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TCHTA Reveals Jaw-Dropping Cover and Features Local Talent in Destination 2022 Magazine

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#TurksandCaicos, January 28, 2022 – The highly anticipated return of the TCHTA’s Destination Turks & Caicos Islands Magazine delivered all the sensation and dazzle befitting the time-honoured publication.

Now in its 16th year of production, the “Destination Guide”, as it has been endearingly dubbed, is a mainstay of the tourism product in the Turks & Caicos Islands. It is a cover-to-cover representation of the sights, accommodations, activities, and culture of this destination with all resort, villas, and hospitality businesses proudly displaying and sharing the guide with those who come to our shore.

The powerful imagery within the pages of the Destination magazine has made it a collector’s item for visitors and residents alike with requests from past visitors for the latest edition to be mailed to them each year.

At the 15-year mark, the TCHTA took the bold leap to contemporize the publication and to discontinue the outsourcing of its production, taking on the task in-house. The Marketing Committee and Office Team brought on local talent to build a powerhouse creative group that would give a face-lift to the showpiece and modernize its production to assure continued appeal to the today’s market. The result was astounding, with the TCHTA adopting a modern, sleek, oversized luxury magazine and retiring the hardcover coffee table book that had become synonymous with the annual.

Chair of the Marketing Committee, Karen Whitt, shared “We are ecstatic over the success of the new approach we have taken to ‘Destination’.  More than just a piece for guests to enjoy while on island, it is a critical tool we use internationally to market the destination and show travel partners and their clients what awaits them here in Turks & Caicos. Now that we are launching the 2022 edition, truly, the 2020 magazine is still fresh and so powerful that people are still falling in love with it every day. After seeing the stunning cover for the 15th edition, I wondered how we could possibly top it. But as you can see, our team has somehow delivered another unbelievable cover and I simply cannot stop looking at it.”

And arresting, it is! The 2022 cover of the Destination Magazine features a magnificent montage of 20 faces representing a wide array of roles in the hospitality sector: Bartenders, Event Planners, General Managers, Human Resources Management, Pool & Beach Attendants, and more. The mosaic face made up of black and white images is not only a visual representation of the fact that it takes the efforts of many to make ‘brand TCI’ what it is, but a symbolic one as well. The dynamic photography provided for the work of art was aptly done by Anita Marcus and David Gallardo of Brilliant Studios, and it is indeed just that…. brilliant.

High praise was extended to the core creative team: Designer & Art Director, Erin Patrick of EP Designs; Editor, Nicholette Thomas of the TCHTA; Editor and Head Writer, Sonia OMEGA Simmons of TCHTA/SOS Media; and Head Writer, Dominique Rolle of Caya Hico Media, all of whom collaborated on the creative direction of the publication with overall guidance from the association’s Marketing Committee Chair & Co-Chair, Karen Whitt and Stacy Cox, respectively.

The strength of the piece does not end with the breathtaking cover or the dynamic images within its pages. The Destination Magazine is also filled with strong stories giving way to readers learning more about the Accommodations, Activities, Shopping, Wellness, Weddings, Photography, Dining, and Businesses across the country with the magazine using a feature story in each of these categories.

Last year, the TCHTA sent out a clarion call inviting local writers to join the creative team and author these fascinating stories. As such, Destination 2022 proudly features work by Jayne Baker, Tiersa Hall, Tatiana Handfield, Cynclair Musgrove, Brianna Walcott, and Keton Whitter.

“This has added an elevation to the piece that makes it historical and provides a further connection to community, highlighting that hospitality is a part of each and every one of us here in these islands,” said Stacy Cox, TCHTA CEO. “We are so proud of the work these writers have done and how special they have made this edition with their contributions. We invite all residents to collect a copy of the magazine and to celebrate these thespians along with us. Front to back, Destination 2022 is a testament to the strength of the association, and its commitment to the continued advancement of the people and the industry.”

