Times of the Islands Fall 2016

TIMES
OF THE
SAMPLING THE SOUL OF THE TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDS FALL 2016 NO. 116
EASY RIDER
Big Bikes Come to Provo
CAICOS GHOST FLEET
Tracing a Nautical Mystery
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contents
Departments
10 From the Editor
15 What’s New
Speed Born in Grand Turk—Delano Williams
By Jody Rathgeb
18 A Call to Action
The Time Has Come!
By Don Stark, Turks & Caicos Reef Fund
46 Real Estate
Paradise by the Fraction: Long Bay Beach Club
By Kathy Borsuk
65 A Taste of the Islands
North Caicos Tea Company
By Jody Rathgeb ~ Photos By Tom Rathgeb
69 Shape Up
Spinal Health and Well Being
By Dr. Craig D. Zavitz
71 Nails Need TLC Too!
By Franceska Parker
72 About the Islands/TCI Map
77 Where to Stay
79 Dining Out
82 Classified Ads/Subscription Form
Features
32 The Ride of a Lifetime
By Kathy Borsuk ~ Photos By Ileana Ravasio
36 A Revolution in Going Green
By Kathy Borsuk
42 The Easy Way to Shop
By Kathy Borsuk
TIMES
OF THE
SAMPLING THE SOUL OF THE TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDS FALL 2016 NO. 116
ISLANDS
On the Cover
Ileana Ravasio of Attimi Photography spent a morning
on the road with motorcyclists from TCIRide to capture
this cover image and others in the story on page 32.
She says the best part of the photo shoot was to share
a ride from Turtle Cove to Blue Hills and back. “The
sense of freedom and the wild feel given by the bike
were amazing!” This multi-talented woman is the Turks
& Caicos’ exclusive photographer for Condé Nast Brides
magazine, as well. Visit www.attimiphotography.com.
Green Pages
22 Project RESCQ
Story & Photos By Don Stark
25 Meal Time!
By Dr. Alastair M. Smith and Dr. Jessica Paddock
30 Bonding with Nature
By Evangelia Ganosellis
Photos By Amy Avenant
Astrolabe
54 A Phantasmal Project
By Dr. Donald H. Keith
59 A Mariner’s Tale
By Captain Willard E. Kennedy
CORRECTION: In the Summer 2016 issue of Times of
the Islands on page 42, we incorrectly stated in both
the body of the article and photo caption that Grade
6 students at the International School at Leeward
are being prepared for the GSAT. According to Vice
Principal Indrani Saunders, “A majority of our children
do not write the GSAT. They prepare for the entrance
exams for the British West Indies Collegiate and the TCI
Middle School.”
We sincerely apologize for this mistake.
6 www.timespub.tc

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from the editor
JOHN CLAYDON
Lobster season 2016/2017 kicked off on August 15 with opening catch landed at processing plants in South Caicos and Providenciales
totalling 43,206 pounds.
Pressed Down, Shaken Together
Whenever I read or hear the Bible verse from Luke 6:38 which says, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good
measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you
use, it will be measured to you,” I get tears in my eyes. For there are many days when, if I am quiet enough to count
my blessings, they do indeed run over. The people I hold dearest are around me; I have food, shelter, car, clothing,
and a job that I love; I’ve spent a large part of my life in the most beautiful place in the world (Turks & Caicos); and
I know my God cares for me.
Since I started as editor so many years ago, one of my biggest fears was not having enough stories to fill the
magazine every quarter. Thankfully, that has never happened—not once—and we usually have too many! This issue
is an example—chock-full of a fascinating variety that represents so many different facets of the Islands. Our cover
story highlights a new niche in the market: “biker tourism,” with RideTCI’s motorcycle rentals and tours. I was enraptured
by Dr. Donald Keith’s masterfully imagined feature on the Ghost Fleet of the Caicos Islands, as well as Don
Stark’s inspired idea for a dolphin sanctuary in Providenciales. On a more practical note, learn what local business
Green Revolution is doing to encourage energy savings and how Island Bargains makes it easy for residents to shop
and ship, just in time for Christmas.
We couldn’t produce Times of the Islands without the contributors—both our esteemed “regulars” and our valued
newcomers—writers and photographers both. Their hard work and dedication is what enables each issue and this
editor’s gratitude to be “running over.”
Kathy Borsuk, Editor
timespub@tciway.tc • (649) 946-4788
10 www.timespub.tc

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RASHAWDESIGNS.com
TIMES
MANAGING EDITOR
Kathy Borsuk
OF THE
ISLANDS
ADVERTISING MANAGER
Claire Parrish
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Kathy Borsuk, Evangelia Ganosellis, Dr. Donald H. Keith,
Capt. Willard E. Kennedy, Dr. Jessica Paddock, Franceska
Parker, Jody Rathgeb, Pat Saxton, Dr. Alastair M. Smith,
Don Stark, Candianne Williams, Dr. Craig D. Zavitz.
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Amy Avenant, John Claydon, Michael Floch, David Gallardo–
World of Oceans, Heidi Hertler, iStock Photo,
Dr. Donald H. Keith, Capt. Willard E. Kennedy, Claire Parrish,
Macey Rafter, Ileana Ravasio–Attimi Photography,
Tom Rathgeb, Pat Saxton, Dr. Alastair M. Smith, Don Stark,
TCNM Reynolds Collection, Jonathan Trujillo,
Candianne Williams.
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CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS
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Times of the Islands ISSN 1017-6853 is
published quarterly by Times Publications Ltd.
Copyright © 2016 by Times Publications Ltd. All rights reserved
under Universal and Pan American Copyright Conventions.
No part of this publication may be
reproduced without written permission.
Subscriptions $28/year; $32/year for
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Submissions We welcome submission of articles or photography, but
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Return postage must accompany material if it is to be returned. In no
event shall any writer or photographer subject this magazine to any
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While every care has been taken in the compilation and reproduction of
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subject to change without notice. The publisher accepts no
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Business Office
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14 www.timespub.tc

what’s new
Born and raised in Grand Turk, runner
Delano Williams represented Great Britain
in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio.
Speed Born in Grand Turk
Delano Williams participates in 2016 Summer Olympics.
By Jody Rathgeb
When Delano Williams ran in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, he officially represented
Great Britain. But there’s more to that story. Currently a resident of Kingston, Jamaica, he was born and
raised on Grand Turk and continues to cherish the memories of a native-born Turks & Caicos Islander.
Delano’s participation in Rio was tweaked by the rules of the International Olympic Committee. The
IOC does not recognise the Turks & Caicos as a competing country. There was, however, a by-law with
a precedent to Anguillan long jumper Shara Proctor that allowed him to represent Great Britain because
the TCI is a British Overseas Territory. So it was that he ran the 4x400 metres relay in the 2016 Summer
Olympics.
Times of the Islands Fall 2016 15

So it was that he ran the second leg of the 4x400
metre relay in Rio, helping his team (Nigel Levine, Matthew
Hudson-Smith, Martyn Rooney) come in first during the
qualifier before the committee disqualified them in a
harsh and disappointing decision, claiming that Rooney
was outside of the hand-over zone.
Behind it all, however, is a humble and genuine
“island boy” who remembers climbing coconut trees and
catching donkeys on Grand Turk. Shortly before he left for
Rio, we asked the 23-year-old to share some of his early
experiences that give his nimble feet their roots.
Early days: Delano was born on December 23, 1993
to Livingston Williams and Haitian-born Ruthe Barton. “I
used to live in South Back Salina, and then I moved to
Breezy Brae,” he relates. He became involved in sports at
school, and the interest intensified through the influences
of his coach, Neil Harrison, and a mentor, Rita Gardiner.
Who was Delano as a child? “I was a kid with ambition and
determination, dedicated to the task at hand. I was jovial
and still am,” he says. He adds that the need to always
achieve more helps to keep him humble.
Island flavours: “My favorite food in Turks & Caicos
is crack conch and chips. I get this every time I touch the
Islands. That food makes me put on weight! I love my
mother’s cooking. It’s unfortunate I didn’t learn how to
cook from her.”
Hurricane Ike: “I was sleeping” during the 2008
storm, Delano says. “I didn’t even feel anything.” His own
home was not destroyed, but there was so much damage
on Grand Turk that the school was closed for a long period
of time. That was when he moved to Jamaica, following
Coach Harrison, who had become head coach at Munro
College in St. Elizabeth parish. His final thoughts about
the hurricane? “Hey, it got me to the Olympics today!”
Jamaica: It was in Jamaica that Delano blossomed as
a runner. He entered Munro College in 2008 and represented
the school when he won the 100 and 200 metres
at the 2012 Jamaican National High School Track and
Field Championships. Also in 2012, he represented TCI in
the World Junior Championships in Athletics in Barcelona,
Spain; he won a gold medal in the 200 metres. Delano has
also won medals at the CARIFTA Games (Youth 2009 and
Junior 2011 and 2012).
Delano trains with the Racers Track Club in Jamaica,
“home” of nine-time Olympic gold medalist runner Usain
Bolt, who has encouraged the younger man’s career.
Bolt also ran in Rio, ending his career with his ninth gold
medal. a
16 www.timespub.tc

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a call to action
DAVID GALLARDO—WORLDOFOCEANS.COM
JoJo, a wild Atlantic Bottlenose dolphin, has frequented TCI’s waters for over 25 years and as a National Treasure, is considered a symbol of
the type of freedom that all marine mammals deserve.
The Time Has Come!
A dolphin sanctuary for the Turks & Caicos Islands.
By Don Stark, Chairman, Turks & Caicos Reef Fund
Facilities housing captive marine mammals for the entertainment of tourists have been around for many
years. It is only recently that people have begun to realize that keeping highly intelligent, family-oriented,
social animals such as dolphins in captivity is inappropriate and cruel to the animals. This is evidenced
by the steady decline in visitors and revenue from places such as Sea World.
As a consequence, facilities around the world, such as the National Aquarium in Baltimore, Maryland
are beginning to close down their swim-with-dolphin programs and dolphin shows. This trend is creating
a need for a safe haven for these former entertainers to either be rehabilitated and released back into
the wild or to live out their natural lives unmolested. In fact, the National Aquarium has announced they
intend to create and open a seaside dolphin sanctuary to house their eight unemployed dolphins by the
end of 2020.
18 www.timespub.tc

INNOVATION | CONSERVATION | ADVENTURE
The National Aquarium has outlined the criteria their
search team is using to evaluate potential sites for the
dolphin sanctuary. These include: a tropical or subtropical
climate, a dynamic habitat, a place with natural stimuli
(meaning it has live fish that the dolphins can interact
with and potentially learn to feed themselves again), and
customised care provided by trained professional staff.
The National Aquarium intends to maintain a connection
to the facility.
The Turks & Caicos Reef Fund has been in contact
with the staff at the National Aquarium in an effort to
interest them in evaluating the Turks & Caicos Islands as
a home for the dolphin sanctuary they intend to build.
The TCI certainly meets the key criteria with regard to
climate, habitat, and natural stimuli and the National
Aquarium would hire the professional staff to provide the
quality care for these highly intelligent animals.
The TCI is an ideal location for such a facility which
fits well within our “Beautiful by Nature” branding. We
have clear, tropical waters which are the natural habitat
for dolphins. We have a healthy population of bottlenose
and spotted dolphins in the waters around these islands.
The Turks & Caicos would make a perfect home where
the dolphins can either be rehabilitated and released into
the wild or spend the rest of their natural lifespan without
having to entertain humans for their food.
In addition, the Islands have a history of rehabilitating
and releasing captive dolphins back into the wild. In
1984, Chuck Hesse founded the Caicos Conch Farm on
the eastern side of Providenciales. Conch require sandy
sea floors as they live on detritus in the sand left by other
sea creatures. As a result, the Caicos Conch Farm had
60 acres of fenced-in sea pasture. In February 1990, Mr.
Hesse sent out a notice that any organization wishing to
rehabilitate a dolphin could have access to this 60 acre
pasture, the Conch Farm staff, and its facilities.
Shortly thereafter, ZooCheck, an environmental
group in the United Kingdom, contacted Mr. Hesse
about their desire to free three dolphins being held in
deplorable conditions in facilities in the UK. ZooCheck
said that if the Conch Farm facility was deemed appropriate
by the London Zoological Society, the first of the
last three captive dolphins in the UK could be on its way
to Providenciales by December of that same year. Rocky
was the first dolphin to arrive in January 1991 after Hesse
and his nonprofit organization, PRIDE, obtained approval
for the development of the rehabilitation facility from the
TCI Government and permission to import the dolphins.
Missie and Silver arrived two months later. The three had
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Times of the Islands Fall 2016 19

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spent a combined 56 years in concrete pools on display
and performing tricks for their “daily bread.” Major funding
support was raised by ZooCheck with help from the
Mail on Sunday, a popular British newspaper.
For five months, the dolphins lived in the Conch Farm
pasture. During that time, volunteers worked tirelessly
to rehabilitate the dolphins so they could return to their
natural habitat, the open sea. During the years they spent
in captivity, Missie, Rocky, and Silver had been hand-fed
frozen fish instead of foraging on their own for food or
using their sonar capabilities, so they had to learn how
to hunt and feed themselves. Many in the community
were involved in this effort, including several of TCI’s
current elected officials. Over time, the three dolphins
were weaned from a diet of dead, frozen fish to catching
their own living, swimming meals.
Once the three could catch live fish on their own, it
was time to attempt their release back into the wild. To
accomplish this, a special sea pen was built to transport
the dolphins to the uninhabited island of West Caicos.
After spending three days in this sea pen, the gate was
opened on September 10, 1991 so the dolphins could
swim free. At first, they didn’t want to leave the security
of the sea pen. But after much hesitation, Rocky led the
way and the three finally left the pen and entered the
open ocean. They were spotted several months later in
the waters around the TCI and appeared to be healthy.
The rehabilitation process was considered a success.
So, with a perfect climate and large native dolphin
population, as well as previous experience in the rehabilitation
and release of captive dolphins, the Turks & Caicos
Islands are an excellent location for a dolphin sanctuary.
This is a much better business to support than a commercially-operated,
for-profit, swim-with-the-dolphins
program. A dolphin sanctuary would provide a safe environment
with lots of natural space in which to roam for
formerly captive dolphins. And if they can be rehabilitated
to feed on their own, it would be an ideal location
into which to release these former slaves. a
The Turks & Caicos Reef Fund (TCRF), a local not-forprofit
organization whose mission is to help preserve
and protect the TCI environment, along with a group
of volunteers has proposed establishing a new Dolphin
Sanctuary and Rehabilitation Centre in the TCI. To make
this happen, TCRF needs the financial and moral support
of tourists, the local population, and the TCI Government.
More information about the plan can be found at:
www.tcreef.org/dolphindefensefund.html
20 www.timespub.tc

Visit
THE CAICOS CONCH FARM
WE GROW
CONCH & FISH
Monday - Friday: 9am - 4pm
Saturday: 9am - 2.30pm
Closed: Sundays
Adults $12.00
Children $10.00
Leeward Highway, Leeward, Providenciales
Phone: (649) 946-5330

green pages
newsletter of the department of environment & coastal resources
head office: church folly, grand turk, tel 649 946 2801 • fax 649 946 1895
• astwood street, south caicos, tel 649 946 3306 • fax 946 3710
• national environmental centre, lower bight road, providenciales
parks division, tel 649 941 5122 • fax 649 946 4793
fisheries division, tel 649 946 4017 • fax 649 946 4793
email environment@gov.tc or dema.tci@gmail.com • web www.environment.tc
DAVID GALLARDO—WORLDOFOCEANS.COM
This thriving Elkhorn coral is at Northwest Point, one of the few areas in TCI where the coral has not been affected by White Band Disease.
Project RESCQ
Restoring endangered coral species to TCI reefs.
Story & Photos By Don Stark, Chairman, Turks & Caicos Reef Fund
Coral reefs form some of the planet’s most biologically diverse ecosystems, providing protection of
beaches, habitat for fishes, and a natural source of carbon capture from the atmosphere (corals build
their homes out of calcium carbonate which they source from atmospheric carbon dioxide dissolved in
seawater). Until the 1980s, Acropora coral species dominated the near shore zone of many Caribbean
islands with cover estimates of up to 85% of the sea floor. Unfortunately, Elkhorn (Acropora palmata)
and Staghorn (Acropora cervicornis) coral reef zones have almost disappeared from most islands in
the region largely as a result of White Band Disease, a coral disease which remains poorly understood.
Elkhorn and Staghorn corals are currently listed as “Critically Endangered” on the International Union for
Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.
22 www.timespub.tc

green pages newsletter of the department of environment & coastal resources
The loss of these corals has had large negative effects
on biodiversity, biomass of fishes, and coastal protection
as well as a significant decline in the attractiveness of the
shallow underwater landscape.
Some colonies have survived the outbreak of White
Band Disease and have been reported to be resistant to
the disease, which still persists, but with much-reduced
virulence. The remnant colonies have as yet not been
able to recolonise the reef to anywhere near their former
occurrence.
The Turks & Caicos has several areas of healthy
Elkhorn coral (for example, near Wheeland Cut off the
coast of Providenciales) and there has been a slow
regrowth of Staghorn coral on some of the reefs off
Northwest Point, West Caicos, Pine Cay, and Grace Bay,
but not nearly the density that once existed. The only
area in the TCI that has impressive stands of Staghorn
coral is off the coast of East Caicos, the last remaining
virtually untouched example of what these islands were
like before development began.
Coral reproduce in two ways—both sexually and
asexually. Sexual reproduction occurs when coral polyps
release bundles of sperm and eggs into the water column.
When a sperm bundle comes in contact with an egg
bundle, baby corals, called planulae, are formed. These
free swimming planktonic babies swim toward the light
at the surface of the sea and drift with the currents until
they settle to the bottom and form a new coral polyp.
Asexual reproduction occurs when a piece of a coral
colony is broken off, either by a storm, accidental contact
by humans, or other causes. This coral fragment can
form a new coral colony where it lands on the sea floor.
Sexual reproduction produces a more genetically diverse
offspring than asexual reproduction which produces offspring
with the exact same genetic make-up of the parent
colony.
In early 2016, the Turks & Caicos Reef Fund (TCRF)
was informed that a grant submitted to the European
Union for a project to help restore Elkhorn and Staghorn
corals was funded. The project, which is being led by
IMARES, the research arm of Wageningen University in the
Netherlands, involves four islands in the Caribbean and
tropical Atlantic: St. Eustatius, St. Maarten, Saba, and the
Turks & Caicos Islands. The project is called “Restoration
of Ecosystem Services and Coral Reef Quality” or RESCQ
for short.
The three-year project will restore Elkhorn (Acropora
palmata) and Staghorn (A. cervicornis) coral reef zones
by establishing a coral nursery on each of the four islands
to grow coral fragments and ultimately transplant the
newly grown-up corals at selected restoration sites. Coral
fragments (small pieces of living coral) will be harvested
from healthy growths of Staghorn and Elkhorn corals
around the Turks & Caicos and attached to locally built
coral nursery structures.
This close-up shows a coral fragment attached to the ladder rungs.
Within six months to a year they will grow into larger corals.
The type of structure that will be used in the TCI is a
“Coral Ladder” which is a series of bamboo poles (the
rungs of the ladder) suspended between two ropes. Each
ladder will be anchored to the sea floor and supported
vertically with floats to keep the entire structure suspended
in the water column. The small pieces (about 5
cm or 2 inch fragments) of coral will then be attached
to the ladder rungs with monofilament line. After six
months to a year, these small fragments will grow into
much larger corals which can then either be refragmented
to restock the nursery or transplanted on a reef where
they will continue to grow.
Times of the Islands Fall 2016 23

