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DPM’s Communication to the House on BAMSI

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Nassau, 11 Mar 2015 –

COMMUNICATION

BY

HON. PHILIP E. DAVIS
MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT
(CAT ISLAND, RUM CAY, AND SAN SALVADOR)
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER
AND
MINISTER OF WORKS & URBAN DEVELOPMENT

CONCERNING

THE BAHAMAS AGRICULTURAL & MARINE SCIENCE INSTITUTE (BAMSI)

WEDNESDAY, 11th MARCH 2015

HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY
COMMONWEALTH OF THE BAHAMAS
NASSAU, NEW PROVIDENCE

As Delivered

Mr. Speaker
When I stood in this place to give my contribution to the Mid-Year Budget Debate, I determined and said that I would bring an update to the House on the project to construct the Bahamas Agricultural & Marine Science Institute (BAMSI) at North Andros. This communication meets that commitment.
Mr. Speaker
The Bahamas, not unlike the rest of the Caribbean, is faced with an exorbitant food import bill because we have traditionally neglected to work towards maximising our potential when it comes to feeding ourselves. The fact that we also have the added burden of literally feeding our tourism product worsens the whole issue of food imports as the challenge here is to feed others as well.
As a Government, we can sing our praises forever, but when it comes to validation, the eye of an objective outsider rings truth. Most recently, the Director General of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Mr. Guy Ryder, in referring to the creation of the Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI) said that The Bahamas has ‘gotten the message’ and is on the ‘right track’ for sustainability.
Mr. Speaker
The message was also echoed several days earlier by the Director-General of the Food & Agriculture Organisation (FAO) José Graziano da Silva, when he urged Heads of Government at the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Summit to strengthen support to agriculture, to contribute to job creation and tourism revenues, and to protect our economy from external price shocks.
Mr. Speaker
As it stands, The Bahamas imports 85% of the food products it consumes taking our food import bill to nearing US$1 billion. This is a consequence of failure of successive governments to address the circumstance which negatively impacts our economy. When you consider what we have and will potentially lose in terms of jobs and foreign exchange; when you consider that the profits derived from tourism are substantially expended on food imports, there can be no more innovative mechanism to turning our circumstance around than BAMSI.
While we cannot get away from the vulnerabilities which stem from our national composition of many islands, we cannot sit idly by and not make significant strides toward reducing our dependence on food imports.
Mr. Speaker
When this Progressive Liberal Party campaigned for office, our bold statement in our Charter for Governance was: “Now is the time to lay the ground work for a more healthy and secure nation.” Prior to this Government coming to office, two decades saw virtually no public sector investment in infrastructural upgrade, manpower development and public/private sector partnership of food production. Agriculture was on the decline in terms of interest, acreage, and farmers.
BAMSI represents tangible and meaningful steps toward realising a long-held dream of food production, independence, and security for our country. It is mobilising the core ideal of the Progressive Liberal Party that agriculture is an integral part of our sustainable economic development. BAMSI was and remains this Government’s step in the right direction to maximise our national potential and to materialise this goal.
That is the bigger picture, Mr. Speaker
But, if we refine the focus to North Andros alone, Mr. Speaker, we are able to see the awakening of the proverbial sleeping giant. Local Government Administrator Ivan Ferguson reports that his office is bustling since the BAMSI project came to town. Government revenues have increased as more residents are applying for business licences and building permits. Applications for building permits have in fact quadrupled! Residents are busy clearing land! They are building! Indeed, Androsians are positioning themselves to take advantage of the economic benefits that BAMSI will bring.
I am advised that one is hard-pressed to find accommodations because everywhere is occupied – small hotels and apartments. Apartments that have been sitting unused for years have tenants – mostly contractors and their employees. Car rentals have outpaced anything that the area has ever seen. In fact, entrepreneurs have had to secure more rental franchises to meet the demand for transportation.
Mr. Speaker
I am also advised that the shipping industry is reaping major benefits – transporting goods and services directly and indirectly related to BAMSI. Airlift, particularly the air charter business, is equally as profitable with the movement of people attached to BAMSI. I am told that the Ministry of Tourism held a reception for winter residents of that area and that the attendance was greatest ever – and invariably, they all were excited about BAMSI.
Mr. Speaker
The excitement about BAMSI is even more tangible among the locals. Store owners are having good sales. More restaurants are opening. Those that exist are taking in the largest sales ever. Farmers that had just about given up on the industry have gone back to cultivating their farms.
This, Mr. Speaker, is the Big Picture!
