News
Super Cool Tech for Happier Holidays
By Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
December 14, 2022 – Whether you’re a parent trying to gift your toddlers and teens or an adult struggling over what to get your parents for Christmas there are tech options for every member of the family that are certain to garner some excited smiles this holiday season.
For toddlers and young children
They are usually the easiest to please of the bunch. Usually something new, shiny and printed with their favorite
cartoon characters will usually get you an excited yell of approval.
- A good choice for them is a tablet (with the designated hardback case of course)
- Educational games and movies are easily accessible online
- An electronic drum set with earbuds so only they can hear the sound will keep you sane and your tiny musician occupied for hours.
- For the 80s and 90s babies who grew up with Microsoft Encarta Kids and want their own children to experience the same, there are dozens of apps which offer a similar experience including ABC mouse.
For preteens and teens
Undoubtedly the toughest to shop for the interests of teams range from books to e-sports and can change as quickly as the tides. Once again tablets are an all-around crowd pleaser.
- For the artistic young ones an Apple Pencil to go with their iPad or an S-pen to go with their android devices coupled with an online drawing app like Procreate or Adobe Illustrator Draw will give them hours and hours of endless practice time.
- For readers a new Kindle may be in the works, but don’t break the bank, if your kid already has a mobile device look into online reading apps like Apple Books or the Kindle app which is available for all devices. Your child will be able to purchase books with no wait time for shipping and always have them ready in the palm of their hand.
- Libro FM or Audible are good choices for kids who don’t like to sit still and read. Both provide subscription-based audiobooks. Your child will be able to get one or more audiobooks a month and can listen while they exercise, on the way to school etc. This is also a good option for children who are blind or have other challenges with using a screen or handling physical books.
- For the gamers who are often bent over their phones to engage in Fortnite or other online games it may be time to look into a Nintendo switch, a PS5, or if you really want to go the extra mile building a PC with your child. In addition to the invaluable memory of building a computer with their mom or dad PCs are a lifetime investment. They are certain to be faster and better than any gaming console you can find. As for the daunting task of building it, don’t worry there are hundreds of tutorials on YouTube that take you from start to finish detailing every single product that you need and the price for all the parts will run you less than the cost of the latest MacBook.
- For the budding social media influencer a ring light and a cell phone upgrade will provide the perfect setup for creating content. If you want to go a little bit further, vlogging cameras are a good investment.
For adults
Many of the gifts on our list for teens will go over well with parents, adults, siblings and friends alike but here are some grownup specific gifts that are sure to be crowd pleasers.
- An AirTag; designed to be hooked onto stuff you lose easily including your keys, your house hopping cat or your luggage at the airport AirTags come in handy. Just connect them to your Apple ID for iPhone users and you’ll be able to track whatever you like.
- Any type of sports watch will be invaluable for fitness enthusiasts and even parents and grandparents. Many of these watches which only need to be connected to a smart phone directly or through an app and can tell when the wearer falls down, is out of breath or has increased heart rate. If the wearer is in medical distress some may even call the police automatically.
- For the work from homers a portable treadmill can help them get their steps in while they work, the ultimate multitask. Pair that with an automatic standing desk and even if they miss the gym they’ll be sure to keep in shape.
- For the entire family, smartphone card game Game of Phones brings electronics and physical game together in an unbeatable mashup that sends the family on a scavenger hunt.
There are hundreds of other options, both more and less expensive than the ones listed here. A quick Amazon or Google search will certainly lead you to the perfect gift.
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.
That last sentence is where I think we land the plane. It acknowledges that EJ actually has some us
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
News
BermudAir Launches New York Area’s First Nonstop Service to South Caicos, Now Just a 3.5 Hour Flight from Newark
Twice-Weekly Nonstop Flights Begin December 20 with Fares from $347 One Way, Creating Direct Access to Salterra Resort & Spa
– New Route Expands BermudAir’s Winter Turks & Caicos Network –
[New York, NY – August 20, 2026] – BermudAir, the leading premium leisure carrier to Bermuda and the Caribbean, today announced it will introduce nonstop flights to South Caicos from Newark this winter. The route places one of the Caribbean’s most secluded island destinations just 3.5 hours from the New York area for the first time.
The new service starts on December 20, 2026, operating on Sundays and Thursdays, and will be the only nonstop service to the destination
from the New York area. This seasonal service will operate through April 25, 2027. Fares start at $347 one way ($773 roundtrip) and go on sale today.
The new South Caicos route creates gives travelers two distinct luxury resort options, with direct access to Salterra, A Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, recently named the No. 1 resort in Turks and Caicos by Condé Nast Traveler.
Set across 85 beachfront acres with a 3,000-foot private white-sand beach, Salterra brings a full luxury resort experience to an island still defined by its historic salinas, pristine waters, bonefishing flats and uninhabited cays. Upon landing at South Caicos International Airport (XSC), guests are approximately 10 minutes from the resort.
While flights go on sale today, the airline’s BermudAir Holidays vacation-packaging division will offer curated travel to South Caicos from next month, featuring flights, hotels and authentic island experiences, with bundled discounts and value-added perks, making it even easier to explore the destination.
Previously BermudAir announced seven new routes to Providenciales in Turks and Caicos, from Newark (EWR), Boston (BOS), Baltimore-Washington (BWI), Raleigh-Durham (RDU), Fort Lauderdale (FLL), St Petersburg/Tampa (PIE) and Toronto (YYZ) which will all start in December except for Fort Lauderdale which begins October 26.
Expanded Winter Season
- To South Caicos:
- Twice-weekly nonstop from Newark (Sundays and Thursdays) from December 20 through April 25, 2027.
- To Turks and Caicos:
- Weekly nonstop from Newark (Saturdays) and one weekly direct service (Thursdays) from December 19 through April 29, 2027;
- Weekly nonstop service from Boston (Saturdays), from December 19 through May 1, 2027;
- Weekly nonstop service from Baltimore-Washington (Thursdays), from December 24 through April 29, 2027;
- Twice-weekly nonstop service from Raleigh-Durham (Thursdays and Sundays), from December 20 through May 2, 2027;
- Thrice-weekly service from Fort Lauderdale (Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays), from October 26 through May 3, 2027;
- Twice-weekly nonstop service from St Petersburg/Tampa (Mondays and Thursdays), from December 21 through May 3, 2027; and
- Weekly nonstop service from Toronto (Saturdays), from December 19 through May 1, 2027.
“We’re thrilled to continue expanding our Caribbean network as the premium leisure carrier from North America,” said Adam Scott, Founder and CEO of BermudAir. “Now New Yorkers can fly nonstop to two distinct sides of the Turks and Caicos Islands — Providenciales and the secluded island of South Caicos, home to the exquisite Salterra and Sailrock South Caicos resorts.”
The airline consistently earns Net Promoter Scores of 70+, one of the highest ratings in the airline industry. All flights will be operated on comfortable Embraer E190 aircraft, offering passengers the airline’s signature warm service and authentic island hospitality.
“South Caicos has always felt worlds away, and that is part of its magic,” said Michael Tibbetts, Founder and CEO of Salterra. “Beginning this winter, guests can fly nonstop from Newark in 3.5 hours, land at one of the newest international airports in the region and be at Salterra minutes later. This route makes a long weekend escape and an extended stay to one of the Caribbean’s most unspoiled islands remarkably easy, without changing the sense of discovery that makes South Caicos so special.”
For more information or to book flights, visit www.flybermudair.com. Salterra will offer dedicated stay packages timed to BermudAir’s Thursday and Sunday nonstop service. To book a stay at Salterra, A Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, visit www.salterra.com
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