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Invest TCI Drives Sustainable Growth for MSMEs

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Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – December 3rd, 2024 – Invest Turks and Caicos Islands (Invest TCI) remains steadfast in its commitment to fostering sustainable economic growth through its Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Programme. This flagship initiative has proven to be a cornerstone of local business development, providing critical financial support, technical assistance, and customs duty concessions to bolster entrepreneurship.

Programme Highlights

Since its inception in 2016, the MSME Programme has committed over $3.66 million, with $1.58 million disbursed as of March 2023, benefiting 180 MSMEs in priority sectors such as tourism, agriculture, fisheries, and public transportation. In the fiscal year 2023-2024, the programme supported over 50 projects, distributing $861,000 in cash grants, $159,180 in technical assistance, and $325,100 in customs duty concessions as highlighted in the MSME Annual Report 2023- 2024.

The MSME programme has recently expanded to include new priority sectors, increasing the total number of priority sectors to 16, thus enhancing its relevance and ability to address the evolving needs of the local economy. With a strong focus on inclusivity and accessibility, the program ensures that Turks and Caicos Islanders remain its sole beneficiaries.

While Providenciales continues to be the largest recipient of program funds, reflecting its role as a key economic hub, significant support has also been extended to other islands such as Grand Turk, North Caicos, and South Caicos. This underscores the programme’s far-reaching economic impact across the archipelago, fostering growth and development throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Commitment to Governance and Transparency

Invest TCI continues to place transparency and governance at the forefront of its MSME Programme. A multi-sectoral committee meets monthly to evaluate proposals and make recommendations to the Minister of Finance, Investment, Trade, and Public Policy for approval.

In alignment with the MSME Development Ordinance 2015, the programme enforces strict monitoring and evaluation measures. Currently, 153 concession orders are actively monitored, with annual inspections conducted over a five-year period. These efforts ensure compliance and effective utilization of benefits, with over half of the supported projects remaining actively operational, underscoring the programme’s role in strengthening local businesses and economic resilience.

Streamlining the Application Process

Invest TCI has simplified the MSME application process to enhance accessibility and efficiency. Entrepreneurs can now complete a streamlined single-page online form, allowing applicants to submit their supporting documents digitally, and schedule consultations with MSME team members.

All approvals are published in the Government Gazette, and programme updates are shared across Invest TCI’s digital platforms, ensuring stakeholders are informed of progress and opportunities. Stakeholders are encouraged to follow Invest TCI on social media for timely updates and announcements.

Driving Results and Future Expansions

A recently concluded Impact Study, completed in July 2024 and based on the OECD DAC framework, evaluated the MSME Programme’s effectiveness. The study revealed that 74% of beneficiaries experienced enhanced sales, improved product development, and job creation, underscoring the programme’s transformative impact.

With 91.4% of allocated funds committed in the 2022-2023 fiscal year, the programme demonstrates strong resource allocation. Recommendations from the study will guide future operations, address disbursement bottlenecks, and enhance technical support.

Invest TCI’s proactive measures to expand programme capacity include increasing staffing to enhance monitoring and improve service delivery. The agency has also advocated for additional funding to support its growing roster of MSMEs.

Looking Ahead

Invest TCI is advancing its Business Linkages Policy to strengthen relationships between small businesses and larger enterprises, creating a cohesive ecosystem of shared success. By emphasizing governance, accessibility, and strategic growth, the MSME Programme continues to empower local entrepreneurs, bolster economic resilience, and ensure the benefits of development remain within the Turks and Caicos Islands. Entrepreneurs and businesses are encouraged to visit Invest TCI’s MSME webpage to learn more about the programme and follow Invest TCI on social media for regular updates and opportunities.

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Royal Navy Chaplain Leads Communion at Grand Turk Prison During HMS Medway Deployment

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Deandrea Hamilton | Editor

 

Turks and Caicos, July 14, 2025 – In a rare and touching moment during the Royal Navy’s latest deployment to the Turks and Caicos Islands, Father Matteo Zambon, chaplain aboard HMS Medway, led a communion service at His Majesty’s Prison in Grand Turk. The intimate spiritual gathering brought reflection and encouragement to inmates and staff, and was described by observers as “deeply moving.”

The service was a standout feature of HMS Medway’s multifaceted visit, showcasing the Royal Navy’s humanitarian and pastoral outreach, not just its operational capacity. While the ship is widely recognized for its disaster readiness and security work in the region, the prison service offered a profound, personal dimension to the deployment.

Alongside this spiritual engagement, HMS Medway conducted a simulated beach landing exercise in collaboration with the Turks and Caicos Islands Regiment, aimed at improving disaster response coordination. The Royal Navy’s Crisis Response Troop participated in the operation, which took place on the beach adjacent to the Grand Turk cruise pier and concluded safely before ship traffic resumed.

