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TCI: Nearly 200 join the vigil in memory of Police Constable Carter

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#Providenciales, March 12, 2019 – Turks and Caicos – We had to walk over shards of glass from shattered windshields, walk by broken bits and pieces of his Wrangler Jeep scattered at the scene, stand next to a crumpled rubber glove likely used in the traffic investigation and bear with the undeniable feeling of eeriness which crept in with the dusk… throngs of people most donning white and who knew and loved him marched silently to the final resting place of beloved Turks and Caicos Islands police officer, Constable 223 Mauquency Carter.

Women were wailing.  Grown men were weeping.  Heads were bowed as disbelief mournfully, painfully gripped the scores who turned out for the solemn ceremony for ‘Quincy’, as he was affectionately called.

It would take even a stranger only a matter of minutes to gain a full understanding of the kind of man Constable Mauquency was.  Listening to the loving thoughts, cherished memories and broken hearts of those who knew him best, painted a portrait of a man we could admire, a man of whom we could be proud and a man who would be sorely missed for his effervescent personality.

A member of the Tactical Unit of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police, this night there would have been a unity party for the crew… instead there was a dramatic change in the script.  There was no jovial gathering, this one was solemn but unity was still very much achieved as family, friends and colleagues represented for their “brother’” who was described as a man full of life, a man who lived life fully and a man who was a great father to his two sons.

His grandmother, trembled as she neared the spot where her grandson was fatally injured when his jeep collided and reportedly flipped over, with her ‘boy’ inside. Valeria Houseman is a strong woman, known by all as such, but that strength was fiercely tested this evening as a candle light prayer vigil unfolded a mere 16-hours after Quincy was pronounced dead at hospital.

Supported by her sons and Jericho Baptist Church Pastor, Pedro Williams Mrs. Houseman took measured steps, shaky steps and arrived with tears streaming and clutching a huge floral wreath of blue and white and red until stood at the ‘spot’.  No easy task, yet she handled it with grace and like a champion.

Old hymns were solemnly sung.  Prayer was thoughtfully prayed and a heartfelt message was sweetly rendered. 

“I believe when we lose someone it is okay to cry.  I believe it is okay to be sad.  I believe it is okay to grieve because I believe that becomes an expression of the love, the depth of love and friendship that you had with that person,” said Pastor Pedro Williams.

The healing process requires those expressions of grief advised Pastor Pedro, “…but as you cry, I want you to be able to remember the good times that you had with Mr. Carter.  Remember the times that you laughed together, the times that you sat in the police station or the police car and you socialized in those moments of laughter, those moments of joy.”  

Pastor Pedro, who knew Constable Carter personally described the young officer as a respectful young man, who was always beaming a smile and encouraged those gathered at the accident site earlier tonight to lean on God for comfort.

“…But ask God to give you the strength during this time to be able to survive and to be able to go through and to be able to move forward from this point.  Indeed we have lost a young man with great potential.  Every time I saw Mr. Carter he was very bright in terms of laughter and the expressions on his face and being very friendly.  He was always very respectful to me as a pastor in the community and always joyous.  I believe today he would not want for you to be sad, but even in that sadness to let your face be radiant and to remember his laugh.”

The Police report explained that ‘Officer Carter was the driver of the grey Jeep Wrangler that was involved in a two-car collision on Monday, March 11, 2019 shortly after 2 a.m. on the Leeward Highway in the vicinity of Provo Plaza.  Officer Carter was transported to the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre where he was pronounced dead at 2:47 a.m.”

Magnetic Media is informed that ‘Quincy’ suffered serious head trauma in the accident.  Images of his jeep, shared on social media gave insight into the severity of the crash; extensive front end and roof damage seemed to support an account that the vehicle flipped over in the collision.

The female driver of a gray Honda car, involved in the accident, was taken to hospital for injuries, said the report.

Police Commissioner James Smith said, “We have lost a very special individual who will be sorely missed.  This is going to be a very difficult time for Carter’s family and for each of us.”

