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TCI Native Promoted to Sandals Resorts International Group Manager

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#TurksandCaicos, March 24, 2018 – Providenciales – North Caicos native Fedeline Julian has been promoted to Group Children’s Activities Manager for Sandals Resorts International and becomes the first Turks and Caicos Islander to be  promoted to a regional level.

The new role which was officially announced in January 2018  took immediate effect and gives Julian  direct oversight for the supervision of all Kids Camp Managers and childcare programs for Beaches Resorts in Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and soon to be Barbados.

Her role will include auditing of Beaches Kids Camp activities, ensuring safety standards are upheld throughout all Beaches resorts, implement Sesame Street Programs, raising awareness of the Kids Camp, increasing training for the Kids Camp employees and implementing Early Childhood Certification for team members across all Beaches  Resorts.

Speaking on Julian’s new role was the Director of Entertainment for Beaches TCI David Ellis, who has been a mentor to Julian for many years.  “We are so proud of Fedeline’s promotion, I couldn’t think of a better candidate to take over the Children’s program for the brand regionally which will eventually impact our entertainment program here.” He said,  “This is a true success story, she started here as a babysitter and has worked her way up the rank to the local management team and now she is the first Turks & Caicos Islander to work with the regional management team.”  Ellis continued.

“Under her direction, she will tackle some of the major transformations in childcare that we have not had the capacity to undertake.

Julian began her career with Beaches Turks and Caicos in December of 1999 as a Babysitter and Private Nanny.  She was later promoted to Camp Counselor (2000), Kids Camp Supervisor (2003), and Kids Camp Acting Manager (2004). In 2005, Julien received a scholarship from Beaches Resorts to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Hospitality from the Hocking Technical Institute.  She returned to the resort in 2007 where she then trained for Room Divisions Training Manager Program and was subsequently promoted to Kids Camp Manager (2013-2018).

Managing Director Donald Dagenais, said that Julian has taken the children’s entertainment program here at Beaches TCI to a new height, and he is excited to see her lend her expertise on a regional level.

“Fedeline has been a part of the Beaches TCI Family for 18 years and our kids entertainment program has grown from strength to strength.  Her remarkable leadership and enthusiasm will certainly be an asset to the regional team. We are so proud of her and we are excited to see her work to develop programs that will be rolled out across the brand.”

Commenting on her new role, Julian said; “It is an honor to be recognized for the work that I do. It speaks volumes that they are really paying attention to the people who are working and putting their best foot forward. I’m also humbled by the fact that Turks and Caicos Islanders can now look and say that’s one of us.”

“There are a lot of great individuals that played a major role in my success. Barbara Lynn Missick is an example of such a person because she brought me into Beaches Turks and Caicos for the first time.  My North Caicos family who took me in from the time I was two years old and made me who I am today,” she said, “Special thanks and gratitude to my Managing Director Donald Dagenais, who believed in me and promoted me through the ranks,  my team at Beaches Turks and Caicos and of course, the Entertainment Director Mr. David Ellis, who has been my mentor—thank you for  showing me the greater aspect of entertainment, I owe my success to all of you.”

Julian will be primarily based in the Turks and Caicos but will divide her time between the TCI and Jamaica to fulfill her duties.

Release: Beaches Resort

 

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Frontier Airlines’ Arrival to Turks & Caicos Marks a Game-Changing Connection

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Turks and Caicos, October 25, 2025 – Budget-friendly skies are opening over the Turks and Caicos Islands as Frontier Airlines prepares to launch its first-ever nonstop flights between Providenciales International Airport (PLS) and Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) — the world’s busiest air hub.

Starting December 20, 2025, the twice-weekly service will offer residents and tourists a direct, affordable gateway to and from the U.S. mainland. The new route marks Frontier’s debut in the Turks and Caicos, part of a major regional expansion that includes 22 new routes across Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America.

“We couldn’t be more excited to begin operations in Providenciales,” said Josh Flyr, Frontier’s Vice President of Network and Operations Design. “With our nonstop service to Atlanta, we’re making travel easier, more affordable, and unlocking connections to countless destinations across the U.S. and beyond. It’s not just about tourism — it’s about opportunity.”

Big Win for Providenciales and the Region

The move positions Howard Hamilton International Airport as a growing Caribbean hub. Frontier’s low-fare model is expected to stimulate visitor arrivals, particularly from Atlanta — a key U.S. tourism feeder city — while giving Turks and Caicos residents new, cost-effective travel options for business, education, and leisure.

Industry observers note that the timing couldn’t be better. Turks and Caicos tourism remains on an upward trajectory in 2025, with hotel occupancy and airlift both climbing following the pandemic rebound. Frontier’s entry adds competitive pricing to an air market long dominated by legacy carriers, expanding the reach of the destination to more budget-minded travelers.

A Wider Growth Strategy

The Atlanta–Providenciales launch is part of Frontier’s aggressive Caribbean push this winter, which also includes new flights to NassauSt. MaartenPuerto Vallarta, and San José del Cabo. Introductory fares to select destinations are as low as US $69 one-way.

For Turks and Caicos, the connection to Atlanta — one of Frontier’s strategic bases — means instant access to hundreds of onward destinations in North America and beyond.

