RTC Director

Premier Washington Misick brings remarks on the Opening of the Ritz Carlton Hotel and Resort

Premier of the Turks & Caicos, the Hon. Washington Misick along with Cabinet members attended the opening of the Ritz Carlton hotel on Grace Bay beach on Wednesday June 23rd, 2021. In his opening remarks, the Premier added that the Turks and Caicos Islands' success in the global tourism sector has not been a straight line as indeed it has fluctuated with global economic ebbs and flows.

The industry here has however proven to be very resilient to exogenous shocks. Over the last forty years we have seen the Turks and Caicos Islands gradually position itself
amongst its sea of competitors as a distinctive destination. The journey from Club Med to Ritz Carlton has been an experience of high and lows, but over the last twenty years, we have been mostly highs with more success stories then failures and for that we are thankful to Almighty God and the collective ingenuity of our stakeholders and all connected to it in the travel and tourism space.

Today it gives me much pleasure to share in this momentous occasion of the opening of the Ritz Carlton - a member of the Marriott extensive portfolio of 7,300+ hotels worldwide, spread out across 131 countries.
Although I am proud of our own exclusive home-grown brands, this is the moment in a sense, when we can say that the TCI hospitality sector has grown up. That is due to the huge network of resorts and potential visitors that will for the first time be introduced to the Turks and Caicos Islands. This would not otherwise be so without a global brand of the Ritz standing.

The Turks and Caicos Islands government congratulates you, the Ritz Carlton team, on the opening of this resort. We are happy to officially welcome you as a part of our Turks and Caicos family. We look forward to the economic benefits that your opening will bring to the Turks and Caicos Islands and appeal to your sense of corporate responsibility to do right by the people of the TCI and our fragile environment by ensuring that they are given every opportunity to excel within your organisation, and to ensure that your operational methodology is sensitive to the environment.

It is notable that the journey to develop this resort started under a previous PNP administration amidst much ridicule and resistance. This new PNP administration will continue to give you its support in every possible way to ensure that this development is successful. However, this support is not without conditions. Those conditions are summed up in our desire to see inclusive growth and social development for the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands, we are aware of the many clever legal maneuvers practiced in the TCI private sector to exclude Turks and Caicos Islanders from the economic process and put all on notice that the time has come for this to stop.

My government remains encouraged and enthusiastic about the growth we currently see in our recovering market. Our tourism industry continues to set trends and break records even as we work our way out of this pandemic environment. We are optimistic and excited about plans to upgrade and expand airports in several of
our islands, welcome new development projects and support existing ones.

We are making plans to revolutionise the management of the TCI destination because the moment calls for it.
We hope to be able to draw on your vast experience from the 131 countries in which you operate. Again we welcome you and look forward to a long and fruitful relationship and extend the hand of friendship and partnership on the behalf of the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands added Premier Misick.

by RTC Director

Ports Authority Chairman Jason Francis and Kendell Higgs, signs a contract for Welcome Center/ Port Office in North Caicos.

Ports Authority Chairman Jason Francis and Kendell Higgs, CEO of Unlimited Contracting today signed a contract for the construction of Welcome Center/ Port Office at Bellefield Landing, North Caicos.

On signing of the contact Chairman Francis stated “ We’ve worked hard towards this, it is good to see our hard work paying off, the people of North and Middle Caicos would be pleased for this, it will improve not only tourism on these Islands but the whole destination.” Chairman Francis also indicated he was pleased that Mr. Higgs ‘ an island boy was awarded the contact’ Mr. Higgs expressed his delight on being awarded the contract, he said “ I am happy to be working with the Ports Authority again, I pledge to deliver the best possible product.”

Bellefield Landing is the hub for agriculture and craft exports and bourgeoning tourism developments on North Caicos and Middle Caicos, centered around for day trip visitors from Providenciales.
The Port Office/ Welcome Center will consist of a restaurant, space for rental as shops, a port office, car park, gazebo and other tourism amenities. The project should commence immediately and has a construction duration of one (1) year. A date for project ground breaking ceremony will be announced shortly.

Director of Ports, Delton Jones, indicated “the Welcome Center project is part of the plan for the phased development of Bellefield Landing. The plan is for Bellefield Landing to become a community port; catering to tourism traffic and regular trade and shipping to support prosperity on North and Middle Caicos.”

The project for the development of Bellefield Landing begun with the clear-up of Bellefield Landing earlier in 2021, to improve the aesthetics of the port facility. Other projects which should commence in the new financial year include preparation of a master plan; clean-up (to remove sunken vessels) and dredging of the turning basin, coastal structural improvements and installation of safe boating slips.

by RTC Director

DECR apprehended Poachers in the TCI National Parks

The Department of Environment & Coastal Resources (DECR) and the Department of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries apprehended individuals caught fishing, whilst diving, in the North West Point National Park, Providenciales. The marine product confiscated included illegally caught conch, lobster and parrot fish. These individuals are currently being prosecuted accordingly.  

