Caribbean News

Amanda & Friends Amazing Journey: FootSteps4Good 2022 raises over 50k in 13 days

Published

3 years ago

November 4, 2022

Deandrea Hamilton

By Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer

#TurksandCaicos, November 4, 2022 – Another amazing staging of Footsteps4Good has come to a close, this year the 200-mile journey had a newcomer on the team as three more hikers attempted to circumnavigate the Turks and Caicos.

The thirteen day event started on Friday October 21 at the Children’s Park in Providenciales before it took off on a 16 mile walk before landing on Parrot Cay. The trekkers signed up for the monumental escapade were: Amanda Dakin, wife of TCI Governor Nigel Dakin; John Galleymore, a retired military man and explorer and Sharon Weil Hornstein.

Day 2 on Saturday October 22 was a journey from Parrot Cay, a luxury resort island and onto Conch Bar, which is in Middle Caicos. It was a whopping 23 mile stretch, which was done mostly on foot.

Day 3 on Sunday October 23^rd, there would be more hiking for the trio. A 15 mile walk from the Conch Bar to Dickish Cay was charted as sketchy weather rolled in.

Day 4 on Monday October 24th the team bid farewell to Dickish Cay and waved hello to Breezy Point on East Caicos, that we were informed was a 14 mile journey. As they covered the half marathon distance, there was rain, but according to Mrs. Dakin, this was welcomed.

“We walked through the rain but it was only for two hours – a good shower to get off the salt and sweat- well some of it!”

Day 5, Tuesday October 25th we lost contact for a bit but soon learned there was yet again success after an 18 mile hike from Breezy Point to South Caicos. The three happily abandoned ‘roughing it’ to spend a relaxing night at the award-winning Sail Rock Resort in South Caicos.

John Galleymore paused his journey here, making way for the all-female rowing team composed of Mandy, Sharon and supporters Kana and Morgan to join the journey, which has taken on new form since it was introduced by Jill Beckingham, wife of former governor Peter Beckingham who also walked each island with throngs of supporters in an effort to raise funds for TCI charities.

Mrs. Beckingham’s mission was historic and admirable but did not include covering the oceans linking the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The circumnavigation, powered solely by human steam in walks and rowing, is an idea which is successfully now done its second year having brought all home safe and racking up thousands of dollars for worthy causes.

About some of the most challenging times, Dakin told us “The walking was tough, East Caicos is no joke… lots of sand, wading through water, mosquitos like you wouldn’t believe.” She seemed to take a spill on those rocks ending up with a bloody nose but was not deterred by the injury.

Day 6 on Wednesday October 26th was the first water crossing, a 25-mile row from South Caicos to Grand Turk. Dakin detailed the experience, “The water… I have never seen it so flat! So we made record timing across from South Caicos to Grand Turk in 5 hours 45 minutes.”

The Day 7 journey on Thursday October 27 from Grand Turk to Salt Cay was a 12-mile route which the team knocked out in an hour and a half before a full rest day on Day 8 (Friday October 28).

Then on Day 9, which was Saturday October 29th the team went 10 miles from Salt to Sand Cay. Following that, on Day 10, Sunday October 30th we learned of a 25 mile journey from Sand Cay to Ambergris before the longest sea crossing of them all.

That came up on Day 11, Monday October 31^st and it meant a 40-mile journey from Ambergris to French Cay.

Day 12, which was Tuesday November 1st was no walk in the park, it also involved another 150 mile row, this time French Cay to West Caicos which meant an incredible 35 hours was pass before that grand finale. Day 13, which was Wednesday November 2nd. The ladies marched along with Providenciales locals when they arrived in Sapodilla Bay before making it to the Bight, right back where they started to wrap up an amazing expedition.

Mandy Dakin told us it was decidedly worth all the blisters from rowing and walking so much.

“A little bit of pain goes a long way, all of these people that we’re raising money for are in vulnerable states, they have a difficult time and they deserve our respect and support. And if a little pain is what it takes then that’s what we’ll do.”

A decidedly happy husband, also clearly proud of his wife and the team which pulled off the phenomenal jaunt, Nigel Dakin, TCI Governor posted about the nights in comfort and those spent outdoors under the stars and how the effort broke the mold, in terms of funds raised.

“But what the whole collective achieved was a sizeable donation to a multitude of different charities that the donor nominates. It’s not too late to add a small amount and if you do @footsteps4goodtci breaks the $50k barrier.”

You can still make a donation when you download the Isle Help app and give to Foosteps4Good and the charity of your choice.

Related Topics:#AmandaDakin #johngalleymore #magneticmedianews #nigeldakin #SharonWeilHornstein Footsteps4Good

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Deandrea Hamilton

Caribbean News

Bermuda Shaken by Targeted Murder as Crime Returns After a Decade of Calm

Published

2 days ago

September 21, 2025

Deandrea Hamilton

Deandrea Hamilton | Editor

Bermuda is reeling after the brazen murder of 37-year-old Janae Minors, a mother of two, who was gunned down in her own beauty supply store on Court Street, Pembroke. The attack, which police describe as “targeted,” has rattled the island, not only for its brutality but for what it says about the state of law and order in a country that less than a decade ago was celebrating a dramatic fall in violent crime.

