News
TCHTA Arbor Day Initiative Sparks Joy Among Turks & Caicos Students
#TurksandCaicos, April 12, 2022 – Launched with an exciting video announcement by TCHTA Young Leader, Judith Guerrier, the TCHTA took its annual Earth Day TCI Shines initiative to another level as a part of their 30-year commemoration calendar.
Since 2009, TCI Shines has played a significant role in keeping Turks & Caicos beautiful by nature, and clean by choice. This year, the TCHTA’s Sustainable Tourism Committee joined forces with its Educational Committee and the DECR team to carry out a week-long tree planting exercise that would begin on Earth Day and carry on until Arbor Day.
With assistance and guidance from the DECR, the “Mighty Mahogany” was the clear tree choice for its resilience, size at maturity, and ease of care during the growth phase which was crucial as the country’s students would be the stewards of these majestic trees.
The mahoganies were collected by a team of TCHTA volunteers, and distribution began on April 20th, in preparation for Earth Day with the first shipment headed to North and Middle Caicos via the COMO Parrot Cay ferry. Each tree was accompanied by an information packet which would educate the students on the features of the Mighty Mahogany and provide instructions on how to plant and care for the trees. Most significantly, each tree came with a commemorative wooden plaque etched with the name of a TCHTA past President, Director, or stalwart in honour of this 30-year anniversary initiative.
Managing the first leg of the journey, Education Committee Chair, Tendra Musgrove, shared her enthusiasm, “At COMO Parrot Cay, we are always thrilled to be a part of efforts that allow us to engage with our local students. It is also a joy for me personally, which is why leading the Educational Committee is so important. It was a pleasure delivering to the schools, seeing the students’ excitement and eagerness to take responsibility for the trees. This is what our work is all about; engaging our students in ways that make it enjoyable to do their part in the sustainability of their island and our tourism product.”
Moving from one community to another throughout the islands, the team – which included Nello Lambert of TCI Distributors and Karen King of Point Grace Resort, both members of the TCHTA Sustainable Committee – delivered trees to thirty-eight schools, ensuring all islands throughout Turks & Caicos were a part of this grand exercise with the help of interCaribbean Airways. A video collage of the team and the students was shared on the association’s platform, celebrating Arbor Day 2022.
Speaking on the decision to organize this exercise, TCHTA CEO, Stacy Cox, explained, “There was no question…all schools and islands needed to be touched to the best of our abilities, and the hardworking team led by Mona Beeson, did just that. As we put our 30-year anniversary calendar together, we knew we wanted to make this year’s Earth Day TCI Shines truly impactful. As the time approached and we learned of the Ministry of Tourism’s plans to launch the Climate Change Summit, there was full alignment on all fronts. The DECR came on board in a stellar way, helping us decide on tree selection and being completely hands-on in mobilizing the project. We cannot begin to thank Amy Avenant and the team for their commitment and assistance.”
Through the collaboration, the tree-planting exercise will not only increase the population of indigenous trees and help to build the resilience of our ecosystems, but will also aid in teaching students to be stewards of their environment and responsible citizens in the fight against climate change.
Amy Avenant of the DECR shared her encouragement to the TCHTA, “We have been delighted to partner with the TCHTA on this commemorative initiative. The TCHTA is one of the DECR’s greatest allies in advocating for the natural environment, through regular clean-ups and initiatives such as these and we would like to take this opportunity to congratulate them on 30 years of a job well done!”, said Amy Avenant, DECR’s Outreach Coordinator.
Mona Beeson of The Hartling Group has led the Sustainable Committee for years and is passionate about the accomplishments achieved through the TCI Shines program over the years.
“For more than a decade TCI Shines has been a channel through which the communities of Turks & Caicos have taken pride in keeping the islands clean. What started out as a yearly initiative grew to bi-annual frequency and our members, individuals throughout the community, church groups, and civic organizations are always eager to participate,” Beeson said.
She continued, “Now celebrating 30 years as an Association, we wanted to make TCI Shines 2022 truly unforgettable. I am always excited for our sustainable activities, but this has been especially heart-warming to me. Partnering with our Education Committee and the DECR, delivering the trees directly to our precious children and seeing the joy this has brought them energizes us to keep challenging ourselves to continue amplifying our reach and engagement as we work to maintain the natural beauty and viability of these islands.”
Since tree deliveries have been completed, the TCHTA has received hundreds of photos from the schools that designated a special day for the children to plant the trees. The association says the smiles in those images speak more loudly than words ever could.
After demolition
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Friday, 17 July 2026: The Planning Department, with support from the Informal Settlements Unit (ISU), and the Crown Land Unit conducted a coordinated enforcement operation on Thursday, 2 July 2026, resulting in the demolition of six unauthorised structures on private property at Block and Parcel 60502/48. Security for the operation was provided by the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force.
The enforcement action followed the issuance of an Enforcement Notice by the Planning Department on 29 January 2026, advising the persons responsible for the structures that they had been erected without the necessary planning approval and were required to be removed. Following the expiration of the compliance period, a multi-agency operation was organised to carry out the demolition.
Before demolition activities commenced, personnel conducted a comprehensive inspection of the site to confirm that all structures were unoccupied and free of gas cylinders or other hazardous materials. These precautionary measures were undertaken to safeguard the welfare
of both the enforcement teams and the public while ensuring the operation was carried out safely and efficiently.
Upon completion of the exercise, participating agencies returned to Police Tactical Headquarters for a debrief, marking the successful conclusion of another coordinated enforcement effort.
The Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands reminds members of the public that all construction activities must receive the appropriate planning approvals before work begins. The Planning Department will continue to work alongside its partner agencies to enforce the Planning Ordinance, promote orderly development and ensure that construction throughout the Islands complies with the applicable laws and regulations.