As a reminder, please note that failure to comply with the Regulations will result in prosecution in court in accordance with the Fisheries Protection Ordinance (Ordinance 5 of 1941); Section 3 of the Regulations, Part 1(9,12, and 19), as follows: 

Restrictions on means of taking marine products and harmful activities  

9. (1) No person shall––

• (c)  use scuba equipment or any artificial breathing device other than a snorkel when taking marine products:                  
• (d)  use Hawaiian sling for the taking of marine products, unless he is the holder of a commercial fishing license, anywhere within the fishery limits...                                                                                         
• (e)  use any net or trap with intent to take any species of marine product in any part of the area known as Bell Sound and bounded on the North by a line running in an easterly direction from Horse Cay to Sail Rock Point.                                                                                                                  
• (f)  be in possession of a spear gun within the fishing limits of the Islands; (Inserted by L.N. 9/2004)                                                                                             
• (g)  engage in the practice of throwing any food into the water for the purposes of feeding or attracting or harvesting any species of marine life unless authorised to do so by the Director; and (Inserted by L.N. 9/2004). 

12. (1) & (2) No person shall–– 

1. The close season in relation to crawfish shall be the period from the first day of April to the thirty-first day of July (inclusive) in each year or such other dates as may, from time to time, be appointed by the Governor in the Gazette; 
2. (a) any person who takes any marine product during a period which is a close season for that species of marine product commits an offence; 

(b) any person who purchases or is in possession of any marine product during a period which is a close season for that species of marine product commits an offence unless he proves, the onus being on him, that the said marine product was not taken during the close season or that he did not know and had no reason to believe that the said marine product was so taken.   

Under NO circumstances is anyone permitted to be in possession of lobster after the midnight on the 31^st of March 2021. During the closed season it is illegal for fishermen to land or trade in lobsters and for restaurants and hotels to serve lobsters. The DECR therefore urges all fishing interests to ensure that they have NO lobsters in their possession at the end of the season. Please also be reminded that in the remaining days of the season, berried lobsters (or lobsters with eggs) MUST be returned to the water.        

Restrictions relating to parrot fish 

19. (1) No person shall take, have in his possession, buy or sell any parrot fish;

(2) Any person who contravenes this regulation commits an offence.        

Similarly, the DECR would like to remind the public that fishing within a National Park is illegal. Persons caught doing so will face the full extent of the law. This is in accordance with the National Parks Ordinance, Ordinance 11 of 1975, as amended.  

According to Regulation 3, subsections (1), (2), (3) and (4) the following activities are prohibited within all National Parks, Nature Reserves, Sanctuaries or Areas of Historical Interest: 

1. The taking of any animal or plant by any method on land or at sea, except to the extent permitted in any fishing zone; 
2. The destruction of, or damage or injury to, any animal or plant; 

Any persons caught contravening these regulations are committing an offense and is liable, on summary of conviction, to a fine of up to $50,000.00 or a term of imprisonment of 12 months, or both. 

The DECR would like to encourage the public to be familiarize themselves with the National Parks / Nature Reserve / Sanctuary / Historical Area boundaries. This information is available in the National Parks Ordinance, which can be found on the DECR’s webpage:  http://www.gov.tc/deacr . Should you notice illegal activity within the boundaries of these Protected Areas, please contact the Department at environment@gov.tc.

by RTC Director

RTCIPF provides Law Enforcement updates in the TCI

The crime update, 28-year-old Larenzo Demetre Rigby of Five Cays Providenciales, who was arrested and charged for Keeping Firearm and Ammunition in October 2019, was found guilty on both charges by a seven-member jury in the Supreme Court on Friday, June 11th 2021.

Rigby is remanded in custody until Thursday, July 8th 2021, for sentencing.

Superintendent Lisa Mitcheson, Head of Crime and Public Protection, said, “Officers in the Criminal Investigation Department and supporting departments should be proud of the hard work and professionalism executed that resulted in this conviction. I want to express thanks to the team on behalf of the

Executive Team of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force and members of the community who continue to assist us with information. We must work together with the public to improve crime detection and keep the Turks and Caicos Islands safe”.
Anyone with information on any incident can call the Police on 911 or anonymously contact Crime Stoppers on 1-800-8477 (TIPS).

Turning to other law enforcement news. In a joint operation, Officers of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF), with the assistance of the Department of Environment and Coastal Resources (DECR), and the Department of Environmental Health (DEH), stepped up their patrol of the Sapodilla Bay Beach area on Thursday, June 17th, 2021. A quantity of alcoholic beverages were seized from a vendor who was operating illegally on the beach.

The public is reminded to comply with the relevant Business and Liquor Licensing Ordinances to avoid the confiscation of items and prosecution.

The Police, DECR and DEH will continue monitoring the Sapodilla Bay Beach area throughout the weekend and in the weeks to come and enforcing the Business Licensing and Liquor Licensing Ordinances and the Covid-19 Regulations.

The Joint Operation Team will work hand in hand with local vendors and party promotors to create a plan to enhance public safety while assessing other concerns, including illegal drugs, loud music, and littering.

by RTC Director