News
Tanya Swann sails smooth with BTC for almost 19 years
PROVIDENCIALES, Turks & Caicos Islands: Born and bred on the beautiful island of Grand Turk, Tanya Nicole Swann is a single parent who has honed her skills in the tourism industry for the past 25 years and has now anchored her growth with her nearly 19-year tenure at Beaches Turks and Caicos (BTC) resort.
Having joined BTC in 2004, Tanya first started as an administrative assistant in the food and beverage department. With her keen desire to grow and expand in the industry and with the resort, Tanya would find herself gaining valuable experience along the way as hostess in the resorts expansive number of restaurants.
While honing her experiences, Tanya expanded her skillset which saw her transferring, within the first few years, to the sales and weddings department as the administrative assistant and then as executive administrative assistant in the General Manager’s office at the resort.
With a focus on growth always at the forefront of her mind, through the resort company’s learning and development department, Tanya went on to acquire her associates, bachelors and masters degrees which propelled her into various leadership positions which include banqueting coordinator, senior sales executive, senior sales manager, resort sales manager, and currently director of sales groups and conventions.
“Joining the family here at Beaches Turks and Caicos was the best career decision that I have made in my life. This organisation gives everyone the opportunity to grow and expand beyond what he or she may have envisioned,” Swann shared.
Tanya’s steady growth within the industry has been fueled by her intrinsic philosophy of always giving her best in what she does, approaching any day-to-day challenges with the best tools – confidence, communication and active listening.
Highlighting her ability to adapt to challenging situations and turn them into successes, Tanya shared, “we learn something new every day in our lives both personally and professionally and we make choices that will affect us in the present and for our future endeavours. We oftentimes will be faced with difficulties, however, along the way we learn that excellence comes from within individuals who are willing to work hard to reach and achieve their goals and make something of themselves, not just to please others but also to please themselves.”
Even as she grows within the organisation however, Tanya also remains committed to allowing others to grow and experience their fullest potential.
“My most rewarding period with this company is in helping others to grow. I live my life based on succession planning and this has allowed me to groom others into becoming effective leaders. Being able to see the growth process with my colleagues has been a rewarding feeling as allowing others to grow will make this island a better place,” Swann shared.
Tanya has also furthered her academic experience with the completion of a leadership and management diploma course. She is confident her achievements, experiences and interactions attribute to her impact on those around
her.
Maxine Salmon, kids camp counsellor said, “Ms Tanya is a mentor and friend who is always willing to help her fellow team members grow as professionals. She has a warm and welcoming personality which makes her approachable. She is always finding ways to encourage us to do as many online courses that are offered by the company through the Sandals Corporate University (SCU) for our own development and to also get involved in volunteerism at the resort and in our communities.”
James McAnally, general manager at BTC shared: “Tanya is a dynamo. She is capable of leading not only from a resort’s perspective but in the wider society. We are privileged to have her as one of our influential leaders who continues to provide herculean service to not only our employees but the thousands of guests who visit our shores.”
Tanya attributes her success within the industry primarily to support and grooming from former Sandals and Beaches leaders such as the late David Roper, her then Corporate office Director of Industry Relations as well as former resort Executive Manager, Michael Thompson, who allowed her to grow as a leader in her own right. She also gave credit to retired leaders Josef Zellner, former general manager and Fredrick Hamilton the first food and beverage director who allowed her to develop a passion for the industry and especially the Sandals and Beaches culture of leadership.
The Bahamas, August 27, 2026 – The Royal Bahamas Police Force wishes to inform members of the public that several individuals are scheduled to appear before the Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, 27th August 2026, at 12:00 noon.
The individuals and charges are as follows:
An 18-year-old female is scheduled to be arraigned on the following charges:
Three (3) counts of Murder
Three (3) counts of Attempted Murder
Three (3) counts of Possession of a Firearm with Intent to Endanger Life
Three (3) counts of Possession of an Unlicensed Firearm
Two (2) counts of Possession of Ammunition
Armed Robbery
Abetment to Armed Robbery
Stealing
Receiving
The charges stem from three separate shooting incidents and an armed robbery that occurred on Friday, 21st August 2026, and Saturday, 22nd August 2026.
