TCI News
TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS PARTICIPATED IN EIGHTH MEETING OF NATIONAL HIV/AIDS PROGRAMME MANAGERS AND PANCAP SHARE FAIR
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 2nd April 2024 – The Turks and Caicos Islands, represented by Dr. Camelia Clarke, Director of the Health Promotion and Advocacy Unit within the Ministry of Health and Human Services, recently participated in the Eighth Meeting of National HIV/AIDS Programme Managers (NAP) and the PANCAP Share Fair, held in Trinidad and Tobago from March 18 to March 21, 2024. The Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP) provides a unified approach to the Caribbean’s response to the HIV epidemic, coordinating efforts through the Caribbean Regional Strategic Framework on HIV and AIDS.
This event provided a platform for updating Programme Managers and Partners on regional commitments to the 95-95-95 targets, progress on global and regional strategies to end AIDS, and innovative approaches to strengthen the Caribbean regional HIV response. The 95-95-95 targets aim to ensure that 95% of people living with HIV know their status, 95% of those diagnosed with HIV are on treatment, and 95% of those on treatment achieve viral suppression. The meeting was attended by National AIDS Programme Managers, policy makers, Development and Regional Partners, and selected Implementing Partners, including representatives of civil society organizations, the community of People Living with HIV (PLHIV), and those at the highest risk for HIV. This gathering served as a crucial platform for sharing insights, exploring strategies, and fostering collaboration to accelerate progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Objectives of the Meeting:
- Introduce new NAP Managers to the mandate and framework of PANCAP to ensure ongoing collaboration and coordination at national and regional levels.
- Provide information on international frameworks and guidance to address gaps in the HIV response in the Caribbean.
- Offer updated guidance on HIV self-testing (HIVST), Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP).
- Share country policy and implementation experiences on HIVST, PrEP, and PEP.
- Discuss lessons learned from the regional and national responses to the COVID-19 pandemic and explore their applicability to the HIV response.
- Share insights on the implementation of point-of-care testing.
- Provide updates on partnership work and technical support provided to countries.
- Strengthen the network of NAP managers, civil society organizations, and key partners.
Key Outcomes from the Meeting:
- Scaling Up HIV Testing and Prevention: Participants were actively involved in discussions aimed at expanding HIV self-testing (HIVST) initiatives across the region. Acknowledging the significant impact of HIVST on enhancing access to testing, prevention, and care services, delegates stressed the importance of collaborative regional efforts to achieve greater effectiveness in reaching prevention targets.
- Person-Centered Differentiated Model of Care: The urgent call to embrace a person-centered approach to HIV treatment and care was emphasized. By streamlining and customizing HIV services to address the unique needs of individuals, especially those living with or vulnerable to HIV, unnecessary strains on the healthcare system can be alleviated, while simultaneously enhancing the quality of care. Emphasis on Integration, which is the co-location and sharing of services and resources between different health services areas and includes offering testing, prevention, treatment, and care services alongside other relevant health services.
- Utilization of Information and Communications Technology (ICT): Delegates identified the increased utilization of ICT platforms as a pivotal factor in advancing the regional HIV response. From telemedicine initiatives to tailored ICT platforms designed to reach vulnerable populations, delegates explored innovative approaches to advocacy, mobilization, and empowerment in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
- Community Engagement: Recognizing the indispensable role of communities in propelling national HIV responses, delegates underscored the importance of robust, cohesive community engagement. Communities were urged to assume a defining role not only in HIV-related endeavors but also in broader health initiatives, highlighting the significance of grassroots involvement and empowerment.
The meeting concluded with a commitment to implement the key strategies discussed and ensure tangible progress in addressing HIV and AIDS in the Caribbean. The Director of Health Promotion and Advocacy Unit, Dr Clarke, commented on the conference “Achieving the 95-95-95 targets requires collective action and unwavering commitment from all sectors of society. We need to insist on continued collaboration, resource mobilization, increased innovation and advocacy efforts to accelerate progress towards ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic by 2030”.