As Frontier joins the expanding roster of carriers serving the islands, tourism officials are calling it a “win-win for accessibility and affordability.” And for travelers? It’s a golden ticket to paradise — at a fraction of the cost.

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DDME and TCI Regiment Promote Disaster Resilience on Grand Turk  

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By Deandrea Hamilton | Magnetic Media

 

The Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies (DDME) and the Turks and Caicos Islands Regiment joined forces today at the Graceway Grand Turk Supermarket, hosting a public awareness event to mark the International Day of Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR).

The interactive pop-up aimed to educate residents about preparedness and resilience, aligning with this year’s global theme: “Fund Resilience, Not Disasters.”

The theme underscores a growing global message — that investing in prevention and preparedness is far more effective than paying for recovery. The DDME team and Regiment officers shared tips on community readiness, storm safety, and individual action, encouraging residents to take simple steps that can save lives and reduce damage during natural disasters.

According to the international campaign, disasters are becoming “more frequent, more costly, and more devastating,” with direct losses topping $200 billion annually. Experts warn that without urgent investment in resilience, such risks may soon become uninsurable.

The global statement also highlighted that every dollar spent on resilience saves four dollars in avoided losses, urging governments and donors to scale up disaster risk reduction (DRR) financing and integrate resilience into all aspects of climate and development planning.

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The Capital Without Adequate Borders: A Nation at Risk

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Turks and Caicos, October 14, 2025 – Imagine this: the capital of the Turks and Caicos Islands, Grand Turk, unguarded, exposed, and left to chance. At a time when our government is overwhelmed with competing priorities for the development of a fragile small island nation, one question demands our immediate attention: are we doing enough to ensure the highest level of maritime security for our Capital?

The reality is sobering. In my opinion, we are not!

In this fight against crime, are we turning over every stone and closing up every loophole?

When pressure mounts in Providenciales, criminals inevitably search for safer havens. Grand Turk and our sister island are left vulnerable. Sporadic interceptions of illegal vessels in the outer islands only highlight the cracks in our defenses.

A once vibrant, self-sustaining community, rich in culture, resources, and natural beauty, now sits in limbo, weighed down by successive governments promises that never seem to materialize.

We cannot afford to neglect the Capital while focusing only on Providenciales. A strong, permanent maritime presence in Grand Turk is no longer optional; it is essential. Without it, our porous borders remain open, our reefs and marine life unprotected, and our sovereignty dangerously compromised.

If you don’t have protected borders, you don’t have a country.

We rarely hear about interception of private yachts breaking our laws, but practically, every month private yachts slip into our harbor, often unsure where to dock, anchor, or declare their arrival. Too often they are seen coming ashore in dinghies, offloading what appears to be garbage or unknown content. It’s unchecked, unmonitored, and unquestioned. Who is watching? Who is enforcing?

Do our customs officers have the tools to respond to vessels at all hours? Are inspections being carried out? Are foreign mariners held to the same standards as locals, required to obtain licenses before fishing, whale watching or exploring our waters?

Without having the proper infrastructure in place or private marinas and oversight, they drop anchor directly on our reefs, destroying in minutes what took nature centuries to create.

And what about security? With no maritime unit based in Grand Turk or Salt Cay, the chances of intercepting illegal vessels smuggling drugs, weapons, or human cargo are slim to none. We are in effect, leaving our doors wide open.
We must ask, does every relevant department have the necessary tools to do their job? Maritime, Fisheries, DECR, Customs and the like.

We must act urgently. This is not only about enforcement; it is about survival. If we remain passive, our outer islands risk becoming playgrounds for traffickers, illegal immigrants and criminals.

So, what is the way forward?

  1.  Extend and Refurbish the Salt Cay boat Ro-Ro dock in Grand Turk to accommodate small vessels.
  2. Repair the broken ramp at Jack Shack, creating proper maritime and first responder access.
  3. Since there are no private marinas in Grand Turk, implement a fair system of mooring and anchoring fees, applied equally to local tour operators and visiting yachts, as is standard worldwide.
  4. Erect a more visible sign near the Customs office identifying their location.
  5. Provide secured docking for maritime and DECR vessels perhaps between the two existing docks, ensuring a rapid-response presence at all times.
  6. Reestablish our maritime branch in Grand Turk along with a proper seaworthy vessel.
  7. We must continue to intensify pressure on the UK and demand accountability for its actions, or lack thereof in safeguarding our external security.

These are costly but not luxuries. They are necessities. The cost of inaction will be far greater in the long run than the investment required today.

On a more positive note, we must also look for opportunities to celebrate even small wins like the recent headway being made on crime control across these islands. Nevertheless, we must not become complacent and find ways to channel our complaints and dismay into action.

It has been nearly a decade now since I relocated back to the Grand Turk community, cherishing the warmth, resilience, and hope that defines this beautiful island. But some truths can no longer be ignored. Our voices cannot remain silent.

We cannot wait for the government alone to tell us what we need. We must demand it. We must lead it. The time for complacency is over. The time for action is now.

Ed Forbes

Concerned Citizen

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