Times of the Islands Winter 2019/20

TIMES 

OF THE 

ISLANDS 

SAMPLING THE SOUL OF THE TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDS WINTER 2019 /20 NO. 129 

BIRDS & BINOCULARS 

A clear view required 

BIG THRILLS 

Whales in Grand Turk 

FINAL GOODBYES 

TCI funeral traditions 

GOING UNDER 

Salt Cay shipwrecks

T U R K S & C A I C O S ’ U LT I M AT E 

FA N TA S Y F O O D FA C E - O F F 

Two 

spectacular 

chefs. 

Executive Chef Lauren Callighen 

Parallel23 at The Palms 

Executive Chef Martin Davies 

SUI-REN at The Shore Club 

S U I - R E N 

Award-winning Executive 

Chef Martin Davies fuses 

Japanese cuisine with 

Peruvian flair into a 

brilliant blend of the 

PA R A L L E L 2 3 

Award-winning Executive 

freshest seafood and 

organic produce. 

Chef Lauren Callighen 

works her magic with 

Caribbean fusion 

cuisine featuring the 

freshest local ingredients 

And 

you're the 

judge. 

seasoned with an abundant 

dash of creativity. 

A T T H E P A L M S O N G R A C E B A Y 

at The Shore Club on Long Bay Beach 

Open nightly 6:00 –10:30pm 

649.946.8666 | thepalmstc.com 

Open nightly 6:00 –10:30pm 

649.339.8000 | theshoreclubtc.com

TURKS & CAICOS 

Generation 

Everyone 

Everything’s Included for Everyone! 

2018 


More Quality 

Inclusions than 

any other Resorts 

in the World 

At Beaches ® Turks & Caicos, everyone can create their 

own perfect vacation. For some, it’s the white-sand 

beaches and calm waters featuring unlimited land and 

water sports. For others, it’s the awesome 45,000 sq. 

ft. waterpark with surf simulator. There’s 5-Star Global 

Gourmet TM dining at 21 incredible restaurants, and 

non-stop bars and entertainment —and it’s always 

included. Even the tips, taxes, and Beaches transfers*. 

We’ve even added trend-setting food trucks, new live 

entertainment, and re-styled accommodations 

… making the World’s Best even better for 

Generation Everyone. 

BEACHES.COM in the U.S. & Canada: 1-800-BEACHES 

In the Caribbean: 1-888-BEACHES; In Turks & Caicos 649-946-8000 

@beachesresorts 

WORLD’S BEST ALL-INCLUSIVE FAMILY RESORTS 

21 

YEARS IN A ROW AT THE WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS 

TM/© 2019 Sesame Workshop 

*Airport transfers included. Other transfers may be additional. Beaches ® is a registered trademark. Unique Vacations, Inc., is an affiliate of Unique Travel Corp., the worldwide representative of Beaches Resorts.

contents 

Departments 

6 From the Editor 

15 Around the Islands 

Ice Cream in Parrotice 

By Jody Rathgeb ~ Photos By Tom Rathgeb 

20 Eye on the Sky 

Hidden Dangers 

By Paul Wilkerson 

24 Creature Feature 

Big Thrills — 

Meeting Humpback whales in Grand Turk 

By Brian Heagney 

Photos By Brian Heagney & Sabine Frank 

71 Faces & Places 

MOTTAC Music Festival 

Story & Photos By David Newlands 

72 About the Islands/TCI Map 

77 Where to Stay 

78 Classified Ads 

80 Dining Out 

82 Subscription Form 

Features 

44 Final Goodbyes 

By Jody Rathgeb 

50 Birds & Binoculars 

By William J. Cook ~ Photos By Marta Morton 

Green Pages 

30 The Mighty Mangrove 

By Ewa Krzyszczyk 

36 Onus or Bonus? 

By Kristy Lee, Sylvia Myers, Debbie Bartlett and 

Franziska Elmer 

40 Roadmap to Sustainability 

By Megan Tierney, Lucy Beagley, 

Lormeka Williams, Cherylann S. Jones, 

Michelle Fulford-Gardiner and Eric F. Salamanca 

Photos By Eric F. Salamanca 

TIMES 

OF THE 

ISLANDS 

SAMPLING THE SOUL OF THE TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDS WINTER 2019/20 NO. 129 

On the Cover 

Marta Morton caught this rather disorganized group of 

flamingos at North Creek, during a visit to Salt Cay. The 

old salinas and salt pans there provide a varied habitat 

for waterbirds of all kinds. 

Marta documents her life in Turks & Caicos as proprietoress 

of Harbour Club Villas with her camera, and readers 

are well-familiar with the magic she creates. To see more 

of Marta’s images, see “Birds & Binoculars” on page 50 

and go to www.harbourclubvillas.com. 

15 

Astrolabe 

60 Going Under 

Story & Photos By Dr. Joost Morsink & 

Dr. Ruud Stelten 

66 TCI in WWII 

By Captain Eric Wilberg 

TOM RATHGEB 

4 www.timespub.tc

TurksAndCaicosProperty.com 

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Mandalay is the most sophisticated expansive villa built on Providenciales and is set on over 200’ of 

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design capturing the essence of open Caribbean living with a masterful layout that revolves 

a ro u n d a s p e c t a c u l a r m u l t i - l eve l p o o l w i t h c e n t r a l l o u n g e , fi re p i t a n d c a s c a d i n g w a t e r f e a t u re s . 

US$15,000,000 

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Cell ~ 649 231 4029 | Tel ~ 649 941 3361 

Bernadette@TurksAndCaicosProperty.com 

Bernadette has lived in the Turks and Caicos 

Islands for over 21 years and witnessed the 

development and transition of the islands 

into a significant tourist destination. Based 

on independent figures her gross transaction 

numbers are unrivalled. Bernadette 

has listings on Providenciales, Pine Cay, 

Ambergris Cay, North and Middle Caicos 

and is delighted to work with sellers and 

buyers of homes, condos, commercial real 

estate and vacant undeveloped sites. 

Long Bay Beachfront Land 

This highly desirable 2 acre parcel of Long Bay beachfront land has an expenasive 150’ of beach 

frontage and is part of a private residential neighborhood with surrounding spectacular multimilliondollar 

villas and luxury developments. This vacant estate site is directly adjacent to The Pearl Villas 

and the property has been subdivded into two seperate 1 acre lots that are ready to be developed. 

US$3,600,000 

Turks and Caicos Property is the leading 

independent real estate firm in the Turks and 

Caicos Islands with offices located at Ocean 

Club West Resort and Ocean Club West 

Plaza on the Grace Bay Road. 

Bernadette’s reputation and success has been 

earned over time through her dedication, 

enthusiasm and passion for real estate. Her 

personal experience as having practiced law 

in the islands for more than 10 years together 

with owning and renovating a number of 

properties means she is well-placed to advise 

her customers and developers on what to 

anticipate in the purchasing and construction 

process. 

Bernadette delights in working in the real 

estate industry and her humor and energy 

make her a pleasure to work with. 

Villa Aquazure - Leeward Beachfront 

Villa Aquazure is a beautifully designed beachfront vacation rental villa with a total of 4 

bedrooms and is located in the most desirable neighborhood of Leeward on the northeastern 

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Please contact Bernadette if you would like 

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the Turks & Caicos Islands. 

US$4,250,000

from the editor 

MARTA MORTON—HARBOUR CLUB VILLAS 

This surreal shot of a late-autumn sunset was captured by Marta Morton overlooking the Harbour Club Villas and Marina docks at South Side 

Marina. 

Sunrise, Sunset 

As I was looking at this photo, one of the songs from the musical “Fiddler on the Roof” came to mind: “Sunrise, 

sunset; Sunrise, sunset; Swiftly fly the years; One season following another; Laden with happiness and tears.” That’s 

how I feel these days, as time speeds by and the people and places near and dear to me change. 

I think that’s why the late autumn’s sunlight brings me such joy. It starts with the slow arrival of dawn, marked by 

a conch-shell pink tint to the sky, deepening to rose-red at the tops of the billowing clouds at the horizon. Afternoons 

are dipped in gold, the sun painting everything in sight with a burnished beauty. These scenes always remind me 

of my belief that the God of creation is a master. Nothing humans create comes close to the glorious splendor of 

the natural world. This shouts of the existence of a good God, a God of love, a God who will never change. And that 

brings me great comfort. 

Whenever I count my blessings, living in the Turks & Caicos Islands and having this job come near the top of the 

list. I revel in being able to showcase this country’s “Beautiful by Nature” portraits and stories in each issue. May this 

issue bring you the same joy, beauty and wonder. 

Kathy Borsuk, Editor 

timespub@tciway.tc • (649) 431-4788 

6 www.timespub.tc

Introducing the Boathouses 

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At Beaches ® Turks & Caicos, everyone can create their own perfect day. For some, it’s the 

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included—tips, taxes and Beaches transfers*, too. We’ve even added trend-setting food trucks, 

new live entertainment, and re-styled accommodations … making the World’s Best even better. 

*Visit www.beaches.com/disclaimers/timesoftheislandsspring2019 or call 1-800-SANDALS for important terms and conditions. 

Hang out with some real 

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TM/© 2019 Sesame Workshop 

BEACHES.COM • In the U.S. and Canada: 1-800-BEACHES; 

In the Caribbean: 1-888-BEACHES; In Turks & Caicos: 649-946-8000 or call your Travel Professional

THE WORLD’S BEST IS 

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BEACHES VOTED WORLD’S BEST 

21 


Beaches ® Turks & Caicos has held the top spot at the World Travel 

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For more information, visit BEACHES.COM 

In the U.S. and Canada: 1-800-BEACHES; 

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Gourmet TM dining at 21 incredible restaurants, and non-stop bars 

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Five Distinct Villages 

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The Leading Private Bank in the Turks and Caicos Islands 

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HOMES IN PARADISE 

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Cell/WhatsApp: 649-232-5277 

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TIMES 

MANAGING EDITOR 

Kathy Borsuk 

ADVERTISING MANAGER 

Claire Parrish 

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS 

Debbie Bartlett, Lucy Beagley, Kathy Borsuk, 

William J. Cook, Franziska Elmer, Michelle Fulford-Gardiner, 

Brian Heagney, Cherylann S. Jones, Ewa Krzyszczyk, 

Kristy Lee, B Naqqi Manco, Dr. Joost Morsink, Sylvia Myers, 

David Newlands, Dr. Michael P. Pateman, Jody Rathgeb, 

Dr. Eric F. Salamanca, Dr. Ruud Stelten, Megan Tierney, 

Captain Eric Wilberg, Paul Wilkerson, 

Candianne Williams, Lormeka Williams. 

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS 

Amy Caicos, Can Stock Photo, Franzsika Elmer, 

Brian Heagney, Heidi Hertler, Sabine Frank, iStock.com, 

Ewa Krzyszczyk, Kristy Lee, Agile LeVin, Dr. Joost Morsink, 

Marta Morton, David Newlands, NOAA, 

Dr. Michael P. Pateman, Tom Rathgeb, Dr. Eric F. Salamanca, 

Ramona Settle, Dr. Ruud Stelten, Turks & Caicos National 

Museum Collection, Candianne Williams. 

CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS 

Wavey Line Publishing 

PRINTING 

PF Solutions, Miami, FL 

OF THE 

ISLANDS 

Times of the Islands ISSN 1017-6853 is 

published quarterly by Times Publications Ltd. 

Copyright © 2020 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 

non-U.S. mailing addresses 

Submissions We welcome submission of articles or photography, but 

assume no responsibility for care and return of unsolicited material. 

Return postage must accompany material if it is to be returned. In no 

event shall any writer or photographer subject this magazine to any 

claim for holding fees or damage charges on unsolicited material. 

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 

responsibility for such alterations or for typographical or other errors. 

Business Office 

Times Publications Ltd., P.O. Box 234, 

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Tel/Fax 649 941 4788 or 431 4788 

Advertising 649 431 7527 

E-mail timespub@tciway.tc 

Web: www.timespub.tc 

14 www.timespub.tc

around the Islands 

Parrotice owner Patti DesLauriers has fun with the photo-op placards created by 

Rita Shaw of Middle Caicos. 

Ice Cream in Parrotice 

North Caicos shop offers big scoops of opportunity. 

Many know the silly childhood chant, “I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream.” In the case of 

Parrotice on North Caicos, though, it was the land that screamed, calling out, “I want to be an ice cream 

shop!” Also silly? Owner Patti DesLauriers explains. 

By Jody Rathgeb ~ Photos By Tom Rathgeb 

Times of the Islands Winter 2019/20 15

Patti DesLauriers and Howie Bartels had owned a piece 

of property along the highway just past Major Hill Road in 

North Caicos since 2002. Originally, they thought they’d 

build their home on the land, but later decided to place 

the house away from the road, in Major Hill. In 2018, they 

began clearing the property, intending to sell it. 

“When it was cleared, I looked at it and said, ‘This is 

perfect for an ice cream shop,’” Patti relates. “I always 

thought this island needed an ice cream shop.” 

DesLauriers admits her idea was a bit crazy. A previous 

restaurant that sold ice cream had gone dormant, 

and Patti had no experience in the ice cream business. 

But she is creative and curious. She did lots of research, 

bought an ice cream maker and began experimenting 

with recipes. “I’d make everyone I know taste it, then go 

back and try more,” she says. She concentrated on fresh 

ingredients and local sourcing, finally coming up with a 

list of flavors she believed would work. 

Ice cream alone, however, does not make an ice cream 

shop. Along with the recipes, Patti worked on other developments. 

