Caribbean News

Round One of TCREA Real Estate Mentorship Program Ends

Published

3 years ago

December 2, 2022

#TurksandCaicos, December 2, 2022 – Round one of the Turks and Caicos Real Estate Association’s Mentorship Program came to a close this past weekend with an afternoon of powerful presentations and a fitting celebration.

On Saturday, November 26^th, the inaugural class returned to where it all began – the TCREA Head Office – this time flanked by family, faculty, and media. Smartly dressed as Junior Realtors, the mentees delivered final presentations to the program’s mentors and guests.

Showing a perfect range of variety, the teens displayed their mock Realtor biographies and a sales pitch on a pre-selected real estate listing. There was a show of presentations on vacant land, single homes, and condos, all placed on the big screen for viewing while the teens made use of their newly adopted real estate jargon and shared their listings’ best attributes with the room.

“Watching these bright minds deliver their presentations was a proud moment,” shared program mentor Nina Siegenthaler of Turks & Caicos Sotheby’s. “There was genuine excitement, and they showed just how much they have learned and retained over these past few months. She continued, “It has been a fulfilling experience sharing the industry with them, and I’m delighted that one or more of them may now consider real estate as an option for their future career.”

Launched by TCREA Ambassador Trevor Musgrove, the mentorship program aims to allow high-school and first-year college students to explore real estate through live mentorship sessions with premier industry experts in Turks and Caicos.

Participation was open to all islands, and the inaugural class was comprised of ten enthusiastic students from Providenciales and North Caicos: Dashawn Brooks and Alyssa Callum of Clement Howell High; Olique Stubbs, Lewis Walkin, Jr. of Raymond Gardiner High; Aniyah Bovie of Precious Treasures; Shamya Missick of Maranatha Academy; Pavla Lalakova and Andino Parker of British West Indies Collegiate; Abnise Noel, Antoine Gedeon of Louise Garland Thomas High.

Along with Siegenthaler, the teens had monthly access to Blair MacPherson of REMAX; Manfred Smith of Turks & Caicos Sotheby’s; Vernica Delancy and Dedra Gray of Keller Williams; and Sean O’Neill, Musgrove’s partner The Agency Turks & Caicos.

Asked how he felt about the program’s start, Musgrove said, “Overall, I could not have asked for a better outcome. The excitement from both the mentors and the mentees has been amazing to see. We started this initiative to give something of ourselves and our industry to these young men and women, but they have also enriched us.” Reflecting on the program’s journey, the Director had one small point of dissatisfaction, “My only wish is that we had seen applications from students in the other islands well. The Ministry of Education has shown us how serious they are in extending the support needed. Because of it, the students from North Caicos had the transportation and chaperone necessary to facilitate their participation. We would love to see students from all the islands take advantage of the access so that we can share this opportunity with them all.”

The program has exposed the teens to the technical and practical sides of the profession. Terminology, securing a listing, marketing, selling a listing, professional etiquette, and following a strict code of ethics have all been shared with them. The program’s highlight was the open house exercise, which gave the mentees an opportunity for a real-time showing of a luxury oceanfront villa in Long Bay to a group of mock buyers, including the Minister of Education, Honourable Rachel Taylor.

“To watch this program materialize and grow has been an exceptional experience. These are the opportunities our school leavers need to know are out there, and I applaud Mr. Musgrove and his committee for doing their part in exposing our young men and women to this flourishing industry that is available to them right here in our islands,” said Honourable Taylor. She added, “I had the pleasure of visiting several sessions and was an inch away from buying a villa from the very bright and persuasive Andino Parker at the open house. The energy and excitement from the students were all the testament necessary to confirm that this was a much-needed, fresh opportunity that many will be delighted to take advantage of.”

The Ministry of Education has previously shared that the program aligns perfectly with the new Youth Policy, which incorporates 7 Pillars. Pillar 1 focuses on Enhancing Youth Economic Participation and Economic Empowerment. Both the association and the Ministry hope that this mentorship opportunity will result in more Turks and Caicos islanders becoming interested in joining this thriving sector, aiding in its sustainability, and opening other doors to local entrepreneurship.

TCREA Ambassador Musgrove expressed his gratitude to the real estate association for sanctioning the program and his colleagues for dedicating their time to mentoring the participants, “I can’t thank everyone enough for the support this program has received. I am grateful to the TCREA Board of Directors for giving the program the green light and to Honourable Rachel Taylor and her team for their support and presence throughout the program. I must extend special thanks to my colleagues for sharing their time and knowledge and to SOS Media for the public relations and social media support. Most of all, I am humbled by the community’s feedback and encouragement. I am ready to return to work for round two of the program.”