The first shooting occurred in the area of Soldier Road and Baillou Hill Road, resulting in the death of a 51-year-old male.
The second shooting occurred in the area of Joe Farrington Road, resulting in the death of a 52-year-old male.
The third shooting occurred in the area of Gladstone Road, resulting in the death of a 36-year-old male.
The armed robbery occurred at a business establishment in the area of Carmichael Road and Baillou Hill Road.
A 21-year-old male is scheduled to be arraigned on one charge of:
- Murder
The charge stems from a shooting incident that occurred on Tuesday, 21st July 2026, in the area of Samson Street, Nassau Village, which resulted in the death of a 28-year-old male.
A 32-year-old male is scheduled to be arraigned on the following charges:
- Murder
- Attempted Murder
These charges stem from a shooting incident that occurred on Wednesday, 24th December 2025, in the area of Graham Drive, Yellow Elder, which resulted in the death of a 25-year-old male.
RBPF, PACD
by Deandrea Hamilton | Editor
PROVIDENCIALES, TCI — In a country where government press conferences are virtually non-existent, ministers are often difficult for
journalists to access and regular broadcast television news has disappeared, TCI Innovation, Technology and Energy Minister E. Jay Saunders has challenged Caribbean media to become “impossible to ignore.”
Speaking at the Caribbean Broadcasting Union gathering, Saunders argued that the Caribbean does not have a relevance problem but a “discoverability and positioning problem.”
Discoverability is precisely the issue in Saunders’ home country. Even Government’s own attempts at video news broadcasting have struggled against the realities of consistently producing a daily, weekly or even monthly newscast.
The difficulties confronting TCI media extend well beyond algorithms: limited advertising revenue, underfunding, shortages of trained professionals and insufficient human capacity leave newsrooms struggling for both staff and stamina.
Then there is the reality of operating in one of the region’s smallest societies. Politicians, journalists, advertisers, businesses and the subjects of stories often exist within the same tight economic and social circles. A controversial report that might create a ripple elsewhere can produce a tsunami in TCI, intensifying concerns among journalists about commercial and professional victimisation.
Saunders believes AI can help.
He urged Caribbean media to use the technology to transform one original story into television, radio, web, podcast, social and translated content without multiplying newsroom workload.
He also wants regional journalism structured so AI systems can find, understand and trust Caribbean sources, moving media beyond traditional SEO into Answer Engine Optimisation.
His ultimate message was emphatic: “Use AI not to make Caribbean media more artificial — but to make Caribbean voices more visible.”
For Turks and Caicos media, however, becoming visible may require more than technology. It requires an environment in which journalism can survive.
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Bahamas News
Bahama Brass Band Invitation Sparks Heritage Debate Ahead of TCI Constitutional Holiday
Turks and Caicos, August 20, 2026 – The planned participation of the Bahama Brass Band in the Turks and Caicos Islands’ inaugural Constitutional Holiday celebrations on August 30 has sparked public debate over culture, heritage and the historical contributions of Turks and Caicos Islanders abroad.
Organizers defended the invitation, saying the band’s inclusion is intended to highlight the deep historical ties between the two countries
and honor Turks and Caicos men who helped establish and develop the institution in Grand Bahama.
According to the organizers, the Bahama Brass Band began in 1955 in Pine Ridge, Freeport, with Turks and Caicos Islanders, including the late Deacon Reuben Hall Sr. of Middle Caicos and Jenkins Williams and Mervin Hendfield of North Caicos, among those who helped build its foundation. The band eventually grew to more than 50 men.
The organizers also pointed to the participation of Turks and Caicos men in The Bahamas’ Independence celebrations on July 10, 1973, arguing that their contributions became part of Bahamian history while maintaining strong connections to their homeland.
Supporters say bringing the band home represents an opportunity to honor those pioneers, showcase their regional influence and expose younger generations to an important part of Turks and Caicos history.
However, concerns raised publicly described the invitation as potentially disrespectful to local culture and heritage. Organizers acknowledged those concerns, apologizing to anyone who felt overlooked or offended, while maintaining that no disrespect was intended.
The committee said the event should ultimately unite rather than divide, presenting the band’s history as evidence of the reach and resilience of Turks and Caicos heritage.
PHOTO CREDIT: Bahamas Brass Band
