His Excellency, Governor Peter Beckingham labled his most recent FCO blog from the TCI, “Boosting schools’ IT’s and literacy skills through fishing and beaches,” where he after experiencing his first Grand Turk Fishing Tournament. The Governor said he had heard that the Tournament was a big event for the island, but had not expected the crowds it drew to Governor’s Beach right next to his residential home towards the end of last month.
He noted the Tournament which was arranged by a group of volunteers who in the months before approached numerous companies and organisations to sponsor the event, far outnumbered the visitors from the cruise ships who regularly stroll along the beach.
He said no one has yet explained to him why the auction is called the Calcutta – which to his mind, was the British name for a very big city in India.
Apart from the attractive prize money for the winners of the heaviest fish in a number of categories all the proceeds went for a bank of computers to the H J Robinson High School.
The Tournament’s organisers raised a huge $20,000 dollars for the school, which included the money raised from auctioning the fish caught in the two days, generously given by each of the crews, and the support of many sponsors.
With the biggest fish going for over 200 dollars, and many more reaching healthy sums, the atmosphere in the auction tent was competitive but friendly.
The Fishing Tournament only restarted last year after a gap of some years, and is a great event for the island and Turks and Caicos.
Gov Beckingham shared on his FCO blog that the volunteers who got it going again deserved the well-earned rest after giving hours and days of time to encouraging so many participants.
“Like all successful events their problem will be that everyone who took part will be anticipating an even bigger party next year!
In the meantime he credited another group, sponsored by the major Beaches resorts in Providenciales, who did their bit to support education in Turks and Caicos.
Gov Beckingham said he met with Butch Stewart, the founder of Beaches, recently in Grand Turk, who told him of the work of his Foundation to help promote literacy within local schools.
The Foundation is also organising a “Pack for a Purpose” Programme, which is encouraging guests travelling to Beaches TCI to bring along supplies to adopted schools, and arranging weekly Reading Road Trips to boost literacy at schools.
“It’s another great illustration of community and business support for the children who represent the future hopes of our islands,” his Excellency said.
It’s is wonderful how you and your wife attend all the functions around the TCI and it’s nice to know that we got your support, thank your Excellency!! Is how one person responded to the Governor’s FCO blog.
