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11th Annual Conch Festival set for November 29th to feature popular food competition and other activities

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PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands –October 30, 2014 – Plans for the 11th Annual Turks & Caicos Conch Festival, are well underway with a weekend-full of activities on the tropical getaway of Providenciales, home to the World’s Best Beach. The popular beachside event attracts tourists and locals alike to celebrate the islands’ most famous delicacy, historical icon, and number one export…CONCH. The main event will take place on Saturday afternoon (November 29) in the charming Blue Hills area of Providenciales, outside of Three Queen’s Bar & Restaurant.

Friday, November 28: First Annual Calypso Kick-off event.
This year the weekend kicks off with a Calypso event. (More details will be available soon.)

Saturday, November 29: Eleventh Annual Conch Festival
The weekend kicks into high gear on Saturday, November 29 at Noon in the Blue Hills area. The marquee event is the ‘conch-etition’ which pits the island’s best chefs against each other in a hotly-contested tasting competition judged by a panel of experts as well as the Festival attendees. Categories include Best Conch Salad, Best Conch Chowder, Best Specialty Conch and Best in Show. More than 25 restaurants are expected to compete for the cash prizes and bragging rights this year. Tasting begins at Noon and runs until 5PM. . An entry fee of $25 gives Festival-goers a chance to sample all the dishes entered and cast a vote for Best in Show. In addition to the restaurants, the “Home Kitchen” event will take place simultaneously. Home cooks will have a chance to show off their favourite conch recipe and earn a chance to win a cash prize and more. A separate vote will be held in this category and best in show will again be decided by the general public. Home Kitchen participants will receive each receive $75 to help offset the cost of their ingredients. They are urged to bring a BIG pot of their conch recipe so everyone will get a chance to sample what they have prepared.

Major sponsors for this year’s festival so far are Amanyara, Wine Cellar, Villa Del Mar, the Turks & Caicos Tourist Board, Discover Card, Alamo Car Rentals and the TC Weekly News with more coming on board every week, plus a host of others lending their support.

Augmenting the always delectable restaurant competitors is the annual Mojito-making contest sponsored by Bacardi where the island’s best bartenders are on display with their creative twists on this classic Cuban cocktail. This year’s event also features the Turks and Caicos’ own world-renowned Junk-a-Noo, plus other local performers.

Special Conch Competitions for conch blowing and other conch related competitions will assure that chefs and bartenders are not the only ones who can win prizes. Plus the biggest prize of all will be the cash prize of $10,000 drawn at 5:30 on the day of the festival by the Rotary Club of Providenciales as part of its annual Pot-of-Gold raffle. Tickets are currently on sale from local Rotarians and at 3 Queens Bar and Restaurant and will be available on the day of the event. However, buying tickets early is highly encouraged because only a limited number are available.

Henry the Conch and a special appearance by Santa will also be on hand to pass out goodies to the kids. A special kids’ area will be set up with games, face painting and more.

The day’s events will culminate with an after party at Zani Bar featuring DJ music by TCI Most Wanted, DJ Shakes and Unstoppable and DJ Vernam dancing into the wee hours of the night. Admission will be: ladies $10, men $20. This is the ONLY Conch Festival sanctioned after party.

About the Conch Festival
The Conch Festival is a family-friendly event with plenty of games and activities for the kids, including kids games on the beach and a showcase of local culture. There will be games on the beach, and a visit from our mascot, Henry the Conch. In 2008 the Conch Festival donated part if its proceeds to help the fishermen of South Caicos recover after Hurricane Ike, in 2011 over $4300 was donated to Clement Howell High School for much needed equipment and supplies and the Conch Festival also supplies water for their sports day every year. A clean drinking water system for Oseta Jolly Primary School is being undertaken with the proceeds from lasts year.

More information on the Conch Festival can be found at www.conchfestival.com.
Contact Dick Bain, President 242 4553 or Joy MacKenzie, Secretary 241-4465 or email tciconchfestival@gmail.com

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Bahamas News

GBPA LAUNCHES TECH EDGE 2.0 – INTERNSHIP PROGRAM FOR BAHAMIANS

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PRESS RELEASE

FROM THE GRAND BAHAMA PORT AUTHORITY, LIMITED

 

Tuesday, March 18, 2025 – Grand Bahama, The Bahamas – The Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) is proud to announce the launch of Tech Edge 2.0, a paid remote internship program, connecting eligible Bahamian candidates—both locally and abroad—with global career-building opportunities in the fields of cybersecurity, mobile app development, data science, and artificial intelligence (AI). According to GBPA executives, this initiative is a significant step in positioning Grand Bahama as a leader in the digital economy while providing Bahamians with valuable experience in high-demand tech fields.

“Tech Edge 2.0 is more than an internship program—it is a pipeline to professional success”, commented Derek Newbold, Chief Investment Officer for GBPA and Invest Grand Bahama. “With nearly 200 Bahamians already registered, including Bahamians residing in Canada, the U.S., the U.K., and across the islands of The Bahamas, this program is bridging the gap between education and employment, equipping participants with job-ready skills and fostering a new generation of innovators ready to contribute to the advancement of technology and innovation in The Bahamas.”                                                                                                                                                                                                          Currently, there are 10 internship placements available, with additional spaces being added as more companies join the program. GBPA, through its Tech Edge 2.0 program, has partnered with four leading international technology firms, including Prophaze (California, USA), Cognetik Labs, Cybermindr, and Digital5 Solutions, to provide paid remote internship training and employment opportunities. All are start-up companies and emerging titans across cybersecurity, API security, and AI-driven threat detection fields. They also cover software development, IT infrastructure, and cloud computing.