The Opposition went on a fishing expedition to BAMSI the other day. What a production they made about their experience there. What they didn’t talk about was the excellent workmanship that the contractors have displayed in their construction. They have not said that these men and women – all Androsians or rooted in Andros – are creating what will be the wonder of the Caribbean. When you go into those buildings, you see the work of ace contractors – men like Solomon Roberts, Bennett Knowles, Prince Mackey, Hugh Fowler, Cecil Marshall, Sidney Cargill, McGregor Russell, and Brudienell Kelly, among others.
Not one word did they utter about BAMSI having already established 68 acres of banana, papaya, plantain, peanut, coconut, and lime crop in the ground and moving the economy. They are not interested in the fact that harvesting has started with banana yielding over 5,000 pounds per week and papaya yielding 6,000 pounds per week. These two products alone have generated revenue in the amount of approximately $7,500 weekly. When these crops have expanded in acreage and the additional crops introduced, the projected weekly revenue is expected to be $52,000. But they are not interested in that!
They have not told us about the land that is being cleared to accelerate the crop production programme, where 150 new acres of crop including banana, papaya, pineapple, and lime. They have not talked about the additional acreages for navel oranges, mangoes, avocado, and sour sop.
I know they have not been listening for any good that this Government can bring, so they missed the fact that an aggressive intercropping programme is on the way to produce acres and acres of watermelon, cantaloupe and honey dew melons.
In total, Mr. Speaker
The area under crop cultivation by the end of June will be 450 acres of crop with 200 acres for the rotation cycles and 90 acres in inter and companion cropping. 650 acres will be fully occupied. That is the big picture!
I have not even gone into the livestock, poultry and fisheries aspect of BAMSI, Mr. Speaker, and the excitement generated by this revolutionary project is already immeasurable.
We have only just begun with BAMSI and five farmers have already been granted licenses to produce under the BAMSI label. These farmers are producing vegetables such as tomatoes, cabbage, onion, sweet pepper and hot pepper. This is the big picture!
We have only just begun and there are 39 students enrolled at the Institute in various programmes and skills training. There are also 50 Androsians fully employed at BAMSI.
That is the big picture!!
But, Mr. Speaker
Chuck Palahniuk once said that “the trick to forgetting the big picture is to look at everything close up.” So it is with BAMSI and the consequential position of the male dormitory that was gutted by fire, the work of an arsonist. The political pundits and supporters now offer the distraction of chatter concerning the fire. Notwithstanding, we are not distracted and we are not deterred. We will rebuild; and from the ashes of that fire, BAMSI is rising to continue our push forward to feed ourselves.
Mr. Speaker
I know that it is of paramount importance that I should give accurate and truthful information to Parliament, correcting any inadvertent error at the earliest opportunity. When I last spoke, my advice was that “at the contract’s signing, the contractor [for the male student dormitory at BAMSI] had everything that was required to contract work with my Ministry, including Contractor’s All-Risk Insurance.”
Mr. Speaker
The files in relation to this contract was provided to me on Monday, 2nd March 2015. I have reviewed them and the following details are now presented as verifiable facts.
On 30th January 2014, Government approved construction for the BAMSI project and noted that the construction of the student dormitories, among other buildings, was critical to the Institute’s opening for September of that year.
Consequently, on 6th February 2014, my Ministry issued a Letter of Intent to contract Mr. Audley Hanna, trading as Paradigm Construction, to build the male student dormitory for the base amount of B$2.6Million. The contractor was notified that formal contract documents would be prepared; and that mobilisation payment would be processed as soon as the Ministry was in receipt of the contractor’s Business Licence, All Risk Insurance and National Insurance Compliance Letter.
On 10th February 2014, the contractor requested 20% mobilisation payment. The normal course of action provides that at mobilisation, that is the first payment toward satisfaction of a contract, the following must be available:
A Contract or Letter of Intent duly signed by the Permanent Secretary;
The original claim letter from the contractor, requesting payment. The letter shall be duly signed by the contractor;
A copy of the Bill of Quantities/Scope of Works/Schedule of Works, which is part of the contract document;
The original “Contractors All Risk Insurance”, including Public Liability of not less than $1,000,000.00;
Copy of current business license;
Current “National Insurance Board” (NIB) compliance letter; and
The original Contractor’s Performance Bond, if applicable.
The contract was duly executed on 21st February 2014 at North Andros.
Mr. Speaker
There were several indicators that led me personally examining the relevant file concerning the insurance of the male dormitory. I am now in a position to say that the contractor provided all that he was required, save a certificate for All Risk Insurance. What the contractor did provide was only a quotation of cost from RoyalStar Assurance for All Risk Insurance for a six-month period from commencement of the project. It is noted that mobilisation was issued thereafter. What the file does not tell me is who took the decision to advance the mobilisation without the requisite insurance, what intervention, if any, was made to ensure that this requirement was met once identified, and why the contract, which has been substantially delayed, was allowed to continue without this critical requirement.