green pages newsletter of the department of environment & coastal resources
Both Staghorn and Elkhorn corals are relatively
fast-growing corals. Both species can, under the right
conditions, grow nearly a half a foot a year or more.
Harvesting small pieces (fragments) from existing colonies
rarely causes harm to the colony as the wounds
created heal rapidly. But this will, of course, be monitored
as part of the study to ensure that the naturally occurring
stands of both coral species are not harmed.
TCRF will work closely with the TCI Government’s
Department of Environment & Coastal Resources (DECR)
to implement this research project in the TCI. DECR and
TCRF are beginning to survey existing reefs to identify
healthy parent colonies of both coral species that will provide
the initial coral fragments for the nursery once it is
built and installed. The first of the nurseries should be in
place by late 2016.
DNA analysis of the corals in each nursery on all four
islands will also be conducted by researchers at IMARES
in the Netherlands. This genetic information, as well as
monitoring the resilience of coral fragments, will be used
to maintain genetic diversity within the restored colonies
and ensure that the most resilient fragments are transplanted
to the restoration sites. Establishing multiple
small, genetically diverse populations that will, in time,
become sexually reproductive can contribute to species
recovery, especially in areas of significant parent population
declines.
To ensure the long term success of this project, especially
after the grant funding ends, the TCRF has started
an “Adopt a Coral” program. Visitors and residents
wishing to help support this project can adopt a coral
fragment for $50. Each adoptive “parent” will receive
a certificate and a photograph of their adopted coral.
Anyone interested can visit the TCRF website to join the
program (www.tcreef.org/projects/adoptacoral.html).
a
From top: This completed “Coral Ladder” is ready to receive coral
fragments.
Part of the RESCQ project will involve measuring and monitoring
Staghorn coral fragments to track growth.
24 www.timespub.tc

green pages newsletter of the department of environment & coastal resources
This selection of Caribbean fruits and vegetables can be found in other countries, but is not so readily available or affordable for Turks &
Caicos Islands consumers.
Meal Time!
The past, present and future of feeding the Turks & Caicos Islands.
By Dr. Alastair M. Smith, School for Field Studies, Center for Marine Resource Studies, South Caicos,
and Dr. Jessica Paddock, Sustainable Consumption Institute, Manchester University, UK
One of the many reasons that a growing number of people are flocking to visit the Turks & Caicos
Islands is to enjoy the increasingly sumptuous food culture that can be found across the archipelago.
Internationally famous for its Strombus gigas, or Queen Conch (pronounced “conk”), visitors can enjoy
local delicacies of cracked conch and blackened grouper, alongside a growing range of regional, international,
and fusion dishes.
Times of the Islands Fall 2016 25

green pages newsletter of the department of environment & coastal resources
While some proportion of fish available on the Islands
comes from local waters, the vast majority of food consumed
on TCI by locals and visitors is imported, mostly
from North America via the port of Miami. The imported
food is primarily distributed by a few large supermarkets
on Providenciales, and although some individuals, large
hotels, and other retailers purchase directly from Miami,
smaller businesses often buy wholesale from the major
supermarkets.
Overall, it is estimated that well over 90% of food
eaten comes from elsewhere, and this means that in 2012
the Islands spent over $60 million on importing food; an
expense that constituted the third largest import expense
after mineral fuels and machinery. Perhaps more surprising,
and as is often the case with other countries in the
Caribbean and West Indies, the vast majority of fish consumed
on TCI is now imported.
The need to import food comes at considerable economic,
but also social cost. While the high price of eating
might be written off as part of the holiday experience by
many visitors, it presents an unfortunate reality for many
of those living permanently on the Islands. In contrast
to the wealth of some, an independent study in 2012
suggested that around 22% of TCI’s households are classified
as “poor.” Given that the less wealthy are usually
forced to spend a higher percentage of their income on
food, it makes sense that the same investigation found
that 40% of respondents were concerned about obtaining
sufficient food, while 20% said they had gone hungry at
least once in the last month.
These problems are likely to be exacerbated as critical
levels of silting have recently rendered the shipping
channel into the only deep-water port on Providenciales
impassable by fully loaded international cargo ships. For
this reason, shipments have to be unloaded and cargo
transferred to smaller vessels that bring food to the
major wholesalers on Providenciales. This adds a further
step in the food chain that supplies the outlying Caicos
Islands, and therefore results in an inevitable increase in
price.
These challenges have long inspired a call for greater
efforts to produce more food on the Islands. In January
2016, TCI Premier Rufus Ewing called for greater food
self-sufficiency. Many people here fondly refer to memories
of North and Middle Caicos as the breadbasket of the
archipelago and their grandparents who would produce a
From top: One of the most popular ways to eat conch in the Turks &
Caicos is as conch salad, similar to ceviche.
Fruits and vegetables grow well on a small scale in North and Middle
Caicos.
26 www.timespub.tc

green pages newsletter of the department of environment & coastal resources
wide variety of home-grown vegetables and fruit for the
family table. For this reason perhaps, other stakeholders
well support government efforts, asking how a country
can feel secure without at least a reasonable ability to
feed its own population.
In response to this, researchers from the School for
Field Studies, Center for Marine Resource Studies on
South Caicos, the Sustainable Places Institute (Cardiff
University, UK), and the Sustainable Consumption
Institute (Manchester University, UK), joined forces to
investigate the situation of food supply. Collectively, the
team carried out 60 interviews and a number of focus
groups across the TCI, as well as archival research at the
National Museum on Grand Turk and the British Library
in London.
This research explored the links between local ecosystems
and the food security of islands in the context
of rapid tourism and service sector-led development.
For example, where important natural resources such as
seagrasses, coral reefs, and mangroves are damaged or
destroyed, the capacity of oceans to support the reproduction
of many forms of marine life is significantly
reduced. Even where environmental loss is minimal, the
fishing industry has found itself constrained by the critical
need for more sustainable practices.
A number of projects have sought to bypass these constraints
through the farming of seafood. Unfortunately,
none of these previous or current efforts have been able
to offer production at a significant scale: although those
interested in such efforts should certainly consider a visit
to the Caicos Conch Farm on Providenciales.
The story of agriculture on the Islands is equally complex.
Delving into historical records, analysis suggests
that stories of previous successes should be “taken with
a grain of salt.” This is because Grand Turk, South Caicos,
and Salt Cay were inhabited largely to make the most
of harvesting the naturally occurring salt. As one of the
major suppliers of salt used for preserving food on the
transatlantic voyages which were rapidly connecting the
Western world, the Islands became key players in a global
economy. Also, the Islands were described as “low sandy
and barren, with very little, if any fresh water, without
any vegetables except low shrubs, or any animals except
lizards, guanas and land crabs” (Annual Register, 1765).
Very little food was said to have been grown at this time.
Although, as the source suggests, there was an abun-
From top: The Caicos Conch Farm at Leeward-Going-Through in
Providenciales is an example of seafood farming on a larger scale.
This postcard from Grand Turk circa 1904 shows that TCI’s Salt
Islands were once one of the world’s major suppliers of salt for preserving
food.
The terrain of South Caicos today shows the many abandoned salt
ponds.
ALASTAIR SMITH
COURTESY JEFFREY DODGE
Times of the Islands Fall 2016 27

green pages newsletter of the department of environment & coastal resources
MACEY RAFTER
From top: Harvesting local Spiny Lobster is how many South Caicos
Islanders have earned a living for decades.
This old poster advertises the diversity of cuisine offered at the
Admirals Arms, the first hotel on South Caicos.
Typical TCI fare today includes fried fish, peas ‘n’ rice, and “cabbage”
(cole) slaw.
dance of sea life, it was reported that “food is [imported]
salt pork . . . stinking rum . . . [and] musty biscuit . . . and
now and then a guana (a sort of large lizard) when they
[the inhabitants] have time to catch them, and [that] very
often they are without bread” (Annual Register, 1765).
The lusher islands of Providenciales, and North and
Middle Caicos have certainly had more success in growing
food. However, the evidence also clearly shows that there
was never a sustained and significant production of food,
largely due to the cycles of drought and hurricane that
regularly hit the Islands. These records are punctuated
with the recurring need for authorities to provide relief
to the people of the Caicos Islands due to crop failure,
as the Administrative report from 1889 explains: “The
experience of the last ten years has shown that at least
once in three years the rainfall in the Caicos is insufficient
to nourish a crop which will feed the people who grow it,
and that it is only in about three years out of every five
that they may expect to have any surplus to dispose of in
order to procure clothing or other necessaries” (Harriott,
1889).
While local growing provided for some of the staple
needs of families, TCI found itself further integrated into
global trade during the later parts of the 20th century.
Seafood had long been exchanged for fruits and vegetables
from outside. However, a catalyst for deepening
trade came when profits from selling conch and Spiny
Lobster (Panulirusargus) to high price markets of the
United States were invested in supplying readily available,
more diverse and cheap food: as one informant noted
as “fish went out of the country, other things came in to
make the most of the trip.”
With the slow decline and eventual closure of the salt
industry by the early 1970s, tourism became the mainstay
of TCI’s economy. With this structural change, there were
quickly many more permanent and temporary residents
to feed, and a much greater demand for a wider diversity
of foods. An interesting example is the old poster in
the South Caicos airport, where an advertisement for the
first hotel on the island, the Admirals Arms, highlights
“Hungarian Specialties” and “gourmet” seafood.
Further research among contemporary stakeholders
identified that the fluctuating structures of food supply
brought significant changes to local diets. What many
people refer to as the traditional foods—such as peas
‘n’ rice or macaroni and cheese—are actually borrowings
28 www.timespub.tc

green pages newsletter of the department of environment & coastal resources
from surrounding food cultures. Therefore, visitors seeking
truly authentic cuisine should look for “hominy”—a
corn-based meal similar to grits—or “Johnny Cake”—a
sweet bread, originally called Journey Cake as it was given
to sailors to eat at sea.
Many informants of all generations also highlighted a
declining ability to access local fish, given the high prices
paid by those catering to tourists. The lack of access to
affordable fresh produce is also a barrier to families and
individuals wishing to maintain healthy diets. Indeed,
those working in public health suggested that cheap
low quality protein, a lack of accessibly priced fruits and
vegetables, and a common culture of frying food, has
contributed towards a rise in non-communicable disease
such as diabetes and hypertension.
TCI continues to face a complex situation in planning
how its food security will be met in the future—especially
true as this global aspiration calls not only for physical
and economic access to food, but also that people are
nutritionally and culturally satisfied. While TCI’s physical
and economic geography discourages profitable
investments in food production, aside from some notable
farming efforts on North and Middle Caicos, research
also identified social barriers to growing. This is because
agricultural work is thought of by many as less desirable
than the perceived opportunities promised by a growing
service-based economy.
The promotion of food security on TCI will likely
then require a wholesale social, economic, and technical
re-imagination of what it will mean to ensure that all
Islanders have access to affordable, appropriate, and
nutritious foods throughout their lifetime. This will likely
include efforts to curb demand for low quality foods and
promote the availability of healthier alternatives.
If more food is to be successfully produced, it will
most likely be through the application of new technologies
better able to manage the constraints of local
geography with low levels of ecological impact. TCI will
need to look towards those developing highly technical
skills to take up the challenge. a
For more information contact the authors at asmith@
fieldstudies.org or jessica.paddock@manchester.ac.uk.
To learn more about other work done by the Center for
Marine Resource Studies on South Caicos, contact the
Director Heidi Hertler at hhertler@fieldstudies.org.
Times of the Islands Fall 2016 29

green pages newsletter of the department of environment & coastal resources
Above: During a boat trip with Big Blue Unlimited, program leader Amy Avenant (at center) taught the children about respectfully observing
wildlife without touching or harassing it.
Opposite page (from top): The kids hiked the half-mile Caicos Pine Yard Trail, led by the DECR’s B Naqqi Manco, to study the Caicos Pine, the
TCI’s National Tree.
Besides learning to swim, Tiann Malcolm learned much about marine life and its value to TCI.
Bonding with Nature
Junior Park Warden course spawns new environmental advocates.
By Evangelia Ganosellis ~ Photos By DECR Education Outreach Coordinator Amy Avenant
The beauty of the Turks & Caicos Islands is obvious to anyone who looks. It’s why hundreds of thousands
of tourists flock to the country every year. It’s why our national motto is “Beautiful by Nature.”
And it is why, for the last two years, Grace Bay has been deemed the “Number One Beach in the World”
by TripAdvisor voters.
To maintain that beauty requires some foresight. That’s why 300 square miles of the Turks & Caicos
are designated as Marine Protected Areas. But that won’t mean anything to someone who doesn’t understand
it. It begins with education, especially with the local children. They are, after all, the future of the
Turks & Caicos Islands.
30 www.timespub.tc

green pages newsletter of the department of environment & coastal resources
This forms the foundation of the Junior Park Warden
program—a two-week summer course hosted every year
by the Department of Environment & Coastal Resources
(DECR) since 2000. The aim is to give kids a better understanding
and appreciation of the islands they call home
so that they can become advocates for the environment.
This year’s program, sponsored by the Pine Cay
Project and led by DECR Education Outreach Coordinator
Amy Avenant, focused on Marine Protected Areas and
took the kids—ages 10 to 17—beyond the shores of
Providenciales. The program kicked off at the National
Environmental Center, where they learned about the TCI’s
natural wonders and listened to a talk by Lynn Robinson
of Big Blue Unlimited about marine pollution and the
importance of reducing plastic waste.
By that afternoon, they were on the beach, watching
a green turtle tag-and-release at Coral Gardens and practicing
their swimming and snorkeling. Tiann Malcolm, 14,
of Wesley Methodist School, completed the program with
a new skill —the ability to swim. “I learned a lot of things
about marine life that I didn’t know before. I knew that
marine life was important, but I didn’t realize it was that
important to the Turks & Caicos,” Tiann said, citing parrotfish
and their relationship with the reef as an example.
Parrotfish eat algae off coral. “Marine life matters just as
much as human life,” Tiann added.
The students participated in a beach clean-up, learned
about fish identification, and were fortunate enough to
see a dolphin and her calf during a boat trip with eco-tour
company Big Blue Unlimited—an opportunity for program
leader Amy to teach them about respectfully observing
wildlife without touching or harassing it. “I learned about
the importance of protecting the national parks,” said
Antwun Arthur, 16, of Raymond Gardiner High School on
North Caicos. “National parks are important places. They
can be a breeding ground for fishes and we have one of
the last sustainable reef systems.”
The kids also had the opportunity to spend a day
on North and Middle Caicos, where they hiked the halfmile
Caicos Pine Yard Trail, led by the DECR’s B Naqqi
Manco. The Caicos Pine, the TCI’s national tree, is a
threatened species found only on some Turks & Caicos
and Bahamian islands. They also visited Marine Protected
Areas Flamingo and Cottage Ponds.
On the last day of the program, while the older kids
cruised the north shore of Providenciales by boat, Amy
quizzed the students on TCI environmental trivia. “What
is the sedimentary rock that forms our jagged coastline?
On what islands are the Caicos Pine found?’ (Answers:
Limestone. Middle Caicos and Pine Cay.)
Most kids agreed—their favorite part of the program
was being on the water, exploring Princess Alexandra
National Park, and getting acquainted with marine life.
“I learned about the importance of the coral reef and different
types of fish and things that are in the sea,” said
Nikeem Claire, 12, of TCI Middle School. “I learned some
of the fish names,” said Rayvon Walkin, 11, of Ianthe Pratt
Primary School.
We can only fully appreciate and protect that which
we understand. That’s why the JPW program is so important.
In two weeks, 32 children walked away with a greater
understanding of the environment, and why conservation
should matter to them and the TCI gained 32 environmental
advocates. a
Times of the Islands Fall 2016 31

feature
Opposite page: Motorcycles available for touring at RideTCI include iconic Harley-Davidson models.
Above: Avid motorcycle riders regularly cruise Providenciales’ paved roads. This seaside ride through Blue Hills is especially picturesque.
The Ride of a Lifetime
Cruising in paradise on a V-Twin motorcycle.
By Kathy Borsuk ~ Photos By Ileana Ravasio, Attimi Photography
I must admit my perceptions of motorcyclists are stereotypical and come from limited experience. On
one hand, I envision the outlaw bikers personified in “Rebel Without a Cause,” yet I also recall a parade
of Harley folks riding with stuffed animals through the streets of Portland, Oregon to benefit sick kids,
including my niece.
So I was surprised to learn that these days, many of those baby-booming “easy riders” have grown
into successful professionals who are passionate about motorcycling as recreation. Their creed is, “It’s
not the destination, it’s the ride.” With the recent opening of RideTCI in Providenciales, avid motorcyclists
can now enjoy that ride in one of the most beautiful destinations in the world!
Times of the Islands Fall 2016 33

When you enter RideTCI’s headquarters at Provo
lunch and refreshments along the way, with the chance
Plaza on Leeward Highway, the first thing you notice is to swap stories about other great rides and experiences.
that oddly-appealing “new car/fresh tire” smell in the air. Alternatively, visitors can rent the awesome and
A glance to the back of the shop reveals five, gleaming, immaculately kept cruisers by the hour, 1/2 day, full day,
premium motorcycles that can only be described as gorgeous!
Polished chrome contrasts with brightly colored the beat of their own drum. All rentals include a full tank
or choose a customised tour, should they prefer to ride to
tanks and wheel covers and gleaming black rubber; each of gas, use of a helmet, and third party liability insurance.
bike so spotless you’d hate to ride through a puddle! Because the key goal of RideTCI is to create a safe,
This is the starting place for partakers in this niche pleasurable experience, riders must be at least 25 years
attraction, and RideTCI is the first to offer tours with and old, produce a valid motorcycle license, and be experienced
with riding full size motorcycles. (Couples can
rentals of classic V-Twin cruisers, including iconic Harley
Davidson Sportster 1200s: The “48,” The “72,” and The ride with one as a passenger.) Of course, long pants and
“Custom;” and Kawasaki Vulcan 900s: The “Classic,” and closed shoes are best . . . along with the traditional biker
The “Custom.” Each motorcycle has the perfect combination
of aesthetics, torque-laden power, and easy handling Riders can choose their “flavor” from the pristine fleet
attitude of respect, honor, dignity, and adventure!
chassis for touring Providenciales in comfort, control, in the shop. Luigi says, “No two of our bikes are identical
and style.
RideTCI was opened this
summer by Luigi Garritano
and Tony Lancaster, longtime
TCI residents and avid bikers
themselves. They explained the
unique aura that motorcycle
cruising embraces. “True bikers
get an external and internal
pleasure from riding a motorcycle—deep
into your heart and
soul. No matter where they are,
they like to ride and want to
ride. We are offering the chance
to cruise in a sunny, warm location
with good roads, limited
traffic, spectacular vistas, and
plenty of places to stop and Ride TCI was opened this summer by Luigi Garritano (left) and Tony Lancaster, both longtime TCI
explore.”
residents and avid bikers.
Luigi and Tony are members of the Provo Midlife as to seating, color, or riding characteristics. They each
Crisis Motorcycle Club. For the past six years, this pack have a unique personality and we’re actually thinking of
of four to twelve bikers has roamed the island’s roads giving them names.” The bikes were purchased in Texas
on a Sunday morning. Tony explains, “In spite of having
different backgrounds and personalities, we enjoy a the warehouse, the RideTCI mechanics put them together
and shipped to TCI partially assembled. Upon arrival at
strong camaraderie because we share a common love. and the inaugural ride for the fleet took place up Leeward
We wanted to offer this experience to visitors who have Highway.
the same passion.” Luigi adds, “It’s fun to ride with our Interestingly, the photogenic bikes are also available
clients and it turns into a bonding experience for all of as props for events and photo shoots, and have already
us.”
participated in a “biker wedding” held in Grace Bay.
RideTCI offers four-hour motorcycle tours of Although not a motorcycle rider myself, I can sense
Providenciales that cover both the typical tourist spots the appeal. The big bikes have an alluring attraction to
and unexpected “off the beaten path” locations, with lots their heft, handlebars, and powerful engines for easy
of photo opportunities. The tour includes a break for maneuvering on the road. From the seat of a bike, you’re
34 www.timespub.tc

