January 2019 Business View Caribbean

38 39 As professed in its mission statement, the Turks and Caicos Airports Authority is dedicated to providing the highest standard in safety, quality, and service in airport operations, as a means of enhancing the reputation of the Islands and improving the national economy for the benefit of both the government and the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands. In a recent conversation with John T. Smith, CEO of TCIAA, Business View Caribbean learned of the many recent achievements and future goals of the Airports Authority, as it seeks to expand and enhance airport services and the status of the Turks and Caicos Islands as an international and regional tourist destination. The following is an edited transcript of that discussion. BVC: What is the primary role of the TCIAA? Smith: “The Airports Authority is responsible for all government aerodromes within the Turks and Caicos Islands. Providenciales International Airport, known as the gateway, is where 80 percent of our traffic comes through. Salt Cay Airport has very seasonal traffic (Salt Cay is a small island known for whale watching). South Caicos Airport recently did rehabilitation work. Phase one, the control tower; phase two, full rehab of the runway; and we’re embarking on phase three, which includes construction of a terminal building, and a combined services building with a firehall and an engineering section. “Then we have North Caicos Airport –we’re in talks with the government and the Board to look at how best to go about developing that one. Because, while there isn’t a lot of existing traffic demand, there is a significant amount of development planned for North Caicos, so it makes good sense to have an airport there to facilitate that development. Grand Turk is our other airport. Grand Turk, itself, is the capital of Turks and Caicos and where the government seat is located, however, from an economic standpoint, Providenciales is the central point for Turks and Caicos because 80 percent of the GDP is developed from here. About 84 percent, if not more, of the GDP of Turks and Caicos is generated from tourism.We have very few exports. Tourism is our bread and butter. Therefore, the importance of the airports and aviation cannot be overstated.” BVC: What significant milestones has the Airport Authority achieved in the last few years? Smith: “The first significant milestone we achieved during the period I’ve been here (since 2007) is to develop the gateway airport of Providenciales International with a team of local individuals. To me that was very important. The entire executive team are local persons who have had the opportunity to be a part of, and make a significant contribution to, the airport’s development. From a financial point of view, we TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDS AIRPORTS AUTHORITY International Carriers at the gates at PLS airport TCIAA Executive Team (L to R): Shenrika Robinson, HR Manager; Floyd Ingham, Airports Manager; Emmanuel Rigby, Air Traffic Services Manager; Lavern Reynolds, Terminal and Marketing Manager; Kenneth Abrams, Finance Controller; Helen Harvey, Security Manager and John Smith, CEO.