PNP Gov’t Does Not Have the People’s Blessing; PDM says it’s not Too Late to Keep TCI Tourist Board

By Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer 

#TurksandCaicos, February 9, 2023 – More fall-out today for the PNP Government as it progresses toward an end to the TCI Tourist Board to establish a brand new set of entities, this time the Opposition PDM is speaking up in a press conference about change which has sparked controversy and harsh rebuke.

Minimal consultation with the public and none existent consultation with the Opposition on the new Destination Marketing and Management Organization is being viewed by the People’s Democratic Movement as suspicious and a huge mistake by the PNP Government Administration.

“Did you receive the blessing of the people who elected you to go down this road?  We are here elected by the people spending their money so surely there must be some consultation with the entire Turks and Caicos. Don’t force this DMMO on the people,”  Opposition leader Edwin Astwood said in a press conference on Thursday.

The conference was carried live on Facebook and joining the party’s Leader were Alvin Garland, PDM Appointed Member to the House of Assembly; Robert Been, Deputy Leader of the People’s Democratic Movement and the party’s National Chairman, Ezra Taylor.

The government has maintained that several rounds of consultations with stakeholder groups on decisions regarding the DMMO, were held. Still, the Opposition Leader, calling the decision about the dismantling of the TCI Tourist Board unpatriotic, questioned the extensiveness of those consultations.

“Did they come to the people or was it just a few of their friends who will benefit?”  He asked.  He confirmed that the Opposition, while presented with the plans recently, had not been consulted in any significant way, or had any significant input on the project which will define  the Turks and Caicos’ tourism future in the decades to come, if it is implemented.

“All House of Assembly members have had presentations on the DMO but you have to go to the people not just the HOA— there have been presentations, not consultations–– the appointed member and I voiced our concerns, and we are still raising our concerns.” He said

The PDM says not only has the Government not consulted the country significantly they expressed confusion about why the DMMO was being pushed through so swiftly.

“How much money has been paid, have the consultants been fully paid?” Asked Opposition Leader Edwin Astwood. “There are a number of red flags, the Government isn’t being forthwith and coming and explaining everything to the people” He continued.

Appointed member, Alvin Garland, reminded the government that it was not too late to change course as tourism is at optimal performance.

“Tourism is at an all-time high in this country, and there is not an argument that I believe can be made about why it is necessary, at this time, to dismantle the Tourist Board.”

Instead of making the Board redundant, which resulted in its 17 employees receiving severance letters last Friday, both Astwood and Garland advocated for enhancements at the TCI Tourist Board, in favour of keeping the organisation in tact.