The Sands Turks and Caicos celebrates 25 years
In a momentous gathering on Monday evening, January 15th, The Sands at Grace Bay hosted 300 plus distinguished guests for a gala celebration commemorating its 25th Anniversary in operation.
The event paid tribute to the unwavering dedication of the resort's exceptional staff and esteemed supporters and served as the official unveiling of the resort's spectacular renovations including a completely reimagined lobby and resort-wide refresh.
Dr. Stan Hartling, the visionary CEO of Hartling Group, expressed his enthusiasm by stating quote, "We were delighted to gather and inaugurate a year-long celebration marking the 25th Anniversary of The Sands at Grace Bay. This gala allowed us to extend our gratitude to our award-winning staff, as well as the champions and supporters who have been integral to our success over the past quarter-century. As we near completion of a major renovation to commemorate The Sands' Silver Anniversary, this hidden gem and historical icon shines even brighter after 25 years of dedicated service to TCI." End quote
The Sands, The Palms, and The Shore Club collectively make the Hartling Group, stand as a testament to the group's unwavering commitment to the tourism industry of the Turks and Caicos Islands and provide jobs to more than 800 people.
As part of Monday night's grand scale festivities... An awards ceremony was held honoring employees from the Resort and Hemingway’s Restaurant with long service recognition for 20 and 25 years of service as well as 2023 Year-End award recipients.
25 Years of Service - The Sands at Grace Bay - Duval Phedre and Pauline Theodore
25 Years of Service - Hemingway's Restaurant - Terry Drummey
20 Years of Service - The Sands at Grace Bay
Anouze Jean-Williams, Pierre Beswick, Barbara Rigby, Delroy Mcintosh, Dyneville Romeus, Elvil Cheristin, Kerline Joseph, Joan Hagan, Laurence Bastien, Patrice Parker, Rolanda Robinson, Ronald Rosemary
20 Years of Service - Hemingway's Restaurant
Aracelys Gomez, Carene Elvariste, Clara Ramos, Gertrude Jean Antione, Jean Frandy, Joseph Dorcely
Magalie Charles, Marie Gertrude, Paula Brooks, Reasa Louis, Sandra Vazquez, Tracy Smith, Wesley Joseph, Yanely Hall
The Sands at Grace Bay 2023 Award Winners
Employee of the Year - front of the house: Gary Philoxene, Pool & Beach Attendant
Employee of the Year - heart of the house: Elvil Cheristin, Houseman Specialist
Supervisor of the Year - Annecie Augustine, Housekeeping Supervisor
Manager of the Year - Mandy Cameron, Reservations Sales Manager
Hemingway’s Restaurant 2023 Awards Winners
Employee of the Year - front of the house: Roselaure Jean, Server
Employee of the Year - heart of the house: Joseph Dorcely, Steward
Manager of the Year - Carolyn Robinson, General Manager of Hemingway’s
Special recognition was also dedicated to the owners for their significant investment in the 25th-anniversary resort renovations, as well as special recognition to original owners since The Sands' opening: Miles Hamm and Linda Harper.
The Sands at Grace Bay is situated on the world-renowned 12-mile crescent of powdery white sand known as Grace Bay Beach in Turks & Caicos. The oceanfront resort continues to gain acclaim as showcased by the many awards it receives, most recently being voted #1 Caribbean Resort in the 2024 USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, an acclaim the resort also earned in 2023. The resort once again garnered the TripAdvisor "Travelers’ Choice Award" for 2023, an honor it has carried for eleven years now.
Additional outstanding accolades include being named one of the 2023 “Best Hotels in the Turks and Caicos” by U.S. News & World Report, garnering the Hotels.com "Loved By Guests Award," and being named a Family Vacation Critic "2021 Family Favorite Hotel" as well as “Best Family Resort" in The Caribbean Journal Travelers’ Choice Awards for 2019.
Sun Country Airline returns to Turks & Caicos
The runways of Turks & Caicos are becoming increasingly busy, on Saturday, January 20th, the Turks and Caicos Islands saw the return of Sun Country Airlines with its seasonal route from Minneapolis and Delta's inaugural flight from Minneapolis.
