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The Beach and Coastal Vending Ordinance still looms large over our society in TCI

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#TurksandCaicos, April 22, 2022 – Now that the dust has settled on the Beach and Coastal Vending Ordinance, what are some of the impacts and effects?

There have been reports of many beach entrepreneurs and vendors unable to maximize revenue due to their new location and feeling disenfranchised.

Law abiding Vendors in uniforms, particularly in Grand Turk, are being confined to their zones and are prohibited from walking up to Carnival grounds to locate and greet their guests, while others are allowed to roam freely across zones.

There have also been reports of business as usual with respect to random drug peddling, illegal sale of alcohol etc.

What have been even more concerning are the reports of indiscriminate targeting of select Vendors by the newly created positions of Beach patrol units. It appears the actions of a few have deviated from the true intent of the ordinance.

Some of the beach patrol units with good intentions appear to be ill informed, frustrated with the lack of adequate resources to carry out their duties and no clear focus of what needs to be accomplished.

Although some of us may view the ordinance from different lenses, I must say, there are some notable changes such as,

  1. There is a certain level of uniformity among Vendors in terms of chair and equipment placement that once blocked guests’ access and also created a safety hazard.
  2. Guests and Vendors alike now have access to restrooms at Local Village.
  3. Broken and dilapidated beach equipment which created such poor aesthetics has improved.
  4. There also appears to be less alterations taking place between beach vendors and hustlers.

Whilst some Vendors including myself are very grateful for the local village space which was designated for beach vendors and boat tour operators, some tours are being delayed due to poor signage and closed shops which gives the appearance of abandonment.

In the end, Carnival Corporation got exactly what they bargained for, no Vendors operating on public beaches in front of their property.

One would expect that based on these facts, it would prompt the policy makers to reconsider their initial assumptions that this bill was designed in the best interest of the people. With all due respect, I beg to differ.

Why is it so difficult to understand the citizens’ position on this bill? Why can’t the policy makers just admit that they might have gotten their assumptions wrong at the very start?

Albeit, I do not object the bill in its entirety, however, there was no need to create an entirely new bill since most of the ordinance already existed on the books, but lacked enforcement by the appropriate authorities.

In my opinion, I think it’s a mix of playing to a special interest group that has formed the decision of certain politicians over the past few years.

A virtue of reflection and re-analysis of this bill is what’s needed. This should include soliciting further input from relevant stakeholders on their positions, repealing of certain line items and making the necessary amendments.

By doing so, this will ensure the way the ordinance is written, it’s not stifling growth among our beach entrepreneurs or creating any barriers that will negatively impact legitimately operating businesses.

The complexity of the situation is, we must try to find a sensible middle ground in the best interest of all concerned.

Here is what we are fighting for:

  1. Stop letting big corporations define the rules of the game or dictate how and what is in the best interest of our country.
  2. Put proper docking facilities in place in Grand Turk to accommodate boat tour operators in loading zones. Until this is done, Beach patrol units should reframe from harassing operators when fueling boats or boarding guests.
  3. Repeal and amend the ordinance that confines Vendors to their zones, which prohibits legitimate business operators from locating and greeting their guests anywhere on public beach. In essence, this is borderline infringement on one’s rights to free speech and does not exemplify the concept of a free democratic society.
  4. Remove the clause which states that in order to acquire a Beach Vendors license, this has to be one’s main source of income.
  5. Provide proper training for the beach patrol units before placing them in such positions with overarching authority. They are not sworn law enforcement officers, operating outside of the RTCPF, and are not subject to the control of the Police Ordinance; That’s a problem.
  6. Requirement to have liability insurance should not be a mandate for all beach operators and should be limited to select business categories. For instance, who will set the minimum requirements? What if no company wants to take on the risk? This will again disenfranchise our people.
  7. Provide proper sanitation services to clean up the beach on a daily basis not just Local Village.
  8. Consolidation of certain fees to ease the burden on local operators.
  9. Make provisions in the ordinance to accommodate local land based tour and rental operators who primarily operate outside the cruise center main gate, but rely on greeting their guests on the public beach. These include golf cart rentals, tram tours, horseback riding, car rentals etc.

Make no mistake about it, despite the fact the bill has been passed, our continued voices are not futility in error, it’s a fight to preserve our rights, not only for ourselves but for the future of our next generation.

Therefore, we are counting on both political parties to bring this matter back to the HOA, either in the form of a bill or private members motion.

 

Ed Forbes,

Concerned citizen of Grand Turk

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Royal Navy Chaplain Leads Communion at Grand Turk Prison During HMS Medway Deployment

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Deandrea Hamilton | Editor

 

Turks and Caicos, July 14, 2025 – In a rare and touching moment during the Royal Navy’s latest deployment to the Turks and Caicos Islands, Father Matteo Zambon, chaplain aboard HMS Medway, led a communion service at His Majesty’s Prison in Grand Turk. The intimate spiritual gathering brought reflection and encouragement to inmates and staff, and was described by observers as “deeply moving.”

