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Mothers serving in the Defence Force Mother’s Day Special Feature Lieutenant Natasha Woods

Published

5 years ago

May 10, 2021

Story by Petty Officer Monique Deveaux

Defence Headquarters,(RBDF), May 10, 2021 – Lieutenant Natasha Woods is a strong and resilient officer within the Royal Bahamas Defence Force. She possesses the qualities of diligence, openness, and flexibility, which is indicative of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force’s organizational pillar- agility. With youth on her side, she stands fortified with strength, stamina, and endurance to take the future generation of marines to the next level in their careers. A crusader in the crest of good, she would continue to fight with the last breath within her.

This officer is not easily moved, she withstands the pressure of life like a sturdy rubber band. She knows how to be stretched above and beyond and yet is still able to maintain her composure as an individual. Her dedication, commitment, and willing spirit are on display daily, as she constantly works in the background on many event-planning boards and committees, ensuring the success of RBDF functions. Woods is a goal-driven individual who is aware of her potential, capabilities, and abilities. She is always ready to commit one hundred percent to a task. As a woman and mother, she believes that anything is possible if one puts their mind and heart into whatever one desires to master. Woods describes herself as affectionate, but does not take her kindness for weakness. This officer understands the difference between kindness and a doormat. She is a very outspoken person.

Woods, who is a musically inclined, plays the Alto Saxophone, as well as other instruments. She was a member of her high school band under the leadership of Mr. Yonel Justilien as one of the lead saxophonists. She loves to sing and can often be found listening to the song “Victory”, by Yolanda Adams, her favorite artist. Somehow, the beat and lyrics of this song are uplifting to her when she feels overwhelmed or sad. She also enjoys spending time with friends; a basic grill and chills at the poolside. Given the nature of her job, she may be required for detachment and/or deployment. Being away from home a lot has turned her into a individual that brings people together, like her friends and family. Because Woods is at oftentimes required to be away from home, she misses her family and friends, so she therefore is apt to arrange a little “R & R” to bring them together.

Like many of her generation, Woods is an expert at multitasking. What many people don’t know about her is that she is artistic. At least once a month she can be found working on an art piece, using materials from trees and materials around the yard to build the art pieces that she either displays in her home or gives to a friend. Her love for interior decorating keeps her busy at home rearranging furniture adding little here and there. When not spending time with friends, she is often by herself figuring crossword puzzles or in the company of her children. She is a single parent, of two girls, and one boy; Timoya Walton 14, T’Asia Walton 8, and Lester Simmons III 2 years old.

Her reason for enlisting in the Defence Force is a result of her older sibling, Leading Mechanic Denver Woods. Leading Mechanic Woods would often brag to his family after coming home from sailing about the different people he would meet, and the various islands he had the opportunity to visit. She thought about all the excitement her brother brought with him, and said to herself, “Hey I want to do that too!” She wanted to go on boats, sail, meet people, and go to different islands, an experience some individuals cannot share. She wanted to feel that experience, so she filled out the application and sent it in. Most importantly, she wanted to follow in her big brother’s footsteps, which was her reason and inspiration for joining the Force.

Being musically was a plus to be selected as a recruit. At the time she enlisted, the Defence Force Band under the leadership of Lieutenant Commander Bertram Bowleg was in the process of extending the band’s complement. After joining the Force as a member of new entry 46/woman entry 16, she has had the privilege to work in numerous essentials departments. She was first drafted as a marine into the Administration Department/subsection Band. As she blossomed into that consummate marine, the bandmaster encouraged her to excel higher by applying for the young officer’s course. She was successful and was selected to attend the Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, England.

After successfully completing the course, she was transferred from a rating to the officer corps. Woods has since served onboard HMBS Bahamas and has filled in on numerous ships whilst serving in the Squadron Department, including a tour of duty onboard HMBS Durward Knowles. Along with playing an instrumental role over the years with the RBDF Annual Summer Camp Program, she has also served in the Administration Department as Wardroom Manager on two consecutive occasions. She is currently part of the Supply Department, and as such she has held the billet of Acting Assisting Base Supply Officer, a position she is now confirmed in, and she also holds the post of the Exchange Officer. She was awarded the Commander Defence Force Commendation Award for her efforts and contribution to the Supply Department.

