Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer 

The Thelma Lightbourne Primary is officially under the patronage of the Beach Enclave following an ‘adoption’ ceremony on Friday April 26, 2024, where executives of the resort development gave a strong commitment to the aspirations of the school, which is the learning center for hundreds of Providenciales children.

“I hope that with this partnership, with the wonderful young children we can create exceptional employees and exceptional people to drive the Turks and Caicos forward.  There is nothing at all, more important than the development of the people of this country in the development of this country.  We are not going anywhere, we want to be called, call us!” said Grant Noble, Chief Operating Officer, Beach Enclave. 

The event was attended by officials from Beach Enclave; Thelma Lightbourne, school patron;  Cheryl Jones Permanent Secretary of Education; and dozens of students. 

“Adopting a public school is not only beneficial for students and teachers but the entire community as well. It fosters a better sense of understanding of the community’s school system; it strengthens and improves school programs and curricula,” said Robin Cox-Foster, Principal of Thelma Lightbourne, during the adoption event

The adoption means that Beach Enclave will maintain contact with the PTA board and comes with a host of other responsibilities  including :

• Providing resource personnel as guest speakers 
• Providing manpower and skills for maintenance work and landscaping 
• Encouraging guests to participate in the pack with a purpose initiative carried out by the US charity of the same name 
• Participate in Read Aloud days and
• Partake in school functions

Cheryl Ann Jones, Permanent Secretary of Education, also thanked Beach Enclave for their support highlighting that partnerships such as these had proven successful all across the Turks and Caicos. 

“Because of our partners we see growth with our schools and students— I look forward to seeing how this partnership develops and I do hope that it is an example to other organizations to join,” she maintained. 

Beach Enclave is a collection of 27 private villas located in some of the most picturesque beaches of the Providenciales, Noble and his team, treated to kind words and performance by the children shared that he was humbled and privileged to partake in the event. 

“We are so committed to this.  Thank you very much for giving us the opportunity to work with you.  It’s very exciting,” said Noble.

In response to sentiments from Cox-Foster that the school would be calling on Beach Enclave, Noble maintained that they weren’t going anywhere and encouraged the school to ask for what it needed. 

A moment was observed for Autism Awareness Month during the ceremony with students and other attendees lighting up blue candles in support.

At the front of the event with a strong smile and dressed in blue like the other attendees was Thelma Lightbourne after whom the school, located in Leeward, Providenciales, is named. The  school’s construction was facilitated by an EU development grant, and officially named in honor Lightbourne, native to Middle Caicos, who began teaching at the young age of 15 and spent decades in the field of public education in the Turks and Caicos Islands. 

Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands – The Board of Directors and Members of the Turks & Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association today mourn the loss of TCHTA and industry stalwart, Ian McLeod.

McLeod, a former Director at the Ocean Club Resorts from 2003 – 2019, was a champion for Turks & Caicos tourism and a fundamental figure in the association. He was a dedicated Board Member of the TCHTA and served as the association’s President for four years. He remained active and was an integral part of the TCHTA’s Sustainable Tourism Committee until he retired in 2019. His commitment extended to the entire region, serving on Boards with the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association.

“Ian was meticulous in his research and was keen on information-sharing for the benefit of the industry,” said Stacy Cox, TCHTA CEO. “He was passionate about the work, the people, and the country.”  His commitment to legislative changes that would benefit the hospitality industry was admirable, and Ian was called upon often to assist with the preparation of white papers to propose beneficial policies.

Hailing from Montreal, McLeod was an accomplished hotelier having managed hotels in locations such as Dubai and Auckland. He made Turks and Caicos his home and ran the Erebus Inn before taking a position with Ocean Club Resorts. In 2020, the TCHTA awarded McLeod the Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his dedication to the industry and the organization.  After his tenure with Ocean Club Resorts he started McLeod Consulting, lending his expertise to investors and stakeholders in the tourism space.

Beyond his professional contributions, Ian was committed to community safety and welfare, serving as President of Crime Stoppers Turks and Caicos. In this role, he championed innovative approaches to encourage confidential information-sharing, enhancing local efforts to assist police in maintaining peace and security in the islands.

TCHTA President James McAnally reflected, “Ian’s dedication to the country and his genuine love for the community cannot be understated. He was relentless in his efforts to shape policies that would ensure the sustainability of the industry and the environment. His work and influence have been instrumental in advancing the work of the association.”

Ian’s impact on Turks & Caicos tourism and community safety will be remembered as a cornerstone of his legacy. The TCHTA extends its deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Ian McLeod during this difficult time.

Rashaed Esson

Staff Writer

Development for Latin America and the Caribbean is on track as 22 percent of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) are in good standing, with the expectation of being reached by 2030, compared to only 15 percent globally. 

This is according to the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), during the seventh Forum of Latin American and Caribbean Countries on Sustainable Development.

Though this is good news, the organization reports that there is concern as the progresses for 46 percent of those targets remain insufficient and 36 percent projected to me missed. 

This is due to issues such as extreme poverty which the report says was at 11.4 percent in 2023, stagnating poverty rates, 29.1 percent;  rising food insecurity, 29.6 percent in 2022; high homicides rated at 19.9 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2021; and the increase in climate disasters that disproportionately affect vulnerable populations in the region

The SDG’s emerged in September of 2015, when the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was adopted by all 193 Member States of the United Nations at the Sustainable Development Summit in New York.

They were described as  “a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future.”

This recent development comes after reports last year stated that the region must advance its efforts, which appears to be the case this year. However, there is much room for further actions, given the concerns of some of the goals being missed due to insufficient progress.