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Rev Courtney the Independent releases Manifesto; seven pillars form his platform

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#TurksandCaicos, February 5, 2021 – If you want a straight talking, agriculture advocate in the House of Assembly the next time parliament in Turks and Caicos convenes, then perhaps Courtney Missick is the candidate for you.  The 47-year-old pastor and talk show host is a farmer on the island of North Caicos and on Tuesday, he released an electronic version of his manifesto.

The seven-page document focuses largely on farming and the development of agriculture, with Missick laying out seven pillars where he promises to advocate for farming as the path to a healthier nation and the sustainable development of the agriculture sector; to ensure equality in Public Service benefits; greater financing to support local business development; restoration of powers to cabinet ministers and a policy to free-up space in public schools.

Missick wants to re-design the government farm in North Caicos.  Often a forgotten treasure, the farm has suffered various shocks including theft and economic, political and natural events which have reduced production and shrunk its scope.

There used to be livestock, acres of fruits and vegetables and boundless potential.

Missick wants to create a model farm; to be replicated in other islands and give aspiring farmers a quarter acre lot within the 10-acre government farm as a teaching tool.

Grants, long term land leases and a farm which will come only when farmers show a dedication to learning best practices.

Missick also supports home and community farming; he says in the document.

When it comes to public schools; the independent candidate explained Turks and Caicos must discontinue paying for the education of work permit holders while denying indigenous children placement in the government school system.

“…if a work permit fee is $2,500 a year but a child’s education is valued at $5,000 a year, then we are on the losing end of that transaction,” he writes in the manifesto in his Pillar No. 6.

Courtney Missick believes there must be an understudy program which ensures Turks and Caicos Islanders move up within an organization or the civil service. 

He feels cash grants of $70,000 to support business development should be delivered incrementally, and should go strictly to 100% locally owned companies in order to reduce the likelihood of “fronting” in order to boost start up concessions.  The Reverend from North wants stronger support for the Centre for Entrepreneurial Development.

The manifesto, provided to Magnetic Media by the candidate who once served in the country’s Consultative Forum during the UK Interim Administration wants a true technical school.  Carpentry, Masonry, Building Engineering, Block Laying and Electrical are some courses he names for the institution.

He outlines some systems he believes would balance technical and practical development of the students of the technical school and these certified graduates would, he outlines, be fast-tracked in the understudy program which makes up his fifth pillar.

In the Public Service, Missick says he will advocate for balance.

“The Government should have one standard policy across the board for all civil servants, if contract workers receive gratuity, local government workers should receive the same benefits.  AT the end of a public servant’s tenure, due to retirement or for any other reason, workers should receive remuneration.”

Courtney M. Missick is one of 18 individuals who nominated Friday January 29 to hold one of five All-Island Candidate seats in parliament.  While ten of the nominees were linked to a political party; Missick and seven others are vying for the votes as independent prospects.

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Invest Turks and Caicos Islands Takes Platinum Sponsor Role at Premier Hotel Investment Summit  

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Turks and Caicos, May 23, 2026 – Invest Turks and Caicos Islands took center stage at one of the region’s most influential hospitality investment gatherings this spring, serving as a Platinum Sponsor at ALIS CALA 2026 in Coral Gables, Florida.

Held April 28 to 30 at the Loews Coral Gables Hotel, the conference brought together more than 600 tourism, hotel and investment leaders from over 35 countries focused on the future of hospitality investment in the Caribbean and Latin America.

ALIS CALA — short for the Americas Lodging Investment Summit Caribbean and Latin America — is widely regarded as the region’s premier deal-driven hospitality investment conference. The platform emerged from the merger of the long-running Caribbean Hotel & Resort Investment Summit (CHRIS) and Hotel Opportunities Latin America (HOLA), creating what organizers describe as a high-level space where investors, developers, lenders, hotel brands and government leaders connect around major regional projects and opportunities.

The event is known for attracting senior decision-makers, with roughly one in three delegates holding titles such as Chairman, CEO, President, Owner or Principal.

Invest Turks and Caicos said its participation focused heavily on showcasing investment opportunities across the territory, particularly in the Family Islands.

CEO Angela Musgrove delivered a presentation highlighting development opportunities in the Turks and Caicos Islands to what the agency described as a full room of attendees and strong stakeholder interest.

In a statement following the conference, Invest Turks and Caicos said discussions centered on tourism expansion, sustainable development and long-term investment partnerships designed to position the Turks and Caicos Islands as a leading investment destination in the region.

The agency added that it looks forward to continuing conversations started at ALIS CALA and building new partnerships with investors, developers and strategic stakeholders interested in growth opportunities throughout the islands.

