Dazzling Rita Gardiner named Person of the Year, tells TC Weekly News she is just getting revved up

#TurksandCaicos, January 15, 2018 – Providenciales – A decades’ old tradition by the Turks and Caicos Weekly News publication has unveiled another leading lady of the Turks and Caicos Islands as the Person of the Year.  Rita Gardiner is gorgeously pictured on the cover of the newspaper, its first print for the New Year and cited for her pioneering performances in both sports development and gender equality initiatives.

Mrs. Gardiner, who tells an intriguing story to the newspaper reveals that her love of sports as a little girl in Grand Turk near the dusty clearing of the parade grounds is where the flame of passion was ignited.  Gardiner is not only responsible for broadening sports within the islands, but ensuring that women had a place in organised sporting activities.

One of the more endearing facts of the news article on the 2017 Person of the Year, is Rita’s openness about her Grandmother and how this beloved woman was a motivator and instilled within her an unparalleled work ethic.   The confidence to live her life as intentionally as possible was released in an edict on hard work expressed by her grandmother, and it continues to yield undeniably positive results for this wife, mother and grandmother.

In the piece, written by respected journalist, Gemma Handy we delight in a report that shows how the hard work of Rita Gardiner has brought a personally profound legacy, national influence for the country’s athletes and women and an international platform that would claim global notoriety for the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Gardiner is humbled by the acknowledgement of the Turks and Caicos Weekly News editorial team which follows her life’s work where in recent years the ‘spunky’ lady earned a coveted spot on the Queen’s Honour List and to the historic feat of becoming the first women, of any country, to be pinned with an achievement medal by the Commonwealth Games, which happened in 2017.

From a dusty playground to the world stage, accomplished and acclaimed – Rita Gardiner is yet another embodiment of the potential of the Turks and Caicos Islander and we join the choir of people who heartily say ‘Congratulations’!

PHOTO FROM THE TC WEEKLY NEWS cover