Mr. Speaker
In the Construction Industry, large-project contractors generally maintain some type of all risk insurance – even when not engaged in any projects – so as to ensure that when an opportunity arises, he is ready for competition. Smaller contractors, on the other hand, are usually not able to afford continual insurance as many of them live from project to project and those projects may be few and far between. They, therefore, tend to engage insurance on a project-by-project basis, lasting the projected length of a contract.
Mr. Speaker
This Government has historically been about giving those in need a hand up. However, there can be no plausible explanation for an administrative error such as that which has occurred in this case. I should not speculate that any agreement existed, but if there was an agreement for the Ministry to advance the premium to the insurance company from the contractor’s mobilisation payment, this should have been done. I mention this because I am advised that this has been done in the past to assist contractors’ qualification for contractual works. In this case, however, it was incumbent on the contractor, having been paid full mobilisation, to ensure that the insurance premium, which was a mere $23,746.65, was paid immediately. If he had done so, a certificate of insurance would have been included on our file. From the outset, therefore, the contractor was in breach.
So, Mr. Speaker
This is where we are. Given the fact that the dormitory was not complete and has not been turned over to the Government, by contract, the contractor stands fully liable for the construction outlay to date, which totals $2,550.864.15. My Ministry is now making a determination as to how we will recover this loss from the contractor.
Since the fire, two options have been determined. The first is to gut the building to its foundation and rebuild, given the fact that the fire tested the entrails of the building. The second is total demolition to rebuild a new structure. Estimates in hand target the reconstruction cost at around $5.5Million. The increase in cost takes into consideration the cost to reconfigure the units from single to double occupancy, ordinary inflation, and VAT.
Consequently, the net cost to Government will be the cost of reconstruction, less the expenditure for the structure destroyed by fire. That is to say, just under $3Million.
Mr. Speaker
I am constrained to call out the actions of technical officers whose duty it is to be good stewards of the people’s money and to lessen Governments’ exposure to potentially embarrassing situations.
Given the experience of my technical team and the checks and balances of our bureaucracy, there was no reason to suppose that such an administrative error would be missed for so long. Beyond that, the public fully and rightly expects all Government officials to be above reproach in protecting the public’s interests. These citizens, our constituents, depend on officials to act in the public good, to know their roles well, to do their jobs efficiently, and to be honest in their handling of public resources, avoiding even the opportunity for, or the appearance of, impropriety. The Public Service provides the remedies that should ordinarily flow from matters such as this, particularly how best to manage them and how best to learn from them.
For my Ministry, notwithstanding its difficulty, I should hope that this matter is taken as a learning tool. Bringing BAMSI to the point of service as initially envisioned by Government remains our top priority. Taking in the holistic challenge presented by the BAMSI project, my Ministry has engaged the service of a Project Management firm and is in the process of engaging an Employer’s Representative to guide this process to completion expeditiously.
Mr. Speaker
While what has transpired is an avoidable error on the part of the Ministry, I do not think that any reasonable person would find malicious intent. On the other hand, that cannot be said with respect to the arson, which, if proved, was criminally intended to deprive the Bahamian people of the full benefit and impact of a vision that is becoming reality.
But try as they may, Mr. Speaker
This Government’s visions and dreams and hard work toward realising them will not be destroyed. BAMSI’s dawn has been unveiled. We look forward to it reaching its full potential, contributing to the change that we envision for The Bahamas and the Bahamian people.
Mr. Speaker
As I conclude, for the sake of transparency, I table copies of the following documents:
The Contract for the Construction of the Male Student Dormitory for the Bahamas Agriculture & Marine Science Institute with Paradigm Construction Company
Mobilisation Payment Certificate Routing Sheet with its annexes to include:
Letter of Intent to Contract Works
Letter of Acceptance from Contractor
Letter from Contractor Requesting Mobilisation
Business Licence for Paradigm Construction Company Ltd
National Insurance Board Letter of Good Standing
Contractors’ All Risk Insurance Quotation from RoyalStar Assurance
Architectural Unit Request for Mobilisation; and finally
Balance Sheet for Male Student Dormitory at BAMSI (Paradigm Construction) from commencement to the date of the fire.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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Beaches Resorts Announces Grand Opening of Treasure Beach Village at Beaches Turks and Caicos  

