A proposal from the operators of the Dolphin Cove brand to open a ‘dolphinarium’ on Providenciales is raising some eyebrows.
Governor’s spokesperson Neil Smith said the Governor’s Office has received a number of media enquiries about the Dolphin Cove development proposal and in a press release to RTC News, said in addition to the operator’s proposal, the company has also registered interest in a future similar facility on Grand Turk.
Smith said the application was made in an open and transparent manner through the Inward Investment Unit of TCIG and has been the subject of discussion within TCIG.
“The application was granted a business license in order for it to be fairly considered under the existing planning processes. It is important to make clear that the granting of a business license is not a licence to commence operations. The go ahead for building and operating the facility would only come once the planning processes have been finished, and final planning permission had been granted, Mr. Smith explained.
He said the Fisheries Protection (Amendment) Regulations that was Gazetted on 25 October, permits the importation and keeping of marine mammals for the purposes of display, exhibition or performance for those companies that have completed the application processes and gained all the required permissions to develop and operate their facilities.
In lending clarity to the enquiry, Mr. Smith said quote:-
“Let me make clear that the government has received an application to develop a tourist facility on Providenciales;
* We are considering it, using the same processes and procedures that we used for all other applications for development;
* The granting of the business license and the gazetting of the Fisheries Protection (Amendment) Regulations, allows the application to be considered fully by the Planning Department;
* No license to operate has been granted;
* The application will now be considered by the TCIG Planning Department, who will make their recommendations to the responsible Minister in due course.” END QUOTE.
