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A Dream Deferred but Not Denied: Beaches Turks and Caicos’ Human Resources Manager, Owenta Cindy Coleby, Shares Her Story May 14, 2024 Immediate Release

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MEDIA RELEASE

 

PROVIDENCIALES, Turks & Caicos Islands: Born in the picturesque Bahamas, raised in the beautiful by nature Turks and Caicos Islands, and educated at Banneker High School in the United States, Owenta Coleby’s journey through life has been as multilayered as her work experiences.

Owenta has worked in several sectors – including a short stint at a police station and two telecommunications companies. She worked for three years at the airport as a ticketing agent for Sky King, three years at Beaches Turks and Caicos as front desk agent and operator and continued in the hospitality industry as an employee welfare assistant then recruitment and training coordinator. She also served as deputy chairman of the Immigration Board in 2019.

Despite her busy schedule, Owenta always found time to pursue her passions. From assisting with makeup artistry for destination weddings to exploring her lifelong dream of becoming a nurse, her journey was marked by a relentless pursuit of personal and professional growth.

So strong was her passion for nursing that she made numerous visits to the Turks and Caicos Islands Hospital, formerly the Myrtle Rigby Hospital, where she observed medical procedures. During the early stages of her career, she recalls taking some time off from work to enroll in a nursing programme at the College of Bahamas. However, she did not adjust well to dorm life and soon opted out of the programme. This discontinuation of her studies was to be a redirection of her passion.

When Owenta learnt of an opening for assistant human resources manager at Beaches, she seized the opportunity to rejoin the team in November of 2018. “Beaches is the largest company in the Turks and Caicos, second only to the government. Therefore, I considered the fact that it provides wonderful opportunities for professional growth. Within the human resources department, I also have an opportunity to improve the work experience of my team members.”

Her empathetic nature, shaped by her experiences of living abroad, fueled her dedication to supporting the diverse team member population. “When I joined the HR team, my objective was to put smiles on people’s faces by helping to create a positive and inspiring work environment through various initiatives that would boost staff morale.”

In her line of duty, Owenta recognised that there are many people who are overwhelmed and so through her management of the human resources department, she helps to provide the necessary support for team members to help them heal, grow and flourish.
In reflecting on one of the most impactful periods of her time at the resort, Owenta shared her experience during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic brought unprecedented challenges, but Owenta’s unwavering dedication shone through in the efforts she made to ensure that anything for her team members was done in a timely manner in preparation for the resort’s reopening.

This, she says, was a sacrifice worth making as she knew that many were depending on her. This commitment did not go unnoticed, and she was nominated by Beaches as a Pandemic Hero for the Star Awards in 2021.

Owenta is inspired by individuals like Julianna Musgrove, whose perseverance and dedication led to remarkable career advancements within the company. “Hearing her story of how she started as an intern then worked her way up to Regional Director of Learning and Development, is very encouraging.” She emphasizes the importance of hard work and humility, citing Julianna’s willingness to start from the bottom and work her way up.

Owenta further noted, “No job or department was considered below her and so she was able to take all that she had learnt, and she worked her way to the top. I admire that.”

While being motivated by others, Owenta has also been an exemplary team member to many. Managing Director, James McAnally noted, “Owenta has continued to be a source of inspiration for her peers as well as a beacon of guidance for the team members. Having worked several positions in our large resort, she has been integral in assisting all levels of our team from the beginning of the recruiting process, orientation of our standards, accountability for performance, staff recognition, celebration and providing guidance for future development. Assisting nearly 1,800 team members is no small feat, and she continues to lead the HR team with care and consistency.”

Owenta also encourages her team members to capitalize on the training that is provided through the Sandals Corporate University (SCU). “I have known of many who have worked their way up through the ranks based on the experiences gained on the job and their completion of the very practical and content rich courses offered.” Throughout her tenure at the resort a few of the courses she has completed are: Leadership Excellence Level 2, Professional Communication, Professional Leadership and Art of Selling. Additionally, Owenta is in the final stages of completing her Master’s Degree in Human Resource Management and Development with the University of Salford in Manchester. She is a certified recruitment and compliance specialist, and she attained her certification in Hospitality Management from Florida Atlantic University.