Cox continued, “I cannot extend enough thanks and appreciation to our members for supporting the magazine, and to our photographers for always providing us the awe-inspiring imagery that makes the Destination Guide distinct and exceptional.”

Caya Hico Media, Paradise Photography, Visit TCI and Brilliant Studios provided all photography for the magazine along with feature photography from TCHTA members.

Magazine distribution to accommodations and businesses around the island is now underway, with the option of collection available to the public at the TCHTA’s office at #52 Salt Mills, Grace Bay. With the current climate in mind, for businesses and resorts who are still on a reduced touch-points protocol, the association has produced tent cards featuring a QR code that allows anyone wishing to view the magazine to conveniently do so via their mobile device. As an added feature, the TCHTA is prepared to take Destination 2022 around the world on USB drives compatible with Android or Apple devices which will be distributed at marketing shows and conferences.

Highlights of the magazine will be shared on the association’s social media platforms and website.

Bahamas News

Don Jr. Bahamas Wedding to Proceed Without President Trump

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USA, May 22, 2026 – Donald Trump Jr. is expected to marry Palm Beach socialite Bettina Anderson this weekend in The Bahamas, but despite speculation surrounding the high-profile ceremony, the exact location remains tightly guarded.

Multiple U.S. media outlets report the couple selected a private island in The Bahamas for what is being described as a small, intimate Memorial Day weekend wedding with roughly 50 close friends and family members in attendance. So far, no publication has publicly confirmed which Bahamian island or cay will host the ceremony, though reports consistently describe it as a secluded and heavily private setting.

The secrecy has only fueled curiosity in a country made up of more than 700 islands and cays, many of which are favored by wealthy international visitors for destination weddings and luxury retreats.

On Friday, President Donald Trump confirmed he will not attend the ceremony, citing international tensions and responsibilities at the White House.

Posting on Truth Social, Trump wrote: “While I very much wanted to be with my son, Don Jr., and the newest member of the Trump Family, his soon to be wife, Bettina, circumstances pertaining to Government, and my love for the United States of America, do not allow me to do so.”

Earlier in the week, Trump had indicated he would “try and make it,” but acknowledged the timing was “not good” because of ongoing tensions involving Iran.

Donald Trump Jr., 48, became engaged to Anderson, 39, in December 2025 at Camp David after about a year of dating. This will be his second marriage.

Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.

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Bahamas News

Over a Week Later, Bahamians Still Waiting on Full Election Numbers

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The Bahamas, May 22, 2026 – More than a week after Bahamians voted in the country’s 2026 General Election, complete official constituency voting figures still have not been publicly released by the Parliamentary Registration Department.

While winners have been declared across the country’s expanded 41-seat Parliament, no centralized official breakdown showing constituency vote totals, turnout percentages, rejected ballots or margins of victory appears to have been published publicly.

The Progressive Liberal Party is widely reported to have secured 33 seats, while the Free National Movement won eight seats, according to tallies carried by several media houses, including the Nassau Guardian’s election tracker and other regional reports.

Still missing, however, are the underlying numbers which would allow the public to independently assess voter participation levels across the country’s 41 constituencies.

That absence is drawing increasing attention following an election already marked by concerns over long lines, advanced polling confusion, voter register complaints and questions about election administration.

Unofficial turnout estimates circulating in local media place national voter participation near 58 percent. If confirmed, that would represent the lowest voter turnout in modern Bahamian general election history.

Historically, The Bahamas has recorded strong election participation rates, with turnout often exceeding 80 percent in previous decades. But participation declined sharply in 2021, when official turnout fell to roughly 65 percent — at the time considered historically low.

Now, the Coalition of Independents says it plans to challenge aspects of the election process in Election Court and is escalating its criticism of the handling of the vote.

In a sharply worded statement issued to media, Coalition Leader Lincoln Bain announced the party will boycott the opening of Parliament, insisting the election was “flawed from start to finish.”

The Coalition claims the country cannot “celebrate ceremony while justice is ignored,” arguing that unresolved election concerns continue to hang over the legitimacy of the process.

