WIV4’s Deandrea Hamilton reports from Leeward Highway where new Billboards have been erected as advertising tools for TCI Businesses.
Filed under: LOCAL NEWS | Tagged: Advertising, Billboards, Caribbean, Leeward Highway, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos
I wonder how many local businesses have been rejected to give rise to this woman? Nothing against quality advertising, but come on TCIG, can we save something for us?
Is there anything that isn’t for sale in this country? This is a horrible move and one that everyone will come to regret both visually and economically.
The lack of “in your face” signage in this country was one of the subtle but important things the differentiated us from any busy urban center.
An important part of the character of the island just died. We are now on the slippery slope of descending in to the urban mess that characterizes so many other Caribbean destinations.
The TCI has always been valued for its quiet, “off the beaten path”, small town feel. The privacy, the tranquility and the lack of “everyday pressures”.
This is not Atlanta, nor is it 50% Atlanta.
What we need to be asking is how can we further differentiate ourselves from the vanilla caribbean destinations we compete with, not how can we make ourselves look more like a low rent neighbourhood in a US city.
Destroy the brand that is the TCI and you destroy the island’s economy. Stupid move.
-A concerned resident
this billboard thing is pure mess man
they ugly
and if the gov wanted to regularize these signs they could have asked locals to put in sum applications.
And tel them keep those things out of north caicos
In my opinion they are the worse thing that has happened in the TCi. They are far worse than all of the dredging since the areas effected will eventually recover. These signs are the tip of a terrible iceburg. They are making our island another suburb of Florida and the whole identity of the island is going. We have just been named as one of the top five most ruined places in the world and these signs are another example of why this is the case. Beautiful by nature, ruined by greed! In this case the greed of people who do not even live here full time so they do have to see the signs everyday.
How ironic that this business woman was quick to tell us that she has been visiting the Turk’s & Caicos Islands for 6 years and noticed there were no billboards. That’s right lady..no billboards. I’ve been visiting the Turk’s for 23 years because there were no billboards, neon lights or star islands. Now people like you will destroy what the rest of us enjoy so you can make a buck. How nice!
This is a great idea. I think that this type of development is needed in these islands. we need more. I like how She saw the demand and went after it, and got it done. That was clever,smart and very thoughtful. I hope more persons would see the needs of these islands and make the move to see that those service are right on our door steps. Thanks Pattie, Revees, we love you!
My 7 year old Son was saying to me Turks & Caicos are supposed to be
Beautyfull by Nature we dont need this “American Stuff”
and I think he is right I just say UGLY!
Take them down!!
did anyone else happen to notice that her husband is a developer? on north? isn’t that a coincidence. someone tied to the development business got approval for something there is a strong backlash against. again.
A dreadful sense of naiveity… wow!
in response to wow
do you think she is the first person to see the demand for billboards? I highly doubt it. look at what richard berke wrote, think harder on this subject, take a closer look at her…
It’s not that Turks and Caicos Islanders are too lazy or dim witted to think of such things but more like they get shut down. When the right element rolls in, then people want to give it up.
Tsk tsk..Its like when I come home I will hardly recognise my own country. Why is it that we are trying to be like every other caribbean country or the US? I mean, can’t they understand that because Turks and Caicos was what it was, is the reason why tourist fell in love with our country?
We have the high rise hotels coming up, now the big billboards. What is next huh? WHAT IS NEXT!!!
I would say that this sort of busiess is essential in the Turks and Caicos Islands and I have nothing against it, because of several reasons. It provides jobs for locals, more revenue for the country and it would bring competetion among other advertisement agencies. I am not sure what all the bickering is about, we still have to advertise and this is one way of doing so. Now if a local had the idea and money to do the same, I am sure they will be granted the permission. I read alot of what people say on these post and blogs and personally MOST of them sounds like people that just want to bicker and be bitter. Yes we are beautiful by nature, however we still have to do things to sustain the economy. If we would educate ourselves on economics and sustaining them, we would understand some of the things that we see. Now if you want to be bitter about something, try signing the petition against star island.
