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Turks & Caicos Islands Triumphs at 2020 World Travel Awards Caribbean Gala

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Minister of Tourism Hon. Ralph Higgs and Chairman of TCI Tourist Board Adelphine Higgs-Pitter accept the awards for Caribbean’s Leading Beach Destination 2020 and Caribbean’s Most Romantic Destination 2020 for the Turks and Caicos Islands.

#PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands (January 22, 2020) – The 27th Annual World Travel Awards Caribbean Gala was held on January 20, 2020 at Sandals Royal Bahamian in Nassau, Bahamas. The Turks & Caicos Islands once again captured the prestigious awards for Caribbean’s Leading Beach Destination 2020 and Caribbean’s Most Romantic Destination 2020.

The entertainment at the 27th World Travel Awards Caribbean Gala included Junkanoo

In addition to the above awards won by the destination, several Turks & Caicos Islands resorts were awarded as follows:

Ø  Turks & Caicos’ Leading Boutique Hotel 2020 – Beach House

Ø  Turks & Caicos’ Leading Car Rental Company 2020 – Hertz

Ø  Turks & Caicos’ Leading Destination Management Company 2020 – Olympia Destination Management Company

Ø  Turks & Caicos’ Leading Hotel 2020 – The Palms

Ø  Turks & Caicos’ Leading Hotel Suite 2020 – Three Bedroom Executive Penthouse at The Shore Club

Ø  Turks & Caicos’ Leading Resort 2020 – Amanyara Villas

Ø  Caribbean’s Leading All Suite Hotel 2020 – The Palms

Ø  Caribbean’s Leading All-Inclusive Family Resort 2020 – Beaches Turks & Caicos

Ø  Caribbean’s Leading Boutique Hotel 2020 – Point Grace

Ø  Caribbean’s Leading Hotel Suite 2020 – Grace Bay Penthouse Suite at Grace Bay Club

Ø  Caribbean’s Leading Luxury Island Resort 2020 – Sailrock Resort

The ceremony, which celebrates excellence in the travel and tourism industry, was attended by Caribbean Ministers and Directors of Tourism, industry leaders and international media. The Turks & Caicos Islands delegation was led by Minister of Tourism Hon. Ralph Higgs and included Chairman of the Tourist Board Adelphine Higgs-Pitter, Board Member Kendra Parker and USA Regional Marketing Manager Pamela Ewing.


L-R: Pamela Ewing, USA Regional Marketing Manager; Leandrea Missick, Ministry of Tourism Executive Administrator; Hon. Ralph Higgs, Minister of Tourism; Graham Cooke, Founder of the World Travel Awards; Adelphine Higgs-Pitter, Chairman of the Tourist Board; and Kendra Parker, Board Member of Tourist Board.


Graham Cooke, Founder, WTA, said, “What an incredible evening it has been here at the magnificent Sandals Royal Bahamian to mark the opening of our 27th annual Grand Tour. We have had the privilege of recognizing the Caribbean’s leading destinations, hotels, resorts, airlines and travel providers and my congratulations to each of our winners.”

Representatives of Sailrock Resort at the World Travel Awards Cocktail Reception.

Minister of Tourism Hon. Ralph Higgs stated, “It was my pleasure to have accepted the World Travel Awards on behalf of the Turks and Caicos Islands we are extremely honored. Being recognized as the Caribbean’s most romantic destination in particular, is an excellent attainment as we have taken steps to position the destination as a preferred wedding and honeymoon destination. These achievements are testament to the commitment and hard work of our amazing team and partners, who continue to work diligently in promoting brand TCI”.

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Chairman of the TCI Tourist Board Adelphine Higgs-Pitter said, “I wish to express my sincere thanks to the general public for voting for the Turks and Caicos Islands in all eight categories that the destination received nominations in. We are thrilled that Turks and Caicos won and maintained the awards for Caribbean’s Leading Beach Destination and Caribbean’s Most Romantic Destination which demonstrates the service consistency and product quality of brand Turks and Caicos”.

The Turks & Caicos Islands, as a destination, has won the World Travel Award for Caribbean’s Leading Beach Destination every year since 2015. From 2012 to 2014 the award for Caribbean’s Leading Beach Destination was won by Grace Bay Beach specifically which seized the title from Negril, Jamaica. The 2020 nominees for Caribbean’s Leading Beach Destination were Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Jamaica, Martinique, The Bahamas, Trinidad & Tobago and U.S. Virgin Islands.

This year marks the second win for the destination as the Caribbean’s Most Romantic Destination. Turks and Caicos Islands won the award in 2019 for the first time, capturing the title from Antigua and Barbuda who held the coveted title every year since 2015. The nominees for Caribbean’s Most Romantic Destination 2020 were Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, St Barth, St Martin, The Bahamas and U.S. Virgin Islands.


Graham Cooke, Founder of the World Travel Awards and Gordon Butch Stewart, Chairman, Sandals Resorts International

The World Travel Awards Grand Final Gala Ceremony 2020 will take place in Moscow, Russia on Friday, 27 November 2020 and the Turks and Caicos Islands expects to receive nominations in several world categories.

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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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