News
7th Annual Food and Wine Festival Still on!
#TurksandCaicos, October 20, 2017 – Providenciales – Grace Bay Resorts, in partnership with the Turks and Caicos Tourist Board and The Wine Cellar, today announced the 7th Annual Caribbean Food & Wine Festival will take place as scheduled in Providenciales from November 2-4, 2017 after Hurricanes Irma and Maria impacted the island. The three-day festival is the Caribbean’s leading culinary event, pairing internationally renowned chefs and winemakers with Turks & Caicos’ diverse local talent for an authentic and avant-garde celebration of Caribbean cuisine.
This year’s headliners include:
- Tiffany Derry– Founder of Tiffany Derry Concepts (TDC) and cast member on Bravo TV’s “Top Chef” and Spike TV’s “Hungry Investors.”
- Victor Yu– Executive Chef and joint owner at Yu Alderley Edge, known for infusing ingredients and spices from the Far East.
- Meherwan Irani– Executive Chef and co-owner of Chai Pani Restaurant Group, famous for his authentic Indian street food in Asheville, Georgia.
- Greg Stach– Winemaker at Landmark Vineyards, renowned for crafting elegant, world-class vintages.
- Tuck Beckstoffer– President of Tuck Beckstoffer Wines and pioneer of the Napa Valley grape growing industry, known for his highest rated Sonoma Coast wines.
- Neil Collins– Executive Winemaker and Vineyard Manager at Tablas Creek Vineyard. Voted by his peers in 2013 as “San Luis Obispo County Wine Maker of the Year”
“Turks & Caicos strong is a special kind of strong, and the resilience and passion of our nation to recover from these hurricanes has left no question that the festival will continue this year,” said Nikheel Advani, Caribbean Food & Wine Festival Co-Chair. “Following six successful years, this year’s Caribbean Food & Wine Festival will continue its stellar reputation of blending the world’s best chefs and winemakers together with our local community for a one-of-a-kind taste of local culture with inspiration from the latest global gastronomic trends. We’re still cooking!”
The not-for-profit festival, which has consistently sold out year after year, will this year raise funds for Turks & Caicos educational institutions damaged by Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria with grants for rebuilding efforts. When possible, the grants will continue the festival’s legacy of supporting and encouraging young local chefs to develop skills that will assist them in pursuing careers in hospitality, a vital industry of Turks and Caicos.
“The Caribbean Food & Wine Festival has become both a key calendar event and a noteworthy island tradition—and this year serves as a special testament to the strength of the Turks & Caicos Islands people and government in our efforts to recover from recent Hurricanes” said Hon. Ralph Higgs, Minister of Tourism. “The festival showcases our nation’s exceptional culinary reputation with a taste of global culinary trends, and furthers the Turks & Caicos Islands place as leaders in the Caribbean food and beverage scene.”
Guest Chefs
The seventh annual event welcomes Tiffany Derry, an entrepreneur, restaurant consultant and television personality from Bravo’s Top Chef. A Texas native, Derry began her culinary career at the local International House of Pancakes, quickly working her way up to become the youngest person to hold a management position. Derry expanded her fan-base and gained international fame when she appeared on Season 7 of Bravo’s Top Chef where she achieved a place in the competition’s final four. Derry’s southern charm and culinary expertise made her a finalist on Bravo’s Top Chef. In 2011, she opened Private|Social in the heart of Uptown, Dallas, where she was named one of the best chefs in Dallas-Fort Worth. Additionally, she launched Tiffany Derry Concepts (TDC), a company established to support her business and culinary ventures, which includes television shows and partnerships with the world’s most recognized brands. Derry continues to find success on her Spike TV series, “Hungry Investors” alongside Jon Taffer and Chef John Besh.
Victor Yu is the executive chef and joint owner at Yu Alderley Edge, recognized as one the leading high-end Chinese restaurants in Aderly Edge, United Kingdom. Yu is passionate about taking Chinese cuisine to the next level, using the best ingredients to blend fine dining with both traditional and modern methods of cooking. Yu incorporates new techniques and skills he learned from his father, Charlie Yu, to create award-winning, distinctive dishes. Yu views Yu Alderley Edge as a restaurant that brings a new spirit of Chinese dining to the hospitality industry. Yu will add a nice flare to this year’s Caribbean Food & Wine Festival, bringing his Chinese heritage to the island as he continues to push the limits with cooking styles and trends.
