fp Turks and Caicos

Fifty thousand dollars is what the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding will mean for the National Trust, which signed the valuable partnership agreement June 3 with the Tourist Board.

After more than a decade of working together, the two groups have entered into a formal relationship which among other benefits will allow the Tourist Board to share some of its budget with the struggling National Trust.

“This is an extremely happy occasion,” said Ralph Higgs, director of the Tourist Board. The newly forged partnership will help both organisations achieve their objectives of developing more tourist attractions across the country.

Top on the priority list is the development of the Heaving Down Rock Development, which the trust has plans to enhance as a tourist destination. The area serves as the connection point between the islands of Providenciales and North Caicos and further to Middle Caicos, with the TCI Ferry launching from the marina.

It is also visited often by tourists, heading out on boats operated by several tour operators located at the Heaving Down Marina. “We are also hoping to provide opportunities for small business,” added National Trust Director Ethlyn Gibbs-Williams.

The National Trust recently received a grant from the European Union to help improve several other historical sites. Gibbs said it are now focusing on the improvement of the Cheshire Hall and Little Water Cay projects. Construction of a modest and appropriate visitor lounge for Little Water Cay (Iguana Island) Nature Reserve is planned.

The Cheshire Hall Plantation will be getting an upgrade, with a visitor centre and general enhancement, including trails, landscaping and interpretative material through this special project.

Funds from the EU grant will also go towards an 18-month plan to develop a new tourist attraction at Bird Rock Point on Providenciales. The Bird Rock Point development will include hiking trails and a Heritage Field which will include a native garden.

Gibbs-Williams said the new partnership will help the trust when seeking outside funding by adding to the status of the trust.

Goals for the partnership also include exploring new areas not yet discovered.

“The core of our culture sits within the outer islands,” Gibbs-Williams said. “It is up to us to expose the uniqueness of the Turks and Caicos. There is still a lot to be discovered in the TCI.”