News
Beaches Turks & Caicos Earth Guardians Recognise Selfless Environmental Hero…
#TurksandCaicos, October 12, 2022 – Team members and managers from Beaches Turks and Caicos recently collected nearly 100 bags of garbage from the Lower Bight area, which included Princess Drive and the Public Basketball Court as part of the company’s continued dedication to environmental assistance. This cleanup was made even more special as it followed an official recognition of a true friend to the local streets, sidewalks and beaches of
Providenciales.
Norman Rogers, affectionately referred to as “Norm”, has a long history of hands-on demonstration when it comes to caring for the planet as many residents has seen his familiar face while driving along the highway in the mornings, where he collects trash five days a week. He is also no stranger to the Sandals Resorts International brand.
Citing his journey to the Turks and Caicos, Norm stated; “We first learned of Beaches Turks and Caicos at a Sandals returning guest dinner and visited the Turks and Caicos Islands for the first time in 2000 and instantly fell in love. Unfortunately, I had a mild heart attack in 2003 which led me to think about my future, so in 2004 we purchased a home on the island. We often visit Fort George Cay to photograph birds, but the litter always got in the way, so I began to collect litter every time we visited the other smaller islands and cays.
“During the lockdown in 2020, people were allowed to go for walks in the morning and evening. During my walks I began to notice litter along the streets and did not like it at all, so each time I went for a walk I would pick up some and bring it back home.
“I have been picking up litter ever since and collected over 2000 bags, which brings me joy because if the hurricane winds come, that litter will not end up in the ocean. This shirt I am wearing today says ‘STOP LITTERING!’ on the front and ‘ONE PERSON CAN MAKE A DIFFERERENCE’ on the back, words I live by.”
The massive cleanup project was a collaborative effort between the Beaches Turks and Caicos managerial staff and the internal group – the Earth Guardians – who are resort Ambassadors, responsible for positively impacting the environment.
The combined team focused on the section of the Lower Bight adjacent to the Key West Village, which is the scene of ongoing road works and new sidewalk construction.
The environmental team started early in the morning after presenting Norm with an official certificate of recognition and his very own Sandals 40th Anniversary Team Member T-shirt. They proceeded to gradually work their way east along Princess Drive collecting plastic bottles, paper and plastic supplies, as well as disposable masks and other debris.
Beaches Turk and Caicos Environment Health and Safety Manager, Shuntal Gibson, cited the importance of recognising members of the community who tirelessly work to preserve and protect the environment.
Gibson stated; “All of us are familiar with Norm and his continued efforts to contribute to the ‘Beautiful by Nature’ brand of Turks and Caicos. That’s why it was such an honour to not only recognize his consistent work but also to collaborate with him on a cleanup initiative. As Earth Guardians, we conduct community and beach cleanups very often. This also allows us to build relationship with the residents in these communities and they have come to understand how important their communities are to us and Sandals Resorts International as an organisation.”
Release: Sandals Resorts
Photo Captions:
Header: Members of the Beaches Turks and Caicos Earth Guardian team are all smiles after conducting a community clean-up in the Lower Bight community.
Insert: Beaches Turks and Caicos Director of Operations, Ghislain Boutoulle (left) and Environment Health and Safety Manager, Shuntal Gibson (right) present Environmentalist Norman Rogers with a Certificate of Appreciation for his continued street and beach cleanup efforts.
News
NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL STATEMENT REGARDING RECENT THREATS MADE AGAINST TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS AIRPORTS AND SCHOOLS
May 6th, 2024 – As co-chairs of the National Security Council, Her Excellency the Governor and the Honourable Premier condemn strongly recent threats made against Turks and Caicos Islands airports and schools.
We have zero tolerance for these disruptions and the alarm that they cause. The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF) continues to work closely with partner agencies and will keep the public updated as we manage the situation.
The National Security Council wishes to reassure residents, travellers and parents that the safety and security of our Islands is its highest priority.
All appropriate measures are being taken to address these threats and all required security protocols are being followed.
The Airports Authority and the Ministry of Education, with school principals are collaborating with the RTCIPF investigations.
We encourage the public to be extra vigilant against phishing and malicious emails and report any suspicious activity to the authorities.
We appreciate the understanding of the public as we work to ensure the safety and well-being of our airports, schools and communities.
Press Release
PROVIDENCIALES, TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS (May 3rd, 2024) The Turks and Caicos Islands’ Grace Bay Beach has once again been recognised among the top beaches in the world.
The World’s 50 Best Beaches has listed Grace Bay Beach among the top beaches in the world.
Grace Bay Beach, located on the island of Providenciales was listed at number 17 on the annual list.