Outside of her professional endeavors, Owenta finds solace in listening to music. She is also a very talented singer, trumpet player, and baritone enthusiast.

In Owenta Cindy Coleby’s journey, we find a testament to the power of perseverance, compassion, and unwavering dedication. Her story serves as an inspiration to all who dare to dream and strive for excellence in every facet of life.

 

Photo Captions: 

Header: Beaches Turks and Caicos resort Human Resources Manager Owenta Coleby shares her signature smile at her desk at the World’s number one all-inclusive family resort

1st insert: Beaches Turks and Caicos Human Resources Manager Owenta Coleby (seated) pauses from her conversation with Fitzroy Virgo, Human Resources Administrator, to have her image captured

2nd insert: Owenta Coleby, Beaches Turks and Caicos resort Human Resources Manager continues to lead the team of almost two thousand team members at the World’s number one all-inclusive family resort

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Bahamas News

Don Jr. Bahamas Wedding to Proceed Without President Trump

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USA, May 22, 2026 – Donald Trump Jr. is expected to marry Palm Beach socialite Bettina Anderson this weekend in The Bahamas, but despite speculation surrounding the high-profile ceremony, the exact location remains tightly guarded.

Multiple U.S. media outlets report the couple selected a private island in The Bahamas for what is being described as a small, intimate Memorial Day weekend wedding with roughly 50 close friends and family members in attendance. So far, no publication has publicly confirmed which Bahamian island or cay will host the ceremony, though reports consistently describe it as a secluded and heavily private setting.

The secrecy has only fueled curiosity in a country made up of more than 700 islands and cays, many of which are favored by wealthy international visitors for destination weddings and luxury retreats.

On Friday, President Donald Trump confirmed he will not attend the ceremony, citing international tensions and responsibilities at the White House.

Posting on Truth Social, Trump wrote: “While I very much wanted to be with my son, Don Jr., and the newest member of the Trump Family, his soon to be wife, Bettina, circumstances pertaining to Government, and my love for the United States of America, do not allow me to do so.”

Earlier in the week, Trump had indicated he would “try and make it,” but acknowledged the timing was “not good” because of ongoing tensions involving Iran.

Donald Trump Jr., 48, became engaged to Anderson, 39, in December 2025 at Camp David after about a year of dating. This will be his second marriage.

Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.

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Bahamas News

Over a Week Later, Bahamians Still Waiting on Full Election Numbers

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The Bahamas, May 22, 2026 – More than a week after Bahamians voted in the country’s 2026 General Election, complete official constituency voting figures still have not been publicly released by the Parliamentary Registration Department.

While winners have been declared across the country’s expanded 41-seat Parliament, no centralized official breakdown showing constituency vote totals, turnout percentages, rejected ballots or margins of victory appears to have been published publicly.

The Progressive Liberal Party is widely reported to have secured 33 seats, while the Free National Movement won eight seats, according to tallies carried by several media houses, including the Nassau Guardian’s election tracker and other regional reports.

Still missing, however, are the underlying numbers which would allow the public to independently assess voter participation levels across the country’s 41 constituencies.

That absence is drawing increasing attention following an election already marked by concerns over long lines, advanced polling confusion, voter register complaints and questions about election administration.

Unofficial turnout estimates circulating in local media place national voter participation near 58 percent. If confirmed, that would represent the lowest voter turnout in modern Bahamian general election history.

Historically, The Bahamas has recorded strong election participation rates, with turnout often exceeding 80 percent in previous decades. But participation declined sharply in 2021, when official turnout fell to roughly 65 percent — at the time considered historically low.

Now, the Coalition of Independents says it plans to challenge aspects of the election process in Election Court and is escalating its criticism of the handling of the vote.

In a sharply worded statement issued to media, Coalition Leader Lincoln Bain announced the party will boycott the opening of Parliament, insisting the election was “flawed from start to finish.”