Certificates of participation and appreciation were presented to Mentees and Mentors by Musgrove, who also shared his thanks to the Media for their support throughout the life of the program. Saturday’s close-out ended with a celebratory lunch sponsored and hosted by Big Al’s Island Grill in The Salt Mills, Grace Bay.

Another ten spots will be available for the program’s 2^nd round, which begins in January 2023. Interested parents and students are encouraged to look out for the invitation for applicants in December 2022 and to follow the TCREA Mentorship Program’s Facebook page for information and updates.

Release: TCREA

Caribbean News

Guyanese Scholar and Olympian Arrested in Iowa ICE Crackdown

Published

4 days ago

September 27, 2025

Deandrea Hamilton

Deandrea Hamilton | Editor

September 27, 2025 – In a shocking breach of public trust and institutional oversight, Ian Andre Roberts, superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, who is a citizen of Guyana, was arrested on September 26 by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under a string of serious offenses that raise troubling questions about hiring practices, accountability, and public safety.

Roberts, born in Georgetown, Guyana, is a former Olympian and accomplished scholar. According to online reports, he earned a bachelor’s degree from Coppin State University after transferring from St. Francis College in Brooklyn, where he played soccer. He holds two master’s degrees—from St. John’s University and Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business—attended an Executive MBA program at MIT Sloan School of Management and earned a doctorate in education with a focus on urban educational leadership from Trident University.

Despite these accomplishments, Roberts was living and working without legal authorization. ICE reported that he fled a traffic stop and abandoned his school-issued vehicle. At the time of his arrest, he was reportedly in possession of a loaded handgun, a fixed-blade hunting knife, and $3,000 in cash. He also has a prior weapons-related charge.

ICE officials questioned how Roberts could hold such a prominent role while subject to a final deportation order issued in May 2024. The school district said they were unaware of his immigration status, noting that he had undergone background checks and completed an I-9 form confirming work authorization. Roberts was placed on administrative leave pending further investigation.

This case highlights vulnerabilities in systems meant to safeguard public institutions and underscores the challenges ICE faces in identifying individuals operating outside U.S. immigration laws while in positions of authority.

For many, Roberts has become a near-literal poster child for these enforcement gaps.

Caribbean News

Bermuda Shaken by Targeted Murder as Crime Returns After a Decade of Calm

Published

2 weeks ago

September 21, 2025

Deandrea Hamilton

Deandrea Hamilton | Editor

Bermuda is reeling after the brazen murder of 37-year-old Janae Minors, a mother of two, who was gunned down in her own beauty supply store on Court Street, Pembroke. The attack, which police describe as “targeted,” has rattled the island, not only for its brutality but for what it says about the state of law and order in a country that less than a decade ago was celebrating a dramatic fall in violent crime.

The Attack on Court Street

According to police, at approximately 4:45 p.m. on Tuesday, September 16, a lone gunman pulled up on a stolen black motorcycle, walked into the Beauty Monster shop Minors owned, and shot her multiple times. Despite the rapid response of emergency services, she succumbed to her injuries shortly after being transported to hospital.

Detectives say the killer was thin, tall, dressed in dark clothing with a full-face helmet, and wearing bright gloves. CCTV shows him fleeing north on Court Street, down Tills Hill toward TCD, before turning onto Marsh Folly Road. Investigators are pursuing all leads, with a focus on recovering evidence from nearby cameras and eyewitness accounts.

Police Commissioner Darrin Simons confirmed the attack bore the hallmarks of gang-related violence, a chilling indicator that Bermuda’s gang rivalries — long simmering beneath the surface — may once again be spilling into broad daylight.

A Vibrant Life Cut Short

Minors, remembered as a hardworking entrepreneur with “a vibrant, beautiful personality,” leaves behind two children, ages 16 and 18. Her murder has ignited outrage across Bermuda, not just for its senselessness but for its timing: the island had once prided itself on virtually stamping out gun violence.

Then: Near-Zero Murders

Back in 2014, Bermuda made international headlines for reporting zero firearm murders — a remarkable achievement given the small island had endured a spate of gang-related shootings in the early 2010s. Police credited intelligence-led operations, tighter firearms interdictions, and aggressive prosecutions of gang leaders. Community programs and mentoring initiatives also played a role, giving at-risk youth alternatives to gang life.