Members of the public are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the planning approval process and to seek guidance from the Planning Department before undertaking any development to avoid enforcement action and loss of money invested.
News
DDME’s Hurricane Hunt Scavenger Hunt Sparks Community Spirit and Storm Preparedness in Providenciales
Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies: Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands — Fifteen teams raced across Providenciales on Saturday July 4th for the inaugural DDME Hurricane Hunt, a community scavenger hunt designed to combine friendly competition with hurricane preparedness education.
Teams were given a bag of supplies and 15 cryptic clues, participants had less than two hours to pinpoint locations and collect hurricane must-haves; including water jugs, shovels, flashlights and other supplies that every household should have on hand ahead of a storm.
The challenge tested not only participants’ local knowledge and navigation skills, but also their teamwork under time pressure; all while reinforcing practical lessons about what it takes to stay ready when a storm approaches.
Beyond the hunt itself, the event drew a lively crowd of families and supporters who turned out to enjoy a full day of festivities. Attendees took part in games, received free gifts, face painting, canvas painting, bounce houses and visited vendor booths; while enjoying fresh food off the grill throughout the afternoon.
“This event brought together the best of both worlds; a fun, high-energy competition and a meaningful reminder of how important it is for our community to be prepared,” Mr. Aaron Ballantyne, Community Preparedness Officer for Providenciales. “Seeing 15 teams fully engaged, racing to landmarks across the island while learning what belongs in a hurricane kit, was exactly the outcome we hoped for.”
DDME extends their sincere gratitude to the stakeholders that partnered with the event and generously donated their time, resources and
efforts to make it a success: The Turks and Caicos Islands Red Cross, The Oseta Jolly Primary School, The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force, Do It Center (Building Materials), KB Homes, Digicel TCI, Frost Cay and Clint Grilling and Catering Services, along with all other vendors who were solicited.
The event’s success was also made possible by the private organizations and government departments that opened their locations to serve as scavenger hunt sites, allowing the hunt to unfold across the island; from Chalk Sound to Long Bay.
The quick thinking first place team consisted of; Neekimo King, Keturah Miller-Brown, Lashaunda Dickenson and Kebba Thomas who all walked away with exciting prizes.
Ms. Bernadya Smith, Public Information and Media Manager stated; “With hurricane season underway, this event, along with our recent Hurricane Expo held in Grand Turk and community pop-ups throughout the country, is a testament to DDME’s commitment to blending community engagement with year-round storm readiness. We look forward to making this event an annual staple that brings families together while keeping preparedness at the forefront of every community we serve.
Follow DDME social media pages to stay up to date with upcoming events and to join their weekly quizzes for a chance to win exciting prizes all hurricane season long.
News
Invest TCI Supports Certification of Local Flats Fishing Guides Through MSME Technical Assistance Under Historic TCFFA–TCICC Partnership
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands — June 11th 2026 — Invest Turks and Caicos Islands has confirmed a financial commitment of $26,750 through the MSME Programme’s Technical Assistance support to assist 35 participants undertaking STCW and Fly-Fishing Guide Certifications under the Turks and Caicos Fly Fishing Association (TCFFA) and the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College (TCICC) partnership. The support is intended to strengthen the capacity of existing and emerging local operators within the flats-fishing and marine–based tourism sector, helping participants formalize their skills, improve service standards, and access higher-value economic opportunities.
The announcement follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between TCFFA and TCICC on 12th May 2026, establishing the
country’s first endorsed and regionally recognized Sustainable Fly-Fishing curriculum. That partnership, funded in part by the UK Government through the Darwin Plus Local initiative, aims to certify twenty or more Turks and Caicos Islanders as Flats-Fishing Guides and Train-The-Trainers — drawn from Providenciales, North Caicos, South Caicos, Middle Caicos, and Grand Turk.
Invest TCI’s contribution ensures that the financial barrier to certification does not prevent qualified candidates from accessing this sector-building opportunity. The support is being provided as technical assistance to strengthen the capacity of existing and emerging MSMEs within the flats-fishing and marine-based tourism sector, enabling participants to formalize, improve service standards, and access higher-value market opportunities.
“We are indeed happy to be a part of this initiative and to provide financial support towards the certification of the 35 participants. Invest TCI is committed to empowering small and medium enterprises and the individuals who drive them – and this programme is a direct example of that commitment in action.” — Alexa Cooper, Vice President – SME Development, Invest Turks and Caicos
Regional studies, including research on The Bahamas’ flats-fishing sector, show that the industry can generate significant economic value through lodging, meals, transport, retail, and guided services. This demonstrates the potential for Turks and Caicos to strengthen its own flats-fishing value chain through professional training, certification, and local enterprise development.
Angela Musgrove, CEO of Invest Turks and Caicos, highlighted the strategic alignment between the investment and Invest TCI’s broader
mission:
“Invest TCI’s mandate is to support a stronger, more diversified economy with Turks and Caicos Islanders positioned to benefit from the industries that shape our future. This initiative directly aligns with that mandate. By supporting certification for local flats-fishing guides, we are helping to convert local knowledge into recognized credentials, strengthen small business capacity, and retain more value within our communities. It is a practical investment in people, enterprise, and sector development.” — Angela Musgrove, CEO, Invest Turks and Caicos
TCFFA President Levardo Talbot, whose association initiated the candidacy process and identified the funded participants, welcomed Invest TCI’s commitment as pivotal to the programme’s reach:
“For the first time, Turks and Caicos Islander fly fishing guides have an endorsed and regionally-recognized, locally delivered pathway into a profession that has long been built on their knowledge but not always on their terms. Invest TCI’s support ensures the people who should be in this room are in this room.” — Levardo Talbot, President, Turks and Caicos Fly Fishing Association
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