Woods’ journey in the pursuit of excellence began when she enrolled at The College of Bahamas as a Biochemistry Major. After aspiring to become a Forensic Scientist, her goal of completing her schooling was put on hold as she embraced motherhood. Even after joining the Force, Woods has always felt a nudging feeling deep down within her to complete her degree. Many years before joining the Force, it had always been a goal of hers that she had written as one of the things she wanted to accomplish. After unsuccessfully obtaining study leave, she was however, determined to complete her degree. During that period in her career, she was assigned as Operations Officer onboard HMBS Durward Knowles. She nevertheless, went and applied to the College of The Bahamas in pursuit of an Accounting Degree, and was accepted into the program.

In her pursuit, she is reminded of the words of Mark Twain, “Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.” This is how she felt, and she was lucky enough to be working under great leaders at that time, who all supported her dreams and aspiration as a young officer. They inspired her to become great and stood with her as she took on a full slate of classes. It was difficult! Some semesters she took six to seven classes to complete her degree within four years. She would at oft times take a vacation when she had major exams, to ensure that she passed. She was determined and not prepared to re-take any course. Her motto was “Get there, get it and get out!” She achieved her goals through hard work. She used cue cards, studied literature online, completed pop quizzes and practiced with past exams, all in an effort to make the mark. Obtaining her degree was not all smooth sailing, because she had obstacles and bumps in the road. However, she kept pushing and today, she has completed her degree in Business Administration in Accounting at the now renamed University of The Bahamas. Although she didn’t achieve a Forensic Scientist status, she still keeps the option of becoming a Forensic Accountant.

When asked who she holds as a role model, Woods replies: “My role models are my parents.” They were the glue of the family. Her parents had four children. They would ensure that the children were well maintained, educated, and provided for. They gave their children the discipline needed to become productive members of society. Her parents didn’t believe in youngsters being wayward children. Her mother was the caretaker of the home and her dad worked long hours, but remained the disciplinarian. As a mother, she wants to instill some of the teachings she learned from her mom and dad into her children. She believes that it is the parent’s responsibility to groom the child/children as it should be.

Woods says her superhero is Superwoman because she is a female and a strong icon in society. Despite being strong, she has her weaknesses and the welfare of people in society is her passion. However, with Superwoman, she can strike the balance with family and friends. Superwoman has a never-ending crusade to rid society of evil and wickedness for the betterment of the general public. “She’s my superhero because she reminds me of myself,” Woods says. “I want to follow in Superwoman’s footsteps as a woman knowing that it is okay to be strong. Nevertheless, it is equally important to embrace one’s weakness in the effort to turn that weakness into a strength that benefits oneself, advances one’s career, families and nurturing one’s relationship with others. As an officer of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, my goal is to always look out for the welfare of those entrusted to me, as well as the greater force.”

Woods recounts her journey thus far on the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and says the highlight of her career would be a combination of a list of works that she has been engaged in in the past five (5) years. She has been involved in writing letters to organizations and businesses within the Bahamas requesting discounts to military personnel with the presentation of a valid Defence Force Identification Card (ID). Like other Militaries and Coast Guard personnel around the world, members of the Defence Force now have this opportunity. She gives thanks to the Commander Defence Force who allowed her to succeed in this venture.

Woods concludes by sharing her outlook on the idea of beauty. “Beauty, I believe as a strong military person, and mother are not found in the clothes that we may wear from time to time, nor is it our shapes that we have, though they may be appealing to others. Beauty is reflected in our innermost souls. It is in the practical things in life that most people take for granted. Thinking about it, beauty is showing compassion and caring for others. It teaches our children the value of being a brother’s keeper. Beauty, this Mother’s Day is passing on the legacy of family values and traditions. It is knowing that it takes a village concept to raise one’s child. As a military mother in the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, I will say, let’s continue to build that village in which our children can feel safe and be nurtured as we guard our heritage this Mother’s Day.”

