News
Six Turks and Caicos Islands Hotels Among Winners in the 2025 Forbes Star Awards
PROVIDENCIALES, TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS (March 24th, 2025) – Experience Turks and Caicos congratulates the Turks and Caicos Islands properties that are among the winners in the 2025 Forbes Star Awards.
Como Parrot Cay Local Foreigner
Amanyara, Wymara Resort and Villas and Seven Stars Resort were awarded Four-Star status, given to exceptional properties, offering high levels of service and quality of facility to match. Como Parrot Cay, Grace Bay Club and Somerset on Grace Bay were given a Recommended rating, which awards them for being excellent properties with consistently good service and facilities. The Forbes Star Awards is the only independent, global rating system for luxury hotels, restaurants, spas and ocean cruise ships. The awards are determined following visits by incognito inspectors who pose as everyday guests. They test hundreds of exacting standards that emphasise exceptional service, which accounts for 70 percent of a property’s rating. The quality and condition of the facilities account for the remaining 30 percent. The inspectors also assess the intangibles that helps guests to have an unforgettable experience.
Wymara TCI
Minister of Tourism, Hon. Zhavargo Jolly, congratulated the six properties stating: “Turks and Caicos continues to set the bar for luxury travel, and these awards reaffirm our place among the best in the world. Congratulations to our winning properties and to the dedicated teams that make these achievements possible. Their commitment to excellence ensures that Turks and Caicos remains the premier destination for discerning travellers. With several new luxury resorts on the horizon, we are poised for even greater success, creating more opportunities for our people, enhancing visitor experiences, and strengthening our reputation as a leader in high-end hospitality.”
Mrs. Stacy Cox, CEO of the Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association (TCHTA) said: “The TCHTA is very proud of our properties and the consistently high standards they continue to uphold to make the Turks and Caicos a sought-after destination. Every year, our own Star Awards are dedicated to showcasing the excellence across the hospitality sector from the exceptional cuisine to the amazing service that puts us among the best in the world. Congratulations to the six properties and I look forward to seeing even more on that list in the future.”
Seven Stars
In 2025, Five-Star, Four-Star and Recommended awards honoured more than 2,000 properties in 85 countries. About Experience Turks and Caicos Experience Turks and Caicos is the official destination marketing and management organisation (DMMO) for the Turks and Caicos Islands. The organisation is committed to positioning the destination as a premier, sustainable luxury tourism hub. By leveraging smart tools, data-driven strategies, and stakeholder collaboration, Experience Turks and Caicos focuses on enhancing the visitor experience and fostering long-term industry success. About the Turks and Caicos Islands
The Turks and Caicos Islands consist of two island groups in the Lucayan Archipelago—the larger Caicos Islands and the smaller Turks Islands. Home to some of the world’s most pristine beaches, including the award-winning Grace Bay Beach, the destination is renowned for its crystal-clear turquoise waters, luxury accommodations, and rich cultural heritage. Each island and cay offer a unique experience:
- Providenciales boasts world-class resorts, fine dining, and high-end tourism offerings.
Somerset Trip Advisor
- Grand Turk serves as the vibrant hub for cruise tourism and historical exploration.
- The sister islands provide a gateway to nature, adventure, and authentic local culture.
Recognised as the world’s best-kept secret, the Turks and Caicos Islands offer effortless luxury, with seamless connectivity via direct flights from major cities in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
Grace Bay Club Boca Raton
TCIG knew from April that fuel factor could surge almost 80%; Minister says $500 cost-of-living payment was part of Government’s response
PROVIDENCIALES — The Turks and Caicos Government knew months before July’s shocking electricity bills that consumers faced a potentially massive increase in the fuel factor.
Minister of Information Technology and Energy E. Jay Saunders revealed Friday that Pelican Energy warned his Ministry in April that generation fuel costs were projected to rise from $3.09 per gallon in May to $4.79 in June and July.
That translated into a projected fuel factor jump from about 17.5 cents to 31 cents per kilowatt-hour — an increase of almost 80%.
Saunders said he personally advised Cabinet of the projected increase and presented options for cushioning the impact.
He characterised Government’s $500 cost-of-living payment as its “initial response” to rising fuel costs, before a separate fuel-factor subsidy was approved.
Cabinet records show Government agreed on June 24 to provide funding to mitigate the fuel-factor impact, with the relief programme approved July 8.
Eligible residential customers — those averaging less than $1,500 monthly over the previous three bills — are capped at 22 cents per kWh from July through October.
Pelican confirmed Friday that Government’s contribution was already applied to July bills, meaning the bills now triggering widespread public outrage would have been even higher without the subsidy.
Saunders did not disclose the programme’s total cost.
His admission that Government knew since April, however, raises another question amid the backlash: why were consumers not directly warned by Government about the scale of the approaching increase?
NASSAU, Bahamas — More Bahamians are accessing HIV and sexually transmitted infection-related healthcare through National Health Insurance, a trend the NHI Authority says should be viewed positively.
NHIA stressed in an August 6 statement that its 2025 figures measure healthcare utilisation, not newly diagnosed infections. They include beneficiaries screened, treated, monitored or receiving follow-up care, including people diagnosed previously.
“Increased utilisation of these services should be viewed as a positive development,” NHIA said.
The Authority pointed to “greater enrolment and use of NHI, improved access to screening and testing, continued treatment and monitoring of existing conditions, and increased willingness to seek medical care.”
The development comes amid a mixed three-year HIV picture. New diagnoses rose from 130 in 2023 to 156 in 2024, before declining to 142 in 2025.
NHIA said increased utilisation demonstrates that more beneficiaries are accessing needed healthcare and actively managing their health, reinforcing the importance of screening, early diagnosis and continued treatment.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Americas has recorded 47,459 confirmed measles cases and 44 deaths in 2026, the region’s highest case count in 22 years, prompting the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) to urge stronger vaccination, surveillance and rapid outbreak response.
As of July 18, cases were already more than triple the 15,011 recorded during all of 2025. Guatemala, Mexico, the United States and Peru
account for 95% of confirmed cases. Guatemala leads with 30,371 cases and 26 deaths, followed by Mexico with 12,255 cases and 17 deaths.
PAHO classifies the regional public health risk as very high, citing active outbreaks, immunity gaps, international travel and populations with inadequate vaccination coverage.
The organization says prevention starts with vaccination. Countries are being urged to achieve and maintain at least 95% coverage with two doses of measles-containing vaccine, particularly protecting children and under-vaccinated communities.
Measles spreads through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes. Symptoms can include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and a rash.
PAHO is urging health authorities to detect suspected cases early and respond rapidly to stop transmission. Unvaccinated and under-vaccinated people, young children and communities with limited healthcare access face increased risk of severe illness and death.
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