Mr. Editor, TCIslanders have been left out, bamboozled, undermined and minimized in just about every lucrative market within our country.
One of the most promising areas (there a few others left) in which our local entrepreneurs have an opportunity to really make a good living and become successful, even this is an uphill battle for our people because they are presented with a myriad of challenges and difficulties that they have been unable to overcome in the Water Sports Industry.
Mr. Editor, not only are our Beach Vendors being victimized, marginalized and ostracized, but our local Water Sports and Tour Operators are finding it difficult to survive. There are limited areas for Vendors and water sports operators to set up and make an honest living.
The Water Sports Industry was previously a ‘Reserve Category’ for TCIslanders only and it was torn wide open because of greed, corruption and selfishness at the expense and detriment of our people. Mr. Editor, you would be surprised to know by whom and why!!! Mr. Editor, not only this is wrong, but the very little some of us have it is being taken away from us by our very own who’s paving the way for others and not TCIslanders.
A number of our local water sports operators operate out of Leeward/ Heaving Down Rock Marina and very soon they will be taxed monthly with a slew of fees on top of what their overhead is per boat, Jet-Ski and Kayak.
The cost for doing business in the TCI is extremely high as it is, and to come with a truck load of “monthly” fees as of April 16, 2024 by the National Trust to utilize their Dock is outrageous and ridiculous. (Please see the annexure). I can only imagine what struggle it is going to be for local businesses who employ many our our young men straight out of High School.
Most of our water sports operators are young men who are TCIslanders, employing young men. Not only are they making an honest living for themselves and their families, but they are helping to keep our young men off the streets. Mr. Editor, if these opportunities are taken away from them and they cannot hire our young men, where will these young men go and what will they do?
We are in a battle and fear every day for our lives and we don’t know whether or not we or our family members will be held at gun point or knife, pleading for our lives or even worse, shot and kill.
Mr. Editor, it doesn’t stop there! Not only is our water sports operators are being hammered with a barraged of fees, but the Jet-Ski owners are being restricted as to where they can go to conduct their tours.
Bear in mind, Mr. Editor, these operators have spent years and money promoting and marketing their business, so the guests know where they want to go, but they are now being restricted. They are being told they cannot take their guests to Noah’s Ark, Water Cay, Split Rock and soon the Shipwreck off of Shore Club beach.
They are told they can make their tours to Fort George Cay, yes Fort George Cay! Imagine the cost of fuel going up with the pending Fortis 6% rate increase on top of the fuel factor?
No Government saw it fit to correct this ongoing problem, but have left our local water sports operators out there to dry. Why is the Minister of DECR,
the Hon. Premier and the Government standing by and watching our people being treated like this? This is wrong Mr. Editor.
The fact that many of our Water Sports operators are barely surviving because they have built some capital over the years, it’s a fight to keep their heads above water with the now competitors who have access to a greater deal of capital and can bring in much more expensive boats.
It is also alleged that some of the boats are leased 3-6 months, sail to the Bahamas, register and then onto Turks and Caicos and sell tours. Come on down to the Turks and Caicos, it’s free for all. Mr. Editor, who tore open the reserve category and whyyyyy???
Mr. Editor the other revelation to this is that, once the Jet-Ski tour operators are placed in a fishing net, the Hoteliers are now capitalizing on this opportunity ( well they have been doing it for a while). It is alleged that not only the Hoteliers (The Grace Bay Boys), but the Villa owners are also buying Jet-Skis and boats, pulling our local brothers in to front for them and they pull in the lions share.
Mr. Editor how will our people survive in our very own country. Who isn’t asleep in the Government, simply don’t care and who simply don’t care, they sit around the bar or reserve table with their personal bottle(s) of Pinot Grigio or Cabernet Sauvignon toasting the night away. I think you get the picture and our people are sold out hook, line and sinker.
Mr. Editor the cries are desperate and real for help, but they’re all falling on deaf ears and being ignored. Mr. Editor once the obvious is accomplished where our Water Sports Tour Operators cannot operate and attract the guests to their tours, the question remains, who will benefit, making millions and what will happen to local young men in the Turks and Caicos Islands?
I am calling on the Hon. Premier Charles Washington Misick and his government who campaigned to empower, provide opportunities and protect their people to make the necessary changes to save our people and not keep them poor and make criminals out of them, but make the changes that will truly be a game changer for all TCIslanders. May God bless you Mr. Editor and may God bless our Beautiful By Nature Turks and Caicos Islands.
Hon. Dwayne Taylor