News
Sustainability of tourism in TCI, do we have the zeal to preserve it?
#TurksandCaicos, May 2, 2023 – In a true sense of the word, sustainable tourism is one that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host.
As a country, we have come a long way and can proudly boast that we are the envy of the Caribbean in terms of desirability but, is it sustainable?
Prior to the pandemic, there were public concerns that tourism in the Turks and Caicos was growing faster than our
ability to cope. With a significant decline in this area during the COVID-19 pandemic, it gave leaders a moment to pause and reflect on how dependant we are on the tourism dollars, and to question whether or not we are truly a good host.
Without a coordinated response, we risk being unable to fully capture the true potential of tourism and protect the long-term sustainability of this vibrant but fragile industry.
As we press forward and look beyond the post-pandemic era, we should be asking ourselves, what can we do differently to save our most valuable product which is ecotourism?
It’s crucial that everyone take the depletion of our natural resources seriously and do everything within our power to protect and sustain our natural environment.
Turks and Caicos is now at a crossroad where the Bahamas and Jamaica once were, in terms of growth and development. Where we go from here will determine the long term future of our country. So how do we continue to thrive and nurture what we have?
If our government is truly serious about saving our ecotourism industry, it must start with saving our coral reefs, our pristine beaches and wet lands. In today’s fractured and fragmented world and tourism being so delicate, these are the areas that must be protected at all cost.
Red flags are being raised all over, particularly in areas such as, damaged and depletion of our coral reefs, crumbling infrastructure etc. In all honesty, we must ask ourselves are these areas getting our full and undivided attention that is needed?
Department of Environmental and Costal Resources(DECR) and Maritime departments, will need to be given an attenuated role with managing national parks and more autonomy to operate.
Our coral reefs and mangroves are a critical part of our natural environment, providing some of the best ecotourism services in the Caribbean if not in the world.
With our low lying landscape, It also helps to mitigate the effects of flooding by slowing the speed and distribution of storm water, and reducing beach erosion. Therefore, we should be doing everything within our means to protect them.
Access to the needed resources for enforcement in these particular areas has long been a challenge. Basic needs such as, channel markers, proper reef moorings that boat operators are paying for, a Maritime vessel, are all areas of dire need particularly in Grand Turk.
It should all begin and end with forging a strong partnership, collaboration and trust between the public and private sectors.
What is of paramount importance is, bridging that gap and aligning the aforementioned departments with local Water Sports organizations and the Turks and Caicos Reef project.
I believe the end goal could very well be achieved merely through training and education of tour operators, both on land and at sea.
With close oversight and support, these private organizations could play a vital role in helping to protect and preserve a sustainable ecotourism in our country. It also makes a powerful argument for greater self-sufficiency.
What we have seen over the years is, the departments might have had the best intentions or strategies to help save our environment, but in my opinion, lacked the resources and limited grit to execute on the initiatives.
Case in point: On any given day when the cruise ships are in, we have anywhere from 3500 to 4000 passengers embarking on our shores in Grand Turk.
An overwhelming majority of these sunbathers remain right on our pristine beaches.
The country on a whole has been somewhat actively complicit with providing available public restroom facilities, direct beach access for emergency vehicles and at the end of the day, the beaches are left littered with garbage, with no assigned government workers to assist with clean up.
It’s also pretty evident across these islands, with the surmountable garbage collection during earth day and coastal cleanup day.
Is this what one would call protecting our most valued tourism product? Nevertheless, it’s never to late we just have to remain hopeful. With cruising and tourism now resuming at full speed, it’s our opportunity to get it right this time.
With tourism being the primary economic engine of growth for our country, we are in an acute position and cannot continue to ignore these critical areas, or play politics while ignoring the need for a total facelift of the nation’s capital and other sister islands of concerns.
We must have a national conversation on saving our reefs with a unified effort, and we must move fast and
decisively. Failure to address these critical improvements would only exacerbate issues and in the long term put the country in a more vulnerable position.
We can no longer be shortsighted when it comes to the future of our country. With that being said, more focus should be on yield per visitor and return rate rather than just the sheer number of visitors to our Islands.
If there’s one lesson that can be derived from the recent pandemic, is the importance of protecting what we have control over.
