Caribbean News
Courageous Decorator Maria Rolle tells us why it was RACISM
Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicosIslands, October 6, 2023 – Immediate unprovoked anger and fear for her safety is what one event decorator says she was met with after an altercation with a villa owner in Providenciales, now Robert Been, Opposition Deputy Leader is calling for a dedicated system to report these issues.
“We trust that authorities will swiftly address this matter, including taking punitive measures against Mr. Gulka. Regrettably, we believe that Ms. Rolle’s experience may not be an isolated incident– We call upon the government to ensure that the mechanisms in place for reporting and investigating such incidents function effectively and receive the necessary resources to do so,” said Been.
The response was prompted by a video showing an irate villa owner instructing decorator Maria Rolle to get off of his property, but not before demanding she ‘wash’ his floors with a rag. We reached out to get the full story from Maria.
We asked Maria if she had damaged Gulka’s villa by accident.
She told the news team decisively there was no property damage whatsoever before the villa owner arrived and began to berate her.
Maria was confused as she said she and Cory had spoken only hours before and she had gotten his okay to carry out the decor.
“The host, that same guy in the video contacted me and he was like oh the guest said you’re going to be coming in to do balloons, how much time do you need?”
When she arrived she was let in by an unnamed woman and began her decorating process. When the owner arrived about five minutes later Maria said he immediately told her not to stick anything onto the ceiling and tugged roughly on the balloons which were floating with the help of helium. Rolle tried to explain that the balloons were not stuck to anything but even that did not diffuse the situation.
“He asked me why I was talking back and told me his rules were his rules and said ‘If you don’t like them you can get the ‘f*** out!”
After that, with distress in her voice, Maria explains that Cory threw a rag at her and now fearful, she decided to leave the house and start recording. In that recording, the villa owner can be heard saying,
“Wash the floor,” while he holds a green terry rag in one hand and a string of pink balloons in the other.
“I’m not washing the floor,” Maria responds as the villa owner blocks the door.
“Take those balloons out.” he demands to which the decorator says “I have two hands, sir.”
“Then put your s*** down and take your balloons out because as soon as you walk out the door you’re not going to take them up. Take your balloons out and wash the floor.”
To her protests that she would not wash the floor he responded
“You’re washing the floor, you f****** walked in with your dirty shoes.” It was this part of the exchange, Maria said, that felt racially demeaning.
“Mops exist, why would you throw a rag at me and tell me to go on my hands and knees, and wash your floors? A broom exists, plus the floors were not dirty,” she explained.
After the confrontation, in which Cory in the cell phone video can be seen blocking the door, Maria makes her way out into the driveway and the balloons are removed and loaded into her vehicle but not before another abrasive move, where the villa manager appears to slam the trunk of her jeep.
Even then the shocking ordeal wasn’t over.
A few hours later, Maria says she was contacted by the guest with whom she shared the videos after Cory reportedly lied to the woman, blaming Maria for running off and not finishing the decor.
After clearing that up with the guest she tells Magnetic Media she was repeatedly contacted by Cory as well who she says was acting completely different as if nothing had happened. When she revealed she had video evidence he reportedly tried to get her to come back to the property to talk but Rolle refused, he also refused to refund the guest.
Rolle says Cory then tried to bully her again, this time into returning to finish the decor. The decorator refused, determined not to step foot on his property again; when she refused he hung up.
“He called me back like five minutes later like a totally different person saying oh Maria I spoke to the guest and I’m going to refund her you don’t have to worry… and I said I’m not worried you should worry,” Rolle told us.
Rille was right. Her experience was shared on social media and the outpouring of support reached as high up as the Minister of Immigration and Border Services who has now launched an investigation. Others are calling for Cory Gulka to be deported immediately.
She asked him not to contact her again, but he kept trying to reach out with platitudes and offers of business and partnership, all of which Rolle said she declined, citing his repulsive behavior. It was that behavior and her determination that he should not get away with treating residents this way that pushed the decorator to share the video.
