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Where the Royals roamed in their Turks & Caicos Official Visit

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By Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer 

 

 

#TurksandCaicos, February 28, 2023 – An exciting Royal visit the past week began with Members of the Royal Family, Prince Edward and his wife Sophie landing at the J.A.G.S. McCartney International Airport around 5 PM Wednesday, February 22nd to a moderate crowd of onlookers and a significant number of the country’s security personnel including the Royal Turks and Caicos Police Force, The Turks and Caicos Islands Regiment, His Majesty’s Prison and the Cadets, dressed to the nines for an honour guard.

The Royals were met by Governor Nigel Dakin and though parliamentarians were in attendance, it was the people of Grand Turk who got a front-row seat to meet and speak with the Royal Family first.

Countess Sophie was presented with a bouquet by one of the Turks and Caicos‘ school girls and chatted animatedly with the locals along with her husband as the sun set behind them.

They moved on to an evening of culture and excitement held at Waterloo, where they had the chance to speak with the Governor’s invited guests including the TCI Youth Parliament, House of Assembly, Permanent Secretaries and District Commissioners.

Also represented were churches, civic groups, educators, media, culture and the arts, Constitutional Statutory Bodies, Chevening Scholars, Tourism, uniformed services, and local heroes, “particularly from the pandemic and those who recently saved four lives, after their aircraft crashed in international waters,” said Dakin.

The Prince, a lover of the theatre, witnessed presentations from the Turks and Caicos’ youth including ‘rake and scrape’.

The Royals moved to Providenciales next, and the Earl headed to the Edward Gartland Youth Centre where he got the opportunity to see and speak with Representatives of ‘100 Black Men’ and ‘Boys to Men’.

Over 500 hundred children were waiting to meet him at his next stop, the Gustarvus Lightbourne Sports Centre where he then witnessed the Royal Cup High School All-Star Basketball game featuring two teams, made up of the top 24 young men from schools all across the island separated into east and west conferences.

He was treated to cultural presentations between halves from the students at the Louise Garland Thomas School Choir, and the Thelma Lightbourne Primary School decked out in white. The Prince also met the country’s sporting stalwarts including the TCI’s 1st Olympian Delano Williams, the country’s 2022 Commonwealth Game athletes and more.

The Royal seemed keen to do it and awarded the ‘Royal Cup’ to the winning East team with representatives in an All-Star line up from HJ Robinson High School, Elite High School, Louise Garland-Thomas High School, Wesleyan Methodist High School and Marjorie Basden High School.  The team are now recorded in history as the first winners of the event.

Earl of Wessex gave remarks and a recommendation, “What an absolutely fantastic result and fantastic support,” he gushed, thanking the coaches for putting together the teams, with only two practices to create what he described as ‘a fantastic display of basketball’.

He suggested that the Royal Cup become a new TCI tradition.

Prince Edward was presented a keepsake for his time with the youngsters; a Turks and Caicos minted coin and a pin from the Queen’s Golden Jubilee in 2002 as a gift.

The youngest of the late Queen’s children, the Earl met with TCI’s uniformed services and was briefed about challenges affecting the country, including disaster management, and irregular migration. He was also witness to a drill demonstration by the Turks and Caicos Regiment Cadets.

While this was happening the Countess was being introduced to the Turks, and Caicos’ natural beauty and spectacular environment. Thanks to environmental specialists and representatives from the Department of Environment and Coastal Resources she saw firsthand the country’s mangroves, iguana species, and barrier reefs and got an introduction to the country’s sealife via brand-new underwater cameras.

After that, she also spent some time with local trailblazing women and girls including Arielle Neely, CARICOM Youth Ambassador and Chelsea Been, TCI Junior Minister of Tourism. We are told that a mentoring program for young women was launched at the event.

The Royal couple were reunited and moved on to a luncheon hosted by Washington Misick, TCI Premier with representatives from the areas of youth empowerment; business and technology; sports, fitness and wellness; arts and media; community organizations and criminal justice reform.

After lunch ended a packed visit, the Royals took their leave flying out from the Providenciales International Airport to The Bahamas, where they attended the Governor General’s Youth Award ceremony.

Caribbean News

Confidence in Gov’t Low following resignations says Cayman Chamber of Commerce 

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Garfield Ekon

Staff Writer

 

 

Cayman, November 6, 2024 – The business community in the Cayman Islands, has expressed “grave concern” over the stability of the Hon. Juliana O’Connor-Connolly led Government, after three Ministers quit the Cabinet.