Sun Country provides a once-weekly direct flight from Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport to the Howard Hamilton International Airport in Providenciales.
The 737-800 aircraft brought 167 passengers to our shores with 58 passengers departing.
Then Delta Airlines commenced its seasonal direct flight from Minneapolis to Providenciales also providing once weekly service.
Also operating a 737-800 aircraft, Delta brought 125 passengers and left with 68.
Delta's second-largest hub is in Minneapolis and this new route will provide more tourists from the midwestern United States a direct route to the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Waste Management Strategies coming for Providenciales landfill....
Last week, the Ministry of Health hosted a press conference to announce the new 3 year, 2.9 million dollar contract for the Providenciales landfill.
We will now outline to you the strategy in which the newly awarded contractor TCI Green Ecological Corporation Ltd hopes to execute.
The new sanitary waste disposal site will have a high level of environmental controls, proper training, equipment and planning to alleviate the problems which currently exist.
TCI Green says that they are dedicated to promoting the 3 R's, those being Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
The strategies to be implemented are as follows:
Waste2Energy - This consists of transforming tires and plastics into fuel by products.
Organic Waste Conversion - This includes converting organic waste into fertilizers, reducing landfill gas emissions and promoting sustainable agriculture and food security.
Recyclable Materials Management - This will include identifying and repurposing recyclables turning them into valuable resources.
Environmental Relationships - This includes collaboration with stakeholders such as hotels and restaurants to transform food waste into organic fertilizer.
Methane Elimination
Some deliverables include:
Mitigation strategies
Enhanced security through partnership with police and other agencies
Effective fire control measures
Efficient sorting and packaging
Advanced waste compaction techniques
Environmental monitoring
Currently the Providenciales landfill is an open dump site. The aim and mission of TCI Green is to transform the site into a modern waste processing center.
Urgent – Marine Weather Message High Surf Advisory
…High surf advisory in effect for Providenciales, North Caicos, Middle Caicos, South Caicos, Grand Turk, Salt Cay…
Locations to be affected: Reefs and mainly exposed north to east-facing coastlines
Timing: Until Thursday
Synopsis: The pressure gradient between a strong high pressure north of the area and a cold front south of the Turks and Caicos Islands is producing a large area of fresh to strong northeast-to-east winds with seas of 6 to 10 feet near the Turks and Caicos Islands. A high surf advisory means that dangerous surfs of 6 to 10 feet (2 to 3 metres) will affect some coastlines in the advisory area, producing hazardous conditions.
Seas (significant wave heights): 6 to 9 feet (1.5 to 2 metres), occasionally or locally reaching over 10 feet (3 metres).Swell period: 8 to 11 seconds. Swells: Northeast to east at 6 to 10 feet (2 to 3 metres), occasionally higher.
Surfs (breaking swells): Over 2 metres (over 6 feet). These conditions are conducive to dangerous rip currents. Please note that surfs could be as much as twice the height of swells, depending on the bathymetry of the near shore areas.
Coastal flooding: High tides combined with onshore wind and swell actions could result in localized coastal flooding and beach erosion.
Potential Impacts: Loss of life–strong currents that can carry even the strongest swimmers out to sea; injuries to beachgoers; beach erosion; sea water splashing onto low-lying coastal roads; beach closures; localized disruptions to marine recreation and businesses; damage to coral reefs. High surfs can knock spectators off exposed rocks and jetties.
Precautionary: Beachgoers should be extremely cautious; only enter the waters where lifeguards are present or the sheltered, less affected beaches, mainly to the south and west.
Rip currents are powerful channels of water flowing quickly away from shore, which occur most often at low spots or breaks in the sandbar and near structures such as groins, jetties, and piers. If caught in a rip current, relax and float. Don`t swim against the current. If able, swim in a direction following the shoreline. If unable to escape, face the shore and call or wave for help.
Please continue to monitor these hazardous, life-threatening marine conditions. Stay tuned to updates coming out of the National Weather Service, twitter.com/tcinws and facebook.com/tcinws. Also, stay tuned to DDME social media platforms and the DDME Alert App for updates.
