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Beaches Resort Turks and Caicos confirms indefinite closure in 2021

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FILE PHOTO: Hon Gordon 'Butch' Stewart

#Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – January 25, 2019 – Rumors had been swirling since Thursday that Beaches Resort Villages and Spa in the Turks and Caicos was planning a long term shut down in 2021 due to a massive bill, which is in dispute, with the Turks and Caicos Islands Government.

Minutes ago, and in response to Magnetic Media queries, Beaches confirms that yes, it is true.  

“Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villages & Spa will be closed from September 3rd to October15th in 2019 and from September 7th to October 22, 2020, and then for an indefinite period from January 2021.”

Government taxes were reportedly calculated in a way that is not sitting well with Sandals Resorts International, which owns the Beaches family resorts.  The calculations by the Ministry of Finance and backed by the Attorney General’s Chambers have reportedly been in dispute for years.

The lingering bill in dispute has now ballooned to some $60 million, we are told.

Finance Ministers have asked for the debt to be treated with leniency to no avail and once again exposes the topsy-turvy order of governance in the Turks and Caicos Islands, which is actually led by the Civil Service and not elected politicians.  

“The upcoming closures of Beaches Turks & Caicos are the result of several critical and long-standing issues which have impacted our operations over the past several years.  We apologize for any inconvenience caused to our customers and look forward to welcoming them back soon.”

Naturally, this decision by Beaches Resorts is being cited as catastrophic for the Turks and Caicos Tourism industry, as Beaches is a key linchpin in the success of air arrivals to Providenciales, in particular.

Beaches explained: “Guests traveling between now and January 2021 that are not impacted by these closures will receive the vacation experience that we have become known for. All features and facilities of the resort will be open and operating per usual.  For impacted guests, we are committed to making this as seamless as possible by allowing them to change their travel dates to Beaches Turks & Caicos or travel on their original travel dates to one of our other locations in Jamaica, Beaches Negril or Beaches Ocho Rios, at no additional cost, including airfare change fees. Guests may also choose to travel to any of our 16 Sandals Resorts.”

Magnetic Media has reached out to Premier and Finance Minister Sharlene Robinson on the matter.

The statement from Beaches Resort is titled:  ‘BTC Pending Closure’.

 

Magnetic Media is a Telly Award winning multi-media company specializing in creating compelling and socially uplifting TV and Radio broadcast programming as a means for advertising and public relations exposure for its clients.

Caribbean News

Power Play: Beaches TCI Supervisor Named Top Scorer in Caribbean Cricket Championship

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TCI Cricket team

Members of the BTC team who represented the TCI on its recent cricket tour

PROVIDENCIALES, Turks & Caicos Islands: Beaches Turks and Caicos (BTC) is celebrating a proud moment after Maintenance and Engineering Supervisor, Jerome Daley, emerged as top scorer in the 10th Central American and Caribbean Cricket Championship, recently held in Panama. Daley represented the Turks and Caicos Islands Cricket (TCIC) team in its debut appearance at the regional tournament, which featured teams from Mexico, Costa Rica and Panama.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            The TCIC team, composed of standout players from the recently concluded Turks and Caicos Islands Cricket Association (TCICA) T20 League, brought together a dynamic mix of youth, experience and professionals from both the private and public sectors.

BTC’s Elite Butler and TCIC team Captain, Sidue Hunter, reflected on the experience, “being called on to lead this team was a challenge I felt prepared for. The unity and camaraderie made a big difference. This team sets a solid foundation for the future of TCI cricket.”

While the team did not take home the championship title, Daley’s individual performance stood out. He led the tournament in runs and credited his teammates for their support.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            “Playing in unfamiliar conditions is always tough,” Daley admitted. “The pitches weren’t quite like what we’re used to at home but I trusted my game. With encouragement from my teammates, I was able to adjust and stay consistent.”                                                                                                                                                                                        BTC Managing Director James McAnally praised the team’s contribution to both sports and national development, “we are proud to support our team members who represented not just the resort but the Turks and Caicos Islands on a regional stage. This is what true corporate citizenship looks like—empowering people through teamwork, sports and community spirit.”

TCI Cricket Team captain Sidue Hunter (left) and Jerome Daley

McAnally also acknowledged the impressive BTC representation within the team:

  • Jerome Daley – top scorer, maintenance and engineering supervisor
  • Sidue Hunter – captain, elite butler
  • Maxine Salmon – scorer, kids camp department
  • Earl Henry – evening duty manager
  • Anthony “Moses” McKnight – elite butler

Vice President of TCICA, Ancell Williams, described the championship as a pivotal learning experience and outlined the organization’s ambitious vision, “we aim to integrate more youth into our national teams over the next two seasons. Long-term, we hope to field U15 and U19 teams in the West Indies youth championships. It’s a bold dream, but youth development is our future.”

This inaugural appearance at the championship signals a promising future for cricket in the Turks and Caicos Islands, with a growing commitment to nurturing talent from the grassroots to the regional stage.

