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.

Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer 

#TurksandCaicos, May 2, 2024 – It’s confirmed, threats were made against Turks and Caicos public officials as emails announced that there were bombs placed at both the JAGS McCartney International Airport and the Providenciales International Airport; four different threats between April 26 and 29; now the lead police official is decrying the actions.

“I unequivocally condemn the actions of those who delight in creating chaos through cyberspace,” said Edvin Martin, Commissioner of Police, on Wednesday as he described the acts as reprehensible.

Flights were delayed hours and passengers were stranded as airlines moved aircraft out of harm’s way and paused flights due to the threats.  Each time, the airports were evacuated of passengers and personnel.  While many believed the calls were a silly “prank”, standard precautions were taken to ensure public safety; it meant a significant inconvenience for travellers.

The police commissioner, in his Wednesday statement, revealed that the country’s public officials had also been targeted in bogus, but serious claims.  Martin stopped short however of informing how those public figures and who specifically was targeted.

“A dedicated team of officers searched the premises and surroundings, but nothing was ever found.  Threats have also been issued to public officials.  The Royal Turks and Caicos Police Force, view bomb hoaxes and threats as wholly reprehensible and aimed at disrupting our community.”

These words did offer some comfort and context for an anxious public, though it took days for this branch of law enforcement to officially speak on the issue.  The threats were yet another smear on the country’s safety record which captured international media attention, as well.

Also coming on Wednesday, about an hour before the public heard from the police chief, a statement from Edwin Astwood, Opposition Leader, who expressed his disappointment with what he described as the air of quiet from the government.

“The individual/ individuals/ organization behind these current threats appear to know well that the Airports are critical hubs of transportation and commerce, hence making them attractive targets to cause harm, sow chaos, or disrupt societal order. This is especially amplified in an archipelago nation and one that the economy is based on Tourism. As such, action is needed by the government, not silence,” he continued, “But the Premier and his team are saying nothing and doing nothing.”

Astwood’s suggestions for a more secure TCI against these threats include, increased cybersecurity measures; Email Threat Intelligence; Enhance Emergency Response Training; Explosive Detection Systems; and Email Authentication Protocols.

Despite this it was  Arlington Musgrove, Minister of Immigration and Border Services, who was the first and only legislative official to comment. His words, shared in an update from the Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority (TCIAA) on Monday after the third and fourth emails included:

“We take each of these threats received to our airports very seriously. They are indeed criminal activity carried out through malicious emails, and the Airports Authority is doing everything within its power to ensure that there is increased security surveillance at its airports. They are also working with the police to crack down on these threats.”

The police are credited with taking action right away after threats were issued, clearing airports and doing safety sweeps. Royal TCI Police also provided the all clear notices in each case.

“If you have any information about the identities of those behind these hoaxes, I urge you to come forward and report it,” appealed the Commissioner, he continued, “We are collaborating with our regional and external partners to tackle this issue, our agency will also do everything possible to protect TCI.”

Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer 

Rachel Taylor, Minister of Education, Youth, and Sport

#TurksandCaicos, May 2, 2024 – Sandals Corporate University is now an official partner of the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College (TCICC) and the two will be working together to create hospitality specific courses to equip students.

During the MOU signing on April 29, Rachel Taylor, Minister of Education, Youth, and Sport, explained the process, describing it as a visionary initiative,

“Through this collaboration TCICC and SCU will jointly develop and implement training content tailored specifically to the needs of the hospitality industry covering crucial areas such as rooms, food and beverage service, field management, watersports and technical and mechanical training.”

The Minister explained that the custom-made curriculum would also be enriched further by experts from Sandals and Beaches Resorts via guest lectures.

In addition to that up to 100 TCICC interns will be placed at Sandals Resorts for experience annually; lecturers at the TCICC will also be given resort experience periodically to make sure that they’re using the most modern teaching methods.

“This is not just a formal agreement but a shared commitment to the future of our people both young and seasoned; and the robust growth of our hospitality and tourism industry,” Taylor said.

She was backed up by Adam Stewart, Chairman of Sandals Group International

“You will have 100% support from my office,” he promised

Adam Stewart, Chairman of Sandals Group International 

Stewart who flew in for the event explained that the idea for a joint teaching space had come about over a lunch of conch chowder with TCI officials, including the Governor, only months earlier.

”The best thing you can do for the people of the Caribbean has got to be education. We have seen time and time again, division by division and island by island across the Caribbean, where we invest in people, we see [returns],” Stewart said.

He highlighted that SCU is the first hotel-led Corporate University in the Western Hemisphere and now connected to the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College (TCICC). Beaches Turks and Caicos is the largest hospitality employer in the country and is currently understaffed and in need of hundreds more workers.

“I’ve never seen an MOU come together faster, I’ve never seen the private in public it to work together in [such] a way which to me signals how serious this is,” Stewart said.

The MOU was signed by Dr Luz Longsworth (on behalf of Sandals) witnessed by Stewart and Washington Misick, TCI Premier.

Attending the event was a host of dignitaries including Dileeni Daniel Selvaratnam, TCI Governor, Jamell Robinson, Deputy Premier and Minister of Physical Planning and Infrastructure Development, Josephine Connollly, Minister of Tourism, other ministers, TCICC  executives and Sandals officials.