Akierra Missick
Young, vivacious and witty are few adjectives which come readily to mind as one describes Akierra Missick.
Miss Akierra Missick attended the now named Ona Glinton Primary, Grand Turk and the Iris Stubbs Primary, South Caicos before moving to and graduating from MAST Academy in Miami, Florida. Her A’Levels was done at the Notre Dame Catholic School in Leeds, England.
A believer in justice and the rule- of- law, Ms. Missick followed her childhood dream of becoming a lawyer. She attended the University of Nottingham from 2002-2005 where she graduated with a Bachelors in Law (LL.B Hons.) She went on to complete the Bar Vocation Course in London in 2006 and was subsequently admitted to the Bar of England and Wales and the Turks & Caicos Islands, in the same year. On returning to the Turks & Caicos Islands, Miss Missick found employment with Misick and Stanbrook where she is currently a Senior Associate in the Dispute Resolution Team. She also practices in the areas of Corporate and Family Law.
This vibrant young woman is deeply involved in a number of professional and civic organizations. She is the Secretary of Turks & Caicos Islands Bar Council, a position she has held since 2007. She was also the President of the Rotaract Club of Providenciales in 2009-2010.
Miss Missick has made very valuable contributions on a number of statutory bodies including the Business Licencing Board and the Turks & Caicos Islands Community College Board of Directors. She is a well-known speaker on the College Circuit.
She is comfortable engaging young people and in this regard is a mentor with the Youth Department. In 2002-2003 she was also a member of Rapport, an AIDS awareness group under the auspices of the Ministry of Health. Known as Santa to the students of the Special Needs Association of Providenciales (SNAP), Miss Missick knows only too well that it is her Christian values which help her play this role so well. She is an active member of the Paradise Baptist Church, Five Cays
Porsha Stubbs-Smith
Porsha Stubbs-Smith’s was born to Christie and Vanis Stubbs. She is inextricably linked by blood to the Forbes, Pratts, Halls, Outtens and Delancys. The Bight, more specifically, Kingstown, is her home.
A strong believer in the value of education, Mrs. Stubbs-Smith set out to conscientiously qualify herself; she attended the University of Houston, Texas where she obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Management in 2005 followed by a Master’s in Interdisciplinary Studies-Business and Non-Profit Leadership in 2008.
A former Banker, she has never strayed far from the profession; she now waits for certification as an Associate of the Institute of Canadian Bankers.
Community involvement has always held a special place in her heart; she was a co-founder of the Clement Howell High School Music/Band Programme, 1996-1997; a member of the Providenciales Chamber of Commerce, former Chair of the Provo Aids Committee and former Deputy of the National Aids Program.
Mrs. Stubbs-Smith is married to Mr. Kevin Smith and, along with him, worships at the St. Monica’s Anglican Church. She considers her four children and two grandchildren God’s special gifts
Ricardo (Don-Hue) Gardiner
A charismatic, eloquent and ambitious young man, Mr. Don-Hue Gardiner attended the Adelaide Oemler Primary, the Raymond Gardiner High and then the H.J. Robinson High School in Grand Turk where he graduated in 1986. His love for all things literary and deep sense of history served as the catalyst which led him to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree (with Honours) in Law. He has the distinct honour of becoming a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales and an Attorney-at-Law in the Turks & Caicos Islands in 1996.
Mr. Gardiner is no stranger to politics; he has served as Secretary General and Public Relations Director for the Progressive National Party. He also represented the party on the Electoral Boundaries Commission in 2006
and was a vociferous and valuable member of the house of Assembly from February 2007 to August 2009.
A respected negotiator, Mr. Gardiner helped in the shaping of the 2006 constitution and was Chairman of the Blue Ribbon Commission on Immigration Reform in 2003.
His involvement in civil society includes serving as a Notary Public, Marriage Officer and Justice of the Peace. He is a Life member of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and is a former Vice-President of the Turks & Caicos Islands Bar Association.
Mr. Gardiner has had the distinct honour of being the inaugural president of the Turks & Caicos Chapter of the British Red Cross Society.
He finds balance in his life through his active role in the Saint Monica’s Anglican Church and sharing time with his son and daughter.
Royal Robinson
Born in 1948 under the sign of Sagittarius in the quaint and quiet settlement of Kew, North Caicos to parents Mr. Harold Robinson Jnr. and Mrs. Flossie Missick (both deceased); his birth brought much excitement and joy, being the first born.
From his infancy, he seemed destined to become an important individual. He attended the Government Primary All Aged School in Kew, now the Hubert James Primary and Grand Turk Primary. From there he attended the Turks and Caicos High School now the Helena J. Robinson High School.
After his graduation from high school, he was employed by the Turks and Caicos Islands Government in the Lands and Survey Department. Royal was very ambitious and was fortunate to obtain a scholarship to study at the College of Arts, Science and Technology now known as the University of Technology in Jamaica.
