TCI News
TCI: Political Parties vow to make grand investments in Grand Turk
#Providenciales, June 14, 2019 – Turks and Caicos – Grand Turk is poised for a resurgence of its economy and a return to its glory days, if political party promises are more than mere talk. Recent reports by the PDM Administration and an announcement by the PNP Opposition offer bold solutions to years’ old problems for the nation’s capital, including over a dozen new projects and a hotel investment.
In its quarterly government town hall meeting held on June 3, 2019, Grand Turk residents were informed that: “The following repairs, development and improvement works have been tendered and are moving to contract: The Parade Grounds repairs; NJS Francis Building repairs; Governor’s Beach Development; HJ Auditorium repairs; ramp at Grand Turk Port pavement and gate house and ramp (RORO Ramp) repairs; Ministry of Education Building; Crown Land Building; new block at Her Majesty’s Prison; Fire Hall and Fire Truck; West Road Basketball Court repairs and Library construction.”
The update from the PDM Administration is welcomed news, however residents are ready to see the action which will shift the island from shambles to shine.
The Victoria Public library burned to the ground in what is suspected to be a case of senseless arson; 90 percent of its precious contents were lost in that March 2017 fire. Yet, the historic building has sat in charred ruins since that time on Front Street.
The PDM informed that ‘library construction’ is past the tender process and onto the contract stage.
On social media, talk shows, through mainstream media and at previous town hall meetings; residents have been vociferous in their disappointment that despite a multi-million-dollar investment fund in partnership with Carnival Cruise Line, successive reports of Government Budget surpluses and previous announcements of hurricane repairs, much of the island’s public buildings and spaces are run down.
In the September 2018 town hall meeting; it was promised that the Mega One Triton would be removed. However, the boat which ran aground off Governor’s Beach in Superstorm Sandy in October 2012, remains an abandoned eyesore and environmental threat on the popular beach.
On June 3, 2019 residents were told: “The Mega One Triton (abandoned boat on governor’s Beach) will be removed this year. The removal has been costed and funds allocated for that project.”
During the meeting on September 1, 2018 hosted by the PDM Administration, it was also promised that the perimeter fencing at the JAGS McCartney International Airport would be fixed, but sadly that too remains an issue eight months later.
On Monday June 3, 2019 the Government said: “Airport fencing is being fixed. The JAGS International Airport is set to fully reopen next month.”
Grand Turk’s International airport has been only partially operable since the hurricanes of September 2017.
The PNP Opposition believes that getting the JAGS McCartney operational for domestic flights is just the beginning though and on Tuesday June 12 announced that if re-elected in 2020, there administration is prepared to make a bold move for Grand Turk.
“We (TCIG) now have over $200 million in cash and we look at what happens in Grand Turk when Carnival leaves in the afternoon, the island shuts down. We can remedy that. We can remedy that and the Progressive National Party is making a promise today that the Progressive National Party government will make the investment in the development of a resort in Grand Turk to ensure that we have direct airline, commercial, international airline service to the nation’s capital. We can do it and we will, there is no excuse!”
The PDM Administration reported a half a million dollars in spending allocated for the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College. Issues at the tertiary institution are also long standing; students in March 2018 staged a protest outside of Parliament. One placard read: “Stop the Crap, so we can Crap. TCICC GT needs running water.”
On June 3, 2019 the PDM Cabinet Ministers said “Over $500 thousand allocated for repairs to the TCI Community College Grand Turk Campus.”
Grand Turk residents at the town hall meeting were informed that in a few weeks, there would be a new boat for the Police marine branch in Grand Turk; that a domestic fire truck is only months away from reality now and that Ona Glinton primary would get its repairs and HJ Robinson high would get its new classroom block.
The national CCTV plan moves to phase two this year, which means increased security and surveillance capabilities of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands police; that too is already funded.
Also funded and onto the contract stage is a new Vendors Market on Front Street.
The PDM Administration informed the 50 attendees at the meeting held at the Anglican Church Sunday School hall, that, “Altogether for the 2018/19 budget more than $9 million was allocated for investment in Grand Turk and under the most recent Budget (2019/20) approximately $15 million to go toward improvement and repairs in Grand Turk– that including Government Funded Projects and Infrastructure Accounts Projects.”
#magneticmedianews
#grandturktownmeeting
#grandinvestmentsforgrandturk
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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