Connect with us

News

Pedestrian Crossings: Civilised & Safer

Published

on

#TurksandCaicos, October 24, 2017 – Providenciales – In the Turks and Caicos, our highways are unique because they run through our neighborhoods.   The two main highways are called Leeward Highway – which runs east to west and the other is Millennium Highway and it runs, north to south.   Everything from schools to grocery stores, banks and churches, apartment complexes and houses, gas stations, utility companies, mechanic shops and day care centers, retail outlets, court houses, medical facilities, law firms to social services, pharmacies and restaurants line these major thoroughfares.

Yet, upon inspection, Magnetic Media is awed by the fact that there is not one single pedestrian crossing on any of these roadways.   No not one in nearly 20 miles of road stretching almost the entire length of the developed part of the most developed island in the country.

While the argument can be had that the absence of these vital cross walks is due to the fact that the strips are ‘highways’ – the more compelling argument and frustrating reality is that there is nothing typical or traditional about our Leeward and Millennium Highways.

Our highways are home to homes and business directly.   There are no exits to enter to access the services or one’s home.   No, you pull off the highway right into a front yard or to turn into a neighborhood or you can park at the entrance of a school or daycare or drive right up to a business- directly off the highway.  But to cross the whoppingly wide four-lane Leeward Highway or the frantically busy, two lane stretch which is Millennium Highway there is no civilized way to do so.

Every day, the missing crossings put thousands of people who make up both the walking and motoring public at deadly risk.

On Friday, October 21stwe got a case in point of the worst kind.   The horrible death of a woman who was trying to cross the Leeward Highway, where there is no median, are dim lights and often the area is a vehicle speed zone.   She was hit by a car, then rolled over by a jeep and died on the spot.   The drivers both stopped, but the woman is dead and gone.

I wonder how many times this will have to happen before some remedy is introduced to make it safer for those living in these islands who have to walk to get to and fro.

It is a sickening trend where the planning of this emerging economy has obviously and irresponsibly disregarded the pedestrian public.  Most people who live here and who visit here are not owners of a vehicle.  There is no public transportation.  There are hardly any sidewalks where the residential or indigenous populations reside, accommodations for wheelchairs is as rare to find in Provo as a mango tree and there are limited sidewalks across the island of Providenciales with virtually none for the home population.

In high tourist zones like Grace Bay and Turtle Cove, there are six pedestrian crossings.  Four of them in Grace Bay, two crosswalks in Turtle Cove.  Both areas are relatively small compared to the vast spaces where thousands of walking employees, senior citizens and students live.

Grace Bay has four cross walks, Turtle Cove has two and the Airport, which we tossed in just because –  has four pedestrian crossings.

Down Town, there are two and one on the airport road.  Glass Shack area has two for sure, there is one in the heart of The Bight near Ianthe Pratt Primary School; three in the Clement Howell and Oseta Jolly schools zone and one in Five Cays, at the Enid Capron primary school there.   We tried not to miss any.  But if we have, it is inadvertent.

The point of this report is not to tally-up the pedestrian crossings, because without question there are not sufficient of them anyway.  The purpose here and our hope is to encourage us as residents and citizens of the Turks and Caicos Islands to demand a remedy to the problem.  Maybe highways cannot have pedestrian crossings.  But we do not have real highways.  What we do have is a real and deadly problem which requires rectification.

We cannot have thousands of residents residing in the largest populated community of Blue Hills/Wheeland without a safe and legal way to cross the street just because someone decided they wanted to name it Millennium HIGHWAY.

We cannot have thousands of residents put at life threatening risk when they decide they want to cross from a visit at the Cheshire Hall medical Center to their home in Plantation or go into the NIB for their benefit cheque.

We cannot continue to live in a society which disregards the fact that most people visiting ScotiaBank’s ATM live in the hugely populated Cheshire Hall district and will need to cross the HIGHWAY to get back home.

We cannot rest on our laurels as leaders in the various spheres and distance ourselves from the fact that a person with their grocery bags after shopping at Graceway IGA will need to cross the thoroughfare to get home to The Bight.

