fp Turks and Caicos

Cooper Jack Point marina

The governor’s Advisory Council wants the government to see what it can do to help move development forward at the prospective marina development at Cooper Jack Point on Providenciales.

The Council met with the Chief Economic Adviser to the Governor Brian Titley and the Chief Executive Officer of TCInvest Conrad Higgs at its monthly meeting in Grand Turk on Feb. 24.

“The Council tasked TCInvest to establish with the Attorney General’s Chambers the current status of rights and obligations under the 1996 Development Agreement and then explore with the developer how the project might be moved forward,” the council announced in a press release.

Proposed laws

The council has approved a number of new bills that will be forwarded to Consultative Forum for consideration:

Endangered Species and Marine Pollution

“These are important to enable the TCI to implement international agreements in these areas; and in the latter case to cope with any future oil spills such as that involving M/V Dunlin Arrow in 2009.”

Broadcasting Ordinance

“The Council also approved bills re-establishing and amending the Broadcasting Ordinance (to replace the TCI New Media Ordinance)”

Physical Planning Ordinance

“… to amend the Physical Planning Ordinance to provide for stiffer penalties and for the Court to be able to order the removal of unauthorised structures.”

Climate Change

“The Council approved the establishment of the Climate Change Committee and its main objectives: to raise public awareness of climate change issues; to engage local stakeholders in charting national responses to climate change issues; and to incorporate climate change adaptation in all national development planning.”

Safeguarding Children

“Councilor Doreen Missick, the Human Rights Commissioner, presented John Warwick, the coordinator of Safeguarding Children in Overseas Territories, a programme sponsored by the U.K. Department For International Development (DFID).

“Warwick explained that the programme’s goal was to enable decision-makers and practitioners to design and implement robust policies and institutional arrangements to ensure the protection of young people in the Overseas Territories.

“The Council welcomed the fact that the Turks and Caicos Islands had joined this initiative.”

Consumer protection

“The council discussed consumer protection in the TCI. It requested the Attorney General to liaise with CARICOM and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States on legislation, which might provide a model for the Turks and Caicos Islands.”