TCI News
Beaches Turks and Caicos Celebrates TCI National Heritage Day with investment in youth and culture
PROVIDENCIALES, Turks & Caicos Islands: — As the country celebrated National Heritage Day 2025, Beaches Turks & Caicos resort joined with the Turks & Caicos Islands National Heritage Trust, Department of Tourism Regulations, Enid Capron Primary and Shining Stars Primary schools to showcase the history and rich legacy of the region.
Through partnerships with the local team from the TCI Beautiful by Nature Island Books, Ministry of Tourism, Environment, Fisheries,
Marine Affairs, Culture and Heritage, Religious Affairs and Gaming, TCI Historian David Bowen, along with the resort’s dedicated staff had the area decorated with displays of traditional artifacts and illustrations depicting the islands’ history. Included in the day’s events were team member heritage quizzes, live entertainment, heritage oratorical presentation, mixology competition and culinary delights, all organised by the human resources and learning and development departments, that took the team members on a cultural journey down memory lane.
Human Resources Manager, Owenta Coleby was ecstatic as she led a group of students through offices and the resort, performing cultural items. “The primary objective of this initiative is to share often-forgotten or overlooked information about the TCI’s national heritage. We are made in the Caribbean. While we enjoy a dynamic cultural blend of team members, with more than 25 different nationalities, we support and enjoy diversity and inclusion.”
“The TCI’s culture continues to be the dominant theme on the resort especially during our heritage celebrations. As we planned and executed the full day of activities, we ensured that the country’s heritage remained at the forefront of the minds of our team – shared in fun ways of historical talks, gastronomic treats and traditional entertainment. The activities were well received and supported by all in attendance,” Coleby added.
Managing Director James McAnally noted, “as a loving family, our core values are built on being one team by tapping into our collective knowledge. We thrive on helping to build the best foundation for growth especially within the hospitality industry. It is always great for us to celebrate the TCI heritage among our team members and this year we partnered with students from schools to share the heritage with our international guests.”
“Each year our management team goes all out to make the day a memorable one and these activities create memories and moments that inspire us all. We are always pleased to make it even more special through partnerships with the local government agencies. Our unique culture is on display each week for our guests with our cultural night of entertainment and the involvement of our local vendors on resort,” McAnally shared.
Resort Nurse Eleanor Clare, veteran administrator and South Caicos native, who was eager to share her knowledge of the islands, remarked
that this was not just a regular celebration for her, but a teaching and learning moment. Said Clare: “As a nation, my fellow TCI nationals, we were able to celebrate this milestone with the entire resort team including those who may not have grown up experiencing these past events, including our students from nearby schools.”
Clare added, “to see the different nationalities at our resort learning more about our history, was truly rewarding, engaging and fun. With this kind of celebration, we were able to share even with our own team members and guests, the country’s historical values and accomplishments, and what each of us can contribute going forward.” Cultural icon and local historian, David Bowen was filled with excitement as he shared musical and oratorical heritage of the TCI. “Being able to see our heritage on display at the resort means a lot and brought back a lot of nostalgia. Also, we have a melting pot of nationalities amongst us, who were able to learn even more about the TCI as the day unfolded,” shared Bowen.
Led by the resort’s entertainment team, entertainment for the day featured music by the renowned local performer Renise Peters and the vibrant and energetic rhythms of the traditional rake and scrape music.
Photo Captions:
Header: Beaches Turks and Caicos resort was active with entertainment as the staff and students traveled throughout the resort as they share the cultural experience with staff and guests in the Heritage Day celebration
1st Insert: Enid Capron Primary School band share the entertainment and cultural stage with the Bowen’s at the Beaches Turks and Caicos resort Heritage Day celebrations
2nd Insert: Beaches Turks and Caicos resort celebrates TCI’s Heritage Day 2025 with local historian David Bowen (left) with his son Ishan Bowen share with staff, guests and students in a educational oratorical presentation on the culture and history of 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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