Meherwan Irani, Executive Chef and co-owner of Chai Pani and a partner in Asheville’s hottest barbecue restaurant Buxton Hall, will also join this year’s all-star lineup. Buxton Hall, which Bon Appetit magazine lauded as “the best new BBQ joint in America,” aims to revitalize Carolina barbecue history and bring flavorful traditions to the present. Chai Pani, an authentic Indian street food operation in downtown Asheville, tells a story of spice markets, hawkers, rickshaws and streetside chefs smell, flavor, color and taste. A two-time James Beard Award nominee for Best Chef in the Southeast, Irani recently opened his fifth restaurant, a catering company. His self-taught talent and restaurant ventures have resulted in coverage in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, GQ, Food & Wine, Men’s Health, USA Today, and Bon Appetit, among others. He credits his business success to the people he works with each day, including his business partner and wife, Molly.
Guest Winemakers
Winemaker at Landmark Vineyards, Greg Stach is known for crafting the vineyard’s elegant, world-class vintages and creating some of the best single vineyard Pinot Noirs of the decade. For the past 10 years, Stach has brought his enthusiasm and expertise in Pinot Noir to Landmark’s winemaking team. He has helped establish Landmark’s distinguished Pinot Noir program, which is quickly gaining acclaim as one of the premier wine programs in California. His winemaking philosophy incorporates traditional winemaking techniques with a “less is more” attitude. Believing that great wine begins in the vineyard, Stach intervenes during the winemaking process to ensure consistency and quality, but relies heavily on the fruit’s intense, ripe flavors and distinct vineyard characteristics. Under his direction, Landmark’s wines have consistently earned exceptional reviews from top wine critics, including six honorable appearances on the Wine Spectator’s Top 100 list. The vineyard’s wines are also a favorite of U.S. Presidents, and have been served regularly at White House functions since the Reagan administration.
Tuck Beckstoffer, President of Tuck Beckstoffer Wines, produces a dozen of Napa Valley’s most sought-after wines. Pioneers of the Napa Valley grape growing industry, the Beckstoffer family made the vineyards both their lives and their livelihood. Beckstoffer’s extensive viticultural knowledge drove a desire to learn more about the winemaking process. Studies with winemaking legends in wineries both at home and abroad only whetted his appetite to create a wine of his own. After making Tuck Beckstoffer Cabernet Sauvignon in 1997 to critical acclaim, collectors and connoisseurs asked for more. His Semper Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays are among the highest rated and most critically acclaimed Sonoma Coast wines produced today.
Born and raised in Bristol, England Neil Collins trained as a chef, he moved into winemaking with stints with John Munch at Adelaida Cellars and Ken Volk at Wild Horse. At Adelaida, Neil met Robert Haas and the Perrins of Château de Beaucastel when they were just beginning the search for Tablas Creek. Neil was so intrigued by the project that he offered his services, and spent a year working and learning at Château de Beaucastel. Before the year was finished, Neil was offered the winemaker position at Tablas Creek, and he has overseen both the organic vineyard and the winery since 1998. His philosophy is that great wines can only come from great grapes, and that the art of winemaking is founded on starting out with the very best grapes and bringing their juice through fermentation as naturally as possible.
Schedule of Events
Thursday, November 2 – Grace Bay Club
Welcome Dinner
The kick-off dinner for the weekend-long events, features exceptional creations by Chef Victor Yu and wines by Tuck Beckstoffer Wines.
Friday, November 3
Women of Wine Luncheon – Solana Restaurant
This event caters to the adage “it’s 5 o’clock somewhere” by offering an extended lunch break in a relaxed environment for women who love wine with headliner Chef Tiffany Derry.
Gourmet Safari – Progressive gourmet dining experience
This interactive ‘dine around’ gives festival-goers an opportunity to discover the Island’s incredible restaurants, this year with wines by Landmark Vineyards. Now in its tenth year, the Gourmet Safari was the original event that served as a catalyst for the festival and continues to be a guest favorite today.
- Grace Bay Club – Innovative cocktails
- Coyaba – First course
- Seven Stars – Fish course
- The Regent Palms – Meat course
- Gansevoort – Dessert
Saturday, November 4
Dinner with the Stars – The Shore Club Turks & Caicos
Headlining Chef Meherwan Irani pairs his signature recipes with the Tablas Creek Vineyard wines for a lavish dinner experience, allowing guests to dine under the beautiful Long Bay stars alongside the festival’s featured stars.
