TCI News
TCI: Human Trafficking – The Misery Involved
#TurksandCaicos, April 17, 2018 – Providenciales – The Commission, with increasing global awareness has expressed concern over the potential of trafficking of persons and especially for the trafficking of women from the Dominican Republic and most recently Venezuela. Women are routinely provided with visas or work permits and are being brought into the country the disguise of legitimate working opportunities such as bar maids, nannies, waitresses, and dancers only to find themselves, unwillingly in most cases, plying sexual favours, engaging in prostitution or being victims of other forms of forced labour.
It is an established fast that human traffickers prey on people who are poor, isolated and weak. Issues such as disempowerment, social exclusion and economic vulnerability are the result of policies and practices that marginalize entire groups of people and make them particularly vulnerable to being trafficked. Natural disasters, conflict and political turmoil weaken already tenuous social protection measures. Individuals are vulnerable to being trafficked not only because of conditions in their countries but also by the allure of opportunity, the relentless demand for inexpensive goods and services and the expectation of reliable income drive people into potentially dangerous situations where they are at risk of being exploited.
The annual trafficking report by the US State Department remarked that the “Turks and Caicos Islands are a destination country for men, women, and children subjected to sex trafficking and forced labour. According to local experts, the large population of migrants from Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Jamaica are vulnerable to sex trafficking and forced labour, with stateless children and adolescents especially at risk.” In an effort to combat trafficking the Turks and Caicos Islands Government has pushed the Trafficking in Persons Prevention Bill through the House of Assembly, the ordinance acquired assent on the 30th of January 2016 and came into force on the 12th of February 2016. This ordinance provides for sentences of up to 10 years for individuals involved in the traffic of persons and can act as a significant disincentive to those who are involved in this abhorrent trade.
Sex Trafficking
When women and girl children are coerced, forced, or deceived into prostitution, that person is considered a victim of trafficking. All persons involved in recruitment, transporting, harbouring, receiving or obtaining for that purpose are committing a crime under the Trafficking in Persons Prevention Ordinance 2016. Sexual trafficking can also occur with debt bondage as women and girls are forced into prostitution to pay of an illegal debt incurred through their transportation from one country to another. Upon to the host country they are told that this debt must be paid before they are freed and in most cases their identity documents are held by the traffickers.
Sexual trafficking is more than a crime or migration issue, it is a fundamental human rights issue, and, in many respects, it is a manifestation of persistent gender inequality and a symptom of the subordinate status of women globally. Around the world most trafficked people are women and children, data provided by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime suggested that globally 70% of trafficked people were female (49% women and 21% girls). Surprisingly the same report identified that many of the traffickers were themselves women and that in some parts of the world women trafficking women was held to be the norm.
Trafficking has a harrowing effect on the mental, emotional and physical wellbeing of the women and girls ensnared in its web. Beyond the physical abuse, trafficked women suffer extreme emotional stress, including shame, grief, fear, distrust and suicidal thoughts. Victims often experience post-traumatic stress disorder, and with that, acute anxiety, depression and insomnia. Many victims turn to drugs and alcohol to numb the pain.
Sex trafficking also promotes societal breakdown by removing women and girls from their families and communities. Trafficking fuels organized crime groups that usually participate in many other illegal activities, including drug and weapons trafficking and money laundering. It negatively impacts local and national labour markets, due to the loss of human resources and burdens public health systems. It erodes government authority, encourages widespread corruption, and threatens the security of vulnerable populations.
Victims of trafficking for forced labour lose their freedom, becoming modern-day slaves. They usually experience permanent physical and psychological harm, isolation from families and communities, reduced opportunities for personal development, and restricted movement. Victims are often wary of law enforcement and psychologically dependent on their traffickers. Child victims are denied educational access, which reinforces the cycle of poverty and illiteracy.
Human trafficking is modern day slavery and it is alive and well in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Recently a multi-agency task force has conducted raids across Providenciales and the allegations of many women who have been kept isolated and sexually exploited throughout the island have been rescued. It is to be hoped that the authorities, Police and Immigration, will be carrying out intensive investigations into those responsible for these alleged offences
and that they will eventually be brought to justice.
