AGP Executive Report

Hurricane Scale: Jamaica’s environment minister plans to ask the World Meteorological Organization to consider a Category 6 hurricane rating for storms with winds far above the current Category 5 threshold. The proposal is expected at the WMO board meeting in Turks and Caicos this November, following Hurricane Melissa’s record 185 mph winds.

Hurricane Preparedness: Jamaica’s environment minister Matthew Samuda plans to urge the World Meteorological Organization to consider a Category 6 rating for hurricanes with winds far above the current Category 5 threshold. He intends to raise the proposal at the WMO board meeting in Turks and Caicos next month. Disaster Resilience: Asked whether the UK has formal national security strategies for its Overseas Territories that address natural disasters, the government said it works with territory governments on preparedness but did not specify which territories have strategies or plans to review them.

Hurricane Readiness: Jamaica’s environment minister plans to ask the World Meteorological Organization to consider a Category 6 rating for hurricanes with winds far above today’s Category 5 threshold. The proposal is expected at the WMO board meeting in Turks and Caicos in November. Disaster Resilience: In a UK Parliament response, the minister for the Overseas Territories said the UK works with TCI and other territories to prepare for natural disasters and emergencies, but did not specify whether TCI has a formal national security strategy addressing those risks.

Hurricane Risk: Jamaica’s environment minister plans to urge the World Meteorological Organization to consider a Category 6 rating for storms stronger than today’s Category 5. The proposal is expected at the WMO board meeting in Turks and Caicos next month, following Hurricane Melissa’s 185 mph winds. Clean Energy: TCI Energy Minister JoBeth Coleby-Davis highlighted the need for diversity in the clean technology economy at a recent awards event. Pelican Energy TCI has also appointed Grand Turk native and former public leader Lillian Swann-Misick to its board, adding local representation to the energy sector.

Severe Weather: Gale-force winds and rough seas delayed cruise ships at Florida ports, with Norwegian Joy’s delay potentially affecting its upcoming Turks and Caicos sailing. Clean Energy: At a Women in Energy awards event, Energy Minister JoBeth Coleby-Davis called diversity essential to building the clean-technology economy and a sustainable energy future. Energy Sector: Pelican Energy TCI appointed Grand Turk native and former public servant Lillian Swann-Misick to its board, citing local representation and the long-term development of the Islands’ energy sector.

Sustainable Agriculture: Turks and Caicos Community College won international recognition for an Island Smart Utility Platform that uses affordable technology to support sustainable agriculture and hands-on student learning. Heritage Conservation: Grand Turk heritage officials visited Bermuda to share conservation skills and explore ways to restore and interpret the island’s traditional limestone buildings and historic sites. Grace Bay Development: A proposed Corinthia resort would add a 50-suite hotel and branded residences on the last undeveloped beachfront parcel on this stretch of Grace Bay, bringing a major coastal development into focus.

Energy Sector: Pelican Energy TCI appointed Grand Turk native Hon. Lillian Swann-Misick to its board, bringing decades of public-service and governance experience to the company. Sustainable Agriculture: The Turks and Caicos Community College won international recognition for an Island Smart Utility project that uses affordable technology to support sustainable farming and give students hands-on experience. Heritage Conservation: Grand Turk heritage officials visited Bermuda to learn conservation and restoration techniques for traditional limestone buildings and historic sites. Grace Bay Development: Corinthia plans a 50-suite hotel and branded residences on what it describes as Grace Bay’s last undeveloped beachfront parcel, putting the future of this stretch of coast in the spotlight.

Heritage Conservation: Grand Turk heritage officials visited Bermuda to learn techniques for restoring and interpreting traditional limestone buildings and other historic sites. Marine Protection: Turks and Caicos joined the Hamilton II Declaration to strengthen international efforts to conserve the biodiverse Sargasso Sea, with wider support for legally binding protections to be sought in 2027. Sustainable Agriculture: The Community College’s award-winning Island Smart Utility Platform combines automation technology and affordable microcontrollers to support sustainable agriculture and give students hands-on experience.

Marine Conservation: The Turks and Caicos Islands joined the Bahamas and Cayman Islands in signing the Hamilton II Declaration to strengthen international protection for the Sargasso Sea. The initiative aims to build support for legally binding safeguards ahead of a UN ocean biodiversity meeting in January 2027. Sustainable Agriculture: The Community College’s award-winning Island Smart Utility Platform uses affordable microcontrollers and automation to support sustainable farming while giving students hands-on technical experience.