Certainly it is difficult, and evidence of the popularity of and love for Quincy is already apparent as nearly 200 people turned out for the 90-minute service at the scene of the traffic accident.  Minister Jay Morley lent his voice to the vigil, loved ones together sang Officer Carter’s favourite song ‘Stand by Me’ as candles were lit and cell phones were illuminated in a touching tribute to a man, who even in death, has the amazing ability to draw his people together. The memorial wreath was placed at the crash site.

Constable Mauquency Carter was 29-years-old and hails from the island of Grand Turk. 

#magneticmedianews

#MauquencyCarter

#officerdiesincarcrash 

TCI News

Beaches Turks and Caicos sets the Benchmark for Biodiversity in the TCI

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Volunteers from the Sandals Foundation and Great Shape 1000 Smiles dental programme complete an oral health presentation at the Ashley Learning Centre took time out to share in a photo opportunity with some students and teachers

PROVIDENCIALES, Turks & Caicos Islands: — Beaches Turks & Caicos continues to lead the way in sustainability by cultivating a culture of environmental stewardship across the Turks and Caicos Islands. Through the introduction of biodegradable alternatives, agricultural education and community partnerships, the resort is setting a new standard for eco-conscious hospitality.                                                                                                                                                                  As part of its ongoing sustainability mission, the resort has replaced single-use plastics and certain chemicals with compostable, biodegradable products derived from natural sources, to reduce pollution and minimize the resort’s carbon footprint.

At Beaches Turks & Caicos, sustainability is woven into every part of the guest experience,” said Managing Director, James McAnally. “From the products we use to the relationships we nurture, our goal is to make responsible environmental choices that benefit our guests, team members and the wider Turks and Caicos community.”

The resort also practices on-site composting, recycling fruit and vegetable waste from its kitchens to enrich soil and sustain its lush landscaping. This closed-loop system reduces waste and promotes biodiversity across the property.

Beyond the resort, Beaches collaborates with local partners including schools, government agencies and NGOs to extend green education into the wider community. Through the Sandals Foundation, the resort supports projects such as the installation of water filtration systems, tree-planting activities and biodegradable workshops. Schools like Enid Capron Primary have expanded their farming projects and integrated agricultural science into their curriculum thanks to this partnership.                                                                                                                                                                                 Beaches also leads regular coastal cleanups and reforestation drives which inspires residents and students to play an active role in protecting their environment. “The Earth Guardian volunteers take pride in giving back to our schools and the communities we serve,” noted Public Relations Manager, Orville Morgan. “These initiatives create a sense of shared responsibility that strengthens both our communities and our natural resources.”

With its commitment to biodegradable innovation, sustainable education and environmental action, Beaches Turks & Caicos continues to set the benchmark for biodiversity and sustainability in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Photo Captions

1st insert:  Beaches Turks and Caicos and the Sandals Foundation celebrate with students at the Enid Capron Primary School in a Reading Road Trip experience where guests and students get to experience a cultural melting pot of activity.


2nd insert: Beaches Turks and Caicos resort Simone Woodfine from the Bar Department prepares to plant a tree at one of our schools to celebrate the mission of providing a healthier environment for the Turks and Caicos Islands

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Turks and Caicos Corporate Community Join Beaches Resort to Raise Funds for Jamaica’s Hurricane Melissa Relief

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Some members of the local media fraternity who were present to share in the experience

Turks and Caicos Islands, December 17, 2025 – Corporate partners in and around Providenciales recently joined Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort raising over US $54,000 to support Jamaica’s Hurricane Melissa Relief effort.  The fundraising dinner, aptly titled, ‘One Caribbean, One Family, One Love’ saw over eighteen companies gather on Friday, December 12 to support the recovery of families and the rebuilding of communities affected by the category 5 storm.

“When our Caribbean family calls, we will respond with love,” said Deryk Meany, General Manager of the Beaches Turks and Caicos resort. “Today it is Jamaica that is affected, but tomorrow, it could be the Turks and Caicos or another neighbouring island. We are committed to serving our brothers and sisters and are deeply grateful to everyone who have donated to the cause.”

Since the passage of Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica on October 28, the Sandals Foundation has been working around the clock with local agencies and international partners to provide shelter essentials, food, and clean water, restore schools, and provide medical support to hospitals. Funds raised at the recent benefit dinner will help bolster the next phase of the philanthropic organisation’s support to rebuild schools and livelihoods in affected communities.

