TCI News
Long Bay High senior wins Spelling Bee; second time around a charm for Michaella
#Providenciales, June 5, 2019 – Turks and Caicos – B E A U C O U P was the winning word at the National High School Spelling Bee which went to 17 intense rounds where all 330 words in the study list were exhausted, and the home of the Hawks, Long Bay High School, could not be more thrilled with the performance of Champion Speller, Michaella Achille.
“The competition was good, but I was a little nervous at the beginning but after a while, I got confident,” 14-year old Michaella agreed that she has a good support system. “They encourage me along the way.”
The Ministry of Education Spelling Bee returned this year after a hiatus as a result of the hurricanes and the students were ready. Education Minister Karen Malcolm opened the event held at the Gus Lightbourne Gym and she was there when Michaella was presented her prizes.
“The importance of having a competition year after year is designed to increase the students vocabulary and just for them to have a competition for them to enjoy and to just express themselves in words.” Turning to the 2019 Champion, Minister Malcolm continued with: This young lady (Machaella Achille) was phenomenal today and I am proud of her, I wish her all the best in her future endeavors, this is her last year at Long Bay, she is moving on to Clement Howell and I expect nothing but the best out of you going forward. So, God bless you and congratulations.”
Eleven students representing schools across the country were sharply dressed and gave stand out showing in the 2019 staging of the Spelling Bee, which was started in 1998.
“Today was really exciting, we had eleven schools which participated and I was just so excited that the students were able to spell of the words that were in the spelling booklet that was provided to them an shortly thereafter they had words which they didn’t get and they did an excellent job.
Michaella’s coach and Spanish teacher at LBHS, Beverly Reid admitted that Michaella was determined to better her performance in this second showing and pushed for the practices which had been happening for months ahead of the competition.
“Michaella is a very, very excited speller. More enthused and more motivated sometimes than I. If I say 3 o’clock, she is there and she has always been going the last mile and Michaella exhausted the words in the very first week of spelling (practice). He did excellently well, she encouraged me a whole lot and I find her to be a very, very, very brilliant girl. I am excited to see that she won today.”
Vice Principal of Long Bay High, Kordell Campbell-Forbes said the students representing the schools of British West Indies Collegiate, International School, Marjorie Basden High, Providenciales Middle School, Raymond Gardiner High, TCIPS Comprehensive High, HJ Robinson High, Maranatha Academy, Precious Treasures and Wesley Methodist School showed true grit.
It was a stiff competition, it was one that took much grit and I am telling you when I saw that she (Michaella) was hanging in there after 17 rounds, I remembered when she entered the competition tow years ago when she was a first runner up, I whispered to her that ‘we’re gonna get them the next time’ and Michaella truly, truly demonstrated that today. We are blessed to have some of the brightest minds in the Turks and Caicos Islands and it was definitely seen at the competition and I must thank the organisers for a job well done, the coaches from every school, they prepared their students well to represent.”
Michaella Achille, who is the top student in her class, was proudly supported by an enthusiastic of schoolmates and her mother; among her prizes was an I-Pad.
Sponsors of the 2019 Ministry of Education Spelling Bee were listed as Lew1 Shipping, Caicos Dreams Tours, FLOW, Royal Jewels, Baci Ristorante and Island Vibes Tours.
#magneticmedianews
#nationalhighschoolspellingbee
#michaellachillewinsspellingbee
by Deandrea Hamilton | Editor
PROVIDENCIALES, TCI — In a country where government press conferences are virtually non-existent, ministers are often difficult for
journalists to access and regular broadcast television news has disappeared, TCI Innovation, Technology and Energy Minister E. Jay Saunders has challenged Caribbean media to become “impossible to ignore.”
Speaking at the Caribbean Broadcasting Union gathering, Saunders argued that the Caribbean does not have a relevance problem but a “discoverability and positioning problem.”
Discoverability is precisely the issue in Saunders’ home country. Even Government’s own attempts at video news broadcasting have struggled against the realities of consistently producing a daily, weekly or even monthly newscast.
The difficulties confronting TCI media extend well beyond algorithms: limited advertising revenue, underfunding, shortages of trained professionals and insufficient human capacity leave newsrooms struggling for both staff and stamina.
Then there is the reality of operating in one of the region’s smallest societies. Politicians, journalists, advertisers, businesses and the subjects of stories often exist within the same tight economic and social circles. A controversial report that might create a ripple elsewhere can produce a tsunami in TCI, intensifying concerns among journalists about commercial and professional victimisation.
Saunders believes AI can help.
He urged Caribbean media to use the technology to transform one original story into television, radio, web, podcast, social and translated content without multiplying newsroom workload.
He also wants regional journalism structured so AI systems can find, understand and trust Caribbean sources, moving media beyond traditional SEO into Answer Engine Optimisation.
His ultimate message was emphatic: “Use AI not to make Caribbean media more artificial — but to make Caribbean voices more visible.”
For Turks and Caicos media, however, becoming visible may require more than technology. It requires an environment in which journalism can survive.
That last sentence is where I think we land the plane. It acknowledges that EJ actually has some us
Bahamas News
Bahama Brass Band Invitation Sparks Heritage Debate Ahead of TCI Constitutional Holiday
Turks and Caicos, August 20, 2026 – The planned participation of the Bahama Brass Band in the Turks and Caicos Islands’ inaugural Constitutional Holiday celebrations on August 30 has sparked public debate over culture, heritage and the historical contributions of Turks and Caicos Islanders abroad.
