Caribbean News
PTV $3 Million Write Off Approved since April; took 8-months to get to HOA
By Deandrea Hamilton & Dana Malcolm
Editorial Staff
#TurksandCaicos, December 20, 2022 – A $3 Million dollar tax write-off may be just what People’s Television, (PTV) needs for the company to come back with a new announcement, that instead of closing its doors temporarily on December 31, 2022 it will remain open; but it took the TCI government eight months to move from approval at Cabinet to vote in the House of Assembly and it may be too late.
Five days after PTV, the only local TV Broadcaster in the country, announced it would suspend operations, going off air by December 31st, The Turks and Caicos Islands Government quickly approved a $3.19 million write-off in the House of Assembly. But that gesture of goodwill for the struggling company had been approved by Cabinet all of eight months ago on April 20th.
Some say bureaucratic red tape, others say plain old forgetfulness led to the extreme delay and last week the motion made it to parliament and was unanimously supported by members of the Turks and Caicos House of Assembly. A last ditch effort, it seemed to save the fledgling telecommunications company.
Magnetic Media reached out to Otis Morris, Minister of Home Affairs with responsibility for Broadcasting and
Telecommunications for details on the time lapse. Morris told us the timing was off because the Government had so many procedures to get through.
The write-off was passed in under two hours on December 12th.
In an email, PTV informed subscribers that it would have to go off air and reboot in future. The outpouring on the potential loss of the indigenous company, started by the late Peter Stubbs brought swift reaction by the TCIG.
Moved by Morris on December 12th in the House of Assembly, the write-off applied to license fees owed to the government. Andrews Communications, which is the parent company of PTV, should have been paying those license fees at a rate of seven per cent of profit or $250,000 in yearly fees from 2006. The amount they still owed in 2022 stood at exactly $3,429,053 million.
The motion proposed that the House of Assembly approve a write off of 90 per cent of that arrears, leaving Andrews to pay $342,905 over a grace period of seven years.
The outstanding bill for the regulatory fees of PTV, to the tune of $104,647.60 was also written off.
Opposition Leader, Edwin Astwood supported the government motion. Premier Washington Misick, in agreeing to wipe PTV’s slate nearly clean, noted that there was a huge void in positive domestic and culturally aware programming.
PTV has not yet said if the $3 million dollar debt forgiveness had anything to do with their decision to announce closure or whether the write-off will change its decision to suspend operations.
Magnetic Media’s request for comment and an update, have so far gone unanswered.
By: The MPE Caribbean Report Newsletter
May 9, 2024 – The FCCA Foundation, the charitable arm of the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA), has launched an annual scholarship in honor of former Prime Minister of Barbados, The Right Honorable Professor Owen Seymour Arthur, who played a significant role in advancing the cruise trade association’s vision.
The annual gift of US$25,000 will be awarded to a different Caribbean destination each year to support the work of either an educational institution or a nonprofit organization chosen by the destination.
Barbados will receive the inaugural Owen Arthur scholarship, and next year’s scholarship destination winner will be announced at the ‘Shining Stars FCCA Foundation Dinner’ during Seatrade Cruise Global 2025.
“I am honored that the Foundation can continue the legacy of The Right Honorable Professor Owen Seymour Arthur, who truly inspired my career and empowered so many throughout the Caribbean, as well as making it possible to have the current partnership between the cruise industry and the Caribbean,” said Michele Paige, CEO, FCCA. “Hopefully this scholarship can live up to his memory by providing a platform for future generations in the region.”
By: The MPE Caribbean Report Newsletter
May 9, 2024 – The historic UN Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island States (SIDS) brought global attention to the significant challenges faced by small islands, underscoring that their concerns were big issues for all.
On April 26, several key figures who contributed to the 1994 Barbados meeting gathered in Bridgetown to commemorate its 30th
anniversary. The outcome of the 1994 meeting was the Barbados Program of Action, which delineated how the world community should address the unique vulnerabilities of islands, particularly in response to climate change.
Despite initial reluctance from powerful UN members to hold more than one SIDS conference, subsequent gatherings in Mauritius and Samoa and a fourth global conference scheduled for Antigua and Barbuda in May 2024 are a testament to some of the successes of the SIDS process.
In Antigua and Barbuda, the international community will convene to review the sustainable development progress of SIDS and propose a new decade of partnerships and solutions to accelerate their journey toward resilient prosperity.
The Barbados meeting last month provided a reflective journey for many, as attendees, including Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, paid tribute to the late Ambassador Miles Stoby of Guyana, the visionary behind the initiative and for whom Barbados was, fittingly, a second
Caption: Ambassador Lyutha al Mughairy (widow of Ambassador Miles Stoby) greets Garth Sandiford, son of late Barbados Prime Minister Erskine Sandiford. Looking on are Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley and former UN Under-Secretary General Peter Hansen.
By: The MPE Caribbean Report Newsletter
May 9, 2024 – The Caribbean Tourism Organization’s Sustainable Tourism Conference (STC), held April 22-24 at Radisson Grenada Beach Resort was a resounding success.
The conference is the Caribbean’s foremost event for high-level networking and dialogue on sustainable tourism, providing a crucial platform for tourism policymakers, private sector stakeholders, thought leaders, and strategic partners to address the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of Caribbean tourism.
The meeting highlighted the essential pillars necessary for creating a transformative and regenerative legacy under the theme “The 5 Ps for a Legacy of Caribbean Tourism Sustainability: People, Planet, Prosperity, Purpose & Partnership”.
Thought-provoking addresses from Grenada’s Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell and Adam Stewart, Executive Chairman of Sandals Resorts International, set the stage for discussions about the future of Caribbean tourism.
PM Mitchell stressed the need to include a broader array of stakeholders in the tourism conversation, while Stewart highlighted the importance of partnerships and unity within the sector. The conference was marked by authentic displays of Grenadian culture and dynamic panel sessions.
Caption: Adam Stewart of Sandals Resorts International delivered the keynote address.
The MPE Caribbean Report Newsletter
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