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Treasure Beach Village at Beaches Turks and Caicos, now open, featuring 101 all-suite accommodations, brand-new dining concepts and thoughtfully designed amenities.

Montego Bay, Jamaica March 12, 2026 – Beaches Resorts has unveiled a bold new chapter in Caribbean family travel with the grand opening of Treasure Beach Village at Beaches Turks and Caicos, a US $150 million expansion that redefines oceanfront luxury on the western edge of the resort’s property.

The award-winning resort brand commemorated the milestone with an elegant and celebratory ribbon cutting ceremony on February 28, staged in the picturesque lobby of the new development overlooking the 15,000-square-foot lagoon-style pool and the turquoise waters of Grace Bay Beach.

Conceived as a landmark moment for both the brand and the destination, the ceremony gathered Turks and Caicos government officials, Sandals and Beaches Resorts executives and team members, regional business leaders, local suppliers, artisans, artists and members of the media in a powerful show of partnership.

The programme was vibrantly led by master of ceremonies Gary Sadler, executive vice president of sales and industry relations at Unique Vacations, and opened with remarks from James McAnally, regional managing director, Northern Caribbean and Curacao for Sandals and Beaches Resorts, and the Hon. Zhavargo Jolly, minister of tourism, agriculture, fisheries and the environment. Reflections followed from Executive Chairman Adam Stewart, before the ceremony culminated with a keynote address from the Hon. Charles Washington Misick, premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands, who joined other government officials and resort leaders for the official ribbon cutting that formally declared Treasure Beach Village open.

The event also featured a special performance by the Louise Garland Thomas High School Steel Pan Band and students of the Enid Capron Primary School Cultural Group, celebrating the culture and creativity of the islands. Guests then enjoyed a curated dining experience inside the Village’s newest restaurants, offering a first taste of the elevated culinary concepts now available to families from around the world.

Executive Chairman Adam Stewart in his delivery, underscored the legacy and deep-rooted connection between the brand and the destination.

“Turks and Caicos is an absolute gift to the world,” said Stewart. “Its beauty, its people and its ability to perform on the world stage make it extraordinary. My grandfather always told me it was one of the most beautiful places on earth. My father came to see it for himself and 30 years later Beaches Turks and Caicos stands as the most successful family resort in this hemisphere.”

Stewart added, “what began as a small hotel has grown from 150 rooms to nearly 900 keys and more than 1,000 rooms because of the vision of our founder and his unwavering belief in Caribbean people. Today we are a team of 20,000 and 97 percent are Caribbean nationals. The Sandals story is a story of belief in what we can achieve together.”

In his keynote address, Premier Charles Washington Misick highlighted the national significance of the investment.