Message to My Children this Mother’s Day.

On this Mother’s Day, my little darlings, I want you to know mommy loves you and appreciate you. You are the reason that I keep going strong. The fact that I know you are there gives me the energy to propel forward and keep working. I want you to know, I’m working for your success, not mine. I am working to ensure that you are well taken care of and can fulfill the dreams you wish to pursue with mama’s aid. I want you to know that you may not see me all the time, but I am here for you. I’ve got your back and most of all, I love you no matter what!

(For further information please contact the RBDF Public Relations Department or visit our website: www.rbdf.gov.bs, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and view our Youtube channel)

-rbdf-

#GuardOurHeritage

#MarlinSpike

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ISU Future Creators Challenge Celebrates Youth Creativity and Intellect

Published

2 weeks ago

March 26, 2026

Deandrea Hamilton

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – March 26, 2026 – The Informal Settlements Unit (ISU) successfully hosted its Future Creators Challenge Prize Distribution Ceremony on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at its office in Providenciales, recognising outstanding student creativity and participation from across the Turks and Caicos Islands with winners hailing from Providenciales and North Caicos.

The Future Creators Challenge formed a central component of the ISU’s Youth Outreach Programme, an initiative designed to engage young people in understanding the challenges associated with informal settlements while encouraging critical thinking, creativity, and solution-oriented perspectives on national development. Through a combination of educational content, school engagement, and creative competitions, the programme provided students with an opportunity to explore issues of community development in accessible and meaningful ways.

Students competed across three categories: 2D Art, Essay Writing, and Jingle Creation, producing submissions that demonstrated both creativity and thoughtful engagement with the themes of the programme.

The following students were recognised for their outstanding performances:

2D Art Challenge
1st Place – Emily Joree – MILLS Institute
2nd Place – T’Sean Anthony – Thelma Lightbourne Primary School
3rd Place – Jagan Russell – MILLS Institute
4th Place – Eve Harvey – MILLS Institute

Essay Challenge
1st Place – Jordan Pierre – Louis Garland Thomas High School
2nd Place – Kavya Mirwani – British West Indies Collegiate
3rd Place – Mirsendy Obei – Raymond Gardiner High School

Jingle Challenge
1st Place – Naivan Smith – Raymond Gardiner High School

In addition to individual awards, MILLS Institute was presented with a special prize in recognition of submitting the highest number of entries to the ISU Future Creators Challenge, reflecting exceptional student participation and institutional support.

In remarks delivered during the session, ISU Strategic Lead Justice Carlos Simons KC underscored the importance of youth participation in shaping the future of the Turks and Caicos Islands, noting that “the future of the Turks and Caicos Islands depends on young people like you who are willing to engage, to imagine solutions, and to play a role in the development of your communities.” He further encouraged students to continue playing an active role in national development, expressing that he hoped “this is only the beginning of your journey as agents of change here in the TCI.”

The ISU extends its sincere appreciation to all participating schools, students, and teachers as well as the Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture, whose support contributed to the success of this inaugural Youth Outreach Programme initiative.

The Unit remains committed to expanding its engagement with young people across the Turks and Caicos Islands through innovative, inclusive engagement efforts that support awareness, education, and long-term national development.

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WHERE ARE THE LOCAL ARTISTS?

Published

3 weeks ago

March 18, 2026

Deandrea Hamilton

Turks and Caicos, March 18, 2026 – Across the Turks and Caicos Islands, the skyline is changing. New resorts rise along the Northern coastline of Providenciales, promising luxury, exclusivity, and world-class experiences designed for the global traveler. These developments are often celebrated as progress, as evidence of economic growth and international relevance.

But beneath that narrative lies a quieter question: who is this development truly for, if it does not meaningfully include the culture of the place it occupies?

