News
Six Primary Schools’ Experiential Learning Capacity Enhanced with New Educational Toys and Resources
MEDIA RELEASE
PROVIDENCIALES, July 5, 2024 – The Sandals Foundation Ambassadors recently completed a tour of six primary schools, delivering educational toys and school supplies over a two-day period. The initiative not only brought joy to the students and teachers
but also provided essential resources to help support and enhance the educational experiences at these primary schools, marking a memorable end to the 2024 school year.
The schools visited included Enid Capron, Ianthe Pratt, Thelma Lightbourne, and Oseta Jolly Primary Schools, as well as Bethany’s Educational and Social Training (BEST) and MILLS Institutes. The latter two schools, which were being visited by the Foundation team for the first time, received an array of educational supplies. These supplies included notebooks, calculators, rulers, scissors, pencil cases, backpacks, erasers, packs of folder leaves, construction paper, pencils, pencil crayons, wax crayons, and paint kits.
In addition to the school supplies, each school received a variety of toys aimed at fostering creative thinking, mathematical skills, and vocabulary development. The toys donated included Wakanda Forever, Otrio Tic-Tac-Toe, Mini Cascading Cups and Mini Spirals, giant wooden dice sets, giant wooden dominoes, Baa Baa, Bubbles, Reverse Charades, Go Trio, Beat the Parents family game, Baby
Shark toy sets, Hedbanz, Upwords jigsaw puzzle game, Santorini castle building game, Sinister 6 Spider-Man game, Head Up Guess the Word Game, giant Jenga blocks, superhero action figures, and Bellz, a colourful auditory toy; all of which were from Hasbro, a leading toy and game company whose mission it is to entertain and connect generations of fans through the wonder of storytelling and exhilaration of play.
The donations were strategically timed to coincide with the end of the school year, providing fun elements for students during their school fun days and class parties. Additionally, the supplies will help teachers and administrators plan for the upcoming school year with necessary materials already on hand.
At Thelma Lightbourne Primary School, teachers Daleovaun Hardware and Luywine Francis received the donations on behalf of the school’s administrators. The students, including Dasia Duckenson of grade 2D and Aidan Gibson of grade 3 JWP, were thrilled with the new toys. “Are all these toys for us?” Dasia questioned. “I think it is really cool that we will get to play games in class,” Aidan added. Both students were very thankful.
The visit to Ianthe Pratt Primary School saw the Sandals Foundation Ambassadors engaging in a fun game of giant Jenga with head boy, Mark Morrison of grade 6 CM, and Alishaina Nordelus of grade 6 MP. Principal Neekimo King expressed excitement about the variety of games, noting their potential to make learning math fun and engaging. “Children learn best when they are engaged in fun activities,” said King. She continued, “at Ianthe Pratt, we encourage recreational time with learning activities where children can see their teachers at play and both can have fun together.”
The Beaches team was warmly welcomed at BEST Institute. Principal Darlene Lightbourne, Vice Principal Nadienne Crossman, and other faculty members expressed their gratitude and longest serving teacher, Mrs. Paula Mayhem, remarked on the unprecedented nature of the donation. “Since this school was founded in 2000, it is the first we have received a gift like this.” She also highlighted the
importance of the new relationship with Beaches and the Sandals Foundation.
“Despite our limited resources, we continue to excel academically and otherwise,” said Vice Principal Crossman, noting the school’s recent academic achievements. “In 2023 we were the top performing school in the Caribbean Primary Exit Assessment (CPEA) as Jonathan Brisbane was the top performer. This year at the National Primary School Spelling Bee Competition, Sydney Brisbane of grade 5 placed fourth. She is the sister of former student, Jonathan Brisbane. She tied with a student at another school,” shared Vice Principal Crossman.
The tour concluded at MILLS Institute, where founder, Dr. Carlton Mills; Principal, Jenniemae Forbes, grade six teacher Janet Bantigue, and Information Technology teacher, Vanessa Sacay, were on hand to welcome the Sandals Foundation Ambassadors. Dr.
Mills emphasised the impact of the donation, noting the often-overlooked needs of private schools. “Thank you to Beaches Turks and Caicos and the Sandals Foundation for taking the initiative to provide such a wide variety of toys and stationery to help boost the educational service that we offer,” said Dr. Mills.
Photo Captions:
Header: Teachers and students at the BEST Institute share a moment with some Sandals Foundation Ambassadors during the presentation at the institution.
1st insert: Ianthe Pratt principal and students share a moment with Sandals Foundation Ambassadors at the school’s library.
2nd insert: Thelma Lightbourne Primary teachers and student along with Sandals Foundation Ambassadors show off some of the educational items.
3rd insert: Oseta Jolly Music teacher and Sandals Foundation Ambassadors show off the educational items.
4th insert: Enid Capron Primary teachers and Sandals Foundation Ambassadors with educational gifts at the school.
5th insert: Ianthe Pratt Alishania Nordelus was astonished with her successful move in the jenga challenge.
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
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