Connolly Criticizes Tourism Authority Bill, Calls for Audit of Former Tourist Board

Former Minister of Tourism and current government backbencher Hon. Josephine Connolly has strongly criticized the Turks and Caicos Islands Tourism Authority Bill 2026, describing it as a step backward for the country's tourism sector and calling for greater transparency and accountability over the finances of the former Tourist Board.

CONNOLLY..."The Turks and Caicos Islands Tourism Authority might be better described as Tourist Board Mark 2."

The legislation was piloted in the House of Assembly on Tuesday by Premier and Minister of Finance Hon. Washington Misick in the absence of Minister of Tourism Hon. Zhavargo Jolly, who was attending a Caribbean tourism ministerial meeting. The bill was subsequently passed, paving the way for the establishment of the Turks and Caicos Islands Tourism Authority as a statutory body.

During her contribution to the debate, Connolly argued that the new authority was effectively a return to the former Tourist Board model and questioned whether the move represented progress for the country's tourism industry.

"The Turks and Caicos Islands Tourism Authority might be better described as Tourist Board Mark 2," Connolly told the House. She said it would have been appropriate for the final accounts of what she referred to as "Tourist Board Mark 1" to be laid before Parliament before lawmakers were asked to approve a new tourism structure.

Connolly further alleged that the former Tourist Board had not been audited for more than six years and called on the Auditor General to investigate its financial records.

"I think the people of this country would appreciate some transparency and accountability during those times," she said, while urging Parliament to request the audit reports of the former Tourist Board so that the public could gain a better understanding of its operations and expenditures.

The former tourism minister also defended the Destination Management and Marketing Organization (DMMO), which was introduced by the Progressive National Party administration as part of a modern approach to tourism management. She noted that she had campaigned alongside Premier Misick in support of the DMMO model during the 2021 General Election campaign and remained convinced that it was the right direction for the industry.

"We are going backward, back to a failed institution," Connolly said, arguing that the DMMO was designed to create a balanced partnership between the public and private sectors, ensuring that neither side could dominate tourism policy.

She also questioned the costs associated with dismantling the DMMO, winding up existing operations and establishing a new statutory authority, describing the transition as a potentially expensive undertaking for taxpayers.

Responding to the criticism, Premier Misick rejected suggestions that the Tourism Authority represented a return to the old Tourist Board. He told the House that the legislation largely preserved the structure, objectives and operational philosophy of the DMMO while introducing stronger governance and accountability measures.

MISICK..."The concept remains. The governance evolves.”

Misick, who described himself as the principal architect of the policy direction that led to the creation of the DMMO, said the organization had always been intended as a transitional model. While the concept had delivered important benefits, he argued that it was not fully aligned with the country's Public Finance Management framework and required reform as the tourism sector continued to expand.

"The concept remains. The governance evolves. The accountability is brought into the modern era," the Premier said. He maintained that the bill preserves destination marketing, tourism intelligence, stakeholder engagement and sustainable tourism development functions while providing parliamentary oversight, audited financial reporting and clearer leadership structures.

Misick also dismissed concerns that the legislation concentrated excessive power in the hands of the minister, noting that ministerial appointments and policy direction are standard features of statutory bodies throughout the Commonwealth and remain subject to Cabinet accountability.

The Tourism Authority Bill 2026 was ultimately approved by the House, setting the stage for a new governance framework for the tourism industry as the Turks and Caicos Islands continues to experience rapid growth in visitor arrivals, investment and tourism-related development across the islands.