Education
Turks and Caicos Islands Tourist Board Heads to South Caicos for School Visits and Hello Tourist Program!
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands (Monday, November 14, 2022) – On Thursday, November 10, 2022, members of the Turks and Caicos Islands Tourist Board travelled to South Caicos for school visits, as well as to commence the ‘Hello Tourist’ program, as a part of Tourism Environmental Awareness Month (TEAM).
The team from the Turks and Caicos Islands Tourist Board began the day visiting Calvary Christian School, Iris Stubbs Primary School, as well as Marjorie Basden High School, and provided presentations on tourism – articulating why the industry is so valuable to the Turks and Caicos Islands and how students can get involved.
“It was a pleasure visiting my home island of South Caicos and speaking to our youth who are the future of our tourism industry. During our presentations, we encouraged the students of South Caicos to ‘rediscover South Caicos’”, said TCI Tourist Board’s Training Manager and Coordinator of TEAM, Blythe Clare. “By familiarizing or even refamiliarizing themselves with their home and what it has to offer, our young people will not only build a greater appreciation for our most significant industry, but they will also become so equipped with knowledge that they will be major assets that will contribute to its success”, added Clare.
Following the school visits, the Turks and Caicos Islands Tourist Board brought five honour-roll sixth-graders from the Iris Stubbs Primary School to Sailrock Resort to begin the ‘Hello Tourist’ program. This program is in collaboration with the Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association (TCHTA) and is intended to provide the youth of the Turks and Caicos Islands with greater insights into the tourism industry by facilitating them experiencing being a tourist.
The sixth-graders were greeted in the lobby with welcome drinks before being given a tour of the Ridgetop Suites, Beachfront Villas, and other resort facilities. After the tour, the Iris Stubbs Primary Students enjoyed a meal with their Principal, Earleen Elliott, and the Turks and Caicos Islands Tourist Board team at The Cove Restaurant, which overlooks the Caicos Bank.
“It was a very rewarding experience for us to be able to speak with the students of South Caicos about our various roles in tourism, and accompany them during the ‘Hello Tourist’ program”, said TCI Tourist Board’s Senior Public Relations Officer, Gabriel Saunders. “The sixth-graders from Iris Stubbs Primary School were particularly inquisitive and eager to learn more about the industry. With the level of excitement shown, the future of tourism in South
Caicos should be in great hands”, added Saunders.
On Monday, November 14, the Turks and Caicos Islands Tourist Board will continue its Tourism Environmental Awareness Month initiatives with more school visits and the start of the ‘Hello Tourist’ program in Providenciales. From Thursday, November 17 to Friday, November 18, the Turks and Caicos Islands Tourist Board will be in Grand Turk to host a Fish Fry at Lester Williams Park at 6:00PM on the Thursday and a Tourism Career Fair at Yellowman and Sons Auditorium from 10:00AM to 2:00PM on the Friday.
The schools on North Caicos and Middle Caicos will be visited on Wednesday, November 23, and the twin islands will have their own Fish Fry on the compound of the District Commissioner’s Office at 4:00PM. Tourism Environmental Awareness Month events will conclude on Tuesday, November 29 with an Open House at the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College (TCICC), in collaboration with the TCICC’s tourism students.
Photo Captions:
Header: (L – R): Gabriel Saunders, Diedra Been, Donjae Lewis, & Blythe Clare of the TCI Tourist Board with Iris Stubbs Primary School students
1st insert: Iris Stubbs Primary School students arriving at Sailrock Resort for the ‘Hello Tourist’ program
2nd insert: Iris Stubbs Primary School students enjoying their welcome drinks at Sailrock Resort
Bahamas Information Services
GRAND BAHAMA, The Bahamas — On Saturday, August 23, 2025, Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry for Grand Bahama and Member of Parliament for West Grand Bahama and Bimini, Kingsley Smith along with Deputy Director of Education for the Grand Bahama, Bimini, and The Cays District, Michelle Bowleg toured Holmes Rock Junior High School to assess ongoing progress and ensure the project remains on track to welcome students for the new academic term in September.
Following the tour, Smith expressed optimism regarding the ongoing progress, stating, “Having toured the site and seeing the work that is
being done on the weekend, shows the commitment and dedication to getting it completed.”
He also noted that after discussions with the contractors, he was assured that with sufficient manpower and around-the-clock work, the project remains on track for completion by September 1, 2025.
“One of our underlying goals is really access, so we are happy that the school will be up and ready for our students,” said Bowleg.
She highlighted that several zoom meetings were held with parents to keep them informed about key updates including booklists, uniforms, and staffing. According to Bowleg, feedback from parents has been overwhelmingly positive.
“It is a beautiful facility, one that parents will be very proud of, and the entire West Grand Bahama community,” she added.
(BIS Photos/Danielle Rollon)
