Connect with us

Caribbean News

The Turks and Caicos Islands Wins 3 of 7 of USA Today’s 2023 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards

Published

on

#TurksandCaicos, February 2, 2023 – The Turks and Caicos Islands Tourist Board is ecstatic to announce that 3 entities in the Turks and Caicos Islands have won USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards – with an additional 3 being recognized as “10Best” in their categories.

Winners from the Turks and Caicos Islands were the Royal Turks and Caicos Golf Club, which won Best Golf Course in the Caribbean, The Sands at Grace Bay, which won Best Resort in the Caribbean, and Hemingway’s, which won Best Restaurant in the Caribbean. Da Conch Shack was voted the 6th Best Beach Bar in the Caribbean, The Shore Club was voted the 10th Best Resort in the Caribbean, and Grace Bay Beach was voted the 8th Best Beach in the Caribbean.

For the USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, travel experts selected the top 20 nominees in each category and invited the public to vote for their top choices daily.   After four weeks of voting, the results of the 2023 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards were finalized.

“The results of USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards showcase that the Turks and Caicos Islands and its entities stand out to both travel experts as well as to general visitors to our islands.   And this is further emphasized by our islands having 6 nominees across 5 of the 7 categories – and winning 3 of categories”, said Acting Director of Tourism, Mary Lightbourne.  “We are extremely proud that 3 entities in the Turks and Caicos Islands were voted as winners and we thank those who took their time to vote for all of our nominees”, added Lightbourne.

This is a strong start for tourism in the Turks and Caicos Islands in 2023 – following an incredibly impressive 2022. In Fall 2022, the Turks and Caicos Islands was the World’s Top Trending Travel Destination – having the fastest growing demand based on year over year growth – as showcased by Tripadvisor data.   At the World Travel Awards’ Caribbean & The Americas Gala Ceremony in August, the Turks and Caicos Islands won two awards – Caribbean’s Leading Beach Destination and Caribbean’s Most Romantic Destination. Following this, the Turks and Caicos Islands was then nominated for three World Travel Awards – the top tier of the World Travel Awards programme – World’s Leading Island Destination, World’s Most Romantic Destination, and World’s Leading Beach Destination. Then, in October, for the 2022 Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards, the Turks and Caicos Islands was voted the #3 Island in the Caribbean and The Atlantic, and resorts in the Turks and Caicos Islands claimed 9 of the top 15 spots for the Top 15 Resorts in the Atlantic Islands category – including the top spot, which was earned by COMO Parrot Cay.

In addition to the USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards wins, the hot start to tourism in 2023 also includes the Turks and Caicos Islands and 20 of its resorts being nominated for Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards.

“It is evident that the momentum of the Turks and Caicos Islands’ tourism industry in 2022 has carried over into 2023.  For this, I thank all of our tourism stakeholders who work tirelessly to continue to elevate the Turks and Caicos Islands’ tourism product to greater heights”, stated Minister of Tourism, Hon. Josephine Connolly.   “With our plans for tourism in 2023, the year looks to be extremely promising and exciting.  We encourage all Turks and Caicos Islanders, as well as residents and visitors of these islands to facilitate this momentum increasing by voting for the Turks and Caicos Islands in the 2023 Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards” added Hon. Connolly.

Voting for Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards 2023 will be live until Monday, February 27, 2023 and the results will be published in Travel and Leisure’s August issue, as well as online at travelandleisure.com.  Votes can be cast online at https://wba.m-rr.com/home.

Continue Reading

Caribbean News

Mottley Sworn in After Historic Clean Sweep in Barbados Election

Published

on

Barbados, February 12, 2026 – Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley was this afternoon officially sworn in for a third consecutive term, hours after delivering one of the most emphatic election victories in Caribbean political history — another complete capture of all 30 seats in Barbados’ House of Assembly.

The ceremony, conducted by President His Excellency Lt. Col. The Most Honourable Jeffrey Bostic, marked the formal start of a new administration following the February 11, 2026 general election, which returned the Barbados Labour Party (BLP) to power with a renewed and overwhelming mandate.

In a statement after taking the oath, Mottley said she accepted the responsibility “with humility and resolve,” thanking the people of Barbados for placing their trust in her leadership once again and urging national unity as her government begins its new term. Attorney Wilfred Abrahams was also sworn in as Attorney General.

The result is historic not only for its scale but for its consistency. This is the third straight general election in which the BLP has won every constituency, reinforcing Mottley’s dominance in national politics and extending an unmatched era of one-party control in the modern democratic period.

Voting day unfolded under the watch of a CARICOM Election Observation Mission, led by Antigua and Barbuda’s Supervisor of Elections Ian Hughes and supported by senior electoral officials from Belize and Jamaica. The team engaged key institutions ahead of the poll and monitored the process across the island.

Regional leaders were swift in their congratulations.

Guyana’s President Irfaan Ali described the outcome as “emphatic and historic,” saying the clean sweep reflected how deeply Mottley’s leadership has connected with Barbadians and expressing optimism about strengthening ties between the two countries.

Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness also hailed the victory, noting that her re-election provides an opportunity to deepen cooperation within CARICOM and advance shared regional priorities.

The scale of the win again leaves Barbados without a parliamentary opposition, a reality that has become a defining feature of the political landscape since 2018. Supporters argue the repeated mandate reflects public confidence in Mottley’s stewardship of economic reform, climate diplomacy, the transition to a republic, and Barbados’ expanding global influence.