Everyone has the potential to identify a trafficked person. While victims may sometimes be kept behind locked doors in homes or brothels, they are often hidden right in front of us at, for example, construction sites, restaurants, elder care centres, nail salons, agricultural fields, and hotels. Traffickers’ use of coercion – such as threats of deportation and harm to the victim or their family members – is so powerful that even if you reach out to victims, they may be too fearful to accept your help. Knowing indicators of human trafficking will help you act on your gut feeling that something is wrong and report it to the RTCIPF Sexual Offences Unit or the Offices of the Human Rights Commission.
Human Trafficking Indicators
While not an exhaustive list, these are some key red flags that could alert you to a potential trafficking situation that should be reported:
It is the responsibility of every one of us to assist the authorities in stamping out this sinister crime.
Release: Human Rights Commission
PROVIDENCIALES, Turks & Caicos Islands: — Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort has launched its 2026 Summer Internship Programme with a record-breaking cohort of 111 high school and tertiary-level students, marking the largest intake in recent years.
The six-week programme, which runs from July 6 to August 14, 2026, is designed to give young Turks and Caicos Islanders hands-on
exposure to the hospitality industry across a wide range of departments.
Human Resources Recruitment Specialist Fitzroy Virgo highlighted the programme’s growing significance, “this is the largest cohort we have had in recent times. We currently have 111 participants with a waiting list of almost another 100. We are happy that we have been able to attract some of the brightest and best young minds in the Turks and Caicos Islands as we have interns from Providenciales, North and South Caicos Islands.”
Virgo also noted that the programme goes beyond technical training, incorporating soft skills workshops in financial literacy, customer service, résumé writing and brand and image management.
General Manager Deryk Meany praised the human resources and training teams for the programme’s sustained growth. “The success of this programme has allowed us to grow each year as we continue to build a conducive learning environment for aspiring professionals in the hospitality industry throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands,” Meany said.
He noted that many of this year’s interns were first introduced to Beaches through educational tours facilitated by the Sandals Foundation. “We are excited to provide training in the various areas but more importantly to train them in the soft skills areas that will allow them to be more marketable after they experience this internship programme.”
Among the interns is Maranatha Academy fifth form student Vernae Handfield, who has set her sights on the culinary arts. “My dream is to
explore the culinary world and to be a Michelin chef in the future — hence my reason for wanting to start my experience here at the largest resort in the Turks and Caicos Islands,” Handfield shared. “I’m looking forward to learning from all these experts who have many years of experience in the different cuisines.”
For others, the programme offers a bridge between classroom theory and real-world application. Keiser University accounting major Sean Astwood II said the opportunity is perfectly aligned with his academic goals. “I want to be able to put into practice my theoretical knowledge into the field of accounting and eventually auditing. Getting the opportunity here at Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort is the perfect environment for me to start to build my skills. I’m grateful for this experience to be immersed into this dynamic working environment.”
The programme has also fostered a culture of return, with several interns participating for multiple consecutive years — a testament to the quality and lasting impact of the experience. As Beaches Turks and Caicos continues to expand its community engagement through hospitality education, the 2026 cohort stands as a powerful reflection of the resort’s commitment to developing local talent and strengthening the Turks and Caicos Islands’ hospitality workforce for years to come.
Photo Insert: A section of the audience at the Beaches Turks and Caicos 2026 summer internship programme at the Caribbean Village conference room
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, July 9, 2026- The Crown Land Unit, with coordination and support from the Informal Settlements Unit (ISU), conducted a multi-agency enforcement exercise in the Blue Hills area off Tom Lightbourne Road and opposite the dump on Thursday, July 2, 2026, as part of the Government’s ongoing efforts to protect Crown land from illegal occupation and encroachment.
The operation brought together representatives from the Crown Land Unit, the ISU, the Planning Department and the Royal Turks and
Caicos Islands Police Force who provided security for the exercise. Following a briefing, inspections were carried out across a number of parcels of Crown land where illegal structures and other unauthorised uses had been identified.