Organizers defended the invitation, saying the band’s inclusion is intended to highlight the deep historical ties between the two countries
and honor Turks and Caicos men who helped establish and develop the institution in Grand Bahama.
According to the organizers, the Bahama Brass Band began in 1955 in Pine Ridge, Freeport, with Turks and Caicos Islanders, including the late Deacon Reuben Hall Sr. of Middle Caicos and Jenkins Williams and Mervin Hendfield of North Caicos, among those who helped build its foundation. The band eventually grew to more than 50 men.
The organizers also pointed to the participation of Turks and Caicos men in The Bahamas’ Independence celebrations on July 10, 1973, arguing that their contributions became part of Bahamian history while maintaining strong connections to their homeland.
Supporters say bringing the band home represents an opportunity to honor those pioneers, showcase their regional influence and expose younger generations to an important part of Turks and Caicos history.
However, concerns raised publicly described the invitation as potentially disrespectful to local culture and heritage. Organizers acknowledged those concerns, apologizing to anyone who felt overlooked or offended, while maintaining that no disrespect was intended.
The committee said the event should ultimately unite rather than divide, presenting the band’s history as evidence of the reach and resilience of Turks and Caicos heritage.
PHOTO CREDIT: Bahamas Brass Band
News
BermudAir Launches New York Area’s First Nonstop Service to South Caicos, Now Just a 3.5 Hour Flight from Newark
Twice-Weekly Nonstop Flights Begin December 20 with Fares from $347 One Way, Creating Direct Access to Salterra Resort & Spa
– New Route Expands BermudAir’s Winter Turks & Caicos Network –
[New York, NY – August 20, 2026] – BermudAir, the leading premium leisure carrier to Bermuda and the Caribbean, today announced it will introduce nonstop flights to South Caicos from Newark this winter. The route places one of the Caribbean’s most secluded island destinations just 3.5 hours from the New York area for the first time.
The new service starts on December 20, 2026, operating on Sundays and Thursdays, and will be the only nonstop service to the destination
from the New York area. This seasonal service will operate through April 25, 2027. Fares start at $347 one way ($773 roundtrip) and go on sale today.
The new South Caicos route creates gives travelers two distinct luxury resort options, with direct access to Salterra, A Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, recently named the No. 1 resort in Turks and Caicos by Condé Nast Traveler.
Set across 85 beachfront acres with a 3,000-foot private white-sand beach, Salterra brings a full luxury resort experience to an island still defined by its historic salinas, pristine waters, bonefishing flats and uninhabited cays. Upon landing at South Caicos International Airport (XSC), guests are approximately 10 minutes from the resort.
While flights go on sale today, the airline’s BermudAir Holidays vacation-packaging division will offer curated travel to South Caicos from next month, featuring flights, hotels and authentic island experiences, with bundled discounts and value-added perks, making it even easier to explore the destination.
Previously BermudAir announced seven new routes to Providenciales in Turks and Caicos, from Newark (EWR), Boston (BOS), Baltimore-Washington (BWI), Raleigh-Durham (RDU), Fort Lauderdale (FLL), St Petersburg/Tampa (PIE) and Toronto (YYZ) which will all start in December except for Fort Lauderdale which begins October 26.
Expanded Winter Season
- To South Caicos:
- Twice-weekly nonstop from Newark (Sundays and Thursdays) from December 20 through April 25, 2027.
- To Turks and Caicos:
- Weekly nonstop from Newark (Saturdays) and one weekly direct service (Thursdays) from December 19 through April 29, 2027;
- Weekly nonstop service from Boston (Saturdays), from December 19 through May 1, 2027;
- Weekly nonstop service from Baltimore-Washington (Thursdays), from December 24 through April 29, 2027;
- Twice-weekly nonstop service from Raleigh-Durham (Thursdays and Sundays), from December 20 through May 2, 2027;
- Thrice-weekly service from Fort Lauderdale (Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays), from October 26 through May 3, 2027;
- Twice-weekly nonstop service from St Petersburg/Tampa (Mondays and Thursdays), from December 21 through May 3, 2027; and
- Weekly nonstop service from Toronto (Saturdays), from December 19 through May 1, 2027.
“We’re thrilled to continue expanding our Caribbean network as the premium leisure carrier from North America,” said Adam Scott, Founder and CEO of BermudAir. “Now New Yorkers can fly nonstop to two distinct sides of the Turks and Caicos Islands — Providenciales and the secluded island of South Caicos, home to the exquisite Salterra and Sailrock South Caicos resorts.”
The airline consistently earns Net Promoter Scores of 70+, one of the highest ratings in the airline industry. All flights will be operated on comfortable Embraer E190 aircraft, offering passengers the airline’s signature warm service and authentic island hospitality.
“South Caicos has always felt worlds away, and that is part of its magic,” said Michael Tibbetts, Founder and CEO of Salterra. “Beginning this winter, guests can fly nonstop from Newark in 3.5 hours, land at one of the newest international airports in the region and be at Salterra minutes later. This route makes a long weekend escape and an extended stay to one of the Caribbean’s most unspoiled islands remarkably easy, without changing the sense of discovery that makes South Caicos so special.”
For more information or to book flights, visit www.flybermudair.com. Salterra will offer dedicated stay packages timed to BermudAir’s Thursday and Sunday nonstop service. To book a stay at Salterra, A Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, visit www.salterra.com