• Building the shop itself was step one. Major Hill 

builder Charlton Gardiner did all the basic work, and 

Bartels, who is employed by Gardiner, added a porch, 

did the inside finishing work and made tables and outside 

seating. Patti did the painting herself, sometimes 

enlisting help from friends. She favors bright colors and 

combined them to make the place eye-catching and fun. 

• Getting equipment and supplies took time, money 

and the usual patience of bringing goods to the islands. 

The small shop has a surprising amount of overhead, 

including two ice cream makers, freezer and refrigerator, 

prep sinks and counters, a popcorn machine and more. 

• Following health department regulations and getting 

a business license took much time and effort, requiring 

lots of trips to Provo, visits from inspectors, and just plain 

old red tape. Patti says those efforts took a lot out of her, 

but she was determined not to give up. 

• Finding workers among the local population was 

an important priority. “I didn’t want to employ myself. 

I wanted to give back to the island,” Patti explains. She 

found exceptional people to run the shop in Islanders 

Sherry Williams, manager and ice cream maker, and 

Deshanti Forbes, a recent graduate of Raymond Gardiner 

High School. Both women quickly became more than 

employees; Sherry helped Patti to tweak and perfect the 

ice cream recipes, and Deshanti listened to the first customers 

and passed on suggestions for new flavors and 

other food items to complement the offerings. 

The Parrotice menu features cool treats and fun foods. 

16 www.timespub.tc

Deshanti Forbes (at left) and Sherry Williams take shifts to run the shop. Williams, the manager, also makes the ice creams. 

Other people voluntarily became involved, too, caught up in the fun and excitement. Rita Shaw, an artist who 

lives on Middle Caicos, made photo-op placards for Parrotice, and David Kennedy of Sandy Point donated a bit of 

framed decoration. Jim Frey of Middle Caicos carved an ice-cream-eating parrot (a nod to the shop’s logo) from a section 

of casuarina tree and presented it as a gift, naming 

it Iceman. You could say that artists just flocked to the 

place. 

On the menu 

Parrotice Ice Cream and Sno had a soft opening in July 

2019 as Patti’s team worked to develop some local support 

before launching into tourist season. Basic menu 

items are ice cream cones or bowls, sno-cones, popcorn, 

hot dogs and grilled cheese sandwiches. The standard list 

of ice cream flavors includes coconut, vanilla, chocolate, 

strawberry, rum raisin, peppermint, cookies and cream 

and butter pecan, but there is also a flavor of the week 

and the Parrotice team keeps coming up with new ideas. 

On that list are banana (locally sourced), banana-strawberry 

and other flavors that will come from North Caicos 

fruits. People who want to purchase pints or quarts of ice 

cream can call a day ahead to place an order. 

There are non-food offerings as well. Customers are 

encouraged to hang out, playing cards or dominoes, taking 

photos or using the free Wi-Fi. Patti is pleased that 

Parrotice has become a family-friendly social place, and 

hopes to develop in that direction with a swing set and 

some other playground items for children. 


Giving back 

Patti is serious about wanting to give back to the North 

Caicos community. She jokes that the place probably 

won’t turn a profit for at least 20 years, but profit isn’t 

her motive. “My vision is, I would like to have this area 

be a sort-of park with a number of little businesses and 

pathways connecting them.” To that end, she is offering 

Islanders the space, rent-free, to build their own nearby 

business spots, envisioning an art gallery, gift shop, tiki 

bar . . . “whatever,” she says. She adds, though, that her 

offer is only for local entrepreneurs and small businesses, 

not foreign chains. 

The Parrotice logo, a cartoon parrot eating an ice 

cream cone, typifies the playful attitude that Patti wants 

the business to have and keep. She hopes to keep it fun 

for Islanders and tourists alike while offering cool treats 

and snacks to make people happy to be in her Parrotice 

paradise.a 

To place an order or find out more, call (649) 242-8604. 

Patti DesLauriers asked her sister if opening an ice cream shop was 

a crazy idea. Her sister quoted the “Field of Dreams” movie: “If you 

Walkin May2017_Layout 1 5/28/17 5:45 PM Page 1 

build Ferry it, Fall they 17_Layout will come.” 1 8/22/17 12:52 PM Page 1 

* * 

Temporary suspension PROVO NORTH 12.30pm & 1.30pm Sept 1st to Oct 31st 

* 

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18 www.timespub.tc

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eye on the sky 

Opposite page: Water that is turbulently mixed with sand is a possible indication of a rip current. 

Above: Pelican Cay appears to be “just offshore” Bambarra Beach in Middle Caicos, but the distance and potential presence of rip currents 

can be deceiving and dangerous. 

AMY CAICOS 

Hidden Dangers 

Understanding rip currents and rip tides. 

By Paul Wilkerson 

Travelers from across the globe descend on the Turks & Caicos Islands at a steady pace throughout the 

year. Nearly all are drawn by photos of the clear turquoise waters that surround the country. Our family 

fell into that category. Images seemed surreal, and we wanted to see for ourselves if they were accurate. 

What we never thought about are the hidden dangers that lie beneath the waters—dangers present along 

nearly every coastline around the world, whether ocean or large lakes, such as the Great Lakes of the 

United States. What are these dangers? Rip currents and rip tides. 


Rip currents are off-shore flows that occur most often 

where breaking waves push water up the beach face. This 

water must naturally escape back out to sea. There are 

areas where this water will more easily flow back and 

this is where we are most likely to see rip currents form. 

Breaks in sand bars, deeper channels of any sort, any 

locations where deeper water is bordered by shallow 

waters, have the ability to harbor rip currents. 

In general, rip currents are not immense, usually 

averaging 20 to 50 feet wide, although they can occasionally 

be as much as 200 feet. Where rip currents set 

up, the flow of water within the current usually averages 

1 to 2 feet per second, yet can flow at up to 8 feet per 

second. At the upper end of this speed, it would be futile 

to try to swim against the current. 

So how do you spot a rip current, and if caught in 

one, survive? Spotting a rip current can be challenging, 

and on average 70% of people can’t identify them. Here’s 

how to up the odds. When you head to the beach, look 

at the wave patterns as they come into shallow waters. 

Look for breaks in waves where the water appears a bit 

calmer. Watch the way the water flows in these areas. It 

might be flowing out towards the ocean, and this is likely 

a rip current. 

Look for water offshore that appears to be discolored. 

This water usually has turbulently mixed with sand, 

possibly an indication of a rip current. Look for ripples on 

the surface of the water (within an active wave zone). Are 

these ripples moving toward the open ocean? You may 

have found a rip current. 

When you venture into the water to snorkel or just 

relax, take a look under the water and make note of any 

channels or breaks in sandbars. If you locate these, pay 

attention to the currents in and around them. Always 

exercise caution and be aware of what is going on around 

you before you venture into the water. 

If you do find yourself caught in a rip current, it is 

important to not panic. You need to have all your faculties 

available to save your life. If you feel yourself being 

carried away, swim parallel to and at a slight angle toward 

the shore. It may take a bit of time to realize you are making 

progress, but you will eventually escape the current 

and be able to make your way back. It is important to not 

swim directly against the current, as you will make very 

little progress and will tire quickly. Sadly, on average 100 

people succumb to rip currents in the United States every 

year. In most of these cases, the individuals could have 

survived by taking appropriate measures to escape the 

current. 

Unfortunately, three lives were lost off Middle Caicos 

in August 2019 due to another phenomenon that remains 

a hidden danger—riptides. It is important to note that 

NOAA 

22 www.timespub.tc

iptides are not the same as rip currents. Riptides develop 

naturally in harbors and other protected areas of water 

that are bordered by landmasses, jetties or inlets. Riptides 

occur as part of the natural tidal cycle daily. 

What many people may not know is that there are a 

couple of days each month when tidal forces are at their 

maximum, and several days when they are at their minimum. 

Right around the New Moon and Full Moon, tidal 

forces are maximized and the highest variation from high 

to low tide is likely to occur. These are called the Spring 

Tides. At the 1st and 3rd quarter of the moon, the tidal 

forces are at their minimum, called Neap Tides. 

What is most important to understand is that once 

high tide has occurred, water begins gradually flowing 

back out to sea as low tide approaches. This creates a 

natural pull/current out to sea. This is where a blocking 

land body or an inlet/jetty comes into play. 

Let’s take a look at Bambarra Beach and Pelican Cay 

where this tragedy occurred. As the water is being pulled 

away from shore, the placement of Pelican Cay effectively 

creates channels of strong current on either side of it as 

water is sucked away from the beach. These currents can 

become extremely powerful in the waters between the 

offshore cay and the beach. These forces and currents 

can last quite a way beyond the landmass around which 

they are created. What is generally knee-deep to waistdeep 

water can quickly become dangerous as the forces 

of the current overwhelm unsuspecting people, pulling 

them into deeper water and away from shore. It happens 

quickly and suddenly, occasionally leading to tragedy. 

It is important to remember, as in the case of rip 

currents, if you have been pulled into open waters due to 

a riptide, swim parallel to shore and at an angle toward 

shore. As you swim away from the riptide source, the 

effects will weaken and you should be able to safely land. 

Charged with this new knowledge, prior to your next 

visit take a moment to look up the tidal cycle for the days 

you are vacationing in the Turks & Caicos. Review areas 

where riptides or rip currents may be more common. A 

few minutes of preparation can ensure the safety of you 

and your family! a 

Paul Wilkerson is an American meteorologist and tourist 

who frequents the Turks & Caicos Islands. Along with 

his wife and two daughters, the Wilkersons stay actively 

engaged with Islanders throughout the year with his 

Facebook page Turks and Caicos Islands Weather Info. 

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creature feature 

Opposite page: The mother Humpback whale feeds her calf about 150 gallons of fat-rich milk every day. No wonder the calves are so playful! 

Above: When you make eye contact with a Humpback whale, you feel their awareness, intelligence and curiosity. 

Big Thrills 

Meeting Humpback whales in Grand Turk 

By Brian Heagney, B.Sc Marine Biology ~ Photo By Sabine Frank & Brian Heagney 

The Turks & Caicos Islands (TCI) are made up of a number of islands and cays divided into two distinct 

groups . . . somewhat obviously, the Turks Islands and the Caicos Islands. These are separated by the 

Turks Island Passage, a body of water 80 miles wide and over 7,000 feet deep. In the winter and spring 

month, this passage serves as a natural corridor of navigation for Humpback whales as they migrate into 

their TCI nursery grounds. 

Visitors typically land on Providenciales and then easily access Grand Turk (and the whales) via a short 

and scenic flight of about 25 minutes. (There’s hardly time for a nap, but you can begin to search for 

whales from the plane.) If you are staying on Provo, you can take the first flight in the morning, meet the 

whales and then fly back in the afternoon for the day trip of a lifetime! 


You can meet the whales on a day boat trip from Grand Turk, without a lot of other boat traffic around you. 

Although there are plenty of watersports to keep you 

entertained in the TCI (including diving, snorkelling, paddle 

boarding, kayaking, wind surfing and kite surfing), 

one of the most awe-inspiring, mind-blowing, adrenalinepumping, 

truly exhilarating and absolutely breathtaking 

experiences here is that natural wonder—the Humpback 

whale (Megaptera novaeangliae). Every winter from early 

January to late April, migrating Humpbacks turn the 

waters of the TCI into an amphitheatre for one of the 

greatest spectacles on the planet—the calving, nursing, 

courtship and mating rituals of these incredibly powerful, 

yet sublimely graceful, marine mammals. 

Although whales may be sighted throughout the TCI 

during the season, the Turks Islands, comprising Grand 

Turk, Salt Cay and several smaller cays, may be considered 

the hot spot for people focused on meeting a whale. 

This is due to the fact that two very deep passages run 

on either side of the Turks—the Turks Island Passage to 

the west and the Mouchoir Passage to the east. These 

passages provide natural corridors of navigation for 

the whales as they migrate into TCI nursery grounds. 

Furthermore, the vast expanses of shallow reef systems 

surrounding the Turks Islands offer the perfect habitat 

for a mother whale to stop, rest and begin nursing her 

newly born calf in a protected environment, safe from the 

hazards of the deep sea. 

Best of all, the TCI is one of the few locations in the 

world where it is actually possible to swim with humpbacks. 

Other destinations for this unique experience 

include extremely remote islands in Oceania, the Silver 

Banks (Dominican Republic) and Australia. However, TCI 

has several advantages for the discerning whale watcher, 

including its relative proximity to North America, Canada 

and Europe. Grand Turk is only 600 miles south of Miami, 

meaning travel costs are significantly lower and you leave 

a much smaller carbon footprint when compared with a 

trip to Oceania! 

Day trips to meet the whales are shore-based from 

Grand Turk. This is very convenient when compared to 

the necessity, expense and constraints of a liveaboard 

trip to the Silver Bank, the only way to swim with the 

whales from the Dominican Republic. Finally, the whale 

watching industry in the TCI is in its infancy. This means 

that there are only a handful of operators offering the 

experience, and the feeling of “too many boats” that may 

be experienced in some other destinations is still very 

far off here. Hopefully, with proper management of the 

industry’s growth, this uncongested feeling around the 

whales can be preserved. 

The Humpback is well known as a gregarious and 

playful creature. On any given day you may observe 

numerous aspects of their behaviour. One of the most 

26 www.timespub.tc

impressive is breaching, when the whale throws its entire 

body out of the water in a back flip and then crashes 

back down in a literal explosion of water. The splash from 

a 50-ton adult breaching can be seen for more than 20 

miles. The calves also breach, sometimes in unison with 

their mother—a sight to behold. 

