TCI News
TCI: TCHTA Maskanoo is set for Boxing Day!
#Providenciales, 12 December, 2019 – Turks and Caicos – The 9th annual Turks & Caicos Hotel and Tourism Associations (TCHTA) Maskanoo Extravaganza is set to be one of the biggest celebrations of the year with vibrant colors and cultural performances attracting a record crowd to the Grace Bay Strip on Providenciales.
Come December 26th –Boxing Day, the street will come alive with heart-pounding drums, whistles, horns, and cowbells as the country revels in its iconic cultural celebration.
Launched by cultural enthusiast David Bowen in 2010 and supported by the TCHTA, the annual cultural celebration has consistently drawn a large crowd from all over the island to enjoy the festive street parade featuring local music, food, performances and fun for all ages.
“Maskanoo has become a holiday tradition as well as a cultural icon for our residents and tourists alike,” said Stacy Cox, CEO of the Turks & Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association, “and this year, thanks to the generous support from the Ministry of Tourism, the Tourist Board, VIP Flyers Club and IGA Supermarkets, we are able to bring the annual celebration back for a 9th year.”
Cox also admits that while the annual extravaganza will take place, the organization has seen a sharp decline in financial support and sponsorship. As such, she is extending an invitation to all members of the private and public sectors to join forces with the Association to make this iconic cultural event even bigger in 2020.
“Maskanoo is ours, it’s for our culture and our country, but it requires support and sponsorship to put on a show of this caliber.” She said, “We humbly encourage everyone to look for ways to sustain and grow this festival for next year and the years to come.”
David Bowen also expressed his sentiments for support and said that the festival has grown and has become the fiber of the Turks and Caicos Islands. “The key here is to get the community and stakeholders more involved. Maskanoo is expanding, it’s getting bigger and bigger each year and there is still a lot that the community can do to support the event and it requires support and commitment through sponsorships,” he said.
“This year we promise to deliver a great event, we have great entertainment for the lineup, and it will be an amazing show.”
The show kicks off at 3:00 pm on Grace Bay Road with the TCI’s hottest DJ , Pro Vision, Q-Band Lynks featuring Tess, Raj the Entertainer, Karl Lewis, the Ripsaw All-Stars and more rocking the crowd. In addition to the headline entertainment, there will be cultural displays, dancing, native craft vendors, children’s treats, food vendors, food trucks, including the popular Turks Head truck, and giveaways galore!
Cox stressed that the security of both residents and visitors is a priority and encourages persons to come and celebrate without worry. “One of the things that we take most seriously is security. As usual, the Royal Turks & Caicos Islands Police Force will be out in full effect along with officers of the Dove security firm. We are also adding additional manpower to our security team for this year’s event.”
The TCHTA CEO reminds residents that the Grace Bay Road between Salt Mills and the Seven Stars Resort will be closed off from 11:00 am to facilitate setup for the event.
Sponsors for this year’s TCHTA Maskanoo celebration include All TCHTA member hotels, The Ministry of Tourism and Turks and Caicos Islands Tourist Board along with several businesses on the Grace Bay Strip.
For more information or to register as a Maskanoo 2020 Sponsor, please contact the TCHTA Office at #52 Salt Mills Plaza in Grace Bay at 339-5787.
Release: TCHTA
Her Excellency the Governor is pleased to announce that following an expressions of interest process, and in accordance with Section 5 of the Financial Services Commission Ordinance 2007, Mr Dimaggio Rigby, Mr Geoff Scott and Mr Dennis Swann, have been appointed to serve as Commissioners on the Financial Services Commission Board of directors.
Mr Rigby brings specialist experience in cyber, media, and technology risks. He is currently employed in the City of London as a Cyber Insurance Market Consultant.
Mr Scott is a financial services professional with over 30 years’ successful track record in banking. He currently leads the Bermuda Bankers Association and was, until August 2022, the Chief Executive Officer of the Insurance Cooperation of Barbados Limited (ICBL).
Mr Swann is a Fellow of the Institute of Canadian Bankers. He has expertise in Human Resources and worked for the Bank of Nova Scotia for 12 years. He has previously worked within the TCI FSC.
