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Pedestrian Crossings: Civilised & Safer

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#TurksandCaicos, October 24, 2017 – Providenciales – In the Turks and Caicos, our highways are unique because they run through our neighborhoods.   The two main highways are called Leeward Highway – which runs east to west and the other is Millennium Highway and it runs, north to south.   Everything from schools to grocery stores, banks and churches, apartment complexes and houses, gas stations, utility companies, mechanic shops and day care centers, retail outlets, court houses, medical facilities, law firms to social services, pharmacies and restaurants line these major thoroughfares.

Yet, upon inspection, Magnetic Media is awed by the fact that there is not one single pedestrian crossing on any of these roadways.   No not one in nearly 20 miles of road stretching almost the entire length of the developed part of the most developed island in the country.

While the argument can be had that the absence of these vital cross walks is due to the fact that the strips are ‘highways’ – the more compelling argument and frustrating reality is that there is nothing typical or traditional about our Leeward and Millennium Highways.

Our highways are home to homes and business directly.   There are no exits to enter to access the services or one’s home.   No, you pull off the highway right into a front yard or to turn into a neighborhood or you can park at the entrance of a school or daycare or drive right up to a business- directly off the highway.  But to cross the whoppingly wide four-lane Leeward Highway or the frantically busy, two lane stretch which is Millennium Highway there is no civilized way to do so.

Every day, the missing crossings put thousands of people who make up both the walking and motoring public at deadly risk.

On Friday, October 21stwe got a case in point of the worst kind.   The horrible death of a woman who was trying to cross the Leeward Highway, where there is no median, are dim lights and often the area is a vehicle speed zone.   She was hit by a car, then rolled over by a jeep and died on the spot.   The drivers both stopped, but the woman is dead and gone.

I wonder how many times this will have to happen before some remedy is introduced to make it safer for those living in these islands who have to walk to get to and fro.

It is a sickening trend where the planning of this emerging economy has obviously and irresponsibly disregarded the pedestrian public.  Most people who live here and who visit here are not owners of a vehicle.  There is no public transportation.  There are hardly any sidewalks where the residential or indigenous populations reside, accommodations for wheelchairs is as rare to find in Provo as a mango tree and there are limited sidewalks across the island of Providenciales with virtually none for the home population.

In high tourist zones like Grace Bay and Turtle Cove, there are six pedestrian crossings.  Four of them in Grace Bay, two crosswalks in Turtle Cove.  Both areas are relatively small compared to the vast spaces where thousands of walking employees, senior citizens and students live.

Grace Bay has four cross walks, Turtle Cove has two and the Airport, which we tossed in just because –  has four pedestrian crossings.

Down Town, there are two and one on the airport road.  Glass Shack area has two for sure, there is one in the heart of The Bight near Ianthe Pratt Primary School; three in the Clement Howell and Oseta Jolly schools zone and one in Five Cays, at the Enid Capron primary school there.   We tried not to miss any.  But if we have, it is inadvertent.

The point of this report is not to tally-up the pedestrian crossings, because without question there are not sufficient of them anyway.  The purpose here and our hope is to encourage us as residents and citizens of the Turks and Caicos Islands to demand a remedy to the problem.  Maybe highways cannot have pedestrian crossings.  But we do not have real highways.  What we do have is a real and deadly problem which requires rectification.

We cannot have thousands of residents residing in the largest populated community of Blue Hills/Wheeland without a safe and legal way to cross the street just because someone decided they wanted to name it Millennium HIGHWAY.

We cannot have thousands of residents put at life threatening risk when they decide they want to cross from a visit at the Cheshire Hall medical Center to their home in Plantation or go into the NIB for their benefit cheque.

We cannot continue to live in a society which disregards the fact that most people visiting ScotiaBank’s ATM live in the hugely populated Cheshire Hall district and will need to cross the HIGHWAY to get back home.

We cannot rest on our laurels as leaders in the various spheres and distance ourselves from the fact that a person with their grocery bags after shopping at Graceway IGA will need to cross the thoroughfare to get home to The Bight.

We do not have a hovering public, I mean people aren’t floating around.  Everyone does not have a vehicle.  Plus we say we want to encourage walking and activity to reduce the prevalence of non communicable diseases and there is a boom in exercising on our streets.  But it is not safe.

