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TCI: TCHTA Junior Chefs Continue to Shine

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#Providenciales, July 10, 2019 – Turks and Caicos – The Turks & Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association’s (TCHTA) Hospitality Adventure Camp Alumni Wilkiens Martin, Wayne Gardiner Jr., Kevin Missick, Robinangel Simons and Christin Greene are making waves as they continue to excel while receiving praises and accolades from top organizations for their continuous strides in the industry. 

They have represented the destination at several top international culinary events and continue to serve as inspiration for many aspiring young local chefs across the islands.  

“Wilkiens, Robin, Wayne, Kevin and Christin are all products of our TCI Hospitality Adventure Culinary Camp which we run through the TCHTA with support from our members and the public,” said CEO of the association, Stacy Cox. “We have had so many success stories from this program which has created so many avenues to allow their talents to shine on the international stage. I am so proud of them all, and the many that have used this program as a tool to achieve their dreams.”

Wilkiens Martin has represented Turks & Caicos in over 10 competitions and events with Taste of the Caribbean being among the most recent.  He has accrued over seven medals, trophies and accolades during his time in the culinary field and has earned the respect of his peers, mentors and, most of all, the industry.

“The Culinary Camps have changed my life and led me to a path where I found my true passion,” said Martin. “I’ve always known I wanted to be a chef, but I wasn’t sure how to make that dream happen. After being encouraged by my high school Food & Nutrition teacher to join, I discovered a whole new world that provided endless possibilities and access to amazing mentors that have helped me get to where I am today.”

Martin credits his success to his hard work and perseverance and to the team of supporters that believe in him. He said that his seven-year journey was not an easy one as it took tremendous commitment to stay on the path and he encourages all aspiring junior chefs to take advantage of the programs that are available. “To all aspiring young chefs, my advice is to be patient with yourself, accept that you will make plenty of mistakes, people may even laugh at you.  But be strong, ask questions and take notes. Also, strive to think outside the box and be prepared to represent your country internationally.”

Wayne Gardiner, Jr. is another prominent up and coming chef who represented the island at the Rum and Rhythm Extravaganza in New York last month.  Gardiner credits his success to the Hospitality Adventure Lit’l Chefs Camp along with the list of mentors that have helped him along the way.

Kevin Missick represented TCI at the World Gourmet Summit in Singapore in May alongside top chefs such as TCI Culinary Ambassador, Nikita Skippings, Chef Lorraine Kenlock and fellow Junior Chef Alumni Robinangel Simons.  Missick said that being allowed to showcase his skills in Singapore has not only built his confidence but has also introduced him to a new style of cooking.  “I have always been fascinated with cooking and the Lit’l Chefs Camp has solidified my love and passion for the profession.” said Missick.

He too credits his success to hard work, determination and also taking advantage of the programs that are available to help young people develop their talents. “It took a lot of hard work, interning, studying, training and being mentored by some of the TCI’s best chefs. Because of this, I was able to represent the country internationally at the World Gourmet Summit in Singapore and win my first medal at the Taste of the Caribbean event last month.

Robinangel Simons has come through the Lit’l Chefs Camp and has gone on to continue her culinary studies in the United Kingdom, having now completed her Bachelor’s degree and intent on continuing to her Master’s.  Just last week, she led a faction of Team TCI to a gold win in Antigua at the Antigua & Barbuda Grandprix Invitational.

Christin Greene is also pursuing her studies in Hospitality Management and Culinary Arts at the Florida International University (FIU), now in her Junior year. She has successfully competed for Team TCI at the Junior Duelling Challenge in Barbados, and now prepares to mentor the Jr. Lit’l Chef campers this year while she is at home on her summer break.

These are just a few of the many success stories from the TCHTA’s Hospitality Adventure Camps.  This year, the camps have added some exciting changes welcoming not only aspiring chefs, but also boat captains and cosmetologists from across the islands.

Cox congratulated Martin, Gardiner, Simons, Missick and Greene and hopes that aspiring young professionals will hear these success stories and take advantage of the opportunities that are made available through these programs. “Hats off to all of them. I have watched them develop since the beginning, and their accolades and accomplishments speak to their growth. With the Hospitality Adventure Camps, we aim to spark interest and develop talents that will turn into a lifelong passion and career. Our goal is to provide programs and activities that lead to complete development and empowerment of our country’s talented youth.”

This year’s camps kicked off on July 8th with the Jr. Lit’l Chefs camp for students aged 12 to 14 years. The Lit’l Chefs Camp (a stay-over camp) takes place from July 14th to 20th. This is an advanced segment of the Jr. Lit’l Chefs program aimed at providing young cooks between the ages of 15 to 19 with an in-depth look into the culinary field and offer one-on-one coaching and a sleep-in camp experience. The Cosmetology camp rounds out this season’s events from July 22nd to 26th and will give students ages 15 to 19 an opportunity to learn about the beauty, spa, wellness and cosmetic industry.