For tickets and additional event information, please visit www.caribbeanfoodandwinefestivaltci.com or contact info@caribbeanfoodandwinefestivaltci.com
News
The Turks and Caicos Islands Set Positive Start to 2026 with Increase in January Stayover Arrivals
PROVIDENCIALES, TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS – (February 25th, 2026) – The Turks and Caicos Islands began 2026 on a positive note, with stayover arrivals in January surpassing the same period in 2025.
Preliminary figures indicate that 56,830 stayover visitors arrived in January 2026, representing a two percent increase year-on-year. The steady growth continues the positive momentum experienced at the close of 2025.
Mr. Paul Pennicook, Interim CEO Consultant, attributed the encouraging performance to new collaboration with tour operator partners as well as increased airlift from key source markets.
“We anticipated a strong January performance following the growth recorded in November and December. The winter season has traditionally been a robust period for the Turks and Caicos Islands, and this year that strength has been further supported by enhanced collaboration with partners and expanded airlift from Canada and the United States We are cautiously optimistic about maintaining this upward trajectory in the weeks and months ahead.
Cruise Sector
In cruise, preliminary figures show 122,935 cruise passenger arrivals in January, reflecting a 15 percent decrease compared to January 2025.
The decline is attributed to a reduction in cruise calls during the month. A total of 33 vessels called on Grand Turk in January, seven fewer than during the corresponding period last year.
Marketing Shows
As part of its ongoing efforts to position the Turks and Caicos Islands as a premier luxury destination, Experience Turks and Caicos has been actively participating in the Travel & Adventure Shows across several major cities in the United States.
The destination has already been showcased in Washington, D.C., New York, and Chicago, with Fort Lauderdale and Denver scheduled in the coming weeks.
Public Relations Manager Laura Dowrich represented the Turks and Caicos Islands alongside the destination’s U.S. marketing agency, ABA Global.
Beaches Turks & Caicos – Stone Creek Travels
“One of the most encouraging takeaways from these shows is that the Turks and Caicos Islands is indeed on travellers’ radar. We met many visitors who shared fond memories of their time here, others who already have trips booked and were seeking recommendations on activities and dining, and many more who aspire to visit. It was a pleasure highlighting our multi-island destination and sharing the many experiences that make the Turks and Caicos Islands truly special,” said Ms. Dowrich.
Awards & Recognition
Building on a stellar year of accolades in 2025, the Turks and Caicos Islands has begun 2026 with additional international recognition.
The destination earned a Gold Badge in the U.S. News & World Report rankings, placing #5 in Best Family Vacations in the Caribbean and #5 in Best Beaches in the World. In the USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, Grand Turk was ranked #10 among the Best Caribbean Islands to Visit.
About Experience Turks and Caicos
Middle Caicos Dragon Cay Resort
Experience Turks and Caicos is the official destination marketing and management organisation (DMMO) for the Turks and Caicos Islands. The organisation is committed to positioning the destination as a premier, sustainable luxury tourism hub. By leveraging smart tools, data-driven strategies, and stakeholder collaboration, Experience Turks and Caicos focuses on enhancing the visitor experience and fostering long-term industry success.
About the Turks and Caicos Islands
The Turks and Caicos Islands consist of two island groups in the Lucayan Archipelago—the larger Caicos Islands and the smaller Turks Islands. Home to some of the world’s most pristine beaches, including the award-winning Grace Bay Beach, the destination is renowned for its crystal-clear turquoise waters, luxury accommodations, and rich cultural heritage. Each island and cay offer a unique experience:
- Providenciales boasts world-class resorts, fine dining, and high-end tourism offerings.
- Grand Turk serves as the vibrant hub for cruise tourism and historical exploration.
- The sister islands provide a gateway to nature, adventure, and authentic local culture.
Recognised as the world’s best-kept secret, the Turks and Caicos Islands offer effortless luxury, with seamless connectivity via direct flights from major cities in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
Photo Captions:
Grand Turk – slow travel with us
North Caicos – Correy Forbes
South Caicos Sail Rock
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Wednesday, 25 February 2026: Staff of the Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies (DDME) participated in a one‑day Professional Staff Development Workshop on Thursday, 19th February 2026. The session was facilitated by former DDME Director (2011–2021) and current Permanent Secretary of the Governor’s Office, Dr. Virginia Clerveaux.