Many residents are still cynical about the change in strategy with the tourist board transitioning to a destination management organization(DMO). Whilst this may expand our horizon, it is still our story, our passion and we must build upon the successes, stay the course and not just ride the waves.
Therefore, in order to protect and sustain what we have left to call our own, ecological restoration will have to become front and center. This should also include revitalization and exposure of our dormant and forgotten culture.
I’m of the opinion, the islands will benefit tremendously by getting more dollars from less people and attracting the right investors. Any development or revitalization plan going forward must include the aforementioned, as the common future of our country depends on it.
Ed Forbes,
Concerned Citizen of Grand Turk
SALT CAY — Residents say Salt Cay’s prolonged water shortage remains unresolved, with no visible activity or relief from the measures Government said would be advanced last week.
The crisis began in June after a critical filter failed at the island’s reverse osmosis plant, severely disrupting local water production.
Residents told Magnetic Media Tuesday morning that neither the replacement filter nor the promised bulk shipment of emergency water appeared to have arrived.
Minister of Innovation, Technology and Energy E. Jay Saunders, however, said the filter is already on Salt Cay.
“The RO filter is on Salt Cay and it’s being installed,” Saunders told Magnetic Media.
The large emergency water shipment has not materialised. Saunders said transporting more than 1,000 gallons in a single container requires a barge, and officials are still attempting to source one.
Government had previously indicated that it would try to deliver up to 2,500 gallons to partially replenish Salt Cay’s depleted storage tanks while repairs continued.
Saunders had initially projected that the RO plant would be fully operational by August 19. He now says the system is expected to return to full operation “in a few days.”
For residents, however, the immediate reality remains unchanged: the shortage continues, the bulk water has not arrived and the promised relief is not yet flowing.
PROVIDENCIALES, Turks & Caicos Islands: — Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort recently collaborated with the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force and the Department of Social Services to support a youth camp hosted at the Oseta Jolly Primary School, underscoring the resort’s ongoing commitment to youth development in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The camp, which brought together security forces, government agencies and private sector entities, focused on equipping young participants
with practical life skills and character-building tools. A team from Beaches Turks and Caicos’ leadership and training departments joined the programme to deliver sessions on basic table etiquette, dining mannerisms, polite demeanour and public speaking fundamentals, all designed to help the students present themselves confidently in formal and professional settings.
General Manager of Beaches Turks and Caicos, Deryk Meany, said the resort views national development as an integral part of its corporate social responsibility. “We are always happy to be supporters in the development of the youth of the Turks and Caicos Islands. We continue to commit our team to help in creating the next generation of leaders who will provide support to the islands and help in its development,” Meany noted.
The initiative also received strong endorsement from the Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports and Community Development, which has been championing holistic programmes aimed at building well-rounded young citizens. Minister Rachel Taylor highlighted the importance of collaborations like the camp in helping youth access structured guidance and mentorship. “We are happy to join in celebrating the growth and development of our youth here in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Beaches Turks and Caicos continues to be one of our primary supporters in helping to develop well rounded individuals. This commitment from this resort has grown with the vision of the youth ministry to help in their overall development,” she said.
Taylor further emphasized that the camp’s timing was especially significant, coming as youth across the islands seek positive outlets and
constructive engagement. “This camp came at the most ideal time for our adolescents. With the support of our governor, the security forces, the social services along with Beaches Turks and Caicos, we are confident that the training needed for them to improve is on the right track,” she added.
Beaches Turks and Caicos Public Relations Manager, Orville Morgan, described the collaboration as an exemplary model of cross-sector partnership. “To be able to join with the security forces to provide support for the youth of the Turks and Caicos Islands is exceptional. We are happy to provide the necessary support to equip them to grow into being productive citizens of these islands,” Morgan said.
He noted that the resort team focused on practical etiquette and hospitality-driven skills that can be carried into the youths’ future experiences. “As a team, we were able to share in the basic table setting and dining etiquette for them, skills we are sure that they will be able to use in their next fine dining experience,” Morgan added.
Organizers expressed optimism that the camp’s blend of discipline, mentorship and soft skills training will have a lasting impact on participants. With stakeholders pledging continued support, the Beaches Turks and Caicos team and their partners aim to expand similar initiatives, further investing in the personal and professional growth of the next generation of Turks and Caicos Islanders.
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?
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