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Land bought, project sound, five-star resort coming to NW Grace Bay Beach

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#Providenciales, Turks and Caicos – Friday June 22, 2018 – A seven-storey resort to the tune of $100 million plus will add to the lustre of northwestern Grace Bay Beach, and the brand reveal is about a month away from formal announcement, explained Vista Development and the Turks and Caicos Islands Government on Wednesday.

The mood was jovial at the Office of the Premier when the project was un-canned to the TCI media core.  It would take up an idyllic spot next to Coral Gardens Resort, in an area islanders call The Lower Bight.  What the former and failed Toscana Development could not do, the new Vista Developers say they can and will…

“As Developers, we are extremely pleased with the assistance and prompt responses of the Hon. Premier and Minister of Finance & Investment, Hon Cartwright-Robinson and her team for agreeing new timelines for the Development Agreement, which now allow us to move forward with the confidence and assurances that a development of this scope require from a local Government. We are indeed grateful for the expertise and guidance of Ms. Rochelle Thompson, Investment Executive of Invest Turks and Caicos, who has been working with us from day one in seeing this project come this far,” said Co-Managing Director of Vista Development Ltd., Matt McDonald.

Premier and Investment Minister, Sharlene Robinson and Tourism Minister, Ralph Higgs were instrumental in helping the group to craft an updated Development Agreement which will now draw a five-star brand and a myriad  of benefits including employment, construction and by 2021, more guests to the country.

Premier Robinson said about Vista Development that these are “…not just enthusiastic developers, but one of those who have come to the table with a sound project and are ready to go forward.”

There will be 59 hotel rooms, 74 residential condos, 170 rental nightly at the luxury accommodation proposed.

Tourism Minister Ralph Higgs extended welcoming remarks and the brand is touted to fit well with the Turks and Caicos Islands.  Minister Higgs surmised that residents will be pleased.

“What you are proposing to do here will complement our brand very, very well.  The marketplace is hungry for new products in Turks and Caicos and I don’t think you could come at a better time because while we have endured a lot, our brand has never been more visible and more in demand,” said Minister Higgs.  

In a media release, it was explained that, “Construction of the project is set to begin in late 2018 and will emphasize the use of local contractors, providing employment for Turks and Caicos Islanders during the development phases.  Set to open in 2021, the resort will also create a number of positions across many segments in the hospitality industry as they assemble their branded five-star service team.  “Pairing the built environment and superlative services, the resort is sure to raise the bar for excellence on Grace Bay Beach by many measures. We anticipate announcing the new lifestyle brand in the coming month,” said Co-Managing Director of Vista Development Ltd., Jon Siegel.

The Premier confirmed the commitment of the developers to the project and the Turks and Caicos Islands and confirmed the experience of the developers in projects around the TCI, the region and the United States.

“They together have decades of experience with successful real estate development, not just in the Turks and Caicos but also in the United States,” she continued with, “And they will be working with an experience director team…”

It was said the brand for the resort would be revealed in 30 days.

 

Magnetic Media is a Telly Award winning multi-media company specializing in creating compelling and socially uplifting TV and Radio broadcast programming as a means for advertising and public relations exposure for its clients.

Bahamas News

RBC appoints new Country Manager and Area Vice President for Turks & Caicos 

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RBC Royal Bank (Bahamas) Limited (“RBC”) is pleased to announce the recent appointment of Kerryl-Lyn King-Henry as Country Manager and Area Vice President (“AVP”), Personal and Commercial Banking, Turks & Caicos Islands (TCI).

In her new role as Country Manager and AVP, King-Henry will take on full responsibility for the bank’s operations, strategy, and development in the TCI market, with a strong focus on solidifying partnerships with the Government, regulatory bodies, and the local community.

King-Henry brings to the role a dynamism influenced by nearly 25 years of industry experience. Prior to her new appointment, she served as AVP of Business Banking in Trinidad and Tobago. She has held progressively senior roles within both personal and commercial banking, as well as various functional units.

King-Henry holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree, with a specialization in Leadership, FinTech and Big Data Analysis, in addition to a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. Further enriching her professional profile, Kerryl-Lyn is a certified John C. Maxwell Coach, Trainer, Teacher, and Speaker. Her passion for leadership and development is matched by her commitment to community service, as she actively volunteers her time and leverages her professional expertise to mentor and support others. “

Kerryl-Lyn’s extensive experience and proven leadership capabilities make her the perfect choice to lead our operations in the Turks & Caicos Islands,” said Ericka Rolle, RBC’s Managing Director and Vice President, Personal Banking, The Bahamas and TCI.

“Her commitment to excellence, combined with a genuine passion for community engagement, aligns perfectly with our Bank’s purpose of helping clients thrive and communities prosper. We are excited to see the positive impact she will undoubtedly bring to her new role,” she added.