The World’s 50 Best Beaches list, sponsored by Banana Boat, is a collaboration with over 1,000 of the world’s leading travel influencers and professionals.
The World’s 50 Best Beaches 2024 is a reflection of the opinions and experiences of top travel influencers and professionals around the world. The beaches were ranked according to eight important criteria: unique characteristics, wildlife, untouched, soundtrack of nature, easy to enter the water, often calm water, not too crowded and frequency of idyllic conditions.
Grace Bay Beach also featured among the top 20 in the 2023 World’s 50 Best Beaches list.
This is the latest accolade for Grace Bay Beach this year. Known for its powdery white sand and breathtakingly turquoise blue water, the famous beach was adjudged the number one Caribbean beach in February in Tripadvisor’s® Travelers’ Choice® Awards and Best of the Best for 2024, ranking number five among the Top 25 Best of the Best Beaches in the world.
In January 2024, Grace Bay was recognised as the #9 Best Beach in the Caribbean in the 10Best Reader’s Choice with Bambarra Beach in Middle Caicos ranked at #2.
Minister of Tourism, the Honourable Josephine Connolly said she is proud of the continued recognition of the leading beach in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
“As a destination that prioritises sustainable development and environmental preservation, the fact that Grace Bay Beach features consistently as one of the top beaches in the world stands as a testament to our commitment to stay “Beautiful by Nature”. I urge visitors to come to the Turks and Caicos Islands to experience this and many other of our beautiful beaches across the Turks and Caicos Islands,” said the Minister.
Tine Holst, Co-Founder of The World’s 50 Best Beaches, said the list is meant to inspire travellers.
She said: “Our 2024 list is a reflection of the countless days spent by our judges, Beach Ambassadors and World’s 50 Best team discovering beaches around the world. The list will help inspire travelers to leave the beaten path behind and enjoy the most stunning and relaxing beaches on earth”.
Read World’s 50 Best Beaches description of Grace Bay Beach here.
News
Family of 16 yo Tourist claims negligence in jet ski death; TCI Coroner’s Court hearing evidence
Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, May 2, 2024 – The family of a 16-year-old who died in Grand Turk six years ago while on a Carnival Cruise into Grand Turk is a little closer to closure as the Turks and Caicos Islands Coroner’s Court has opened his case for an inquest.
“On Wednesday, May 16th, 2018, at 11:30 a.m. Police and Emergency Medical Officials responded to a two-jet-ski collision that left a 16-year-old male dead, near the Cruise Terminal in Grand Turk. Two people were involved in the collision. The second male did not receive any injuries. This incident is under Police investigation.”
That was the brief police report in the aftermath of Nicholas Twyman’s death.
In the comments dozens of residents and visitors claim to have been on the scene that day, as the boy was pulled ashore, some trying to assist while others looked on, horrified.
Coroner Mickia Mills called up the case on March 21, 2024 almost six years after the incident occurred. Mills is in charge of finding out what exactly happened that day in Grand Turk and whether there was any negligence or if it was simply a terrible accident. 
That verdict will be for the coroner and her potential jurors to decide. However, the family has shared their version of what happened that day.
A lawsuit filed in Florida Courts in October 2019 (Twyman v. Carnival Corp) detailed the heartbreaking hours that led up to the death of Nicholas. In it, the plaintiffs, listed as Gyjuanna TWYMAN and Michael Twyman, claim that they docked in Grand Turk and were curious about using the jet skis; both parents and the son were told by the Carnival team aboard the ship that there was not a formal shore excursion in Grand Turk involving jet skis, but that jet skis would be available for rent by the hour.
The family from Indiana claims three jet skis were rented, one for Nicholas, another for his father, Michael, and another for a different passenger, while their mother remained ashore. Wet Money Enterprise is listed as the jet ski company.
The family says they were given little instruction on using the Jet Skis, especially their son who was a new rider. The lawsuit maintains that Michael was not given any instructions other than being told where the kill switch was and not to ride too close to the cruise ship.
Sometime during his excursion, the young man crashed into the other jet ski. The family claims that neither Carnival Cruises nor representatives from the jet ski company responded. They say it was his father who spun around on his own jet ski, dived into the water for his son, and brought him to shore.
Once there, it was the young man’s mother, a registered nurse, who started emergency medical care.
When Turks and Caicos’s EMS did arrive after 15 minutes the family claims they were unsure how to use certain medical implements and had to be directed by the distressed mother.
The court documents list the cause of death for the young man as blunt force trauma and drowning, similar to what is listed in the TCI courts.
Coroner Mills, who took up her position in 2024, will oversee the proceedings which continued on Tuesday, April 23rd.
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