A guide to the ride
What are some of the Provo Midlife Crisis Motorcycle
Club’s favorite places to ride their beloved V-twin
cruisers? According to Luigi Garritano, it is important
to stay on paved roads, due to the intrinsic
nature of the motorbikes, but, he says, “If the road
Harbour Club Villas
Turtle Tail Drive, Providenciales
Six one-bedroom villas.
Dive operators at our dock.
Bonefishing in the lake.
Fabulous beaches nearby.
Ideal for couples or groups.
is paved, it’s worth riding on!” Following are some of
Providenciales’ motorcycle highlights:
Trip Advisor
Travellers’ Choice
Awards Winner
• Chalk Sound — Thrill to the pastel colors of the
Juan Martinez E: harbourclub@tciway.tc
Fall 15 sixth_Layout 1 5/27/16 11:58 AM Page 1
water and the curvy hills of South Dock Road.
T: 1 649 941 5748
• Silly Creek — Appreciate the lush mangroves, See our website
for details.
home to a variety of birds, fish, turtles, and baby
www.HARBOURCLUBVILLAS.com
sharks.
• Millennium Highway/Blue Hills/Wheeland
— Soak in local flavor with homes, churches, cemeteries,
and colorful local restaurants. Cruise close to
PHONE:
2 4 1 . 3 2 9 7
the ocean and investigate the picturesque pier.
2 4 4 . 9 0 9 0
3 4 4 . 9 4 0 3
• Slow ride through downtown Provo (Airport
2 4 4 . 6 1 9 1
Road/Butterfield Square) — This is the place to see
SOUTH DOCK
ROAD, PROVO
and be seen by Islanders.
•Turtle Cove Marina — A good place to take pictures
with yachts and other motorcraft.
• Lower Bight Road through to Grace Bay Road
— This is a slow, peaceful drive until you enter the
Grace Bay Gold Coast. Then, it’s time to style and
profile for the tourists!
• Along Governor’s Road and through Leeward
homes/Leeward Marina — This is an interesting trip
through a well-established residential area bordered
by beaches and sea.
• Long stretch on Leeward Highway back into
town — Depending on the day of the week and time
of day, this will probably be the ride with the most
traffic, but it’s a good way to experience “real life.”
• Old Long Bay Road to Long Bay Marina — This is
Island Auto Rentals & Sales is
a very quiet, slow cruise. a
committed to adding value to your
tropical vacation experience
by delivering excellent service
free to take in all the sights, feel the warm sea breeze
along with secure and reliable
and taste the salty tang of the ocean. You’re open to the
transportation that will take you
where you need to go.
sounds and smells of the Caribbean. Best of all, the call of
the open road give you the freedom to shape an experience
all your own. Get on a bike, and the world goes away
EXCELLENT SERVICE • GREAT VALUE
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. . . a
Leeward Palms, Leeward, Providenciales
Telephone: (649) 246-0395 or 232-0933 or 946-2042
For more information, visit www.RideTCI.com or call
649 241 7433.
Email: nevilleadams@hotmail.com or
philipgibson251@hotmail.com
Web: islandautorentals.tc
For Vehicle Rental in
Grand Turk call
232 0933 or 946 2042
Times of the Islands Fall 2016 35

ISTOCKPHOTO.COM

feature
Opposite page: Energy efficiency is the first step before moving towards renewable energy solutions.
Above: The luxurious Beach Enclave villas (shown here is one on Providenciales’ North Shore) is one development that turned to Green
Revolution for solar solutions.
COURTESY TC SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY
A Revolution in Going Green
Local company encourages energy efficiency.
By Kathy Borsuk
It was with joy that I covered Fortis TCI’s foray into offering solar energy options to its customers
for our Summer 2016 article “Let the Sun Shine.” The country’s electricity providers now offer both
customer-owned and utility-owned solar photovoltaic systems that are interconnected with the grid.
After he read the article, Paul Chaplin, co-owner of Green Revolution, a local renewable energy/energy
efficiency solutions consulting firm, called to gently chide me. He said, “Energy efficiency is the first step
before moving towards renewable energy solutions. If we are energy hogs but install a renewable energy
system, it doesn’t necessarily make us green.”
Point taken. For according to this “green guru,” energy efficiency and energy efficient technologies
have far quicker paybacks than, for instance, a whole house solar installation.
Times of the Islands Fall 2016 37

Case study
Green Revolution’s mission is to introduce renewable
energy and energy efficiency into the everyday lives of
the citizens and residents of the Caribbean. Paul Chaplin
and Jim Dunlop started the company in 2011. Paul, a
Quantity Surveyor with a construction background and
Jim, a Master Plumber, are both passionately interested
in helping people “go green.” The pair focuses on ideas
and technologies that offer low maintenance, speedy paybacks,
and are suited to the region’s idiosyncrasies and
weather variations.
In order of fastest payback, following are some of the
suggestions they make to clients:
1.) Adopt simple energy management strategies such as
turning off lights, cooling/ventilation systems, and appliances
when not in use. (Immediate payback.)
2.) Switch to energy-efficient lighting such as compact
fluorescent or LED bulbs. (One to two year payback.)
3.) Switch to an energy-efficient HVAC system with a high
SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) rating. (One to two
year payback.)
4.) Use solar pool heating to take your pool heating off
the grid. (One to two year payback.)
5.) Use solar water heaters to take your water heating off
the grid. (Two to three year payback.)
6.) Use solar pumps to take your pool or irrigation pump
off the grid. (Two to three year payback.)
Green Revolution encourages homeowners to conduct
a basic home energy assessment using either a
professional auditor, a FortisTCI representative, or doing
it yourself following some of the techniques listed on
their website, www.greenrevolutionltd.com. This is the
first step in assessing how much energy your home consumes
and where you may be losing energy. It can also
determine the efficiency of your heating and cooling systems,
and how to conserve hot water and electricity.Green
Revolution can prepare a basic report of recommenda-
Paul Chaplin, co-owner of Green Revolution, described
to me a typical client case study. “We were called by the
owner of a Providenciales luxury villa that was built in
2005. When occupied, the average monthly electricity
bill was in excess of $6,000; unoccupied it was $2,500.
We conducted a thorough energy audit, using a power
monitor to determine real time power consumption and
where the power was being consumed.
With our client’s blessing, we began a two-year
energy management program, taking a step-by-step
approach. Early-on, we discovered that the landscape
lighting was on 24 hours a day, pumps were running 24
hours a day, and water heaters were running 24 hours
a day—that was an easy fix. We replaced the air conditioning
system with an energy efficient VRV system,
changed the configuration of some of the duct work,
and increased insulation in the home. We installed solar
hot water heaters for the domestic water heating and
solar pool pumps for the infinity edge, jacuzzi filter
pump, and pool filter pump.
We encouraged the client to implement a simple
energy management strategy through their property
managers. When all was said and done, we dropped the
power bill to $900 per month when the villa was vacant,
and under $2,000 per month when occupied; this in
spite of the fact that the interior temperature is kept
at a maximum of 80ºF year-round when unoccupied to
avoid damage to furniture and possessions.” a
tions, including the savings of each recommendation and
paybacks of that technology. (FortisTCI auditors will send
you a report with recommendations, as well.)
Green Revolution’s best sellers are solar pool heating,
solar water heaters, and solar pumps. The company’s
ISTOCKPHOTO.COM
From left: Digital energy management systems can help track daily power usage.
Solar powered pool pumps offer big electricity savings and no CO 2 emissions.
38 www.timespub.tc

100+ projects range from small, one-off installations in
existing homes to more extensive work in most of the
new villa developments that are expanding across the
Islands. For instance, the company is currently providing
solar solutions to BE Developments, Wymara Villas, Parrot
Cay Villas and other local resorts.
According to Rob Ayer, principal of Wymara Villas,
“Offering energy efficient homes is important to us, especially
given the fact that utility costs are expensive in
TCI. Similar to what we did at the Gansevoort Resort, we
researched possible solutions to implement for our new
oceanfront villas and sought the advice and expertise of
Paul Chaplin. He and his team were great in suggesting
and then designing the right applications to fit our needs.
They showed us all the possible products and what the
costs and payback periods would be so that we could
make informed decisions. They then worked with our
architects and engineers to coordinate the design and
implementation of these solutions.”
Paul explains, “Developers and designers are keen to
pursue greener, more energy efficient homes. In addition
to ‘help the planet’ motives, they are seen as a good sales
incentive for purchasers, as electricity will be one of their
largest operating costs.” In fact, worldwide growth in the
use of solar power has increased by an average of 60%
per year for the last 10 years.
You could say that Green Revolution is one of the
pioneers in TCI’s green energy movement. Paul is a
director of Norstar Group, a long established, full service
construction company with a 12 year history in the
Turks & Caicos and Jim is a partner in Estel Plumbing.
When the late-2000s recession struck, the pair thought
that retrofitting existing construction with green energy
technologies would be a way to both stimulate their
business and help the local community save money on
energy costs. Paul recalls, “We basically approached the
architects, mechanical/electrical/plumbing consultants,
and developers to consider solar energy solutions. We
went through a process of building up a business case
for the technologies we were suggesting, to demonstrate
what kind of payback and savings could be achieved for
each suggestion. It was a bit slow-going at first, but now
architects and engineers are suggesting solar options
to clients and owners/developers are asking for these
technologies to be included in their early designs.” Green
Revolution has completed many projects, both residential
and commercial, throughout the region, saving residents
hundreds of thousands of dollars in energy costs each
year.
renewable energy solutions
energy efficiency solutions
www.greenrevolutionltd.com
moreinfo@greenrevolutionltd.com
tel. 649-232-1393
Blue Loos_Layout 1 2/9/16 2:47 PM Page 1
All your septic tank solutions
in one place provided by a
family-owned business that
cares about the environment
of the Turks and Caicos
Islands.
Call Blue Loos 231 7448 to
have your tank emptied,
cleaned or fixed. All waste
disposed of in a licensed facility.
Call IWWTT on 231 2366 for information
about Bionest - the most efficient and
environmentally friendly septic tank system
available in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The only way to achieve totally clear and
odorless effluent.
Eco Friendly
Times of the Islands Fall 2016 39

The longest established legal practice
in the Turks & Caicos Islands
Real Estate Investments
& Property Development
Immigration, Residency
& Business Licensing
Company & Commercial Law
Trusts & Estate Planning
Banking & Insurance
1 Caribbean Place, P.O. Box 97
Leeward Highway, Providenciales
Turks & Caicos Islands, BWI
Ph: 649 946 4344 • Fax: 649 946 4564
E-Mail: dempsey@tciway.tc
Cockburn House, P.O. Box 70
Market Street, Grand Turk
Turks & Caicos Islands, BWI
Ph: 649 946 2245 • Fax: 649 946 2758
E-Mail: ffdlawco@tciway.tc
TWR Fall16_Layout 1 8/18/16 12:49 PM Page 1
Tradewinds Radio FM 104.5
Music you’ll enjoy all day long.
U.S.A. world news and local marine weather.
Stream at www.tradewinds1045.com
Thank you to all featured Taxi’s and Hire Cars.
Please support our advertisers during your vacation:
Asu on the Beach, Caicos Adventures, Caicos Express Airways,
Dive Provo, Elevate Spa, Fire & Ice, Mama’s and Ride TCI, Salt
Bar & Grill, Turks Kebab, Thalasso Spa and Waterplay Provo.
With a background of over 20 years in construction
in the UK, US, and TCI, Paul Chaplin’s passion for green
energy is matched by a drive to keep up with new technologies
and inventions, as well as maintaining a good
network of worldwide suppliers. He is currently excited
about a solar hybrid “earth cooling” system that uses
solar-powered ventilators to draw warm air through a
series of tubes placed underground, cooling the fresh
air to ground temperature (75ºF) and then distributing it
through the building to provide electricity-free air conditioning.
It sounds like a brilliant idea!
He is also carrying out extensive testing of a wireless,
remote energy management system with a large
Providenciales-based hotel and villa development which
monitors real time energy consumption, provides energy
consumption reports, sets ongoing targets for consumption,
and benchmarks against historical consumption.
It also controls the main power consumers. The idea is
to encourage resorts and villa owners to adopt a simple
energy management strategy. This, coupled with the
power consumption reporting and control of the large
energy consumers, will provide significant cost savings
to owners. Initial results indicate attractive paybacks of
around three years.
Green Revolution encourages clients to take advantage
of Scotiabank’s finance options for selected products,
including solar hot water heaters and solar pumps. This
is a win-win opportunity, as the monthly repayments on
loans taken to purchase and install the equipment are
LESS THAN the cost of the electricity saved!
For customers who choose to go “all the way” and
install a solar photovoltaic system, Green Revolution
notes that the payback periods vary depending on the
installation and on the choice of system used. Based on
an average 5 kW system, you can expect a grid-tied system
to payback in 4 to 20 years depending on the rate the
utility is willing to pay for the power you produce and an
off-grid system to payback in under 10 years.
Paul and Jim see TCI’s future as incorporating more
green energy systems into resorts and hotels. They
believe that the type of tourist coming to the Islands
would be attracted to and impressed by such measures.
a
For more information or to schedule an energy consultation,
contact Green Revolution at (649) 232-1393 or visit
www.greenrevolutionltd.com.
40 www.timespub.tc

PROVIDENT LIMITED
Developing commercial and residential
properties since 1966
Most experienced,
most knowledgeable, and
with the largest inventory
of LAND AVAILABLE
for sale on
Providenciales
Properties available in:
Turtle Cove • Turtle Tail
Grace Bay • Long Bay
Ocean/Beach Front
Ocean View • Canal
ALSO:
Commercial Areas
Call Bengt Soderqvist
Barefoot Palms Ad:Layout 1 8/19/16 Marinas1:16 PM Page 1
Ph: 649 946-4303 Fax: 649 946-4326 Email: provident@tciway.tc
Hotels • Condos
P.O. Box 594, Providenciales, Turks & Caicos
15150 Golden Point Lane, Wellington, FL USA 33414
Private Homes
Food for Thought is a new charity set up to provide
daily breakfast to government school students –
starting with the primary schools in North Caicos,
Middle Caicos, South Caicos and Salt Cay.
We estimate that just $200 will allow us to provide
breakfast to one child for a whole school year.
If you would like to donate or learn more please
email foodforthoughttci@gmail.com
or visit our website foodforthoughttci.com
VRBO.com #377589
Barefoot Palms
3 bedroom, 2 bath villa
Gorgeous pool, patio, tiki bar
Blocks om the ocean, walk to beach,
minutes drive to golf, supermarket,
shopping and restaurants
$2450-$3850 weekly; flexible dates
Times of the Islands Fall 2016 41

feature
Opposite page: Island Bargains shipments come via sea freight or air, depending on how fast you want your goods delivered.
Above: Convenient shopping on the Internet is made all the more easier with the help of Island Bargains services.
The Easy Way to Shop
Island Bargains revolutionizes the Caribbean shopping experience.
By Kathy Borsuk ~ Photos By iStock Photo
When I moved to Providenciales nearly 24 years ago, there were no IGA supermarkets, hardware stores,
pharmacies, clothing or electronics outlets, or even a bookshop. Only the basics were available—usually
on Wednesdays when the freight boat came in—and we learned to make do or do without.
As a result, for most Islanders and residents, a trip off-island meant only one thing: SHOPPING. I, like
others, became an expert in packing. Empty suitcases on departure returned to the TCI stuffed to bursting.
I remember that my “most-needed” items were contact lens solution, tampons, bras, and books.
There’s no doubt that the range of items available on-island has expanded dramatically. But there
are still many things that simply can’t be kept in stock in a small island nation. And with the advent of
Internet shopping, there continues to be a need for a shopping/shipping/delivery service to streamline
the process of getting goods from Point A to TCI. That’s where Island Bargains comes in.
Times of the Islands Fall 2016 43

Started by Richard Chilton in 2009, Island Bargains
has grown to become the #1 online shopping and
shipping service in the Caribbean. It operates in 43
countries, including the Turks & Caicos Islands, which
is currently its fourth largest market, with over 5,500
customers and more signing up every day!
Island Bargains’ services are wide-ranging. Once
you register (it’s free and easy), just order your goods
from any US merchant or on-line supplier and have
the items delivered to Island Bargains’ 20,000 sq. ft.
warehouse in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Staff will handle
all the freight documentation and customs clearance,
and ship your goods to any island, safely and securely.
Island Bargains’ all inclusive rates start at just $10.
Simply collect your packages at your local agent (Air &
Sea Agency) when they arrive on island or choose home
delivery. Whether you are shipping a pair of shoes or an
entire household, Island Bargains has got you covered!
Their shipping model to Providenciales is based
on flat-rate shipping, figured according to cubic size
(ocean freight) or by weight (air freight). On top of
weekly ocean shipments, Island Bargains also offers
two air option services: 1–2 days (Priority) or 1 day
(Expedited).
In addition to shopping with major online retailers,
you can order directly from the Island Bargains website,
where you will find a wide variety of name-brand
groceries, beverages, health and beauty aids, cleaning
and household goods, home, baby, and pet items, and
office supplies, all at great prices. Your order is carefully
packaged in sturdy, double-wall boxes and will
arrive in TCI within the week. This is all included in
your one low price. To make your grocery shopping
experience quick and easy, Island Bargains accepts
international credit cards, wire transfers, PayPal, and
even cash payments on-island.
Especially useful to Caribbean customers who may
not have the time or means to travel abroad, or a US
credit card, is the personal shopping service. You make
the request and for a nominal fee, Island Bargains will
source and procure whatever you need. You then pay
Island Bargains using your TCI credit/debit card, wire
transfer, or cash.
Other valuable services include pickup and delivery,
hazmat certification, warehouse storage, container
loading, and commercial consolidation in South Florida
(perfect for hotels, restaurants and event planners).
Island Bargains also can crate fragile or bulky items
such as motorcycles, TVs, and glass, and prepare the
often-complicated shipping documents for cars, boats,
and even jet skis and golf carts!
Richard Chilton is the energetic, charismatic driving
force behind Island Bargains. After spending time
in the Caribbean, he saw the need for a reliable shop-
JONATHAN TRUJILLO
Island Bargains maintains a 20,000 sq. ft. warehouse in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and handles an average of 1,500 packages per day.
44 www.timespub.tc

ping/shipping service. Using skills from a family history
in retailing, it started with a simple list of groceries as
he traveled country to country to recruit local agents.
The business snowballed as on-line shopping became
popular, with Island Bargains serving as the missing
link for most Caribbean shoppers.
Today, Island Bargains services 50,000 customers
throughout the Caribbean and handles 1,500 packages
on an average day (and counting). Richard estimates
that in TCI, about half his customers are commercial
businesses and half are personal shoppers. Besides
a typical turn-around time of one week (or faster if
required), a major attraction is that because all packages
are consolidated for full container shipping,
customers are charged one low landed cost when
goods arrive on island, as low as $10 for sea freight
and $25 for air freight, plus your local duties at the
time of delivery.
In TCI, the Island Bargains agent is Air & Sea
Agency, currently building a new, large warehouse on
Leeward Highway. As in all of the countries Richard
works with, the agents are experienced, reputable customs
brokers for whom customer service is key.
Customers in TCI include some of the major resorts,
developers, and event planners, who appreciate the
company’s ability to “make appear” the unusual and
hard-to-find. Richard recalls sourcing “Virginia jumbo
organic peanuts” for a discerning guest on Parrot Cay;
picking up a dog and ushering it through customs red
tape; delivering 250 live Maine lobsters and 30 dozen
Krispy Kreme donuts to a client in Surinam; and, in St.
Vincent, loading an entire chopped-up semi truck in a
container.
When packages are delivered to the sprawling Ft.
Lauderdale warehouse, Island Bargain staff opens each
one, checking for damage and items that are illegal
to import, such as knifes and pornography. Goods are
re-sealed and carefully loaded into a container to be
forwarded to every island, every week.
Richard is a firm believer in lots of legwork on
the ground. He is often seen on the streets of any
Caribbean island passing out flyers or cavorting with
a local mascot such as Bermuda’s “Cube Man.” It’s all
part of building up the buzz. He anticipates opening in
20 more markets by the end of the year.
Are you ready to have Island Bargains help with
your Christmas shopping? Visit www.islandbargains.
com to sign up! You’ll soon receive emails featuring
monthly specials you won’t want to miss. a
The Best of Blue Hills
This is an opportunity to purchase one of the most amazing, unique
parcels of land on Providenciales. The entire 19.75 acre lot sprawls atop
a high plateau, inviting a panoramic view of the island—from stunning
Chalk Sound and the Caicos
Bank to the south to a clear
view of the world-famous reef
to the north.
These historic quotes from
H.E. Sadler’s Turks Islands
Landfall could have been
made by persons from this very
parcel:
•“The Blue Hills in
Providenciales provides a fine
view of the surrounding reefs,
which was so prized by the
wreckers of the last century.”
• “To the south of the island
lies Chalk Sound, a large natural creek, which is famous for its lobsters
and sponges…”
Offered at $1,500,000
Sherlin Williams • 1 649 244 9945
sherlinwilliams@gmail.com
Times of the Islands Fall 2016 45

eal estate
Opposite page: Long Bay Beach Club is the place to create a lifetime of family memories.
Above: Each five-bedroom villa includes a private infinity pool, deck, and firepit for outdoor relaxation.
Paradise by the Fraction
Long Bay Beach Club introduces new villa ownership concept.
By Kathy Borsuk ~ Photos Courtesy Long Bay Beach Club
Staying in a beachfront luxury villa with family and friends is a vacation option that is growing in popularity
in the Turks & Caicos Islands. The combination of comfort, privacy, and versatility—along with
enjoying the most beautiful beaches in the world—is an attraction that’s hard to beat.
Long Bay Beach Club is a unique opportunity to enjoy a holiday that combines five-star resort-style
amenities in a newly constructed, contemporary designed, five-bedroom villa overlooking the sparkling
turquoise waters of Long Bay — year after year — for a fraction of the cost. It also offers potential property
owners a fantastic chance to “get their feet wet” in more than the sea.
Times of the Islands Fall 2016 47