RTC News will also have additional updates during the day on 89.1fm.
3-DAY PUBLIC WEATHER FORECAST
GENERAL SITUATION: A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE EXTENDS ACROSS THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS. THE RIDGE EXTENDS FROM A STRONG HIGH-PRESSURE BUILDING IN THE WAKE OF THE COLD FRONT THAT PASSED THROUGH THE ISLANDS YESTERDAY. EXPECT WINDY CONDITIONS AND ROUGH SEAS TODAY.
SPECIAL WARNINGS: HAZARDOUS BOATING AND BEACHING CONDITIONS WILL PERSIST DUE TO A ROBUST HIGH-PRESSURE RIDGE GENERATING FRESH TO STRONG BREEZES ACROSS THE CHAIN OF ISLANDS. ALL MARINERS ARE STRONGLY ADVISED TO REMAIN IN PORT AND BEACHGOERS SHOULD REFRAIN FROM ENTERING THE SEA DUE TO DANGEROUS SURF AND RIP CURRENTS.
AREA: ALL AREAS
WEATHER: PARTLY SUNNY AND BREEZY TODAY. MOSTLY FAIR AND BREEZY WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS POSSIBLE TONIGHT.
ADVISORY: SMALL CRAFT OPERATORS SHOULD REMAIN IN PORT
WINDS: NORTHEAST TO EAST AT 15 TO 25 KNOTS
SEAS: 7 TO 12 FEET IN NORTHEASTERLY SWELL.
DAYTIME HIGH TEMPERATURE 81°F 27°C
OVERNIGHT LOW TEMPERATURE 75°F 24°C
SUNSET: 05:31 PM
NEXT LOW TIDE: 12:25 PM (1.0 FT)
NEXT HIGH TIDE: 05:59 PM (2.3 FT)
EXTENDED FORECAST FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS: THE COLD FRONT WILL GRADUALLY WEAKEN EARLY THIS WEEK AND DRIFT SOUTHWARDS SLOWLY. THE STRONG HIGH-PRESSURE BUILDING IN THE WAKE OF THE FRONT WILL CAUSE AN INCREASE IN WINDS AND SEAS FOR MOST OF THE WEEK.
FORECAST FOR TUESDAY
WEATHER: PARTLY CLOUDY AND WINDY WITH A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS. CHANCE OF RAIN IS 20%. PARTLY CLOUDY AND WINDY WITH A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AT NIGHT. CHANCE OF RAIN IS 40%. NEW ACCUMULATION OF RAIN IS LESS THAN TENTH OF AN INCH.
ADVISORY: SMALL CRAFT OPERATORS SHOULD REMAIN IN PORT.
WINDS: EASTERLY AT 15 TO 25 KNOTS
SEAS: 7 TO 12 FEET IN NORTHEASTERLY TO EASTERLY SWELL.
SUNRISE: 06:29 AM
SUNSET: 05:31 PM
LOW TIDE: 12:03 AM (0.7 FT)
HIGH TIDE: 06:39 AM (3.0 FT)
FORECAST FOR WEDNESDAY
WEATHER: PARTLY CLOUDY AND WINDY WITH CHANCE OF SHOWERS. CHANCE OF RAIN IS 40%.
PARTLY CLOUDY AND WINDY WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS POSSIBLE. NEW ACCUMULATION OF RAIN ABOUT A TENTH OF AN INCH.
ADVISORY: SMALL CRAFT OPERATORS SHOULD REMAIN IN PORT.
WINDS: EASTERLY AT 15 TO 25 KNOTS
SEAS: 7 TO 11 FEET IN NORTHEASTERLY TO EASTERLY SWELL.
SUNRISE: 06:28 AM
SUNSET: 05:32 PM
LOW TIDE: 12:54 AM (0.3 FT)
HIGH TIDE: 07:27 AM (3.0 FT)
Bahamas and Kenya formalises diplomatic relations
The Governments of The Bahamas and Kenya have signed a communique to formalize their diplomatic relations.
