TCI News
TCI: Authentically Thelma! The one who honours is now honouree
#Providenciales, Turks and Caicos – December 14, 2020 – It was her suggestion and her list which began the tradition of honouring educators like Oseta Jolly and Ianthe Pratt by naming schools in appreciation of them and on Monday the blessing was returned to a 40-year public education icon from Middle Caicos.
Thelma Lightbourne is humbled by the fact that the newly constructed Long Bay primary school carries her name, and that she is still around to see it.
Native to Bambarra and starting as a teacher at the tender age of 15-years old, Thelma Hamilton-Lightbourne never thought she would follow in her mother’s footsteps, she told me in an interview. She had dreams of becoming a nurse, but God, she says had other plans.
Mrs. Lightbourne reflected on how she was hired while on an errand to Grand Turk. Off-handedly selected because she happed to be in the right place, at the right time.
Initially she was a substitute teacher and once the teacher she was filling in for decided suddenly to leave for The Bahamas, permanently, it was Education officers and Helena Robinson who thought young Thelma would be the ideal fit.
That fateful trip to Grand Turk to turn in some of her mother’s reports to the Ministry of Education changed her life and was also a time she nearly lost her life.
The now 75-year old grandmother of seven children recanted a most frightening encounter with the sea and nature.
She said on the way back to Middle Caicos, after being hired by the Ministry of Education as the new teacher for her island, the boat was shipwrecked.
Though the captain tried to maneuver around the stormy weather, he could not and under the water went the boat which would commonly make the six hour journey to Grand Turk; the only mode of travel back then.
Thelma and others were clinging to a floating part of the vessel when they were rescued. Turks and Caicos lost two people in the tragedy that day. A teenaged Thelma was traumatized but safe.
Her first job in Education paid £5 per month.
“I would tell my children, when I went to go to Grand Turk with that five pounds (Great Britain Pound, GBP) and bought a pair of shows, very little else would you have left.”
Initially, her students were children of her own community in what was then the lower school until she did what she had never dreamed, moved to Providenciales. The shift in 1971 was inspired by the love of her life, her late husband, Thomas Lightbourne, a legend in his own right as a businessman and prominent Rotarian.
“Well the love of my life found me because I did not know Provo, so the love of my life found me,” explained Mrs. Lightbourne who now has seven grand-children because of that union in December of 1970.
To meet with or speak to this devout Baptist is to be tickled and to be awed by her charming, witty and humble demeanor. She is a spunky woman, rich in faith, wisdom, strong values, authenticity and humour!
Even at the school renaming on Monday December 14, 2020, Mrs. Thelma Lightbourne exhibited gratitude, poise and jokes… often, you could hear the audience laughing as she delivered her appreciation remarks.
Thelma began her formal training for teaching while stationed in Middle Caicos between 1960 and 1970; she continued to pursue studies in Antigua and Barbuda, despite being a new mother of two.
“Now when I went I left two small children at home, Elry was about a year and Dionne was about six months old,” she shared.
Her matriculation and exposure to formal education created increased demand for Thelma Lightbourne’s successful style of educating and connecting with the island’s children and clearly she was a leader.
The Education Department, who had entrusted her in 1960 with Middle Caicos’ children now wanted her to head the then, Blue Hills Primary school, which she did.
There, the nation’s first tuck shop was started and the investment in a copying machine was made, among other commendable strides. These accomplishments were practical interventions as students were able to purchase affordable meals and have access to copies of essential learning materials.
While she has fond memories of her girl students, Mrs. Lightbourne confesses that the boys, in those days outnumbered the girls.
She recalled one student in particular, who would not even go outside to play with the children until his work was completed. That little boy grew to become one of the most prominent local doctors and eventually, Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Now living in the community of Blue Hills, right next door to the school, Mrs. Lightbourne taught Rufus Ewing, who ascended to the post of premier in 2012 and his brother Goldray Ewing, who is a current member of the Turks and Caicos cabinet. She said they were both stand out pupils.
The Department would come calling again, expressing a need for Mrs. Lightbourne to move; the shift would take her down the hill to the high school, which she helped to bring into existence.
Thelma Lightbourne’s knack for connecting sincerely with students was required; it was a time when concern mounted about a stronger sense of identity for Turks and Caicos children. The Ministry of Education identified her as the one who could soften the blow of any adverse effects tourism and other developments could bring.
She let go of her beloved primary school and became a transformative force at the high school; taking on the social and moral development of older students as Guidance Counsellor and partnering that with teaching in Social Studies and Religious Knowledge.
Her polite protests lasted decades, but eventually the high school was able to lay hold of the treasure that was Thelma Hamilton Lightbourne. Her final stint in education would be at the Clement Howell High School, named for the principal she once worked under and from her recollection, brimming with Turks and Caicos hope for outstanding future leaders.
Reluctantly, heartbreakingly Thelma Lightbourne did what all government workers did at the age of 55 at that time; she resigned.
Since then, this matriarch has travelled the world with her husband who had long pined for the pleasure; survived sickness; was tutor to many of the younger generations who would come to her home for lessons; served her church and God in ways too numerous to outline and now enjoys watching her children as accomplished members of the Turks and Caicos society, building their own families and legacies.
Although she was not in the executive of the Department of Education, Mrs. Lightbourne fondly remembers being very much a part of the critical decisions for the sector.
On the list of recommendations she had made, that tribute could be paid to the valiance of teachers by renaming schools in their honour.
Lightbourne made the suggestion and presented a list of educators who were deserving of the honour. Some say her own name should have been included at that time but Thelma Lightbourne disagrees.
Her faith in a just and loving God told her that someday her day would come and surely it did and at a time when she could see it for herself and share it with her most precious students – her own children and grand-children. When asked the reaction of her family at the news that her name was to crown the country’s newest school; Mrs. Lightbourne said “they are happy and believe I deserve it” she added, “My husband would have said you deserve it.”
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
TCI News
Turks and Caicos Corporate Community Join Beaches Resort to Raise Funds for Jamaica’s Hurricane Melissa Relief
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 Beaches Turks and Caicos resort General Manager Deryk Meany (left) and Managing Director of the Northern Caribbean and Curacao James McAnally
2nd insert: Members of the Beaches Turks and Caicos resort’s entertainment team were on hand to provide scintillating performances at the event
3rd insert: Beaches Turks and Caicos resort 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