Long Bay Beach Club (LBBC) is an enclave of three
private, beachfront luxury villas that are sold under
fractional ownership. This concept has been very popular
in North America for some time. Vacation home
buyers can purchase a 10% registered ownership in
one of the beachfront villas. Fractional club membership
offers use of a spectacular, multi-million dollar
property for no less than five weeks a year, along with
additional usage when space is available.
This is a “win-win” opportunity for several reasons.
Owners are guaranteed over a month in paradise every
year, for a price tag that is commonly less than what
they would spend on a single trip! It is also a chance
to “test the waters” of future property ownership in
the Islands at a reasonable entry level price, without
having to make a big investment in a vacation property
or deal with pesky maintenance issues.
Buyers at Long Bay Beach Club automatically
become part of Elite Alliance®, an exchange program
offering a select family of prestigious residence clubs
and luxurious, professionally managed vacation homes
worldwide. Through a simple exchange process, LBBC
members can contribute their unused weeks into a key
that unlocks the door to seamless travel adventures—
ski trips, golf getaways, beach escapes, and much
more—at a growing array of coveted destinations.
Members at Long Bay Beach Club can also decide
to contribute some of their weeks to the Club’s professional
property management company and enjoy
rental income in lieu of personal or family use. The
Club is designed to provide the ultimate level of member
flexibility.
LBBC Development is led by Tom Cibotti and Ben
Dunn, business partners for over 20 years in a Bostonbased
corporate advisory firm. Interestingly, Ben’s
family roots include some of the earliest Bermudians
who came to Salt Cay in the 1700s to harvest and
export salt at the legendary White House. For over a
decade, Tom has been on the board and is currently
president of a five-star residence club located in Deer
Valley, Utah, considered by many as the most exclusive
ski resort in North America.
Tom explains the pair’s decision to introduce fractional
club ownership to Providenciales, “Second home
vacation owners find themselves making significant
investments into whole ownership properties to which
their level of use is not commensurate. Fractional
club ownership aligns capital investment with vacation
use.” He adds, “We wanted to eliminate all the
worries of owning vacation properties, particularly
outside of the US. Our goal in developing Long Bay
Beach Club was to deliver the highest quality service
Long Bay Beach Club homes enjoy 160 feet of private beach frontage on the western end of Long Bay Beach in a quiet residential neighborhood
noted for its luxury estates.
48 www.timespub.tc

Each villa’s lower level fosters a relaxed, seaside atmosphere, with the indoors blending seamlessly into the beautiful oceanscapes.
Times of the Islands Fall 2016 49

Above: Villa interiors are comfortable and calming, melding warm woods, soft tones, and seaside themes.
35Years
Assisting domestic and international clients for 35 years
Tel + 1 649 946 4602 • Fax + 1 649 946 4848
Email reception@savory-co.com • Website www.savory-co.com
in a luxurious Caribbean beachfront villa setting, to
create unforgettable vacations for families and friends
for generations.”
According to Savory & Co. Senior Attorney Emma
Riach (emmariach@savory-co.com), the Fractional
Ordinance of 31 December 2014 introduced for the
first time into TCI law the ability for multiple owners
to hold separate and registered fractions in property.
The advantage of such is to give each owner its own
legal interest in the real property which is secured by
registration at the TCI Land Registry. Additionally,
the usage rights of the owners are enshrined in the
registered fractional By Laws, which must set out the
rights and obligations of each owner in terms of when
and how they can occupy the property and effectively
exercise their proprietary rights, booking systems,
and their liabilities for cost sharing with the other fractional
owners. Fractional ownership affords far greater
security and potential investment value for people
investing in “shared” ownership than the alternative
of owning shares in a private company governed by a
private shareholders agreement.
Like other forms of real estate, this interest can
be placed in a trust, sold, or willed to others. More
50 www.timespub.tc

than one family or person can own a single ownership;
these joint owners can allocate their scheduled time
among themselves.
Long Bay Beach Club sits on 160 feet of private
beach frontage on the western end of sprawling Long
Bay Beach. The quiet residential neighborhood is
noted for its luxury estates, while the beach boasts
pristine ivory sand and has been an ideal entry point
for international kite surfers, who take advantage of
the steady tradewinds and unencumbered stretches of
sea. Long Bay Beach was ranked among the “Ten Best
Beaches in the World” by Condé Nast Traveler in 2015.
Each home boasts three levels and 6,000 square
feet of indoor/outdoor space with five bedrooms,
private infinity pools, beachside decks, fire pits,
and a yoga/gym pavilion. Its clean and contemporary
Caribbean design—a creation of internationally
renowned SWA Architects— focuses on family-oriented
living areas on the first floor, with increasing privacy
and breathtaking views from the second and third
levels. The homes are surrounded by lush Caribbean
foliage typical to the area, further enhancing the sense
of staying at a boutique resort all your own.
Interior design is led by DADA Associates, one of
Miami’s leading specialists in Caribbean design. Fully
furnished with state of the art kitchens, interiors are
comfortable and calming, melding warm woods, soft
tones, and nautical themes.
Another benefit to being a LBBC owner or guest
is the exceptional level of service offered. Each villa is
staffed by a personal attendant whose job is to make
your stay perfect. This includes personal airport transportation
and daily concierge services. Also included
are five-star resort amenities, including a gym with the
latest in fitness equipment, spa and yoga services, and
paddleboards and kayaks to use on the beach. The
Club’s concierge will arrange scuba diving or snorkeling
excursions, horseback riding outings, sailing or
fishing trips, golf and tennis, or any other activities the
island has to offer. At the same time, Providenciales’
vast menu of dining options, evening entertainment,
and shopping is readily accessible from your villa.
Walter Gardiner Jr., director/broker of Regency-
Christie’s International Real Estate, is among TCI’s
most experienced and respected realtors. He is excited
about introducing his clients to the project, explaining,
“Our slogan—‘Own a Piece of Paradise for a Fraction of
the Cost’—says it all. Why spend several million dollars
on a villa that you may stay in only a part of the year?
W a t e r f r o n t R e a l t y
S K Y E P A L M S, P R O V I D E N C I A L E S
Prime Oceanfront Residential Hillside Site located in Blue Mountain
comprising approximately 2.5 acres, with ocean frontage of over 250 feet.
These two maturely landscaped and adjacent seafront lots each enjoy their
own private, secluded beach. The property has varied elevations providing
numerous options for development, all with uninterrupted vistas of the
ocean and its coral reef. Suitable for a family estate or residential enclave.
The owner is willing to sell the two lots together or separately.
Total Property is for Sale at USD$ 3.95M; can be sold in Two Separate Lots
Contact Waterfront Realty at : (+1 649) 231 6666 or info@waterfronttci.com
ELE VATE SPA
Ask about our daily specials!
Open daily | 9:00 am - 6:00 pm
FIND US ON
FACEBOOK!
@ELEVATESPA
BLUE HAVEN RESORT | BLUEHAVENTCI.COM
+1.649.946.9900 | CONTACT@BLUEHAVENTCI.COM
Times of the Islands Fall 2016 51

Kathryn is a founding member of
Turks and Caicos Real Estate
Association formed in 2000. She
was instrumental in writing and
implementing the manual for the
Association as well as Rules and
Regulations for the membership.
In 2007 she was voted the first
TCREA Ambassador by her peers. In 2009/10 she was part of a
Team that wrote the first Training Manual for TCREA; all new
members are required to complete the course and final exam
before being accepted as full members of the Association. She
served as President of the Association for five years (2008-
2013), as well as serving on many TCREA committees, some of
which she still serves.
Kathryn started her real estate career in Cayman Islands where
she worked for ERA for a number of years until her move to
TCI ERA Coralie Properties Ltd in 2000; she was brought to
implement the ERA system and manage the operation for the
newly franchised Coralie Properties. Over the years Kathryn
has become an active partner shareholder and Director of ERA
Coralie Properties Ltd., as well as being a successful sales
associate, consistently being in the top ten.
A background in interior design and retail fit well with a real
estate career; working well with people, high standard of
professionalism, integrity and quality service. Kathryn has
many repeat customers as well as a strong referral network.
If you want to learn about real estate in Turks & Caicos give
Kathryn a call, she will be pleased to meet you and help with
your real estate needs, wants, dreams...
Tel: 649 231 2329
Email: krbrown@era.tc
Web: www.eraturksandcaicos.com
Kathryn
Brown
ERA Coralie Properties Ltd.
Long Bay Beach is known internationally as an ideal place to kitesurf.
Why deal with often-hefty maintenance and property
management costs? This is a chance for more people
to be part of a luxury villa experience, and at the same
time still enjoy the benefits of property ownership in
the Islands. Get away from the crowded beach resorts
and come join the Club!”
With construction well underway in Long Bay and
villa completion anticipated in late Fall/early Winter
2016, ownership opportunities for a “piece of paradise”
are rapidly diminishing! a
Visit www.longbaybeachclubtci.com or contact
Walter Gardiner at (649) 941 4100/231 6461 or (954)
636 1426/284 4053 or email walter@tcibrokers.com.
52 www.timespub.tc

