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2017 Grand Turk Fisherman’s Tournament

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FullSizeRenderTurks and Caicos, June 21, 2017 – Grand Turk – The 2017 annual Grand Turks Fisherman’s tournament (GTFT Inc.) was a resounding success, despite the challenging weather conditions with gusty winds and high seas.

The event started with live and silent auctions and a record breaking Calcutta at the historic Salt Raker Inn on Grand Turk on Friday night with host Erika Faller.

Boats were on the water from first light on Saturday but encountered very rough conditions as soon as they were out of the lea of Grand Turk. Despite this a decent catch was landed on day one. Grand Turk boat “Juice Kings” captained by Tim Dunn took the lead on the overall weight with 94.5 pounds of tuna, followed by “Due West” skippered by Bruce Barron on 78.2 pounds and “Screaming Reels”, skippered by Damien Noyes in third with 63.1 pounds. Heaviest fish of day one was a beautiful yellow fin tuna of 40 pounds caught by “Due West”.

Day two was windier still, but this did not stop the fleet bringing in an even larger catch, and more variety, with Mahi, Wahoo, tuna and mackerel.

“Catching Caicos” captained by Roy Forrester, landed 138.2 pounds to win day two. Second was “Juice Kings” with 60 pounds, and a very close third “Screaming reels” with 58.1 pounds. Largest fish of day two was caught by Captain Edwin Dickenson running “La Christa” with a nice yellow fin tuna of 37.7 pounds.

On combined weight, Tournament Champions were “Catching Caicos”. The largest fish of the weekend caught by “Due West” won the TCI Lotto $1,000 bonus.

“Catching Caicos” also won the Calcutta with the boat, and winning bidder Ralph Dietsche of “My Boat”, (last years champions) sharing $8,400.00

Lively fish auctions followed each day of fishing with everyone trying to get in on the action, as local auctioneer William Cole whipped the crowd into frenzy with some very frantic bidding.

  1. E. The Governor, Dr John Freeman handed out the prizes to the victorious crews at 5PM and offered some brief remarks. Local food, music, DJ and a very lively bar topped off a great family weekend for all.

FullSizeRender-1The committee of GTFT Inc. would like to offer a HUGE thank you to all our incredible sponsors from far and wide, of which there are far too many to mention, but special thanks should go to Grand Turk Liquors who have been our tournament partners since inception, and TCI Lotto for once again generously supporting the largest fish of the tournament prize and Allied Industrial & Marine for their continuing and very generous support all the way from Nova Scotia!

GTFT Inc. is a registered Not for Profit. The annual fishing tournament is a fund raising vehicle for local good causes, with a mandate of developing projects that support the young, vulnerable, elderly and promoting education within the TCI. This year’s beneficiary was the Turks & Caicos National Museum.

 
SATURDAY 17th June
Catergory Boat Name Captain LBS
1st  – Highest legal poundage Juice Kings Tim Dunn 94.5
2nd – highest legal poundage Due West Bruce Barron 78.2
3rd  – highest legal poundage Screaming Reels 1 Damian Noyes 63.1
Heaviest single fish Due West Bruce Barron 40.0
SUNDAY 18th June
Catergory Boat Name Captain
1st  – Highest legal poundage Catching Caicos Roy Forrester 138.2
2nd – highest legal poundage Juice Kings Tim Dunn 60.0
3rd  – highest legal poundage Screaming Reels 1 Damian Noyes 58.1
Heaviest single fish La Christa Edwin Dickenson 37.7
WEEKEND
Catergory Boat Name Captain
Largest Single Fish Overall Due West Bruce Barron 40.0
Heaviest Overall Combined Catch Catching Caicos Roy Forrester 175.5
Séamus Day President GTFT Inc.

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Invest Turks and Caicos Islands Takes Platinum Sponsor Role at Premier Hotel Investment Summit  

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Turks and Caicos, May 23, 2026 – Invest Turks and Caicos Islands took center stage at one of the region’s most influential hospitality investment gatherings this spring, serving as a Platinum Sponsor at ALIS CALA 2026 in Coral Gables, Florida.

Held April 28 to 30 at the Loews Coral Gables Hotel, the conference brought together more than 600 tourism, hotel and investment leaders from over 35 countries focused on the future of hospitality investment in the Caribbean and Latin America.

ALIS CALA — short for the Americas Lodging Investment Summit Caribbean and Latin America — is widely regarded as the region’s premier deal-driven hospitality investment conference. The platform emerged from the merger of the long-running Caribbean Hotel & Resort Investment Summit (CHRIS) and Hotel Opportunities Latin America (HOLA), creating what organizers describe as a high-level space where investors, developers, lenders, hotel brands and government leaders connect around major regional projects and opportunities.

The event is known for attracting senior decision-makers, with roughly one in three delegates holding titles such as Chairman, CEO, President, Owner or Principal.

Invest Turks and Caicos said its participation focused heavily on showcasing investment opportunities across the territory, particularly in the Family Islands.

CEO Angela Musgrove delivered a presentation highlighting development opportunities in the Turks and Caicos Islands to what the agency described as a full room of attendees and strong stakeholder interest.

In a statement following the conference, Invest Turks and Caicos said discussions centered on tourism expansion, sustainable development and long-term investment partnerships designed to position the Turks and Caicos Islands as a leading investment destination in the region.