Commenting on the appointments, the Governor said:
“Following consultation with the Hon. Premier (in his capacity as th
e Minister of Finance) and the Hon. Leader of the Opposition, I have appointed Mr Dennis Swann, Mr Dimaggio Rigby and Mr Geoff Scott respectively, to serve as Commissioners (non-executive directors) on the Board of the Turks and Caicos Islands Financial Services Commission (FSC). I am confident that the combined experience of these three new Commissioners will help ensure the FSC delivers our vision for a technologically advanced financial services sector that is competitive and supports growth, is well regulated while agile and internationally respected.
I would like to thank Mr Keno Forbes for his previous service as a Commissioner.”
The appointments are for a three-year period, beginning in April 2024. Further details on the work of the Financial Services Commission can be found at TCIFSC.
Wednesday, April 17th 2024 – On Monday the 15th April at 11 am, the Turks and Caicos AIDS Awareness Foundation (TCAAF) unveiled their new brand to their supporters, members, the media, government departments and partnering NGO’s. The TCAAF, which is now the Turks and Caicos Health and Wellness Foundation (TCHWF) welcomed everyone to their new office which is oblique to the Edward Gartland Youth Centre, Downtown, Providenciales.
The TCHWF was founded in 2003 and is a registered non-profit organization in the TCI and a registered 501 (c) non-profit in the United States as well. TCHWF will focus on addressing broader health and social issues driven by the intersectionality of health and social factors, and disparities in services in the TCI.
At the ceremony, Dr. Dawn O’Sullivan, who provides medical care to persons living with HIV (PLHIV) through the Foundation and will continue to be the doctor on staff for TCHWF, gave the audience an insight on how the Foundation began. Dr. O’ Sullivan praised the board members, staff and volunteers for the success of the Foundation, which includes building the Edward Gartland Youth Centre. She explained that the rebranding was necessary since HIV is a chronic disease where you can take medication and live a long and healthy life, but support is needed for all persons living with chronic diseases and for the population that feels excluded or stigmatized.
TCHWF will provide holistic care to these populations. The new TCHWF office is comprised of a doctor’s office where patients can have consultations and be treated, and other comfortable spaces where persons can relax and unwind.
Nurse Nora Tyndall briefed the attendees on the services that the Foundation currently offers, such as the donation of a CD4 machine to the government so that patients can know their CD4 count before seeing the doctor. Other services being offered are free medical consultations, improved access to treatment and care, convenient access to medications, food cards, grocery distribution and the provision of formulas to infected mothers who give birth and cannot breastfeed. Nurse Tyndall highlighted that there is an increase in the number of pregnant women living with HIV in the TCI.
The new mandate of TCHWF is “Linking Lives, Transforming Communities”, the Foundation’s mission is to expand its services to connect HIV and non-HIV persons to entities and experts that can address varying needs.
The Executive Director of TCHWF, Anansa Jervis, highlighted the Foundation’s “aim to promote access to quality health services, information and education in the Turks and Caicos Islands.” Mrs. Jervis further explained that this would mean the need to “integrate HIV services and non-HIV services by increasing access to holistic and comprehensive health services needed for PLHIV and persons not living with HIV.” In this regard, the TCHWF intends to provide linkage to:
▪ The cultivation of youth empowerment and the development of life skills
▪ Health, hygiene, education and wellness strategies tailored to the needs of young women
▪ Care and support services for survivors of domestic violence
▪ Mental health, psychosocial services and recovery support services for persons with substance use disorders.
▪ Equitable access to HIV care and support services, addressing disparities.
To achieve these linkages, the Foundation has held discussions with various NGO’s and government organizations to provide the necessary services and support to persons with varying needs.
One of the Board Members of the Foundation, Giovanni Delancy, gave the closing address by expressing thanks to God, the members, staff, media and volunteers for attending the unveiling ceremony. He closed with “we will continue to bring awareness and education to those not only with HIV/AIDS but other STD’s and other diseases. Let us continue to make a difference wherever we go.”
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