astrolabe
newsletter of the Turks & Caicos National Museum
front street, p.o. box 188, grand turk, turks & caicos islands, bwi
tel 649 946 2160 • fax 649 946 2160 • email info@tcmuseum.org • web www.tcmuseum.org
This illustration depicts a Massachusetts fishing schooner from c. 1905 trailed by one of the Caicos Islands’ Ghost Fleet ships drawn as
“graffiti” on the wall of St. James Plantation in North Caicos. The resemblance is astonishing!
DONALD H. KEITH
Partnerships
By Dr. Donald H. Keith, President, Turks & Caicos National Museum Foundation
There is a lot of important work to be done here in the Turks & Caicos Islands—environmental protection
and conservation, cultural preservation, historical and archaeological research, and improvements
in education—to name but a few. The TCI Government is doing what it can to address these needs, but
it has its limits. Meanwhile, opportunities for charities, businesses, schools, and cultural institutions to
work together to build a better society abound.
As I was preparing this edition of the Astrolabe it occurred to me that virtually every article or item
in it represents a partnership between the TCI Museum and local or international entities. With the Royal
Bank of Canada and the Department of Environment and Coastal Resources to maintain the agricultural,
native plant, and medicinal plant garden at the Caicos Heritage House. With the British Library’s
Endangered Archives Programme to locate, preserve, and digitize documents important to the history of
the Islands. With high schools and travel agencies on Providenciales to sponsor the National History and
Cultural Heritage Quiz. And with individual citizens such as Capt. Willard E. Kennedy to preserve their
memoirs.
The potential of such cooperative partnerships is limitless. In fact, our article about the Ghost Fleet
opens the door to a major cooperative, interdisciplinary effort to investigate what remains of the Loyalist
period in the Caicos Islands. We are all stronger when we work together. a
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astrolabe newsletter of the Turks & Caicos National Museum
This graffito is
located on the
side of the window
opening
of the Kitchen
building at Wades
Green. (You can
see it in situ on
page 57).
DONALD H. KEITH
A Phantasmal Project
Saving the Ghost Fleet of the Caicos Islands.
By Dr. Donald H. Keith, President, Turks & Caicos National Museum Foundation
Unbeknownst to most residents of these islands, a fleet of ancient ships has sailed the Caicos for more
than 200 years. A ghost fleet of sorts, almost invisible. Hundreds of people have looked right at them—
and seen nothing! Don’t bother gazing out to sea because they aren’t there. No, they’re on dry land,
hiding in plain sight in dozens of different places, dark corners where you would least expect to find them.
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astrolabe newsletter of the Turks & Caicos National Museum
My first glimpse of a small part of
this fleet came in 1987 when TCI Museum
Founder Grethe Seim showed me images
of the ships that she and Countess Helen
Czernin encountered at St. James Plantation
on North Caicos. They were full-size tracings
made directly from fine lines someone
etched or engraved into the plaster covering
an interior wall. The old home, now in ruins,
is thought to have been built by the first
Loyalists to settle in the Caicos Islands following
the American War of Independence.
Helen, an artist, was curious about how the
etchings were made. She concluded that
they were done while the plaster was still
soft, like doodles that people make today in
wet sidewalk cement. If so, they were done
at the same time the house was built in the
1790s! Grethe, an avocational archaeologist,
loved a good mystery and was puzzled by
the ships’ location on an interior wall near
a window. Knowing that I was a maritime
archaeologist, she showed them to me in
the hope that I could shed some light on the
lingering questions of who made the ships?
When? And what did they mean?
There were seven images, rendered in
remarkable detail, of different types and
sizes of vessels, all but one proudly flying
Union Jacks at their mastheads. Some ships
were so clear it was tempting to speculate
their type and even nationality, but others
were faint and eroding to invisibility. The
longer I looked, the more detail I could see.
It was obvious that whoever did this had
more than a passing familiarity with sailing
ships. Sail shapes and configurations were Grethe Seim and Helen Czernin traced the images of ships found on the walls of St.
James Plantation in North Caicos. At top is a tracing of a two-masted schooner (or
faithfully represented, along with the myriad
of stays, shrouds, halyards, and other other. In real life, the largest would have been the topsail brigantine (lower left), fol-
ketch).
Below are tracings of four other ships. The ships are not to scale relative to each
lowed by the double gaff ketch with the Bermuda rigged main and mizzen topsails
ropes that controlled them. Parallel lines on
(upper right), followed by the sloop (lower right) and sailing skiff (upper left).
the sails show that they were made of long,
relatively narrow canvas strips sewn together. Curiously, Ship graffiti in archaeology
lines representing the masts were shown passing through As an archaeologist, I was aware that ship depictions, or
the decks to terminate on the keel. The artists attached graffiti, on walls, structures, and geological features are
particular significance to the flags flying at the mastheads—almost
certainly Union Jacks.
Some examples date back more than a thousand
not uncommon at coastal locations all over the world.
years.
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astrolabe newsletter of the Turks & Caicos National Museum
MICHAEL FLOCH FOR EARTH ISLAND JOURNAL
TCNM REYNOLDS COLLECTION
From top: Tres Hombres is a modern example of a topsail brigantine.
Note the similarity to the brigantine etching on the previous page.
This 1950s image shows a single-masted Caicos sloop, well-stocked
for working.
Maritime archaeologists treasure these representations as
potential sources for tracing the evolution of ship types,
sail configurations, and construction details. At the same
time, because there is always the ambiguity associated
with simple artistic attempts to represent complicated
objects, they are cautious about the conclusions they
draw. Still, I was intrigued by the potential the Ghost Fleet
of the Caicos Islands might have to reveal some tantalizing
clues to the Islands’ maritime connections to the rest
of the world 200 years ago. I thought it was a subject
that should be brought to people’s attention, particularly
because many of the ships in the fleet must have been
created by the ancestors of people who live here now!
The range of identifiable ship types found so far in
the Ghost Fleet appears to be fairly narrow, consisting
mainly of single- and two-masted vessels: schooners,
brigantines, sloops, ketches, and skiffs. “Typing” ships
can be very confusing. It tends to key on features such as
the number of masts, their heights relative to each other,
where they are located along the length of the deck,
whether they carry square or fore-and-aft sails, and the
configurations of those sails. Another layer of confusion
is added when you consider that ship types evolve over
time, whereas the names used to describe them stay the
same. As a result, a “Bermuda Sloop” of 1800 bears little
resemblance to the vessels we call by the same name
today. Regardless of the nautical information contained
in the fleet, the questions of who drew the ships—and
why—remain.
Over the years as I continued to ponder those clues
and as similar graffiti turned up on the walls of other
plantation buildings on Providenciales, North, Middle,
and East Caicos, I realized that it was not just a TCI phenomenon.
People in the Bahamas were finding the same
type of ship graffiti in association with plantation houses
from the same period—and asking the same questions.
There were even unsubstantiated reports of their presence
in Haiti.
Ship graffiti in the Bahamas
I am aware of only one scientific publication dedicated to
the study of this type of phenomenon, Ms. Grace Turner’s
2004 M.A. thesis titled “Bahamian Ship Graffiti,” in which
she examines numerous examples found in the Bahamas
as well as two from the Cheshire Hall Great House on
Providenciales, and six from the Wade’s Green complex
on North Caicos. Ms. Turner’s research led her to advance
several hypotheses as to who created the ship graffiti,
when they did it, how they did it, and even their purpose.
After demonstrating that most of this type of ship graffiti
is associated with the Bahamas’ 19th-century plantation
and slavery period, and that it was not the work of a single
person, she observes:
“An assessment of the various locations where ship
graffiti were documented in the Bahamas suggests
a very high correlation of this cultural phenomenon
with Bahamians of predominantly African heritage.
The presence of ship graffiti at several sites not
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astrolabe newsletter of the Turks & Caicos National Museum
associated with any specific ethnic group
implies that instead of being a cultural phenomenon
practiced exclusively by Blacks, the
creation of Bahamian ship graffiti was actually
a tradition among Bahamians of lower
socio-economic status. Since Blacks were
predominantly represented in this category
they would also be the majority of practitioners
engaged in any activity limited to this
social class.”
She further concludes that the creators
were most probably male, that the graffiti
was etched into hardened plaster rather than
applied when it was wet, that it was sometimes
drawn in stages rather than all at once, and that
the graffiti may represent some type of non-literate
record-keeping rather than just an idle
pastime. This last conclusion is apparently drawn from
the fact that many of the depictions, such as those seen
at St. James Plantation, appear in places offering vantage
points from which ships could be seen and sketched in
“real life.”
Others have speculated that this type of ship graffiti
had some sort of mystical or magical significance for the
people who created it or, for people of African descent,
that it harkens back to an indelible racial memory of the
horrific Atlantic crossings aboard slave ships. At the very
least this type of graffiti demonstrates the fascination—
bordering on reverence—with which ships were regarded
by people living in small, relatively isolated island groups.
DONALD H. KEITH
Loyalist period ship graffiti
in the Caicos Islands
The questions of who made them and why are still a matter
of speculation, but perhaps the best clues are where
they are found. At Cheshire Hall on Providenciales two
ships appear on an exterior wall bordering a ground level
patio, one at more or less eye level, and the other much
lower. At Wade’s Green, the structure with the greatest
concentration of ship graffiti is the kitchen adjacent to
the Great House. Here they are found on the walls, in the
window sill, and even high above the level of the ground
floor ceiling (no longer present). These locations appear
to conform to Ms. Turner’s hypothesis that there is a correlation
between where the graffiti are found and places
From top: The walls of the kitchen at Wade’s Green, North Caicos are
decorated with more than a dozen examples of ship graffiti.
The thick walls of the kitchen provided an easel for ship graffiti on
the sides of the window opening. Note the large area where plaster
has fallen off. How many ships did it take with it?
frequented by workers, but in the absence of any hard
evidence of a motive, the question of “why” remains unanswered.
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astrolabe newsletter of the Turks & Caicos National Museum
How do we save them?
The Ghost Fleet is disappearing, fading and crumbling
away as the limestone walls they are on erode and
eventually collapse. Undoubtedly many of these ship representations
have already suffered the ravages of time
and are now irrevocably lost. The old plaster surfaces
holding the graffiti cannot be preserved in situ, and they
are too fragile to attempt physical removal or even moulding
and casting. How can the remainder be saved?
What is needed is a careful and exhaustive survey to
thoroughly document the known ship graffiti and locate
those that have not yet been found. Ultimately this would
mean inspecting every square inch of the plastered surfaces
of the Loyalist plantations in the Caicos Islands,
many of which are difficult to access. “Documenting”
includes photography of course, but also tracings or
rubbings (if the surface is smooth enough), accurate measurements,
sketches, and written observations. The exact
locations of the graffiti must be recorded with GPS coordinates
and more precise descriptions such as “interior wall
of NE corner of kitchen 1.5 meters from floor.”
Useful photographs of the Ghost Fleet are rare. After
examining scores of photos taken over the last 30 years it
is clear to me that casual snapshots are of little use. What
we need are long exposure photographs taken with raking
light, which together make even faint etched lines show
up more clearly and in focus. Additional macro photos
of the lines themselves will help determine if they were
created when the plaster was wet or after it hardened.
The bigger picture
Perhaps such a survey could be combined with an overall
condition assessment for the ruins of the Loyalist
plantations themselves. These ruins are more prevalent
and extensive than one might think—and also virtually
uninvestigated. Most of what we know about the Loyalist
period in the Caicos Islands comes not from archeological
investigations but the excellent historical research
conducted by Dr. Charlene Kozy. She identified 92 land
grants in the Caicos made by the Crown between 1789
and 1791. Not all of these grants were consummated, but
the numbers give us some idea of the extent of the first
Caicos Islands “development boom.” While more than 20
plantation ruins are known to exist scattered throughout
the Islands, there may be many more, long ago lost in
the bush. Limited controlled excavations by professional
archaeologists have been conducted only at Wade’s Green
Plantation on North Caicos and to a lesser extent, two
plantations on Middle Caicos. Given the singular importance
of the Loyalist period, when the ancestors of many
of the people who live in the Caicos today first arrived, it
is surprising that so little actual archaeological research
has been devoted to it.
The Caicos Ghost Fleet is still shrouded in a fog of
much speculation and very little hard data. A thorough
investigation of the remaining Loyalist structures in the
Caicos Islands will likely discover many more ship graffiti
examples. An analysis of them, compared with Grace
Turner’s findings for similar sites in the Bahamas, could
enable us to answer the questions of who created them
and why. Several new hypotheses occurred to me while
working on this article:
• It is clear from the best examples that the artists
were very familiar with the intricate detail of different
types of sailing rigs. Could at least some of the ship graffiti
been used to teach neophytes the art of rigging and
sailing?
• During the Loyalist period, American and French
privateers were a constant threat. Could the grafitti have
been aids for vessel identification like the “friend or foe”
ship and aircraft silhouette charts used in World War II?
• Are some of the drawings specific ships that visited
the Caicos regularly, or are they just “generic?”
• Most ships are depicted under full sail rather than
at rest. This suggests that the artists themselves were
sailors or at least had been to sea, and were drawing from
their experience rather than just landlubbers sketching
ships at anchor with the sails furled.
• Determining if the graffiti was created while the
plaster was wet or after it hardened is a critical factor
in dating it. Grafitti created in wet plaster is more likely
to date to when the wall or building was constructed,
whereas grafitti etched into dry plaster could date to a
later time.
When the last ship in the Ghost Fleet erodes to dust
will the best, most accurate ship graffiti recordings ever
made in the Caicos Islands still be the seven ships traced
by Grethe Seim and Helen Czernin almost 40 years ago?
Will the Ghost Fleet become the stuff of legend? If so, our
questions will remain forever unanswered. Or will someone
come forward now to do what needs to be done? The
choice is ours. Time is running out. a
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astrolabe newsletter of the Turks & Caicos National Museum
A Mariner’s Tale
By Captain Willard E. Kennedy, Master Mariner
Captain Willard Kennedy came into the Museum one
day and asked the staff if we wanted his sextant and
navigational tools. What a wonderful gift, and through
emails we have been privileged to learn about this “Salt
Cay boy” and his journey through life. The Museum
thanks Captain Kennedy for this gift and the following
story excerpted from his autobiography.
Often folks would say, “You’ve had an interesting
life, why don’t you tell your story?” My reply would be
“Someday.” I always knew that it should be today, but
today lapsed into yesterday and the story has never
been told until now.
I was born in Salt Cay to Japthalina Duncanson
Kennedy and William Henry Kennedy, on February 14,
1944, the third of seven children. Life as a boy in Salt
Cay was slow, yet there was a lot for children to do,
such as waking up before sunrise, going in the bush to
get wood to burn coal, going to the tank for water, and
then on to school where Miss Mary Robinson was the
head teacher.
At eleven years old, I started working in the salt
lighters carrying salt to the ships that came to Salt Cay.
My job was to empty the salt from the bags and tie
them up in bundles of ten. The money I made was used
to help my sister Amelia, who was in Grand Turk going
to Senior school. I had two uncles who were captains
of ships, Capt. Bertrand (Bert) Duncanson and Capt.
Eustace Duncanson. Even though I did not know them,
hearing of them and what they did impressed me and I
wanted to be a captain like they were. I got my chance
to go to sea.
On November 8, 1960, at the age of sixteen, I
joined the M.V. Inagua Trader in South Caicos. When
I joined the ship, Capt. Swann said, “Young man, your
wages are $80 a month—$30 for your mother, $30 for
the bank, and $20 for you.” I had no say in the matter!
Our first port of call was Santiago de Cuba, the first foreign
port that I visited. I was intrigued with the beauty
of Santiago—after all, I’d only ever seen Salt Cay, Grand
Turk, and South Caicos—so going to Cuba and hearing
Spanish for the first time was something else. I was
taken ashore by Capt. Swann and we walked for an hour
through the city. I kept turning around and looking up
at the high rise buildings, as the highest building on
Salt Cay was the White House!
I bought the sextant in 1963 to practice celestial
navigation—measuring the altitudes of the celestial
bodies, computing them, and plotting the position
of the vessel. I was employed by West India Shipping
Company as an Able Bodied Seaman (ABS) on the
M.V. Inagua Crest and was allowed to practice on the
bridge. From 1968–69 I attended the American Marine
Nautical School in New Orleans, Louisiana to study for
the Second Mate’s License. On successfully obtaining
the license, I went back to work as a second mate on
the M.V. Inagua Sound for one year, responsible for the
navigation of the vessel.
I saved my money and in 1970, returned to school,
studied for the Chief Mate’s License and received it in
1971. I was promoted to Chief Mate on the M.V. Inagua
Sound, second in command and responsible for deck
operations of the vessel. In 1972, I attended the U.S
Merchant Marine School in New York and studied for
the Master’s License. On successfully passing the examination,
I was issued an “Unlimited Master Mariner’s
W.E. KENNEDY
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astrolabe newsletter of the Turks & Caicos National Museum
Exploring historic Cap Haitien
By Museum Manager Candianne Williams
PAT SAXTON
Capt. Kennedy’s sextant,
having once navigated the
Seven Seas, now enjoys retirement in the
TCNM, along with his memoirs.
License Any Ocean, Any Gross Tonnage.” That was
quite a feat for a young man at the age of 28 and I
was proud because I saved my money and educated
myself.
From 1974–76, I was Captain of the M.V. Inagua
Trader II, operating out of various European ports in
the North Sea. In the year following, we transited the
Atlantic Ocean from Houston, Texas to Kuwait via the
Suez Canal, to Singapore, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Italy,
Spain, and France. From 1972–1985, I worked as
Master on various vessels and navigated the world
with a sextant and nautical tables. That experience, I
called an adventure because there was nothing routine
with it. West India Shipping specialized in transporting
heavy equipment, oil rigs, and high pressure
vessels for oil refineries. We were globe trotters. In
1992 with the implementation of GPS, the sextant was
laid aside for instant position and accuracy within a
hundred feet. So from 1986–2013 we followed weekly
schedules in the Caribbean—you knew which ports
you would be in every day. As a man of the sea, it was
a job I loved doing. But there was no adventure in it.
During my career, I was paid to go to see places other
people have to pay to go to see! a
The prize for the winning team of the first annual
Turks & Caicos National Museum’s History and Cultural
Heritage Quiz was a three day, two night Caicu Naniki
excursion to northern Haiti. Clement Howell High
School students Mellonie Popo, Saloman Dormeus,
Joshua Daniel, and coach/teacher Anetra Musgrove had
the opportunity to tour historic Cap Haitien and experience
its rich cultural history. They were accompanied
by Chloe Zimmermann, owner of Marco Travel, one of
the quiz sponsors.
Northern Haiti has a significant place in the history
of the Americas. One of the objectives of the UNESCOproclaimed
International Year to Commemorate the
Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition, was to “commemorate
the bicentenary of the Haitian Revolution,
which led to the establishment of the first black republic
in the Western Hemisphere, and, by extension, to
the liberation of the peoples of the Caribbean and Latin
America from slavery.” Records show that slaves from
the Turks & Caicos Islands escaped to freedom in Haiti.
The Palace of Sans Souci, which was once the royal
residence of King Henri Christophe, the mountaintop
fortress called the Citadelle, and the buildings at
Ramiers are monuments to Haiti’s declared independence
and comprise Haiti’s National History Park. These
UNESCO World Heritage Sites dating back to the early
19th century have been described by UNESCO as “universal
symbols of liberty, being the first monuments to
be constructed by black slaves who had gained their
freedom.”
One of the highlights of our prize-winners’ trip was
a tour of the historical park. Mellonie remembers how
struck she was by the shear enormity of the Citadelle.
Her first thought was “This is humongous.” Built on top
of Bonnet á L’Eveque, which itself rises over 3,000 feet,
the Citadelle has walls as high as 130 feet and is spread
over a hectare.
With the view of the fortress in the distance, the
real adventure was getting to it. They had to ride
donkeys to get there, a first for the team. From all
accounts Mellonie mastered the art like a pro, sparking
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astrolabe newsletter of the Turks & Caicos National Museum
Salomon’s competitive spirit
and driving him to prove that
he too could master the art of
donkey riding—even though
the winding path up the precipitous
mountain trail was a
little nerve-racking at times.
As they toured the
Citadelle the group was
immersed in its story, particularly
its 365 cannons of
varying sizes and huge piles
of cannon balls. It was built
to defend the country against
the French. That war never
happened, although the fortress
was built and outfitted
to accommodate up to 5,000
persons for a year, if necessary.
The breathtaking view
of what seemed like all of
Cap Haitien gave reason to
pause and take it all in.
The exposure to a different
culture highlighted the
similarities and differences
between the students’ own and what they were now
experiencing. Riding the brightly coloured, artistically
decorated “tap tap” bus was a uniquely Haitian experience.
The trip on a traditional boat and visit to the fishing
village of Labadee was quite an adventure as well and lots
of fun.
As a result of this experience, the students now
have a renewed appreciation for the history and culture
of the Turks & Caicos Islands, and are inspired to widen
the scope of their knowledge by exploring that of other
countries, as well. The Museum would like to thank the
sponsors—FortisTCI Ltd., Caicu Naniki, Marco Travel, and
the TCI Reef Fund for making it possible for these young
people to have such a wonderful experience. a
From top: TCNM Quiz winners Joshua Daniel, Mellonie Popop, Anetra
Musgrove, and Saloman Dormeau arrive in Haiti.
The view from the top of the Citadelle is spectacular!
The students were immersed in the history of the Citadelle during
their tour of the fortress.
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astrolabe newsletter of the Turks & Caicos National Museum
Wise water
By Museum Manager Candianne Williams
RBC Royal Bank renewed its partnership with the TCI
National Museum Foundation by contributing $1,800
to support landscaping maintenance of the Caicos
Heritage House’s agricultural, native plant, and medicinal
plant gardens. The partnership began when the UK
Overseas Territories Conservation Fund/TCNM’s Wise
Water Project was awarded the RBC Royal Bank’s Blue
Water Grant of $55,000 to help create water conservation
gardens at the National Museum in Grand Turk and
Caicos Heritage Garden in Providenciales.
At the cheque presentation ceremony, RBC Royal RBC Royal Bank and Museum staff members Sanfra Foster, Olive
Connell, Fernand, Candianne Williams, Zoya Faessler, B Naqqi
Bank’s Country and Branch Manager Sanfra Foster Manco, Prince Selver, Arlene Deveraux, and Sonia Grant tackle
planting the Caicos Pines provided by the DECR.
reiterated the bank’s commitment to protecting the
world’s most precious natural resource: fresh water, through its global Blue Water Project. RBC Royal Bank’s staff
members have also committed to voluntary service in the gardens. The Caicos Pine is TCI’s National Tree. Four
Caicos pine trees grown by the Caicos Pine Recovery Project were planted at the Caicos Heritage Garden as part of
the project’s National Tree Restoration Strategy. The Caicos Heritage Garden is the only place on Providenciales
where the National Tree can be seen publicly, so it will prove to be a valuable educational resource.
B Naqqi Manco of the Department of Environment &
Coastal Resources (DECR) led the tree planting, explaining
that the Caicos pine and its pineyard habitat were
historically very important to the people of the Caicos
Islands in the pre-Hurricane Donna time represented
by the Caicos Heritage House. Roofing timbers, timber
and pitch for boats, torches, lime kilns, and fence posts
were supplied by the Caicos pine; other plants from the
habitat provided thatch for roofs, food items, animal
fodder, and medicines.
The pine trees originate from seed collected on Pine
Cay, and should fare well in the sandy soil of Grace Bay
which is similar to their ancestral habitat. The population
will provide a genetic reservoir, hopefully out of
reach of the pine tortoise scale insect which has devastated
wild populations on Pine Cay and North and
Middle Caicos. Establishing small populations of Caicos
DECR Officer B Naqqi Manco instructs the gardeners on the proper pine on other islands for conservation and educational
way to transplant the National Tree of the Turks & Caicos Islands.
purposes is an important part of the National Tree
Restoration Strategy. The Caicos pine joins a planting of over 20 native plant species of historical and cultural
importance—a vital part of the post-Loyalist economy and pharmacopeia.
The Caicos Heritage House and Garden, a representation of a 19th century Caicos Islands homestead, is open
to visitors 9:00 AM–1:00 PM weekdays and is located in the Village at Grace Bay. We hope that you will come to
visit soon and be inspired to try some of the ways to conserve water in your own garden. a
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astrolabe newsletter of the Turks & Caicos National Museum
Museum matters
Story & Photos By Museum Director Pat Saxton
Taking things for GRANTed
On July 26, the Museum held the second in a series
“An Evening with the Experts.” This time we invited
everyone to come and see what experts from the UK,
Canada, and the Bahamas are doing to help preserve
the Museum’s collection of 19th century records by
organizing and digitizing them to make them freely
available.
Facilitating this grant from the British Library’s
Endangered Archives Project (EAP) is a group of experts
assembled by the Zemi Foundation (zemiglobal.org),
a Florida-based non-profit organization. The Zemi
team, comprised of Executive Director Dr. Kelley
Scudder-Temple, IT Specialist Michael Temple, and
Special Projects Manager Paul Diamond were joined
by Bahamas National Museum Assistant Director Dr.
Michael Pateman.
Dr. Scudder-Temple and Dr. Pateman spoke to the
crowd about the importance of locating, preserving,
organizing, and digitizing documents. This is a tremendous
undertaking and the Turks & Caicos National
Museum Foundation is pleased to partner with the Zemi
Foundation. The Museum does not receive government
funding, yet takes the responsibility of housing government
and other documents in our climate-controlled
safe room.
Hon. Josephine Connolly observes the process of digitizing old
records.
TCNM Director Patricia Saxton offered a plea for
From left: Paul Diamond, Mike Temple, Lynn Thomas, Pat Saxton,
Kelley Scudder-Temple, and Mike Temple participated in Radio TC’s
talk show, “Expressions” to discuss the need for a National Archive.
the need of a National Archive. She spoke about finding
burial records from the 1800s which showed over
120 slaves buried on the island in the middle of Town
Salina, the oldest cemetery on Grand Turk. Because the
Museum saved these records, we were able to alert the
TCI Government to revise plans to put a donkey sanctuary
on this sacred land. This, along with the story of
the slave ship Trouvadore, are excellent examples of
why a country needs to protect and save its historical
documents.
At the close of the event, the Museum invited
guests to come the following day to see the important
work the Zemi Foundation and the Museum are doing
to digitize these records. It was heartening that a number
of government members took time to witness the
work we are doing to save the history of the Turks &
Caicos Islands.
We want to thank our many volunteers who came
and learned about archiving, digitizing, and preservation.
Everyone put in many hours to lessen the burden
of digitizing all these documents. We will be calling on
them again when the Zemi Foundation returns early
next year to continue with the project.
On July 28, the Zemi Foundation and the Museum
participated in a special “Expressions” radio show on
RTC 107.9 FM to speak about the importance of setting
up a National Archive. This program was very well
received with much support from the community. Now
is the time to speak with your government representatives
to get behind the movement to build a National
Archive. a
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astrolabe newsletter of the Turks & Caicos National Museum
Rest in peace
On May 27, 2016
Rupert Thorogood was
on island to celebrate
the 60th year since he
set foot on Grand Turk
on May 28, 1956! He
came to the Museum
to donate a stamp
inscribed “Direct West
India Cable Company
Grand Turk Turks and
Caicos Island,” along
with a box of dates to
be inserted in the stamp!
Sadly, Mr. Thorogood passed away on June 25,
2016. Our thoughts go out to his family, as he was
a true gentleman. I enjoyed his company and stories
about Grand Turk in the late 1950s, and will certainly
miss him. a
Vestiges of a bygone era
Following demolition of the Woodville house on Middle
Street in Grand Turk, landscaper Conrad Baron found
several items on the property and brought them to the
Museum for safekeeping until the new owner starts to
rebuild.
One was a First Prize certificate to Evans Wood
for Flowering Annual (?!) during the Exhibition of
the Products and Industries of the Turks and Caicos
Islands, dated February 6, 1919 and signed by HH
Hutchings! a
Unsolved mystery
Charlie Wright continues to donate items to the
Museum. His most recent gift is a real mystery. Mr.
Wright found what appears to be a trail board from a
boat from South Caicos. The name on the hand-carved
sign reads “Panuloris • South Caicos • T.I.” The name
Panuloris does not come up in the Latin dictionary, but
the name Panulirus does. It is the genus for the Spiny
lobster, a product South Caicos is famous for.
According to Mr. Wright, the board was found on
a remote beach in Grand Bahama sometime between
1981 and 1983. We are hoping that someone from
South Caicos will recognize this name and come forward
with the history of this boat. For now, it will hang
in the Caicos Heritage House in Providenciales for all
to see, and perhaps recognize! a
Join the Museum
Become a Member and receive a year’s subscription
to Times of the Islands (which includes
Astrolabe), free admission to the Museum, and a
Members’ Discount in the Museum Shop.
Senior (62+) $35
Individual $50
Family/Friend $100
Sponsor $250
Contributor $500
Partner $750
To join*, send name, address, email, and type of
membership, along with cheque or money order
payable to “Turks & Caicos National Museum” to:
Friends of the Turks & Caicos National
Museum
39 Condesa Road
Santa Fe, NM 87508 USA
Or, visit:
www.tcmuseum.org/membership-support/
*For U.S. residents, support of the Museum is tax-deductible via
Friends of the Turks & Caicos National Museum, Attn: Donald
H. Keith, 39 Condesa Road, Santa Fe NM 87508, our affiliated
institution and registered 501 (c) (3).
64 www.timespub.tc

a taste of the islands
Donna Gardiner of North Caicos has turned the island’s “bush tea” tradition into a new business venture, North Caicos Tea Company.
North Caicos Tea Company
Serving up tradition, one sip at a time.
By Jody Rathgeb ~ Photos by Tom Rathgeb
T is for tradition.
T is for taste.
T is for time.
T is for tenacity.
But most of all, T is for tea, which blends all of the above
into the island experience of North Caicos Tea Company.
Times of the Islands Fall 2016 65