We do not have a hovering public, I mean people aren’t floating around.  Everyone does not have a vehicle.  Plus we say we want to encourage walking and activity to reduce the prevalence of non communicable diseases and there is a boom in exercising on our streets.  But it is not safe.

I mean, if we are serious about creating a civilized, caring, healthy and safe society… then let us get serious and make the changes which will lead to a better quality of life for all residents of the Turks and Caicos – drivers and walkers, locals and tourists – because all lives matter.

 

Continue Reading

News

The Turks and Caicos Islands Set Positive Start to 2026 with Increase in January Stayover Arrivals  

Published

on

Grace Bay Strip Stone Creek Travels

PROVIDENCIALES, TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS – (February 25th, 2026) – The Turks and Caicos Islands began 2026 on a positive note, with stayover arrivals in January surpassing the same period in 2025.

Preliminary figures indicate that 56,830 stayover visitors arrived in January 2026, representing a two percent increase year-on-year. The steady growth continues the positive momentum experienced at the close of 2025.

Mr. Paul Pennicook, Interim CEO Consultant, attributed the encouraging performance to new collaboration with tour operator partners as well as increased airlift from key source markets.

“We anticipated a strong January performance following the growth recorded in November and December. The winter season has traditionally been a robust period for the Turks and Caicos Islands, and this year that strength has been further supported by enhanced collaboration with partners and expanded airlift from Canada and the United States We are cautiously optimistic about maintaining this upward trajectory in the weeks and months ahead.

Cruise Sector

In cruise, preliminary figures show 122,935 cruise passenger arrivals in January, reflecting a 15 percent decrease compared to January 2025. The decline is attributed to a reduction in cruise calls during the month. A total of 33 vessels called on Grand Turk in January, seven fewer than during the corresponding period last year.

Marketing Shows

As part of its ongoing efforts to position the Turks and Caicos Islands as a premier luxury destination, Experience Turks and Caicos has been actively participating in the Travel & Adventure Shows across several major cities in the United States.

The destination has already been showcased in Washington, D.C., New York, and Chicago, with Fort Lauderdale and Denver scheduled in the coming weeks.

Public Relations Manager Laura Dowrich represented the Turks and Caicos Islands alongside the destination’s U.S. marketing agency, ABA Global.

Beaches Turks & Caicos – Stone Creek Travels

“One of the most encouraging takeaways from these shows is that the Turks and Caicos Islands is indeed on travellers’ radar. We met many visitors who shared fond memories of their time here, others who already have trips booked and were seeking recommendations on activities and dining, and many more who aspire to visit. It was a pleasure highlighting our multi-island destination and sharing the many experiences that make the Turks and Caicos Islands truly special,” said Ms. Dowrich.

Awards & Recognition

Building on a stellar year of accolades in 2025, the Turks and Caicos Islands has begun 2026 with additional international recognition.

The destination earned a Gold Badge in the U.S. News & World Report rankings, placing #5 in Best Family Vacations in the Caribbean and #5 in Best Beaches in the World. In the USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, Grand Turk was ranked #10 among the Best Caribbean Islands to Visit.

About Experience Turks and Caicos

 Middle Caicos Dragon Cay Resort

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.
  • 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.

Photo Captions:

Grand Turk – slow travel with us

North Caicos – Correy Forbes

South Caicos Sail Rock

Continue Reading

News

DDME Staff Strengthen Disaster Management Capacity Through Professional Development Workshop

Published

on

Ms. Yolande Williams, Community Preparedness Officer for South Caicos speaking to Dr. Clerveaux

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Wednesday, 25 February 2026: Staff of the Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies (DDME) participated in a one‑day Professional Staff Development Workshop on Thursday, 19th February 2026. The session was facilitated by former DDME Director (2011–2021) and current Permanent Secretary of the Governor’s Office, Dr. Virginia Clerveaux.

The in-house workshop was organised by the DDME Training Unit, to focus on the National Disaster Management Framework, strengthening staff understanding of their roles and responsibilities within disaster management. The session also aimed to enhance the effectiveness of the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) and reinforce inter‑agency coordination.