During the exercise, officers served a total of eleven (11) Letters of Illegal Occupation to occupied structures, while six (6) Section 22 Notices of Unauthorised Occupation were issued in accordance with the provisions of the Crown Land Act. In addition to illegally constructed buildings, notices were also issued in relation to the unauthorised placement of vehicles, boats and a jet ski on Crown land. Where occupants were not present, notices were affixed to the relevant structures or locations.
The Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands reminds the public that occupying or otherwise using Crown land without lawful authority is an offence under the Crown Land Act. These inspections and enforcement activities form part of a sustained programme aimed at safeguarding public lands, discouraging unlawful development and ensuring that Crown land is managed in the best interests of the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The Crown Land Unit will continue to work closely with its partner agencies to identify and address instances of illegal occupation across the Islands. Persons occupying Crown land without authorisation are encouraged to comply with all notices issued and to seek guidance from the relevant authorities where necessary.
PROVIDENCIALES, Turks & Caicos Islands: — Beaches Turks and Caicos has officially unveiled its newly constructed Team Member Welcome Centre, marking a significant milestone in the resort’s ongoing Beaches 2.0 transformation.
The new facility, introduced as part of phase one of the development, is designed to centralize essential services and amenities for team
members while elevating comfort, convenience and overall workplace satisfaction. The space now houses a state-of-the-art cafeteria, a multimedia training room, the human resources department, expanded locker and changing facilities and an automated banking machine- creating a comprehensive, one-stop hub for team members.
Speaking at the opening, General Manager Deryk Meany emphasized the broader vision behind the investment and its alignment with the brand’s evolution.
“This is one more step in Beaches 2.0 being consistent, providing personalized service and taking it to the next level for our team members to be comfortable. I want my team to know that this resort is the most ideal place to work and we are invested in their comfort and wellbeing” Meany stated.
The initiative reflects a growing recognition within the hospitality sector that employee experience is connected to guest satisfaction. Beaches Turks and Caicos has prioritized modern infrastructure and staff focused amenities to strengthen team engagement while reinforcing its reputation as a leading employer in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Regional Managing Director James McAnally described the Welcome Centre as a space for employees’ well-being and operational excellence.
“This project is a long-term plan that was designed to provide comfort for every team member,” McAnally said. “The new dining space can rival fine dining restaurants on the island. We have provided the best for our team and we want them to enjoy the amenities as we continue to enhance the family atmosphere at Beaches Turks and Caicos.”
The restaurant which is a standout feature of the new facility, offers a modern dining experience with upgraded seating, contemporary
finishes and an enhanced menu selection. Designed with both functionality and aesthetics in mind, the space reflects the resort’s commitment to quality for its team.
In addition to dining, the multimedia training room introduces advanced learning capabilities, supporting ongoing team development through interactive and technology-driven training sessions. The inclusion of human resources within the same complex further streamlines comprehensive space for staff related services, while the expanded locker and changing areas address a conducive working facilities space for the team.
Long-serving team member Carlton Salmon praised the development, noting its impact on morale and daily operations.
“This place is simply amazing,” Salmon shared.
“The style and design are similar to the new Treasure Beach Village. This is Beaches 2.0. Every team member has given positive ratings for not only the food, but the one-stop shop idea.”
The Welcome Centre’s opening signals more than just a physical upgrade. It shows that Beaches Turks and Caicos continues to position itself as a forward-thinking leader in Caribbean hospitality.
As phase one comes to fruition, anticipation is already building for future enhancements under the Beaches 2.0 initiative, which aims to further integrate innovation, community support and elevated service standards across the resort.
PHOTO CAPTION: The official ribbon cutting at the Welcome Centre has (l-r) Curtis Lee, Hotel Manager, Phildreka Campbell, Learning and Development Manager, Patricia Talbot, Restaurant Manager, Javain Campbell, Diamond team member, James McAnally, Regional Managing Director, Deryk Meany, General Manager, Owenta Coleby, Human Resources Manager, Tanya Swann, Executive Assistant Manager Treasure Beach Village, and Dr Anya Malcolm-Gibbs, Director of Special Education Needs Services
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