The visit also reinforced UK support for the Overseas Territories during hurricane season. HMS Medway, permanently stationed in the Caribbean, is outfitted with emergency relief supplies, medical kits, and equipment for clearing debris and restoring access in the aftermath of natural disasters.

In Providenciales, the crew met with local officials and conducted further training and outreach activities. The deployment builds on strong ties established during previous visits, including youth mentorship programs and joint patrols with the TCI Marine Branch and Police Force.

Governor Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam has previously praised the UK’s forward-deployed assets like HMS Medway as “critical to disaster preparedness, maritime security, and community support”. This most recent visit deepens that role, showing how hard power can be paired with soft-touch diplomacy.

As HMS Medway resumes regional patrols, its legacy in the Turks and Caicos this year will not only be measured in drills and deployments—but in the quiet connection made behind prison walls, where faith, dignity, and humanity were affirmed by a visiting chaplain in naval uniform.

In a place often associated with hardship and consequence, Father Zambon’s communion service served as a rare reminder: that even the most disciplined missions can carry a message of hope.

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Governor Targeted Again in Social Media Impersonation Scam

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Deandrea Hamilton | Editor

 

Turks and Caicos, July 13, 2025 – The Governor’s Office has issued a renewed warning to the public following the discovery of multiple fake Facebook accounts impersonating Her Excellency, Governor Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam. The fraudulent profiles, created under names such as “Dileeni Daniel Selvaratnam” and “Dileeni Selvaratnam,” have been flagged for attempting to engage residents through unsolicited messages.

In a statement released on Friday, 11 July, the Governor’s Office confirmed that at least four such accounts had been identified and formally reported to Facebook for investigation and removal. The public is urged not to interact with these profiles and to report any suspicious activity directly to the platform.

This is not the first time the Governor has been targeted. Similar impersonation attempts were reported in early 2024, when scammers used lookalike profiles to solicit money from unsuspecting individuals. The recurrence of such schemes has raised concerns about online safety and the misuse of public officials’ identities for fraudulent purposes.

“Her Excellency does not conduct official business via social media direct messaging,” the statement emphasized. “All legitimate communication is handled through official government email addresses or verified public channels.”

Residents are encouraged to follow the Governor’s verified social media pages, including the official Facebook page: Turks and Caicos Islands, Governor’s Office and Instagram: @governorturksandcaicos, for authentic updates.

Authorities are reminding the public to remain vigilant when interacting online and to treat unsolicited friend requests or private messages from high-profile individuals with skepticism.

The Governor’s Office reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and online safety and thanked the public for helping to identify and report fraudulent activity.

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Search for Missing American Tourist Intensifies in Turks and Caicos

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U.S. Officials, Family Join Local Efforts as Disappearance Enters Ninth Day

By Deandrea Hamilton | Editor and Wilkie Arthur | Eagle Legal News

 

Turks and Caicos, July 4, 2025 – The United States Department of State has confirmed it is aware of the disappearance of American citizen Brian Tarrence in Turks and Caicos, and the U.S. Embassy in Nassau is actively assisting in the ongoing investigation. Tarrence’s mother is now on the island, anxiously hoping for good news as the search for her son enters its ninth day.

Tarrence, 51, of New York, vanished on June 25 while vacationing with his wife in Providenciales. The couple was staying at the Inn at Grace Bay in a privately rented villa booked via Airbnb. CCTV footage reviewed by Eagle Legal News shows Tarrence walking away from the property around 3:00 a.m., alone and without signs of immediate distress. He has not been seen since.

The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force is treating the case as high priority, and a search operation is underway in Grace Bay, with efforts expanding to The Bight and nearby districts. U.S. private investigator Carl DeFazio, hired by Tarrence’s family, is also on the ground and working alongside local authorities.

“We are tracking any activity—credit cards, digital devices—that could point us toward his location,” said DeFazio. “This is a coordinated effort, and we are committed to bringing Brian home.”

Sources close to the investigation say Tarrence may have been in a vulnerable state prior to his disappearance. His wife reported that he had relapsed into alcohol use and was displaying increasingly erratic behavior, including signs of paranoia and delusional speech. He reportedly believed people were outside their villa and made concerning remarks hours before he disappeared.

When his wife woke that morning, Tarrence—and his phone and wallet—were gone. The devices remain unreachable, and no transactions or confirmed sightings have been reported.

His wife continues to cooperate fully with police, while his mother, who recently arrived in TCI, has joined local and diplomatic efforts in hopes of a safe resolution.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the nearest police station or call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-8477.

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