TCI News
“We are committed to this” says Noble as Beach Enclave Adopts Thelma Lightbourne Primary
Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
The Thelma Lightbourne Primary is officially under the patronage of the Beach Enclave following an ‘adoption’ ceremony on Friday April 26, 2024, where executives of the resort development gave a strong commitment to the aspirations of the school, which is the learning center for hundreds of Providenciales children.
“I hope that with this partnership, with the wonderful young children we can create exceptional employees and exceptional people to drive the Turks and Caicos forward. There is nothing at all, more important than the development of the people of this country in the development of this country. We are not going anywhere, we want to be called, call us!” said Grant Noble, Chief Operating Officer, Beach Enclave.
The event was attended by officials from Beach Enclave; Thelma Lightbourne, school patron; Cheryl Jones Permanent Secretary of Education; and dozens of students.
“Adopting a public school is not only beneficial for students and teachers but the entire community as well. It fosters a better sense of understanding of the community’s school system; it strengthens and improves school programs and curricula,” said Robin Cox-Foster, Principal of Thelma Lightbourne, during the adoption event
The adoption means that Beach Enclave will maintain contact with the PTA board and comes with a host of other responsibilities including :
- Providing resource personnel as guest speakers
- Providing manpower and skills for maintenance work and landscaping
- Encouraging guests to participate in the pack with a purpose initiative carried out by the US charity of the same name
- Participate in Read Aloud days and
- Partake in school functions
Cheryl Ann Jones, Permanent Secretary of Education, also thanked Beach Enclave for their support highlighting that partnerships such as these had proven successful all across the Turks and Caicos.
“Because of our partners we see growth with our schools and students— I look forward to seeing how this partnership develops and I do hope that it is an example to other organizations to join,” she maintained.
Beach Enclave is a collection of 27 private villas located in some of the most picturesque beaches of the Providenciales, Noble and his team, treated to kind words and performance by the children shared that he was humbled and privileged to partake in the event.
“We are so committed to this. Thank you very much for giving us the opportunity to work with you. It’s very exciting,” said Noble.
In response to sentiments from Cox-Foster that the school would be calling on Beach Enclave, Noble maintained that they weren’t going anywhere and encouraged the school to ask for what it needed.
A moment was observed for Autism Awareness Month during the ceremony with students and other attendees lighting up blue candles in support.
At the front of the event with a strong smile and dressed in blue like the other attendees was Thelma Lightbourne after whom the school, located in Leeward, Providenciales, is named. The school’s construction was facilitated by an EU development grant, and officially named in honor Lightbourne, native to Middle Caicos, who began teaching at the young age of 15 and spent decades in the field of public education in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
TCIG knew from April that fuel factor could surge almost 80%; Minister says $500 cost-of-living payment was part of Government’s response
PROVIDENCIALES — The Turks and Caicos Government knew months before July’s shocking electricity bills that consumers faced a potentially massive increase in the fuel factor.
Minister of Information Technology and Energy E. Jay Saunders revealed Friday that Pelican Energy warned his Ministry in April that generation fuel costs were projected to rise from $3.09 per gallon in May to $4.79 in June and July.
That translated into a projected fuel factor jump from about 17.5 cents to 31 cents per kilowatt-hour — an increase of almost 80%.
Saunders said he personally advised Cabinet of the projected increase and presented options for cushioning the impact.
He characterised Government’s $500 cost-of-living payment as its “initial response” to rising fuel costs, before a separate fuel-factor subsidy was approved.
Cabinet records show Government agreed on June 24 to provide funding to mitigate the fuel-factor impact, with the relief programme approved July 8.
Eligible residential customers — those averaging less than $1,500 monthly over the previous three bills — are capped at 22 cents per kWh from July through October.
Pelican confirmed Friday that Government’s contribution was already applied to July bills, meaning the bills now triggering widespread public outrage would have been even higher without the subsidy.
Saunders did not disclose the programme’s total cost.
His admission that Government knew since April, however, raises another question amid the backlash: why were consumers not directly warned by Government about the scale of the approaching increase?
PROVIDENCIALES — New commercial Crown Land applications are facing a six-month pause as the Turks and Caicos Islands Government takes inventory of its holdings.
During Cabinet meetings held July 15 and 16, an immediate six-month moratorium was approved on the acceptance, processing
and approval of new applications for commercial Crown Land grants, leases and allocations.
The pause will remain in place pending completion of the Crown Land Inventory Review. Cabinet’s summary did not state what prompted the review or indicate whether availability of commercial Crown Land is a concern.
The two-day meeting also advanced major consumer legislation. Cabinet approved the National Fair Competition Policy 2026 and drafting instructions for a Fair Competition Ordinance, moving TCI toward stronger consumer protection and fair competition rules.
In Grand Turk, Cabinet approved rezoning land in the North West Suburbs from low-density to medium-density residential use to facilitate a new apartment development.
Cabinet also advanced fisheries reforms, water legislation allowing private and public-private investment, minerals legislation and appointments across tourism, health and finance.
Progress toward establishing a TCI Credit Union was also noted.
PROVIDENCIALES — Major development projects outside Providenciales received Cabinet attention on July 8, with Government approving agreements connected to the redevelopment of Dellis Cay and a resort development in North Caicos.
Cabinet approved a Development Agreement between the Turks and Caicos Islands Government, Desarrollos Hotelco DC Ltd. and
Desarrollos Hotelco Astoria Ltd. for the redevelopment of Dellis Cay.
The long-discussed private island development sits between Providenciales and North Caicos and its return to Cabinet signals another step toward redevelopment.
Cabinet also approved amendments to an agreement involving SPR LND Ltd. (Royal Reef) and TCIG Development Agreement for a resort/hotel development in North Caicos.
Other decisions included approval of the First Supplementary Appropriation Bill 2026 for onward transmission and the appointment of Cindy Ewing as Chair of the Invest TCI Board, effective August 1 for three years.
Cabinet also noted consultation outcomes concerning changes to business licensing, approved professional membership expenses for qualifying Telecommunications Commission staff and approved advice relating to the Interim Clinical and Estates Services PPP.
The July 8 meeting was chaired by Acting Governor Anya Williams.
Photo Credit: Royal Reef (Keith)
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