On September 25, the Turks and Caicos Islands celebrated Youth Day. Across the country the event was saw various schools and youth bodies taking part in various activities, including marches, school banner competitions and cultural performance. In Providenciales, the event was celebrated with a street march which ended at the Gustarvus Lightbourne Complex, where a concert ensued.

West Indies Cricket Team Captain, Chris Gayle and Coach, Keith Arthurton, visited the Turks and Caicos Islands as part of their activities surrounding the much anticipated Digicel Cricket Clinics. The men went to Grand Turk, met the Governor, H.E Gordon Wetherell and presented him with an autographed bat. They also visited the SNAP Centre in Providenciales, where they donated pieces to an auction in an effort to assist with the organisation’s fundraising activities.

Skeletal remains of houses, offices and other buildings are scattered throughout the islands of Grand Turk and Salt Cay- one year after Hurricane Ike and Tropical storm Hanna tore through the Turks and Caicos Islands. Students are forced to learn in temporary trailers, and the modern roof has been replaced with tarp, frequently seen flapping in the breeze. The twisted metal of the old airport hanger sits as a stark reminder of those fateful September mornings when the breeze blew relentlessly against houses, the water rose inch by terrifying inch, until rooftops were covered and persons cowered in fear without electricity of water.

The Grace Bay Club Resort hosted a back-to-school treat for children of staff members of that entity, which saw scores of youngsters turning up to the event. In addition to receiving school supplies, the children were treated to delicious meals as well as entertainment, which also featured popular cartoon and other children programmes characters.

The Provo Day Parade which was held on Saturday, August 1, brought out one of the biggest crowds ever to assembled downtown Providenciales. The Provo Day celebration, which brought out the best in the TCI culture was calendar event, but was shelved over last few years for the more prestigious Turks and Caicos International Music Festival, geared towards attracting visitors to our shores. Many saw the return of the cultural festivities as reestablishment of the local culture especially to the younger generation.

TWO HAITIANS HAVE been confirmed dead after an illegal sloop capsized off the coast of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

OnMonday, June 29th the Clement Howell High School staged its Graduation ceremony, held at the Williams Auditorium in Providenciales. A number of awards for academic performances were presented to a number of students. Guest speaker for the event was Deputy Director of Education, Edgar Howell. The SUN presents photo highlights below.

On Saturday, June 6, the Turks and Caicos Hotel Institute staged its Fifth Annual International Food Fair, which was held at the Turtle Cove Marina. A number of hotels, restaurants and schools participated in the calendar event, which saw Whole Gospel Christian Academy taking home the top prize.

On Wednesday, Member of Parliament for Five Cays, Hon. Dr. Lillian Boyce, donated building materials to scores of persons across Providenciales who were affected by Hurricane Ike and Tropical Storm Hanna. Materials were also sent to Grand Turk, South Caicos, North Caicos and Middle Caicos where persons were also affected by the storms. In Providdenciales, persons from Five Cays, Blue Hills, Kew Town and the Bight were delivered materials.

Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort and Spa, opened its US$120 million Italian Village with a weekend of activities which culminated with a dazzling grand gala on Saturday night. A number of international artistes were invited to the event, including legendary rapper DMC and former NSYNC star Joey Fatone. A number of dignitaries both local and overseas were invited to the weekend of events, including Premier Hon. Galmo Williams and Jamaica’s Prime Minister Bruce Golding.

To mark the end of the first ever annual Turks & Caicos Red Cross Appeal Week, the Providenciales branch of the Turks & Caicos Red Cross held their grand finale fundraising event - the ‘Red and White Party’ - at the Gansevoort Turks and Caicos last Friday May 8th. And what a party it was! Over 300 residents and visitors joined in the celebrations sporting red and white outfits to acknowledge the cause. Welcome drinks and appetizers were served pool side from 7pm at the newly opened resort located on The Bight. Hand massages were on offer to all guests throughout the evening and party goers were also treated to entertainment from Junkanoo performers, belly dancers and fire eaters. One of the crowd pullers of the evening were the TCI Supermodels who provided a special ‘In The Red’ show, modelling Red Cross Thrift Store fashion. The evening was a huge success and although donations are still being confirmed from the Appeal Week, the event alone raised thousands of dollars worth of much needed funds for the cause. With hurricane season around the corner the work of the Turks and Caicos Islands Red Cross is vital to help support those communities most vulnerable.

Green Generation