TCI News
Beaches Turks and Caicos Employees Make Huge Non-Perishable Food Donation
#TurksandCaicosIslands – January 9, 2020 — Team Members of Beaches Resorts Turks & Caicos donated over 5,000 pieces of canned goods and non-perishable items to the National HIV Prevention Unit & the Turks and Caicos Social Welfare Department as part of their annual ‘Share Your Christmas’ food drive.
The charitable initiative which was spearheaded by the resort’s Environment Health & Safety Department [EHS], once again invited Team Members to participate in the spirit of giving and stewardship by sharing their Christmas while donating to a cause that would help the less fortunate in the community.
Organizer, Shuntel Gibson said that she was incredibly happy about the support received for this year’s drive. “We were so overwhelmed by the response we got from the ‘Share your Christmas’ drive. We anticipated collecting the same amount we collected in the years prior but we have exceeded that number,” the EHS Manager said. “This is by far the largest donation we have received in our six years of hosting this charitable drive.”
“We recognize that there exists a social group within our communities that are in need and are pleased that our great relationship with the social welfare department and other social interest groups allow us to assist through this annual initiative”
Items were delivered to the Social Welfare Department on Friday, January 3, 2020. During the delivery, Acting Deputy Director of Social Development, Jean Williams said that she wanted to extend a big thank you for the generous donation.
“We have been working with Beaches for quite some time, and we thank the staff members of Beaches who have taken the interest to share their Christmas with our clients every year. This is a worthy cause, and it’s very beneficial to our clients. Those who are sick don’t have a financial income this supports them tremendously, and we greatly appreciate it,” Williams said.
For the past six years Beaches Turks and Caicos have invited all their team members to participate in the canned and non-perishable food drive. The drive was launched on December 7th and ran through December 22nd , 2019, to collect food items which were then donated directly to the organizations which will then be distributed to those in need.
The HIV prevention unit assists directly with providing medical support services to those affected by this disease. The group also offers healthy meals daily to about 35-40 persons on the island of Providenciales who would not have the means to feed themselves otherwise. The TCI Social Welfare Office assists with providing financial support to the unemployed and underemployed in the Turks and Caicos Islands. They directly impact single mothers, children, the disabled, and the elderly by providing them with monetary support and where possible, food and clothing.
Press Release: Beaches Resort Villages & Spa, 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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