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NFL Experience Comes to TCI: Faion Hicks to Lead Youth Football Camp

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Faion Hicks while playing for the Denver Broncos

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Tuesday, 17 June 2025: The Turks and Caicos Islands Sports Commission is proud to partner with the Faion Hicks Foundation to present the 1st Annual Faion Hicks Football Camp, taking place Wednesday, 9 July 2025 at the TCIFA National Academy. This camp is also in collaboration with the TCI Football Federation and Experience Turks and Caicos.

This one-day camp brings an incredible opportunity for youth across the islands to learn the game of American football directly from a professional football player who has competed in the NFL with Turks and Caicos roots.

About Faion Hicks

Faion Hicks is a professional American football player who played for the Denver Broncos after being selected in the 7th round of the 2022 NFL Draft. A standout collegiate athlete at the University of Wisconsin, Hicks was known for his speed, football IQ, and leadership on and off the field. His professional experience, combined with a passion for mentoring youth, has inspired his foundation’s mission to empower young people through sport, education, and character development.

This youth American football camp is a major step in introducing the sport a nd sharing the values of discipline, focus, and perseverance that American football teaches in the Turks and Caicos.

Camp Details

  • Date: Wednesday, 9 July 2025
  • Time: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
  • Location: TCIFA National Academy, Providenciales
  • Ages: 8–16 years old
  • Cost: Free

Participants will experience a day of drills, gameplay instruction, team-building activities, and motivational talks led by Faion Hicks and supporting coaches.

On this camp, Hicks shares, “Bringing my first football camp to Turks and Caicos means everything to me. This island isn’t just a destination — it’s part of who I am. As the first NFL player with roots in the Turks and Caicos Islands, I feel a deep responsibility to give back and invest in the youth here. Through the Faion Hicks Foundation, I’m committed to helping the next generation reach their full potential — not just as athletes, but as leaders, teammates, and role models. July 9th is just the beginning.”

Registration Now Open

Youth athletes interested in joining this historic event can register online at: https://tinyurl.com/2v5bwa8u. Spaces are limited and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

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The Turks and Caicos Islands Participates in the 60th Plenary and Working Group Meetings of The Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF)

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PRESS RELEASE

FROM THE ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING COMMITTEE

 

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Monday, 16th June 2025: The Hon. Rhondalee Braithwaite Knowles OBE KC, Attorney General and Chair of the Turks and Caicos Islands’ Anti-Money Laundering Committee (AMLC), led a delegation of legal, law enforcement, and financial regulators to the CFATF Plenary and Working Group meetings held in Trinidad from 25th to 30th May 2025. The delegation included officers from the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF) and the Border Force as well as staff of the Turks and Caicos Islands Financial Services Commission (TCI FSC), the Gaming Control Commission (GCC), the Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA), the Attorney General’s Chambers, and the AMLC Secretariat.

The Turks and Caicos Islands, in compliance with the international Anti-Money Laundering / Counter Financing of Terrorism and Counter Proliferation Financing (AML/CFT/CPF) Standards set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), is a member of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF), which is the FATF Style Regional Body for the Caribbean. The CFATF comprises 24 member countries[1] and is an inter-governmental body that coordinates the assessment of all member countries’ compliance with the FATF 40 Recommendations. The FATF Recommendations provide a comprehensive framework of measures to help countries tackle illicit financial flows. These include a robust framework of laws, regulations, and operational measures to ensure national authorities can take effective action to detect and disrupt financial flows that fuel crime and terrorism and punish those responsible for illegal activity[2].

The 60th CFATF Plenary adopted the Reports of the assessment of the frameworks in Curacao and Sint Maarten during these meetings, with the active participation of TCI stakeholders making interventions on aspects of those discussions based on their knowledge of the standards and professional experience. The Turks and Caicos Islands is a member of the Steering Group, which is the governing body of the CFATF. The Turks and Caicos Islands was last assessed against the FATF 40 Recommendations in 2018 and with the Report published in 2020. The Turks and Caicos Islands is preparing for its next round of assessment, which would examine, inter alia, the effectiveness of TCI’s legislative and institutional framework to counter money laundering, terrorism financing, and the proliferation of financing of weapons of mass destruction.

Officials from the Turks and Caicos Islands are also current members of two project teams, which are undertaking work to assess the risks associated with motor vehicle dealers and other high-value dealers, as well as the risks of terrorism financing within the Caribbean region. Mrs. Gessie Herilien of the TCI FSC was presented with a certificate of appreciation for her participation in a project exploring “Money Laundering Vulnerabilities in the Financial Arrangements of Non-Traditional Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Persons (DNFBPs)”. Ag. Supt. William Lightbourne of the RTCIPF is participating in a separate regional CFATF project assessing Regional Terrorist Financing Risks, which is being supported by the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The Hon. Rhondalee Braithwaite Knowles OBE KC, Chair of the AMLC said, “the active participation and engagement of key stakeholder agencies and departments from the Turks and Caicos Islands officials in regional initiatives like the CFATF is in line with the Government’s high-level commitment to ensure that our financial systems are being reviewed and updated in line with international standards.  These activities help to keep officials aware of current trends and actions being undertaken by other countries to protect their systems from the scourges of illicit finance.  I was very pleased with the growing level of expertise and resulting actions being taken by officials to develop their knowledge, awareness, and implementation of best practice in the discharge of their duties within the Turks and Caicos Islands.”

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