The in-house workshop was organised by the DDME Training Unit, to focus on the National Disaster Management Framework, strengthening staff understanding of their roles and responsibilities within disaster management. The session also aimed to enhance the effectiveness of the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) and reinforce inter‑agency coordination.
Drawing on her extensive experience in disaster management in the Turks and Caicos Islands, as well as several deployments to CDEMA member states including Haiti, The Bahamas, and Jamaica, Dr. Clerveaux provided practical insights that reinforced key concepts and clarified operational expectations. Staff members actively participated in discussions and shared recommendations to improve sub‑committee performance and overall departmental efficiency.
To support learning retention, the workshop incorporated pre‑ and post‑assessments, enabling participants to evaluate their understanding and track improvements.
Acting Director of DDME, Mr. Kevaun Lucas stated: “Investing in the continued development of our team is essential to strengthening national resilience. This and future planned workshops will help to reinforce our commitment to building a highly skilled, well‑coordinated workforce capable of leading and supporting disaster management efforts across the Turks and Caicos Islands. I am proud of the team’s engagement and encouraged by the meaningful contributions they made throughout the session.”
This Professional Staff Development Workshop forms part of DDME’s ongoing commitment to enhancing internal capacity, strengthening operational coordination and improving overall departmental synergy as the agency continues to advance national preparedness and response capabilities.
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Caribbean News
Liberty Caribbean Supports Regional Forum on AI, Cyber Resilience and Digital Inclusion
Port of Spain, TRINIDAD & TOBAGO (February 24, 2026) — Liberty Caribbean, the operators of Flow, Liberty Business and BTC, recently served as Gold-Level Partner of the two-day Trinidad and Tobago Internet Governance Forum (TTIGF), themed “The Innovation Paradox – Balancing Progress with Responsibility and Resilience”.
The Digital Divide is of particular interest to Liberty Caribbean and is being addressed through its Charitable Foundation across the region. Low broadband penetration in the Caribbean contributes to diminished opportunities for individuals, communities, and local economies, but with the support of funding partners, this gap can be addressed through a comprehensive programme – JUMP – that focuses on providing access, devices, and digital skills.
“Liberty Caribbean was proud to serve as Gold-Level Partner of the TTIGF because the conversations taking place here shape key digital
policies for multiple stakeholders,” said Simone Martin-Sulgan, Vice President and General Manager, Flow Trinidad.
“As technology accelerates at an unprecedented pace, we must ensure that innovation strengthens our societies rather than fragments them. The theme, ‘The Innovation Paradox – Balancing Progress with Responsibility and Resilience,’ speaks directly to the work we do every day: building networks that are not only fast and reliable, but secure, inclusive and future-ready.”
Across the Caribbean, the digital divide remains one of the most pressing barriers to equitable growth. Low broadband penetration limits access to education, entrepreneurship and essential services, and that is why we are deeply committed to closing this gap.
Through the Liberty Caribbean Charitable Foundation and initiatives like the JUMP Programme, the company is expanding access to technology, affordable connectivity and digital skills training so that individuals and communities are empowered to participate fully in the digital economy.
Martin-Sulgan further stated “at Liberty Caribbean, we believe progress and responsibility must move in lock step. By investing in resilient networks, inclusive programmes and trusted partnerships, we are helping to build a Caribbean that is innovative, secure and prepared for the opportunities ahead.”
Topics covered during the Forum, with over 140 participants, included “Securing Critical Infrastructure”, Integrating AI into Digital Transformation”, “The Digital Divide”, The Human Cost of Innovation – Mental Health and Well-being in the Digital Age’, and AI, Cyber Resilience and Regional Innovation”.
Focused on the underlying mandate of the Conference theme thought leaders, innovators, policymakers, technologists, researchers, and community stakeholders were invited to explore how countries can evolve boldly without compromising values or long-term stability.
Photo Caption:
TTIGF – l-r Darren Campo, Regulatory & Compliance Officer; Yolande Agard-Simmons, Senior Manager Communications; and Kevon Swift, Senior Manager Government and Regulatory Affairs of Flow Trinidad in attendance at the Post Event Mixer at Caribbean Telecommunications Union’s Head Office in St Clair, Port of Spain
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News5 days agoDDME Staff Strengthen Disaster Management Capacity Through Professional Development Workshop
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Caribbean News7 days agoLiberty Caribbean Supports Regional Forum on AI, Cyber Resilience and Digital Inclusion
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News5 days agoThe Turks and Caicos Islands Set Positive Start to 2026 with Increase in January Stayover Arrivals