A variation on the breach is the head lunge, when the 

males thrust the front half of their body up and forward 

out of the sea before smashing their head back into the 

water with a loud crack, usually several times in succession, 

a mating display of sheer power and fitness. 

Tail slapping is another favourite, where the whale 

stands in a vertical position, head down, with tail raised 

clear from the sea. It then repeatedly slaps its flukes on 

the sea surface, making loud bangs. This can continue 

for several minutes and is thought to be a method of 

communication. 

This Humpback is exhibiting the powerful peduncle slap. Pivoting 

its head down and using the long pectoral fins for leverage, the 

whale pushes its peduncle (muscular area where the tail fluke 

connects to the body) upwards with incredible force, resulting in 

the peduncle and fluke breaking the water’s surface and landing 

with an almighty splash! 

Pectoral slapping is similar, but in this instance the 

whale slaps their huge, three-meter-long pectoral fin 

on the water’s surface (megaptera means “big wing”). 

Females in heat will often use pectoral slapping to attract 

males in the area. If she attracts enough males, a very 

exciting display can ensue called a heat rush. During a 

heat rush, several males rush, barge, gouge, jostle and 

fight at high speeds to gain the favour of the female. 

As the males break the surface during the rush, the sea 

foams and they can be heard to trumpet in excitement. 

Once the female has selected her mate, the two animals 

then enter into a courtship dance, an underwater 

ballet that is very rarely seen. During this helical dance, 


What to bring on a whale watching trip: 

This Humpback whale calf is typically playful and curious around 

humans. 

Wide brimmed hat 

Polarized sunglasses 

High SPF Sun cream and lip balm 

A camera with telephoto lens 

Spare memory card 

Your smartphone 

Underwater housing for your phone 

Binoculars 

Motion sickness medication is mandatory (follow the 

instructions) 

Your own prescription snorkel mask if you normally 

wear glasses 

A dry bag 

A wind- and waterproof jacket 

A spare t-shirt and a warm sweater 

Shrimp for the whales (just joking) 

An open mind and positive attitude 

the whales dive and then return to the surface on several occasions, sometimes raising their heads clear from the 

sea in harmony, like synchronised swimmers—it’s a truly magical display. 

When a whale raises its head from the water, it is called a spyhop. You might go to see them but sometimes they 

decide to have a peek at you too, raising their head up and peering into the boat. 

Aside from visual displays, the Humpback is also famous for its distinct and haunting song. A single whale may 

sing for several hours at a time and the structure of the song is just as complex as a language. The singing is one 

dimension to this animal that should not be missed on a day out. Choose a tour operator who employs the use of a 

hydrophone, an underwater microphone that can detect the whales singing, so you can hear it out loud on the boat. 

Have your phone handy and you can grab a unique new ring tone, the live song of a whale. 

Of course the ultimate thrill is slipping quietly into the water beside the whales to observe them in the water 

while snorkelling. This can only be conducted when the whales allow it. An experienced operator can interpret 

whale behaviour and know when the time is right, or not. Humpbacks might be big but they are very gentle, 

timid in disposition and easily spooked, so an extremely sensitive approach is necessary for interactive success. 

28 www.timespub.tc

Cays Winter Times 2018_Layout 1 11/14/18 10:30 AM Page 1 

This means a period of experienced observation, a very 

slow approach if the situation permits, and no splashing 

or sudden movements when actually in the water. If the 

whales should feel at all disturbed they will simply swim 

away, as they are not aggressive animals at all. If a whale 

keeps moving away from a boat then you know it is time 

to leave it alone. The best case scenario is when the whale 

comes to you on its own terms, called “a soft encounter.” 

Talk to your prospective tour operator, ask how the tours 

are conducted and get a feel if the ethics sound right for 

you. 

Remember, as with any wildlife encounter you get out 

what you put in and time is really the key here. It is great 

to be optimistic, but imperative to be realistic. Go on a 

few trips if you can (as every day is different), plan free 

days to allow for bad weather or days with grumpy whales 

who might not be open to snorkeling. Accept that nature 

is uncontrollable and you might just have the experience 

of a lifetime. 

If you will be in the Turks & Caicos between January 

and April, you can always pop over to Grand Turk for 

the day to meet a Humpback whale in the wild. It is a 

must-do, bucket list experience and in high demand so 

book early. a 

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Brian Heagney moved to the Turks & Caicos with his wife 

Sabine in 2016 where they opened the Humpback Dive 

Shack on Grand Turk. Brian received his degree in Marine 

Biology from the Queens University of Belfast and has 

been traveling the globe as a PADI Master Scuba Diver 

Trainer and underwater photographer since 2003. He is 

a certified whale and dolphin guide, a qualified boat captain 

and a self-taught outboard engine mechanic. 


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 https://www.gov.tc/decr/ 

EWA KRZYSZCZYK 

The mighty mangrove holds great value to both humans and the natural world. 

The Mighty Mangrove 

Are we doing enough to conserve them? 

When you think of mangroves, do you imagine blue skies, crystal clear water, lush green forest, dragonflies 

silently gliding above, the songs of the mangrove cuckoos? No? You might want to honor them 

a visit. 

By Ewa Krzyszczyk, 

School for Field Studies Center for Marine Resource Studies 

30 www.timespub.tc

green pages newsletter of the department of environment & coastal resources 

In her article, “The Magic of Mangroves,” (Fall 2019 

Times of the Islands), Kelly Currington describes an 

enchanting trip through a mangrove forest: “We move 

through the forests, the sound of birds chirping and 

leaves rustling is a calm and peaceful sound . . . there is 

something incredibly spiritual and magical about gliding 

through them.” Unfortunately, we do not often view these 

coastal forests as “beautiful by nature” or an attraction 

for tourists and locals alike. In fact, they are most often 

viewed as wastelands or unhealthy environments. The 

poor mighty mangrove is terribly misunderstood. 

Mangroves hold great value to both humans and 

the natural world, as they provide important goods and 

services that play a critical role in supporting our well-being. 

Mangroves form a natural dense barrier against 

extreme weather events and disasters, which reduces the 

loss of property and vulnerability of local communities. 

Mangroves aid in stabilizing shores by trapping sediments 

and building land, thus protecting coastlines from 

erosion. Mangroves also help to improve water quality 

by filtering out nutrients and sediments and absorbing 

massive amounts of carbon from the atmosphere. 

On average, mangroves store around 1,000 tonnes of 

carbon per hectare in their biomass and underlying soil, 

making them some of the most carbon-rich ecosystems 

on the planet. And yet mangrove forests also support 

a bewildering array of organisms, from sponges, tiny 

snails, and algae (such as mermaid’s wine glass), to reef 

fish such as parrotfish, grouper and sharks, including 

endangered and protected species. Not only are mangroves 

considered vital nursery grounds for a large range 

of marine species, but they also enhance the biomass of 

several commercially important fish on neighboring reefs, 

consequently providing us with an ample supply of food. 

Mangroves are among the most productive, biologically 

complex and important ecosystems on Earth, and 

yet they are one of the world’s most threatened tropical 

ecosystems. Mangroves are being destroyed at rates 

three to five times greater than the average rates of forest 

loss and over a quarter of the original mangrove cover 

around the world has already disappeared. 

The Turks & Caicos Islands are fortunate to have 

extensive mangrove forests along their 389 kilometers 

of coastline. The western coastline of the 8.2 square mile 

island of South Caicos is particularly abundant with mangroves, 

so much that the TCI Government proposed to 

designate them as a Wetland Critical Habitat Reserve in 

2016. Yet it cannot go unnoticed that the mangrove-rich 

coastline is also home to the island’s airport, dump and 

fish processing plant. These human facilities are well-situated 

for their protection from extreme weather events, 

but how much of an impact are they having on their surrounding 

mangrove habitat? 

Living at the edge of land and sea, mangroves are 

well adapted to deal with natural stressors, but they 

are particularly sensitive to environmental disturbances 

created by human activities, such as sewage disposal, airports 

and oil spills. 

The over-reliance on open dump and landfill systems 

for solid waste management has proven to be a significant 

environmental problem. Waste contaminants leach 

into the surrounding soil which then serves as a sink, 

persisting for many years and further leaching into the 

surrounding waters. Airports pollute our air with noxious 

chemicals such as sulphur dioxide and nitrogen 

oxide, and jet fuel exhaust causes particulates to settle 

and accumulate in the soil and sediments surrounding 

the airport. These various pollutants can be transferred 

to humans via their gradual accumulation in water and 

sediment (bioaccumulation) and the increasing concentration 

from organism to organism moving up a food 

chain. This means that the higher the organism is on the 

food chain, the higher the load of toxic chemicals (biomagnification). 

In order to better understand the health and function 

of mangrove ecosystems in relation to human activity, 

many avenues of research are possible and useful. At 

The School for Field Studies’ Center for Marine Resource 

Studies (SFS CMRS) on South Caicos, we have been conducting 

research to understand how apex predators such 

as sharks and rays utilize our local mangrove ecosystems. 

Sharks and rays are considered keystone species, 



This aerial photo shows the extensive mangrove forests in South Caicos. 

HEIDI HERTLER 

meaning they play a crucial role in maintaining the structure 

and integrity of an ecosystem and are an indicator 

for the health of an ecosystem. Using baby Baited Remote 

Underwater Videos (BRUVs), which consist of a weighteddown 

camera and bait (local fish) attached to PVC piping, 

we found that lemon sharks, nurse sharks, barracuda, 

and southern stingrays were in higher abundance near 

the mangroves around the airport when compared to 

near the dump or fishing plant. 

These results provide important insights into the current 

health status of our local mangroves and are also 

useful baseline knowledge for any future disturbances. 

The airport, dump and fishing plant are well situated 

within these mangroves, which will help protect them 

32 www.timespub.tc


from storms and hurricanes, but without proper care and 

management of these facilities, the mangroves are vulnerable 

to pollution and degradation. The consequences 

of any potential future mangrove decline would be particularly 

severe for the well-being of our coastal community. 

The loss of mangroves is a loss for humans—storm 

protection will be lost and fishery resources will be 

destroyed. Once lost, mangrove forests are very difficult 

and costly to restore. It is therefore imperative that we 

protect what we have. 

In order to protect these “beautiful by nature” mangroves, 

we need to educate each other, and it all begins 

with our youth. Together, SFS CMRS and Ms. Felix at the 

Marjorie Basden High School on South Caicos have reig- 



nited the school’s science club. Groups of students are 

taken kayaking through our local mangroves, where they 

learn how to perform scientific research, discover the 

importance of gathering data and asking questions, and 

most importantly, learn the significance of these unique 

and vital mangrove ecosystems. Ultimately, it is critical 

that our next generation learn to be respectful of the 

planet, as well as learn about conserving and protecting 

wild places and animals. After all, it’s their planet too. a 

EWA KRZYSZCZYK 

From top: This baited remote underwater video unit is deployed in a 

mangrove to understand how apex predators utilize the area. 

Marjorie Basden High School students kayaked in their local mangroves 

on South Caicos to learn the significance of this unique and 

vital ecosystem. 

34 www.timespub.tc



KRISTY LEE 

An example of a beach where no action is taken saw the most significant seaweed mass on the Islands. 

Onus or Bonus? 

Researchers assess the impact of sargassum seaweed in the TCI. 

By Kristy Lee and Sylvia Myers, MSc students, University of Greenwich; 

Debbie Bartlett, Ph.D., Faculty of Engineering and Science University of Greenwich; 

Franziska Elmer, Ph.D. Marine Ecology Lecturer, School for Field Studies Center for Marine Resource Studies 

From the UK, the Turks & Caicos Islands (TCI) are something we imagine only exists in a travel brochure, 

idyllic islands where sea and sky meet in one infinite colour of blue, with pure white sandy beaches. As 

MSc students studying Environmental Conservation at the University of Greenwich, we were interested 

to hear the funding bid to the Darwin Plus Initiative was successful. This UK Government grant scheme 

helps to protect the natural environment through locally based projects worldwide, and this specific call 

was focused on British Overseas Territories. 

36 www.timespub.tc


The project, in collaboration with the Department of 

Environment & Coastal Resources (DECR), the School for 

Field Studies on South Caicos and the British Overseas 

Territories Special Interest Group, aims to investigate the 

impact and potential solutions to the exceptional quantities 

of seaweed recently experienced on the Islands’ 

coastlines. It reflects the experience of the University’s 

algae biotechnology group in finding commercial uses 

for seaweeds. We were even more excited when we won 

the competition for two students to travel to the Islands, 

with our tutor, to play an active part in this project! 

Our research began in the UK, finding out as much as 

we could about the TCI, from the history to the wildlife. 

We were amazed at the diversity it has to offer—coral 

reefs, migratory paths for whales, sea turtles and the 

endemic rock iguana, to name but a few. It was the field 

trip, however, that became central to the project, and 

ideas of a luxurious outing to paradise soon faded when 

we realised the enormity of the task. In just over two 

weeks we needed to find out who sargassum was affecting 

and see first-hand where it was being washed up, 

as well as study the composition of the landing, as any 

contamination could affect potential use. We needed to 

collect samples to take back to the UK for the chemists 

to analyse whilst also making time to absorb the culture 

and experience some local food! 

We began our trip on Providenciales, meeting with 

project partners and environmental officers and visiting 

beaches, some completely unaffected and others affected 

by seaweed washing onto the shore. Seeing fish in the 

clear water was a novel experience and we particularly 

enjoyed the sea turtles, seeing at least one every day. 

