News
Sandals Foundation Reading Road Trip with Canadian Broadcasters Creates Cultural Mix at Enid Capron Primary School
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.
Photo Captions
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
The Bahamas, August 27, 2026 – The Royal Bahamas Police Force wishes to inform members of the public that several individuals are scheduled to appear before the Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, 27th August 2026, at 12:00 noon.
The individuals and charges are as follows:
An 18-year-old female is scheduled to be arraigned on the following charges:
Three (3) counts of Murder
Three (3) counts of Attempted Murder
Three (3) counts of Possession of a Firearm with Intent to Endanger Life
Three (3) counts of Possession of an Unlicensed Firearm
Two (2) counts of Possession of Ammunition
Armed Robbery
Abetment to Armed Robbery
Stealing
Receiving
The charges stem from three separate shooting incidents and an armed robbery that occurred on Friday, 21st August 2026, and Saturday, 22nd August 2026.
The first shooting occurred in the area of Soldier Road and Baillou Hill Road, resulting in the death of a 51-year-old male.
The second shooting occurred in the area of Joe Farrington Road, resulting in the death of a 52-year-old male.
The third shooting occurred in the area of Gladstone Road, resulting in the death of a 36-year-old male.
The armed robbery occurred at a business establishment in the area of Carmichael Road and Baillou Hill Road.
A 21-year-old male is scheduled to be arraigned on one charge of:
- Murder
The charge stems from a shooting incident that occurred on Tuesday, 21st July 2026, in the area of Samson Street, Nassau Village, which resulted in the death of a 28-year-old male.
A 32-year-old male is scheduled to be arraigned on the following charges:
- Murder
- Attempted Murder
These charges stem from a shooting incident that occurred on Wednesday, 24th December 2025, in the area of Graham Drive, Yellow Elder, which resulted in the death of a 25-year-old male.
RBPF, PACD
by Deandrea Hamilton | Editor
PROVIDENCIALES, TCI — In a country where government press conferences are virtually non-existent, ministers are often difficult for
journalists to access and regular broadcast television news has disappeared, TCI Innovation, Technology and Energy Minister E. Jay Saunders has challenged Caribbean media to become “impossible to ignore.”
Speaking at the Caribbean Broadcasting Union gathering, Saunders argued that the Caribbean does not have a relevance problem but a “discoverability and positioning problem.”
Discoverability is precisely the issue in Saunders’ home country. Even Government’s own attempts at video news broadcasting have struggled against the realities of consistently producing a daily, weekly or even monthly newscast.
The difficulties confronting TCI media extend well beyond algorithms: limited advertising revenue, underfunding, shortages of trained professionals and insufficient human capacity leave newsrooms struggling for both staff and stamina.
Then there is the reality of operating in one of the region’s smallest societies. Politicians, journalists, advertisers, businesses and the subjects of stories often exist within the same tight economic and social circles. A controversial report that might create a ripple elsewhere can produce a tsunami in TCI, intensifying concerns among journalists about commercial and professional victimisation.
Saunders believes AI can help.
He urged Caribbean media to use the technology to transform one original story into television, radio, web, podcast, social and translated content without multiplying newsroom workload.
He also wants regional journalism structured so AI systems can find, understand and trust Caribbean sources, moving media beyond traditional SEO into Answer Engine Optimisation.
His ultimate message was emphatic: “Use AI not to make Caribbean media more artificial — but to make Caribbean voices more visible.”
For Turks and Caicos media, however, becoming visible may require more than technology. It requires an environment in which journalism can survive.
That last sentence is where I think we land the plane. It acknowledges that EJ actually has some us
Bahamas News
Bahama Brass Band Invitation Sparks Heritage Debate Ahead of TCI Constitutional Holiday
Turks and Caicos, August 20, 2026 – The planned participation of the Bahama Brass Band in the Turks and Caicos Islands’ inaugural Constitutional Holiday celebrations on August 30 has sparked public debate over culture, heritage and the historical contributions of Turks and Caicos Islanders abroad.
Organizers defended the invitation, saying the band’s inclusion is intended to highlight the deep historical ties between the two countries
and honor Turks and Caicos men who helped establish and develop the institution in Grand Bahama.
According to the organizers, the Bahama Brass Band began in 1955 in Pine Ridge, Freeport, with Turks and Caicos Islanders, including the late Deacon Reuben Hall Sr. of Middle Caicos and Jenkins Williams and Mervin Hendfield of North Caicos, among those who helped build its foundation. The band eventually grew to more than 50 men.
The organizers also pointed to the participation of Turks and Caicos men in The Bahamas’ Independence celebrations on July 10, 1973, arguing that their contributions became part of Bahamian history while maintaining strong connections to their homeland.
Supporters say bringing the band home represents an opportunity to honor those pioneers, showcase their regional influence and expose younger generations to an important part of Turks and Caicos history.
However, concerns raised publicly described the invitation as potentially disrespectful to local culture and heritage. Organizers acknowledged those concerns, apologizing to anyone who felt overlooked or offended, while maintaining that no disrespect was intended.
The committee said the event should ultimately unite rather than divide, presenting the band’s history as evidence of the reach and resilience of Turks and Caicos heritage.
PHOTO CREDIT: Bahamas Brass Band