“Today we celebrate the opening of Treasure Beach and something even greater,” said Premier Misick. “This moment reflects a partnership between Sandals and the Turks and Caicos Islands that has been built over decades and strengthened by trust. Treasure Beach Village signals confidence in our country, in our stability and in our tourism product and it sets a new standard of quality and value.”

Integral to the celebration were several of the local artists whose commissioned works now define the character of Treasure Beach Village. From the earliest stages of design, the creative vision for the village centred on capturing the true treasures of the Turks and Caicos Islands through art and storytelling.

Among the standout installations is “Roses of Provo” by Stanford Hanfield, a breathtaking composition of more than 800 hand-cut conch shells transformed into a dramatic showpiece that honours the conch on the national flag and the enduring spirit of the islands. Murals by Ashley Aarons that celebrate local flora and fauna while paying homage to the founder’s love of the Caribbean. Through the lens of Rich McGhie, striking imagery of turtles, beaches and everyday island life captures the people who are the true treasures of Treasure Beach Village. Contributing artists Lucie Winton-Stubbs, Hezron Henry, Ancy Dorisca, Ayshe Stephen and Victoria Silvera further infuse the spaces with Caribbean soul, texture and authenticity.

Several of these artists were present for the ribbon cutting and were acknowledged for their exceptional contributions.

Following this, the award-winning resort welcomed its first guests to Treasure Beach Village on March 1, greeted by Executive Chairman Adam Stewart, Sandals executives, vibrant team members waving the Turks and Caicos and Jamaican flags, singing, dancing and inviting families to an experience brimming with island inspiration and exciting ‘Beaches Firsts’.

Suites Designed for Togetherness

The new oceanfront village featuring 101 multi-bedroom suites, unveils expansive new room categories, blending generous living spaces with the all-inclusive service synonymous with Beaches. Among the standouts are the oceanfront CrystalSky 4-Bedroom Reserve Villas, perched on the sand and unfolding across more than 2,600 square feet over three stories. Accommodating up to 10 guests and designed for elevated family living, the villas include a private pool and a rooftop deck with a telescope. Spanning more than 2,800 square feet over two stories, the Chairman’s Penthouse Suite hosts up to 10 guests in three bedrooms, anchored by a dramatic staircase that connects its expansive living spaces.

Oceanview Two-Story Suites feature two-bedroom and three-bedroom layouts with open designs, modern bunk beds, inviting dining nooks and al fresco living rooms designed to capture the sea breeze. A collection of thoughtfully designed Oceanview and Penthouse Concierge Suites welcome up to six guests with two bedrooms, expansive baths and bunk beds. A Caribbean palette of turquoise, coral and neutrals reflects the surrounding sea and sand, accented by artful touches inspired by life beneath the surface.

Dining That Brings Everyone to the Table

At Treasure Beach Village, six new dining concepts invite families to slow down and linger, including the arrival of Butch’s Island Chop House at a Beaches resort – the beloved Sandals Resorts steakhouse. A tribute to the brand’s late founder, Gordon “Butch” Stewart, the restaurant brings generations together over prime dry age steaks, fresh seafood and an elevated beverage experience for adults, including a mini-martini menu.

A first of its kind for the brand, Pinta Food Hall introduces global flavours across four distinct culinary stations, from smoky tacos and Asian stir-fries to an open-air Italian window and an à la carte grill – plus Beaches’ first-ever live churro station. Featuring Jamaica’s iconic Blue Mountain coffee, BRÜ Coffee Bar serves artisanal coffee by day and transitions into a craft cocktail spot by night.

Designed for Families, Shaped by the Sea

Sweeping views of Grace Bay’s turquoise waters set the tone for unhurried days ahead. Inside the lobby, coastal details take shape in an intricate sea-garden ceiling and a striking conch installation by local artisan Stanford Handfield, while a soft sand-and-sea palette creates an atmosphere that feels instantly welcoming.

At the heart of the village, a 15,000-square-foot lagoon-style pool sets the scene complete with three whirlpools. A waterslide and splash zone cater to younger guests, while a swim-up bar offers a gathering place for all ages. Nearby, Calypso Cones adds a playful poolside moment with refreshing snow cones under the Caribbean sun.

