Saturday, April 26, 2008

Signs, Signs every where??????


PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands: The appearance of large advertising hoardings on the Leeward Highway in the Turks and Caicos Islands is generating some controversy.
Anchor Realty agent Jan Hull pointing at her new sign for Caribbean Home Finder
Advertisers such as real estate agent Jan Hull welcome them for the business exposure they can bring. “The response so far has been really positive, and I look forward to successfully marketing a whole range of properties across the Islands, bringing in investors who want only the best,” said Hull. However, some local residents are not so enthusiastic, with many expressing the sentiment that such large advertising billboards diminish the essential quality of the Turks and Caicos Islands and its “small town feel.” The comparison is inevitably drawn between such commercial influences imported from urban America and the official slogan of the Turks and Caicos Tourist Board: “Beautiful by Nature.”

Friday, April 25, 2008

Tourism continues to grow in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Published on Friday, April 25, 2008
GRAND TURK, Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI-GIS): Premier and Minister of Tourism for the Turks and Caicos Islands, Dr. Michael Misick, in his contribution to the 2008 Budget Debate, highlighted the strength with which the tourism sector of the country continues to grow despite a slow down in the United States economy. The Premier said: "While the final figure for visitor arrival to the islands over the past twelve months is still being compiled, all indications are that tourism business in these islands during the last year was better than the twelve months prior." Figures coming out of the Premier's Address show that the number of visitor arrivals to the islands in 2007 was 264,887, an increase of some 7% over 2006. He also noted that 90% of the visitors to the Turks and Caicos Islands that arrived by Ssa, some 295,000 persons, arrived at the mega cruise center in Grand Turk. Misick acknowledged that the tourism industry continues to drive the Turks and Caicos Islands economy, and while he intends to continue with the tourism marketing strategy of targeting high-end visitors, diversification is still important. He highlighted the opportunities presented to the people of Grand Turk with the opening of the cruise center on that island. Misick also spoke to future plans to develop a "green island" on Salt Cay to go hand in hand with the government's commitment to ensure a balance between sustainable development and the environment. The Premier was also keen to highlight the evidence that proves that investor confidence in the TCI economy remains strong. He pointed out the major developments commencing and continuing construction, which include: Dellis Cay Resort and Marina Development Ambergris Cay Development Leeward Resort and Marina Development Leeside Estates Development (Luxury Residences) Beaches Resort Italian Village Columbus Landing on Grand Turk Also during his budget presentation, Misick said that the amount of money spent by the government in marketing and promoting the Turks and Caicos Islands through trade and consumer shows throughout North America and Europe was necessary. He stated that persons, who were not of this view, were "shortsighted". He went on to add, "It is a fact that the more tourists that visit our islands means more jobs for our people- hotel workers, taxi drivers, restaurant and tour operators to name a few. Therefore I am sure that everyone will agree with me when I say 'Tourism is Everybody's Business' ."

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Are we ready for this?

Reform not self–governance

A former representative to the United Nations Special Committee of 24 on Decolonisation said last week that recent successful constitutional modernisation efforts in some British Overseas Territories may not pass muster with the UN.
The UN is seeking full self–governance for 16 territories world–wide, which are still being administered by foreign powers. Ten of those 16 are United Kingdom territories, including the Cayman Islands.
Former US Virgin Islands representative to the UN committee, Carlyle Corbin, told a group of residents in West Bay last week that the constitutional modernisation process set forth in the UK’s 1999 white paper, the Partnership for Progress and Prosperity was not meant to be a process of self–determination.
“It was meant as an internal modification of the status of the constitution within (the territories’) existing relationship,” Mr. Corbin told the audience.
One of the strongest political recommendations from the UN in the last decade has been for nations with remaining dependent territories to proceed with, and if possible complete, the decolonisation process.
That can happen in one of three ways: The territory can declare its complete independence from the administering power; the territory can become part of the administering power; or an agreement can be made that allows the territory and its administering nation to freely associate.
Any of those three options must be agreed to by representatives for both the territories and their administering country.
Mr. Corbin noted both the British Virgin Islands, and the Turks and Caicos Islands have recently modified their constitutions to include more internal self–governing powers. However, he said last week that he believes those constitutional changes did not meet requirements for full–self governance as defined by international guidelines.
“The United Kingdom’s authority as exercised through the governor….his reserve powers, all of this will remain in place (in the BVI and Turks and Caicos),” Mr. Corbin said. “Additionally, the United Kingdom’s powers to issue orders in council also remain in place.”
“The new constitutions of the Turks and Caicos Islands and the British Virgin Islands, while providing for more delegated authority, have not fundamentally changed the political relationship between the territories and the administering power,” Mr. Corbin added.
Mr. Corbin’s opinion may or may not be agreed with by the UN Committee on Decolonisation, which is expected to review the constitutional arrangements and make a decision on whether the BVI and Turks and Caicos can be removed from the committee’s list of territories.
However, it does raise the spectre of these overseas territories, and others, having to go through the constitutional review process again to achieve UN standards.
Cayman Islands Leader of Government Business Kurt Tibbetts said during a constitutional review meeting in West Bay Thursday that while his government wants to reduce the UK’s lawmaking power within the territory, he doubted whether UK negotiators would agree to give that power up entirely ––– particularly the governor’s reserve powers.
The ruling government’s proposal for constitutional reform also states that the Cayman Islands does not seek to fundamentally change its current relationship with the UK, and wishes to remain an overseas territory at this time.
Mr. Tibbetts has often said that Cayman will not seek “anything like independence” from the UK during this constitutional negotiation.





Saturday, April 12, 2008



PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands: The premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands, Dr Michael Misick, has “strongly and categorically denied” allegations of sexual assault made against him by a female American visitor to the Islands.
Turks & Caicos Islands Premier, Michael Misick
In a televised address on Thursday, Misick said, “A few days ago, an American female, after leaving the Turks and Caicos Islands, made a false report to law enforcement officials in the United States that she had allegedly been sexually assaulted by me.” “I strongly and categorically deny these false allegations,” he went on to say. According to Misick, because an American citizen is involved, as a procedural matter law enforcement officials from the United States are observing the investigation. However, Misick said, “I am confident that I will be completely and fully exonerated of this false and outrageous allegation.” Misick said that he will not be commenting any further on the matter, due to the ongoing investigation. “I will continue my duties as premier,” Misick concluded. The allegations against Misick come on the heels of serious misgivings over the situation in the Turks and Caicos Islands, including reports of widespread government corruption, expressed just last month by members of Britain’s Foreign Affairs Committee (FAC). The appointment of a Commission of Enquiry to investigate and report on issues relating to the Turks and Caicos Islands that “shocked and appalled” British Member of Parliament Sir John Stanley, a member of the FAC, is a possibility that has been widely canvassed in London in recent weeks, although no announcement has yet been made in this respect by the British government. The Turks and Caicos Islands is a British Overseas Territory.

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Grand Turk., Turks & Caicos Islands
Acerca de 1942 Columbus on his first voyage to the New World he landed on the island of Guanahani (plenty water), which is known today as Grand Turk.There are other claims. Also on his first voyage, Columbus spoke about the water inland. The only Island in the Archipelago which has a lot of water is Guanahani as the name applies. Welcome to our page, feel free to make comments. We reserve the right choose and refuse. Just sit back, relax and enjoy.

The Island of Grand Turk.

The Island of Grand Turk.