 

 

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Government

MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DELEGATION VISITS WEST MIDLANDS AMBULANCE SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM, UK

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Providenciales, Tuesday 30 April, 2024 – A delegation from the Ministry of Health and Human Services, recently undertook a pivotal visit to the West Midlands Ambulance Service in Birmingham, United Kingdom. The visit, which took place from April 21st to April 23rd, 2024, was held under the esteemed patronage of the Ambassador of Health of the British Overseas Territories, Professor Ian Cumming.

Led by Permanent Secretary Mrs. Desiree Lewis OBE, the delegation included Ms. Renessa Williams, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Human Services, and Mr. Andy Brijmohansingh, Director of Emergency Medical Services. This strategic meeting was an integral part of the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to enhance emergency services within the Turks and Caicos Islands.

During the visit, representatives from the West Midlands Ambulance Service provided comprehensive insights into their operations, sharing valuable expertise and offering collaborative initiatives for the development of the TCIs emergency services. Discussions encompassed various aspects, including training and mentoring programs tailored to empower emergency personnel within the Turks and Caicos Islands.

“The visit marked a significant step forward in our strategy for the advancement of emergency services,” stated Mrs. Desiree Lewis OBE. “We are deeply grateful for the generosity and support extended by the West Midlands Ambulance Service, and we look forward to implementing the insights gained to further enhance emergency care within our country. Permanent Secretary Lewis also expressed the Ministry of Health’s gratitude to Professor Ian Cumming for his assistance by way of arranging the visit.”

Mr. Andy Brijmohansingh, Director of Emergency Medical Services for the Turks and Caicos Islands, underscored the importance of the discussions, emphasizing the poignant exchange of ideas and the potential for meaningful collaborations which signifies a commitment to improving emergency services and ensuring the safety and well-being of the residents of the Turks & Caicos Islands.

The Ministry of Health and Human Services expresses its sincere appreciation to the West Midlands Ambulance Service for their warm hospitality and invaluable contributions during the visit.

For additional information, please visit the Turks and Caicos Islands Ministry of Health and Human Services Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/tciministryofhealth/.

 

 

 

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TCI Court

Eight Months facing Police Accusations and Court, now Pedro Grant Exonerated

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Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer 

With no evidence to support their claim, the prosecution has dropped their case against Pedro Jose Alfredo Grant Gallon, the Dominican Republic citizen who was accused of impersonating an officer in September 2023.

The Police, who publicized the arrest and charge, have not yet commented on the matter despite Magnetic Media queries.

Grant, for his part, has always vehemently denied the accusations that he was impersonating an officer and described the circumstances surrounding his arrest as unfair.

He contends that on the evening of July 13, 2023, he was being followed by a strange driver, concerned, he waited until the man pulled off at a bar, then took his license plate number and called the police, but police never came to help Grant. He alleges that the next time he saw them, they came with handcuffs to arrest him. In a search, police found his IDs which included his documentation for humanitarian work with the International Diplomatic Alliance (IDA) and police lights attached to his vehicle. In explaining the possession of those lights, Grant said he told officers that they had been in his car from his time in the Dominican Republic where he was involved in law enforcement.

Since that time, Grant has maintained several facts:

  • The Police did not have a warrant to search his home and car;
  • The Police took his documents including passports and IDs, one of which was issued by the IDA, and to date have not returned them despite being court-ordered to do so;
  • The Police intimidated his wife with threats of deportation;
  • He never showed any ID, flashing lights at the man following him, or claimed to be an officer.

Police have steadfastly refused to comment on the case despite numerous queries into the bizarre circumstances, even with serious allegations like intimidation against them. Grant was officially charged with Impersonating an Officer in September but IDA Head Jerrod Crockett told Magnetic Media despite seizing documents from Grant to support their case, no one even called the organization to see if they were real or fake.

Now, when called to provide evidence to the court as to why they arrested and charged the resident, the police and DPPs office drew a complete blank as Wilkie Arthur, Magnetic Media Court Correspondent, confirmed it was a lack of evidence that got the case dropped.

Despite this win serious damage has been done Grant claims, describing his life as a ‘living hell’ and ‘miserable’ since the accusations were publicized.

The IDA says it has been affected as well.

“That really put a hurt on us for the last six to eight months now because of accusations of fraudulent documents that everybody else has seen. We’re trying to prove our legitimacy now because you guys can’t verify any documents— before you put everything out there as public information,” Crockett said of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF)

The president also told our news team they had lost thousands of dollars in funding.

Following the closure of the case we reached out again to police to find out on what grounds Grant had been arrested and charged but no response was issued.

 

 

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