The agency added that it looks forward to continuing conversations started at ALIS CALA and building new partnerships with investors, developers and strategic stakeholders interested in growth opportunities throughout the islands.

The conference itself focused heavily on capital access, hotel development pipelines, mixed-use tourism projects and investment confidence throughout the Caribbean basin — sectors where Turks and Caicos continues to attract increasing international attention.

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Bahamas News

From Hollywood to Parliament

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The Rick Fox Political Timeline

 

“Are You Thinking About Politics?”

Fox publicly acknowledged growing calls for him to enter Bahamian politics, saying he had been hearing from women, youth, business owners and everyday Bahamians who were “ready for something different.”

October 19, 2025

“Then Jump, Man.”

Fox revealed a conversation with NBA legend Michael Jordan, who encouraged him to enter politics after asking whether he believed he could help young Bahamians.

November 24, 2025

“The Bahamas Must Be First”

Fox officially announced his intention to run in the 2026 General Election, promising transparency, affordability, opportunity and a modern Bahamian economy.

February 4, 2026

“Officially Picked”

The Free National Movement formally ratified Fox as its candidate for Garden Hills, instantly making him one of the most talked-about figures in the election cycle.

March 20, 2026

“From Courtside to Campaign Stage”

Fox mounted the national campaign stage for the first time at the FNM’s major campaign launch at Baha Mar Resort in Nassau.

March 30, 2026

“I’m Giving The Salary Back”

Fox announced he would not take a parliamentary salary if elected, saying the funds should instead go back into helping the people of Garden Hills.

April 14, 2026

“Nomination Eve Goes Viral”

A heated confrontation involving Fox and PLP supporters outside the Parliamentary Registration Department exploded across social media after video captured the tense exchange.

April 16, 2026

“Pick Rick” Officially Launches

Nomination Day cemented Fox’s candidacy and formally launched the now-famous “Pick Rick” campaign branding.

April 19, 2026

“Vote and Win”

Jamiah Burrows won a vehicle through Fox’s civic participation challenge, part of a campaign effort encouraging voter engagement and turnout.

April 20, 2026

“The Wealthiest Candidate”

Financial disclosures revealed Fox as the wealthiest candidate in the 2026 election cycle, with reported assets exceeding $469 million, ending speculation about his financial standing.

April 25, 2026

“The Garden Hills Blueprint”

Fox unveiled detailed policy graphics outlining plans for:

  • youth development,
  • healthcare access,
  • infrastructure upgrades,
  • environmental restoration,
  • entrepreneurship,
  • and a proposed $10 million investment fund for Garden Hills.

May 4, 2026

“The Numbers Don’t Lie”

Fox’s campaign highlighted more than:

  • 20 community clean-ups,
  • 16 streets and locations served,
  • and 13 solar lights installed across Garden Hills during the campaign.

May 6, 2026

“Shaq Steps In”

NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal publicly endorsed Fox, helping elevate international attention surrounding the campaign.

May 8, 2026

“Buju Backs Rick”

Jamaican reggae icon Buju Banton threw his support behind Fox ahead of Election Day.

May 10, 2026

“Vanessa Williams Endorses”

Fox’s former wife, actress and singer Vanessa Williams publicly endorsed his campaign.

May 11, 2026

“Magic Joins the Campaign”

NBA icon Magic Johnson became the latest major celebrity to endorse Fox just one day before Bahamians went to the polls.

May 12, 2026

“Election Day”

Fox contested the Garden Hills constituency seat against PLP incumbent Mario Bowleg in one of the country’s most closely watched races.

May 13, 2026

“Grace in Defeat”

Fox publicly conceded the race and congratulated Bowleg on his victory in Garden Hills.

May 18, 2026

“We Pick Rick”

Despite losing at the polls, Fox officially entered Parliament after being appointed to the Senate by the FNM — with the party itself declaring:

“We Pick Rick.”

The appointment made Fox one of the most internationally recognized figures ever to serve in the Bahamian Senate.

Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.

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Multi-Agency Enforcement Action Conducted in Lower Bight

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Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands — The Informal Settlements Unit (ISU), in coordination with the Planning Department and key partner agencies, conducted a multi-agency enforcement exercise on Thursday, May 7, 2026, in the Lower Bight area in Providenciales. The exercise resulted in the complete removal of a total of eight (8) unauthorized structures and all associated debris from a privately-owned parcel of land.

The operation was led by the Planning Department, with coordination by the ISU and support from the TCI Border Force, the Crown Land Unit, and Pelican Energy.  Security for the exercise was provided by the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force. All agencies worked collaboratively to ensure the exercise was carried out in a safe, orderly, and controlled manner.

The enforcement action followed a structured and lawful process in accordance with the Physical Planning regulatory framework of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Section 45 Enforcement Notices were first issued on the affected parcel in December 2024, identifying unauthorized structures erected without the requisite approvals. This was followed by the issuance of Warning Notices on April 16, 2026, which advised occupants that they were in breach of planning and land use regulations and provided notice that demolition activities would proceed following the prescribed compliance period. Despite these notices and the time afforded for compliance, the unauthorized structures remained in place.

This exercise represents part of an ongoing commitment to ensuring that development within the Turks and Caicos Islands is lawful, safe, and aligned with national standards.

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