This led us to think about whether these and other species 

could be affected by seaweed on the beaches and 

if there were any other environmental impacts that may 

need to be considered. 

The importance of tourism to the Islands’ economy 

was clear and we began to understand the justification 

for the term “Beautiful by Nature.” We were fortunate that 

our short visit to Provo coincided with the famous Fish 

Fry, an evening festival where we experienced the warm 

welcome and energy of the locals, with music and dance 

as well as locally made products. It was a great opportunity 

for souvenir shopping and to learn just how many 

ways there are of eating conch! 

Most of our stay was on South Caicos, where we were 

Students Sylvia Myers and Kristy Lee work in the School for Field 

Studies laboratory on South Caicos, sorting Sargassum samples. 

welcomed by the School for Field Studies, a residential 

education centre perched right on the coast and providing 

study programmes based on marine science. The 

staff introduced us to many aspects of the island, from 

the coral reefs and seagrass beds to the excitement of an 

evening of singing and dancing by local school pupils, 

and Saturday evenings at Triple J’s Grill. The School for 

Field Studies provided use of their laboratory and transported 

us round the island to collect samples of seaweed. 

We found the most common components to be 

Sargassum fluitans III, Sargassum natans I and Sargassum 

natans VIII, to give the scientific names. Sargassum has 

many forms (over 300!) and these particular forms are 

interesting as, unlike many of the others that attach to 

rocks and other substrates, these float on the surface 

of the ocean forming floating mats or rafts. This provides 

a rich habitat supporting many other organisms, 

including sea turtles, various fish and there are some species 

endemic to the sargassum. However, when washed 

ashore it can become a problem to land managers and 

tourism operators who have to balance respecting natural 

processes with keeping the beaches clean and beautiful 

so as not to impede the visitor experience. 

Our work in the lab was to take samples and to find 

out which of the three forms found across the Caribbean 

were washing onto the beaches. The importance of this 

is that little is understood about the chemical characteristics 

of these and, if there is to be a commercial use for 

the seaweed, this might be affected by the mix. We developed 

an identification guide that is now freely available to 

KRISTY LEE 



This image was taken in 2018 when the estuary between McCartney Cay and Hog Cay, one of the longest mangrove channels in the country, 

was completely closed off with sargassum. 

AGILE LEVIN 

anyone interested, and a standardised method for collecting, 

weighing and sorting the seaweed. This also enabled 

identification of any other materials, such as plastics and 

other inorganic matter, as well as other types of seaweed 

and sea grass that could affect options for more sustainable 

methods of disposal. Our work was carried out to the 

sounds of the waves beaching themselves on the rocks— 

exceeding our expectations of a science lab! 

A quick trip to Grand Turk completed our tour of TCI, 

enabling us to begin to understand the diversity of these 

islands. Unfortunately there was simply not enough time 

to visit Middle or North Caicos. Grand Turk was a real 

contrast, with the historical buildings of Cockburn Town 

dating from the period when the salt industry was highly 

profitable. The relic salt pans were of particular interest, 

evidence of the island’s industrial heritage but now hosting 

internationally important populations of birds, many 

of them migratory waders, attractive to bird watchers. 

We enjoyed the peace and quiet and the opportunity to 

watch pelicans and flamingos until there was a burst of 

38 www.timespub.tc


activity in response to the arrival of a large cruise ship. 

This is a regular occurrence with tourists visiting briefly, 

touring on Segways, in buggys and on horseback, with 

some choosing to experience the mangrove-lined creeks 

and nature reserves. This habitat supports both rich and 

diverse wildlife, whilst providing storm and flood protection 

for humans. Grand Turk is exposed to the easterly 

prevailing winds and so received more sargassum than 

the more westerly South Caicos and Providenciales, but 

we were interested to see there was no sargassum on 

the Cockburn Town side of the island where most of the 

tourism takes place. 

As well as making observations, taking samples and 

doing our lab work, we were keen to meet as many of 

those involved in the tourist industry as possible to find 

out if the increase in seaweed on the beaches was affecting 

their businesses. We devised a quick questionnaire 

and held a focus group on the three islands visited, resulting 

in 100 responses from diverse operations including 

hoteliers, jet ski hirers, and dive and sport fishing companies. 

The results were very interesting, revealing that 

while seaweed could be a problem where it needed to 

be removed from beaches or could damage equipment 

(for example, clogging jet ski intakes), there were also 

some benefits—the floating rafts attract large predatory 

fish, benefitting sports fishing, and can stabilise beaches, 

preventing erosion. 

As always seems to be the case, initial research has 

generated as many questions as answers! There is no real 

information about how much sargassum is being deposited 

on the beaches and no regional information on where 

or when this is happening, let alone what is causing the 

increased amounts seen recently. To try to build up a 

more detailed picture, monitoring sites have been set up 

and there is an opportunity for anyone to get involved 

by sending photos with the date and location through 

an app called epicollect5. Simply find and download the 

app, select “sargassum watch” and start collecting scientific 

data that will feed into a Caribbean-wide monitoring. 

Take a picture with the app every time you go to the 

beach even if it is sargassum free. It’s so easy to become 

a citizen scientist and your help is greatly appreciated! 

We were sad to leave but returned with samples of 

the seaweed which is now producing interesting results 

in the university laboratories. It is early days, but the 

initial results are causing some excitement among the 

chemists and we expect full results to be available in the 

near future. We feel a lot has been achieved in the first 

six months of this two-year project, and we are grateful 

to Darwin Plus for enabling us the opportunity to take 

part in this research and to experience the “Beautiful by 

Nature” Turks & Caicos Islands. a 

If you would like to contribute any photos to our project 

to help build on our sargassum map in the TCI, you can 

do so by emailing them to franziskaelmer@hotmail.com. 



Fort George Cay is a National Historic Site, featuring underwater cannons that were once charged with protecting the Loyalist cotton plantations 

on the Caicos Islands. 

Roadmap to Sustainability 

TCI’s environmental strategy in the making. 

By Megan Tierney*, Lucy Beagley*, Lormeka Williams*, Cherylann S. Jones***, 

Michelle Fulford-Gardiner*** and Eric F. Salamanca** 

*Joint Nature Conservation Committee, **Department of Environment and Coastal Resources, 

***Ministry of Tourism, Environment, Heritage, Maritime, Disaster Management and Gaming 

Photos By Eric F. Salamanca 

With its turquoise blue sea, sandy white beaches and luscious mangroves, it’s easy to see why the Turks 

& Caicos Islands are described as “Beautiful by Nature.” It is widely recognized that people’s way of life in 

the TCI is highly dependent on its rich and varied environments—the seas are abundant with fish to eat, 

the corals and mangroves provide protection from hurricane-induced storm surges, and the natural landand 

sea-scapes help support a thriving tourism industry, as well as the health and well-being of residents. 

However, the environment is under increasing pressure from factors such as development, resource use 

and climate change, which threatens the livelihoods of all those who depend upon it. 

40 www.timespub.tc


Split Rock is a highlight of West Harbour Bluff, a remote area at the southwest point of Providenciales. It includes a small peninsula with sea 

cliffs, an open faced cave, and a long stretch of secluded beach. 

To safeguard the multiple benefits the environment 

provides for present and future generations and to support 

sustainable development, the Turks & Caicos Government 

through the Ministry of Tourism, Environment, Heritage, 

Maritime, Disaster Management, and Gaming (MTE) is 

developing the first Environment Strategy for the Turks 

& Caicos Islands. The Department of Environment and 

Coastal Resources (DECR) is coordinating this activity with 

technical support from the UK’s Joint Nature Conservation 

Committee (JNCC). 

An Environment Strategy (ES) will help to join existing 

and new environmental plans and activities to ensure 

effective implementation of environmental priorities. The 

ES is envisaged to be a “living” strategy—that is, it will be 

reviewed and updated regularly, enabling it to be adapted 

to meet TCI’s changing needs. Fundamental to its success 

will be the development of an islands-wide information 

management system that will ensure all data required 

for effective management and monitoring of the environment 

is housed and accessible from a central location. 

The ES will be crafted to be congruent with TCI’s 

existing legislative and policy framework, notably the TCI 

Constitution (Sec. 18.1—have due regard to the need to 

foster and protect an environment that is not harmful to 

the health or well-being of present and future generations, 

while promoting justifiable economic and social development), 

TCI Vision 2040, the National Tourism Strategy 

and Policy, the National Disaster Management Plan and 

the National Physical Development Plan (in preparation). 

The proposed strategy will also be guided by national 

and global principles and commitments set out in the TCI 

Environment Charter, the UK 25-Year Environment Plan 

and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. 

To ensure the ES meets user needs, JNCC visited TCI 

in October 2019 to hold the first stage of stakeholder consultations. 

Over 40 stakeholders attended from the Office 

of the Governor, various TCI Government departments 

and units, NGOs, the Sustainable Tourism Committee, 

watersports operators and civil society, with consultations 

taking place on North, Middle and South Caicos, 

Providenciales and Grand Turk. Stakeholders were asked 

their opinions on the overarching purpose and objective 

of the ES, what environmental areas it should contain, 

and how to ensure effective implementation. 



Red mangroves are easily identified by their above-ground prop roots that transport air to their 

waterlogged below-ground roots. 

Further opportunity to input is welcomed through 

an online questionnaire at https://www.smartsurvey. 

co.uk/s/TCI_Environment_Strategy/ or, alternatively, a 

hard copy questionnaire can be obtained and returned 

from a DECR office. The survey will close on January 17, 

2020. 

Responses gathered during the October–November 

consultations and from the online questionnaires will 

inform the drafting of a framework for the ES and a road 

map detailing the steps required to put it into action. 

Further input will be invited from interested stakeholders 

during a second consultation period and visit by JNCC 

planned for February 2020 . 

A key component of the first consultation period is 

to collect opinions on the proposal that a living strategy 

may be achieved through a combination of overarching 

aspiration statements and inter-linked dynamic “modules.” 

Wherever possible, the Strategy will build on and 

incorporate work being undertaken by TCI’s different 

government departments, as well as locally based and 

external research organisations and foundations. 

To support the development of TCI’s ES, a review has 

been conducted of other national environment strategies 

to learn lessons about structure, content and approach. 

Their strengths and weakness will guide preparation of 

the TCI ES. Some of the key findings to date are that 

strong messaging is important to convey the overarching 

ambition of the strategy 

and that establishing the frequency 

at which the strategy 

will be monitored and updated 

is necessary to ensure it is 

achieving the stated objectives 

and remains a “living” strategy. 

Considering how the 

Strategy will be implemented 

will be important to consider 

from the outset to ensure that it 

is properly resourced and acted 

upon. Implementation may take 

a phased approach to address 

priority areas in turn and all 

stakeholders are encouraged to 

support it, directly or indirectly. 

Additionally, JNCC will continue 

to provide technical assistance 

and there may be scope to jointly bid for funding to 

implement identified activities. An important topic for 

stakeholder consideration is the different mechanisms 

or tools that could be used to financially support the 

Strategy in the long-term. In the past, the TCI Government 

managed a Conservation Fund which provided resources 

to support protected areas management and community 

conservation projects. Discussions are currently underway 

to explore if the Conservation Fund could be revived, 

and may be one option to help sustainably finance the 

Strategy into the future. 

Going forward, the aspiration is that by March 

2020 the framework and road map for the Environment 

Strategy will be finalised and a draft cabinet paper produced 

for consideration by Government. Following this, 

MTE, DECR and JNCC will continue working together and 

with stakeholders in 2020/2021 to ensure continued 

development of a Strategy that effectively safeguards 

the multiple benefits the environment provides, protects 

the livelihoods of those who depend on it and works in 

harmony with development of the Islands, ensuring they 

remain “Beautiful by Nature” for many years to come. a 

To contribute to the development of the TCI Environment 

Strategy visit: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/ 

TCI_Environment_Strategy/ The survey will close to submissions 

on January 17, 2020. 

42 www.timespub.tc


TOM RATHGEB

feature 

Each island in the Turks & Caicos has its own cemeteries to bury the dead. Shown here (opposite page) is the graveyard in Whitby, North 

Caicos and (above) the Public Cemetery in Grand Turk. 

© CAN STOCK PHOTO/SFPHOTO 

Final Goodbyes 

Funeral traditions in the Turks & Caicos Islands. 

By Jody Rathgeb 

Death is not a likely topic for a magazine such as Times of the Islands. The sunshine, blue waters and 

swaying palms of the Turks & Caicos are so full of life that the alternative seems very far away. Yet people 

do die here and have for centuries; that has not changed. The ideas, methods and traditions of burial in 

the Islands, though, have seen change with the development of the nation. 


In the “olden days,” before electric power on the 

Turks & Caicos Islands was widespread, burials were simple 

and quick. The dead were buried within 24 hours in 

coffins made of wood. Only when morgues were built and 

available and bodies could be embalmed, did practices 

change to allow funeral planning that could accommodate 

families that needed to travel for services. 

Enter Elbert Edward Higgs of North Caicos, founder 

of A&S Funeral Services and the longest serving mortician 

in the TCI. In the 1970s, Higgs, like his father, was 

a builder of caskets and began performing burials in that 

old traditional style. But upon his father’s death in 1983, 

when Elbert was pressed during bad weather to get everything 

done quickly, he decided that North Caicos needed 

a morgue. Soon after, he built that morgue under the 

ownership of the North Caicos Mutual Burial Association, 

and began a funeral service operation in North Caicos, 

using expatriate embalmers as was the custom in other 

islands. 