Pleased with the evolution of the Tech Edge Program, which initially launched in 2023, President of GBPA, Ian Rolle, noted that he is highly optimistic about the program’s success to date and its proven potential to help drive Grand Bahama as the Tech and Innovation Hub of the nation. “These partnerships are unlocking global opportunities for Bahamians and proving that Grand Bahama is serious about technology. Further, it offers Bahamians direct access to the international job market—without having to leave home.” Rolle stated. “This program is about ensuring that our people are equipped with top-tier training to develop the requisite skills and career pathways to thrive in the digital economy,” Rolle continued.

The Tech Edge 2.0 Internship Program is open to eligible Bahamians worldwide who hold a college degree or are currently pursuing one in a technology-related field, have a strong interest in cybersecurity, AI, mobile app development, data science, or IT infrastructure, and are eager to gain real-world experience and work remotely with cutting-edge tech companies.

Ian Rolle

Applications for Tech Edge 2.0 are now open and will close on March 21, 2025. Interested candidates can apply online at www.techedgebahamas.com, where they will find step-by-step guidance on the application process.                                                                                                                                            GBPA’s project coordinator for Tech Edge 2.0, Jecholiah Braynen, described the initiative as a long-term investment in The Bahamas’ tech workforce and economic growth. “Through our partnership with Quess Corp, a multinational business service provider, based in India, GBPA is building the requisite skills within the Bahamian workforce and equipping them with job-ready skills and experience. This program creates opportunities to drive economic growth, establish new career opportunities, and attract tech companies to the Bahamas by creating a sustainable ecosystem where Bahamians can thrive in the tech industry,” she emphasized. “This is just the beginning. As Tech Edge grows, so will the number of available opportunities.”

Bahamians interested in expanding their career opportunities are encouraged to apply today and become part of The Bahamas’ digital transformation.

For more information, visit www.techedgebahamas.com for updates, success stories, and insights into the tech industry.

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Government

Elisann Delancy Appointed Deputy Director of Education

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PRESS RELEASE

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY GOVERNOR

AND HEAD OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Tuesday, 18 March 2025: The Office of the Deputy Governor is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Elisann Delancy as the new Deputy Director of Education within the Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture.

Ms. Delancy began her career as a Graduate Teacher at the Marjorie Basden High School, where she quickly made a significant impact on her students and the community. She progressed through various positions, including Assistant Curriculum Development Officer and Curriculum Development Officer. Throughout her career, she has played a pivotal role in shaping local and regional literacy and numeracy programs, serving as the Turks and Caicos Islands Focal Point for the CARICOM, CDB, and OECS LET’s REAP Initiative.

Ms. Delancy holds: a Teacher’s Diploma (Honours) from Mico University College; a Bachelor of Education in Technical and Vocational Education from the University of Technology, Jamaica, and a Master of Education in Curriculum Development with Distinction from the University of the West Indies. Her award-winning research on the “Impact of Teacher Quality on Students Performance” in the Turks and Caicos Islands has garnered recognition and has been published, further demonstrating her expertise and dedication to the field of education.

In addition to her academic credentials, Ms. Delancy has honed her leadership and management skills through various professional development opportunities, including Organisational Leadership from Harvard Business School and Contemporary Project Management from UWI Cave Hill. She is also a Level 4 Caribbean Vocational Qualifications Assessor and an active member of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD). Currently, she is pursuing Public Financial Management qualifications through ACCA, London, to enhance her knowledge in this critical area.

Commenting on her appointment, Ms Delancy stated, “The responsibility of leadership comes with great expectations, and I embrace this calling with gratitude and humility. Luke 12:48 states, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” I am deeply grateful to God for guiding my path as I continue working to advance education for all. I did not stumble into the path of Educating; I chose this path because I recognised its power as the greatest equaliser, a force that can break cycles of disadvantage and create opportunities for all. The work ahead remains critical, and I am fully committed to working with the new Director of Education and our team at the Department of Education to build a progressive and responsive education system.”

Meanwhile, Deputy Governor and Head of the Public Service H. E. Anya Williams congratulated Ms. Delancy on her new appointment, stating, “We are thrilled to have Ms. Delancy stepping into this vital position. Her passion for education, proven leadership skills, and commitment to developing our youth will undoubtedly propel our educational system forward. We look forward to the positive impact she will have in this role.

Congratulations, Ms. Delancy, on your well-deserved promotion.”

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News

Malicious Injury Charge

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***MEDIA RELEASE***

 

 

Turks and Caicos, March 17, 2025 – Two counts of MALICIOUS INJURY to PROPERTY have been brought against

HAYWOOD MCINTOSH.

McIntosh, also known as “Woody,” was charged by officers from the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RT&CIPF) Response and Operations Unit on 13th March 2025.

The accused, 38, of The Bight, is expected to appear before a Magistrate later this week.

The charges arose from an incident on 1st March 2025, when officers received a report regarding damage to a building and a vehicle along Airport Road, Providenciales.

An investigation was initiated, during which Mr McIntosh was arrested and subsequently charged.

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