Treasure Beach Village also debuts Beaches’ first Starfish Cinema, an all-day, 32-seat theatre designed for daytime sitcoms and family movie nights, popcorn and refreshments included.

Treasure Beach Village is fully integrated into the Beaches Turks and Caicos experience, where all guests enjoy access to a total of 28 additional dining options, the 45,000-square-foot Pirates Island Water Park, unlimited land and water sports, daily entertainment for every generation, and complimentary Kids Camps led by trained childcare experts.

“As the next chapter in the Beaches Turks and Caicos story, Treasure Beach Village builds on everything families already love about this resort, adding incredibly spacious accommodations and freshly introduced experiences shaped by the way families travel today,” said Adam Stewart, executive chairman of Sandals and Beaches Resorts. “It is incredibly moving to meet guests who first visited Beaches as children and are now returning with little ones of their own. More than ever, families are coming together across generations, slowing down and truly valuing time with one another, and this new addition opens up even more possibilities for those shared moments.”

Bigger, Better, Beaches 2.0

The opening of Treasure Beach Village marks the beginning of Beaches’ next chapter. With nearly US $1 billion invested to double the brand’s footprint over the next several years, Beaches continues to expand across the Caribbean, introducing more space, more flexibility and more opportunities for families to reconnect in Exuma, The Bahamas; Jamaica; Barbados and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

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Education

Department of Education hosts 3rd Annual Local Studies Competition

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1st Place - Precious Treasures Primary School

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands: The Department of Education in collaboration with the Department of Culture successfully hosted the 3rd Annual Local Studies Jeopardy-Style Competition, an initiative designed to promote persons’ understanding of the history, culture, and contemporary affairs of the Turks and Caicos Islands. The event took place on March 2, 2026, at the Gustavus Lightbourne Sports Complex, bringing together students, parents, educators, and community stakeholders in a celebration of national heritage and civic awareness.

This year’s competition was organized under the theme “Where Parents Lead, Children Succeed,” emphasizing the critical role of parental engagement in education. In alignment with this theme, each competing team consisted of one student and one parent, thereby fostering intergenerational collaboration and reinforcing the importance of family participation in the learning process. The inclusion of parents not only enhanced the spirit of the competition but also underscored the broader educational philosophy that student achievement is strengthened when families and schools work in partnership.

The event commenced with opening greetings delivered by the Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture, Hon. Rachel Taylor. In her remarks, Minister Taylor highlighted the significance of the competition as a platform for showcasing national identity and collective heritage. She noted that the addition of parents as active participants represented a meaningful and progressive development in the students’ wholistic structure, further strengthening the relationship between home, school, and community. According to the Minister, initiatives such as the Local Studies Competition play a vital role in ensuring that younger generations develop a strong appreciation for the cultural and historical foundations of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The opening ceremony also featured several cultural performances that helped create an atmosphere reflective of the nation’s traditions. The Enid Capron Primary School Band performed a selection of cultural music, setting an engaging and celebratory tone for the proceedings. Additionally, students from Clement Howell High School delivered renditions of the National Anthem and the National Song, reinforcing the patriotic spirit of the occasion. The audience was formally welcomed by Director of Culture, Odessa Forbes, who expressed appreciation for the participation of schools, parents, and community members in supporting cultural education. The competition itself was skilfully moderated by Quiz Master Huntley Forbes Jr., who guided participants through the various rounds of questions.

A total of fifteen schools participated in the competition, demonstrating strong representation from across the islands. Participating institutions included: Thelma Lightbourne Primary School, Eliza Simons Primary School, Ianthe Pratt Primary School, International School, Precious Treasures Primary School, Oseta Jolly Primary School, Marjorie Basden High School, Ona Glinton Primary School, Provo Primary and Middle School, Clement Howell High School, Richmond Hill Preparatory School, Charles Hubert James Primary School, Shining Stars Preparatory School, Raymond Gardiner High School, and Enid Capron Primary School.

Throughout the competition, teams demonstrated impressive knowledge of various aspects of Turks and Caicos Islands heritage, including historical milestones, national festivals, traditional cuisine, geography, and contemporary current affairs. The high level of engagement and enthusiasm among participants reflected both the effectiveness of local studies instruction within schools and the commitment of families to supporting students’ academic development.

