#TurksandCaicos – December 10, 2020 — RitzCarlton Residences Turks and Caicos, Grace Bay is moving steadily toward a mid-2021 opening and in November accomplished a string of feats which have pushed the development of the Desarrolles Hotel Co Turks and Caicos Ltd (DHTC) closer to launch of its luxury twin towers.
A meeting held on November
17 with Delroy Williams, Minister of Labour and Employment Services and his
team including Edwin Taylor, TCI Labour Commissioner was meant to give guidance
on best practices during the hiring process.
RitzCarlton executives: John Hazard, Corey Guest, Roberto Spita and Steven Redkoles
learned of opportunities to partner with schools, colleges and vocational institutions
in Turks and Caicos for possible internships and to offer developmental courses
as it seeks to staff is world class, branded resort.
Shared
with the hotel executives were recommendations on pay, benefits, employee
taxes, programs like retirement savings and a session to better acquaint the
team with the labour laws of Turks and Caicos.
The
Ministry shared: “A number of topics
were covered, some of which are as follows: Turks and Caicos Labour Laws;
General pay (including required or non-required service charge and
distribution) & benefits offered on island; Medical, dental and other
required and standard insurance provided to employees; Pension/Retirement plan
requirements that are offered in the industry to employees; Vacation, holiday and
sick leave entitlements; Local vs. Expat differences and any potential
requirements as it relates to Live-in/Live-out, pay and benefits; Offer
Letter/Work Agreement templates and requirements.”
On
November 26, the Turks and Caicos Islands cabinet approved “a 99
year license for and licence to operate a restaurant and to renovate an
existing pier/jetty…”
Minister
Williams, who was also accompanied by Desmond Wilson, Permanent Secretary and
James Astwood, the deputy PS said, “… that he is confident that the opening of
this resort will create major employment as well as entrepreneurial
opportunities for the residents of the Turks and Caicos Islands, and is looking
forward to the Ritz Carlton team working closely with my Ministry team during
the various phases of the project, to ensure that the end result will prove
beneficial to all.”
There
is optimism and anticipation from the RitzCarlton Turks and Caicos side as
well, “When I exited the plane in Turks and Caicos last year, I felt an
immediate connection with the island as it truly felt like home. We look very
much forward to a successful opening and partnering with you (TCI Government)
and the community,” said Mr. Guest, Director of Human Resources.
Additionally,
RitzCarlton, in July signed on as FortisTCI’s tenth UORE (Utility Owned
Renewable Energy) customer.
“A 210.6 kW rooftop
solar PV system will be installed on the resort’s casino and restaurant
rooftop. It will be a grid-tied installation, generating approximately 310MWh
annually and help avoid approximately 244 tons of CO2 emissions. Customers
participating in the UORE program receive a monthly fixed credit for rooftop
space and an annual variable incentive based on system production,” said
FortisTCI in a media statement.
RitzCarlton Turks and
Caicos will be the country’s tallest hotel at 12 storeys and features 124 hotel
rooms, 60 residences, restaurant, meeting rooms and a casino stretched across
700 feet of uninterrupted views of the world famous, Grace Bay Beach.
Magnetic Media is a Telly Award winning multi-media company specializing in creating compelling and socially uplifting TV and Radio broadcast programming as a means for advertising and public relations exposure for its clients.
May 6th, 2024 – As co-chairs of the National Security Council, Her Excellency the Governor and the Honourable Premier condemn strongly recent threats made against Turks and Caicos Islands airports and schools.
We have zero tolerance for these disruptions and the alarm that they cause. The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF) continues to work closely with partner agencies and will keep the public updated as we manage the situation.
The National Security Council wishes to reassure residents, travellers and parents that the safety and security of our Islands is its highest priority.
All appropriate measures are being taken to address these threats and all required security protocols are being followed.
The Airports Authority and the Ministry of Education, with school principals are collaborating with the RTCIPF investigations.
We encourage the public to be extra vigilant against phishing and malicious emails and report any suspicious activity to the authorities.
We appreciate the understanding of the public as we work to ensure the safety and well-being of our airports, schools and communities.
“Our daughter is on the plane and they took them off the plane and we don’t know where the people are—she called— and we haven’t been able to get a hold of her since” the words of a panicked parent and one example of the chaos that criminals making malicious bomb threats on the Turks and Caicos’ airports are causing.
That parent was one of many residents waiting anxiously outside the Providenciales International Airport on Sunday, May 5th after Bomb threats were yet again filed against it; simultaneously threats were also made against the JAGS McCartney Airport in Grand Turk.
The couple, speaking to Wilkie Arthur, Magnetic Media Court Correspondent, were sitting in their car, the mother in tears, watching as travelers were made to disembark and leave the airport for their own safety.
We are told authorities cut a hole in airport fencing to quickly evacuate those who were on board aircraft on the runway at the time.
Arthur spoke to pilots who were frustrated at the delay.
”From our perspective, this flight is canceled.“ One of them told Arthur.
They expressed the same concern that other residents had shared with Magnetic Media, that it was time for the police to find the culprits behind the repeated threats which have turned out in all cases so far to be hoaxes.
Magnetic Media observed dozens of resident travelers mowing about on the tarmac and outside of the airport just waiting for police to finish their bomb threat protocol for the sixth time in 10 days.
The other threats came on Friday, April 26, Saturday, April 27, and Monday, April 29 (2) all via email.
Eventually, passengers were observed going back through security to reboard their flights.
It’s the first time in six encounters that no word has come from the Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority about the bomb threat, and when Arthur tried to approach the airport to film, he was told not to.
Based on eyewitness reports, several flights were delayed, including at least one international flight to Texas.
RBC Royal Bank (Bahamas) Limited (“RBC”) is pleased to announce the recent appointment of Kerryl-Lyn King-Henry as Country Manager and Area Vice President (“AVP”), Personal and Commercial Banking, Turks & Caicos Islands (TCI).
In her new role as Country Manager and AVP, King-Henry will take on full responsibility for the bank’s operations, strategy, and development in the TCI market, with a strong focus on solidifying partnerships with the Government, regulatory bodies, and the local community.
King-Henry brings to the role a dynamism influenced by nearly 25 years of industry experience. Prior to her new appointment, she served as AVP of Business Banking in Trinidad and Tobago. She has held progressively senior roles within both personal and commercial banking, as well as various functional units.
King-Henry holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree, with a specialization in Leadership, FinTech and Big Data Analysis, in addition to a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. Further enriching her professional profile, Kerryl-Lyn is a certified John C. Maxwell Coach, Trainer, Teacher, and Speaker. Her passion for leadership and development is matched by her commitment to community service, as she actively volunteers her time and leverages her professional expertise to mentor and support others. “
Kerryl-Lyn’s extensive experience and proven leadership capabilities make her the perfect choice to lead our operations in the Turks & Caicos Islands,” said Ericka Rolle, RBC’s Managing Director and Vice President, Personal Banking, The Bahamas and TCI.
“Her commitment to excellence, combined with a genuine passion for community engagement, aligns perfectly with our Bank’s purpose of helping clients thrive and communities prosper. We are excited to see the positive impact she will undoubtedly bring to her new role,” she added.