His next step was to become an embalmer himself. 

He trained in the Bahamas and became a mortician for all 

of the Turks & Caicos. He continues doing that work and 

has passed on training and skills to other funeral service 

companies in the country. Today, his daughter, Adelphine 

Higgs-Pitter, is the managing director of A&S Funeral 

Services (ansfuneralservices.com), but her father continues 

in his work. Together, they have aided and helped 

craft what most now view as the traditional island funeral: 

A viewing and wake, church service and graveyard service 

Above: These crosses mark graves in a cemetery on Salt Cay. 

Below: This photo shows a funeral procession on Grand Turk in 1964. 

Note that the electricity power lines are in the process of being put 

up. The pickup truck is a type used by Pan Am at South Base during 

that time. The grey building is the Outten apartments. 

RAMONA SETTLE 

TURKS & CAICOS NATIONAL MUSEUM COLLECTION 

46 www.timespub.tc

followed by burial. These are accompanied by memorial 

programs containing the obituary and photos, and often 

other memory items such as buttons or shirts. 

These traditional funeral activities are actually a blend 

of many traditions that have fed into the Islands: those of 

the English, Irish and Scots who settled here, plus African 

beliefs and more modern iterations of ancient rites. The 

“island wake,” an all-night event with singing, dancing 

and refreshments, for example, is a version of the ancient 

tradition of safeguarding a corpse until burial. It borrows 

from both the famed Irish wakes and the African frenzy-like 

displays of sorrow. Families put their own spin on 

the wake; for some it’s a more religious compendium of 

gospel music, while others turn the event into a full-blown 

final party for the deceased. The next day’s religious services 

are also tinged by the fragile emotional states from 

a full night of wakefulness. 

Those who have noticed processions of a white, 

glass-sided carriage during funerals are also seeing an 

influence from outside the Islands, in this case the theatrical 

funerals of New Orleans (which also grew from 

Euro-African traditions). Since Elbert Higgs and a friend 

built the carriage, Adelphine notes, it has been used in 

about half of the A&S funerals, “Mostly in the younger 

generation,” she says. The idea of the mobile display of a 

casket is only somewhat traditional in the Islands. 

Top: Funeral carriages such as this one in the Bahamas are also used 

in the Turks & Caicos. 

Above: This donkey-drawn funeral hearse was used on Grand Turk 

during the 1960s. 

Some small changes 

Most, but not all, go this traditional route. With the influence 

of outsiders, more people have become interested 

in cremation and other options such as burial at sea and 

“green” funerals. A&S has become flexible enough to deal 

with these options, and Adelphine kindly shared explanations 

and comments on them, even though cremation is 

less than one percent of their business and other traditions 

are far less. 

When cremation is requested, she says, it must be 

done outside of the TCI since there is no crematory in 

ISTOCKPHOTO.COM TURKS & CAICOS NATIONAL MUSEUM COLLECTION 


RAMONA SETTLE GETTY IMAGES 

From top: This cemetery in Blue Hills, Providenciales lies peacefully 

beside the sea. 

The Salt Cay “barren ground” bears the weight of years of tradition. 

the country. Her company works with another in Fort 

Lauderdale, Florida. Remains must be embalmed first, 

then shipped there, as per law. Then the remains are 

either returned to TCI via IBC Airways or sent to any other 

address. A&S handles the documentation to accompany 

the process. 

While she says there is increasing interest in cremation, 

it may be a while before it can be done in the Turks 

& Caicos. “Cremation will definitely be a growing trend 

once a facility is established here,” she says, but adds, 

“The cost to develop a cremation facility by a funeral provider 

does not make financial sense based on the low 

death rate and amount of funeral business compared to 

the population.” 

Cremation is only somewhat less expensive than 

burial in the TCI, Adelphine says, because of the costs of 

containers, shipping and documentation. For A&S, a basic 

traditional funeral costs around $7,000. Depending upon 

what is included, a cremation can run into the $6,000 

range. 

Scatterings, burial at sea and other options 

What families do with returned cremains is up to them. 

They may keep the loved one in a sealed urn or scatter 

the ashes on land or at sea. Those wishing a scattering 

at sea can arrange their own boat, or turn to a Provo tour 

operator. Both Sail Provo and Island Vibes Tours offer 

packages for the scattering of ashes, a fact that indicates 

there has been interest in that non-traditional type of service. 

Actual burial at sea, the stuff of English Naval dramas 

and pirate fictions, is even more rare in the Turks & 

Caicos, but it is legal, with stipulations provided by the 

Department of Environmental Health. Sea burial must be 

done in a leather bag that contains weights, and it must 

occur at least three miles off shore. 

The idea of returning to the land or sea is also shown 

in the interest in two very different types of memorialization: 

reef balls that contain ashes, and old-fashioned 

burials without embalming. 

One company in the United States provides the former. 

Eternal Reefs (eternalreefs.com) is a company that 

combines cremains with environmentally safe cast concrete 

to create a memorial “pearl,” which is then dropped 

into one of several sites off the U.S. coast during a ceremony 

at sea. The company is permitted through local, 

state and federal agencies and approved by the U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency and encourages families 

to participate in the four-day process of casting, a 

48 www.timespub.tc

Salt Cay traditions 

In a 2013 article in Turks & Caicos Weekly News, Salt 

Cay resident Candy Herwin recalls, “There are only 

a few old folk left who can recall the mid-1900s era 

and the old traditions of wakes and funerals and the 

marching processions in which the whole community 

would follow the pallbearers to the tombside in the 

Barren Ground.” 

There was no electricity back then so the 

deceased needed to get “dressed down” and buried 

as quickly as possible—the men dressed in black and 

the women in white. A donkey and cart would carry 

the body to the Benevolent Hall where it was placed 

in a handmade wooden casket and the “sisters” would 

decorate the inside with fresh-cut moringa flowers 

which were sweet smelling and white. The casket was 

then placed on a heavy white canvas sheet, which 

was carried by six male family members who would 

lead the onward march with the community and 

Benevolent Lodge following behind. 

There was always an air of pageantry with 

prayers, singing, weeping and wailing while the men 

beat the rhythmic bass and tenor drums and blew 

the French horns, ‘licking’ the long sticks as they 

marched to the church of membership. 

The procession would sing Gospel hymns from 

the Sankey, like one of the favourite marching tunes, 

“There’s a Royal Banner” and yet another popular 

refrain, “When I can read my title clear to mansions 

in the skies, I bid farewell to every fear, and wipe my 

weeping eyes.” 

Sometimes two chairs were carried along with 

the procession so that the pallbearers could rest for 

awhile, however, the music and singing continued 

through the church service and onward to the Barren 

Ground. The body was lowered into the earth and 

everyone threw in a handful of soil. 

It was a simple affair and they would say, “When 

you die your head got to be facing westward.” It 

was an old belief dating back to when freed slaves 

believed that the dead should be facing the right way 

when Gabriel blows his trumpet in the eastern sunrise. 

Salt Cay residents agree that the ancestral burial 

ground is an historic and important part of community 

life. a 

service and positioning of the pearl. Costs range from 

$3,000 to $7,500. Those in the TCI are reminded, however, 

that the approved sites for reef balls are not within 

this country. 

Can one still be buried the old-old-fashioned way, in 

a wooden casket without being embalmed? Yes, provided 

that such burial has been approved by the coroner. Also, 

the dirt grave must be topped with cement and marked. 

Such quick and green burials bring the TCI full circle to 

the past. 

In the end, our final goodbyes depend on one’s own 

beliefs, traditions and comfort. As the TCI continues to 

diversify and be influenced by other traditions, the meaning 

of a “traditional” memorial service is changing and 

becoming filled with new options. a 


feature 

This is the entranceway to the Turks & Caicos Islands Community College Grand Turk campus, which opened in mid-2002. 

Opposite page: It’s a tern convention on the dock! This one is largely attended by Sandwich Terns (distinguished by their long bills with a 

yellow tip) and one lone Royal Tern with the orange bill. 

Above: This Bananaquit appears to have enjoyed quite a feast of pomegranate seeds. They are locally called the “Chickadewilly,” a term that 

is often applied to all small birds. 

Birds & Binoculars 

You can’t enjoy one without the other. 

By William J. Cook ~ Photos By Marta Morton 

Few places in the world offer the birding paradise that can be found in the Turks & Caicos Islands, and 

there are many vantage points from which to take in these wondrous, diverse and colorful creatures. 

Sadly, it’s not uncommon for tourists to travel thousands of miles to add to their life lists only to use 

binoculars lacking in the clarity that would take a pleasurable adventure to a whole new level. Most of 

the anomalies causing that lack of clarity are thought to be related to the binocular but are actually due 

to poor collimation (misalignment) or the observer’s physiology. 


Optics is a nebulous subject that many people leave 

to the ever-changing opinions found in magazines and on 

Internet binocular forums. Therein, when the topic moves 

to the more clinical side of things, collimation and physiology 

for example, opinions of the ultracrepidarians can 

range from inaccurate, through silly, to damaging. 

I’ve spent 45 years in precision optics. First as a Chief 

Opticalman with the US Navy, as a civilian optical consultant, 

and finally as creator and manager of the Precision 

Instruments & Optics department for Seattle’s 123-year 

old Captain’s Nautical Supplies, where I was on the front 

lines of working with binocular shoppers and where I 

repaired and collimated more than 12,000 binoculars. 

Starting in the early 1990s, as a result of trying to add 

a touch of reality to the vastly misleading “auto-focus” 

craze that so many honest people bought into, I started 

writing to take on the false notions that were taking 

observers down so many of the costly and non-productive 

roads leading to fableland. 

Following, I’ll correct some of the biggest misconceptions 

that have befuddled observers for years and end by 

addressing one of today’s biggest problems in achieving 

a crisp focus. It’s a totally avoidable problem that rests 

with the observer and not the binocular. 

Auto-focus binoculars? 

This sales ploy reached its peak in the 1990s but still 

haunts the observer looking for that something special 

and doesn’t mind trying to outsmart logic and physics 

to do so. 

Regardless of what you have heard, read or think, 

you have seen for yourself there are no non-electronic 

auto-focus binoculars. Minolta once marketed a binocular 

that focused on the same principle as a modern digital 

camera, but having numerous deficiencies it wasn’t on 

the market long. 

Years ago, I made a bent-nail puzzle and gave it to 

a friend to tinker with while we talked. Figuring it out in 

short order, I grabbed the puzzle, turned my back, put 

it back together, and gave it to him again saying, “Okay, 

hotdog, let’s see you get this one apart as fast; I put it 

together backwards.” Although we continued talking for 

quite a while, he couldn’t figure it out. 

The puzzle only worked one way. Thus, it couldn’t 

have been put together “backwards.” Yet, the power of 

suggestion caused him to flounder. And that’s just what 

the auto-focus craze was based on. Good advertising 

need not be accurate or even meaningful; it has only to 

be believed. 

Order in focusing 

Center-focus binoculars must be focused as they were 

designed to be focused and, in the vast majority of cases, 

the left telescope is to be focused first. For good imagery 

it’s not optional. 

A customer once told me her optometrist said she 

ERIC F. SALAMANCA 

White-cheeked pintail ducks can be found in seasonal freshwater ponds and swamps, but in times of drought will go into tidal ponds and 

old salinas. 

52 www.timespub.tc

should always focus her right eye first because she was 

right-eye dominant. Consequently, based on his “expert” 

advice, she had spent years using her expensive Leica binocular 

to produce images of lower quality than expected 

of a $69 drugstore special, all the while believing something 

was wrong with her eyes. 

Why was following this optometrist’s advice wrong? 

Let’s start by following his instructions, focusing the right 

eye as directed, to find out. Bingo, your right eye is seeing 

a great image. But now, with the right eye sharply 

focused, you turn the center focus wheel or flip lever to 

focus your left eye. Since, however, there’s a 2-diopter 

difference (for example) in your eyes, and since the center 

focus wheel or lever was designed to focus both sides 

at the same time, sharply focusing your left eye has just 

defocused your right eye by 2 diopters. Something isn’t 

right. But you did what your optometrist told you to do. 

So, it must be you . . . right? 

When both eyes are sharply focused on the target, 

having followed the correct procedure, you may return to 

the center-focus wheel for focusing at various distances 

until the focus is altered by another observer or until one 

From top: The Brown Pelican is a common sight in the TCI, and although this one seems surprised, it is more likely coming in for a landing. 

The female Bahama Woodstar hummingbird builds her tiny nest from bits of plants and spider silk, cemented with her saliva. In it she lays 

two eggs; the resulting chicks shown here are quite grown and nearly ready to leave the nest! 


Times Kevin_Times Kevin 9/18/18 10:51 AM Page 1 

of the adjustments has been inadvertently reset. In doing 

so, you will maintain the dioptric difference between your 

eyes regardless of the distance to the target—500 feet 

or 5,000,000,000 miles. (Only 2 to 3% of the population 

have the same setting in each eye.) 

Spatial accommodation 

Spatial accommodation is a collimation (alignment) issue 

that, more often than not, originates with the binocular 

but which can be caused by the binocular’s IPD (interpupillary 

distance) to be misplaced relative to the separation 

of the user’s eyes. 

For example, just placing a binocular to the eyes 

is inadequate unless positioned in such a way that the 

binocular’s exit pupil is placed precisely in front of the 

pupils of the observer’s eyes. If the observer has an IPD 

of 69 millimeters and the binocular’s IPD is set to match, 

all is well. If not, the observer must use some degree of 

eye-straining spatial accommodating, even if the binocular 

is well collimated. 