More specifically, where are the local artists?

Modern tourism is no longer defined by architecture alone. Today’s traveler is not simply purchasing a room. They are seeking experience, identity, and connection to a place. In response, hospitality brands increasingly market authenticity as a defining feature of luxury.

Encouragingly, there are emerging examples within the Turks and Caicos Islands where this principle is present. Recent developments such as Beaches Resort’s new village extension, Treasure Beach and The Strand TCI have made intentional efforts to incorporate local visual artists into their properties, signalling an understanding that art is not an accessory, but an essential component of place-making.

These efforts demonstrate what is possible. Yet, across many developments, this level of integration remains inconsistent or non-existent. In comparison, the yet to open properties like the Andaz feature videos claiming to be rooted in culture while promoting Nigerian-Canadian and Trinidadian artists; whose work will adorn its walls and shape the narrative of “local culture” to its visitors. There are whispers of developments transporting artists all expenses paid to create and outfit their properties with art.

Instead of commissioning local artists, properties also rely on imported, mass-produced décor or artwork sourced from overseas. The result is a visual identity that could belong anywhere. A resort may sit on TCI Soil, but its interiors frequently tell no story of the islands themselves. This is more than an aesthetic oversight. It is a missed cultural and economic opportunity.

Local artists are not merely decorative contributors. They are interpreters of place, translating the land, its flora, and its lived experience into visual form. In a destination like the Turks and Caicos Islands, where identity is deeply tied to landscape and memory, art plays a critical role in shaping how a place is understood and remembered.

To exclude local artists from major developments is, in effect, to remove one of the most direct expressions of national identity from the visitor experience.

There is also a clear economic cost.

When developments bypass local creatives, funds that could circulate within the domestic economy instead flow outward. This is a form of economic leakage that is rarely discussed but widely felt. Commissioning local artists, licensing their work, and integrating it into design and branding are not acts of charity. They’re investments in a local creative economy with the potential to grow alongside tourism itself.

There remains an outdated assumption that meeting international standards requires looking outward rather than inward. But globally, the opposite is increasingly true. The most competitive destinations are those that embed local culture into their offerings in meaningful ways. Authenticity is no longer optional; it is expected.

The Turks and Caicos Islands should not aspire to look like everywhere else. Its value lies in being unmistakably itself. The positive steps taken by developments such as Beaches’ Treasure Beach and The Strand TCI should not be viewed as exceptions, but as a model. They show that integrating local artists is both achievable and beneficial, enhancing the guest experience while supporting the domestic economy.

This raises an important question for policymakers and developers alike: what would it look like to make this approach standard practice? Practical solutions already exist. Development frameworks/agreements can encourage or require a percentage of project budgets to be allocated to local art. Our newly launched national artist registry by the Department of Culture could streamline procurement and ensure professional standards. Partnerships between developers and cultural institutions could allow artists to be involved from the earliest design stages, rather than as an afterthought.

Hotels themselves can play a role by hosting exhibitions, supporting artist residencies, and incorporating locally produced work into their guest experience. Beyond one-time purchases, licensing agreements can allow artists to benefit from the continued use of their work across branding and digital platforms. None of this is radical. It is standard practice in destinations that understand the long-term value of cultural identity.

At its core, this issue is about more than art. It is about how a country chooses to represent itself, and who is included in that representation. The Turks and Caicos Islands is not simply a collection of beaches and luxery buildings. It is a living culture, shaped by its people, its history, and its environment. Its artists are part of that fabric, producing work that reflects and preserve what makes these islands distinct.

To build a tourism industry that does not meaningfully include them is to create a version of the country that is incomplete.

As development continues, the question is not whether the islands will grow. Growth is already underway. The question is whether that growth will be rooted in the identity of the place, or whether it will continue to operate around it.

In a global market where authenticity carries increasing value, the answer should be clear.

I leave you to ponder:

Turks and Caicos, where are YOUR artists?

