Tourism Ministry/TCI Tourist Board Co-Host Governor General's Cup Caribbean Air Rally in GT

H.J. Robinson High School students learning how to use the flight simulator

The Ministry of Tourism and the Turks and Caicos Islands Tourist Board, in a partnership with Aviation Connection, hosted the 11th Annual Governor General's Cup Caribbean Air Rally at the JAGS McCartney International Airport on Monday, December 5.

Welcomed to Grand Turk was an armada of twenty-one aircrafts, with forty-eight crew members, originating from Canada, the USA, and Europe, landing on the island for the two-day celebration. That evening, a welcome cocktail ceremony was hosted at “Waterloo”, the Governor’s official residence in Grand Turk.

H.J. Robinson High School Students Touring an Aircraft

The Governor General’s Cup Air Rally is an annual event covered by major international aviation and travel magazines. Since its inception in 2001, the International Air Rally team puts together one of the largest International Air Rallies in the region.

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Josephine Connolly (left) and Executive Director of Aviation Connection, Catherine Tobenas

The GGC Air Rally event is also a fundraising opportunity to introduce aviation, artificial intelligence (AI), and other STEM programs in high schools across Canada and USA. With the Air Rally, Aviation Connection hopes to extend to the Caribbean region. Each year, Aviation Connection offers a flight simulator to a school in one of the countries visited. This year, the Helena Jones Robinson High School was selected as the beneficiary of a Microsoft Flight simulator and received a special presentation ceremony on their campus on Tuesday, December 6, 2022.

For the sixth time, the Air Rally launched from the shores of Grand Turk, where a number of students from the Helena Jones Robinson High School enjoyed a tour of the aircrafts. The goal of the Governor General's Cup Caribbean Air Rally is to promote the beauty, safety and the advantages of flying in the Caribbean, and to highlight the region as an ideal destination for general aviation.

Acting Governor, H.E. Anya Williams, Acting Premier, Hon. E. Jay Saunders, Minister of Tourism, Hon. Josephine Connolly, Minister of Education, Hon. Rachel Taylor, and Minister of Home Affairs, Hon. Otis Morris wit

“It was an honour to be a part of the 11th Annual Governor General's Cup Caribbean Air Rally. This event results in amazing coverage for the Turks and Caicos Islands, but most importantly and especially this year, it provides our youth with a strong introduction to aviation, artificial intelligence, and other STEM programs”, said Minister of Tourism, Hon. Josephine Connolly.

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Josephine Connolly, Founding President of Aviation Connection, Camil Dumont, and Executive Director of Aviation Connection, Catherine Tobenas with H.J. Robinson High School Students

“We thank the International Air Rally team for donating a flight simulator to Grand Turk’s Helena Jones Robinson High School and we look forward to welcoming them back to the Turks and Caicos Islands for the 12th Annual Governor General's Cup Caribbean Air Rally”, added Hon. Connolly.

Acting Governor, H.E. Anya Williams and the International Air Rally Team

The Acting Governor, H.E. Anya Williams, Acting Premier and Minister of Finance, Investment, and Trade, Hon. E. Jay Saunders, Minister of Education, Labour, Employment and Customer Service, Hon. Rachel Taylor, Minister of Home Affairs, Public Utilities and Transportation, Hon. Otis Morris, the Acting Director of Tourism, Mary Lightbourne, as well as the Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority were also on hand to welcome the International Air Rally Team.

The delegation departed the Beautiful by Nature Turks and Caicos Islands on Wednesday, December 7, 2022 en route to Nevis.