News
“Building Careers at the World’s Best All Inclusive Family Resort”
#TurksandCaicos, June 30, 2022 – Beaches Turks & Caicos is pleased to announce the recent promotion of seven of its local managers to more senior roles within the Organization.
Former Island Routes Supervisor Mrs. Sandra Been has recently been promoted to the position of Destination Manager. In this new role, Mrs. Been will be responsible for overseeing and managing all staff, handling of the relationships with local tour operators, recruiting of new and innovative local tours as well as managing and maintaining the current tours.
Sandra was first employed at Beaches Turks & Caicos in February 2004 as Tour Desk Manager. When asked about how she feels about her new role, Sandra stated; “I am both nervous and excited about the new challenges that come with the position I now hold. My goal is to keep my clients happy and always do my best.”
Mr. Sheldon Wilson has been promoted to Executive Assistant Manager. He previously held the post of Village Manager (Key West Village). Mr. Wilson will be responsible for assisting the General Manager in the day to day operations associated with managing the resort.
Sheldon has completed the Leadership Action Training Certification – Fullerton Management Training Group, Guest Services Professional Certification – American Hotel and Lodging and the Sandals Certified Management Specialist Training. Sheldon joined BTC in 2013 as a Night Auditor and was promoted to Night Manager and Evening Manager shortly after.
“I am extremely excited about the promotion and looking forward to taking on my new role as Executive Assistant Manager and making my contribution to the tourism sector while ensuring that Beaches Turks & Caicos remain the number 1 family resort in the world!” stated Mr. Wilson.
Ms. Owenta Coleby has been promoted to Human Resource Manager. She started at BTC in 2018 and previously acted in the role until being made official in 2022. Ms. Coleby is now responsible for the day to day planning and execution of strategic HR functions for the resort in addition to overseeing the recruitment, retention, employee engagement and welfare strategies. She will also collaborate with the Learning and Development Team, along with the “people” leaders to develop and execute our “people” development strategies.
A key part of her responsibility is to facilitate a harmonious relationship with the team members and external stakeholders through effective communication. This allows the leadership of the company to effectively communicate the goals and objectives of the organization which will allow the team members to perform to the best of their abilities.
Owenta is currently completing her Masters in Human Resources Management and Development and is a Certified Recruitment and Compliance Specialist
“I feel grateful to be able to serve the team members at Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort Villages and Spa in this capacity, and also to be a part of the World’s Best Hospitality Experience Provider. My belief is that in everything I do, I must put my best forward and let my work speak for me!” stated Ms. Coleby.
Mrs. Christelle Demosthene-Heron has been promoted to Weddings Manager. She previously served as the Assistant Weddings Manager after joining BTC in 2002 as a Waitress, Hostess and then Supervisor. In her new role, she will be responsible for Wedding Planning, Staff Development, Wedding Coordination and Execution, Monitoring and Reporting.
Christelle is a certified Hospitality Department Trainer, Certified Wedding Planner, Certified Events Manager, and Certified Hospitality Supervisor. She also received her Hospitality Certification from the Global University for Life Long Learning.
“I am grateful for this wonderful opportunity, on a day to day basis I remind myself that in life, where you start isn’t where you finish and I can attest to that after working with the company for 15 plus years. I’ve learned, I’ve grown and I’ve persevered as an individual as well as a professional,” stated Mrs. Demosthene-Heron.
Mrs. Sandra Lightbourne has been promoted to Executive Office Manager. She previously held the position of Executive Administrative Assistant after joining BTC in 2013 as Administrative Assistant.
In her new role, she will be responsible for effectively and efficiently managing the Administration Department which provides support for the General Manager, Hotel Managers, the Operations Manager and the Village Managers.
Managing guest complaints and special requests, internal travel preparations and liaising with the Sandal Resort International Corporate Office. She has received certifications in Customer Service, Sales and Marketing.
“It has been a pleasure to be a part of the Beaches Turks and Caicos Family. I look forward to working hard in my new role and intend to do my best to live up to all expectations,” stated Mrs. Lightbourne.
Mr. Alpheus Pinder has been promoted to the role of Village Manager. He previously held the post of Night Manager since joining in 2019.
Mr. Pinder has numerous years of experience in Tourism in the Turks and Caicos Islands as well as the Bahamas.
“I couldn’t be more excited about being promoted to Village Manager. I have enjoyed every second here at Beaches Turks and Caicos and I look forward to more success in my future,” stated Mr. Pinder.
Ms. Kanora Seymour has been promoted to the post Departure Lounge Manager. She previously held the post of reservation agent since joining in 2013. In her new role, she will be responsible for coordinating the transportation of guest to and from the airports, as well managing the relationship between the local taxi drivers, VIP transportation drivers and Beaches Turks and Caicos.
“I am honored to receive the opportunity to serve as the Departure Lounge Manager at Beaches Turks and Caicos. I intend to excel in this role as I have in my previous post,” stated Ms. Seymour.
Commenting on the recent promotions, James McAnally, General Manager, Beaches Turks & Caicos stated: “Beaches Turks and Caicos has always prioritized career development from within our organization. As you would have noticed, many of the recent promotions are staff that joined our family in a less senior capacity and were promoted multiple times having taken advantage of many training and development options made available to our staff. This is a testament to our Learning and Development program that is unmatched. Most importantly, these individuals have demonstrated a tenacity and passion to not only excel and climb the ranks, but to exceed the expectations of our guest, which is what we are known for here at the worlds #1 All Inclusive Family Resort.”