The communique was signed on Saturday, January 20th by the Bahamian Minister of Immigration and National Insurance, Alfred Sears, and Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Dr Musalia Mudavadi on the margins of the 19 Non-Aligned Summit in Uganda.
This event marks a significant step towards fostering deeper mutual understanding, cooperation, and collaboration between the two nations.
Key highlights of the agreement are that both countries, who are former United Kingdom colonies, agreed to establish diplomatic missions in each other’s capitals “when feasible” and strengthen diplomatic, economic, and cultural relationships for the benefit of their nationals.
Visa restrictions for nationals of Kenya and The Bahamas have already been dropped.
Both nations are also considering signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Technical Cooperation.
The ministry said: “This strategic framework will provide a structured platform for regular dialogue on key regional and international issues of mutual interest. The Bahamas currently has several MOUs with countries in Sub-Saharan Africa including South Africa and Botswana.”
The Bahamas and Kenya also pledged to continue their Mission to provide essential security support and capacity building for Haiti.
US regulator admits cyber-security lapse before rogue Bitcoin post
The US financial regulator has confirmed a key security procedure on its X account had been suspended for six months when hackers made a fake post about Bitcoin in January.
The cryptocurrency surged in value before the post was deleted.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) did not have multi-factor authentication (MFA) in place when hackers gained access to the account.
Cyber-security experts say it should be a wake-up call for other agencies.
"While the SEC's X account hack is a minor security incident, all governmental agencies should review the security of their social network accounts," said Ilia Kolochenko from cyber firm ImmuniWeb.
He pointed out that a similar incident at a body such as the US Department of Defense could have more "devastating consequences".
"While MFA had previously been enabled on the @SECGov X account, it was disabled by X Support, at the staff's request, in July 2023 due to issues accessing the account," the SEC said in a statement.
"Once access was re-established, MFA remained disabled until staff re-enabled it after the account was compromised on January 9.
"MFA currently is enabled for all SEC social media accounts that offer it."
The SEC has confirmed the account was compromised by a fraudster convincing a mobile operator to transfer an SEC employee's phone number to a new SIM.
The employee who was targeted had their phone number associated with the SEC's account for X, formerly known as Twitter.
Because MFA had been suspended on the account, the hacker was able to reset the password, log in, and make a post.
It announced the SEC had approved so-called exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for Bitcoin, which shot up in value to $48,000 (£37,800) before the post was withdrawn.
Though the SEC has subsequently confirmed the regulatory change, the cryptocurrency fell to just over $38,600 on Tuesday, its lowest value in 2024 so far.
In a Sim-swapping attack, typically a hacker will call a mobile phone operator claiming they have lost the phone they are targeting and need a new SIM card sent out to them.
Sometimes, the hackers will go into a store in person to carry out the con.
MFA is intended to protect against this kind of hack.
It takes many forms, including having a dedicated app that gives you a PIN code for a website, as well as sending a text message, though this is considered less secure.
If the verification a person chooses is to receive a text confirming they are the user, a person who has gained access to their phone number will receive the text message instead.
Because of this, experts advise people to use a dedicated app for verification instead.
Source-BBC
Oppenheimer leads nominations for 96th Academy Awards
On Tuesday morning, Joker's Zazie Beetz and The Boys' Jack Quaid announced the 96th Oscars nominations in all 23 categories in a live presentation from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Samuel Goldwyn Theater.
Oppenheimer led the competition with 13 nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director for Christopher Nolan, Best Actor, Supporting Actor, and Best Supporting Actress, respectively for Cillian Murphy, Robert Downey Jr., and Emily Blunt.
Poor Things was in second place with 11 nominations, including Best Picture, and Best Actress for star and producer Emma Stone, while Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon scored 10.
Barbie earned eight nominations, including Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor for Ryan Gosling, and Best Supporting Actress for America Ferrera.
