News
Colourful Creativity Unleashed as Beaches Turks and Caicos Team Members Teach Tie and Dye to Students of Enid Capron Primary School
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, December 12, 2023— Nearly 100 grade six and special education students from Enid Capron Primary school were recently taught the art of tie and dye with the support from the staff
at the Beaches Turks and Caicos resort. The session saw members of the entertainment, housekeeping and public relations team sharing in the excitement with the students and teachers at the institution. This project was a partnership with both entities (Beaches Turks and Caicos and the school) as they continue to create a positive, creative impact on the educational development of the children of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The educational partnership between the Sandals Foundation and one of its adopted schools, continues to bear fruit as the students and teachers were able to see their creative designs being unfolded right before their eyes.
Executive Director of the Sandals Foundation, Heidi Clarke shared, “the teamwork that we continue to experience with the different departments on resort being able to use their talents in making the lives of children and community better is what we represent as a brand. We are grateful for the support that we continue to receive from the leaders at the different schools in the Turks and Caicos as we do our part in fostering the educational development throughout the Caribbean.”
Vice Principal of the school, Nelene Swann while welcoming the partnership expressed her excitement with the opportunity for the students to learn a new skill. Said Swann: “The Beaches Turks and Caicos resort team taught all the grade six and the special education students the art of tie and dye. Each student had the opportunity to help in inspiring their own unique design and at the end of the session, the level of satisfaction was evident from them. This partnership is an invaluable one as Beaches Turks and Caicos and Sandals Foundation continue to give back to those who are most in need throughout the Turks and Caicos.”
Head Boy of the institution, Hareph Saintus, after completing his design shared, “I’m so excited to see all these designs that we were taught today. While watching my classmates with the Beaches Turks and Caicos team, I was pleasantly surprised that they were able to not only show us how to do the designs but to allow us to be involved in
making them. I feel good now knowing that this shirt that I will be wearing has my own design. This was my hand-made design. It feels good.”
Romain Roach from the entertainment department noted, “As a Sandals Foundation Ambassador, I was delighted to come and share with these students. I enjoyed seeing them tap into their creativity as we provided the expertise to help them bring their own designs to life. Children learn best when they are involved in the process, and I am delighted we were able to bring this hands-on experience.”
TCIG knew from April that fuel factor could surge almost 80%; Minister says $500 cost-of-living payment was part of Government’s response
PROVIDENCIALES — The Turks and Caicos Government knew months before July’s shocking electricity bills that consumers faced a potentially massive increase in the fuel factor.
Minister of Information Technology and Energy E. Jay Saunders revealed Friday that Pelican Energy warned his Ministry in April that generation fuel costs were projected to rise from $3.09 per gallon in May to $4.79 in June and July.
That translated into a projected fuel factor jump from about 17.5 cents to 31 cents per kilowatt-hour — an increase of almost 80%.
Saunders said he personally advised Cabinet of the projected increase and presented options for cushioning the impact.
He characterised Government’s $500 cost-of-living payment as its “initial response” to rising fuel costs, before a separate fuel-factor subsidy was approved.
Cabinet records show Government agreed on June 24 to provide funding to mitigate the fuel-factor impact, with the relief programme approved July 8.
Eligible residential customers — those averaging less than $1,500 monthly over the previous three bills — are capped at 22 cents per kWh from July through October.
Pelican confirmed Friday that Government’s contribution was already applied to July bills, meaning the bills now triggering widespread public outrage would have been even higher without the subsidy.
Saunders did not disclose the programme’s total cost.
His admission that Government knew since April, however, raises another question amid the backlash: why were consumers not directly warned by Government about the scale of the approaching increase?
NASSAU, Bahamas — More Bahamians are accessing HIV and sexually transmitted infection-related healthcare through National Health Insurance, a trend the NHI Authority says should be viewed positively.
NHIA stressed in an August 6 statement that its 2025 figures measure healthcare utilisation, not newly diagnosed infections. They include beneficiaries screened, treated, monitored or receiving follow-up care, including people diagnosed previously.
“Increased utilisation of these services should be viewed as a positive development,” NHIA said.
The Authority pointed to “greater enrolment and use of NHI, improved access to screening and testing, continued treatment and monitoring of existing conditions, and increased willingness to seek medical care.”
The development comes amid a mixed three-year HIV picture. New diagnoses rose from 130 in 2023 to 156 in 2024, before declining to 142 in 2025.
NHIA said increased utilisation demonstrates that more beneficiaries are accessing needed healthcare and actively managing their health, reinforcing the importance of screening, early diagnosis and continued treatment.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Americas has recorded 47,459 confirmed measles cases and 44 deaths in 2026, the region’s highest case count in 22 years, prompting the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) to urge stronger vaccination, surveillance and rapid outbreak response.
As of July 18, cases were already more than triple the 15,011 recorded during all of 2025. Guatemala, Mexico, the United States and Peru
account for 95% of confirmed cases. Guatemala leads with 30,371 cases and 26 deaths, followed by Mexico with 12,255 cases and 17 deaths.
PAHO classifies the regional public health risk as very high, citing active outbreaks, immunity gaps, international travel and populations with inadequate vaccination coverage.
The organization says prevention starts with vaccination. Countries are being urged to achieve and maintain at least 95% coverage with two doses of measles-containing vaccine, particularly protecting children and under-vaccinated communities.
Measles spreads through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes. Symptoms can include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and a rash.
PAHO is urging health authorities to detect suspected cases early and respond rapidly to stop transmission. Unvaccinated and under-vaccinated people, young children and communities with limited healthcare access face increased risk of severe illness and death.
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