The TCI Hospitality Adventure program has long been supported by members of the TCHTA. The organization has hosted three major annual fundraising events to help finance the initiative; the annual Taste of Tapas, Chefs on the Beach and the Golf Scramble all assist the TCHTA with covering the expenses of the camp, its continued development, and the costs associated with traveling to competitions.

Interested applicants are encouraged to visit the TCHTA Office. Prospective campers and parents will be required to sign a consent form and all camps are subject to an entry fee which will be paid by all applicants.

The TCHTA is also looking for interested chefs to join the award-winning culinary team.

For more information about the TCI Hospitality Adventure Camps or to learn how you can become a part of TEAM TCI, interested persons and organizations are encouraged to call the TCHTA office on 331-5787 or visit their social media pages.

Release: TCHTA

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Joyful Collaboration between 2 Regional Foundations Uplifts Tourism Professionals in Turks & Caicos

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CHTA Education Foundation & Sandals Foundation Training Celebration with TCHTA in Providenciales 20 October 2026. Front Row, L to R: Suzanne & Louise CHTAEF Trainers, Wesley Clerveau, PS Ministry of Tourism, Deryck Meany for Sandals Foundation, TCHTA team: Stacy-Ann Wharton, VP – Nicholette Thomas Operations Manager - Omega Simmons Board Member

Turks and Caicos – Caribbean Supercharged Service, Learning & Leadership workshops were enjoyed by professionals from Grace Bay Car Rentals, a local sponsor, alongside a Heavy Machinery Rental Company, a Paint retailer, 8 resorts, a luxury villa management enterprise and 3 TCHTA sponsored junior chefs, including Team TCI Junior Chef 2026, Zaliya Dickenson, who will complete at the Taste of the Caribbean in November for her country.

These workshops were the result of the longstanding partnership between the CHTA Education Foundation and their sponsor, Sandals Foundation, who support the Caribbean Supercharged programme on a different island every year. This year, the Turks & Caicos Hotel & Tourism Association (TCHTA) hosted the initiative to the delight of its members.

The workshops targeted new team members, seasoned professionals, managers and supervisors. Topics included Foundations & Finesse within Customer Interactions, Delivering Clear Expectations for Service Consistency and Making Memorable Moments.

Sandals Foundation was pleased to also sponsor chefs, cooks, stewards, warehouse & purchasing staff from 7 resorts and 2 high schools for an intensive HACCP Preparation & Pre-Requisites informational day, including international coursebooks, team training booklets and each person’s international assessment fee. The course is approved by the Royal Society for Public Health UK, earns Continuing Professional Development Credits, and is recognized globally as the leading Food Safety Management System.

Deryk Meany, General Manager, Beaches TCI, represented Heidi Clarke, Executive Director, Sandals Foundation at the 20 October Celebration with energy and passion for professional development and life-long learning in tourism to ever uplift and grow ourselves. He asked participants to ‘never stop learning! Today is a step upwards in your personal growth and that of the industry. We are never too old to learn, to share our experiences within training and grow”

Wesley Clerveau, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, gave spirited, positive inspiration and congratulations to the participants “Stayover arrivals in TCI have increased by 6% between January & June this year, we are hot! The place visitors wish to be, and your time, application and learning in each workshop is invaluable to us as a destination and to you as citizens and residents. I urge you to put what you have gained into practice immediately and keep applying yourselves; the more you upgrade, the more service elevates, the more we all succeed”

Karolin Troubetzkoy, Chairwoman, CHTA Education Foundation commented “Congratulations to everyone who participated in this year’s workshops, thank you for being fully engaged and making the most of your opportunity.

Special mention to the 8 past participants that we reunited with and are now working in leadership positions, BRAVO! We are delighted for you and encourage you to stay focused and keep shining and growing upwards.

It has been the Education Foundations honor to work closely with our sponsor Sandals Foundation and partner with TCHTA again to create Caribbean Supercharged positivity within each of you”.

Stacey-Ann Wharton, Vice President TCHTA, congratulated everyone present and stressed the TCHTA ongoing commitment to learning and development of members teams and management, along with special TCHTA scholarships for the HACCP session for 3 Junior Chefs, showing the Associations commitment to nurturing talent from High School upwards.

PHOTO CAPTIONS

First Insert: Wesley Clerveau, PS, Ministry of Tourism

Second Insert: Deryck Meany, GM Beaches TCI representing Sandals Foundation

Third Insert: Stacy-Ann Wharton, Vice President, TCHTA

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Multi-Agency Enforcement Exercise Targets Illegal Occupation of Crown Land in Five Cays

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Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands: The Crown Land Unit, with coordination and support from the Informal Settlements Unit (ISU), conducted a multi-agency enforcement exercise in the Five Cays area on Thursday, September 17, 2026, as part of ongoing efforts to address the illegal occupation and unauthorised use of Crown land.