On the successful completion of his course, he returned home to continue his employment in the Lands and Survey Department. He moved up the ranks in that department. This afforded him another scholarship, this time to attend Regent University in the UK where he received a Certificate Management and National Development, and from the Caribbean Development Bank, a Certificate in Trade and Investment Incentives.
Due to his hard work, commitment and loyalty he was appointed as the first Turks & Caicos Islander Chief Land Surveyor in February 1978. This appointment can be regarded as perhaps the beginning of his rise to achieve the very top positions in the Civil Service. He held the position of Permanent Secretary in the Offices of the Chief Minister, Minister for Commerce & Development, Minister of Tourism and Minister of Natural Resources). Following his retirement from the Public Service, Royal was appointed Project Manager in 2005, tasked with overseeing the construction of the two new state of the art hospitals for Grand Turk and Providenciales.
Having had such an illustrious career in the Public Service, Royal decided to serve his country in the Political Arena. He became the PNP Candidate for Kew, Whitby and Sandy Point and was their representative during the 2003 General Elections.
In January 2009 he was appointed Minister of Health and Human Services, and in March of the same year became the Deputy Leader of the PNP paving the way to serve as Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance under the Galmo Williams Administration.
Royal has served on numerous government boards: the Turks and Caicos Development Board, the Planning Board, the National Trust and also Vice President of the Provo Chamber of Commerce.
He has used his strong Land Surveying background to make significant contributions to the TCI Construction Industry.
He attends the New Testament Church of God.
Married to the former Aldora Brown of Nassau, Bahamas, Mr. Robinson is the proud father of nine children.
Thomas Clay Ewing
Born in 1971 under the sign of Leo, this young man’s birth brought equal measures of hope and happiness to not only his parents, Porter and Ives Ewing but the Community of Five Cays. He is the product of our education system having attended the Five Cays Primary now the Enid Capron Primary and the Pierson High School now the Marjorie Basden High in South Caicos.
This young man is Thomas Ewing popularly known as Clay. It was by no accident that he was nicknamed Clay. Clay symbolizes Substance for that’s what he is – a man of focus. From the time of his employment as an 18 year old young man, Clay has never looked back. He has much experience working in the Private Sector. He was first employed by the Butterfield Gold Group of Companies as a Customs Broker. Successive promotions saw him become Manager of that Company, then Manager of Budget Rent-a-Car.
While working here, Clay saw an opportunity of becoming an employer instead of an employee and branched out to establish “TOTAL RENT-A-CAR” along with Dezoree, his wife of sixteen (16) years.
Mr. Ewing is a well-rounded individual who is serious about serving his God and his Community. He attends the Provo Bible Church and is also the proud sponsor of the “Knights Basketball Team”. The Enid Capron Primary School, his Alma Mater can always look forward to his annual graduation contributions.
Mr. Thomas Clay Ewing is the proud father of two.
Sean R. Astwood
Sean was born on July 8, 1973, in Freeport Bahamas only two days before the Bahamas became an independent state. He moved to the Turks and Caicos Islands at the age of four as this is the birthplace of both his father and mother.
He is the son of Nell Williams a well known hard working businesswoman who begin to show her entrepreneurial skills early, at a time when this was not the popular thing for a woman to do. She was one of those persons who saw the tourist industry for what it could become. She instilled the hard truths about life, strong family values and good Christian principles in her children at an early age. With his father being a businessman as well Sean’s attraction to business was expected. But it is the political expect of his father’s life that would later catch is eye.
Sean attended the Enid Capron Primary School in Five Cays where he grew up and graduated from the Clement Howell High School in Providenciales. He later went on to attend Northern Caribbean University in Jamaica where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management.
His professional work experience started with Barclay Bank PLC where he was geared to enter a program that would put him on the fast track to become the General Manager however, this was not to be as he ceased the opportunity to join Mervin Cox (uncle) in the construction industry as an office administrator with the creation of Coxco Construction Ltd. now one of the biggest construction company in the country, with projects such as Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort, The Palms and a number of other high profile properties. Sean would later go on to become the Assistant Manager of Providenciales Airport Company Ltd. a joint venture agreement between the Government and Coxco Construction. He is now an accomplished businessman who owns the Pelican Group of Companies which consist of Basic Essentials Ltd., Pelican Designs Ltd. and Pelican Trading Ltd.
He first stood for public office in the 2003 General Elections as a candidate for the People Democratic Movement (PDM) where he won his seat, only to have lost it in a By-Election that same year. Today he continues to play an active role in his community and country has he works closely with his colleagues in the PDM as they bring the issues concerning the country to the people. His most recent efforts have been his participation in and out spoken support for the fight against the implementation of VAT. Sean has held a number of high profile political positions including Deputy Leader of the PDM; he is also a Former Minister of Government.
His passion is to see a united Turks and Caicos Islands and shares in the vision that the Turks & Caicos can be the best little country on the planet.
Goldray Ewing
Goldray Ewing was born to the proud parents of Hon. Hilly and Mrs. Jane Ewing. He himself is now a proud father of five. Goldray acquired his early childhood education at the Blue Hills primary school and later at H J Robinson high school in Grand Turk. He spent five years attending the high school in Grand Turk and then returned to Provo.
