Turks & Caicos Islands Real Estate Winter/Spring 2019/20

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McCOLLUM & NEWLANDS
Attorneys at Law
Since 1981
providing specialized, superior legal services in
Real Estate
Litigation
Corporate, Commercial & Offshore Finance
Immigration & Business Licensing
Receiverships & Liquidations
1 Caribbean Place, Leeward Highway
P. O. Box 678, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands
Tel: 649 339 3216 Fax: 649 941 4561
Email: enquiries@mcn.tc
Website: www.mccollumnewlands.com
verdant bush and thriving reefs are a
large part of what draws people to live
and visit these “Beautiful by Nature”
islands. Loss of these valuable assets
would change the character and
attraction of the country immensely.
Early in 2019, scuba divers and
researchers noticed a coral disease in
the isolated reefs of South Caicos. It
rapidly spread to the popular reefs of
West Caicos and Providenciales, and
it was clear that rapid action had to
be taken to save the country’s iconic
and precious coral reefs. Led by the
Turks & Caicos Reef Fund, money
was raised to treat the damaged coral
heads and halt the spread of the Stony
Coral Tissue Loss Disease. Team
leaders and volunteers are using techniques
developed over the past few
years by researchers in Florida to
tackle the disease with the help of
the Department of Environment and
Coastal Resources.
Another major milestone was
achieved with the country-wide, single-use
plastic bag ban starting on May
1, 2019. Plastic shopping bags are no
longer available at supermarkets, retail
establishments and restaurants in the
Turks & Caicos Islands. Currently,
paper bags are offered as an alternative.
The Graceway IGAs support
the effort by rewarding shoppers who
bring reusable bags with a token that
can be designated for one of several
island charities.
The TCI will soon become the
latest country in the region to join the
growing worldwide effort to ban the
ubiquitous polystyrene food packaging,
take-out containers and cups.
Products such as single-use plastic
cups, cutlery, stirrers, straws, plates,
egg trays and Styrofoam containers
used in the culinary retail industry will
be added to the list of banned items.
In late October 2019, the TCI
Government, FortisTCI (the Islands’
26 Turks & Caicos Islands Real Estate – The Official Magazine of the Turks & Caicos Real Estate Association