The Coalition claims the country cannot “celebrate ceremony while justice is ignored,” arguing that unresolved election concerns continue to hang over the legitimacy of the process.

Among the concerns raised by the COI are:

  • allegations of voter register irregularities;
  • claims that the voters register remained open after Parliament was dissolved;
  • accusations of vote buying;
  • concerns tied to the Pinewood constituency race;
  • alleged constitutional breaches involving undeclared government contracts;
  • and alleged conflicts of interest involving gaming operators serving in Cabinet.

The Coalition also referenced allegations surrounding criminal influence and drug-related claims connected to political operations, while calling for what it describes as a “serious local investigation.”

In its statement, the COI said there has been “no proper public accounting, no local investigation announced, and no Commission of Inquiry launched into these matters.”

The group is now demanding a formal Commission of Inquiry into the conduct of the election and related allegations.

Bain said the boycott of Parliament is “not a boycott of democracy” but instead “a stand in defence of democracy.”

The statement further argues that Parliament itself must be protected from “corruption, conflicts of interest, criminal influence, and electoral fraud.”

So far, election authorities have not publicly indicated when complete certified constituency voting figures will be formally released.

And that delay is becoming increasingly significant because the missing data includes the very numbers needed to understand whether Bahamians truly disengaged from the electoral process in record numbers.

If unofficial turnout estimates are accurate, it would mean voter participation in 2026 either matched or fell below the historically low 2021 election turnout — despite The Bahamas recording one of its largest voter registration totals ever, with more than 209,000 people listed to vote.

Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.

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Health

Grand Turk Residents Fear Norovirus-Linked Cruise as Health Ministry Approves Docking

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Turks and Caicos, May 22, 2026 – Residents in Grand Turk raised concerns last week after a cruise ship previously linked to a major norovirus outbreak was cleared to dock in the Turks and Caicos Islands days after passengers were reportedly denied disembarkation in The Bahamas over health fears.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the outbreak sickened 115 people — including 102 passengers and 13 crew members — during a voyage which ran from April 28 to May 11. The illnesses involved symptoms commonly associated with norovirus, including vomiting and diarrhea.

The outbreak became public on May 7 and quickly triggered concern across the region.

Authorities in Nassau reportedly refused to allow passengers off the vessel because of public health concerns connected to the outbreak.

That decision later fueled anxiety among some Turks and Caicos residents when the ship proceeded to Grand Turk on May 15.

Residents’ concerns were not without cause.

Norovirus is a highly contagious viral illness often associated with cruise ships, hotels, schools and other environments where large groups of people share close quarters. The virus primarily causes sudden vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps and nausea, and spreads rapidly through contaminated food, water, surfaces and person-to-person contact.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most healthy people recover within one to three days, but norovirus can become serious — and occasionally fatal — for elderly individuals, young children and people with weakened immune systems because of severe dehydration. While the overall fatality rate is considered very low, the CDC estimates norovirus contributes to hundreds of deaths annually in the United States, mainly among vulnerable populations.

The Turks and Caicos Ministry of Health and Human Services had said in a press statement on May 15, it believed the risks had been effectively neutralized before the vessel arrived in Grand Turk.

In a statement issued Thursday, the Ministry said the ship had already returned to Florida, where passengers disembarked and “comprehensive sanitization and deep-cleaning procedures were completed” before operations resumed.

The Ministry also stressed that its Public Health Team maintained “close and continuous communication” with the ship’s medical personnel, Carnival Cruise Line officials and stakeholders at the Grand Turk Cruise Centre before approving the docking.

Routine inspections and standard port health procedures were also carried out, according to officials.

The Ministry further reassured the public that there were “currently no public health concerns” associated with the vessel’s arrival.

Still, the situation once again highlighted the delicate balancing act Caribbean nations face between protecting public health and sustaining tourism economies heavily dependent on cruise arrivals.

Officials are now encouraging vendors, taxi operators, tour companies and businesses to continue practicing strong sanitation and hygiene measures as an added precaution.

Residents were also reminded that frequent handwashing remains one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of norovirus and other infectious illnesses.

Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.

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