Connect with us

TCI News

Turks and Caicos Tourist Board Attends 26th Annual FCCA Cruise Conference & Trade Show

Published

on

#Providenciales, October 31, 2019 – Turks and Caicos – The 26th Annual FCCA Cruise Conference & Trade Show was held in San Juan, Puerto Rico from October 21 to 25, 2019. The FCCA Cruise Conference & Trade Show is the largest event of its kind in the region. The delegation from the Turks & Caicos Islands included Deputy Chairman Stefan Correy Forbes, Board Member John Hilton, Acting Director of Tourism Mary Lightbourne and Product Development Officer Candesha Mills.

The Turks and Caicos Islands is a member of the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA), the trade association representing the mutual interests between the cruise industry, destinations and stakeholders in the Caribbean and Latin America. FCCA hosts the annual conference and trade show which the Turks & Caicos Islands has participated in for several years. The conference offered participants a series of meetings, workshops, networking opportunities with high-level executives from FCCA Member Lines, which operate about 200 vessels and 95 percent of the global ocean cruising capacity.

Acting Director of Tourism Mary Lightbourne commented, “The cruise industry in the Turks and Caicos Islands continues to see impressive growth. It is important for the Tourist Board to attend cruise industry events such as FCCA. Cruise arrivals accounted for the majority of the visitor population in 2018, and showed an increase of 23% over the prior year which was the highest number of cruise passengers ever; with ships carrying an average capacity of 95%. In 2018 the Grand Turk Cruise Port welcomed 1,021,741 cruise passengers. One of the highlights of the conference was the workshop on Incident Response which covered best practices for responding to cruise related incidents and the importance of responding within the first twelve hours.

Our Turks and Caicos team benefited from several sessions including one which focused on the rise in luxury cruising. Our team will now strategize on how the Turks and Caicos Islands can position the destination to capitalize on this growing market. We held a number of meetings with key stakeholders including the AQUILA Center for Cruise Excellence and we explored opportunities for customer service training for cruise industry frontline employees. Additionally we met with the Director of FCCA and explored options for greater collaboration through enhanced membership opportunities. We were also excited for the opportunity to showcase the destination at the Trade Show”.

This year’s conference was attended by over 1,500 delegates comprised of Prime Ministers and Ministers responsible for Tourism, Directors of Tourism, Destination Representatives, Tour Companies, Marketing and Promotional Companies and executives from various major cruise lines.

Photo Captions:

Header: Deputy Chairman of the TCI Tourist Board Stefan Correy Forbes, Acting Director of Tourism Mary Lightbourne, Board Member John Hilton and executives of AQUILA Center for Cruise Excellence at the 26th Annual FCCA Cruise Conference & Trade Show in San Juan, Puerto Rico

1st insert: Acting Director of Tourism Mary Lightbourne at the 26th Annual FCCA Cruise Conference & Trade Show in San Juan, Puerto Rico

2nd insert: Product Development Officer Candesha Mills, Board Member John Hilton and Acting Director of Tourism Mary Lightbourne, Board Member John Hilton at the 26th Annual FCCA Cruise Conference & Trade Show in San Juan, Puerto Rico





Continue Reading

TCI News

Bomb Threat No 6. In TEN days

Published

on

Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer

“Our daughter is on the plane and they took them off the plane and we don’t know where the people are—she called— and we haven’t been able to get a hold of her since” the words of a panicked parent and one example of the chaos that criminals making malicious bomb threats on the Turks and Caicos’ airports are causing.

That parent was one of many residents waiting anxiously outside the Providenciales International Airport on Sunday, May 5th after Bomb threats were yet again filed against it; simultaneously threats were also made against the JAGS McCartney Airport in Grand Turk.

The couple, speaking to Wilkie  Arthur, Magnetic Media Court Correspondent,  were sitting in their car, the mother in tears, watching as travelers were made to disembark and leave the airport for their own safety.

We are told authorities cut a hole in airport fencing to quickly evacuate those who were on board aircraft on the runway at the time.

Arthur spoke to pilots who were frustrated at the delay.

”From our perspective, this flight is canceled.“ One of them told Arthur.

They expressed the same concern that other residents had shared with Magnetic Media, that it was time for the police to find the culprits behind the repeated threats which have turned out in all cases so far to be hoaxes.

Magnetic Media observed dozens of resident travelers mowing about on the tarmac and outside of the airport just waiting for police to finish their bomb threat protocol for the sixth time in 10 days.

The other threats came on Friday, April 26, Saturday, April 27, and Monday, April 29 (2) all via email.

Eventually, passengers were observed going back through security to reboard their  flights.

It’s the first time in six encounters that no word has come from the Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority about the bomb threat, and when Arthur tried to approach the airport to film, he was told not to.

Based on eyewitness reports, several flights were delayed, including at least one international flight to Texas.

Continue Reading

Bahamas News

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

Published

on

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.

 

 

Continue Reading

Government

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

Published

on

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/.

 

 

 

Continue Reading

FIND US ON FACEBOOK

TRENDING