The Internet is replete with articles telling observers 

how they can “easily” correct misalignment by tweaking a 

few through-the-body/prism-tilt screws, with most such 

instructions omitting other alignment conventions and 

the repairs often needed to allow any of those conventions 

to work. 

There are, however, stipulations of which the exuberant 

screw-tweaker needs to be aware. IF only one side 

of the binocular is misaligned, IF that side is the one 

adjusted, IF the error is small, IF the individual’s physiological 

accommodation is adequate, and IF the distance 

to the desired target is far enough this—conditional alignment—may 

be enough to make the instrument perform 

well or even excellently. Even so, while that is adequate 

for some users, it leaves others, who didn’t have all those 

IFs in their favor, frustrated with a less than crisp image. 

In addition, without specific knowledge, the same 

procedure can push the binocular ever farther out of alignment 

and can, in some cases, damage the instrument. 

And although rarely, if ever, seen in print, understanding 

spatial accommodation is critical to getting the best view 

from the binocular. 

So, if you find that your binocular gives you a double—or 

even an uncomfortable—image you should 

consider that the binocular may be misaligned or you 

don’t have the telescopes spaced properly for your eyes. 

In order to find out, bring the binocular to your eyes and 

seek the best view of a target at least a mile away. A 

streetlamp will work fine. Then slowly move the instru- 

54 www.timespub.tc

The Mourning Dove epitomizes “protection” 

as she keeps careful watch over 

her chicks. The bird is so-named for its 

melancholy call.

The longest established legal practice 

in the Turks & Caicos Islands 

ment 8 to 10 inches away from your face. Try to just 

stare. If the error is small, your brain will compensate. If 

problematic, alternate the opening and closing of each 

eye. Is the image still, or does it dance? If the latter, you 

have a collimation issue and with the lack of qualified binocular 

techs around, the instrument should be replaced 

by the vendor or repaired at the factory. 

Real Estate Investments 

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Company & Commercial Law 

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Banking & Insurance 

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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 

john redmond associates ltd. 

architects & designers 

construction consultants 

project management 

p.o.box 21, providenciales, turks & caicos is. 

tel.: 9464440 cell: 2314569 email: redmond@tciway.tc 

Dioptric accommodation 

This is an anomaly of your own physiology, something 

that affects almost every observer, and is something you 

control. 

Frequently, an observer will focus on a target quickly 

and expect the instrument to remain focused—at least at 

the given distance. However, let’s say you have a dioptric 

accommodation range of 4 diopters and stop focusing 

the instant you have an adequate image. As time goes on, 

observing may become problematic because your natural 

(relaxed at that distance) focus setting should be –1.5 

diopters. That means being in a hurry has placed your 

focus at an accommodatable, but strained, setting. 

Then, as fatigue sets in, you may fiddle unnecessarily 

with the focus or suppose there’s something wrong with 

your eyes or the binocular when neither is true. In addition, 

as this “fiddling” takes place, the observer will more 

than likely repeat the hurried technique that got him into 

trouble in the first place, leaving him or her once again 

with an imprecise focus. Perhaps your mother taught you 

never to stare. Nevertheless, if you want a crisp image, 

you had better forget that advice. 

Dioptric accommodation (the ability to focus at a 

range of distances) is achieved through the eye’s ciliary 

muscles, which stretch and compress the eyelenses in 

order to achieve a sharp focus. A 10-year old may have as 

much as 14 diopters of accommodation. But as we age, 

dioptric flexibility drops off fairly quickly. By age 20, it 

has dropped to 8 to 10 diopters with the average binocular 

user—40 to 50 years of age—having only a 4-diopter 

accommodation. Thus, with each year that passes—up 

to about 60—the focus mechanism becomes ever more 

critical. 

Learning to stare comes easily for some people but 

takes a great deal of practice for others. But learning to 

stare, letting the binocular’s focus come to you, is worth 

the effort and is absolutely essential to attaining the 

sharpest image, most trouble-free focus, and the clearest 

views of the nature around you. 

Happy and productive birding! a 

56 www.timespub.tc

TWATIMES_Layout 1 2/16/17 7:49 AM Page 1 

Birding in the Turks & Caicos Islands 

Bird-watching (these days known as birding), is a recreational 

activity for millions of birders worldwide. It 

can be done with the naked eye, through binoculars 

and telescopes, by listening for bird sounds or by 

watching public webcams. Many birders maintain a 

life list of all the species they have seen, usually with 

details about the sighting such as date and location. 

Birding ecotourism is popular because birders typically 

have a lighter footprint from not wanting to 

disturb the birds and are often pioneers for furthering 

conservation projects to protect the habitats of 

wild and rare bird species. 

Serving international & domestic clients in real estate, property development, 

mortgages, corporate & commercial matters, immigration, & more. 

TEL 649.946.4261 TMW@TMWLAW.TC WWW.TWAMARCELINWOLF.COM 

Hugh final_Layout 1 5/29/17 1:15 PM Page 1 

According to TCI Naturalist and Terrestrial 

Ecologist for the TCI Department of Environment and 

Coastal Resources B Naqqi Manco, the top three locations 

here for birders are as follows: 

• On Providenciales: Provo Golf Course, Cheshire 

Hall Creek (late afternoon into dusk) and Wheeland 

Ponds. 

• On North and Middle Caicos: Village Pond, 

Middle Caicos; Wade’s Green Plantation, North 

Caicos; Flamingo Pond, North Caicos. 

• On Grand Turk: Town and Great Salinas, North 

Wells and Red Salina. 

What should birders look for? Manco expands, 

“Reddish egrets are rare globally but common in TCI. 

P 

E 

R 

S 

HUGH G. O’NEILL 

ATTORNEYSN 

AT 

L AW 

P.O. Box 267 

Hibernian House 

1136 Leeward Highway 

Providenciales 

Turks and Caicos Islands 

B.W.I. 

Tel 649-946-4514 

Fax 649-946-4955 

Email hugh.oneill@hgoneillco.tc 

& 

C 

CO. O 

N 

F 

I 

D 

E 

N 

T 

I 

A 

L 


Food for Thought provides free daily 

breakfast to government school students. 

A donation of $300 will provide breakfast 

to one child for a whole school year. 

To donate or learn more please 

email info@foodforthoughttci.com 

or visit foodforthoughttci.com 

Cuban crows can only be seen in the Caicos Islands 

outside of Cuba. TCI has an endemic subspecies of 

thick-billed vireo, which is common throughout, and 

one of Greater Antillean bullfinch restricted only to 

Middle and East Caicos. White-tailed tropicbirds are 

seasonal visitors to seaside cliffs in summer. Blacknecked 

stilts are common in ponds and are both 

easily identified and photogenic. Caribbean flamingoes 

are always a favourite and are easily viewed in 

great numbers on North Caicos and at close range on 

Grand Turk.” 

“In the winter months, migratory birds may 

be seen on the ponds of the Provo Golf Course, 

Wheeland Ponds on Providenciales, and at the Wade’s 

Green Plantation high forest on North Caicos.” 

“Seabird cays such as French Cay, Bush Cay and 

the Southern Cays; and Long Cay off Grand Turk are 

sanctuaries and landing is prohibited without a permit. 

Thus, summer seabird observations must be 

done from boats.” 

“North and Middle Caicos are worth a visit for 

potential life-listers including Key West quail-dove, 

pearly-eyed thrasher, white-tailed tropicbird, Greater 

Antillean bullfinch, thick-billed vireo, white-crowned 

pigeon, smooth-billed ani, mangrove cuckoo, Bahama 

mockingbird, and Cuban crow. Large migratory flocks 

move through North and Middle Caicos quickly in 

September and October and include bobolinks, blue 

grosbeaks, and indigo buntings. Summer breeding 

residents to these islands absent in winter include 

Antillean nighthawks and gray kingbirds.” 

“The salinas on Grand Turk are especially good 

for photography as Caribbean flamingoes, brown pelicans, 

snowy egrets, reddish egrets, tricolor herons, 

little blue herons, black-necked stilts, and several 

species of sandpipers are there unafraid of people 

and very approachable. Magnificent frigatebirds are 

often seen over the Grand Turk salinas.” 

There is a series of booklets entitled, “Birding in 

Paradise” targeted to the individual islands, and they 

include suggested tour routes, bird lists, and information 

on other flora and fauna and history. They 

are available through the Turks & Caicos National 

Museum Foundation or on the website www.ukotcf. 

org.uk. Another good source is The Birds of the 

Turks & Caicos Islands by Richard Ground. It is sold 

in local bookstores and shops. a 

Food for Thought Foundation Inc. (NP #102) 

58 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 

Exploring Our Islands 

It’s hard to believe that I have been here at the Turks & Caicos National Museum for two years already. 

One of my goals was to explore the rich culture and historic heritage of these Islands. Most recently, I had 

the privilege to explore parts of East Caicos, which included a hike to the top of Flamingo Hill. Local lore 

states that more people (in modern times) have climbed to the top of Mount Everest than to the summit 

of Flamingo Hill. This isn’t because of the height of Flamingo Hill, but because of the remote location 

and difficult hike. 

Over the last year, through the Astrolabe, we have explored rich topics such as the TCI during the 

World Wars, the Loyalists’ impact on the Islands and digitizing the Colonial heritage, along with explaining 

the need for a National Museum system. Over the next year we have exciting articles planned for 

your enjoyment, including the Rock Art of the Lucayans on East Caicos, the development of 3D Models 

of Historic Grand Turk, more about TCI during World Wars and so much more. 

In this edition we join Joost Morsink and Ruud Stelten as they explore this history of salt and cotton 

exploitation on Salt and Cotton Cay and further explore Eric Wilburg’s story of the survivors of the 

Vineland in 1942. a 

Michael P. Pateman, Ph.D., Director, Turks & Caicos National Museum 


astrolabe newsletter of the Turks & Caicos National Museum 

This aerial image of Salt Cay reveals views of its historic buildings and salt ponds. 

Going Under 

Searching lost wrecks on Salt Cay. 

Story and Photos By Dr. Joost Morsink and Dr. Ruud Stelten 

South of Grand Turk, a small and sleepy island rests in the Atlantic Ocean: Salt Cay. With approximately 

90 inhabitants on 2.6 square miles, this is the least populated of the main inhabited islands in the Turks & 

Caicos Islands. Tourists often bypass the island in favor of Grand Turk, Providenciales or other Caribbean 

islands, but the lucky ones who choose to visit Salt Cay discover unmatched tranquility, superb diving and 

whale watching, and beautiful and remote beaches. 

60 www.timespub.tc


From the 17th to the mid-20th centuries, the island 

was not bypassed. In fact, Bermudians sailed their ships 

over 800 miles every year to visit Salt Cay for its salt. 

Historically, salt was considered “white gold” because in 

the absence of refrigeration, salt provided one of the very 

few ways to preserve food. The interior of Salt Cay consisted 

of a large natural salt pan and in combination with 

strong tradewinds, hot days and little precipitation, Salt 

Cay culminated into an ideal environment for natural production 

of this precious product. Entrepreneurs as they 

were, the Bermudians targeted this island for economic 

production, building salt storage facilities along the 

shore and creating salt ponds with wind-powered pumps 

to increase production. The profitable salt industry left a 

mark on the island. 

In Spring 2019, we conducted archaeological field 

research on Salt Cay. Intrigued by the importance of this 

relatively common product, our intention was to create an 

inventory of archaeological sites on the island. In addition 

to the island’s visible remains, such as the houses and the 

salt pans, many archaeological sites have been obscured 

by the water. Underwater archaeological remains are testament 

to the importance of the maritime world to this 

island. 

Surrounded by the sea, Salt Cay functioned as a hub. 

To move people to the island, export salt and connect 

the island to a wider Caribbean context, a maritime focus 

was a must. Smaller vessels would come and go along the 

coast, moving goods on and off the island. Larger ships 

would set sail and deliver the salt to other Caribbean 

islands, the United States and even Europe. Rough seas, 

bad material, human error or just bad luck sometimes 

interfered, and vessels would not make it to their destination. 

With the loss of wealth or even life, these events 

were significant in the past. Yet over time, not all wrecks 

are remembered and stories are forgotten. Our goal is 

to find material evidence of these events, find out what 

happened, and revive these forgotten episodes. 

Dr. Ruud Stelten measures the North Point Wreck on Salt Cay. The ship is made of wood and its visible remains are approximately 33 feet 

long. Could it be the wreck of the Gustavus? 



Dr. Joost Morsink examines the huge anchor from the wreck of the Endymion. 

Because the ship was 141 feet long, this size anchor was a necessity. 

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This 3D model of the Endymion allows researchers to study the wreck without going underwater. It also allows Museum visitors to enjoy the 

splendor of this “virtual wreck.” 

As soon as we land on the island after a 45-minute 

boat trip from Grand Turk, we hear stories about a potential 

wreck on the north coast. Equipped with fins, snorkel, 

measuring tape, and camera, we set to explore this lead 

and quickly find the remains of a wooden ship. At only 

20 feet deep, we can document the ship while freediving. 

The ship is made of wood and its visible remains are 

approximately 33 feet long, situated along a shallow reef 

to the west. It is very possible that these reefs caused 

the vessel to sink. Other parts of the ship are still buried 

underneath the white sand. 