The service was a standout feature of HMS Medway’s multifaceted visit, showcasing the Royal Navy’s humanitarian and pastoral outreach, not just its operational capacity. While the ship is widely recognized for its disaster readiness and security work in the region, the prison service offered a profound, personal dimension to the deployment.

Alongside this spiritual engagement, HMS Medway conducted a simulated beach landing exercise in collaboration with the Turks and Caicos Islands Regiment, aimed at improving disaster response coordination. The Royal Navy’s Crisis Response Troop participated in the operation, which took place on the beach adjacent to the Grand Turk cruise pier and concluded safely before ship traffic resumed.

The visit also reinforced UK support for the Overseas Territories during hurricane season. HMS Medway, permanently stationed in the Caribbean, is outfitted with emergency relief supplies, medical kits, and equipment for clearing debris and restoring access in the aftermath of natural disasters.

In Providenciales, the crew met with local officials and conducted further training and outreach activities. The deployment builds on strong ties established during previous visits, including youth mentorship programs and joint patrols with the TCI Marine Branch and Police Force.

Governor Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam has previously praised the UK’s forward-deployed assets like HMS Medway as “critical to disaster preparedness, maritime security, and community support”. This most recent visit deepens that role, showing how hard power can be paired with soft-touch diplomacy.

As HMS Medway resumes regional patrols, its legacy in the Turks and Caicos this year will not only be measured in drills and deployments—but in the quiet connection made behind prison walls, where faith, dignity, and humanity were affirmed by a visiting chaplain in naval uniform.

In a place often associated with hardship and consequence, Father Zambon’s communion service served as a rare reminder: that even the most disciplined missions can carry a message of hope.

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Governor Targeted Again in Social Media Impersonation Scam

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Deandrea Hamilton | Editor

 

Turks and Caicos, July 13, 2025 – The Governor’s Office has issued a renewed warning to the public following the discovery of multiple fake Facebook accounts impersonating Her Excellency, Governor Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam. The fraudulent profiles, created under names such as “Dileeni Daniel Selvaratnam” and “Dileeni Selvaratnam,” have been flagged for attempting to engage residents through unsolicited messages.

In a statement released on Friday, 11 July, the Governor’s Office confirmed that at least four such accounts had been identified and formally reported to Facebook for investigation and removal. The public is urged not to interact with these profiles and to report any suspicious activity directly to the platform.

This is not the first time the Governor has been targeted. Similar impersonation attempts were reported in early 2024, when scammers used lookalike profiles to solicit money from unsuspecting individuals. The recurrence of such schemes has raised concerns about online safety and the misuse of public officials’ identities for fraudulent purposes.

“Her Excellency does not conduct official business via social media direct messaging,” the statement emphasized. “All legitimate communication is handled through official government email addresses or verified public channels.”

Residents are encouraged to follow the Governor’s verified social media pages, including the official Facebook page: Turks and Caicos Islands, Governor’s Office and Instagram: @governorturksandcaicos, for authentic updates.

Authorities are reminding the public to remain vigilant when interacting online and to treat unsolicited friend requests or private messages from high-profile individuals with skepticism.

The Governor’s Office reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and online safety and thanked the public for helping to identify and report fraudulent activity.

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Search for Missing American Tourist Intensifies in Turks and Caicos

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U.S. Officials, Family Join Local Efforts as Disappearance Enters Ninth Day

By Deandrea Hamilton | Editor and Wilkie Arthur | Eagle Legal News

 

Turks and Caicos, July 4, 2025 – The United States Department of State has confirmed it is aware of the disappearance of American citizen Brian Tarrence in Turks and Caicos, and the U.S. Embassy in Nassau is actively assisting in the ongoing investigation. Tarrence’s mother is now on the island, anxiously hoping for good news as the search for her son enters its ninth day.

Tarrence, 51, of New York, vanished on June 25 while vacationing with his wife in Providenciales. The couple was staying at the Inn at Grace Bay in a privately rented villa booked via Airbnb. CCTV footage reviewed by Eagle Legal News shows Tarrence walking away from the property around 3:00 a.m., alone and without signs of immediate distress. He has not been seen since.

The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force is treating the case as high priority, and a search operation is underway in Grace Bay, with efforts expanding to The Bight and nearby districts. U.S. private investigator Carl DeFazio, hired by Tarrence’s family, is also on the ground and working alongside local authorities.

“We are tracking any activity—credit cards, digital devices—that could point us toward his location,” said DeFazio. “This is a coordinated effort, and we are committed to bringing Brian home.”

Sources close to the investigation say Tarrence may have been in a vulnerable state prior to his disappearance. His wife reported that he had relapsed into alcohol use and was displaying increasingly erratic behavior, including signs of paranoia and delusional speech. He reportedly believed people were outside their villa and made concerning remarks hours before he disappeared.

When his wife woke that morning, Tarrence—and his phone and wallet—were gone. The devices remain unreachable, and no transactions or confirmed sightings have been reported.

His wife continues to cooperate fully with police, while his mother, who recently arrived in TCI, has joined local and diplomatic efforts in hopes of a safe resolution.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the nearest police station or call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-8477.

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