Caicos Tea Company is a North Caicos venture which
sells traditional bush teas and tea blends. It was created
by Donna Gardiner as a way of preserving local culture
and sharing the knowledge of the “old ways” on the island
where she grew up. “I want Caicos Teas to represent the
‘bush tea’ tradition for those who can’t go out and pick
leaves for their daily drink,” she says.
The business got underway in earnest at the beginning
of 2016, although the idea had been growing for a
while. As a child in Major Hill, Donna took the tea tradition
for granted, commenting that her paternal grandmother,
Susan Gardiner, simply assumed that no one left the
house in the morning without first drinking some tea . .
. at least three mouthfuls. Years later, she was surprised
when others asked about the tea she brought with her
to a former job. She began sharing with friends, then
experimenting with dried plants, doing every step by
hand: picking, drying, bagging and packaging. Caicos
Tea Company was born.
The current line in the fledgling business includes
six teas: Caicos Sunshine (a blend of fever grass, mint
and citrus), soursop, moringa mint, fever grass, mint, and
a soursop-fever grass blend. All are made from natural
herbs found on North Caicos, none has caffeine, and all
can be served hot or cold after brewing. Older Islanders
have long used these teas for health benefits (see sidebar),
although Donna is careful of making specific claims.
Her tea boxes state only, “Our teas have long been cherished
for their health promoting properties.”
Developing a tradition into a business has been a
process full of learning and trial-and-error, Donna says.
First came finding the plants and learning how to dry
them properly. She has sought out the wisdom of older
people on North Caicos for gathering plants and now, she
says, “I believe I know all the plants on the island.” She
continues, “I like getting them from the senior citizens. I
get both the plants and the stories, just a little chitchat.”
Most people make their own bush tea from fresh
plants, so figuring out the drying process was a matter
of experimentation. “When they’re drying, they all behave
differently,” she says. Fever grass (also known as lemongrass
in other cultures), for example, is easy to work with
when green, but harder to handle when drying has made
the leaf edges sharp and tough. “Moringa has been the
hardest teacher,” Donna notes, recalling an entire batch
that had to be thrown away because of improper drying.
Caicos Teas are dried naturally with sun and air, so the
weather comes into play.
Local herbs from North Caicos are dried as ingredients for the teas (clockwise from left): soursop, mint, moringa and fever grass. They are
shown here placed atop a handmade “fanner basket,” fashioned from local palm tree leaves.
66 www.timespub.tc

“There’s a tea for everything”
Each box of Caicos Tea includes a quote from
Susan B. Gardiner, grandmother of the company’s
owner: “There’s a tea for everything.”
One would be hard-pressed to find any aficionado
of bush tea who believes differently. Island tradition
assigns a tea as a cure for all sorts of ailments, from
tummy rumbles to diseases that are puzzles to modern
medicine. Donna Gardiner of Caicos Tea Company
makes no specific health claims for her teas, but she
has listened to the lore and done research on the benefits
of her herbal teas. Here are her comments about
the six teas she offers:
Mint: Many cultures acknowledge the soothing
qualities of mint, making it a natural for problems with
digestion and other stomach ailments.
Soursop: Its relaxing qualities aid with insomnia,
and it is known to help reduce blood pressure. “I know
people who take soursop tea to manage blood pressure,
but you should work along with your doctor if
you’re going to try it,” Donna says. Soursop is also
good for headaches and, she adds, “Some studies show
soursop has some possible effects against cancer.”
Fever grass: Known in some other cultures as lemongrass,
fever grass gets its TCI name from its ability to
cool the body and bring down a fever. It is often used
to ease the symptoms of a cold or flu.
Moringa: Sometimes referred to as the “miracle”
tree, moringa is used for colds, fevers and blood pressure.
Every part of the tree is used for something. The
teas Donna makes are from the moringa leaves, but she
is now experimenting with its flowers. Moringa has a
very strong, distinct flavour, so she pairs it with mint.
Soursop-moringa blend: “We did this mostly
because it’s fun and improves the flavour.”
Caicos Sunshine: The most popular of the teas,
this is a blend of fever grass and mint with a touch of
citrus (Donna uses lime leaves). “The traditional blend,”
she says, “is the medicine my grandmother and every
grandmother used for everything. It’s also a fun blend
and makes a nice iced tea.”
A number of other traditional bush teas are touted
as something to “make you strong” . . . a veiled reference
to aphrodisiac qualities. Currently, Caicos Tea
Company doesn’t have any such blends, but Donna is
experimenting with brasiletto, cerasee and dill, all of
which are reported to help “strength.”
Jody Rathgeb
Schedule/price subject to change without prior notice.
Times of the Islands Fall 2016 67

North Caicos Tea Company currently produces six flavours and blends. More are planned for the future.
Packaging has also meted out its lessons. She has
already gone through several generations of box designs,
and the simplicity of a tea bag belies all the research that
goes into decisions about bags, tags, string and more.
“We spent $500 before figuring out that this is THE staple,”
she says, holding up a bag with its tag stapled to a
string.
Marketing the teas draws on other skills and Donna’s
desire to serve her customers well. Word of mouth and
social media helped launch the business, but she also
learned to adapt to the different ways the tea can be sold.
An order from Grace Bay Club, for example, was planned
as gifts for tourists to buy, so the company developed
a small burlap package that offers a sampling of all six
flavours.
In addition to Donna’s office/production space/tea
bar along Airport Road on North Caicos, Caicos Teas
are sold at Grace Bay Club, Parrot Cay, the TCI National
Museum on Grand Turk and the Turquoise Duty-Free
shop at the Providenciales International Airport. She
hopes to have more hotel gift shops on the list as the
season starts.
She has many more plans for the future of Caicos
Tea Company. In production, Donna wants to develop
new flavours and has already begun experimenting with
brasiletto branches, cerasee and dill. “There are so many
plants and blends I want to do,” she says. “Some will be
traditional, some a little bit new.” Farming the plants is
also in the plan. A touch of automation will help production
as well. Donna is looking into a bagging machine and
dryers. She is also outfitting her space to function as a tea
bar, where customers can see the process, taste the teas
and learn more about their properties.
She expects her own learning to continue as she
works toward the future. “I cannot express how much it’s
been an awesome experience to create the business,” she
says. “Every day about Caicos Tea surprises me.” a
This “tea bouquet,” is a selection of the plants Donna Gardiner picks
and dries to make the various Caicos Teas.
Jody Rathgeb has been a contributor to Times of the
Islands since 1992. She admits to having downed nearly
a gallon of iced Caicos Sunshine tea while writing this
article.
68 www.timespub.tc

shape up
Spinal health and well being
By Dr. Craig D. Zavitz D.C.
The World Health Organization (WHO) states that the
leading cause of human suffering, loss of income
through inability to work, and long term disability is
back pain. It affects people in all countries, both genders
and all ages. WHO states that more money is spent
globally to treat back pain than many serious aliments
combined. According to WHO, 85% of us will suffer significant
back pain and disability at some point in our
lives. They also advise that much of this suffering is
preventable and preventative measures cost much less
than treatment.
The four pillars of a healthy back are:
Proper lifting technique: This means keeping your
back straight, bending your knees, holding the object
close to your body, and lifting with your strongest muscles
(thigh muscles)—not your back.
Flexibility: This can be obtained by doing easy
stretches on a daily basis.
Strength: This can be improved by committing to
simple, at-home exercises only 5–10 minutes per day
without the need for expensive equipment.
Alignment: Chiropractors specialize in spinal alignment.
Consider having regular spinal checkups much
like you do with your dentist. The sooner a spinal misalignment
is detected and corrected, the more likely
you are to prevent future problems.
The above-mentioned exercise programs for flexibility
and strength, as well as proper lifting techniques,
are available for your use on the clinic website:
www.gracebaychiro.com.
In addition to traditional gentle chiropractic care, I
provide the only therapeutic laser treatments in Turks
& Caicos. Therapeutic laser is non-invasive, painless,
has no side effects and provides effective relief for
acute injuries (sprains and strains) and chronic conditions
such as osteoarthritis (in hips, knees, hands, and
shoulders).
I welcome my patients into a relaxed, evidencebased
chiropractic clinic. How long the patient benefits
from care is always up to them. a
Dr. Craig Zavitz and his wife
Robin travel to TCI every
month from their base practice
in Niagara Falls, Canada
and consider Providenciales
their second home. In 2010,
Dr. Zavitz opened Grace Bay Chiropractic in association
with Dr. Sam Slattery of Grace Bay Medical, the island’s
only Integrated Medical Centre, located in Neptune
Court, Grace Bay.
Dr. Zavitz also provides regular chiropractic services
to Grand Turk and South Caicos. He developed
a daily stretching program called “Straighten Up TCI”
and, along with “Pack It Light, Wear it Right” (a backpack
program developed by the Ontario Chiropractic
Association), has implemented them in over 30 schools
and numerous businesses and resorts in TCI, and continues
to do so. Dr. Zavitz has devoted his career to
assisting people in achieving optimum health through
chiropractic care and healthy lifestyle education. His
mission statement is: To improve the quality of life of
humanity starting with you and your entire family.
From the delicate infant to the fragile aged, we provide
safe, gentle, effective care.
For more information, contact Dr. Zavitz via email
craig@gracebaychiro.com or call (649) 347-8964.
Times of the Islands Fall 2016 69

dentalsum16_Layout 1 6/2/16 10:37 PM Page 1
A Reason to Smile...
World Class
Dental Care & Aesthetic Services
+(649) 432 3777
www.markosmonddentalclinic.com
70 www.timespub.tc

shape up
Nails need TLC too!
By Franceska Parker, Nail Technician, Elevate Spa
When studying nail technology, the sheer number of different
types of nail infection and nail damage stunned
me. I soon learnt the importance of cleanliness and
close observation to keep every client safe. I wash my
hands and clean and dry my equipment very carefully.
In my last several years in the Turks & Caicos
Islands I have seen many cases of nail infection and
ingrowing nails. Resident clients’ nails are especially
damaged. It is my belief that highly trained technicians
need to communicate, ask questions, and educate their
clients accordingly.
For instance, if I see a discoloured nail I will ask:
“How long has the nail been discoloured? Have you
seen a doctor? Are you on medication? What kind of
shoes do you typically wear? Have you bumped your
nail, causing trauma?” The responses help decide treatment.
I never soak a client’s nails until I have examined
them. If I come across a client with a nail infection, I
politely inform them. There will be no treatment unless
the client brought their own polish and their own tools
(file, buffer, clippers, etc.). If they are not able to, I provide
them with tools that they can buy and reuse next
time.
A fungal nail infection can be carefully treated with
such things as tea tree oil, antifungal cream, or even
a few drops of bleach, but how can clients continue to
keep the fungus away? Discontinue the use of polish or
tools that were used during the infection. Wear socks
with exercise shoes, change socks often, dry feet and
nails properly, use an antifungal spray inside shoes
before and after wear, and avoid going to a salon that
uses a jet tub. My workplace uses a copper bowl that is
washed and treated and left to dry before re-use.
Resident clients’ nails are often paper-thin due to
harsh filing, over-buffing, the use of acrylic, shellac,
and gel nails, as well as their harsh removal. Some nail
technicians buff the clients’ nail beds using coarse files
and then apply primer, glue, acrylic nail, file further,
and apply acrylic powder and gel liquid on top. How is
your nail meant to breathe? When you finally remove
the acrylic, the strength of
your nail will be compromised,
as will the cuticle that
protects your nail bed.
The cuticle is there to
protect the nail as it grows, preventing dirt and bacteria
from damaging the nail. Practice keeping cuticles
moisturised with a good cuticle oil or even a good hand
lotion after doing dishes or washing hands. Rub in a
small amount of oil or lotion, paying particular attention
to the cuticle.
Treating infections is not just cosmetic. Infections
from your nail can slowly attack your immune system.
If a fungus or nail infection is left untreated for a long
time, it can keep returning after treatment because it
now lives in your blood system.
Shaping and cutting should be done according to
a client’s cuticle area shape and activities. Runners
should clip the nail shorter and straight across. The
sides of the nail should never be clipped or the nail will
start to grow differently, not straight. The nails will sink
and a practice of digging under the nail may happen,
opening it to infection.
Watch your environment; be smart when getting
manicures and pedicures; don’t overuse and abuse the
use of shellac, acrylic, or gel nails; keep your own tools
clean and be careful of public showers and unsanitary
salons. Treat nail fungus and let your salon know. Do
you live with someone who has nail fungus? Do you
share your home nail polishes? If your immune system
is especially low, stay away from salons. I am not a
doctor, but as a caring nail technician I believe in being
careful, respectful, and firm to ensure my clients’ safety
and the safety of future clients. a
Franceska Parker has been working as a nail technician
since 2005, after a one year course in nail technology.
She currently works as a nail technician and massage
therapist at Elevate Spa at the Blue Haven Resort and
Marina.
Times of the Islands Fall 2016 71

about the Islands
Map provided courtesy Wavey Line Publishing. Their navigation charts and decorative and historic maps of the Turks & Caicos Islands, the
Bahamas, and Hispaniola are available in shops throughout the Islands. Visit www.waveylinepublishing.com.
Where we are
The Turks & Caicos Islands lie some 575 miles southeast
of Miami — approximately 1 1/2 hours flying time —
with the Bahamas about 30 miles to the northwest and
the Dominican Republic some 100 miles to the southeast.
The country consists of two island groups separated
by the 22-mile wide Columbus Passage. To the west are
the Caicos Islands: West Caicos, Providenciales, North
Caicos, Middle Caicos, East Caicos, and South Caicos. To
the east are the Turks Islands: Grand Turk and Salt Cay.
The Turks & Caicos total 166 square miles of land
area on eight islands and 40 small cays. The country’s
population is approximately 32,000.
Getting here
There are international airports on Grand Turk, North
Caicos, Providenciales, and South Caicos, with domestic
airports on all of the islands except East Caicos.
At this time, all of the major international carriers
arrive and depart from Providenciales International
Airport. American Airlines flies three times daily from
Miami and daily from Charlotte. JetBlue Airways offers
daily service from New York/JFK and Fort Lauderdale.
Delta Airlines flies from Atlanta daily and from New York/
JFK on Saturday. United Airlines travels from Newark daily
and from Houston on Friday and Saturday. West Jet travels
from Toronto on Wednesday and Saturday. Air Canada
offer flights from Toronto on Saturday and Sunday and
from Montreal on Thursday. British Airways travels on
Thursday and Sunday from London/Gatwick via Antigua.
72 www.timespub.tc

Bahamasair flies to Nassau on Thursday and Sunday;
Inter-caribbean Airways travels on Monday, Wednesday,
and Friday. Inter-caribbean Airways and Caicos Express
travel to Haiti daily, while Inter-caribbean Airways flies
to the Dominican Republic daily (except Wednesday);
to Jamaica on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday,
and to Puerto Rico on Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday.
(Schedules are current as of August 2016 and subject to
change.)
Inter-island service is provided by Inter-caribbean
Airways, Caicos Express Airways, and Global Airways. Sea
and air freight services operate from Florida.
Language
English.
Time zone
Atlantic Standard Time (AST) observed year-round.
Currency
The United States dollar. The Treasury also issues a Turks
& Caicos crown and quarter. Travellers cheques in U.S.
dollars are widely accepted and other currency can be
changed at local banks. American Express, VISA, and
MasterCard are welcomed at many locations.
Climate
The average year-round temperature is 83ºF (28ºC). The
hottest months are September and October, when the
temperature can reach 90 to 95ºF (33 to 35ºC). However,
the consistent easterly trade winds temper the heat and
keep life comfortable.
Casual resort and leisure wear is accepted attire for
daytime; light sweaters or jackets may be necessary on
some breezy evenings. It’s wise to wear protective clothing
and a sunhat and use waterproof sunscreen when out
in the tropical sun.
Entry requirements
Passport. A valid onward or return ticket is also required.
Customs formalities
Visitors may bring in duty free for their own use one carton
of cigarettes or cigars, one bottle of liquor or wine,
and some perfume. The importation of all firearms including
those charged with compressed air without prior
approval in writing from the Commissioner of Police is
strictly forbidden. Spear guns, Hawaiian slings, controlled
drugs, and pornography are also illegal.
Times of the Islands Fall 2016 73

about the Islands
Returning residents may bring in $400 worth of
merchandise per person duty free. A duty of 10% to
60% is charged on most imported goods along with a
7% customs processing fee and forms a major source of
government revenue.
Transportation
A valid driver’s license from home is suitable when renting
vehicles. A government tax of 12% is levied on all
rental contracts. (Insurance is extra.) Driving is on the
left-hand side of the road, with traffic flow controlled by
round-abouts at major junctions. Please don’t drink and
drive! Taxis are abundant throughout the Islands and
many resorts offer shuttle service between popular visitor
areas. Scooter, ATV, and bicycle rentals are also available.
Telecommunications
FLOW Ltd. provides land lines and superfast broadband
Internet service. Mobile service is on a LTE 4G network,
including pre and post-paid cellular phones. Most resorts
and some stores and restaurants offer wireless Internet
connection. Digicel operates mobile networks, with
a full suite of LTE 4G service. FLOW is the local carrier
for CDMA roaming on US networks such as Verizon and
Sprint. North American visitors with GSM cellular handsets
and wireless accounts with AT&T or Cingular can
arrange international roaming.
Electricity
120/240 volts, 60 Hz, suitable for all U.S. appliances.
Departure tax
US $20 for all persons two years and older, payable in
cash or traveller’s cheques. It is typically built into the
cost of your ticket.
Courier service
Delivery service is provided by FedEx, with offices on
Providenciales and Grand Turk, and DHL. UPS service is
limited to incoming delivery.
Postal service
The Post Office and Philatelic Bureau in Providenciales is
located downtown in Butterfield Square. In Grand Turk,
the Post Office is on Front Street, with the Philatelic
Bureau on Church Folly. The Islands are known for their
varied and colorful stamp issues.
Media
Multi-channel satellite television is received from the U.S.
and Canada and transmitted via cable or over the air.
Local station WIV-TV broadcasts on Channel 4 and Island
EyeTV on Channel 5. People’s Television offers 75 digitally
transmitted television stations, along with local news
and talk shows on Channel 8. There are also a number of
local radio stations, magazines, and newspapers.
Medical services
There are no endemic tropical diseases in TCI. There are
large, modern hospitals on Grand Turk and Providenciales.
Both hospitals offer a full range of services including:
24/7 emergency room, operating theaters, diagnostic
imaging, maternity suites, dialysis suites, blood bank,
physiotherapy, and dentistry.
In addition, several general practitioners operate in
the country, and there is a recompression chamber, along
with a number of private pharmacies.
Immigration
A resident’s permit is required to live in the Islands. A
work permit and business license are also required to
work and/or establish a business. These are generally
granted to those offering skills, experience, and qualifications
not widely available on the Islands. Priority is given
to enterprises that will provide employment and training
for T&C Islanders.
Government/Legal system
TCI is a British Crown colony. There is a Queen-appointed
Governor, HE Peter Beckingham. He presides over an executive
council formed by the elected local government.
PNP Leader Dr. Rufus Ewing is the country’s premier.
The legal system is based upon English Common
Law and administered by a resident Chief Justice, Chief
Magistrate, and Deputy Magistrates. Judges of the Court
of Appeal visit the Islands twice a year and there is a final
Right of Appeal to Her Majesty’s Privy Council in London.
Taxes
There are currently no direct taxes on either income
or capital for individuals or companies. There are no
exchange controls. Indirect taxation comprises customs
duties and fees, stamp duty, taxes on accommodations,
restaurants, vehicle rentals, other services and gasoline,
as well as business license fees and departure taxes.
74 www.timespub.tc