In the tropical waters of the Caribbean, it is unusual 

to see wood: Naval Shipworm, Teredo navalis, often gets 

a hold before archaeologists get a chance. As the shipwreck 

is shallow, many of the associated artifacts were 

likely salvaged after the ship went down. The lack of 

artifacts hinders our research and make ship identification 

difficult. Yet, looking through old naval logbooks 

and archives, there is a mention of Gustavus. This ship 

planned to visit Grand Turk on January, 8, 1855 to collect 

salt. During bad weather, Gustavus hit the cliffs, lost 

its navigational abilities, and slowly drifted to the north 

coast of Salt Cay and sank. Additional research is necessary 

to identify the wreck as the Gustavus, for example 

by dating the wood using tree ring analysis, but the first 

step is made. 

Another known wreck is approximately 16 miles 

south of Salt Cay: the HMS Endymion. This British man-ofwar 

sank on a shallow reef in 1790, about 11 years after 

it was built. On a small skiff, the ride is about two hours 

when conditions are ideal. In rougher seas, it is impossible 

to navigate these waters. Anchoring near the site 

is dangerous and there is a significant chance of history 

repeating itself by wrecking the boat on Endymion Rock, 

the reef named after the wreck. If two hours on a small 

boat sounds less than exciting, plan the trip during the 

whale season. We crossed paths with numerous whales 

with calves, starting to get ready for their trip north. 

Even in calm waters, it is difficult to anchor the ship 

close to the wreck and away from the reef. But as soon as 

we enter the water, the wreck shows itself. No wood this 

time; the Naval Shipworm had over two centuries to eat 

its way through. Metal, glass, ceramic and stone objects 

remain on the sea floor. Large boulders, which were used 

as ballast, signify where the hull of the ship went down. 

Of the 44 cannons on board, the crew was only able to 

salvage one after the Endymion sank. Piled up, scattered 

around, and some single outliers, the cannons are clearly 

visible across the site. Other visible objects are large 

chain links that cross the entire site and multiple anchors. 



One of the Endymion anchors was over 16.5 feet long, 

one of the largest anchors we have ever seen! At 141 

feet, Endymion was of significant size for its time, making 

these large anchors indispensable. 

In the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, 

England, the original logbook of the HMS Endymion can be 

found. The logbook details all the travels, but also the last 

days of the ship’s existence before it sank south of Salt 

Cay. On August 28, 1790, the ship hits a then-unknown 

reef. Within an hour, five feet of water entered the ship 

and Captain Woodriff quickly understands that the ship is 

not going to make it. Leaving a couple of sailors behind, 

the crew rows sloops to Grand Turk looking for help. The 

next day, all sailors and as much of the ship’s contents as 

possible were saved. On August 30, the captain leaves the 

ship right before it is completely submerged. To remedy 

this incredible loss, the crew buys over 60 gallons of rum 

as soon as they land in Grand Turk! 

By taking hundreds of photos with about 70% overlap 

in every photo, we document the majority of the 

wreck. Using photogrammetry, it is possible to translate 

these photos into a digital 3D model of site. As easy as 

it sounds, the reality is different. For an optimal product, 

the photos need to be taken on a constant and even 

depth, the light needs to be ideal with no shadows showing, 

the colors need to be close to the natural colors 

(anyone who has ever taken a photograph under water 

knows how difficult this can be), and no moving objects, 

such as fish, can obscure the artifacts. 

The 3D model serves multiple purposes. From the 

model, the wreck can be studied without the need to 

go back and dive it again. Measurements can be taken, 

artifacts can be counted, maps can be made without 

needing a single scuba tank! Secondly, the model provides 

a baseline for long term management questions. 

Large storms or other factors could affect the quality of 

the wreck, moving and breaking artifacts. By comparing 

the model from 2019, the degree of impact can be measured. 

Finally, the model serves an educational purpose. 

As said, the wreck is difficult to visit. Its remote location 

and the need of very calm conditions before one can dive 

there limits how many people can actually see the wreck. 

The model will allow more people to visit the wreck and 

enjoy its splendor. 

While diving the Endymion, we follow one of the large 

chains which leads to the General Pershing. This wooden 

This adorno was recently found on Cotton Cay. 

vessel was powered by engines, which can be found near 

the reef. In 1921, the three-year old and 266 foot-long 

vessel wrecked on the same reef as the Endymion. With 

two wrecks here, how many more unidentified wrecks are 

there still to be found on these reefs? 

Along the west coast of Salt Cay, multiple smaller 

vessels wrecked too. A local inhabitant shows us a location 

on the south coast where he found a 16th-century 

anchor and multiple bronze nails, which all indicate 

another lost ship. Rough seas and little time prohibited a 

detailed assessment of the location, but future research 

will show what other ships were lost in the salt trade. 

The Europeans were not the first people on the 

island. Prior to Columbus, the Islands were first colonized 

by people from Hispaniola. Later, Lucayan people moved 

into the region from the central Bahamas. Evidence of the 

populations can be found. Two years prior to our 2019 

visit, Ruud Stelten identified Lucayan pottery on Salt Cay’s 

east coast. Hurricane Maria, however, either destroyed or 

buried the site and no artifacts could be found during our 

most recent visit. We cover large sections of the island in 

our week there, but we were unable to find any prehistoric 

artifacts. Possibly, the prehistoric village was located 

where the historic occupation occurred and all evidence 

is obscured by buildings and roads. 

64 www.timespub.tc


A quick trip to Cotton Cay, a small uninhabited cay 

north of Salt Cay, shows that native people were in the 

region. Within two minutes of landing on the beach, Ruud 

and I identify multiple pieces of pottery, some with volcanic 

sand in them. As the Turks & Caicos Islands are 

not volcanic, these pottery sherds were likely imported 

from Hispaniola. Typically, these sherds were imported 

between AD 700 and 1500. Pottery with burned shell, 

rather than volcanic sand, was also identified along the 

beach. This pottery is typical of Lucayan sites in the 

region and first occur after AD 1100. Excavations are 

needed to determine if the site is the product of multiple 

short term visits or one long term occupation. 

Along the northern coast, another scatter of Lucayan 

pottery and shell was found. The color of the sand was 

also darker than in other places on the island, suggesting 

that people might have altered the local composition 

of the soil by living there. The second site was located 

on a ridge, next to two natural salt ponds. Elsewhere 

in the Islands, prehistoric sites were found next to salt 

ponds and prehistoric people were likely exploiting this 

resource as well. Maybe Lucayan people set the stage for 

exploiting salt in the Turks & Caicos Islands, introducing 

the resource and the salt pans to the Europeans who 

arrived later. 

Our research has just started. Our goal is to understand 

the exploitation of salt in the Turks & Caicos 

Islands throughout history. By focusing on prehistoric 

and historic salt production and exchange, it might be 

possible to provide a new perspective on the Islands’ 

past. Rather than emphasizing the break and differences 

between prehistoric and historic times, there might be a 

lot of similarities and continuity. Stay tuned! a 

Dr. Joost Morsink is an expert in precolonial Caribbean 

archaeology with an interest in maritime archaeology. He 

is a project manager at SEARCH Inc., the largest full-service 

cultural resource management firm in the USA. 

Dr. Ruud Stelten is a maritime archaeologist whose 

research interests are maritime cultural landscapes, submerged 

archaeological sites, and heritage management. 

He is the founder of The Shipwreck Survey, an organization 

dedicated to maritime archaeological research. He 

organizes several archaeological field schoosl every year 

in exotic locations around the world. 

Join the Museum 

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*For U.S. residents, support of the Museum may be tax-deductible 

if you join via Friends of the Turks & Caicos National 

Museum, our affiliated institution and registered 501 (c) (3). 



JOOST MORSINK 

The White House on Salt Cay is still owned by descendants of Daniel Harriott. The Harriott family, along with other families who could, took 

in Vineland survivors until they could be transported back to the United States. 

TCI in WWII 

Survivors of U-Boats: Vineland in 1942, Part II 

By Captain Eric Wiberg 

In the Fall 2019 issue of Astrolabe, the author detailed the sinking of the Canadian dry-bulk ship Vineland, 

on April 20, 1942 by the German submarine U-154 while it was roughly 90 miles north of North Caicos. 

The survivors voyaged in three lifeboats until they were picked up by fishermen in the Caicos sloop Emily 

Conway and towed to Chalk Sound, Providenciales. The story continues as follows . . . 

66 www.timespub.tc


This image shows the Vineland at dock loading or discharging newsprint for the Liverpool Steamship Company of Canada. Note the temporary 

neutral Panama markings which followed her to the bottom. 

Vineland survivors were initially taken to tiny Salt Cay 

by fishermen, and hosted by the leading Harriott family 

and in other homes for several days. After supplies became 

taxed the men were moved a short distance north, where 

they staying in guest houses awaiting a north-bound ship. 

Their erstwhile hosts, the Harriotts, accompanied them to 

Grand Turk to ensure their onward passage. 

The Harriotts originally emigrated from Bermuda in 

the 1830s and with profits from salt harvests built the 

largest building on Salt Cay, wedged between the salt 

pans and the ocean. Named the White House, it still 

stands today. Family lore has been well kept by Georgina 

Dunn Belk. She shared family anecdotes about Captain 

Ralph Williams and the Vineland crew. Her aunt writes 

that “as children, we saw evidence of the torpedoing of 

ships by the German submarines when some of the survivors 

of a torpedoed merchant ship were brought to East 

Harbour by fishermen who discovered them drifting in 

lifeboats. Our family, along with other families who could, 

took them in until they could be transported back to the 

United States.” One of the Vineland survivors says that “on 

Grand Turk the women made clothes for some of us.” 

Life on shore was bleak, but not as bad as for others 

surviving wartime winter in Canada: “Ships from the 

[Canadian] Maritimes had even poorer food to feed the 

crew and for them a meal ashore at the White House, 

where [the hostess] would have a chicken killed for them 

as honored guests, was memorable.” The Islanders had 

become, by necessity, adept at scavenging the bounty 

of wartime submarine attacks. “Essentially, anything that 

floated ended up on a beach, and Turks Islanders would 

come to the door of the White House selling items they 

had found including life boats, life rafts, oil drums, ropes 

and tarps, timber and furniture. But the most treasured 

finds were the crates of dried tinned food, so when large 

tins of white powder washed up the beach [we] brought it 

from the salvager. It has the appearance and consistency 

of porridge. Cooked and eaten for breakfast, it had the 

consistency of glue but was more or less edible.” 

One of the Harriotts continues: “We had five seamen 

in our home from the sunken British merchant ship with 

supplies that left New York for South America to pick up 

raw rubber. The rescued men were picked up one afternoon 

by our fishermen. (Daddy told us later that the men 

were covered in oil and some were burned quite badly). 

Five of them were settled into our home after Cleo and I 

had gone to bed. We didn’t know about our guests until 

we came down the next morning for breakfast and there 

they were at the dining room table with my father and 

mother having their morning tea.” She continued: “Our 

torpedoed British seamen stayed with us and the other 

families four or five days until a ship came for them. We 

borrowed additional cots from family, and they took over 

our bedroom upstairs, and we moved into our parent’s 

room and slept on the floor.” 

Presumably the officers stayed at the White House. 

Eight of the men were later accommodated at the Louise 

Ariza boarding house in Grand Turk. Osvaldo Ariza 

remembers that his mother “put up survivors there” and 

that “most were Canadian.” He remembers hearing that 

a young boy from the ship said he had been torpedoed 

three times, and that Captain Williams was fond of telling 

local school children that the “V” in Vineland stood 

for Victory. Another of Mrs. Ariza’s sons remembers one 



SHERLIN WILLIAMS 

of the cooks aboard the 

Vineland, a man named 

Hutter. The Arizas and Mr. 

Hutter remained in contact 

for years after the war. 

During their stay 

in Grand Turk, Captain 

Williams managed to 

get word through to the 

Naval Officer in Charge 

in Trinidad. Through 

that channel, the British 

Admiralty in Jamaica 

learned that Vineland had 

been lost. After thirteen 

days on Grand Turk, or 

about May 10, a Dutch 

inter-island passenger ship 

took them to Curaçao. 

Their farewell was poignant 

and a community 

event. One of the Harriotts 

recounts how “When arrangements were made for them 

to return on a ship that came to pick them up, Daddy, 

Cleo and I went down to the waterfront where all the survivors 

had congregated, as did most of the men of the 

island. They were loaded into small boats and taken out 

to the ship . . . and they were returned to the United States 

where they were to be assigned to another ship carrying 

supplies to England.” 

Despite nearly being torpedoed a second time, they 

made it and were given “shaving equipment, suits, socks, 

underwear, you name it. And they even gave us money 

to spend,” wrote Mess Boy Ralph Kelly. The harrowing 

repatriation of Vineland’s men was not over. After less 

than a week in Curaçao they boarded a German-built, 

Dutch-run ship laden with ammunition, bound to Halifax. 

Fortunately for all involved, it was an uneventful voyage of 

fourteen days during which “everybody was scared stiff” 

wrote Kelly. They didn’t arrive back until early June, over 

six weeks after their torpedoing. 

This is the Louise Ariza boarding house in Grand Turk where survivors were put up in 1942 before being 

repatriated by steamer to Haiti or Jamaica. 

That autumn Ralph Kelly joined the Royal Canadian 

Navy. He and his brother Captain Charlie remained 

admired fixtures in the Nova Scotia maritime community. 