The Attack on Court Street

According to police, at approximately 4:45 p.m. on Tuesday, September 16, a lone gunman pulled up on a stolen black motorcycle, walked into the Beauty Monster shop Minors owned, and shot her multiple times. Despite the rapid response of emergency services, she succumbed to her injuries shortly after being transported to hospital.

Detectives say the killer was thin, tall, dressed in dark clothing with a full-face helmet, and wearing bright gloves. CCTV shows him fleeing north on Court Street, down Tills Hill toward TCD, before turning onto Marsh Folly Road. Investigators are pursuing all leads, with a focus on recovering evidence from nearby cameras and eyewitness accounts.

Police Commissioner Darrin Simons confirmed the attack bore the hallmarks of gang-related violence, a chilling indicator that Bermuda’s gang rivalries — long simmering beneath the surface — may once again be spilling into broad daylight.

A Vibrant Life Cut Short

Minors, remembered as a hardworking entrepreneur with “a vibrant, beautiful personality,” leaves behind two children, ages 16 and 18. Her murder has ignited outrage across Bermuda, not just for its senselessness but for its timing: the island had once prided itself on virtually stamping out gun violence.

Then: Near-Zero Murders

Back in 2014, Bermuda made international headlines for reporting zero firearm murders — a remarkable achievement given the small island had endured a spate of gang-related shootings in the early 2010s. Police credited intelligence-led operations, tighter firearms interdictions, and aggressive prosecutions of gang leaders. Community programs and mentoring initiatives also played a role, giving at-risk youth alternatives to gang life.

By 2015 and 2016, gun crime was at historic lows. That period was hailed as proof Bermuda could beat back the tide of violence with coordinated policing, social investment, and political will.

Now: Alarming Resurgence

Fast forward nine years, and the picture looks starkly different. In 2024 and 2025, Bermuda has recorded a rise in gun-related deaths. Rival gangs such as Parkside and 42 have resurged, fueled by a new generation of recruits. Economic pressures, high youth unemployment, and the easy flow of smuggled firearms through maritime routes have undermined earlier gains.

Community trust in the police has also eroded, making investigations harder and retaliations more likely. Opposition MPs and neighborhood leaders warn that without sustained focus, Bermuda risks sliding back into the violent cycles of the early 2010s.

Public Alarm and Political Pressure

Premier David Burt condemned Minors’ killing as “an escalation of community violence that cannot be tolerated,” promising stronger enforcement and deeper engagement with residents. The Bermuda Police Service has appealed for CCTV, dashcam, and doorbell footage from the area, urging residents that even the smallest detail could break the case.

Yet among the public, frustration is growing. People remember the calm of 2014 — when zero murders were recorded — and cannot understand how the island has returned to headlines dominated by gun violence. The contrast is stark: from celebrating the elimination of gun murders to confronting the targeted execution of a businesswoman in broad daylight.

A Test for Bermuda’s Future

The murder of Janae Minors has become more than a single case; it is now a symbol of Bermuda’s struggle to hold on to the progress it once made. The question facing the island is whether the successes of a decade ago can be replicated and sustained in today’s harsher climate of economic pressure and gang rivalries.

For Minors’ family, nothing can erase the tragedy of losing a mother and daughter so violently. But for Bermuda at large, her death is a wake-up call — that the island cannot afford complacency when it comes to crime.

As one community leader put it: “Nine years ago, we had beaten this. Now, we’re back to fearing what happens when the sun goes down. That is not the Bermuda we want to live in.”

Caribbean News

CARICOM-Africa Summit Yields Draft Pact on Trade, Travel and Reparations

Published

4 days ago

September 19, 2025

Deandrea Hamilton

Imagine an Atlantic Bridge connecting the Caribbean Region to the African Continent

Deandrea Hamilton | Editor

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — When CARICOM leaders convened with African counterparts and Afreximbank officials in Ethiopia, the outcomes were savory and exactly what many Caribbean people want to see materialise as the islands become uniquely reconnected to the African continent.

At the Second CARICOM-Africa Summit, held at the African Union headquarters, leaders moved beyond symbolic language to agree on a draft communiqué that, if finalized, would anchor this partnership in practical action. While not yet officially published by the AU or CARICOM, the document points to an agenda that blends history with urgent twenty-first century priorities.

The draft outlines commitments to improve air and sea transport links, including the pursuit of a multilateral air services agreement to break down the barriers that still keep the Caribbean and Africa physically apart. It also calls for visa facilitation and simplified entry regimes, making it easier for citizens of both regions to travel, study, and work across the Atlantic.