I mean, if we are serious about creating a civilized, caring, healthy and safe society… then let us get serious and make the changes which will lead to a better quality of life for all residents of the Turks and Caicos – drivers and walkers, locals and tourists – because all lives matter.

 

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Beaches Turks & Caicos wrapped up another successful Provo Men’s Premier League season  

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PROVIDENCIALES, Turks & Caicos Islands: — Beaches Turks and Caicos continued its strong commitment to sports development in the Turks and Caicos Islands with its sponsorship of the 2025/2026 Provo Men’s Premier League, a partnership that has significantly elevated the competition for a second consecutive year.

The season, which saw an increase in participating teams and heightened competitiveness across the league, has been widely regarded as one of the most successful in recent years. The top honours were shared between two of the league’s most dominant sides, SWA Sharks FC and Academy Eagles FC, both delivering consistent and high-level performances throughout the campaign.

Turks and Caicos Islands Football Association (TCIFA) Technical Director Dane Ritchie highlighted the critical role Beaches Turks and Caicos played in strengthening the league’s structure and overall quality.

“The sponsorship from Beaches Turks and Caicos for the second year helped tremendously in making the competition a success,” Ritchie said. “This season we were able to have a more structured programme with the inclusion of youth talents coming to the fore, as well as the improvement of the coaching staff for the different teams being certified by Concacaf.”

Ritchie noted that the enhanced organisation of the league created more opportunities for emerging players, while also raising the standard of coaching and match preparation. The integration of youth talent into senior teams was particularly impactful, signaling a positive shift toward long-term player development within the territory.

Provo Men’s Premier League President Patrick Baptiste echoed these sentiments, describing the season as a milestone for both football and youth advancement in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

“This was a very good year for football and youth development,” Baptiste said. “We were able to overcome a few challenging moments, but the overall grade for this season is an A.”

Baptiste emphasised that the continued support from Beaches Turks and Caicos has been instrumental in driving the league forward, providing much-needed financial backing and stability.

“With a title sponsor like Beaches Turks and Caicos providing the financial support again for this season, we are grateful,” he added. “We have come a far way and we still have a way to go, but the TCIFA team has been charged to continue to be creative in our marketing and being more inclusive in how we seek to showcase the talents of the TCI.”

Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort General Manager Deryk Meany also expressed satisfaction with the partnership and the overall progress of the league.

“Our commitment to youth development and the growth of sports and community throughout the TCI is of paramount importance to us as an organisation,” Meany said. “We are satisfied with this partnership and being the main sponsor is a major accomplishment for the resort. We are happy to have fielded a team this season that was placed fourth in the knockout round of the competition. We are seeking to continue to provide growth for our team members as well as the development of talent throughout the TCI.”

The 2025/2026 season also reflected broader efforts to professionalize football operations locally, including improved scheduling, officiating standards and fan engagement initiatives. Matches drew increased attendance, while community interest in the sport continued to grow, particularly among young athletes aspiring to compete at higher levels.

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Platinum Sponsor Beaches Turks & Caicos celebrates top Corporate Engagement title at DG’s 5K 2026  

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PROVIDENCIALES, Turks & Caicos Islands: — Beaches Turks and Caicos has been recognised with the corporate engagement award after fielding the largest number of participants in the second staging of the Turks and Caicos Islands Deputy Governor’s 5K Run/Walk, held recently.

The resort, which also served as a platinum sponsor for the event, mobilized an impressive team of 100 participants, demonstrating its strong commitment to community engagement, health, and philanthropy. Proceeds from the initiative will benefit three key organisations: the Turks and Caicos Islands Cancer Society, the United Way of the Turks and Caicos Islands and the Ashley Learning Centre.

General Manager Deryk Meany praised the collective effort of the Beaches team, highlighting the significance of the initiative both for employee wellness and community impact.

“This was a team effort that saw the resort mobilising a strong team to participate in this event,” Meany said. “It provided a healthy activity for participation as well as giving back to a worthy cause. Congratulations to the Deputy Governor and her organising team for staging such a successful event.”

Participants from across various departments joined the early morning run/walk, showcasing camaraderie, determination and a shared commitment to making a difference.

Hotel Manager Ghislain Boutoulle described the event as both physically rewarding and meaningful.

“The route was very good. It was challenging at first but once I got the pace of the run, it was a good morning workout that was done for a worthy cause,” Boutoulle shared. “The Beaches team were well organised and showed the grit and determination to complete the run.”

