News
TCI Hospitality Adventure Camps Back and Bigger!
Providenciales, Turks & Caicos – The TCHTA successfully relaunched the TCI Hospitality Adventure Camps this July with an overwhelming response from the general public.
The TCI Hospitality Adventure program has run its signature Jr. Lit’l Chefs (12-14), Lit’l Chefs (15-19), and Spa & Cosmetology camps (14-19) since 2015 and has become a trusted gateway for introducing young men and women to these coveted careers in the Hospitality sector.
On hiatus due to the global pandemic, the camps resumed after a two-year break with registration opened on June 27th. TCHTA CEO, Stacy Cox, says the camps were filled in less than a week of registration being announced, “We know that these programs are beloved by the community, but we were reminded this year just how much Turks & Caicos has wrapped its arms around these programs. It was a pleasure to see the overwhelming response and it assured us that we are in the right direction with what these camps provide to our industry and the country at large.”
The response was considerable enough that the TCHTA decided to add a second round of the Jr. Lit’l Chefs Camp to accommodate the demand. While this challenged the organization with finding additional chaperones, extra transportation, and permission from member resorts and businesses to allow more campers in their kitchens and busy operations, the team is filled with smiles looking back at the success of the past few weeks and the joy it brought to the pre-teens and teens that took part.
“This year, our member resorts and supporting businesses are much busier than they have been historically during this period, so we extend special thanks to them for allowing their Executive Chefs and teams to give the extra time to host more campers this year,” said TCHTA President, Trevor Musgrove. “Of course, the TCHTA takes responsibility for transporting the teens to and from the respective locations each day, so we also needed more help in this area. My team at Discovery Tours was able to provide that service throughout, and I’m personally happy to have been able to meet the campers and even drive them myself. Interacting with them brought a lot of pleasure, and I’m proud that we have continued this important program.”
Over a 3-week span, the groups have visited Beaches Turks & Caicos, The Palms, COMO Parrot Cay, Amanyara Resort, Hawksbill Villa, Grace Bay Club, Seven Stars, and Spa Tropique. The education and activities ran the gamut from Sushi Making, Sommelier training, Dessert Making and more for the young Chefs, to Thai Stretching,
Massages, Facials, Tennis playing, and Yoga for the Spa campers.
Tendra Musgrove, Chair of the TCHTA’s Education Committee, hosted a lunch with the Spa group on their day’s visit to the Shamballa Spa at COMO Parrot Cay, and says it was one of the best-spent afternoons she’s experienced this summer, “This program brings so many of us joy because we see first-hand the campers’ minds expanding to the possibilities in the industry that they had not taken into consideration before. Our goal in the TCHTA Education Committee is to ensure we can pique the interest of our youth and educate them on the merits and vast opportunities of working in this country’s number one industry. Our Hospitality Adventure Camps do just that.”
One of the program’s biggest highlights is always the Lit’l Chefs Camp’s Mystery Box Competition. At the end of this camp which hosts the older teens, the competition allows them to exercise the skills they have learned throughout the week in true competition style. This is fitting, as the top two Lit’l Chefs are then afforded mentorship and internship opportunities with the Senior Chefs throughout the year, and accompany TEAM TCI, the TCHTA’s Culinary Team, at overseas competitions.
This year’s battle took place at the magnificent Hawksbill Villa, sponsored by The Source, Ltd. After the two-year hiatus, the competition also served as quite the reunion bringing TEAM TCI’s chefs back together in a very familiar setting, igniting their desire to be back on the competition trail.
Deputy Governor Anya Williams, Minister of Tourism Josephine Connolly, and Minister of Education, Rachel Taylor attended the event sharing words of wisdom and encouragement with the teens.
After hours of battle, Ethan Lightbourne, reigned victorious and walked away with the Top Chef position. The organization looks forward to seeing Ethan’s culinary journey continue.
“There is never enough thanks to share with our members for hosting our children for these camps. A special ‘thank you’ to Chef Craig Nazareth of Beaches Resort for filling the shoes of Chef Colin Watson who is no longer on the ground with us, and to Chef Edwin Gallardo of Seven Stars for another year of service to the program. You guys are
Rock Stars and we can’t wait to see what you do with TEAM TCI when competition arenas are available to us once again,” said Stacy Cox.
