#TurksandCaicos, July 26, 2021 – A big win to the people of North Caicos and Middle Caicos as the PNP government moves with speed to begin the upgrade of Bellefield Landing into a state-of-the-art port complete with an ultra-modern welcome facility, barely three weeks after unveiling the financial year’s budget.
In a groundbreaking ceremony held on July 20, 2021, in North Caicos, the government officials led by the Deputy Premier Hon. E.J Saunders, and the Minister for Immigration and Border Services Hon. Arlington Musgrove assured the Islanders that the just-started project would be done to completion.
The construction of the welcome center marks the first phase of the transformation of the Bellefield Landing into a mixed-used port that supports tourism and commercial shipping. The commissioned project will undoubtedly open the gate for warm prosperity and growth for the twin islands.
“This signature groundbreaking today is the continuation and legacy of the vision of PNP party and government transportation sector,” said Hon. Musgrove.
The Minister also added that the upgrade of the port started when the PNP government invested over $10 million in dredging the shipping channel, building the roads to and from the port, and linking the middle and north Caicos via the course way.
“It’s important to the people of North and Middle Caicos to be able to benefit both privately and commercially to this project.
“We will see direct goods to market that will reduce the cost of living and access to our tourist and recreation sector,” said Hon. Musgrove in his detailed groundbreaking event speech.
In a press release from the Turks and Caicos Authority back on June 23, 2021, the Director of Ports, Mr. Delton Jones, stated that theWelcome Center project is part of plan for the phased development of Bellefield Landing.
“The plan is for Bellefield Landing to become a community port; catering to tourism traffic and regular trade and shipping to support prosperity on North and Middle Caicos,” said the director.
According to the press release details, the Port Office/ Welcome Center will consist of a restaurant, space for rental as shops, a port office, car park, gazebo, and other tourism amenities.
Talking about the project during the groundbreaking ceremony, the Director of Ports, Mr. Dalton Jones, explained that the facility would be upgraded to a standard international port to increase its user-friendliness and attract more tourists domestically and internationally.
The Bellefield Landing and Welcome center upgrade contract was signed with Unlimited Contracting on June 23, 2021, with the facility upgrade work expected to be completed within a one-year period. The project began with the clear-up of Bellefield Landing earlier this year to improve the aesthetics of the port facility, followed by clean-up and dredging of the turning basin, and finally, the just-started coastal structural improvements. The project will also include the installation of safe boating slips and is estimated to be completed in a year.