Equally significant are pledges to advance double taxation treaties that could remove one of the most stubborn obstacles to investment. With Afreximbank’s Caribbean headquarters already established in Barbados and the AfriCaribbean Trade and Investment Forum (ACTIF) gaining momentum, leaders now want to lock in the financial and legal frameworks that will drive new business.

Reparatory justice also featured prominently, with the draft communiqué sharpening a joint call for coordinated advocacy. CARICOM’s long-standing Reparations Commission is expected to work more closely with African institutions to demand global recognition and redress for the shared traumas of slavery and colonial exploitation.

CARICOM’s incoming chair, Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew of St. Kitts and Nevis, captured the spirit of the gathering when he urged that the Atlantic Slave Trade be reimagined as an “Atlantic Bridge — a bridge of hope, a bridge of advancement, a bridge that will ensure our people take their rightful place in this world.”

For Secretary-General Dr. Carla Barnett, the meeting was a “homecoming,” but also a reminder that concrete steps like the Health Development Partnership for Africa and the Caribbean (HeDPAC) and improved transportation links are needed to transform rhetoric into results.

For citizens back home, wrestling with inflation and economic uncertainty, the Addis outcomes — transport, visas, investment, health, and reparations — are precisely the kinds of measures that can validate leaders’ journeys and rekindle faith in South-South cooperation. What was once only rhetoric now hints at the beams of an Atlantic Bridge, connecting the Caribbean and Africa in ways that could finally turn history’s tragedy into tomorrow’s advantage.

Caribbean News

Hundreds Apply for 2025/26 RYEEP Builder

Published

1 week ago

September 16, 2025

Deandrea Hamilton

Kingston, Jamaica, September 16, 2025 – Business and Entrepreneurship Development Manager for the Jamaica 4-H Clubs, Amanda McKenzie, has indicated that close to 300 applications have been received, so far, for the 2025/2026 Rural Youth Economic Empowerment Programme (RYEEP) Builder.

She said that this figure is expected to be exceeded, as the deadline for applications is set for Friday (September 12) at midday.

During an interview with JIS News on Thursday (September 11), Ms. McKenzie said that the volume of applications reflects a shift in the youth’s interest in agriculture.

“We definitely see a growing interest of youth in agriculture. They bring a new energy to the sector, in the sense that they are not only interested in the traditional approach in terms of how agriculture is done but their interest is also aligned to technology,” she explained.

Ms. McKenzie added that agri-processing has also become a viable option for youth as they look at services that can be offered across the agricultural sector, so as not to limit themselves to the traditional approaches.

The RYEEP Builder is open to individuals aged 18 to 35 who are already involved in agriculture and are not formally employed outside of this venture.

Participants of RYEEP Builder will receive mentorship; coaching, which will take on a one-on-one approach with trainers from specialised sectors of agriculture.

Training will also be provided in areas such as livestock production, broiler production, apiculture, goat production, piggery, fisheries, crop production, and agri-processing.

“All the participants will also benefit from training in financial management, business management, record keeping, good agricultural practices, climate smart agriculture and marketing,” Ms. McKenzie noted.

Additionally, participants will have the opportunity to receive levels one and two National Council on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (NCTVET) certification through HEART/NSTA Trust.

Other benefits include study tours and field visits to private and public organisations that are producing on a commercial scale.

“They can have a better appreciation of where it is that they can aspire to in terms of their business development. They can see some of the cutting-edge technologies that are being incorporated into production for efficiency,” Ms. McKenzie said.

There is also a financial aspect where tangible material and equipment worth $100,000 will be given to approximately 100 participants of the initiative to support their agriculture business.

Formal training for the RYEEP Builder will begin in November, once the interview process for shortlisted applicants across the 14 parishes in Jamaica are completed, and the selected members of the 2025/2026 cohort are notified.

Reflecting on the success of the programme last year, Ms. McKenzie said: “We do have participants who would have indicated that their enterprises have now improved in terms of the income generated; they’re seeing increase in income.”

“They’re [also] able to expand. We had one person who is involved in apiculture… he’s added additional hives to his venture. [And another person] was able to turn her crop production enterprise into a thriving operation that now employs young people from her community,” she added.

Ms. McKenzie said that the benefits of the RYEEP Builder initiative is expected to go beyond the participants and the owners of the entities, as “we also want to see that transition into generational employment opportunities for other persons, particularly within rural spaces”.

RYEEP Builder is organised by the Jamaica 4-H Clubs, in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining and HEART/NSTA Trust.

Contact: Vanessa James

Release: JIS

Photo Caption: Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Hon. Floyd Green (left), engages with participants in the Rural Youth Economic Empowerment Programme (RYEEP) Builder, during the closing ceremony of the 2024/2025 cohort of the programme, on Friday (June 13), at the Jamaica Conference Centre in downtown Kingston.

File Photo: Mark Bell