Chefs Charles Joseph, Kristin Green, and Wayne Gardiner who are alumni of the Lit’l Chefs Program served as Mentors this year, with Wayne ‘paying it forward’ by sponsoring a teen to be a part of this year’s camp.
The TCHTA also extends sincere thanks to chaperones Dulcine Hall and Petual Handfield, and to Saturday’s judges, James McAnnally of Beaches Resort, Kelly Fontanelle, visiting Travel Advisor, and Hall of Famer Chef Rajasekar Ravindran of The Palms Resort.
You can find a video highlighting the program’s start on the TCHTA’s Facebook page, @officialtchta. The video features Mrs. Angela Musgrove, who was at the helm and created the TCI Hospitality Adventure Program which later became a partnership with the TCHTA.
NASSAU, Bahamas —– Caribbean Bottling Company (CBC), local producers of Coca-Cola and Dasani products, is proud to crown Lady
Kayla of Exuma as this year’s annual Bahamas Goombay Punch Cup winner.
CBC created the Bahamas Goombay Punch Cup to further the advancement of sailing and Bahamian culture through monetary and social support. The competition judges the skipper’s performance across three regattas, The Best of the Best, the National Family Island and Long Island Regattas.
The winning sloop led by Kianno Hutchinson and Joss Knowles showcased their skillmanship in the E-Class category across each round of competition. In addition to winning the trophy, the skippers were awarded a $5,000 donation, an $8,000 stipend to the junior sailing club of their island and a limited-edition Lady Kayla Bahamas Goombay Punch commemorative can, which will be released soon.
Jonathan Thronebury, Marketing Director of CBC shared the significance behind The Bahamas Goombay Punch Cup.
“The Bahamas Goombay Punch is more than a beloved local brand; it’s a vibrant part of our cultural fabric. Just like sailing, our national sport, it carries a rich legacy that spans generations. Recognizing this shared history, we’re proud to support initiatives that celebrate and advance Bahamian culture,” he said.
Hutchinson and Knowles shared what this win meant for them.
“I felt super proud when I realized we won. I am grateful and thankful to God, for good coaches and Joss. It was really an honor winning the
Bahamas Goombay Punch Cup,” Hutchinson expressed.
“I am very honored to have been able to compete in the Bahamas Goombay Punch Cup, I think it is a great concept and idea for a competition and really adds a new motive throughout the regattas. The whole championship was super competitive, and every single race was a fight. Alvington McKenzie was extremely competitive and had us until the Long Island regatta, which made it a very fun and tough competition. Very excited to have been the winner of a super close championship,” Knowles revealed.
Lady Kayla’s owner, Dallas Knowles, shared the team’s winning strategy.
“In sailing consistency is key and our guys in Lady Kayla are some of the best in the business at staying near the top. In the end, that was enough to secure their first Bahamas Goombay Punch Cup win. We are so proud of Joss and Kianno for what they have done in Lady Kayla. Thank you to Caribbean Bottling Company for such an amazing and forward-thinking initiative,” Knowles shared.
The Bahamas Goombay Punch Cup is proud to continue its impact on sailing and community building through clean and fair competition.
For more updates on the Bahamas Goombay Punch Cup and Caribbean Bottling Company visit the website www.cbcbahamas.com today.
News
Minister of Tourism, Hon. Zhavargo Jolly Leads Community Connect Meetings in Grand Turk and Salt Cay
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands (July 31st, 2026) – Experience Turks and Caicos, in collaboration with the Ministry of
Tourism, has relaunched its Community Connect initiative, reaffirming its commitment to ensuring residents play a central role in shaping the future of tourism across the Turks and Caicos Islands. The meetings began in Grand Turk and Salt Cay, marking the first in a series of engagements that will be held across the country.
Led by the Minister of Tourism, Hon. Zhavargo Jolly, the meetings were held on Monday, July 27th, and Tuesday, July 28th, respectively at the Yellowman and Sons Auditorium in Grand Turk and the Salt Shed in Salt Cay.