He entered the construction field and worked there for two years building a carpentry trade. After two years in this field he moved on to work with the water company. He loved it because chemistry was involved and that was one of his favorite subjects in school. Working there also gave him the chance to work with chemicals and lab apparatuses.
After his first son was born he decided to look for better employment, and in June of 1987 he was employed with Shell Bahamas Ltd as the aviation supervisor in their aviation department. Goldray was determined to climb the corporate ladder from supervisor to manager and worked extremely hard to achieve it. In 1992 he was successful in doing so and was promoted to Aviation’s Manager TCI.
His position as Aviation Manager afforded him the opportunities to travel extensively and to further his education in the aviation field.
In 2000 to 2004 Goldray went on to manage the consortium for Shell international and Texaco. He was the focal point for sales person for all the airports in the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos. Goldray work hard to ensure that all the employees he hired were Turks and Caicos Islanders. He developed a special relationship with his employees because he provided them with training and the necessary tools to do their jobs effectively and professionally. In 2005 Shell sold out their Provo’s aviation shares to Texaco resulting in him starting up his own aviation fuel company. The name of that company was Ace Aviation and it catered to many local and international airplanes and private jets. Also in 2005 he was sought after by Sun Oil Limited to manage their depot in Providenciales. He took on that great challenge and his currently still operating as the Turks and Caicos Islands Depot Manager.
Goldray at the young age of seventeen became interested in politics and cast his first vote for the PDM party, who was then and currently under the great leadership of Hon. Oswald Skippings. The party won that year filling him with great excitement, so he began finding out everything he could about the party and became a loyal member. Goldray never once wavered with his dedication to the PDM party, every election he would be out there assisting with campaign efforts and rallying on behalf of the party. In 1995 Goldray was nominated and won the position of branch chairman for Providenciales, where he served the party to the best of his abilities. On August 24th 2012 he went through the nomination process and won to become the party’s candidate nominee of the Blue Hills constituency.
Isaac Oral Selver
Isaac Oral Selver was born on Nassau, Bahamas on April 7th 1964. His interest in Hotel and Catering began at the Hawksbill High School on Freeport, Grand Bahama. He graduated from The Bahamas Hotel Training College with an Associated Degree in Hotel Administration, Food and Beverage Controls. He is also a graduate of Miami Lakes Technical Education Center in Florida where he obtained a Certificate in Automotive Electronics. His work experience covers over some thirty years within and around the Hospitality Industry with particular interest and time in training and developing of service standards, Food and Beverage Restaurant Management. He is responsible for the training and establishment of the Gratuity System.
He is a member of the Turks & Caicos Farmers and Community Associations, an Organization that is making every effort to re-establish the Agricultural history of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Sonny Forbes
Sonny Alexander Forbes was born in Nassau Bahamas on September 29th 1962.
He is the son of Beatrice Delancy Forbes of The Bight Providenciales now (deceased) and Harold Forbes of Kew North Caicos now (deceased). He attended The Bight Primary School and graduated from The Grand Turk High School he later moved to Grand Bahama where I worked at a restaurant in Freeport Bahamas for four (4) years where he gained the skills of waiter, bartender, and short order chef.
Sonny also attended hospitality training school in Grand Bahama where he obtained a certificate/diploma in Hospitality Management. Sometime later he returned to Providenciales where he worked at a number of hotels as waiter, bartender, food and beverage manager just to name a few.
Sonny own and operate a taxi cab business and is also a shareholder in the only operating Taxi and V.I.P Company in Providenciales named Sunshine Taxi.
He served as the Assistant President and the Secretary for Provo Taxi and Bus Group for many years, currently he holds the position of secretary for Sunshine Taxi Company.
Sonny is a musician and the leader of the oldest gospel group in the Turks and Caicos ‘The Gospel Pioneers’. In addition he has served as youth leader for 2 different churches seven (7) years at the first and four (4) years at the other.
Sonny has entered the world on politics as he feel is has a contribution to make to his country in particular the people of The Bight.
Ezra Taylor
Ezra Taylor was born on the island of Grand Turk, March 19, 1972. He is the father of four wonderful children, a hardworking God-fearing man and a proud citizen of the Turks and Caicos Islands. His interests include sports, current affairs, politics and travel.
In 1988, he graduated from the Helena James Robinson high school in Grand Turk. Shortly after he began what would be long term employment with the Turks and Caicos Islands Customs department. During his 22 year career, he was recognized on two occasions for his exemplary performance and gradually ascended to the rank of Assistant Collector of Customs.
In this senior management role, he received extensive training in management, strategic planning, communication skills and various other disciplines. Now after the recent downturn of Turks and Caicos and the world at large, his ambition is to use his skill, tenacity and determination to help transform our Turks and Caicos Islands.
He is a dedicated, disciplined individual who wants us - citizens and government - to work together to restore hope, trust, leadership and accountability in our Turks and Caicos Islands.
“Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson.