TCHTA and Partners Host Earth Day Weekend Initiatives in Grand Turk

#Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Islands, May 5, 2023 – The Turks & Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association (TCHTA) took its signature TCI Shines Earth Day program to the nation’s capital, partnering with members to create a weekend of events in celebration of the globally-recognized environmental movement. The three-day collaboration included community engagement, education, and awareness activities. These initiatives aimed to promote sustainable tourism and encourage the community to take responsibility for keeping their environment clean.

The events began with a ship tour hosted by Carnival Corporation & PLC.  TCHTA members, government officials, high school students, and other stakeholders boarded the Carnival Mardi Gras for a first-hand look at the ship’s strict standards and operating procedures. The Carnival team shared how systems have been put in place to focus on sustainability efforts: food waste management, advanced air quality systems, decarbonization practices, and adopting the circular economy model aimed at waste reduction. Tour attendees explored the beauty and magnificence of the Mardi Gras and had an enlightening experience by all accounts.

“We are excited to partner with the TCHTA and for the opportunity to give the community an intimate look at our operation and our commitment to safeguarding the planet we call home, our guests, the communities we serve, and our Carnival family. I think it also gives the community a real appreciation for the rigor and focus we dedicate to complying with the laws and regulations that govern our business,” said Marie McKenzie, Senior Vice President of Government & Destination Affairs for Carnival Corporation & PLC. Sharing her thoughts on the importance of the partnership, she continued, “One of Carnival’s core principles is to honour the integrity of every ocean we sail, place we visit and life we touch.  Achieving our purpose & mission depends on our being a good corporate citizen and a positive force for our partner destinations, supporting local sustainable community development, and inspiring ripple effects of positive economic and social impacts.”

On day two, the TCHTA’s Education Committee took to the capital’s schools, speaking to students on the history of the TCI Shines initiative. Led by the committee’s Chair and newly-elected Association Vice President, Tendra Musgrove, the children were encouraged to be ambassadors for the cause, ensuring that they admonished peers and family members about the detriments of destructive environmental behaviours.

“We must instill in our children the values of sustainability and environmental preservation,” said Musgrove, “We hope that by educating them about TCI Shines and the importance of tourism to our islands, they will become passionate ambassadors in their communities.”

On cleanup day, community members joined the TCHTA team at one of Grand Turk’s most precious landmarks, the Clock Tower Park on Pond Street. Members of government, Rotary and Rotaract, the Overback, Palm Grove, and Breezy Brae community groups, and the Cadets were among those who came together to make the streets of the capital shine on Earth Day.  Groups were deployed to several areas, working to rid the sidewalks and bushes of unsightly garbage and debris.

The effort was graciously supported by partners Graceway Communities, DECR, and FortisTCI, and TCHTA member, Exclusive Escapes. The Honourable Otis Morris and his team assisted with hauling and discarding filled bags.

TCI Shines is one of the TCHTA’s signature initiatives, led by its Sustainable Tourism Committee bi-annually. The initiative aims to promote sustainable tourism and encourage the community to take responsibility for keeping their environment clean, inclusive of land and sea.

Mona Beeson, Chair of the TCHTA Sustainable Tourism Committee, expressed her delight at the turnout. “We are thrilled with the success of this Earth Day weekend. It was heartening to see the community come together to make a positive impact on the environment. For 14 years, TCI Shines has impacted our communities and our industry, and we are always humbled by the support and eager participation throughout the islands.”

The TCHTA is grateful to its partners and volunteers for their support and commitment to keeping Turks and Caicos beautiful by nature, and clean by choice. The association looks forward to taking TCI Shines back to Grand Turk and to the sister islands in the continuing years.