By 2015 and 2016, gun crime was at historic lows. That period was hailed as proof Bermuda could beat back the tide of violence with coordinated policing, social investment, and political will.

Now: Alarming Resurgence

Fast forward nine years, and the picture looks starkly different. In 2024 and 2025, Bermuda has recorded a rise in gun-related deaths. Rival gangs such as Parkside and 42 have resurged, fueled by a new generation of recruits. Economic pressures, high youth unemployment, and the easy flow of smuggled firearms through maritime routes have undermined earlier gains.

Community trust in the police has also eroded, making investigations harder and retaliations more likely. Opposition MPs and neighborhood leaders warn that without sustained focus, Bermuda risks sliding back into the violent cycles of the early 2010s.

Public Alarm and Political Pressure

Premier David Burt condemned Minors’ killing as “an escalation of community violence that cannot be tolerated,” promising stronger enforcement and deeper engagement with residents. The Bermuda Police Service has appealed for CCTV, dashcam, and doorbell footage from the area, urging residents that even the smallest detail could break the case.

Yet among the public, frustration is growing. People remember the calm of 2014 — when zero murders were recorded — and cannot understand how the island has returned to headlines dominated by gun violence. The contrast is stark: from celebrating the elimination of gun murders to confronting the targeted execution of a businesswoman in broad daylight.

A Test for Bermuda’s Future

The murder of Janae Minors has become more than a single case; it is now a symbol of Bermuda’s struggle to hold on to the progress it once made. The question facing the island is whether the successes of a decade ago can be replicated and sustained in today’s harsher climate of economic pressure and gang rivalries.

For Minors’ family, nothing can erase the tragedy of losing a mother and daughter so violently. But for Bermuda at large, her death is a wake-up call — that the island cannot afford complacency when it comes to crime.

As one community leader put it: “Nine years ago, we had beaten this. Now, we’re back to fearing what happens when the sun goes down. That is not the Bermuda we want to live in.”

Caribbean News

CARICOM-Africa Summit Yields Draft Pact on Trade, Travel and Reparations

Published

2 weeks ago

September 19, 2025

Deandrea Hamilton

Imagine an Atlantic Bridge connecting the Caribbean Region to the African Continent

Deandrea Hamilton | Editor

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — When CARICOM leaders convened with African counterparts and Afreximbank officials in Ethiopia, the outcomes were savory and exactly what many Caribbean people want to see materialise as the islands become uniquely reconnected to the African continent.

At the Second CARICOM-Africa Summit, held at the African Union headquarters, leaders moved beyond symbolic language to agree on a draft communiqué that, if finalized, would anchor this partnership in practical action. While not yet officially published by the AU or CARICOM, the document points to an agenda that blends history with urgent twenty-first century priorities.

The draft outlines commitments to improve air and sea transport links, including the pursuit of a multilateral air services agreement to break down the barriers that still keep the Caribbean and Africa physically apart. It also calls for visa facilitation and simplified entry regimes, making it easier for citizens of both regions to travel, study, and work across the Atlantic.

Equally significant are pledges to advance double taxation treaties that could remove one of the most stubborn obstacles to investment. With Afreximbank’s Caribbean headquarters already established in Barbados and the AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum (ACTIF) gaining momentum, leaders now want to lock in the financial and legal frameworks that will drive new business.

Reparatory justice also featured prominently, with the draft communiqué sharpening a joint call for coordinated advocacy. CARICOM’s long-standing Reparations Commission is expected to work more closely with African institutions to demand global recognition and redress for the shared traumas of slavery and colonial exploitation.

CARICOM’s incoming chair, Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew of St. Kitts and Nevis, captured the spirit of the gathering when he urged that the Atlantic Slave Trade be reimagined as an “Atlantic Bridge — a bridge of hope, a bridge of advancement, a bridge that will ensure our people take their rightful place in this world.”

For Secretary-General Dr. Carla Barnett, the meeting was a “homecoming,” but also a reminder that concrete steps like the Health Development Partnership for Africa and the Caribbean (HeDPAC) and improved transportation links are needed to transform rhetoric into results.

For citizens back home, wrestling with inflation and economic uncertainty, the Addis outcomes — transport, visas, investment, health, and reparations — are precisely the kinds of measures that can validate leaders’ journeys and rekindle faith in South-South cooperation. What was once only rhetoric now hints at the beams of an Atlantic Bridge, connecting the Caribbean and Africa in ways that could finally turn history’s tragedy into tomorrow’s advantage.