“As we continue to provide essential first-relief support, we have already begun our long-term recovery response,” says Patrice Gilpin, Public Relations Manager at Sandals Foundation. “Many schools, which are the cornerstone of stability, learning, and emotional support for our young ones, require urgent attention. This donation will go a far way in restoring a sense of normalcy in the lives of our youngest and most vulnerable.”

The One Caribbean, One Family, One Love fundraising dinner featured, amongst other things a silent auction of Sandals and Beaches Resort stays, airline tickets, spa services, catamaran cruise, and private chef dinner. The night’s four course meal was also spearheaded by the TCI’s 2025 Taste of the Caribbean silver medalist culinary team- all of whom volunteered for the event.

Managing Director of the Northern Caribbean and Curaçao, James McAnally expressed delight at the outcome noting, “The success of this event is indicative of the power of partnerships to effect real change. We are grateful to the TCI business community, resort guests and our resort team for coming together and making this moment count.”

Photo Captions

1st insert:  Sandals Foundation Public Relations Manager Patrice Gilpin (centre) accepts the cheque from Beaches Turks and Caicos resort General Manager Deryk Meany (left) and Managing Director of the Northern Caribbean and Curacao James McAnally

2nd insert:  Members of the Beaches Turks and Caicos resort’s entertainment team were on hand to provide scintillating performances at the event

3rd insert:  Beaches Turks and Caicos resort General Manager Deryk Meany (5th left) poses for the cameras with representatives of the Graceway Communities as he personally thanked those who were in attendance

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Experience Turks and Caicos Projects Month-on-Month Growth of Stayover Arrivals for Winter Season  

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Paul Pennicook, Interim CEO Consultant, Experience Turks and Caicos

PROVIDENCIALES, TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS – (December 17th, 2025) – As the Turks and Caicos Islands welcomes visitors for the 2025/2026 winter season, forward bookings for the peak travel period from December to March are projected to surpass those of the same period last year. Experience Turks and Caicos is also forecasting steady month-on-month growth throughout the first half of 2026, with forward bookings already tracking ahead of 2025 levels.

“This is welcome news for our tourism sector, which experienced modest declines over the last two quarters,” said Mr. Paul Pennicook, Interim CEO Consultant of Experience Turks and Caicos. “One of the key drivers of this positive outlook is increased airlift, including a 19 percent increase in capacity from Canada for the winter season and a six percent increase from the United States.”                                                                                                                                                                                  Mr. Pennicook also attributed the improved projections to targeted marketing and trade engagement efforts led by Experience Turks and Caicos, particularly ongoing training and education for travel advisors and tour operator call-centre agents across all key source markets.

 

“We have maintained a strong presence through product launches and travel trade events such as Delta Vacations University, while significantly increasing the destination’s visibility through co-op advertising with major tour operators in our three primary markets,” he added.

Public relations activity has also played a critical role, with several hosted media visits from journalists in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Latin America, alongside proactive pitching efforts that resulted in more than 100 placements in travel trade and consumer publications in 2025.

Analysis of current booking patterns also indicates a notable shift toward shorter booking windows. “One major U.S. tour operator reports that over the past several weeks, approximately 90 percent of bookings have been for travel within the next 60 days,” Mr. Pennicook noted. “Hoteliers are reporting similar trends, suggesting the potential for further growth as we move into 2026.”

Despite the positive outlook, October and November recorded declines in stayover arrivals. Preliminary data shows 30,508 air arrivals in October, representing a seven percent decrease compared to October 2024, largely due to reduced airlift from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom as well as the impact of Hurricane Melissa on travel to the region. November recorded 52,547 stayover arrivals by air, a marginal one percent decrease year-on-year.

As the Turks and Caicos Islands welcomes visitors back to its shores this winter season, Experience Turks and Caicos would like to reassure that the island remains safe and welcoming. Statistics from the Royal Turks and Caicos Police Force show that overall crime is down, with a 40 percent reduction in murders. Experience Turks and Caicos is working closely with the police force to ensure tourism areas are well monitored and patrolled to enhance visitor security.

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