Marine Conservation: The Turks and Caicos Islands joined the Bahamas and Cayman Islands in signing the Hamilton II Declaration to advance international protection for the Sargasso Sea. Support for legally binding measures will be sought at a UN oceans treaty meeting in January 2027. Sustainable Agriculture: Turks and Caicos Community College won an international award for its Island Smart Utility Platform, which uses affordable technology to support sustainable farming and give students hands-on experience. Grace Bay Development: Corinthia plans a 50-suite hotel and serviced residences on what it describes as Grace Bay’s last undeveloped beachfront parcel, bringing a major new development to the island’s coast.

Sustainable Agriculture: The Turks and Caicos Community College won international recognition for a smart utility project that uses affordable technology to support sustainable farming and give students hands-on experience. Ocean Protection: The TCI joined the Bahamas and Cayman Islands in signing the Hamilton II Declaration, backing efforts to secure stronger international protections for the biodiverse Sargasso Sea. Heritage Conservation: Grand Turk heritage officials exchanged skills with Bermuda’s National Trust, including techniques to restore traditional limestone buildings. Grace Bay Development: Corinthia plans a 50-suite hotel and branded residences on the last undeveloped beachfront parcel in this stretch of Grace Bay, a project to watch for its implications for the coast.

Marine Protection: Turks and Caicos joined The Bahamas and Cayman Islands in signing the Hamilton II Declaration to build support for legally binding protections for the Sargasso Sea. The next step is a push for backing at the BBNJ treaty’s first conference of parties in January 2027. Coastal Resilience: Cabinet approved a Caribbean Development Bank appraisal of a proposed shoreline protection project. Its locations, cost and timeline are not yet set; earlier planning focused on Grand Turk, Providenciales and Salt Cay. Sustainable Agriculture: Turks and Caicos Community College won international recognition for a project using affordable sensors and automation to support sustainable farming and give students hands-on technology experience.

Ocean Protection: Turks and Caicos joined the Bahamas and Cayman Islands in signing the Hamilton II Declaration, which seeks international support for legally binding measures to protect the biodiverse Sargasso Sea. Coastal Resilience: Cabinet has approved a Caribbean Development Bank appraisal of a proposed Coastal Protection Project. The assessment is a step toward shoreline protection, but costs, locations and timing have not yet been announced. Development Pressure: Corinthia plans a 50-suite hotel and branded residences on Grace Bay’s last undeveloped beachfront parcel, raising the stakes for careful management of the island’s coast. Sustainable Agriculture: Turks and Caicos Islands Community College won international recognition for a project using affordable technology to support sustainable farming and provide students with hands-on training.

Marine Conservation: Turks and Caicos joined The Bahamas and Cayman Islands in signing the Hamilton II Declaration, which seeks international support for stronger protection of the Sargasso Sea, a vital North Atlantic ecosystem. Coastal Resilience: Cabinet approved a Caribbean Development Bank appraisal for a proposed coastal protection project, a step toward assessing shoreline safeguards; costs, locations and timing have not yet been announced. Sustainable Agriculture: The Turks and Caicos Islands Community College won an international award for a student-built platform that uses affordable technology to support sustainable farming and hands-on learning.

Sustainable Agriculture: Turks and Caicos Islands Community College won an international award for a smart utility project that uses affordable technology to support sustainable farming and give students hands-on experience. Marine Protection: The TCI joined the Bahamas and Cayman Islands in signing the Hamilton II Declaration to build international support for stronger protections for the Sargasso Sea. A first UN conference on the high-seas biodiversity agreement is scheduled for January 2027. Coastal Resilience: Cabinet has approved a Caribbean Development Bank appraisal for a proposed coastal protection project. The assessment is a step toward shoreline investment, but locations, costs and a construction timetable have not yet been announced.

Sustainable Agriculture: Turks and Caicos Community College won international recognition for an Island Smart Utility Platform that uses affordable technology to support sustainable farming and give students practical experience. Heritage Conservation: Grand Turk’s Enhancement and Sustainability Agency exchanged skills with the Bermuda National Trust to help conserve and restore the island’s traditional limestone buildings. Ocean Protection: The TCI joined the Bahamas and Cayman Islands in signing the Hamilton II Declaration, which seeks international backing for stronger protections for the biodiverse Sargasso Sea. Coastal Resilience: Cabinet approved a Caribbean Development Bank appraisal of a proposed coastal protection project; locations, costs and a construction timeline have not yet been announced. Grace Bay Development: Corinthia plans a 50-suite hotel and serviced residences on the last undeveloped beachfront parcel on this stretch of Grace Bay, bringing new development to a sensitive coastal area.