Turks and Caicos Islands – Beaches Turks and Caicos and the Sandals Foundation recently teamed up with Canadian broadcasters and their families to deliver a memorable Reading Road Trip experience at Enid Capron Primary School in Five Cays, Providenciales. The visit blended literacy support with cultural exchange, giving students rare one-on-one time with international media personalities while nurturing a love for reading.

Enid Capron Primary is one of the Sandals Foundation’s adopted schools in Turks and Caicos and has benefited for years from infrastructural upgrades, learning resources, and recurring volunteer initiatives. The Reading Road Trip programme, a flagship “voluntourism” excursion, invites resort guests to step into local classrooms to read with students, support literacy, and donate books and supplies. The recent installment, featuring Canadian radio and television personalities brought added energy and global visibility to the school community.

Broadcasters and their families boarded the same style of school buses local children use, reinforcing the programme’s emphasis on authenticity and genuine community connection. Once on campus, they were guided into classrooms of early-grade students, where storybooks opened for small-group reading sessions, questions, and lively discussions.

“The Reading Road Trip model centres on interaction rather than performance, and the presence of Canadian broadcasters made that interaction especially dynamic,” says Orville Morgan, Public Relations Manager Beaches Turks and Caicos resort. “Accustomed to connecting with audiences through microphones and cameras, these media professionals instead found themselves sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with children, helping them sound out words, explore new vocabulary, and build confidence in reading aloud. It was a memorable experience.”

The day also provided a cultural exchange as students asked questions about life in Canada, snow, and what it is like to work on radio or television. Broadcasters and their children also learned about local customs, school life in Providenciales, and the importance of education on an island where tourism remains the primary industry. Songs, and impromptu show-and-tell moments helped bridge the geographic gap, turning the classroom into a space of shared curiosity.

Vice Principal Nelene Swann expressed her satisfaction with the day’s activities, noting that the format allowed students to deeply connect with the visiting broadcasters in a meaningful way. “This kind of individual attention—whether through reading a single page together or answering a child’s question about a story—can significantly boost a student’s motivation to learn.” Swann added, “one central goal of the Reading Road Trip is pairing academic support with human connection so that children feel seen, heard, and valued in their learning environment.”

For the Canadian broadcasters and their families, the experience added depth to their holiday, offering a hands-on way to give back while learning about the island from the perspective of its youngest residents. Many volunteers who participate in Reading Road Trips report that they would “do it again in a heartbeat,” citing the joy of connecting with children and seeing firsthand how donated books and simple classroom interactions can make a tangible difference. As the group waved goodbye and boarded the bus back to the resort, they left behind not only books and school supplies, but also an impression of global friendship that students and educators at Enid Capron Primary are likely to remember long after the stories read that day have been returned to the shelf.

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Insert: A team of Canadian broadcasters share a group photograph with students at the Enid Capron Primary school during a recent Reading Road Trip to the institution

Turks and Caicos Islands – March 10, 2026 – Commercial flights between Grand Turk and South Caicos have been temporarily discontinued, leaving residents without a direct air link between the two islands since March 1.

The Turks and Caicos Islands Government confirmed the suspension in a statement Tuesday, explaining that the route — which operates under a government subsidy — is currently under review as officials reassess the tender process used to award the service.

The Ministry of Finance, Economic Development, Investment and Trade said the government is “working diligently to assess available options” to restore reliable air service between the islands as quickly as possible.

While the statement did not identify which airline had been operating the route, historically Caicos Express Airways and interCaribbean Airways have provided flights between South Caicos and Grand Turk using small twin-engine aircraft.

Officials acknowledged the disruption has caused concern among residents, noting that inter-island air travel is critical for access to essential services, business activity and government operations.

The government emphasized that the suspension does not affect flights between Grand Turk and Salt Cay, which continue to operate normally.

The review now underway will determine the next provider for the subsidized route. Authorities say the process must be conducted in a “fair, transparent and efficient manner” before service can resume.

For residents of the two islands, however, the immediate issue remains transportation — with many now forced to reroute through Providenciales or rely on limited sea travel until the air connection is restored.

Further updates are expected once the government completes its review and awards a new operating arrangement.

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

PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands — A major new chapter in Caribbean tourism has begun in the Turks and Caicos Islands with the opening of Treasure Beach Village at Beaches Turks and Caicos, a $150 million expansion expected to drive increased bookings, air arrivals and tourism earnings for the country.

The new oceanfront development, officially opened on February 28, adds 101 luxury multi-bedroom suites to the resort and introduces new dining, entertainment and family experiences designed to strengthen the destination’s position in the global luxury family vacation market.

Tourism officials and resort executives say the expansion is expected to generate greater demand for the destination, which in turn translates to more flights, more visitor spending and increased government revenue from hotel and tourism taxes.

The development is part of an ongoing investment strategy by Sandals Resorts International, which continues to expand the Beaches brand across the Caribbean.

Executive Chairman Adam Stewart described the opening as a powerful signal of confidence in the Turks and Caicos tourism product.

“This moment reflects a partnership between Sandals and the Turks and Caicos Islands that has been built over decades,” Stewart said during the opening celebrations. The new village, he added, builds on the brand’s reputation for creating multi-generational travel experiences where families reconnect and spend meaningful time together.

The resort expansion reinforces Beaches’ reputation as the world’s leading luxury all-inclusive resort brand for families, and Beaches Turks and Caicos continues to stand as one of the Caribbean’s most prestigious properties.

Government officials attending the ribbon-cutting ceremony, including Tourism Minister Zhavargo Jolly, said the investment strengthens the destination’s international standing and highlights continued confidence in the Turks and Caicos Islands as a premier tourism market.

The new village significantly expands the resort’s accommodation offerings with spacious ocean-view suites and high-end villas designed to host larger families and groups. The property now includes luxury options such as the CrystalSky four-bedroom beachfront villas and a multi-level Chairman’s Penthouse suite capable of accommodating up to ten guests.

Treasure Beach Village also introduces six new dining concepts, including the Pinta Food Hall with multiple global cuisine stations and Butch’s Island Chop House, a signature steakhouse previously exclusive to the Sandals brand.

Additional amenities include a 15,000-square-foot lagoon pool, waterslides and splash zones for children, a swim-up bar, and the brand’s first Starfish Cinema, a theatre designed for family movie nights.

Guests staying in the new village will also have access to the full Beaches Turks and Caicos experience, including 28 restaurants, the 45,000-square-foot Pirates Island Water Park, unlimited water sports and supervised children’s programmes.

Industry observers say the investment not only enhances the visitor experience but also strengthens Turks and Caicos’ reputation as one of the Caribbean’s most sought-after luxury destinations.

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