Drawing on her extensive experience in disaster management in the Turks and Caicos Islands, as well as several deployments to CDEMA member states including Haiti, The Bahamas, and Jamaica, Dr. Clerveaux provided practical insights that reinforced key concepts and clarified operational expectations. Staff members actively participated in discussions and shared recommendations to improve sub‑committee performance and overall departmental efficiency.

To support learning retention, the workshop incorporated pre‑ and post‑assessments, enabling participants to evaluate their understanding and track improvements.

Acting Director of DDME, Mr. Kevaun Lucas stated: “Investing in the continued development of our team is essential to strengthening national resilience. This and future planned workshops will help to reinforce our commitment to building a highly skilled, well‑coordinated workforce capable of leading and supporting disaster management efforts across the Turks and Caicos Islands. I am proud of the team’s engagement and encouraged by the meaningful contributions they made throughout the session.”

This Professional Staff Development Workshop forms part of DDME’s ongoing commitment to enhancing internal capacity, strengthening operational coordination and improving overall departmental synergy as the agency continues to advance national preparedness and response capabilities.

 

Photo Captions:

1st insert:   Ms. Tamara Hylton, Training and Education Manager for DDME
2nd insert: Dr. Virginia Clerveaux with DDME Staff Members
3rd insert: Mr. Kevern De Bellott, Deputy Director for DDME speaking to Dr. Clerveaux

Continue Reading

Caribbean News

Liberty Caribbean Supports Regional Forum on AI, Cyber Resilience and Digital Inclusion  

Published

on

Port of Spain, TRINIDAD & TOBAGO (February 24, 2026) — Liberty Caribbean, the operators of Flow, Liberty Business and BTC, recently served as Gold-Level Partner of the two-day Trinidad and Tobago Internet Governance Forum (TTIGF), themed “The Innovation Paradox – Balancing Progress with Responsibility and Resilience”.

The Digital Divide is of particular interest to Liberty Caribbean and is being addressed through its Charitable Foundation across the region. Low broadband penetration in the Caribbean contributes to diminished opportunities for individuals, communities, and local economies, but with the support of funding partners, this gap can be addressed through a comprehensive programme – JUMP – that focuses on providing access, devices, and digital skills.

“Liberty Caribbean was proud to serve as Gold-Level Partner of the TTIGF because the conversations taking place here shape key digital policies for multiple stakeholders,” said Simone Martin-Sulgan, Vice President and General Manager, Flow Trinidad.

“As technology accelerates at an unprecedented pace, we must ensure that innovation strengthens our societies rather than fragments them. The theme, ‘The Innovation Paradox – Balancing Progress with Responsibility and Resilience,’ speaks directly to the work we do every day: building networks that are not only fast and reliable, but secure, inclusive and future-ready.”

Across the Caribbean, the digital divide remains one of the most pressing barriers to equitable growth. Low broadband penetration limits access to education, entrepreneurship and essential services, and that is why we are deeply committed to closing this gap.

Through the Liberty Caribbean Charitable Foundation and initiatives like the JUMP Programme, the company is expanding access to technology, affordable connectivity and digital skills training so that individuals and communities are empowered to participate fully in the digital economy.

Martin-Sulgan further stated “at Liberty Caribbean, we believe progress and responsibility must move in lock step. By investing in resilient networks, inclusive programmes and trusted partnerships, we are helping to build a Caribbean that is innovative, secure and prepared for the opportunities ahead.”

Topics covered during the Forum, with over 140 participants, included “Securing Critical Infrastructure”, Integrating AI into Digital Transformation”, “The Digital Divide”, The Human Cost of Innovation – Mental Health and Well-being in the Digital Age’, and AI, Cyber Resilience and Regional Innovation”.

Focused on the underlying mandate of the Conference theme thought leaders, innovators, policymakers, technologists, researchers, and community stakeholders were invited to explore how countries can evolve boldly without compromising values or long-term stability.

Photo Caption: 

TTIGF – l-r Darren Campo, Regulatory & Compliance Officer; Yolande Agard-Simmons, Senior Manager Communications; and Kevon Swift, Senior Manager Government and Regulatory Affairs of Flow Trinidad in attendance at the Post Event Mixer at Caribbean Telecommunications Union’s Head Office in St Clair, Port of Spain

Continue Reading

FIND US ON FACEBOOK

TRENDING