Community Connect is a series of town hall meetings designed to keep communities informed about the work of Experience Turks and Caicos and the Ministry of Tourism, provide updates on the performance of the tourism industry, and create an open forum where residents can share their concerns, ideas and recommendations for strengthening the tourism product. The initiative reflects the Ministry’s commitment to ensuring tourism development is informed by the voices of the communities it is intended to benefit.
The meetings brought together residents, business owners and tourism stakeholders for open and insightful discussions about the future of tourism on their respective islands. Participants engaged directly with Hon. Jolly and his team, which included Deputy Permanent Secretaries Mr. Arthur Been and Mr. Ronlee James, along with Experience Turks and Caicos Product Development Manager Mrs. Candesha Mills.
Opening the meetings, Hon. Jolly stressed that Community Connect is intended to be a conversation rather than a presentation, giving
residents an opportunity to help shape the future of tourism in their communities.
“We are hoping to have a dialogue about the future of tourism in Grand Turk. We want to ensure residents are prepared to take advantage of the opportunities that tourism creates, while also understanding the challenges you see, whether it is cruise tourism development or other issues, so that together we can address those gaps and better prepare our people to benefit,” he said in his welcome address in Grand Turk.
Discussion in Grand Turk covered a wide range of issues, including garbage collection, the culling of donkeys and stray dogs, hotel investment, airlift and the continued development of the island’s tourism sector.
The meeting also featured brief remarks by Mr. Donte Francis of the Grand Turk Enhancement and Sustainability Agency (GTESA), who provided an update on projects completed and those currently in the pipeline. He noted that GTESA has completed 22 projects to date and is awaiting Board approval for an additional 14 initiatives.
In Salt Cay, discussions focused largely on community infrastructure and essential services that, while not directly tourism-related, play an important role in supporting the visitor experience and the island’s long-term tourism potential. Residents raised concerns about the frequency of flights and ferry service to Grand Turk, the absence of ambulance and emergency medical services, and ongoing water supply challenges.
Reflecting on the discussions, Hon. Jolly reaffirmed his commitment to working closely with communities to ensure they play an active role in shaping the future of tourism.
“As I shared during the meetings, our communities have the power to help shape how their islands develop. My responsibility as Minister is to listen, understand the challenges they face, and ensure my Ministry is doing everything possible to create opportunities and remove barriers. I was encouraged by the honest and constructive discussions we had in both Grand Turk and Salt Cay, and I look forward to continuing this conversation across the Turks and Caicos Islands. I want to thank everyone who took the time to attend and share their views.”
Community Connect will continue in the coming months with meetings in North, Middle and South Caicos, as well as communities across Providenciales.
NASSAU, Bahamas — Caribbean Bottling Company (CBC), local producers of Coca-Cola and Dasani products, is proud to once again support Basketball Smiles for their 27th year.
Upholding its corporate pillar of community outreach, CBC proudly donated $2,000, over 75 cases of Dasani, Powerade and Sprite, reusable
Powerade water bottles and numerous marketing materials.
The annual sporting summer camp offers free basketball and life skills training to Junior and High School students.
Basketball Smiles’ mission of developing leadership qualities while fostering children’s academic achievement and self-esteem aligns perfectly with CBC’s commitment to supporting and empowering youth.
Jazmin Darling, Assistant Marketing Manager for Caribbean Bottling Company shared why the company continues to support this program each year.
“At CBC, we believe investing in our youth is one of the greatest ways to strengthen our communities. We’re proud to support Basketball Smiles each year because it goes beyond the game. This program champions healthy lifestyles, positive values and brighter futures. It’s a privilege to play a role in helping these young athletes reach their full potential each year,” she shared.
Sam Nicholls, Basketball Smiles Camp President and Founder expressed.
“Caribbean Bottling Company is an incredible partner. We are truly grateful for their generous support, which will go a long way in making a positive impact on the lives of our campers,” Nicholls expressed.
CBC is always ready to lend its support toward initiatives and programs that uplift young Bahamians. The impact Basketball Smiles makes on the community is undeniable and is why CBC remains a historic sponsor.
For more information on sponsorship, events and new products, visit www.cbcbahamas.com today.
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