For many team members, the experience extended beyond fitness, offering opportunities for personal connection and memorable moments. Soraha Jolly from the resort’s entertainment department highlighted the event’s emotional significance.

“This was good. I got the chance to participate with my mother and we ended the run feeling healthy,” Jolly said. “The event was a combination of partnership, healthy lifestyle and camaraderie. I am looking forward to the next staging to be the first to register for the Beaches team. It was a great experience for the entire team, but a very special one for me and my mom.”

Deputy Governor Her Excellency Anya Williams commended all participants and sponsors, with special recognition given to Beaches Turks and Caicos for its outstanding contribution.

“The three beneficiaries for this year’s staging were carefully selected to benefit from this event,” the Deputy Governor noted. “Giving back to the community, providing support for health through the Cancer Society and building a strong platform for education with the Ashley Learning Centre allowed the team to give back to a great cause.”

She continued, “We are grateful for all our sponsors but a special commendation to our platinum sponsor, the Beaches Turks and Caicos team, for not only donating but having the largest contingent of participants for this event. This is what true partnership looks like as we continue to build a strong relationship to make our community and the Turks and Caicos Islands better.”

The Deputy Governor’s 5K Run/Walk continues to grow as a signature community event, promoting wellness while raising critical funds for organisations that support health, education and social development across the islands.

Beaches Turks and Caicos’ strong showing this year underscores the resort’s ongoing commitment to corporate social responsibility and community partnership. With its record participation and enthusiastic team spirit, the resort has set a high benchmark for future events, reinforcing its role as a leader in both hospitality and community engagement in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

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Experience Turks and Caicos and Statistics Authority Publish Latest Visitor Exit Survey Report    

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Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands (June 16th, 2026) — Experience Turks and Caicos, in collaboration with the Statistics Authority, has announced the completion and publication of the latest Visitor Exit Survey Report, providing enhanced insights into visitor behaviour, spending patterns and overall travel experiences in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The Visitor Exit Survey is a joint initiative designed to better understand the characteristics of visitors to the destination, including their travel motivations, length of stay, expenditure, satisfaction levels and perceptions of the Turks and Caicos Islands as a tourism destination.

While exit surveys have been conducted in previous years, this latest publication marks a significant enhancement in the way tourism data is collected and shared. It introduces a new quarterly reporting framework, with surveys conducted at the end of each quarter and findings published on a more frequent basis throughout the year.

This improved reporting cycle is intended to provide more timely and actionable insights to support tourism planning, policy development, marketing strategy formulation and broader industry decision-making.

“The Statistics Authority is pleased to partner with Experience Turks and Caicos on the Visitor Exit Survey program,” said Mr. Shirlen Forbes, Director. “As tourism remains the cornerstone of our economy, reliable and timely data is essential for understanding visitor behaviour, measuring tourism’s economic impact and supporting informed decision-making. We value our ongoing collaboration with Experience Turks and Caicos and believe these quarterly reports will provide stakeholders with valuable insights to help guide the future growth and development of the industry.”

Miss Sharissa Lightbourne, Marketing Intelligence Manager of Experience Turks and Caicos, noted that the expanded approach will allow government and industry stakeholders to better track trends in visitor behaviour and assess the economic contribution of tourism beyond traditional arrival statistics.

“Data is the foundation of informed decision-making and plays a critical role in shaping the future of our tourism industry. The insights contained in this report provide a deeper understanding of who our visitors are, how they experience the destination, and how they engage with our tourism product. This information is invaluable to our hotel partners, service providers, investors and other stakeholders as they refine their business strategies, enhance the visitor experience and identify new opportunities for growth. I would like to thank the Statistics Authority for its continued collaboration and commitment to strengthening tourism intelligence in the Turks and Caicos Islands. I encourage everyone in the industry to download the report and explore the valuable insights it contains,” she said.

The findings will also support more targeted destination marketing efforts, improved visitor experience initiatives and more informed investment decisions across the tourism sector.

Experience Turks and Caicos and the Statistics Authority reaffirm their commitment to strengthening tourism intelligence and ensuring that stakeholders across the industry have access to reliable, timely and relevant data.

Download the report here: https://issuu.com/myexperiencetci/docs/tci_departing_visitor_survey_report_q1_2026

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