Economy
Historically, TCI’s economy relied on the export of
salt. Currently, tourism, the offshore finance industry,
and fishing generate the most private sector income.
The Islands’ main exports are lobster and conch, with
the world’s first commercial conch farm operating on
Providenciales. Practically all consumer goods and foodstuffs
are imported.
The Turks & Caicos Islands are recognised as an
important offshore financial centre, offering services
such as company formation, offshore insurance, banking,
trusts, limited partnerships, and limited life companies.
The Financial Services Commission regulates the industry
and spearheads the development of offshore legislation.
People
Citizens of the Turks & Caicos Islands are termed
“Belongers” and are primarily descendants of African
slaves who were brought to the Islands to work on the
salt ponds and cotton plantations. The country’s large
expatriate population includes Canadians, Americans,
Brits and Europeans, along with Haitians, Jamaicans,
Dominicans, Bahamians, Indians, and Filipinos.
Churches
Churches are the center of community life and there
are many faiths represented in the Islands, including:
Adventist, Anglican, Assembly of God, Baha’i,
Baptist, Catholic, Church of God of Prophecy, Episcopal,
Faith Tabernacle Church of God, Jehovah’s Witnesses,
Methodist and Pentecostal. Visitors are always welcome.
Pets
Incoming pets must have an import permit, veterinary
health certificate, vaccination certificate, and lab test
results to be submitted at the port of entry to obtain
clearance from the TCI Department of Agriculture, Animal
Health Services.
National symbols
The National Bird is the Brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis).
The National Plant is Island heather (Limonium
bahamense) found nowhere else in the world. The
National Tree is the Caribbean pine (Pinus caribaea var.
bahamensis). The National Costume consists of white cotton
dresses tied at the waist for women and simple shirts
and loose pants for men, with straw hats. Colors representing
the various islands are displayed on the sleeves
and bases. The National Song is “This Land of Ours,” by
Times of the Islands Fall 2016 75

the late Rev. E.C. Howell, PhD. Peas and Hominy (Grits)
with Dry Conch is revered as symbolic island fare.
Going green
TCI Waste Disposal Services currently offers recycling services
through weekly collection of recyclable aluminum,
glass, and plastic. The TCI Environmental Club is spearheading
a campaign to eliminate single-use plastic bags.
Do your part by using a cloth bag whenever possible.
Keep TCI “Beautiful by Nature” by not littering!
Recreation
Sporting activities are centered around the water. Visitors
can choose from deep-sea, reef, or bonefishing, sailing,
glass-bottom boat and semi-sub excursions, windsurfing,
waterskiing, parasailing, sea kayaking, snorkelling,
scuba diving, kiteboarding, stand up paddleboarding,
and beachcombing. Pristine reefs, abundant marine life,
and excellent visibility make TCI a world-class diving
destination. Tennis and golf—there is an eighteen hole
championship course on Providenciales—are also popular.
The Islands are an ecotourist’s paradise. Visitors can
enjoy unspoilt wilderness and native flora and fauna in
thirty-three national parks, nature reserves, sanctuaries,
and areas of historical interest. The National Trust
provides trail guides to several hiking trails, as well as
guided tours of major historical sites. There is an excellent
national museum on Grand Turk, with an auxillary
branch on Providenciales. A scheduled ferry and a selection
of tour operators make it easy to take day trips to the
outer islands.
Other land-based activities include bicycling, horseback
riding, and football (soccer). Personal trainers are
available to motivate you, working out of several fitness
centres. You will also find a variety of spa and body treatment
services.
Nightlife includes local bands playing island music
at bars and restaurants and some nightclubs. There are
two casinos on Providenciales, along with many electronic
gaming parlours. Stargazing is extraordinary!
Shoppers will find Caribbean paintings, T-shirts,
sports and beachwear, and locally made handicrafts,
including straw work and conch crafts. Duty free outlets
sell liquor, jewellery, watches, perfume, leather goods,
crystal, china, cameras, electronics, brand-name clothing
and accessories, along with Cuban cigars. a
76 www.timespub.tc

where to stay
Grand Turk
range of daily rates
US$ (subject to change)
number of units
major credit cards
restaurant
bar
air conditioning
phone in unit
television in unit
kitchen in unit
laundry service
pool
on the beach
H
The Arches of Grand Turk – Tel 649 946 2941 190–210 4 • • • • • • •
Bohio Dive Resort – Tel 649 946 2135 • Web www.bohioresort.com 170–230 16 • • • • • • • •
Crabtree Apartments – Tel 978 270 1698 • Web www.GrandTurkVacationRental.com 210–250 3 • • • • • •
Grand Turk Inn – Tel 649 946 2827 • Web www.grandturkinn.com 250–300 5 • • • • • • •
Island House – Tel 649 946 1519/232 5514 • Web www.islandhouse.tc 110–185 8 • • • • • • •
Manta House – Tel 649 946 1111 • Web www.grandturk-mantahouse.com 110–130 5 • • • • • • •
Osprey Beach Hotel – Tel 649 946 2666 • Web www.ospreybeachhotel.com 90–225 37 • • • • • • • • • •
Pelican House – Tel 649 246 6797 • Web www.pelicanhousegrandturk.com 110-130 3 • • • • •
Salt Raker Inn – Tel 649 946 2260 • Web www.saltrakerinn.com 55–140 13 • • • • • • •
Solomon Porches Guesthouse – Tel 649 946 2776/241 2937 • Fax 649 946 1984 75–100 3 • •
Middle Caicos
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Blue Horizon Resort – Tel 649 946 6141 • Web bhresort.com 265–400 7 • • • • • • • • •
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Bottle Creek Lodge – Tel 649 946 7080 • Web www.bottlecreeklodge.com 155–240 3 • •
Caicos Beach Condominiums – Tel 649 241 4778/786 338 9264 • Web www.caicosbeachcondos.com 159–299 8 • • • • • • • •
Cedar Palms Suites – Tel 649 946 7113/649 244 4186 • Web www.oceanbeach.tc 250–300 3 • • • • • • • • •
Flamingo’s Nest – Tel 649 946 7113/649 244 4186 • Web www.oceanbeach.tc 175–340 2 • • • • • • • •
Hollywood Beach Suites - Tel 800 551 2256/649 231 1020 • Web www.hollywoodbeachsuites.com 200–235 4 • • • • • •
JoAnne’s Bed & Breakfast - Tel 649 946 7301 • Web www.turksandcaicos.tc/joannesbnb 80–120 4 • • • •
Palmetto Villa – Tel 649 946 7113/649 244 4186 • Web www.oceanbeach.tc 225–250 1 • • • • • • • •
Pelican Beach Hotel - Tel 649 946 7112/877 774 5486 • Web www.pelicanbeach.tc 125–165 14 • • • • • • • •
Pine Cay
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The Meridian Club Turks & Caicos - Tel 649 946 7758/866 746 3229 • Web www.meridianclub.com 800–1300 13 • • • • • •
Parrot Cay
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Parrot Cay Resort & Spa - Tel 866 388 0036/904 886 97768 • Web www.parrotcay.com 550–2850 65 • • • • • • • • • •
Providenciales
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Airport Inn - Tel 649 941 3514 • Web www.airportinntci.com. 140 18 • • • • • • •
The Alexandra Resort & Spa - Tel 800 704 9424/649 946 5807 • Web www.alexandraresort.com 280–420 99 • • • • • • • • •
The Atrium Resort - Tel 888 592 7885/649 333 0101 • Web www.theatriumresorttci.com 159–410 30 • • • • • • • •
Amanyara – Tel 866 941 8133/649 941 8133 • Web www.amanresorts.com 1000–2100 73 • • • • • • • •
Aquamarine Beach Houses - Tel 649 231 4535/905 556 0278 • www.aquamarinebeachhouses.com 200–850 24 • • • • • • • •
Beaches Resort & Spa - Tel 800-BEACHES/649 946 8000 • Web www.beaches.com 325–390AI 453 • • • • • • • • •
Beach House Turks & Caicos – Tel 649 946 5800 • Web www.beachchousetci.com 532–638 21 • • • • • • • • • •
Blue Haven Resort & Marina - Tel 855 832 7667/649 946 9900 • Web www.bluehaventci.com 250–650 51 • • • • • • • • • •
Caribbean Paradise Inn - Tel 649 946 5020 • Web www.paradise.tc 162–225 17 • • • • • • • •
Club Med Turkoise - Tel 800 258 2633/649 946 5500 • Web www.clubmed.com 120–225 290 • • • • • • • • •
Coral Gardens on Grace Bay - Tel 877 746 7800 • Web www.coralgardensongracebay.com 199-449 32 • • • • • • • • • •
Gansevoort Turks + Caicos – Tel 877 774 3253/649 941 7555 • Web www.gansevoorttc.com 315–720 91 • • • • • • • • • •
Grace Bay Club - Tel 800 946 5757/649 946 5757 • Web www.gracebayclub.com 650–1750 59 • • • • • • • • • •
Grace Bay Suites – Tel 649 941 7447 • Web www.GraceBaySuites.com 99–195 24 • • • • • • • •
Harbour Club Villas - Tel 649 941 5748/305 434 8568 • Web www.harbourclubvillas.com 210–240 6 • • • • •
Kokomo Botanical Gardens - Tel 649 941 3121• Web www.kokomobotanicalresort.com 169–299 16 • • • • •
Le Vele - Tel 649 941 8800/888 272 4406 • Web www.levele.tc 303–630 22 • • • • • • • •
La Vista Azul – Tel 649 946 8522/866 519 9618 • Web www.lvaresort.com 215–375 78 • • • • • • •
The Lodgings – Tel 649 941 8107/954 338 3812 • Web www.hotelturksandcaicos.com 175–255 15 • • • • • •
Neptune Villas – Tel 649 331 4328 • Web www.neptunevillastci.com 150–400 10 • • • • • • • • •
Northwest Point Resort • Tel 649 941 5133 • Web www.northwestpointresort.com 196–550 49 • • • • • • • • • •
Ocean Club Resorts - Tel 800 457 8787/649 946 5461 • Web www.oceanclubresorts.com 180–690 191 • • • • • • • • • •
The Palms Turks & Caicos – Tel 649 946 8666 • Web thepalmstc.com 595–1700 72 • • • • • • • • • •
Pelican Nest Villa – Tel 649 342 5731 • Web www.pelicannest.tc 429–857 2 • • • • • •
Point Grace - Tel 888 682 3705/649 946 5096 • Web www.pointgrace.com 424–1515 27 • • • • • • • • • •
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where to stay
range of daily rates
US$ (subject to change)
number of units
major credit cards
restaurant
bar
air conditioning
phone in unit
television in unit
kitchen in unit
laundry service
pool
on the beach
Providenciales (continued)
Ports of Call Resort – Tel 888 678 3483/649 946 8888 • Web www.portsofcallresort.com 135–210 99 • • • • • • •
Queen Angel Resort – Tel 649 941 8771 • Web www.queenangelresort.com 150–575 56 • • • • • • • • •
Reef Residence at Grace Bay – Tel 800 532 8536 • Web www.reefresidence.com 275-385 24 • • • • • • •
The Regent Grand – Tel 877 537 3314/649 941 7770 • Web www.TheRegentGrand.com 495–1100 50 • • • • • • • • •
Royal West Indies Resort – Tel 649 946 5004 • Web www.royalwestindies.com 180–695 92 • • • • • • • • • •
The Sands at Grace Bay – Tel 877 777 2637/649 946 5199 • Web www.thesandsresort.com 175–675 116 • • • • • • • • • •
Seven Stars Resort – Tel 866 570 7777/649 941 7777 – Web www.SevenStarsResort.com 365–2400 165 • • • • • • • • • •
Sibonné – Tel 800 528 1905/649 946 5547 • Web www.Sibonne.com 110–375 29 • • • • • • • •
The Somerset on Grace Bay – Tel 649 339 5900/877 887 5722 • Web www.TheSomerset.com 350–1300 53 • • • • • • • • • •
Turtle Cove Inn – Tel 800 887 0477/649 946 4203 • Web www.turtlecoveinn.com 85–180 30 • • • • • • • •
The Tuscany – Tel 649 941 4667 • Web www.thetuscanygracebay.com 975–1300 30 • • • • • • • •
The Venetian Grace Bay – Tel 877 277 4793 • Web www.thevenetiangracebay.com 695–1175 27 • • • • • • • •
Villa del Mar – Tel 877 238 4058/649 941 5160 • Web www.yourvilladelmar.com 190–440 42 • • • • • • •
Villa Mani – Tel 649 431 4444 • Web www.villamanitci.com See Web/AE 6 • • • • • • •
Villa Renaissance - Tel 649 941 5300/877 285 8764 • Web www.villarenaissance.com 295–650 36 • • • • • • • • •
The Villas at Blue Mountain – Tel 649 941 4255 • Web www.villasatbluemountain.com 1200–2500 3 • • • • • • • •
West Bay Club – Tel 866 607 4156/649 946 8550 • Web www.TheWestBayClub.com 235–1163 46 • • • • • • • • • •
Windsong – Tel 649 941 7700/800 WINDSONG • Web www.windsongresort.com 275–925 50 • • • • • • • • •
The Yacht Club – Tel 649 946 4656 • Web www.yachtclubtci.com 250–350 52 • • • • • • •
Salt Cay
Castaway – Salt Cay – Tel 772 713 9502 • Web www.castawayonsaltcay.com 175–265 4 • • • • •
Genesis Beach House – Tel 561 502 0901 • Web www.Genesisbeachhouse.com 1000–1200W 4 • • • • •
Pirate’s Hideaway B & B – Tel 800 289 5056/649 946 6909 • Web www.saltcay.tc 165–175 4 • • • • • • •
Salt Cay Beach House – Tel 772 713 9502 • Web www.saltcaybeachhouse.blogspot.com 799W 1 • • • • • •
Trade Winds Lodge – Tel 649 232 1009 • Web www.tradewinds.tc 925–1325W 5 • • • • •
Twilight Zone Cottage – Tel 772 713 9502 • Web www.twilightzonecottage.blogspot.com 499W 1 • • • •
The Villas of Salt Cay – Tel 772 713 9502 • Web www.villasofsaltcay.com 150–475 5 • • • • • • • •
South Caicos
East Bay Resort – Tel 844 260 8328/649 232 6444 • Web eastbayresort.com 198–1775 86 • • • • • • • • • •
South Caicos Ocean & Beach Resort – Tel 877 774 5486/649 946 3219
Web southcaicos.oceanandbeachresort.com 120–275 24 • • • • •
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Green Globe Certified
Rates (listed for doubles) do not include Government Accommodation Tax and Service Charge
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dining out – providenciales
Amanyara — Amanyara Resort. Tel: 941-8133. Light gourmet
cuisine for lunch and dinner with menu changing daily.
Angela’s Top O’ The Cove Deli — Suzie Turn, by NAPA.
Tel: 946-4694. New York-style delicatessen. Eat-in, carry-out,
catering. Open daily 6:30 AM to 6 PM; Sunday 7 AM to 2 PM.
Asú on the Beach — Alexandra Resort. Tel: 941-8888. Casual
Caribbean and popular international fare. Open daily for breakfast,
lunch and dinner. Service indoors, poolside, and at beach.
Baci Ristorante — Harbour Towne, Turtle Cove. Tel: 941-3044.
Waterfront Italian dining. Brick oven pizza. Popular bar. Open
for lunch Monday to Friday 12 to 2 PM and dinner nightly from
6 to 10 PM. Closed Sunday. Carry-out available.
Bay Bistro — Sibonné Beach Hotel. Tel: 946-5396. Oceanfront
dining featuring creative international cuisine. Open daily
7 AM to 10 PM. Weekend brunch. Catering and special events.
Beaches Resort & Spa — The Bight. Tel: 946-8000.
All-inclusive resort. A variety of restaurants and bars on premises.
Non-guests can purchase a pass.
Bella Luna Ristorante — Glass House, Grace Bay Road. Tel:
946-5214. Fine Italian dining. Full bar and wine cellar. Indoor or
covered terrace seating above a tropical garden. Open daily for
dinner from 6 PM. Closed Sunday. Private catering available.
Big Al’s Island Grill — Salt Mills Plaza. Tel: 941-3797. Wide
selection of burgers, steaks, salads, and wraps in a diner-like
setting. Open daily from 11 AM to 10 PM.
Bugaloo’s Conch Crawl — Five Cays. Tel: 941-3863. The
freshest seafood in Provo, conch prepared to order, rum, buckets
of beer, live local bands. Open daily from Noon to 10 PM.
Cabana Bar & Grille — Ocean Club. Tel: 946-5880 x 1104.
Casual island fare, pizza, burgers. Open daily from 7 AM to
9 PM. Tropical cocktails with a spectacular view of the sea.
Caicos Bakery — Caicos Café Plaza. Authentic French boulangerie.
Fresh-baked breads, rolls, croissants, muffins, quiche,
pastries, cakes. Open 7 AM to 4:30 PM daily except Sunday.
Caicos Café — Caicos Café Plaza. Tel: 946-5278.
Mediterranean specialties, grilled local seafood. Fine wines, dining
on the deck. Open 6 PM to 10 PM Monday to Saturday.
Carambola Grill & Lounge — Airport Inn Plaza. Tel: 946-
8122. Generous portions of local and international fare at
moderate prices in a casual atmosphere. Catering available.
The Caravel Restaurant — Grace Bay Court. Tel: 941-5330.
Cozy restaurant offering island food with flair; something for
everyone. Daily happy hour. Open daily 11 AM to 10 PM; Sunday
5 to 9 PM.
Chicken Chicken — Times Square, downtown Provo. Fast food,
fried chicken, native fare.
Chinson Jade Garden Pastries & Deli — Leeward Highway.
Tel: 941-3533. Caribbean pastries, fresh bakery and Jamaican
and Chinese cuisine. Lunch buffet/take-out. Open Monday to
Saturday, 7 AM to 8 PM; Sunday, 2 PM to 8 PM.
Chopsticks — Neptune Court. Tel: 333-4040. Fusion of Asian
cuisines–light, healthy and delicious in a beautiful setting. Takeaway,
delivery, on-site dining. Open daily Noon to 3 PM and
5:30 to 10:30 PM. Closed Sunday.
Club Med — Grace Bay Road. Tel: 946-5500. All-inclusive
resort. Buffet-style dining; live show and disco in the evenings.
Non-guests can purchase a daily pass.
Coco Bistro — Grace Bay Road. Tel: 946-5369. Continental
Caribbean cuisine by Chef Stuart Gray under a canopy of palms.
Serving dinner nightly from 6 PM. Closed Monday.
Coyaba Restaurant — Caribbean Paradise Inn. Tel: 946-5186.
Contemporary Caribbean gourmet cuisine in a private tropical
garden setting. Extensive wine list. Dinner nightly from 6 to 10
PM. Closed Tuesday. Reservations recommended. Catering, special
events, private chef visits.
Crackpot Kitchen — Ports of Call. Tel: 245-0005. Experience
the Island feel, culture and the best of authentic Turks & Caicos
and Caribbean cuisines. Open for dinner 5 to 10 PM daily except
Thursday; Happy Hour 5 to 7 PM.
Crust Bakery & Café — Graceway IGA. Tel: 941-8724.
Breakfast sandwiches, specialty coffees, soups, salads, gourmet
sandwiches and desserts. Open Monday to Saturday, 7 AM to
8:30 PM. Covered patio dining or take-out. Catering available.
Da Conch Shack & RumBar — Blue Hills. Tel: 946-8877.
Island-fresh seafood from the ocean to your plate. Covered
beachfront dining for lunch and dinner daily from 11 AM.
Danny Buoy’s Irish Pub — Grace Bay Road. Tel: 946-5921.
Traditional Irish cuisine, standard American pub fare; imported
draught beers. Open for lunch and dinner daily from 11 AM.
Happy Hour specials. Large screen TVs for sporting events.
The Deck — Seven Stars Resort. Tel: 941-7777. All day dining
and cocktails by the water’s edge. Open daily 11 AM to 11 PM.
Live music Friday nights.
Dune — Windsong Resort. Tel: 333-7700. Private beachfront
dining with limited availability. Fresh fare prepared to perfection.
Open daily.
Fairways Bar & Grill — Provo Golf Club. Tel: 946-5833.
Dine overlooking the “greens.” Open to all for lunch Monday
to Thursday and breakfast from 9 AM on Sunday. Friday Pub
Nights, Saturday BBQ.
Fire & Ice — Blue Haven Resort & Marina. Tel: 946-9900.
Drinks at the Ice Bar, dessert by the fire pits in the Fire Lounge.
South American-meets-Caribbean flavors and spices. Open for
breakfast daily 7:30 to 10:30 AM; dinner 6 to 9:30 PM. Closed
Wednesday.
Fresh Bakery & Bistro — Atrium Resort. Tel: 345-4745.
Healthy European salads, soups, sandwiches, bakery, pies and
cakes. Gelato. Open daily 7 AM to 6 PM, closed Sunday.
Fresh Catch — Salt Mills Plaza. Tel: 243-3167. Authentic native
cuisine, from seafood to soup. All-you-can-eat seafood buffet on
Wednesday. Open daily 8 AM to 10 PM. Closed Sunday.
Garam Masala — Regent Village. Tel: 941-3292. Authentic
Indian cuisine, including tandoori charcoal-oven specialties.
Open daily Noon to 3 PM, 5:30 PM to Midnight. Closed Tuesday.
Giggles Ice Cream & Candy Parlour — Ports of Call &
Williams Storage. Tel: 941-7370. Cones, sundaes, shakes,
smoothies, “Gigglers,” ice cream pies and cakes. Pick ‘n’ mix
candies. Open daily 11 AM to 10 PM.
Gilley’s Cafe — At the airport. Tel: 946-4472. Burgers, sandwiches,
local food. Full bar. Open daily 6 AM to 9 PM.
Grace’s Cottage — Point Grace Resort. Tel: 946-5096.
Elegant, gourmet Caribbean cuisine showcasing regional foods.
Extensive wine list. Gazebo seating under the stars or indoor
dining in a romantic gingerbread cottage. Serving dinner from
6 PM nightly. Reservations required. Weddings and receptions.
Greenbean — Harbour Town at Turtle Cove. Tel: 941-2233.
Times of the Islands Fall 2016 79