About HezronH:

“We are all blended with a swath of experiences; walking, breathing, and thinking creatures full of insight and emotions expelled through every single pore. Our aura illuminates spaces of darkness and drives ideas through vision, endowing minds with fragments of personality shimmering through a kaleidoscope of colour.”

Turks and Caicos Islands’ artist Hezron Henry’s work is an exploration of this concept, via his practice. His body of work consists of oil stick, oil pastel and acrylic on paper, canvas, and digital painting, adapting both traditional and modern painting mediums to his signature style. His art is laden with vibrant colours and a link is established highlighting the emotive power of colour. Drawing inspiration from his youth, collecting comics, and his everyday interactions as an adult, he bridges youthful vibrancy and rule-breaking with the depth of an individual’s search for belonging in a region, still underrepresented, and overlooked.

Hezron infuses his portraits with introspection and longing while vivid colours harken to a palette present in Fauvism.

His passion is honest artistic expression, creating an experience people can enjoy and connect with on an ethereal level.

As one of Turks and Caicos’ most prolific artists he has exhibited in cities across Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Trinidad & Tobago at CARIFESTA, Portland (USA), and at Art Takes 2021 (NYC). Hezron has also had the pleasure of being featured in several publications: Beautiful Bizarre Magazine, Wacom’s “The Next Level,” Turks and Caicos Magazine, and selected as “Curators’ Picks: Emerging” on international art platform Artsy.

Select Achievements/Exhibitions/Publications/Projects

2024 – Indelible Imprints, Group Show, SaveArtSpace x Gallery 90220, Los Angeles

2024 – Feature, Cacique (interCaribbean In-Flight Magazine), Apr – Jun

2024 – Interview, Up and Away (Bahamasair In-Flight Magazine), Apr – Jun

2023 – Curators’ Picks: Emerging – Artsy

2023 – Curators’ Choice: Atlantic World Art Fair

2023 – Print It!, Group Exhibit, Leeds, UK

2022 – Caribbean Metaverse Art Week, Decentraland

2022 – Deus: The Quest for Divinity, Solo Show, Black Pony Gallery, Artsy Viewing Room

2021 – Expression Against Oppression, Group Exhibit, SaveArtSpace, Portland

2020 – Drawn Vol. 4: Leaders in Contemporary Illustration

2020 – Exclusive Evening of Art Exhibition, Group Show, Providenciales

2019 – Across Boundaries Exhibition, Group Show, Trinidad and Tobago National Museum

2019 – Apparel Collab, Konk

2018 – Fabric Prints, bēchë 2019 Collection

2017 – EP Cover, Maskanoo, Lady Livz

2017 – The Next Level Exhibition, Group Show: Sydney, Melbourne & Auckland

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ISU Supports Successful Multiagency Demolition Exercise in Blue Hills

Published

6 months ago

October 23, 2025

Deandrea Hamilton

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 23 October 2025 — The Crown Land Unit, supported by the Informal Settlements Unit (ISU) and Immigration and Border Services, led the successful execution of a reclamation exercise in Blue Hills on Wednesday October 15, 2025. The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force provided security for the operation, which formed part of the Government’s ongoing mandate under the Crown Land Ordinance to prevent squatting and encroachment on Crown Land.

During inspections conducted by the Crown Land Unit, illegally constructed timber buildings were identified on parcels 60501/091 and

60501/092. Notices of Illegal Occupation were issued in accordance with the Crown Land Ordinance; however, the persons responsible for the construction failed to comply with the instructions contained in the notices. As a result, enforcement action was taken to remove the structures and reclaim the land.

The exercise resulted in the full reclamation of 0.84 acres of Crown Land, with the removal of sixteen unauthorized and unoccupied timber structures across the two parcels. Of these, four structures were located on parcel 60501/091 (measuring 0.49 acres) and twelve structures on parcel 60501/092 (measuring 0.35 acres).

The ISU reaffirms its commitment to supporting partner agencies in the coordinated management of Crown Land, ensuring that all enforcement actions are carried out lawfully, efficiently, and in the public interest.