Following several rounds of intense and closely contested gameplay, Precious Treasures Primary School emerged as the first-place winner. International School secured second place, while Charles Hubert James Primary School earned third place. All teams displayed commendable effort, preparation, and pride in representing their schools and their knowledge of national heritage.

The Department of Education and the Department of Culture extend their sincere gratitude to all participating schools, students, parents, teachers, judges, coaches and volunteers whose contributions made the event a success. Appreciation is also expressed to the organizers, engineer, scorekeepers, timekeepers, performers, and supporters who helped create a meaningful and memorable celebration of the Turks and Caicos Islands’ history and culture. Through initiatives such as the Local Studies Jeopardy-Style Competition, the Departments reaffirm their commitment to fostering cultural awareness, national pride, and lifelong learning.

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North and Middle Caicos Students receive educational material from Sandals Foundation and Beaches Turks and Caicos resort

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Sandals Foundation Ambassadors and students from the Adelaide Oemler Primary School share in a moment with some of the educational material for donating to the school

Turks and Caicos Islands – Beaches Turks and Caicos resort, through the Sandals Foundation, recently expanded its education outreach to North and Middle Caicos, providing new learning materials to every primary school student on the twin islands, as well as a number of students from Raymond Gardiner High School. The initiative was aimed at strengthening classroom instruction, reducing the burden on families, and ensuring that children in the family islands have access to the same quality of resources as their peers on Providenciales.

Public Relations Manager Orville Morgan share, “this donation ensured that students at government primary schools in North and Middle Caicos received age-appropriate educational materials, including workbooks, back packs, pencils, erasers, crayons, sharpeners, stationery, and complementary learning aids to support learning.”

The effort covered schools such as Raymond Gardiner High, Adelaide Oemler Primary, Charles Hubert James Primary, Lighthouse Christian Academy, and Doris Robinson Primary in Middle Caicos.

In addition to primary students, a number of students from Raymond Gardiner High School also benefitted, receiving materials that teachers shared will help reinforce literacy, numeracy and exam preparation in the upper grades.

Principal Janet Walkin noted, “while classroom teachers often create their own resources, having these materials and sufficient basic supplies can make a measurable difference in student performance and classroom engagement.”

Veteran principal of Charles Hubert James Primary Carmencita Morley, welcomed the donation and emphasized its importance for both teachers and students. She explained that the new materials would help improve the quality of teaching and learning at the school by allowing educators to better differentiate instruction and provide more hands-on activities across grades.

“With these additional resources, our teachers have more tools to reach students at different levels and learning styles,” she shared, “our schools in North Caicos often face constraints in accessing up-to-date educational aids.” The principal added that for many families, especially those with multiple children, back-to-school expenses can be significant, so receiving core supplies helps reduce financial pressure while ensuring that every child comes to class prepared to learn.

Principal Abigail Delancy of Adelaide Oemler echoed this sentiment, pointing out that “consistent access to simple items such as exercise books, pencils and reading materials can reduce classroom disruptions and give teachers more time to focus on instruction. They also highlighted that the donation aligns with national efforts by the Ministry of Education to raise standards in literacy and numeracy across the Turks and Caicos Islands.”

The latest distribution is part of the Sandals Foundation’s broader, long-term investment in education across the Caribbean, including the Turks and Caicos Islands. Regionally, the foundation supports scholarships, school infrastructure and technology upgrades, teacher training, and the provision of learning resources.

General Manager, Deryk Meany added, “the resort sees its role as going beyond hospitality, with a focus on supporting the communities where our team members and their families live. Education remains one of the three central pillars of the Sandals Foundation—alongside community and environment—and pledged to continue working with local schools and the Ministry of Education to identify needs and deliver targeted support.”

For Adelaide Oemler Primary’s leadership, the focus now is on integrating the new materials into daily teaching plans and monitoring how they contribute to student progress over the coming terms. The principal stressed that with continued collaboration among schools, the private sector and charitable organizations, North and Middle Caicos students can access the resources they need to thrive academically and build a strong foundation for their future.

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