According to the Chamber of Commerce, the resignations amounted to a “seismic political shift”, and the reasons they gave for their departure raised serious unease.  This came despite reassurances from former Deputy Premier André Ebanks and Governor, Hon. Jane Owen that the Government is still functioning as normal, after the resignations.

“This moment demands clear and steadfast leadership. As our country faces critical decisions on matters such as funding major projects, the upcoming referendum, and sustaining our international reputation, stability is paramount,” said Chamber President, Joanne Lawson.

Adding that the situation has implications for business stability and international partnerships, she said the business and international partners are “watching closely”, and they cannot afford to let uncertainty damage confidence in the Cayman Islands

The Chamber warned that the Government’s instability could impact local businesses immediately, and that many are delaying or reconsidering investment decisions until there is clarity on governance. “This period of uncertainty “poses risks for our entire community, threatening to slow progress on crucial issues and diminish the confidence of local and international stakeholders alike”.

The President said her group wants to see swift action to restore confidence in the Government, protect the economy, and maintain a stable environment for business. “The Chamber will continue to support the business community and push for a Government that prioritises the well-being and prosperity of all Caymanians.”

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Bahamas News

Government Breaks Ground on Palmetto Point Advanced Health Centre

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The Bahamas, November 6, 2024 – The Honourable Dr. Michael R. Darville, Minister of Health & Wellness, joined by Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, the Honourable Philip Davis and Member of Parliament for Central and South Eleuthera, the Honourable Clay Sweeting, officially broke ground today on the Palmetto Point Advanced Health Centre. This groundbreaking represents a critical investment in the expansion of healthcare services throughout the archipelago.

This Advanced Health Centre will cover approximately 14,500 square feet on a four-acre site and hold the main health centre inclusive of a modern surgical suite and recovery wards, an attached morgue, medical waste building and emergency services quarters. With features such as hurricane-impact windows and doors, handicap accessibility and EDGE certification for sustainability this Centre is designed to meet the present and future healthcare needs of the community.

Prime Minister Davis highlighted the significance of the project stating, “This groundbreaking reinforces our commitment to equitable healthcare across The Bahamas, aligning with our vision outlined in our Blueprint of Change.”   

Minister Darville expressed, “This event is about more than constructing a building, it is about delivering on our commitment to improve the health and well-being of our people.”

The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by healthcare professionals, government officials and stakeholders who contributed to the project’s development. Similar to the new Mangrove Cay Clinic, which broke ground on October 16, 2024, the Palmetto Point Advanced Health Centre is expected to be completed within 15 months of the contractor’s mobilization.

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Government

Ministry of Tourism Participates in 30th Florida Caribbean Cruise Association Conference  

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PRESS RELEASE

 

FROM THE MINISTRY OF TOURISM, ENVIRONMENT, FISHERIES AND MARINE AFFAIRS, CULTURE AND HERITAGE, AGRICULTURE AND RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS AND GAMING

 

 

Cockburn Town, Turks and Caicos, 1st November 2024 – The Ministry of Tourism, Environment, Heritage, Fisheries, Agriculture, Religious Affairs, and Gaming actively participated in the 30th Florida Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) Conference, held from 22 to 26 October 2024, in collaboration with the Government of St. Maarten. Mr. Brian Been, the Ministry’s Policy, Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation Manager, represented the ministry at this significant event.

The FCCA Conference is recognised as the largest gathering of cruise industry stakeholders in the Caribbean. Attendees engaged in numerous one-on-one sessions, allowing destinations to connect directly with cruise operators. The agenda also featured discussions on training opportunities, capital investments for various destinations, and the latest trends in cruise tourism.

Hon. Josephine Connolly, Minister of Tourism, emphasized the ministry’s commitment to the sustainable development of the cruise industry, stating, “We are proud to have elevated our status to Platinum Membership, enhancing our connectivity in product development, marketing, and crucially, in capacity building through training. Recently, Experience TCI organized a series of workshops with FCCA trainers from Aquila in Grand Turk. We are dedicated to the integrated development of cruise tourism in collaboration with our partners.”

A highlight of the conference was the release of the BREA Study, which showcased the continuing success of the Turks and Caicos Islands in cruise tourism. The study revealed an economic contribution of US$116 million from the 2023/2024 cruise season, a significant increase from $86.47 million in 2018.

The Ministry of Tourism extends its gratitude to the Grand Turk Cruise Center, the Turks and Caicos Islands Statistics Authority, and other partners for their invaluable contributions to the data submission process.

The Ministry remains committed to promoting sustainable tourism practices and enhancing the overall visitor experience, with participation in events like the FCCA Platinum Member Conference playing a vital role in achieving these goals.

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