I would say that the signs are an improvement from what we are use to. We need to step up from the old shabby wood advertisements that are normally placed on the side of our roads. Its about time we think in the future and realize to that the same bright lights and city look that we run to the USA and other countries for we can have it here.
As much as I know the business is partially own by a local and this is great. Let’s stop knocking down every good, positive and new idea that comes to our island. With that being said I will say that I love the new Road Signs.
Why we as Turks islanders always have to knock every idea that is good for our country. Think outside the box and move on to a new way of adverting. And best of all I know that an islander is a share holder in this company, so I said don’t knock what good for our country.
For those of us that say that when we move back home we will hardly recognize our own country. Why we left in the first place? High rise hotels bring in job. Billboards bring in job. Go with the future. 100% with the billboards.
Yes..I had to comment on this, Sweets, I ATTEND university in the US as there are no full tertiary education institution in the TUrks and Caicos Islands. As most of our guest come from the US, I happen to interact with a lot of them who have visited our shores (I happen to attend well known hospitality institution) and it has already been said that there is tooooo much development in terms of high rise hotels in the country. I have said this already and will say it again, Turks and Caicos is the way it is for a reason. Trust me when you live away for ANY reason when you come back home or think of home you will appreciate the difference. Those high rise hotels will change Turks and CAicos. I am with the future, I would advise you to read, and find out some of the reasons why Tourist come to our shores. Take a trip, talk with guests then you will see what I mean.
Hello Mr Jeddrick you sound like an intelligent person, but its like your to young to understand whats going on here let me point out a few thing to you that may broaden u scope on whats happening in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Turks Islanders wants more than just a job we now want piece of the action so we are seeking ways to generate more income, hey why get tertiary education if you don’t intend to follow your dreams.
Lets face it inorder to chase dreams we have to alter are land scape abide, hey most of these people who enjoy what we have here in TCI understands that the locals have to generate wealth. So I don’t buy the argument that Turks Islanedrs needs to stay poor inorder to keep our islands which we love more than any of our invaluable visitors beautiful.
these billboards are not huge and looks much better than the wood pile along the highway
Jeddrick, please free your mind from mental slavery bro. I take it that your in the USA going to school just look up bro thats a high rise buliding we have limited inventory in TCI so you have to agree that 7 story is a great compromise between 5 and a high rise
The uniformity of the billboards are nice but for me it’s not about how nice they look but more about the fact that this idea was presented BEFORE and turned down BEFORE. It was presented by locals who do think outside the box, by men and women who have lived here their entire lives. So why couldn’t THEY be the ones being interviewed? Why do we have to deny the people who come from this land the rights to do something with the country? On top of that, why couldn’t the government say to the people if you want to put billboards up they MUST look like this or else we’ll tear them down. We could have started looking professional ages before this woman came along.
Development is good but if we have branded the country already for it’s quaintness and relaxed atmosphere why should we alter or mess with our brand? We don’t need a makeover, tourists appreciate what we’ve been slinging to them so why change it?
We should not cast aside what has made the country unique in the eyes of our customers. I am all for the future as sweets says but you can’t pick up everything and try it on. When you get an upgrade you don’t need to put every acessory on your car, all you need is one or two add ons and your good to go. Cause Sweets…you don’t want to be looking like some of these people driving their car down Leeward Highway honey, you can see they ain’t used to anything at all.
I think the Billboards in the Turks and Caicos is an achievement in the Islands means of mass advertising; to the Locals as well as the Tourist. People tend to criticize the company Island Display of putting them there, but fail to realize that with the introduction of the billboard more jobs are created and capital is gained, this is a clear sign that our economy is booming. Me myself, just a few months was saying I wonder if we’d ever get billboards here and now there up so I will continue to support the Idea.
Mr Jame.
I am about to turn 25 in a few weeks.No, I am not bound by mental slavery, I may be young but I have travelled and interacted with people who visited my country, I read travel magazines (a lot of our tourist read them too!). I am all for development in Turks and Caicos, but we have to understand what we are up against. we have some serious competition in the Caribbean and in the world at large. Turks and Caicos was dubbed the Gucci of the Caribbean The Last of the True Exotics for a a reason. The last thing we want to do, is to take away what the tourist want and I am speaking in terms of what they come to Turks and Caicos for.
Provo Truth, you hit the nail right on the head.
The Leeward Highway billboards are an awful addition to TCI. Unfortunately, all the money earned from advertising on the billboards is leaving the country for Atlanta, GA. The woman behind the signs is not a Turks Islander, in fact she is not even a resident of the islands, she is American. How can we, as Turks Islanders, support this move? We need to put a foot down and stop the government from allowing big money Americans to come in and do what they want with our country. This poll should have been conducted BEFORE the billboards were put up in order to gather public opinion, which for the most part is in opposition. Those of you who support them because you believe they will create more capital and jobs for Islanders, do some homework and you will realize that’s not the case.
Turks & Caicos slogan is Beautiful by nature. It sure is if you aren’t driving down Leeward Highway. Lets face it, Leeward Highway is a thousand fold improvement over the old days and I commend the government for a nice job. It is a highway however and it isn’t beautiful. When I first heard all the commotion I was thinking of those giants off of I-95. When I saw them up I thought that they actually blend in pretty good. The current graphics are nice, unfortunately the price may be a bit steep for the current economy, so sales may be slow. They are not the ogres they are being made out to be.
Now…if we want to talk beautiful by nature … stop destroying the most valuable resource, our water & reefs, stop throwing trash all over, stop bulldozing the land to the rock for development, begin waste recycling, and stop any land reclamation of any sort. This is the only country I know that is filling in water areas just for more land. Most places are digging land out to create waterfront. Just fly over the country and see what is out there, it’s a vast empty space. Oops, maybe I shouldn’t have said that.
Generalise says : I absolutely agree with this !
Jade: Those people who are gripped by mental slavery are the people who think that we shouldn’t question the decisions that are made. We need only look to our looming neighbour in the United States to see what happens if you just take what the government say as gospel.
We should always consider new ideas but we should think for the long term as well. There is no point trying to make a quick buck now and damaging our long term success.
We need accountability from our government and we need to know what is going on, it seems more like a private members club that we only find out information after these decisions have long been approved.
My God what next!!!!!!!! We don’t need billboards in the middle of our roads enough accidents are happening already. So take them down!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We didn’t need billboards before and we certainly don’t need them now… To me it doesn’t make sense its all about making money!!!!!!! The government need to stop signing off contracts that comes their way and let the people know what is going on first! Let the people decide!!!!after all its our country too…….
I soon to start my work as an external auditor from Philippines in your Island. Actually I am fascinated with a blend of nature and development. One thing why I would like to work in TCI is the idea that your Island is booming and likewise the idea that you have world class beaches. I have done a lot of research in the internet regarding the progress of your island and it enticed me to accept the offer of a company in TCI for the fact that I see great improvements and developments in your island. Like me who haven’t been in your Island is being lured by the advertisement posted in the internet. So I guess billboards would do great as part of your island’s development. Like me, I could find other work in other part of the world but I am very happy to accept the offer of a company from TCI of the fact that TCI is no longer behind the progress of other islands/country. Your island is competing to other developing nation. Don’t you think BILLBOARDS as part of the progress of your island should receive support from your locals? I really wish your Island would be known to the whole world. Because of that improvement, it will provide jobs to your locals. Who knows, soon your Island will have a University school in the future. Just consider how Dubai develops. It started from nothing but because of the development, it created countless schools and universities and provides countless jobs for their locals. Not only that, their locals are rated to be highly paid employees as compared to other expats.
I hope what I write now would touch minds.
God Bless to all…