Business View Caribbean - July 2024

shipping lines serving the port in Grand Turk and Providenciales are Tropical Shipping and Seacor Island Lines.Additionally, smaller barges and vessels arrive from neighboring countries, contributing to the overall flow of goods and services. TCIPA’s concentrated customer base also includes key players in the import sector, with a few prominent companies and agents handling imported materials for the construction industry. These primary stakeholders, such as Building Materials Limited, Butterfield Gold LTD and CBMS Limited, ensure that goods reach their intended destinations promptly and efficiently. As a national monopoly, TCIPA works diligently to ensure that its ports operate as efficiently as possible to support the needs of these critical stakeholders. This focus on efficiency benefits the entire community, enabling shipping lines and agents to provide their services effectively and facilitating trade and commerce throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands. The COVID-19 pandemicpresented unique challenges to businesses across the globe, including the TCIPA. Jones admits that the unprecedented nature of the pandemic meant there was no existing playbook to follow. He emphasized the need for flexibility and adaptability in these trying times, saying, “We had to think on our feet.” As an essential service, TCIPA maintained its operations throughout the pandemic, ensuring that crucial supplies continued to reach the islands. The organization faced numerous obstacles, from stigmatizing the international shipping sector to fear and trepidation about the virus. Jones stressed the importance of overcoming these challenges to guarantee the TCIPA’s focus on staff well-being and education played a crucial role in ensuring the success of its operations during the pandemic. Jones shared, “We brought medical doctors to talk to shipping stakeholders about the need for protection and vaccination.” Although some staff members contracted COVID-19, Jones confirmed no fatalities, 20 BUSINESS VIEW CARIBBEAN VOLUME 11, ISSUE 07 TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS PORT AUTHORI TY