TURKS & CAICOS SPORTING CLUB AT AMBERGRIS CAY AND TURKS & CAICOS AIRPORT AUTHORITY CELEBRATE COLLABORATION AGREEMENT

PROVIDENCIALES, Turks & Caicos; Tuesday, February 20, 2008 –The Turks and Caicos Sporting Club at Ambergris Cay and Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority will be celebrating a collaborative agreement at SkyBase in Providenciales, on Wednesday, February 21st, at 11am.

The agreement between Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority and Turks and Caicos Sporting Club at Ambergris Cay culminates in an agreement laying the foundation for Air Traffic Services at Ambergris Cay Airport. This is a step toward obtaining full United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority Certification for the Ambergris Cay Airport which allows direct international private flights. 

 The agreement provides for cost neutral operations in order not to financially burden the Turks and Caicos Islands Government or Airports Authority. A separate financial arrangement is also finalized for the provision of flight services training of personnel at Ambergris Cay by the Turks and Caicos Islands Airport Authority.

In attendance will be, John Smith, CEO of Airports Authority; Emmanuel Rigby, Manager of Air Traffic Services; Harold Charles, Member of the Board of Directors, Turks & Caicos Sporting Club at Ambergris Cay; Peter McKinney, Vice President of Development, Turks & Caicos Sporting Club at Ambergris Cay; Jerry Giarla, General Manager, Turks & Caicos Sporting Club at Ambergris Cay; Clayton Thomas, Club Manager, Turks & Caicos Sporting Club at Ambergris Cay

The airstrip is 5,700 feet long; the longest lighted, paved private airstrip in the Caribbean - and serves as the ultimate welcome mat for Turks and Caicos Sporting Club members. Moreover, it offers members an opportunity that few other destinations can match—the chance to fly directly to their own private Caribbean island.  Ambergris Cay Airport accommodates with many types of commercial and private aircrafts with an adjacent facility for customs and immigration.

At this time the airstrip is completely paved and striped; night lighting has been installed and grass installation of non-paved areas will be completed by the end February.  In compliance with United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority regulations, the airport will have a fully equipped firefighting team and an EMS station is currently under construction and will be completed in March. 

Full Airport Certification from United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority is anticipated at the end of the first quarter 2008.

"This amenity is the top of the top," says Peter Pollak, Managing Partner, DPS Sporting Club Development. Additionally: "The addition of the airstrip to the Turks & Caicos Sporting Club stands head and shoulders above any jetstrip that has been built on any private island in the Caribbean."

Capable of operations 24 hours a day, seven days a week for both international and domestic flights, Ambergris Cay members will have the ultimate in arrival and departure flexibility.  The airstrip will normally operate from sunrise to sunset and after sunset by prior arrangement. Along with private aircraft access, the Airport will continue to serve Club flights to/from the nearby island of Providenciales (Provo).

"For our clients, their most valuable asset is time," says Patrick Worsham, Managing Director DPS Club Management "Building a private airstrip gives them the ability to get here easily and begin enjoying themselves the moment they touch the ground."

For more information, kindly contact Mimi Crume, Director of Communications on (646) 891-8765 or mcrume@dpsdevelopment.com OR visit the Turks & Caicos Sporting Club at www.tcsportingclub.com and DPS at www.dpsdevelopment.com

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Courtney S. Robinson
Director, GIS
Office of the Premier,
Grand Turk,
Turks and Caicos Islands.
Tel: (649) 946-2801, ext.40916
Fax: (649) 946-1311
Email: c.robinson@gov.tc