Here's the list of nominees:
Best supporting actor
Sterling K. Brown - American Fiction
Robert De Niro - Killers of the Flower Moon
Robert Downey Jr. - Oppenheimer
Ryan Gosling - Barbie
Mark Ruffalo - Poor Things
Best costume design
Barbie – Jacqueline Durran
Killers of the Flower Moon – Jacqueline West
Napoleon – David Crossman, Janty Yates
Oppenheimer – Ellen Mirojnick
Poor Things – Holly Waddington
Best makeup and hairstyling
Golda
Maestro
Oppenheimer
Poor Things
Society of the Snow
Best live-action short film
The After
Invincible
Knight of Fortune
Red, White, and Blue
The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar
Best animated short film
Letter to a Pig
Ninety-Five Senses
Our Uniform
Pachyderme
War Is Over! Inspired by the Music of John & Yoko
Best adapted screenplay
American Fiction - Cord Jefferson
Barbie - Noah Baumbach, Greta Gerwig
Oppenheimer - Christopher Nolan
Poor Things - Tony McNamara
The Zone of Interest - Jonathan Glazer
Best original screenplay
Anatomy of a Fall - Justine Triet, Arthur Harari
The Holdovers - David Hemingson
Maestro - Bradley Cooper, Josh Singer
May December - Samy Burch, Alex Mechanik
Past Lives - Celine Song
Best supporting actress
Emily Blunt - Oppenheimer
Danielle Brooks - The Color Purple
America Ferrera - Barbie
Jodie Foster - Nyad
Da'Vine Joy Randolph - The Holdovers
Best original song
"The Fire Inside" from Flamin’ Hot
"I'm Just Ken" from Barbie
"It Never Went Away" from American Symphony
"Wahzhazhe (A Song For My People)" from Killers of the Flower Moon
"What Was I Made For?" from Barbie
Best original score
American Fiction
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
Killers of the Flower Moon
Oppenheimer
Poor Things
Best documentary feature film
Bobi Wine: The People’s President
The Eternal Memory
Four Daughters
To Kill a Tiger
20 Days in Mariupol
Best documentary short film
The ABCs of Book Banning
The Barber of Little Rock
Island in Between
The Last Repair Shop
Nǎi Nai & Wài Pó
Best international feature film
Io Capitano (Italy)
Perfect Days (Japan)
Society of the Snow (Spain)
The Teachers’ Lounge (Germany)
The Zone of Interest (United Kingdom)
Best animated feature film
The Boy and the Heron
Elemental
Nimona
Robot Dreams
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Best production design
Barbie
Killers of the Flower Moon
Napoleon
Oppenheimer
Poor Things
Best film editing
Anatomy of a Fall
The Holdovers
Killers of the Flower Moon
Oppenheimer
Poor Things
Best sound
The Creator
Maestro
Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One
Oppenheimer
The Zone of Interest
Best visual effects
The Creator
Godzilla Minus One
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One
Napoleon
Best cinematography
El Conde - Edward Lachman
Killers of the Flower Moon - Rodrigo Prieto
Maestro - Matthew Libatique
Oppenheimer - Hoyte van Hoytema
Poor Things - Robbie Ryan
Best actor
Bradley Cooper - Maestro
Colman Domingo - Rustin
Paul Giamatti - The Holdovers
Cillian Murphy - Oppenheimer
Jeffrey Wright - American Fiction
Best Actress
Annette Bening - Nyad
Lily Gladstone - Killers of the Flower Moon
Sandra Hüller - Anatomy of a Fall
Carey Mulligan - Maestro
Emma Stone - Poor Things
Best director
Justine Triet - Anatomy of a Fall
Martin Scorsese - Killers of the Flower Moon
Christopher Nolan - Oppenheimer
Yorgos Lanthimos - Poor Things
Jonathan Glazer - The Zone of Interest
Best picture
American Fiction
Anatomy of a Fall
Barbie
The Holdovers
Killers of the Flower Moon
Maestro
Oppenheimer
Past Lives
Poor Things
The Zone of Interest
American Fiction, the race-related film starring Jeffrey Wright, earned five nominations, including the coveted Best Motion Picture of the Year. With the film, Wright scores his first-ever nod, as he's up for Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for his character, Monk.
