Tourism Authority Board Holds Inaugural Meeting as Minister Jolly Welcomes Members

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Zhavargo Jolly, welcomed the new Board of the Turks and Caicos Islands Tourism Authority on Friday, August 7, 2026, as members convened for their inaugural meeting.

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Zhavargo Jolly, with members of the new Turks and Caicos Islands Tourism Authority Board

The Minister met with the Board alongside Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Mr. Wesley Clerveaux, and Chief Financial Officer of Experience Turks and Caicos, Mr. Bernard Thomas, at the Ministry of Tourism.

In welcoming the Board, the Minister stressed that the establishment of the Tourism Authority strengthens Experience Turks and Caicos' ability to respond to the opportunities and challenges of an increasingly competitive global tourism landscape while supporting the continued growth of the country's most important economic sector.

“The passage of the Turks and Caicos Islands Tourism Authority Bill and the appointment of this new Board come at an important time as the destination is experiencing record stayover arrivals,” Hon. Jolly said. "The tourism industry is performing exceptionally well, providing the Board with a strong foundation on which to build through its strategic vision and leadership. The destination's success is due in large part to the work Experience Turks and Caicos has undertaken in our source markets, and I am confident that, under the Board’s guidance, we will not only continue to grow visitor arrivals but also increase visitor spending and ensure the benefits of tourism are felt more broadly by the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands.”

The members of the Board are:

• Chairman, businessman Anthony “Tony” Garland

• Deputy Chairman, First Lady Delthia Russell-Misick

• Danitra Clare-Smith, Chief Operating Officer, The Strand

• Levardo Talbot, businessman

• Lofton Ellis, businessman

• Jamie McAnally, President of the Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association (TCHTA)

The board also includes three ex-officio members: The PS of the Ministry of Tourism, the PS of the Ministry of Finance and the CEO of the Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority.

Chairman Anthony “Tony” Garland expressed his gratitude for the appointment and said he looks forward to working alongside his fellow Board members to guide the Tourism Authority through its next chapter.

“I am honoured by the confidence placed in me to serve as Chairman of the Tourism Authority. I look forward to working collaboratively with the Board and the team at Experience Turks and Caicos to build on the destination's success while ensuring tourism continues to create meaningful opportunities for our people and communities across all of our islands,” Mr. Garland said.

During its inaugural meeting, the Board received updates from the various departments of Experience Turks and Caicos, providing members with an overview of the organisation’s operations, strategic priorities, marketing initiatives, product development programmes, financial performance and ongoing projects.

The meeting also served as an opportunity for Board members to discuss the Authority’s governance framework, outline key priorities and begin charting a strategic course that will strengthen the long-term sustainability and competitiveness of the Turks and Caicos Islands' tourism industry.