Arlington Musgrove, Minister of Immigration was horrified by the ordeal
“The release and video issued by the brave young Rolle was disturbing and infuriating, to say the least, and it showed the actions of what I can only call a bully and of absolute hatred by Mr. Gulka,” he continued. “Let me be clear, to live and work amongst us in these Islands is indeed a privilege and one which should never be abused.”
When we tried to contact Gulka, his Atmosphere Villa’s website which cited both Lyra, the property in question, and Vela, a twin property, was closed to the public.
Caribbean News
Turks and Caicos Retains Championship at 28th Annual Caribbean Classic Golf Tournament
Please note:
Photos by TCI Sports Commission
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – In an historic showing, the Turks and Caicos Islands Golf Association (TCIGA) dominated the 28th annual Caribbean Classic Golf Tournament, held in Casa de Campo, Dominican Republic, from April 25th to 27th, 2024. The victory marks a turning point for TCI golf, and much of the credit goes to the exceptional team of players assembled by Sean Wilson the Head Professional at the Royal Turks and Caicos Golf Course.
56 golfers, playing under the banner of the TCIGA were rewarded for their enthusiastic participation across both the Men’s and Women’s divisions.
“This back-to-back win is an indication of the growing interest and increased participation in the sport of golf in TCI,” stated TCIGA President Fraser Dods.
“We’ve been competing at this tournament since its inception almost 30 years ago, and finally bringing home the George Noon Cup two years in a row is a truly proud moment for Turks and Caicos golf.”
Clean Sweep for Team TCI
The team’s success was based on strong and determined performances in every flight and category.
The Turks and Caicos men’s team secured the Robert Grell Trophy, while the ladies claimed the Jodi Munn Barrow Trophy.
This clean sweep across all team divisions highlights the growing depth and talent within the TCI Golf Association membership.
The “Classic”organized by the Caribbean Golf Association, brings together golfers from the twelve membercountries of the CGA. The Caribbean Classic is an individual and team event, competed for by teams of unlimited number of players from each participating member country, playing eighteen holes of golf each , over 3 days.
Team Turks and Caicos amassed the most points overall and won the George Noon Cup last year, for the first time in 27 years of competing at this event. To repeat as champs is a proud moment for TCI sports in general and for TCI Golf specifically.
Individual Accolades Abound
Beyond the team triumphs, individual golfers from TCI shone brightly. Female players, namely Wendy Ayer, Christine Dickenson, Tazmaraa Gowans, and Andrea Todd, all secured podium finishes in their respective divisions
The men’s side also saw impressive performances from Justin Simons, Mark Fulford, Arthur Lightbourne, Mervin Cox, and Simon Dobbs. Their individual excellence contributed significantly to the overall team victory.
Looking Ahead: Building on Success
TCI Director of Sports Jarrett Forbes is optimistic about the future. “This win exemplifies the immense potential of golf in the Turks and Caicos,” he stated. “We encourage young islanders to take up this fantastic sport.”
Head Golf Professional at Royal Turks and Caicos Golf Club, Sean Wilson, echoed the sentiment. “This is a monumental achievement for TCI golf,” he said. “Bringing home trophies in all three divisions is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the TCIGA and its players.”
The Caribbean Classic second victory creates a new legacy for golf in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The TCIGA is administrated by a golf-loving volunteer executive comprised of Fraser Dods, Mark Fulford (VP), Denise Douglas (Secretary), Paul Murray (Treasurer), Andrea Todd and Roberto Stipa.Through their collective efforts, and the growing participation of TCI golfers, the future looks bright for this sport in the region.
The Caribbean Classic is one of the highlights of the Caribbean Golf calendar. Organized by the Caribbean Golf Association, it allows participation of amateurs from 12 countries, including the Turks and Caicos, Puerto Rico, Guadalupe, the Bahamas, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Dominican Republic, Barbados, the Cayman Islands, Martinique, St Lucia, and USVI.”
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