#Providenciales, June 15, 2019 – Turks and Caicos – Impassioned speeches about the value of the preservation and showcasing of culture, sprinkled with a delightful Cabaret styled native show and peppered with presentations of history-holding, long service awards is one way to summarize the events which led to a fantastically successful night for the Turks and Caicos National Museum Foundation.
Hon. Mike Eman, former Prime Minister of Aruba
The
synergy of public and private sector individuals and even regional
encouragement was evidence that the Turks and Caicos benefits tremendously from
the melting pot of peoples within the islands.
Director
of the Turks and Caicos National Museum, Dr. Michael Pateman is overjoyed at
the triumph of the Museum Gala, held on Saturday June 7, 2019 at the Shore Club
on Long Bay Beach in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos.
“The gala was a resounding success and
incredibly raised over $200,000 from this event alone! With funds coming from
ticket sales, event sponsorship, advertising, silent auction, sale of engraved
pavers and donations; with an unbelievably generous $100,000 alone coming from
Martin & Donna Seim, Son of the original museum founder and board director
respectively, to name the main gallery in honor of the late Nils and Grethe
Seim,” said Dr. Pateman in a news release.
The fundraising goal is $3.5 million
for construction of the Providenciales location of the Turks and Caicos
National Museum.
The role
of Master of Ceremonies was expertly carried by President of the TCI Community
College, Dr. Hubert Fulford and country and corporate leaders helped to give
the evening greater prominence.
Attending were Hon.
Premier of the Turks & Caicos Islands, Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson, Hon.
Derek Taylor, former Chief Minister and Hon. Mike Eman, former Prime Minister
of Aruba and venue sponsor, Stan
Hartling of the Hartling Group.
From the Premier, a passionate
presentation “about the importance of historical and cultural preservation and
her governments support for the national museum, including a budgeted $50,000
in this year’s budget, increasing to $100,000 thereafter.”
From guest speaker, former Prime
Minister of Aruba, Mike Eman who travelled to TCI for the gala with his wife,
Doina Eman: “spoke about the importance of economic growth and increasing our
capacity for luxury tourism, as they have done in Aruba, but also to ensure
that education, housing, health and general well-being of our citizens is an
intrinsic part of that growth and to take lessons from the past, particularly
in relation to the sense of family, belonging and community. He also touched on
the similar pre-Columbian history and architectural elements found on Aruba, at
the other end of the Caribbean.”
A captivating visual presentation of
the design of the coming museum was led by its award-winning architect, Ron
Shaw of RA Shaw Designs.
Dr. Pateman added that the meal itself
was also masterpiece, “A truly delicious dinner was prepared by the Shore Club’s
Executive Chef Martin Davies and his team, which was served by The Clement
Howell High School Tourism Club, who did an incredible job…”
Premier Sharlene Robinson presents award to Hon. Derek Taylor
During Dinner TCI cultural legend David
Bowen and Friends stunned with a unique cultural show, choreographed especially
for the gala and singing was the original song bird of the TCI, Barbara
Johnson.
The awards were also tailored to the
night explained Dr. Pateman, “plaques made from the last three pieces of oak
left over from the Grandfather Clock in the national museum and executive pens
made from hurricane damaged trees from the museum garden on Grand Turk” were
presented for 27-years of service by Premier Sharlene Robinson to Hon. Derek
Taylor, Dr. Don Keith and Mr. Thomas Saunders.
All three – Taylor, Keith and Saunders
– have been volunteers on the Museum’s board of directors since inception.
President of the Turks and Caicos National Museum Foundation, Séamus Day thanked some 33 sponsors of the TCNMF’s gala.
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
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 BeachesTurksandCaicosresort General Manager Deryk Meany (left) and Managing Director of the Northern Caribbean and Curacao James McAnally
2nd insert: Members of the BeachesTurksandCaicosresort’s entertainment team were on hand to provide scintillating performances at the event
3rd insert: BeachesTurksandCaicosresort 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
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.