Monday 1st June 2026 – Turks and Caicos Islands
For nearly two decades, a dedicated group of independent taxi drivers has been the driving force behind one of the country’s most significant annual cultural celebrations honoring the late, Right Most Excellent Hon. J.A.G.S. McCartney, the Turks and Caicos Islands’ only National Hero.
What began as a small tribute at the Providenciales International Airport taxi stand years ago has evolved into a major community event drawing thousands of residents, visitors, families, community leaders, and supporters each year.
According to organizers, the tradition started with taxi drivers placing small flags on their vehicles in honor of McCartney, who himself worked as a taxi driver in The Bahamas before entering politics and forever changing the course of Turks and Caicos history.
As public support grew, the celebration quickly outgrew its original location at the airport and was eventually moved to Butterfield Square, where it continues to attract large crowds annually.
Despite the scale of the event today, organizers say the celebration remains largely a grassroots effort led by independent taxi drivers, community volunteers, and local vendors who continue to carry much of the financial and organizational burden.
Speaking with veteran organizer and taxi operator Lloyd Stubbs, Eagle Legal News was told that while the Government provides a grant of approximately $5,000, primarily used to cover entertainment costs such as the band, organizers are still left to secure funding for major expenses including sound systems, tents, seating, logistics, transportation, decorations, and other operational costs associated with hosting an event of this magnitude.
Stubbs stressed that the issue is not that the Government has done nothing. Rather, organizers believe that a celebration honoring the country’s National Hero deserves greater and more sustained support, particularly given the event’s cultural significance and growing attendance each year.
According to Mr. Stubbs, the only administration that seriously explored making the event a fully recognized national undertaking was the government led by former Premier Hon. Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson. During her tenure, discussions reportedly took place about formally adopting the celebration and giving it official government status, which would have allowed it to receive dedicated funding and organizational support while becoming a permanent fixture on the national calendar.
However, organizers say those discussions never materialized into reality after concerns were raised by members of the taxi community, who feared losing ownership and control of an event they had spent years building from the ground up. As a result, the proposal by Hon Cartwright Robinson was rejected and never implemented. However, the greatest support ever was under her administration.
Today, organizers say they are not necessarily seeking to surrender control of the celebration but would welcome increased government involvement and financial assistance to help sustain and expand what has become one of the largest public commemorations in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The event’s success has depended heavily on community support. Longtime vendors and supporters have contributed food, supplies, and volunteer hours over the years, while local businesses and sponsors have periodically stepped in to assist. Organizers noted that many of the event’s expenses are still covered through fundraising efforts, sponsorship drives, and contributions from those committed to preserving McCartney’s legacy.
The annual commemorative shirts have also become a major attraction. Organizers recalled occasions when hundreds of shirts sold out within days, forcing additional orders as demand continued to grow across Providenciales.
This year carries even greater significance, marking 50 years since J.A.G.S. McCartney’s historic electoral victory in 1976, a milestone many believe deserves recognition on a scale never before seen in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
With attendance numbers continuing to grow and thousands now participating in the annual celebration, organizers believe the time has come for a serious national conversation about how the country honors its only National Hero.
For those who have carried the responsibility for nearly 20 years, the commitment remains unchanged.
“We just keep doing it,” one organizer said. “Every year we do it because the legacy is important, and somebody has to make sure it continues.”
As the Turks and Caicos Islands prepares to commemorate the 50th anniversary of one of the most defining moments in its political history, many are now asking whether the burden of preserving that legacy should continue to rest primarily on the shoulders of a small group of dedicated taxi drivers.