Now, newly sworn in and backed by another unanimous parliamentary majority, Mottley begins a third term with both extraordinary political capital and equally high expectations at home and across the region.

Continue Reading

Caribbean News

Liberty Caribbean Committed to ‘Elevating Region’ at CANTO  

Published

on

Simone Martin-Sulgan, Vice President and General Manager, Flow Trinidad & Tobago

Liberty Caribbean is Diamond Sponsor of CANTO Connect 2026 and 42nd AGM

 

Port of Spain, TRININDAD & TOBAGO (February 1, 2026) — Liberty Caribbean, the operators of Flow. Liberty Business and BTC, has reaffirmed its commitment to turning regional connectivity into measurable economic and social outcomes as Diamond Sponsor of CANTO Connect 2026 and its 42nd Annual General Meeting.

CANTO is the leading regional body that brings together telecommunications operators, ICT providers, regulators, governments, and industry partners to support the development of the Caribbean’s digital and communications landscape.

Simone Martin-Sulgan, Vice President and General Manager, Flow Trinidad & Tobago delivered the sponsor’s address on behalf of Liberty Caribbean.

“The work of laying fibre and lighting towers is done; connectivity is now our foundation,” she said.

“The real task before us is to translate that foundation into innovation, productivity and prosperity for our people. Intelligent connectivity, such as networks designed for 5G, AI and IoT, will be the platform for smarter public services, more resilient systems and scaled opportunities for Caribbean entrepreneurs.”

Martin-Sulgan emphasised that infrastructure alone will not deliver sustainable progress.

“Digital progress must become digital prosperity. That means creating career pathways for young people, helping local businesses scale and ensuring citizens across our communities can fully participate in the digital economy. A connected Caribbean should also be a confident, creative and globally competitive Caribbean,” she said.

Liberty Caribbean is represented by a senior delegation at CANTO Connect to support the conference objectives of aligning policy, investment and execution across the region under this year’s theme ‘Elevate the Caribbean – From Connectivity to Global Competitiveness’.

Liberty Caribbean’s delegation includes Inge Smidts, Chief Executive Officer; Desron Bynoe, VP and General Manager, Flow Barbados; Susanna O’Sullivan, VP and General Manager, North Caribbean; Marilyn Sealy, Senior Director, Head of Communications; Dominic Boon, VP, People; Daniel Neiva, Chief Commercial Officer, B2B; Bradley Ramcharan, Director, B2B, Trinidad & Tobago; Yolande Headley, Country Manager, Dutch East Caribbean; and Jade Reymond, Country Manager, Flow Anguilla.

Martin-Sulgan thanked CANTO’s local secretariat for convening the forum and urged delegates to convert conversation into action.

“If we align policy, capital and capability, the Caribbean can move from connectivity to competitiveness. Liberty Caribbean will continue to invest in resilient networks, nurture homegrown talent and partner to deliver measurable social and economic value across our markets,” she said.

Continue Reading

Caribbean News

Adam Stewart named CNW’s Businessman/Philanthropist of the Year for 2025

Published

on

Executive Chairman of Sandals Resorts, Adam Stewart, has been named Businessman/Philanthropist of the Year for 2025 by the regional news publication, Caribbean National Weekly (CNW).

The publication recognised Stewart for his leadership in hospitality, his ongoing investments in regional tourism, his steady crisis response and his philanthropic work throughout what it described as a year filled with both remarkable achievements and significant challenges.

CNW highlighted how 2025 saw industry recognition for Stewart, major announcements of multimillion‑dollar developments across his all‑inclusive luxury resort brands and an invitation to join the prestigious Wall Street Journal CEO Council.

But the publication said his impact extended well beyond business milestones.

“In 2025, the Executive Chairman of Sandals Resorts didn’t just guide his iconic hospitality empire through crisis – he used its scale and influence to help shape Jamaica’s rebound and lay groundwork for future regional growth,” CNW wrote.

The defining moment, it said, came in late October when Hurricane Melissa caused severe damage to parts of Jamaica’s tourism infrastructure. Stewart responded by leading transparent communication with global travel advisors, partners and team members, and made a landmark pledge, that 100 per cent of Sandals and Beaches employees would remain on payroll and receive Christmas bonuses, even at resorts temporarily closed for extensive restoration and upgrades. The company also committed more than US$3 million in staff recovery aid, providing direct support to families affected by the storm.

CNW further highlighted the work of the Sandals Foundation under Stewart’s guidance, noting record levels of community engagement and targeted disaster‑recovery support in healthcare, livelihoods and the environment.

In response to the honour, Stewart said he was “deeply humbled” to receive the Businessman/Philanthropist of the Year recognition and expressed his gratitude to his teams and partners for their dedication during an extraordinary year.

“This award reflects far more than any one individual. It is a direct result of people showing up every day for their communities and believing business is a force for good. It belongs to the extraordinary teams who carry our shared vision forward – especially the Sandals Foundation, whose work continues to create lasting change across education, health care, disaster relief and environmental stewardship,” Stewart stated.

“To every colleague and partner who helps bring this mission to life – thank you for your commitment, heart and belief.”

Continue Reading

FIND US ON FACEBOOK

TRENDING