The conference itself focused heavily on capital access, hotel development pipelines, mixed-use tourism projects and investment confidence throughout the Caribbean basin — sectors where Turks and Caicos continues to attract increasing international attention.

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Multi-Agency Enforcement Action Conducted in Lower Bight

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Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands — The Informal Settlements Unit (ISU), in coordination with the Planning Department and key partner agencies, conducted a multi-agency enforcement exercise on Thursday, May 7, 2026, in the Lower Bight area in Providenciales. The exercise resulted in the complete removal of a total of eight (8) unauthorized structures and all associated debris from a privately-owned parcel of land.

The operation was led by the Planning Department, with coordination by the ISU and support from the TCI Border Force, the Crown Land Unit, and Pelican Energy.  Security for the exercise was provided by the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force. All agencies worked collaboratively to ensure the exercise was carried out in a safe, orderly, and controlled manner.

The enforcement action followed a structured and lawful process in accordance with the Physical Planning regulatory framework of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Section 45 Enforcement Notices were first issued on the affected parcel in December 2024, identifying unauthorized structures erected without the requisite approvals. This was followed by the issuance of Warning Notices on April 16, 2026, which advised occupants that they were in breach of planning and land use regulations and provided notice that demolition activities would proceed following the prescribed compliance period. Despite these notices and the time afforded for compliance, the unauthorized structures remained in place.

This exercise represents part of an ongoing commitment to ensuring that development within the Turks and Caicos Islands is lawful, safe, and aligned with national standards.

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Beaches Turks and Caicos and Sandals Foundation Champion Early Childhood Literacy with Star-Studded Reading Road Trip

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PROVIDENCIALES, Turks & Caicos Islands: The grand opening of the Treasure Beach Village at Beaches Turks and Caicos brought more than just high-energy celebrations to the shores of Providenciales as the Sandals Foundation led a star-studded Reading Road Trip at four local primary schools.

Dozens of celebrities, global media representatives, resort guests, and hospitality executives took a purposeful break from the weekend’s festivities to connect directly with the island’s youngest learners. The initiative transformed standard kindergarten classrooms at Enid Capron Primary, Thema Lightbourne Primary, Ianthe Pratt Primary and Oseta Jolly Primary into dynamic literacy hubs as visitors including American Actor and Playwright Jesse Eisebberg, and Real Housewives of New York City and author Kelly Bensimon read books and engaged in fun literacy games and activities.

The carefully designed activities aimed to strengthen students’ foundational reading comprehension skills and saw visitors actively animating characters, reading aloud, playing interactive literacy games, doing phonetic exercises and collaborative arts and crafts.

For local educators, the initiative represented a valuable opportunity to broaden students’ horizons. Through meaningful interaction with media representatives, students learned firsthand about exciting careers in writing, photography, and broadcasting.

Nelene Swann, Vice Principal of Enid Capron Primary, highlighted the profound impact of the unique global connection. “The experience for the children was good as they interacted and shared in a cultural blend while learning about new cultures and different career options,” Swann shared.

For American actor and playwright Jesse Eisenberg, who spent his afternoon volunteering at Oseta Jolly Primary School, his visit coincided with a special occasion on the school’s calendar, creating an even more memorable atmosphere for the youngsters.

“Our school was celebrating Boys Day which allowed [Eisenberg] to share in the experience and even provide great mentorship advice. Lessons such as the importance of consistency were well received by students in this developmental phase,” says Handsfield.

The Sandals Foundation has long championed early childhood education as a fundamental pillar of its philanthropic mission across the region.

Heidi Clarke, Executive Director of the Sandals Foundation, expressed her pride in the weekend’s grand opening educational outreach noting, “The Reading Road Trips provided a one-of-a-kind experience to guests and students as they shared in the power of play, imagination and life – all through the wonders of books. At the heart of our mission is to facilitate the creation of fun and dynamic learning environments that inspire students. We are proud to be a partner in TCI’s education tapestry and will continue to support initiatives that enable students’ holistic development.”

While the grand opening festivities brought a special influx of international participants to the classrooms, the commitment to local schools remains a consistent, year-round priority for the local resort staff. Employees regularly dedicate their personal time to mentor, tutor, and read with primary school students, fostering an incredibly strong bond between the hospitality sector and the local education system.

General Manager Deryk Meany emphasized the immense joy these initiatives bring to his dedicated staff. “This was a blast for the resort team members. The heart of the hospitality industry extends far beyond the resort’s doors and through the Reading Road Trip and other team member volunteer initiatives, we are proud to share our time, resources and expertise to the school community.”

Even as the official grand opening celebrations conclude, the positive impact of these classroom interactions will continue to resonate deeply throughout the Providenciales community and the world – example of a powerful model for community-integrated tourism.

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