Almost two million visitors recorded in 2025
PROVIDENCIALES, TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS – The Turks and Caicos Islands saw an increase in stayover arrivals in December, seven percent higher than the corresponding period in 2024.
Preliminary data suggests that stay over arrivals by air for the month of December was 66,427 in comparison to 62,610 in December 2024.
From January to December 2025, preliminary visitor arrival numbers totalled 640,754; on par with the number recorded for the same period of 2024.
Stay Over Arrivals YTD December 2024/2025
The first quarter of the calendar year attracted the largest number of arrivals with visitor arrivals three percent higher than the first quarter of 2024. Reduced airlift from the United Kingdom and the United States, most notably the Virgin Atlantic and JetBlue services, was however felt from the second quarter (April to June). As a result, visitor arrivals dropped three percent in the second quarter.
By the third quarter of this year (July to September), geopolitical and economic conditions in the key source markets, namely the United States, led to further contraction of arrivals. In the last quarter of 2025, arrivals were impacted in October due to the passage of Hurricane Melissa but additional airlift from the USA and Canada resulted in an increase in arrivals in November and December.
Mr. Paul Pennicook, Interim CEO Consultant of Experience Turks and Caicos, said December’s increase in stayover arrivals is an encouraging indicator of the sustained interest in the Turks and Caicos Islands as a premier destination.
“While we note and continue to monitor geopolitical shifts that affect us, Experience Turks and Caicos is focused on increasing marketing initiatives in our primary source markets. We have spent the last two years investing in groundwork such as crucial travel advisor training to assist them in selling the destination more effectively. In the next fiscal, we will be building on those initiatives with co-op activities with partners as well as out of home advertising to increase visitation to our destination,” he said.
In Cruise, the preliminary count of passenger arrivals for the month of December 2025 was 129,346, a 22 percent increase over last December. This growth follows the berthing of 11 additional ships in Grand Turk this month.
From January to December, the cruise sector continued to outperform the same period last year, as the 1.3 million total cruise passengers recorded, marks a five percent Year-on-Year increase. 
The cruise sector experienced significant growth in the first quarter of 2025, with passenger arrivals surpassing last quarter by 53 percent. In the second and third quarter however, several cruise lines adjusted their itineraries as vessels were pulled from the fleet or from the Caribbean region, which resulted in fewer passengers.
Arrivals dropped seven percent and 10 percent in the second and third quarters, respectively. Double digit growth was recorded in the last two months of Quarter 4. This growth however, was not sufficient to outweigh the drop in arrivals experienced in October, following the cancellation of cruise calls due to the passage of Hurricane Melissa. Despite the late-quarter rebound, arrivals for the final quarter of 2025 closed six percent below the same period in 2024.
News
The Department of Trade, Industry & Fair Competition to Host Export Readiness Workshop Under the theme “Empowering TCI Businesses for Local Growth and Global Markets.”
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Wednesday, 11 February 2026: The Informal Settlements Unit (ISU) coordinated a multi-agency enforcement operation on Thursday, 29 January 2026, led by the Planning Department, with support from the Crown Land
Unit, the Turks and Caicos Islands Border Force, and security provided by the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force. The operation, carried out at three different locations in Providenciales, formed part of ongoing government efforts to address unauthorised development and illegal occupation of land in accordance with governing legislation.
The operation commenced in Blue Hills, where five Section 58 Enforcement Notices were issued on unauthorised structures identified on Block and Parcel 60502/48.
Enforcement activity then moved to a second location off the Leeward Highway near Caicos Lodge, where six Section 58 Enforcement Notices were issued on additional unauthorised structures on Block and Parcel 60802/66.
The final phase of the operation took place in The Bight, where three unauthorised structures were removed, with all debris cleared from the site in keeping with established safety and environmental protocols.
The Informal Settlements Unit remains committed to working alongside its partner agencies to support lawful development, protect public and private land, and ensure that planning regulations are enforced in a coordinated and transparent manner across the Turks and Caicos Islands. Similar joint operations will continue as part of the Government’s wider strategy to address unauthorised development and informal settlement activity.
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