Among the concerns raised by the COI are:

  • allegations of voter register irregularities;
  • claims that the voters register remained open after Parliament was dissolved;
  • accusations of vote buying;
  • concerns tied to the Pinewood constituency race;
  • alleged constitutional breaches involving undeclared government contracts;
  • and alleged conflicts of interest involving gaming operators serving in Cabinet.

The Coalition also referenced allegations surrounding criminal influence and drug-related claims connected to political operations, while calling for what it describes as a “serious local investigation.”

In its statement, the COI said there has been “no proper public accounting, no local investigation announced, and no Commission of Inquiry launched into these matters.”

The group is now demanding a formal Commission of Inquiry into the conduct of the election and related allegations.

Bain said the boycott of Parliament is “not a boycott of democracy” but instead “a stand in defence of democracy.”

The statement further argues that Parliament itself must be protected from “corruption, conflicts of interest, criminal influence, and electoral fraud.”

So far, election authorities have not publicly indicated when complete certified constituency voting figures will be formally released.

And that delay is becoming increasingly significant because the missing data includes the very numbers needed to understand whether Bahamians truly disengaged from the electoral process in record numbers.

If unofficial turnout estimates are accurate, it would mean voter participation in 2026 either matched or fell below the historically low 2021 election turnout — despite The Bahamas recording one of its largest voter registration totals ever, with more than 209,000 people listed to vote.

Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.

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Health

Grand Turk Residents Fear Norovirus-Linked Cruise as Health Ministry Approves Docking

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Turks and Caicos, May 22, 2026 – Residents in Grand Turk raised concerns last week after a cruise ship previously linked to a major norovirus outbreak was cleared to dock in the Turks and Caicos Islands days after passengers were reportedly denied disembarkation in The Bahamas over health fears.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the outbreak sickened 115 people — including 102 passengers and 13 crew members — during a voyage which ran from April 28 to May 11. The illnesses involved symptoms commonly associated with norovirus, including vomiting and diarrhea.

The outbreak became public on May 7 and quickly triggered concern across the region.

Authorities in Nassau reportedly refused to allow passengers off the vessel because of public health concerns connected to the outbreak.

That decision later fueled anxiety among some Turks and Caicos residents when the ship proceeded to Grand Turk on May 15.

Residents’ concerns were not without cause.

Norovirus is a highly contagious viral illness often associated with cruise ships, hotels, schools and other environments where large groups of people share close quarters. The virus primarily causes sudden vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps and nausea, and spreads rapidly through contaminated food, water, surfaces and person-to-person contact.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most healthy people recover within one to three days, but norovirus can become serious — and occasionally fatal — for elderly individuals, young children and people with weakened immune systems because of severe dehydration. While the overall fatality rate is considered very low, the CDC estimates norovirus contributes to hundreds of deaths annually in the United States, mainly among vulnerable populations.

The Turks and Caicos Ministry of Health and Human Services had said in a press statement on May 15, it believed the risks had been effectively neutralized before the vessel arrived in Grand Turk.

In a statement issued Thursday, the Ministry said the ship had already returned to Florida, where passengers disembarked and “comprehensive sanitization and deep-cleaning procedures were completed” before operations resumed.

The Ministry also stressed that its Public Health Team maintained “close and continuous communication” with the ship’s medical personnel, Carnival Cruise Line officials and stakeholders at the Grand Turk Cruise Centre before approving the docking.

Routine inspections and standard port health procedures were also carried out, according to officials.

The Ministry further reassured the public that there were “currently no public health concerns” associated with the vessel’s arrival.

Still, the situation once again highlighted the delicate balancing act Caribbean nations face between protecting public health and sustaining tourism economies heavily dependent on cruise arrivals.

Officials are now encouraging vendors, taxi operators, tour companies and businesses to continue practicing strong sanitation and hygiene measures as an added precaution.

Residents were also reminded that frequent handwashing remains one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of norovirus and other infectious illnesses.

Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.

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