Internet café, Starbucks® coffee, salads, wraps, pizza, sandwiches,
fresh bakery. Open daily 7 AM to 6 PM.
The Grill Rouge — Grace Bay Club. Tel: 946-5050. Casual
oceanfront poolside bistro, serving international bistro fare.
Cool cocktails at the swim-up bar. Open 7 AM to 9:30 PM daily.
Havana Club — Windsong Resort. Tel: 941-7700. Fine wine,
specialty coffees, decadent desserts, with comedy/magic shows
on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and music and sports nights.
Healthy Treats Restaurant & Deli — Touch of Class Plaza,
Airport Road. Tel: 241-3318. Native Caribbean dishes, fresh
juices, smoothies. Call to order.
Hemingways on the Beach — The Sands at Grace Bay. Tel:
941-8408. Casual beachfront bar and restaurant. Fresh fish,
pasta, sandwiches, salads and tropical drinks by the pool.
Oceanfront deck for great sunsets! Open 8 AM to 10 PM daily.
Hole in the Wall Restaurant & Bar — Williams Plaza, Old
Airport Road. Tel: 941-4136. Authentic Jamaican/Island cuisine
where the locals go for jerk chicken. Full bar. Indoor A/C dining
or outdoors on the deck. Open 7 days from 8 AM. Cash only.
Infiniti Restaurant — Grace Bay Club. Tel: 946-5050. Elegant
beachfront dining for lunch and dinner. Gourmet Euro/
Caribbean cuisine; fine wines. Full bar and lounge. Reservations
required.
Island Conch Bar & Grill — Bight Cultural Market. Tel: 946-
8389. Caribbean and local cuisine. Open daily 11 AM to 9 PM.
Island Scoop — Grace Bay Plaza. Tel: 242-8511/243-5051.
21 flavors of ice cream made locally. Cones, smoothies, blizzards
and shakes. Open daily, 11 AM to 10 PM.
The Java Bar — Graceway Gourmet. Tel: 941-5000. Gourmet
café serving fresh baked desserts, sandwiches and coffee
delights. Open 7 AM to 8 PM daily.
Jimmy’s Dive Bar — Ports of Call. Tel: 946-5282. The place for
steaks, BBQ, booze and breakfast. Open daily, 7 AM to 11 PM,
(Thursday to Saturday to Midnight); open Sunday at 8 AM.
Kalooki’s Beach Restaurant & Bar — Blue Hills. Tel:
332-3388. Caribbean-infused dishes in an oasis-like setting
overlooking the sea. Open Monday to Saturday, 11 AM to 10 PM;
Sunday 11 AM to 7 PM. Live music every Friday!
KItchen 218 — Beach House, Lower Bight Road. Tel: 946-5800.
Caribbean cuisine with hints of French and Asian fusion and the
chef’s passion for fresh ingredients. Open 8 AM to 10 PM daily.
The Landing Bar & Kitchen — Grace Bay Road across from
Regent Village. Tel: 341-5856. Unique nautical setting for dinner
under the stars. Cocktails, fire pit. Open daily 5:30 PM to . . .
Las Brisas — Neptune Villas, Chalk Sound. Tel: 946-5306.
Mediterranean/Caribbean cuisine with tapas, wine and full bar.
Terrace, gazebo and inside dining overlooking Chalk Sound.
Open daily 8 AM to 10 PM, Tuesday 8 AM to 3 PM.
Le Bouchon du Village — Regent Village. Tel: 946-5234. A
taste of Paris in TCI. Sidewalk café with sandwiches, salads, tartines,
tapas, nightly dinner specials. Open daily 7 AM to 10 PM.
Closed Sunday.
Le Comptoir Francais — Regent Village. Tel: 946-5234.
French deli, bakery, wine shop. Open daily.
Lemon 2 Go Coffee — Ventura House, Grace Bay Road. Tel:
941-4487. Gourmet coffeehouse. Sandwiches, muffins, cookies,
croissants, yogurt, salads. Open Monday to Saturday 7:30 AM to
7 PM, Sunday 9 AM to 1 PM.
The Lounge — Grace Bay Club. Tel: 946-5050. Decidedly hip
lounge. Caribbean-infused tapas, martinis, tropical cocktails,
world music and the finest sunset location in Providenciales.
Lupo — Regent Village. Tel: 431-5876. Authentic Italian “comfort
food.” Regional wine list. Dine in or take out ready-made
gourmet meals. Open daily for lunch and dinner.
Magnolia Restaurant & Wine Bar — Miramar Resort. Tel:
941-5108. International cuisine with island flavors, north shore
views. Open for dinner from 6 to 9:30 PM except Monday. Wine
bar opens at 4 PM.
Mango Reef — Turtle Cove. Tel: 946-8200. Old favorites in a
new location. Fresh local flavors and seafood, homemade desserts.
Open daily 8 AM to 10 PM. Set price dinner on weekdays.
Children’s menu. Tie-up to dock at Turtle Cove Marina.
Market Café — Blue Haven Resort. Tel: 946-9900. Gourmet
coffees, teas, frozen drinks; fresh breads and pastries; grab ‘n’
go salads and sandwiches, fresh smoothies. Open daily 7 AM to
8 PM.
Melt Ice Cream Parlour — Regent Village. Tel: 432-1234.
Carefully crafted selection of sumptous and inspired sundaes,
with coffee, champagne and cocktails for the grown-ups! Open
Monday to Saturday, 9 AM to 10 PM.
Mis Amigos Cocina Mexicana — Central Square. Tel: 946-
4229. A variety of traditional Mexican fare, including salads and
the best margaritas in town. Open daily.
Mother’s Pizza — Downtown Times Square. Tel: 941-4142.
Best pizza in the Turks & Caicos, available by the slice or the
island’s biggest “large.” Open daily 11 AM to 9 PM; to 10 PM on
Friday and Saturday; Noon to 8 PM on Sunday.
Mr. Groupers — Lower Bight and Airport Road. Tel: 242-6780.
Serving fresh local seafood straight from the sea. Open daily 10
AM to 11 PM.
Noodle Bar + Kitchen — West Bay Club. Tel: 946-8550.
Delicious rice and noodle dishes and hearty staples with
uniquely Caribbean flavors and spices. Open for lunch and dinner
daily to 9:30 PM.
Opus — Ocean Club Plaza. Tel: 946-5885. Wine • Bar • Grill
International menu with Caribbean flair. Wine tastings. Serving
dinner nightly 6 to 10:30 PM. Closed Monday. Indoor/outdoor
dining. Conference facility, events, catering.
Parallel23 — The Palms. Tel: 946-8666. Pan-tropical cuisine in
a setting of casual elegance. Boutique wine list. Al fresco or private
dining room available. Open for breakfast and dinner daily.
The Patty Place — Behind Shining Stars; Le Petit Place, Blue
Hills. Tel: 246-9000. Authentic Jamaican patties and loaves. 18
flavors of Devon House ice cream. Open daily 9:30 AM to 10 PM.
Pavilion — The Somerset. Tel: 339-5900. Chef Brad offers a
global palate, interpreted locally. Lobster tank. Seafood raw bar.
Open daily for breakfast and dinner; Sunday Prime Rib special.
Pelican Bay — Royal West Indies Resort. Tel: 941-2365.
Poolside restaurant and bar with French, Caribbean and Asian
fare. Breakfast, lunch, dinner daily from 7:30 AM to 10 PM.
Pepper Town Café — Digicel Cinema, #4. Tel: 246-9237.
Native and Caribbean Dishes. Open daily except Sunday 11:30
AM to 7 PM. Island breakfast on Saturday at 7 AM.
Pizza Pizza — Grace Bay Plaza/Cinema Plaza. Tel: 941-
8010/941-3577. New York style specialty pizzas. Open daily
11:30 AM to 9:30 PM, weekends until 10 PM. Free delivery.
Rickie’s Flamingo Café — Between Ocean Club and Club Med.
Tel: 244-3231. Local fare and atmosphere right on the beach.
Best grouper sandwich and rum punch! Don’t miss Curry Fridays
and Beach BBQ Saturdays.
Sailing Paradise — Blue Hills. Tel: 344-1914. Casual beachfront
restaurant and bar. Caribbean fare. Open daily 7 AM to 11
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PM. Sunday brunch and beach party, daily happy hour.
Salt Bar & Grill — Blue Haven Resort & Marina. Tel: 946-9900.
Casual dining with outdoor seating overlooking the marina.
Sandwiches, burgers and salads, classic bar favorites with local
flair. Open daily from 11:30 AM to 9:30 PM.
Seaside Café — Ocean Club West. Tel: 946-5254. Casual fare,
burgers, salads, tropical drinks, served with panoramic views of
the ocean. Open daily from 8 AM to 10 PM. Kid-friendly.
Seven — Seven Stars Resort. Tel: 339-7777. Elevated contemporary
cuisine fused with TCI tradition. Open Wednesday to
Saturday, 5:30 to 9:30 PM.
72West — The Palms Resort. Tel: 946-8666. Beachside dining
with a family-friendly, Caribbean-inspired menu. Serving lunch
daily; dinner seasonally.
Sharkbite Bar & Grill — Admiral’s Club at Turtle Cove. Tel:
941-5090. Varied menu. Sports bar/game room with slots. Open
daily from 11 AM to 2 AM.
Shay Café — Le Vele Plaza. Tel: 331-6349. Offering organic
coffees and teas, sandwiches, salads and soup, pastries, as well
as gelato, sorbetto, smoothies, beer and wine. Open daily 7 AM
to 7 PM.
Somewhere Café & Lounge — Coral Gardens Resort. Tel:
941-8260. Casual dining with Tex-Mex flair right on the beach.
Cocktails, beers, specialty drinks. Open early to late daily.
Stelle — Gansevoort Turks + Caicos. Tel: 946-5746. Modern
Mediterranean cuisine featuring fresh fish and seafood. Open 6
to 10 PM daily, until 2 AM on Friday with DJ. Beach bar and grill
open for lunch 11:30 AM to 5 PM daily.
Thai Orchid — The Regent Village. Tel: 946-4491. Authentic
Thai cuisine; over 60 choices! Dine in or carry out. Open for
lunch and dinner daily.
Three Brothers Restaurant — Town Center Mall, Downtown.
Tel: 232-4736. Seafood and native cuisine. Tuesday night buffet
dinner. Catering services. Open daily, 7 AM to 10 PM.
Three Queens Bar & Restaurant — Wheeland. Tel: 243-
5343. Oldest bar on Provo, serving Jamaican and Native dishes.
Serving lunch and dinner from Monday to Saturday.
Tiki Hut Island Eatery — New location dockside at Turtle
Cove Inn. Tel: 941-5341. Imaginative sandwiches, salads, seafood,
Black Angus beef, pasta, pizzas and fresh fish. Wednesday
crab and lobster specials. Open daily 11 AM to 10 PM. Breakfast
on weekends.
Turkberry Frozen Yogurt — The Regent Village. Tel: 431-
2233. Frozen yogurt in a variety of flavors, with a large selection
of toppings. Open 11 AM to 11 PM daily.
Turks Kebab — At Craft Market on Sand Castle Drive. Tel: 431-
9964. Turkish and Mediterranean fare. Salads, falafel, gyros,
kebabs, hummus. Open for lunch and dinner.
Via Veneto — Ports of Call. Tel: 941-2372. Authentic Italian
dining in a stylish indoor/outdoor venue. Serving lunch from
11:30 AM to 2 PM; snacks with wine and drinks from 5:30 PM
and dinner from 7:30 PM daily. Closed on Tuesday.
The Vix Bar & Grill — Regent Village. Tel: 941-4144. High-end
cuisine and the finest wines in an inviting ambiance. Open daily
for breakfast, lunch and dinner from 7:30 AM to 10 PM.
Yoshi’s Japanese Restaurant — The Saltmills. Tel: 941-3374.
Sushi bar menu plus Wagyu beef, Japanese curries. Open daily
Noon to 3 PM; 6 to 10 PM. Closed Sunday.
Zanzi Bar & Tapas Restaurant — Leeward Highway. Tel: 342-
2472. Sophistication meets class at the new tapas eatery and
entertainment venue overlooking Grace Bay.
dining out – north caicos
Club Titters — Bottle Creek. Tel: 946-7316. Local dishes for
breakfast, lunch and dinner. Live music weekends.
Higgs’ Café — Sandy Point Marina. Tel: 242-9426 or 341-9084.
Local cuisine served daily from 7 AM.
Last Chance Bar & Grill Club — Bottle Creek. Tel: 232-4141.
Waterfront dining. American and Caribbean dishes. Open 10:30
AM for breakfast and lunch; dinner by reservation.
Miss B’s— King’s Road. Tel: 241-3939. Authentic local and
Caribbean cuisine. Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Catering, delivery, take-out. Wednesday Fish Fry.
Pappa Grunt’s Seafood Restaurant — Whitby Plaza. Tel/fax:
946-7301. Native & American cuisine daily.
Pelican Beach Hotel — Tel: 946-7112. Well known for native
conch, lobster, grouper and snapper dishes.
Silver Palm Restaurant — Whitby. Tel: 946-7113/244-4186.
Local seafood and international cuisine. Home-baked breads
and desserts. Breakfast, lunch, dinner. Screened patio.
dining out – south caicos
Café Periwinkle and Blu — East Bay Resort. Tel: 946-3611.
Casual or fine dining serving top-class local and international
fare. Lounge and pool bar. Open daily.
Eastern Inn Restaurant — Stamers Street. Tel: 946-3301.
Ocean & Beach Resort — Cockburn Harbour. Tel: 946 3219.
Native cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.
Pond View Restaurant — Tel: 946-3276. Native cuisine.
dining out – middle caicos
Daniel’s Restaurant — Conch Bar. Tel: 245-2298/232-6132.
Local seafood, homemade breads. Open Tuesday to Sunday. Call
ahead for groups and dinner reservations.
dining out – grand turk
Bird Cage Restaurant — Osprey Beach Hotel. Tel: 946-1453.
Full bar & restaurant. Lunch and dinner daily.
Guanahani — Bohio Resort. Tel: 946-2135. Gourmet menu of
French, Italian and Asian influence with a Caribbean twist. Open
daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The Inn Restaurant & Bar — Grand Turk Inn. Tel: 431-0466.
A taste of Asian fusions. Open daily for lunch and dinner.
Closed on Tuesday.
Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville — Grand Turk Cruise Center.
High energy bar and restaurant. Swim-up pool bar and signature
menu of grilled favorites.
Sand Bar Restaurant — Manta House Beach. Tel: 946-1111.
Quinessential beach bar serving local seafood specialties. Open
for lunch and dinner, Sunday to Friday.
Secret Garden — Salt Raker Inn. Tel: 946-2260. Local &
American dishes in a garden courtyard. English breakfast.
Weekly BBQ and sing-alongs.
dining out –salt cay
Coral Reef Bar & Grill — Tel: 232-1009. Breakfast, lunch and
dinner daily on the beach. Full service bar.
Pat’s Place — Island-style garden restaurant in historic district.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.
Porter’s Island Thyme — Tel: 242-0325. Gourmet island dining
in open air dining room. Full bar. a
Times of the Islands Fall 2016 81

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