Press Release
February is National Self- Check Month and family medicine physician at Cleveland Clinic, OH, John Hanicak, MD, highlights why at home self-checks are extremely important when it comes to not just early cancer detection but identifying other illnesses too and offers tips on what to look out for.
“Sometimes I look at them as sort of like your check engine light on the car, just like there would be a red flashing light that tells you that
there’s something wrong with a car and prompts you to bring that in and get serviced. Your body does the same thing. It gives you warning signs to look into that symptom a little bit further,” said Hanicak.
Dr. Hanicak said self-checks are going to be a little different for everyone.
However, in general, he recommends looking for anything that may seem abnormal, such as unexplained weight loss, blood in your urine, bumps and bruises that won’t heal, and changes in bowel habits.
For example, if you suddenly start going to the bathroom a lot more than you used to, that could be a sign of something more serious.
He also suggests doing regular skin checks and documenting any moles or spots that start to look different.
“Realize that you are your own person. There’s nobody else in the world exactly like you. You’ve got your own set of ideas, your own family history and your own genetics. Know what is normal for you, and when that changes, that’s the kind of thing that we would be interested in talking about,” said Dr. Hanicak.
Dr. Hanicak notes that self-checks are not meant to replace cancer screenings, as those are just as important to keep up with.
Press Release: Cleveland Clinic
PM: Project delivers on promise and invests in youth, sports and national development
GRAND BAHAMA, The Bahamas — Calling it the fulfillment of a major commitment to the island, Prime Minister Philip Davis led the official groundbreaking for the Grand Bahama Aquatic Centre, a facility the government says will transform sports development and create new opportunities for young athletes.
Speaking at the Grand Bahama Sports Complex on February 12, the Prime Minister said the project represents more than bricks and mortar
— it is an investment in people, national pride and long-term economic activity. The planned complex will feature a modern 50-metre competition pool, designed to meet international standards for training and regional and global swim meets. Davis said the facility will give Bahamian swimmers a home capable of producing world-class performance while also providing a space for community recreation, learn-to-swim programmes and water safety training.
He noted that Grand Bahama has long produced outstanding athletes despite limited infrastructure and said the new centre is intended to correct that imbalance, positioning the island as a hub for aquatic sports and sports tourism.
The Prime Minister also linked the development to the broader national recovery and revitalisation of Grand Bahama, describing the project as part of a strategy to expand opportunities for young people, create jobs during construction and stimulate activity for small businesses once operational.
The Aquatic Centre, he said, stands as proof that promises made to Grand Bahama are being delivered.
The project is expected to support athlete development, attract competitions, and provide a safe, modern environment for residents to access swimming and water-based programmes for generations to come.
Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.
The Bahamas, February 15, 2026 – For the better part of three years, Bahamians have been told that major Afreximbank financing would help transform access to capital, rebuild infrastructure and unlock economic growth across the islands. The headline figures are large. The signing ceremonies are high profile. The language is ambitious. What remains far harder to see is the measurable impact in the daily lives of the people those announcements are meant to serve.
The Government’s push to secure up to $100 million from Afreximbank for roughly 200 miles of Family Island roads dates back to 2025. In
its February 11 disclosure, the bank outlined a receivables-discounting facility — a structure that allows a contractor to be paid early once work is completed, certified and invoiced, with the Government settling the bill later. It is not cash placed into the economy upfront. It does not, by itself, build a single mile of road. Every dollar depends on work first being delivered and approved.
The wider framework has been described as support for “climate-resilient and trade-enhancing infrastructure,” a phrase that, in practical terms, should mean projects that lower the cost of doing business, move people and goods faster, and keep the economy functioning. But for communities, that promise becomes real only when the projects are named, the standards are defined and a clear timeline is given for when work will begin — and when it will be finished.
Bahamians have seen this moment before.
In 2023, a $30 million Afreximbank facility for the Bahamas Development Bank was hailed as a breakthrough that would expand access to financing for local enterprise. It worked in one immediate and measurable way: it encouraged businesses to apply. Established, revenue-generating Bahamian companies responded to the call, prepared plans, and entered a process they believed had been capitalised to support growth. The unanswered question is how much of that capital has reached the private sector in a form that allowed those businesses to expand, hire and generate new economic activity.
Because development is not measured in the size of announcements.
It is measured in loans disbursed, projects completed and businesses expanded.
The pattern is becoming difficult to ignore. In June 2024, when Afreximbank held its inaugural Caribbean Annual Meetings in Nassau,
Grand Bahama was presented as the future home of an Afro-Caribbean marketplace said to carry tens of millions of dollars in investment. What was confirmed at that stage was a $1.86 million project-preparation facility — funding for studies and planning to make the development bankable, not construction financing. The larger build-out remains dependent on additional approvals, land acquisition and further capital.
This distinction — between financing announced and financing that produces visible, measurable outcomes — is now at the centre of the national conversation.
Because while the numbers grow larger on paper, entrepreneurs still describe access to capital as out of reach, and communities across the Family Islands are still waiting to see where the work will start.
And in an economy where stalled growth translates into lost opportunity, rising frustration and real social consequences, the gap between promise and delivery is no longer a communications issue.
It is an inability to convert announcements into outcomes.
Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.
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