#TurksandCaicos, May 21, 2024 – Ms. Patricia Arana has been sworn in on13 May 2024 as Resident Magistrate, Grand Turk.  She first joined the Judiciary of the Turks and Caicos Islands as Registrar of the Magistrate’s Court in April 2022.

Prior to taking up the position of Registrar of the Magistrate’s Court, she was the Deputy Registrar General at the Supreme Court of her native Belize in Belize City. She started her judicial career as a Magistrate in 2010 and was promoted to the position of Senior Magistrate in 2015. As Senior Magistrate, she worked in several districts in Belize, and acted as Chief Magistrate on several occasions.  She was also within that period, seconded for two years as Legal Counsel to the Financial Intelligence Unit of Belize.

Ms. Arana is a graduate of the University of the West Indies where she obtained a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) Degree, and a graduate of the Norman Manley Law School, Jamaica, where she obtained her Legal Education Certificate. There she distinguished herself when she received the H.H. Dunn Memorial Prize for Legal Drafting and Interpretation.

Regionally, Ms. Arana currently serves as an Executive Member of the Caribbean Association of Judicial Officers (CAJO) on behalf of the Judiciary of the Turks and Caicos Islands. She is also an active member of the Caribbean Association of Women Judges (CAWJ), and the National Garifuna Council (NGC) Orange Walk Branch.

In the Turks and Caicos Islands, Ms. Arana has since her appointment in 2022, served in various capacities: ADR Administrator and lately a member of the Mediation Committee, a member of the Breach Process Rules Committee, Justice of the Peace Vetting Panel, Justice of the Peace Disciplinary Panel, and Election Adjudicator.

New York (May 16, 2024) – Celebrating its 35th anniversary, the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) is set to spotlight the future of Caribbean aviation during Caribbean Week in New York, scheduled for June 16-21, 2024, at the InterContinental Times Square in midtown Manhattan.

Under CTO’s annual theme “Connecting the Globe, Celebrating Diversity”, the week promises a diverse lineup of activities emphasizing innovation and connectivity.

A key feature of the premier event for travel industry professionals, journalists and members of the Caribbean Diaspora will be the Caribbean Airlift Forum.

Rosa Harris, Chairman of the CTO Board of Directors and Spokesperson for Caribbean Week, will moderate the forum. She emphasized the importance of this session as a critical platform for discussing the challenges and opportunities in Caribbean air transportation.

The session will cover topics including route development, aviation competitiveness, partnerships, infrastructure investment, regulatory frameworks, and market demand strategies. It aims to foster dialogue among airlines, airports, tourism authorities, and aviation ministries, enhancing connectivity and optimizing access to Caribbean destinations.

“In the wake of the pandemic, Caribbean aviation has shown remarkable resilience and adaptability, rebounding strongly in key areas. However, as we celebrate these gains during our Caribbean Week in New York, it’s crucial that we don’t become complacent,” stated Harris.

“We must continue to innovate and address the persistent challenges within intra-regional tourism, which, while recovering, remains a challenge for many of our destinations,” she continued. “Our focus at the Caribbean Airlift Forum is not only on celebrating our successes but also on critically analyzing our challenges to strengthen and diversify our connections to, from and across the region, ensuring a more robust and connected Caribbean.”

The week also features a Business and Tourism Marketing Symposium, the Caribbean Media Awards, and sessions focused on artificial intelligence, crisis communications, and multicultural marketing.

With the support of headline sponsor, the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation; gold sponsors Cayman Islands Department of Tourism and the United States Virgin Islands Department of Tourism; and Diamonds International and the Caribbean Media Exchange, Caribbean Week in New York 2024 is poised to be a pivotal meeting for tourism professionals and stakeholders in the region and the Diaspora.

MEDIA RELEASE

#TurksandCaicos, May 21, 2024 – Approximately ten team members from the resort’s kid’s camp, entertainment, and public relations departments engaged students and teachers in tie and dye activities to creatively showcase and engage students in appreciating the strengths and unique characteristics they each hold. The activity provided a dynamic space for inclusion was students on the spectrum were given also able to take part in the art and craft project.

Executive Director of the Sandals Foundation, Heidi Clarke shared, “Across the Caribbean, the Sandals Foundation seeks to create holistic learning environments for students. This activity – spearheaded by the Resort team, is a delightful way of not only raising awareness to autism but empowering all students to be considerate and appreciative of the differences that make us all – as humans unique.”

Special Education teacher of the school, Mikilah Forde while welcoming the partnership expressed her excitement with the opportunity for the students to learn a new skill. “The Beaches Turks and Caicos resort team taught all the students, including 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,” Forde shared.

Grade six student of the institution, Alyssa Lewin expressed delight in playing an active role in the creative process. “I was excited to see all the designs that we were taught today. 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.”

Kayanne Ajarie from the kid’s camp department on resort 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.”

Photo Captions:

Header: Beaches Turks and Caicos team of Jodian Banton (left) Public Relations Coordinator and Kayanne Ajarie go through the process of applying the dye to shirts at the Thelma Lightbourne Primary school while students look on during the Sandals Foundation Autism Awareness activity at the school

1st insert: Alyssa Lewin (left), grade six student at the Thelma Lightbourne Primary School shows off her final project to her teacher Francine Dorvil during the recently held Beaches Turks and Caicos and Sandals Foundation Autism Awareness activity at the school

2nd insert: Thelma Lightbourne Primary school students, (l-r), Liasia, Tachline, and Makayla show off their tie and dye designed shirts done with the support of the Sandals Foundation team from Beaches Turks and Caicos at a recently held Autism Awareness activity held at the school

3rd insert: BTC’s Kayanne Ajarie with Lanyah

4th insert:  Thelma Lightbourne Primary school head of Special Education Mikilah Forde poses with a student who had a shirt designed by the Sandals Foundation team from Beaches Turks and Caicos during an Autism Awareness activity