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$8.9 Million Redevelopment of South Dock Begins

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Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer 

#TurksandCaicosIslands, February 1, 2024 – A transformation of the country’s largest shipping port that will drive down the cost of shipping, goods and services is what the government is promising will come from the $8.9 million South Dock Port Redevelopment and Modernisation project.

“Phase one will consist of a new cargo terminal with two berths and a roll-on-roll-off ramp. The new dock will be approximately 374 feet long, varying between 98 feet and 131 feet wide; we are dredging two deeper and wider berthing pockets and a larger turning pocket for proper safer navigation as well,” said Tueton Williams, Ports Authority Board Chairman, at the January 25th groundbreaking. 

He was reeling off the benefits of an expanded dock; touting it as a step towards lowering the overall cost of living for Turks and Caicos Islanders. 

The project had been approved as far back as 2020.  At the time, South Dock was described by Delton Jones, Director of Ports, as nearing the end of its useful life after 25 years of acting as the gateway for all imports to the Turks and Caicos. 

With the country now expanding in almost every way from housing, population, tourism, to hotel room, it is expected that trade too will increase necessitating an improved ‘doorway’. 

“Today’s groundbreaking reflects years of input by my staff, government entities, consultants and stakeholders. It also marks the continuation of our collaboration as we aim to deliver this project in a timely manner. I thank successive governments and ministers with responsibilities for ports for recognizing the strategic importance of this redevelopment project,” said Jones. 

Ground was broken ahead of the scheduled date for the project which hadn’t even been included in the 2023/24 budget year. The funding was brought forward from the 2024/25 financial year and was approved in September 2023 via a Supplementary Appropriations Bill.

That $8.9 million allocation is the first tranche of a $41 million total cost and will cover Phases 1 and 2 of the redevelopment, which is one of the government’s 10 priority projects. 

To be completed with that cash is: 

  • A new multi-purpose container yard with more storage;
  • Terminal rows to facilitate smooth traffic
  • A new  Port Authority Office.
  • internal roads, and installation of a new scale. 
  • A safe-water drainage system, 
  • A larger turning basin, and
  • Raising the port to improve climate resilience.

As for how the government envisions all of the work will eventually pay off, it’s expected that there will be a reduced cost of living, more efficient stevedoring process, reduced tariffs, reduced waiting time and other benefits.

The government says that as it is making infrastructural changes, upgrades will also come to the digitization of the ports and human resources to make sure that the staff is able to operate the modernized facility   

“[It] will not only shape the future of our community, but also leave an indelible mark on the global landscape of trade and commerce here in the Turks and Caicos Islands,” said Arlington Musgrove, Minister of Immigration and Border Services. 

Washington Misick, TCI Premier, in his remarks, indicated that while the journey had been long, this was a significant milestone. He personally thanked the members of the Port Authority, who were in attendance for the hard work they put into making the project reality.

Misick had promised in early 2023 that a local contractor would be hired for the job, now entrusted with the large project is Island Site Development.

South Duck facilitated over $600 million in trade with and generated $6 million in taxes for the government in the 2022/23 financial year. 

Phase one of the project is expected to be completed by the end of 2024. 

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Decomposing Body Found

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***MEDIA RELEASE***

 

Turks and Caicos, February 5, 2025 – The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force is investigating the discovery of a decomposing body found in the vicinity of Delco Yard, Snake Hill, Blue Hills.

At approximately 7:45 pm on Tuesday, January 15, 2025, officers received information regarding the presence of a body in a ditch near Delco Yard.  A team of officers and the TCI Regiment were deployed to the scene.

Upon arrival, officers confirmed the presence of a deceased male wearing black jeans and blue Jordan sneakers. The deceased had a black locks hairstyle. The body was in an advanced state of decomposition.

If you have any information that could assist in identifying the deceased or in the ongoing investigation, please call 911 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-8477 (TIPS).

Information can also be shared via the Crime Stoppers P3 app.

Further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.

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Turks and Caicos is on Live TV Again. This Time, as a Top Romantic Getaway Destination

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Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands — Visit Turks and Caicos Islands secured a coveted live television feature for the country Tuesday morning on Live with Kelly and Mark, the American morning show watched by millions and hosted by actors Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos.

Content provided exclusively by VisitTCI.com helped promote Turks and Caicos as one of only six destinations the segment highlighted as the best spots for a romantic getaway.

“That’s what it actually looks like,” said Ripa, pointing to the titular VisitTCI.com image of Middle Caicos, while Consuelos mused about the country’s trademark white sand and turquoise water.

The feature comes less than a month after Visit Turks and Caicos Islands collaborated with NBC’s TODAY and Travel + Leisure on a segment that featured the archipelago as one of the 50 best places to travel in 2025.

The Turks and Caicos Islands is a popular destination for weddings, honeymoons, and proposals. Several celebrities have chosen to marry in Turks and Caicos, from model Emma Heming and actor Bruce Willis—a former long-time owner of property on Parrot Cay—to Roxy Music frontman Bryan Ferry and Amanda Sheppard.

Ripa and Consuelos, who are married, visited the Turks and Caicos for a kid-free getaway themselves in 2009.

Live with Kelly and Mark is one of the most-viewed entertainment talk shows on American television, with an audience of more than 2.5 million total viewers.

The show joins a collection of dozens of media companies and publications that Visit Turks and Caicos Islands has partnered with to promote Turks and Caicos as a leading tourism destination. VisitTCI.com has collaborated with powerhouse publications such as National Geographic, The Wall Street Journal, AFAR, and Condé Nast Traveler.

You can watch a recording of the show at livewithkellyandmark.com.

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SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS WARNS AGAINST “TREATING”

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PRESS RELEASE

FROM THE ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT

 

 

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 6th February 2025 – Political campaigning is well on the way for Turks and Caicos Islands General Elections that is scheduled to be held February 7th 2025 and the Supervisor of Elections take the opportunity of reminding Candidates, Political Parties and Independent Candidates or anyone associated with them of the need to comply with the provisions of the Election Ordinance, and in particular he reminds what is expected by virtue of Section 81 of the said Ordinance which reads:

  1. Every person who corruptly, by himself or by any other person, either before, during or after an election, directly or indirectly, give or provides or pays, wholly or in part, the expenses of giving or providing any food, drink, entertainment, or provision to or for any person for the purpose of corruptly influencing that person or any other person, to vote or to refrain from voting at such election, or on account of such person or any other person having voted or refrained from voting at such election;
  2. Every voter who corruptly accepts or takes any such food, drink, entertainment, or provision.

The Supervisor also explained that “Treating” has been illegal for many years and in the past, leading up to the General Election some people choose to ignore the offence of Treating and such behavior he said will not be ignored.

The person offering this kind of inducement is committing a serious criminal offence and so is any member of the public who accepts a gift or cash.

The Supervisor has also warned that he will follow up upon all reports received and will not hesitate to collaborate with the Police to initiate criminal investigation.

Political Party bodies and Candidates should make it known through their organization or campaign machinery of the need to comply with the law so as to uphold the law and ensure a level playing field between campaigns in the best interest of voters in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Anyone who is found guilty of Treating under the Election Ordinance shall on summary conviction be liable to a fine of $5,000 or to imprisonment for twelve months or both.

Please avoid any activity that attracts the attention of treating and any other provision of the Election Ordinance

 

Lister Dudley Lewis

Supervisor of Elections

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