Government
Turks & Caicos now has a Destination Marketing & Management Company, Bylaws signed
By Shanieka Smith and Deandrea Hamilton
Editorial Staff
#TurksandCaicos, April 21, 2023 – Dubbed, a momentous occasion, the signing ceremony which launched most definitively the Turks and Caicos Destination Management Organization (DMMO) was held April 14.
The concept announced to the nation by Premier Washington Misick during his debut as a second term, democratically elected leader of the country back in 2021, had been met with mixed views including a petition, circulating this week to ‘Say No to the DMO’. However, no matter what side of the issue one sits on, this past Friday seems to have cemented the future of tourism as being first and foremost in the hands of this historically established entity which makes the TCI Tourist Board redundant.
It also births the Tourism Regulatory Authority and while both remain somewhat mysterious in terms of their actual function and remit, the remarks from officials reflected a team excited about the country’s leading industry.
Speaking at the DMMO signing ceremony held at the Office of the Premier in Providenciales, Josephine Connolly, TCI Tourism Minister said she is certain the Destination Management & Marketing Organization “will bring about positive changes” for the benefit of TCI.
She explained, years of research and planning have gone into this transition, which would not have been completed without help from her team at the Tourist Board.
The ceremony, which included lawyers of Graham Thompson Attorneys and a room filled with tourism and travel stakeholders, as well as members of the TCI Cabinet and business community, was held to accept and sign the bylaws for the Turks and Caicos Destination Marketing and Management Company.
This announcement makes more clear the actual name of the new engine, which has been called the DMO, the
But Premier Misick has long held that he is intent on being maverick and and one who is keen on building institutions. In the case of tourism marketing and management for the Turks and Caicos Islands, he is erecting two of them.
Premier Misick agreed that “a lot of thought” was put into the transformation and assured the public that their best interests were held at heart.
“I know that change is uncomfortable and progress is not easily accepted, but I would say to those persons who have their doubts that they should wait and see because I think like everything else over time, TCIG is going to benefit tremendously,” Premier Misick added.
Indeed, the transition is not without resistance as on February 10 after the DMMO activation timeline was announced, leader of the Opposition, Edwin Astwood, said the transition is a betrayal of trust. The remark came after 17 employees from the Tourist Board were made redundant in a notice in February. The actual redundancy does not, however, take effect until June.
“This current PNP government, led by Premier Misick and his Cabinet ministers, has demonstrated an apathetic and uncaring attitude towards our people, the workers of the Tourist Board as it relates to their current and future employment status,” Astwood said.
Former Minister of Tourism, Hon Ralph Higgs, and former management staff member Pauline Saunders are also in disagreement and have urged the Premier to readjust his course.
Connolly later released a statement on February 13 disproving these claims. She revealed that each employee was interviewed and given the opportunity to apply for a position at the DMMO or leave. “Each member of staff was given a fair and generous remuneration package,” she added.
The DMMO replacing the Tourist Board will help to bring more tourist dollars into the country by creating an attractive and unforgettable experience for visitors, according to the PNP Administration. Connolly said residents will also be able to benefit from this transition through increased opportunities and economic growth.
Present at the signing ceremony were C. Washington Misick, Premier; Josephine Connolly, Minister of Tourism; Trevor Musgrove, President of TCHTA; Wesley V. Clerveaux, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism; Rachel Taylor, Minister of Education; Shaun Malcolm, Minister of Health; Ronald Saunders, President of TCI Chamber of Commerce; Delton Jones, Director of Ports Authority; Devereaux Malcolm, Deputy CEO TCI Airports Authority; Selvyn Hawkins, Chairman TCI Airports Authority; Shawna Lewis, Deputy Director of Ports Authority; Stacey Cox, CEO TCHTA; Karen Whitt, Board Member TCHTA; Shavonda Lewis, TCI Tourist Board Member; Eunece Morris, Secretary TCI Chamber of Commerce and Christopher Wells, Graham Thompson Attorneys law firm.