The exercise brought together representatives from the Crown Land Unit, ISU and the Turks and Caicos Islands Border Force. Security for the exercise was provided by the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force. Inspections were conducted across several parcels of Crown land throughout Five Cays, where instances of illegal occupation and unauthorised use had been identified.

During the exercise, a total of forty (40) Section 22 Notices of Unauthorised Occupation were served in accordance with the provisions of the Crown Land Ordinance. The notices related to various forms of unauthorised occupation and use of Crown land, including incomplete structures, shipping containers, derelict vehicles, trailer chassis, building materials and other items.

Where persons were not present, notices were affixed to the relevant structures or items. The exercise forms part of the Crown Land Unit’s continuing efforts to prevent squatting and encroachment on Crown land and to ensure that identified instances of unauthorised occupation are appropriately addressed.

The Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands reminds the public that Crown land must not be occupied, developed or otherwise used without lawful authority.

The Crown Land Unit, supported by the ISU and its other partner agencies, will continue to identify and address instances of illegal occupation of Crown land across the Turks and Caicos Islands. Persons affected by notices issued during enforcement exercises are encouraged to comply with the requirements outlined and to seek guidance from the relevant authorities where necessary.

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BermudAir Launches Service to the Turks and Caicos Islands on October 26th, Expanding Air Connectivity Ahead of Winter Season

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Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands (October 22nd, 2026) – The Turks and Caicos Islands welcomes BermudAir as the airline begins its service to the destination on Monday, October 26th, marking the start of a wider expansion that will connect us with additional cities across the United States, Canada and the Caribbean.

BermudAir’s service will begin with a new nonstop service between Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Providenciales. The flight will depart from the Howard Hamilton International Airport at 8 am on Monday morning and arrives at 7.40 pm. Aboard the inaugural flight will be a delegation from the Turks and Caicos Islands led by Experience Turks and Caicos and the Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority (TCIAA), and will include Deputy Governor, Her Excellency Anya Williams, Minister of Tourism, Hon. Zhavargo Jolly, as well s representatives of the Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association (TCHTA), the board of the Turks and Caicos Islands Tourism Authority, Invest TC and local media.

BermudAir will operate the Fort Lauderdale–Providenciales route three times weekly, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, through May 3rd, 2027. making it easier for business travellers with the schedule offering the potential for same-day return trips. The airline is also launching nonstop service between Fort Lauderdale and Belize City, Belize, on the same schedule, offering travellers in South Florida direct access to both destinations.

The new service introduces BermudAir’s premium leisure inflight experience to the Turks and Caicos Islands. Flights will operate on Embraer E190 aircraft configured without middle seats, giving every passenger a window or aisle seat, alongside complimentary snacks and beverages.

Minister of Tourism, the Honourable Zhavargo Jolly, welcomed the airline’s arrival, noting the importance of expanding airlift to support the continued development of the destination’s tourism industry.

“Air connectivity remains one of the most important factors in the continued development of our tourism industry. BermudAir’s expansion represents an opportunity to strengthen our connections with key international markets while opening new doors for our sister islands. I am particularly encouraged by the planned direct service between Newark and South Caicos, which speaks directly to our vision of expanding tourism opportunities across the Turks and Caicos Islands. Our objective is to ensure that improved connectivity translates into greater economic activity, stronger local businesses and more opportunities for Turks and Caicos Islanders to participate in and benefit from tourism.” said Minister Jolly.

Commenting on the significance of the new route for the country’s development, the Honourable Arlington Musgrove, Minister of Physical Planning and Infrastructure Development (PPID), stated: “The introduction of BermudAir’s new service is a testament to the continued growth and development of our aviation sector. The Ministry of Physical Planning and Infrastructure Development, alongside the Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority, remains dedicated to enhancing our airport infrastructure to accommodate increased airlift. We are committed to working to ensure that our facilities provide a seamless, world-class experience for all incoming passengers and we warmly welcome BermudAir to our shores.”

The Fort Lauderdale launch is the first of several new services BermudAir plans to introduce to the Turks and Caicos Islands for the 2026–2027 winter season. Additional connections to Providenciales are scheduled from:

  • Bermuda to TCI and Grand Cayman: Beginning December 18th, 2026
  • Anguilla: Beginning December 19th, 2026
  • Boston, Massachusetts: Beginning December 19th, 2026
  • Toronto, Canada: Beginning December 19th, 2026
  • Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina: Beginning December 20th, 2026
  • Newark, New Jersey to South Caicos: Beginning December 20th, 2026
  • St. Petersburg/Tampa, Florida: Beginning December 21st, 2026
  • Baltimore-Washington: Beginning December 24th, 2026

The expansion will give travellers more options for reaching the destination during the winter travel season, while broadening access from established and developing source markets. The additional routes also create opportunities for tourism stakeholders to reach new audiences and encourage visitors to explore more of the islands.

For flight schedules and bookings, visit www.flybermudair.com.

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