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TCI Children and Coaches Sharpen Skills with Real Madrid Foundation Football Clinics

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#Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – January 23, 2020 — Some forty children and close to 15 local coaches benefitted from a series of football clinics hosted through a partnership between Sandals Resorts International, Beaches Resorts, The Sandals Foundation, and The Real Madrid Foundation, the social entity of the Real Madrid C.F., to develop its social commitment through education, integration and cooperation programs.

The activities kicked off at the Turks & Caicos Football Associations field on Monday, January 13, and ran through to Wednesday, January 15, 2020.   “This special partnership was two years in the making,” said James McAnally, General Manager for Beaches Resorts.  “We are extremely excited to bring the Real Madrid Foundation to the Turks & Caicos Islands for the first time ever and present opportunities for our children and coaches to learn important skills and training alongside these talented and respected coaches here within our island.”

In his remark at the opening ceremony on Monday, McAnally noted that “Through this unique relationship between Beaches Resorts, The Sandals Foundation and the Real Madrid Foundation, we’re able to use football to offer theory and practical training while promoting good values and contribute to the holistic development of our local kids.”

Over the three days, local children, all fewer than 12 years old,  participated in intense football training sessions learning the Real Madrid tactics and technique. On Wednesday, January 15, local coaches benefited from a three-hour, immersive theoretical and practical training session with the goal of passing on the skills, training, and knowledge of which future generations can learn, benefit and excel.

The resort and both Foundations collaborated with Turks & Caicos Football Associations (TCIFA) to recruit players from across the country and offered the use of their football field for the clinics. Oliver Smith, TCIFA General Secretary said, “ This was a tremendous opportunity for our junior players to be exposed to coaches and methods of training from one of the top clubs in the world.  An experience like this will go miles in aiding football development and we at the TCIFA look forward to continuing this fruitful relationship.”

“The Sandals Foundation has always used sports as an avenue to engage and transform the lives of children across the Caribbean,” said Heidi Clarke, Executive Director for the Sandals Foundation.  “Sport is an incredible tool that teaches lifelong skills in teamwork, tenacity, confidence, persistence and discipline. These clinics provide a unique opportunity to expose our youth and local coaching fraternity to learn the tricks and trade directly from professionals selected by the Real Madrid Academy, one of the world’s most acclaimed football clubs,” Clarke concluded.

The Real Madrid Foundation Football clinics were first executed in Jamaica in April 2019 and brought together some 50 local children. As the programme widens its reach to Turks and Caicos, Real Madrid Foundation’ Clinics Manager, Andres Muntaner, expressed delight.  “We are delighted to continue our collaboration with Beaches Resorts and the Sandals Foundation for it provides opportunities to educate the Caribbean kids using soccer with the goal to foster grassroots sports to all levels of players while promoting good values and contributing to the development of young players in the region”.

PRESS RELEASE: BEACHES TURKS AND CAICOS, JANUARY 22, 2020

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Local Beauty Queen, Activist and Model Selena Grant Graces the May Cover of Vigor Magazine

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Turks & Caicos’ rising star continues to blaze trails on the global stage

Providenciales, TCI – Turks & Caicos native Selena Grant, 24, is making headlines once again—this time as the cover star for the April 2025 issue of Vigor Magazine, an international publication celebrated for spotlighting fashion, culture, and emerging talent from around the world.

Grant, who first captured national attention in May 2024 when she was crowned Miss One Nation TCI, has since built a reputation as one of the country’s most multifaceted young women. In the past year alone, she has claimed 1st Runner-Up titles in both the Miss Universe Turks & Caicos pageant and the international Miss Global International competition. Her success on the runway, however, is only part of her story.

A dedicated community activist, Selena has contributed to humanitarian causes across the Islands, working with organizations such as United Way and Edward C Garland Yoith Centre and other outreach efforts. She also lends her skills to the medical field, currently serving as a lab apprentice at InterHealth Canada Turks and Caicos Islands.

Now, as the face of Turks & Caicos Fashion Week 2025, Selena is once again flying the national flag high. But this cover moment is not hers alone—it’s a shared triumph with the renowned model , runway coach, designer and photographer Kaye Cox, who not only photographed but also styled, directed, and retouched the entire shoot.

“I was incredibly honored to work with Kaye on this project,” Selena shared. “She’s a creative powerhouse and visionary. From concept to execution, every detail was hers—and I’m just so proud we could bring this vision to life together.”

Shot on the iconic shores of Providenciales, the editorial captures the essence of island elegance with a bold, high-fashion twist. The visuals, rich with cultural pride and artistic depth, immediately caught the eye of Vigor editors and landed both women their well-deserved spot on the cover.

This feature is another major milestone in Selena’s journey and a celebration of the brilliant women behind the lens and in front of it.

