New Administration Offices honours Aviation Leader, Walter E. Cox

Garfield Ekon

Staff Writer

#TurksandCaicos, May 31, 2024 – The late Parliamentarian and businessman, Walter Ebenezer Cox Senior has been hailed as a guiding team leader, with remarkable strength to manage challenges in the aviation industry and in public life.

Speaking during a recent dedication ceremony for the renaming of the Howard Hamilton International Airport (HHIA), to the Walter E. Cox Snr. Administration Building, Minister of Immigration, Hon. Arlington Musgrove said the “momentous occasion” not only honours a distinguished individual, but also underscores the “opportunities he created for our ports of entry.

“His contribution to the aviation sector not only improved travel but also boosted the TCI’s capacity for growth and development. As Minister of Immigration, I am truly proud to recognise the legacy of Walter E. Cox, and his profound impact on our nation’s progress. His vision and determination have left an indelible mark on our ports of entry, enhancing our ability to welcome visitors and facilitate travel for all,” the Minister said.

Mr. Cox was first elected as a Member of Parliament, in 1976, for the Blue Hills constituency, for the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM). In 1980, won under the as a member of the Progressive National Party (PNP). He also entered aviation, and in 1982 started Provo Air Charter.

Continuing, Minister Musgrove said his leadership and innovation in the realm of travel and immigration in the Turks and Caicos Islands is rooted in Providenciales, later leading him to Nassau Bahamas where his “entrepreneurial endeavours also flourished.

For Deputy Premier and Minister for Physical Planning and Infrastructure Development, Hon. Jamell Robinson, Mr. Cox displayed exceptional leadership skills, and his “strategic vision” and innovative thinking “set him apart as a forward-thinking businessman.

“Who could spark opportunities and navigate the complexities of the business world, with agility and insight, especially in the early days of the development in the TCI, and by extension, Providenciales,” he said.

The Deputy Premier also lauded Mr. Cox as a man of integrity, honesty, and commitment to ethical business practices, which made him not only successful, “but also highly respected, serving as a role model for others,” he told his audience.

Meanwhile, his daughter, Felicita Cox-Walkin, said the occasion filled them with “immense pride and gratitude,” and the building stands as inspiration for possibilities, as their father believed in the “transformative power” of the aviation industry. “He worked tirelessly to achieve this vision,” she said, noting that the honour showcases the importance of service to nation.