On Monday, October 1, the US Embassy in Nassau held a formal opening ceremony for its remodelled Consular Agency office in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos.

While a consular Agent has been performing consular work in Providenciales since May 2011, the opening of the Consular Agency office marks the establishment of the first “brick-and-mortar” presence of the US Embassy in TCI.

On hand for the official ribbon-cutting ceremony were US Charg� d’Affaires John Dinkelman, Commander of US Coast Guard District Seven Rear Admiral William Baumgartner, and Governor Roderick Todd. During the opening ceremony Charg� Dinkelman noted that with roughly 3,000 American citizens residing in TCI, and more than 700,000 Americans expected to visit in 2013, the timing is ideal for the establishment of a permanent facility in Providenciales.

“With the opening of this office, we are celebrating the strength of the ties between the United States and the Turks and Caicos Islands,” said Charg� Dinkelman, “Ties that unite us through our common concerns for tourism and the safe travel of our citizens.”