Sterling K. Brown, who plays Monk's brother in the film, also earned his first Oscar nomination; he's up for Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role.
Joining Brown in the Supporting Role category is first-time nominee Colman Domingo. He's nominated for his role as Bayard Rustin in Rustin.
Elsewhere on the first-timers list is The Holdovers star Da'Vine Joy Randolph, who's nominated for Actress in a Supporting Role, as is Danielle Brooks for her role as Sofia in The Color Purple.
Up for Best Documentary Feature Film is Bobi Wine: The People's President, National Geographic's feature on Ugandan pop star Bobi Wine, who ran for president against his country's dictator, Yoweri Museveni.
On the music front, Jon Batiste earned his second Oscars nomination with a Best Original Song nod for "It Never Went Away" from American Symphony. He won Best Original Score for Soul in 2021.
The 2024 Oscars will air on March 10 on ABC.
IMF says Antigua and Barbuda’s economy is recovering
The executive directors of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Tuesday said that Antigua and Barbuda’s economy continues to bounce back from the sharp contraction experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The executive, which concluded the Article IV consultation with the island, said real activity is expected to return to pre-pandemic levels this year, with growth projected at 5.7 percent, driven by a rebound in tourism and construction activity.
It said inflation has declined from 2022 peaks but remains elevated at 6.6 percent accompanied by moderating core inflation.
“The financial sector is well capitalized and liquid and the share of nonperforming loans is stable, with credit growth remaining weak.”
The IMF said the fiscal position has improved as the deficit and debt have declined, though gross financing needs remain high. Improved revenues and continued public sector payroll restraint, along with a rise in nominal gross domestic product (GDP), have brought down the primary deficit to 1.7 percent of GDP and the public debt to 87 percent of GDP in 2022.
In their assessment, the executive directors welcomed Antigua and Barbuda’s robust recovery noting that while the near-term growth outlook is favorable, it remains subject to downside risks, including weaker tourism performance, unfavorable financing conditions, and natural disasters.
They emphasized the need for decisive actions to address fiscal and external imbalances and further efforts to improve growth prospects and build resilience. Directors highlighted the importance of continued close collaboration with the Fund and other development partners to address imbalances and build capacity.
The IMF directors underscored the need for fiscal adjustment and welcomed the authorities’ focus on revenue mobilization and expenditure restraint. Important measures include limiting discretionary tax exemptions and broadening the Antigua and Barbuda Sales Tax (ABST) base.
They agreed that these measures should be supported by a sound cash and debt management strategy, focused on lengthening debt maturities and contingency planning. “Recognizing the importance of restoring debt sustainability, directors stressed the need for close engagement with creditors and domestic suppliers and a concrete plan to resolve existing arrears and avoid new arrears. They also recommended strengthening the social safety net to provide more targeted support for the vulnerable and centralizing programs to reduce coverage gaps and avoid duplication.”
The IMF directors also agreed that fiscal institutions should be enhanced to support the credibility of the fiscal framework as well as addressing shortcomings in the transparency and exchange of information frameworks for tax purposes would facilitate an exit from the EU list of noncooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes.
The directors welcomed that the financial sector remains stable and liquid encouraged continued measures to strengthen financial stability and recommended enhancing the oversight and regulation of credit unions and incorporating climate risks into the stress testing framework.
Source- CMC
Inter-High School Basketball league set for Feb 2nd.
The semi-final matchups for the Inter-High School Sports Basketball league will take place on February 2nd at the Gustarvus Lightbourne Sports Complex.
Clement Howell will take on British West Indies Collegiate, while HJ Robinson High will take on Wesley Methodist.
And over to Inter High School Softball... the results are in - Here are your semi-finalists...
Group A
HJ Robinson High School (HJRHS) will take Marjorie Basden High School (MBHS)
Group B
Wesley Methodist School (WM) will challenge the British West Indies Collegiate (BWIC)
The semi-finals kick off this weekend on Friday, Jan 26th in Grand Turk with the Championship Game on Saturday, January 27th!
RTC Sports urges you to go on out and support the team's.