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.

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.

Nassau, THE BAHAMAS – From pressures on the independence of the US Federal Reserve and relations with China to the instability facing the global economic landscape and how it all impacts The Bahamas’ economy and prospects, Tuesday’s Central Banking Series hosted by University of The Bahamas (UB) in partnership with the Global Interdependence Center (GIC) peeled back the layers of the most critical factors impacting the world’s economic landscape.

At the one-day summit, top economic strategists, policymakers, academics, and economists gave frank and considered insights on the range of opportunities and challenges. In facilitating the high-level talks, UB’s Government and Public Policy Institute (GPPI) continues to provide the platform for evidence-based dialogue on public policy and reform.

“By convening world-class thinkers, policymakers, and practitioners here in Nassau, we affirm that The Bahamas is not solely a subject of global economic forces, but also a participant in the conversations that shape them,” said UB President Dr. Robert Blaine, III.

In his remarks, Minister of Economic Affairs Senator the Honourable Michael Halkitis acknowledged the ripple effects of financial shifts which put pressure on the Bahamian economy, yet he acknowledged that the economy is on the rise. He expressed confidence in the country’s readiness to adapt, citing a deep talent pool and expanding foreign and domestic investments.

“What makes this period particularly significant is the breadth of investment activity across sectors,” said Minister Halkitis, a UB alumnus. “Tourism development remains strong, but it is not the sole driver of growth. Investments are expanding into renewable energy, maritime services, digital infrastructure, agriculture, logistics and the blue and green economies.”

Economist and Former President and CEO of the Federal Reserve of Richmond, Dr. Jeffrey Lacker offered a sobering view on the independence of the US Federal Reserve, a topic that has attracted much national and international in the face of blistering pronouncements by US President Donald Trump.

Dr. Lacker said the Federal Reserve’s choice of monetary policy instrument and setting of the overnight interest rate that it controls should be “free of executive branch and congressional meddling.”

“And by meddling, what I mean is overtly expressed policy direction, opinions about where policies should go, expressed in a way that carries with it the implied threat of adverse consequences to either the individual or the institution, either in the form of legislative changes or some sort of political harassment,” he said.

“The value of insulating day-to-day, meeting-to-meeting monetary policy from pressure from elected officials with an eye on their next election is widely recognized. Neglecting that pressure, caving into that pressure is a road to short-termism, or short-term stimulus at the cost of inflation later on.”

Other pertinent conversations at the summit focused on digital initiatives for financial inclusion, monetary and fiscal policies and strategies in The Bahamas, and the impact of AI on macroeconomic conditions. There was also a special presentation on the history and value of gold. Students from Government High School were among the audience members gaining knowledge from experts.

“When we determined the theme for this year, being Challenges and Opportunities in a Dynamic Global Environment, we did not know what was going to evolve in recent times,” said GPPI Executive Director Zhivargo Laing, referring to the war that the US and Israel initiated against Iran. “So I would like to think that maybe there was a little bit of insight that was taking place during the course of our discussions. But we are here again for the third time with our partners at the GIC to entertain a deep discussion on just what are those challenges and opportunities in this very dynamic environment in which we find ourselves.”