Davis reiterated that “progress must now be reflected in functioning infrastructure, effective institutions, and better electricity services: from policy commitments to coordinated implementation, and from fragmented investment decisions to long-term planning.”

Organised by CARILEC and co-hosted by Bahamas Power and Light (BPL) and Grand Bahama Power Company (GBPC), the annual Conference and Exhibition brings together the Caribbean energy community to advance practical solutions to the region’s most pressing energy challenges and accelerate progress towards more resilient, reliable, and sustainable power systems.

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