This marks yet another milestone in Selena’s modeling career and underscores her continued role as a cultural ambassador for the Turks & Caicos Islands.

From the stage to the studio, from the lab to the pages of an international magazine, Selena Grant continues to prove that beauty, brains, and purpose can go hand in hand—with women like Kaye Cox right there capturing it all.

Congratulations, Selena !

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News

Emailer Threatens Our Children; ‘Close Down the School’

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Deandrea Hamilton

Editor

 

Turks and Caicos, April 25, 2025 – Turks and Caicos national security leaders were deliberately vague about what led to their snap decision to shut down schools across Providenciales this week. The likely reason was to avoid panic after they were alerted to the dangerous and frightening prospect of what some anonymous sender planned to inflict upon the children, families and at least six private schools in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

“The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RT&CIPF), in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture, has launched an active investigation following the receipt of suspicious emails to six schools earlier this evening.

At this stage, police intelligence has not confirmed the legitimacy of the threats. However, the police force is treating the matter with the utmost seriousness.”

However, holding onto the precise threat spelled out in those ghastly emails, meant parents remained frustratingly clueless about what was so serious that it prompted school officials, to late on Wednesday night, ask them to not to drop their children to school.

Schools which were in session complied with the police statement, though we understand there was no direct communication with school administrations.

Magnetic Media also learned that those now infamous emails, dispatched to half a dozen schools including the International School, Precious Treasures, Provo Primary and British West Indies Collegiate, contained a bone-chilling threat to shoot at the schools this Friday, April 25, 2025.

“…you’ve been randomly selected for a shooting I recommend to have minimal damage done to close the school.  You will be given a 24Hr notice and a 12 Hr notice, God bless.”

There was no blessing obviously and thankfully, no violence.  Some of the schools targeted with the violent email are still on Easter Holiday.

“A joint meeting between education officials and senior police officers was convened promptly after the emails were reported. The RT&CIPF’s Intelligence Unit is fully engaged and working to trace the origin of the messages.

We understand that these messages may cause concern and wish to assure the public that everything possible is being done to protect our school communities,” informed the police press statement.

The statement came after 10 p.m. on Thursday April 23.

The sender, identified in the email as ‘Charles Millson’ and issued the threat to multiple schools via their staff accounts about 12 hours earlier, just minutes before 10 a.m. on April 23.  In the subject line: ‘Close Down the School.’

In this age of hyper-advanced technology, the email probably emanated from a phony account created to perpetrate this crime, which is in violation of the Summary Offences Ordinance, where ‘causing fear’ is cited as a crime and the Firearms Ordinances, which carries a weighty penalty of a 12-year minimum mandatory prison time for possession of an unlicensed gun and ammunition.

Authorities are expected to update the public on the progress of the investigation and its next steps. Students will remain home on Friday.

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Turks and Caicos Islander Deajah Smith Selected for Prestigious 2025 Women’s Sport Leadership Academy

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Turks and Caicos, April 25, 2025 – The Turks and Caicos Islands is proud to announce that DeAjah Smith has been selected to join the 2025 cohort of the internationally acclaimed Women’s Sport Leadership Academy (WSLA). Smith’s acceptance into the program marks a significant achievement, as she was chosen from a competitive pool of over 95 applicants representing more than 50 countries.

Her successful application was strongly supported by TCI Women in Sports, with a personal endorsement from the organisation’s founder and former president, Hon. Rita Gardiner. A trailblazer for women’s sports in the Turks and Caicos Islands, Hon. Gardiner commended Deajah’s “unwavering dedication, leadership potential, and her commitment to advancing opportunities for women and girls in sport.”

The WSLA selection team expressed high regard for Deajah’s skills, experiences, and aspirations, recognising her as someone who would not only benefit from the program but also contribute meaningfully to the global network of women leaders in sport.

A passionate advocate for youth and women’s empowerment through sport, Deajah has been actively involved in promoting inclusivity and development across the islands. Her selection underscores the growing impact of Caribbean women in global sports leadership spaces.

“I’m incredibly honoured to be accepted into WSLA 2025,” said Deajah. “This opportunity means so much to me, not only as a personal milestone, but as a chance to represent Turks and Caicos and inspire the next generation of girls in sport. I’m grateful for the support of Hon. Rita Gardiner and TCI Women in Sports for believing in me and championing my journey.”

The Women’s Sport Leadership Academy, based in the United Kingdom, is a globally recognised initiative that equips emerging leaders with the tools, strategies, and network to drive positive change in sport and beyond.

As Deajah prepares to represent the Turks and Caicos Islands on the international stage, her achievement serves as a source of national pride and a call to continue investing in the leadership potential of young women across the region.

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