On the same patrol, U-154 sank five ships worth 28,715 

tons. Aged 34 at the time (he would live to 1992 and the 

age of 84), German Commander Walther Kölle “made his 

career” in a single patrol through the Bahamas. Having 

earlier survived the scuttling of the Graf Spee off Uruguay, 

he surrendered command of U-154 to Heinrich Shuch 

after his third patrol, and moved ashore. a 

Eric Wiberg has operated over 100 yachts, many of them 

as captain. A licensed master since 1995, he is qualified 

as a maritime lawyer, with a Master’s in Marine Affairs, 

a year at Oxford, and a certificate in screenwriting. He 

commercially operated nine tankers from Singapore for 

three years, and worked briefly for two salvage firms. 

Other jobs have included executive head-hunting, shipping 

newspaper salesman, 

and marketer of a tugboat 

fleet. Besides U-Boats 

in the Bahamas, he has 

published over a dozen 

other books of nautical 

non-fiction. A citizen of US 

and Sweden who grew up 

in the Bahamas, he lives 

in Boston. Contact: eric@ 

ericwiberg.com. 

68 www.timespub.tc


Museum Matters 

News from Grace Bay 

Community Garden 

The Community Garden project is off to a great start 

thanks to Grace Bay Resorts Foundation and their 

sales and marketing team who came out in full force 

to clear the designated site within the Turks & Caicos 

National Museum campus in the Village at Grace Bay, 

Providenciales. 

The primary objective of the garden project, spearheaded 

by Nutrition in Demand, is to encourage persons 

to grow their own food, eat more fresh fruits and vegetables 

and promote a healthier lifestyle. Farming 

showcased in the Caicos Heritage Exhibit as an integral 

part of the lifestyle of the 1900s is no longer typical to 

the Islands. The Community Garden gives persons who 

may need some encouragement to start gardening an 

ideal space to do so in a social setting with access to 

technical support from the Department of Agriculture. 

Within our museum environment, we often straddle 

between the past and the present and the sense of 

community that existed in the past is often a point of 

reference. As the volunteers worked alongside the team 

from Caribbean Landscaping to start the project, I could 

not help but note that the sense of community is alive 

and well. 

Special thanks to Grace Bay Resorts Foundation, 

Ms. Daphne Forbes and all of the other volunteers 

who participated in the clearing project, as well as 

those who worked behind the scenes to provide sup- 

These volunteers cleared the Community Garden site. 

port. Volunteers are welcome to assist as this project 

progresses. For more information, contact Tamika 

Handfield at 442-3978. a 

History and Cultural Heritage Quiz 2019 

We congratulate Holy Family Academy, the winner of the 

Turks & Caicos National Museum’s fourth annual History 

and Cultural Heritage Quiz. Well done! Congratulations 

to Raymond Gardiner High School on their second place 

win and third consecutive placement as a quiz finalist! 

Thank you to the nine secondary schools for participating 

in the quiz, and to the teachers, parents and 

students for the hard work that went into preparation. 

It was a closely contested quiz with an exciting finish. 

The Community Garden site is in the process of being cleared. 

Students from Holy Family Academy earned trophies for winning the 

2019 History and Cultural Heritage Quiz. 

Special thanks to our sponsors: FortisTCI, interCaribbean 

Airways, TC Reef Fund, Grace Bay Car Rentals, 

United Taxi Alliance and the Departments of Education 

and Culture. We say thank you to the Teacher’s 

Workshop facilitators, Quiz Committee, Rachel Harvey, 

Drexler Smith, Brandon Handfield, Brenda Clare, Enid 

Capron Ripsaw Band and our dedicated volunteers. a 



Museum Matters 

Looking forward to 2020 

The year 2019 was a banner year for the National 

Museum for events in both Grand Turk and Provo. 2020 

promised to be another exciting year as we expand our 

calendar of events. 

Saturday, March 7, 2020 — Fundraising Event for 

Grand Turk Museum, themed “Casino Royale” 

Saturday, May 16, 2020 — Back in the Day, 


Saturday, June 6, 2020 — Gala 2020, Providenciales 

July, 2020 — Kid’s Camp, Providenciales 

Saturday, July 25, 2020 — Second Annual Grand Turk 

Cooking Competition 

August, 2020 — Kid’s Camp, Grand Turk 

October, 2020 — Annual History and Heritage Quiz 

Saturday, November 7, 2020 — Museum Day, Grand 

Turk 

These events do not include our movie nights and 

“Evening with the Experts.” If you are interested in finding 

out more about these events, email us at info@ 

tcmuseum.org. a 

Face painting at Museum Day expanded to other parts of the body. 

Museum Day, Grand Turk 

Despite the uncooperative weather, Museum Day on 

Grand Turk had a nice turn out. The children had fun 

riding horses, making slime, playing games, getting 

their faces painted and painting each other! The Grand 

Turk SPCA sold hot dogs and participants also enjoyed 

conch fritters, popcorn and cold drinks. Island Vibes 

band managed to play a few songs between the rain. 

This event focuses on the community and getting 

them involved with the Museum and we succeeded in 

that goal! We would like to thank Lisa Wandres, Tonya 

Vieira, Rob Lightbourne, Ivy Basden, Joseph, Jack Shack, 

Kerri-Ann Smith, Hilary Day, Seamus Day and the SPCA 

for helping make this a great day. a 

“Heritage Matters” Radio Show 

In collaboration with the Turks & Caicos National Trust, 

the Museum launched a new radio series designed to 

explore the history, heritage and culture of the Turks 

& Caicos Islands. The goal of this show is to present 

a weekly commentary on various heritage matters. It 

will attempt to bring to the forefront issues of history, 

culture and heritage in the Turks & Caicos Islands, 

while placing these aspects in the larger picture of the 

Bahamas, the Caribbean, the Americas and the world. 

The show is aired weekly on Radio Turks and Caicos 

(http://rtc89fm.com/). a 

Museum Day 2019 also included horseback riding through the 

streets of Grand Turk . 

70 www.timespub.tc

faces and places 

Clockwise from top: MOTTAC family-friendly activities included tug-of-war and music by school and community groups. Performances by local 

artists started later in the day, and continued on into the evening. A variety of native crafts and foods were on sale. 

MOTTAC Music Festival 

On October 26, 2019, the Turks & Caicos’ very own music 

festival debuted. MOTTAC (Musicians of the Turks & Caicos), 

offered the beautiful sounds of local artists including Tess 

Charles, Raj the Entertainer, Keno and Kaz, Noel Brown, 

and Qband lynkz, along with several school and community 

groups. 

Taking place at the Downtown Ball Park in Providenciales, 

the free festival began with family-friendly activities such as 

a tug-of-war and relay race. Guests enjoyed native food from 

various vendors and the opportunity to buy local craft goods. 

The music began later in the day, starting with several 

performances from local school groups. When the sun set, the 

festival shifted into full swing with performances from several 

local artists. With a successful turnout, the event was well 

received and has the potential to become an annual festival. 

Story & Photos By David Newlands 


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.amnautical.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 36,500. 

Getting here 

There are international airports on Grand Turk, 

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 from Miami, Charlotte, 

Chicago, Dallas, New York/JFK and Philadelphia. JetBlue 

Airways offers service from Fort Lauderdale, Boston 

and New York/JFK. Southwest Airlines travels to Fort 

Lauderdale. Delta Airlines flies from Atlanta, Boston and 

New York/JFK. United Airlines travels from Chicago and 

Newark. WestJet travels from Toronto and Montreal. Air 

Canada offers flights from Toronto and Montreal. British 

Airways travels from London/Gatwick via Antigua. 

72 www.timespub.tc

Bahamasair and InterCaribbean Airways fly to Nassau, 

Bahamas. Flights to: Antigua; Dominica; Cap Haitien 

and Port Au Prince, Haiti; Kingston and Montego Bay, 

Jamaica; Miami, Florida; Puerto Plata and Santo Domingo, 

Dominican Republic; San Juan, Puerto Rico; St. Lucia; St. 

Maarten; Santiago, Cuba; and Tortola are available on 

InterCaribbean Airways, while Caicos Express travels to 

Cap Haitien daily. (Schedules are current as of November 

2019 and subject to change.) 

Inter-island service is provided by InterCaribbean 

Airways, Caicos Express Airways and Global Airways. Sea 

and air freight services operate from Florida. 

Language 

English. 

Time zone 

Eastern Standard Time (EST)/Daylight Savings Time 

observed. 

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. 

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 and community cabs are abundant throughout 

the Islands and many resorts offer shuttle service 

between popular visitor areas. Scooter, motorcycle, 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 

FortisTCI supplies electricity at a frequency of 60HZ, 

and either single phase or three phase at one of three 

standard voltages for residential or commercial service. 

FortisTCI continues to invest in a robust and resilient grid 

to ensure the highest level of reliability to customers. The 

company is integrating renewable energy into its grid and 

provides options for customers to participate in two solar 

energy programs. 

Departure tax 

US $60. It is typically included in the price of your airline 

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 on Airport Road. In Grand Turk, the 

Post Office and Philatelic Bureau are 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. 

74 www.timespub.tc

Brew ad May 2017_Layout 1 5/11/17 10:51 AM Page 1 

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 Nigel John Dakin. He presides over an executive 

council formed by the elected local government. 

Lady Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson is the country’s first 

woman premier, leading a majority People’s Democratic 

Movement (PDM) House of Assembly. 

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. 

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. Practically 

all consumer goods and foodstuffs are imported. 

The Turks & Caicos Islands are recognised as an 

important offshore financial centre, offering services 

Turk’s Head Brewery 

Brewery Tours Monday-Friday 

11AM, 1PM, 3PM 

$15/pp 

Enjoy a complimentary selection of local craft beer 

after your tour! 

Email tours@turksheadbeer.com 

Call 649.941.3637 x 1005 to book 

www.turksheadbrewery.tc 

52 Universal Dr. 

Providenciales, TCI 

TOUR TASTE SHOP 

Island Auto_Layout 1 12/12/17 12:49 PM Page 1 

ISLAND AUTO RENTALS 

For Quality & Reliable Service 

& Competitive Prices 

The Cruise Center, Grand Turk 

Neville Adams 

Tel: (649) 946-2042 

Cell: (649) 232-0933 or (649) 231-4214 

Email: nevilleadams@hotmail.com 


Levoi Marshall 

Cell: (649) 441-6737 

Email: levoimarshall86@gmail.com 

Web: islandautorentalstci.com 


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 in 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, Episcopal, 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 

sports and beachwear, and locally made handicrafts, 

Harbour Club:Layout 1 8/17/16 10:16 AM Page 1 

The National Bird is the Brown pelican (Pelecanus occi- 

including straw work and conch crafts. Duty free outlets 

dentalis). 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 

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. Single-use plastic bags have been 

banned country-wide as of May 1, 2019. 

Recreation 

76 www.timespub.tc 

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 18 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 33 

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 is 

a casino on Providenciales, along with many electronic 

gaming parlours. Stargazing is extraordinary! 

Shoppers will find Caribbean paintings, T-shirts, 

sell liquor, jewellery, watches, perfume, leather goods, 

crystal, china, cameras, electronics, brand-name clothing 

and accessories, along with Cuban cigars. a 

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. 

Trip Advisor 

Travellers’ Choice 

Awards Winner 

E: harbourclub@tciway.tc 

T: 1 649 941 5748 

See our website 

for details. 

www.HARBOURCLUBVILLAS.com

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 649 231 3572/800 494 4301 • Web www.bohioresort.com 170–230 16 • • • • • • • • 

Crabtree Apartments – Tel 978 270 1698 • Web www.GrandTurkVacationRental.com 210–250 3 • • • • • • 

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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Dragon Cay Resort at Mudjin Harbour – Tel 649 344 4997 • Web www.dragoncayresort.com 325 8 • • • • • • • • • 

North Caicos 

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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 • Web www.pelicanbeach.tc 125–165 14 • • • • • • • • 

Pine Cay 

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The Meridian Club - Tel 649 946 7758/888 286 7993 • Web www.meridianclub.com 800–1300 13 • • • • • • • 

Parrot Cay 

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COMO Parrot Cay Resort - Tel 649 946 7788/855 PARROTCAY • www.comohotels.com/parrotcay 550–2850 65 • • • • • • • • • • 


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Airport Inn – Tel 649 941 3514 • Web www.airportinntci.com. 140 18 • • • • • • • 

Alexandra Resort – Tel 800 284 0699/649 946 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.aman.com 1000–2100 73 • • • • • • • • 

Aquamarine Beach Houses – Tel 649 231 4535/905 556 0278 • www.aquamarinebeachhouses.com 200–850 24 • • • • • • • • 

Beaches Resort Villages & Spa – Tel 888-BEACHES/649 946 8000 • Web www.beaches.com 325–390AI 758 • • • • • • • • • 

Beach House Turks & Caicos – Tel 649 946 5800/855 946 5800 • Web www.beachchousetci.com 532–638 21 • • • • • • • • • • 

BE Beach Enclave – Tel 649 946 5619 • Web www.beachenclave.com see web 24 • • • • • • • • 

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.caribbeanparadiseinn.com 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 649 941 5497/800 787 9115 • Web www.coralgardensongracebay.com 199-449 32 • • • • • • • • • • 

Grace Bay Club - Tel 800 946 5757/649 946 5050 • Web www.gracebayclub.com 650–1750 75 • • • • • • • • • • 

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 • • • • • 

The Inn at Grace Bay – Tel 649 432 8633 • Web www.innatgracebay.com 179–379 48 • • • • • • • 

Kokomo Botanical Gardens - Tel 649 941 3121• Web www.aliveandwellresorts.com 169–299 16 • • • • • 

Le Vele - Tel 649 941 8800/888 272 4406 • Web www.leveleresort.com 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 8107/245 9993 • 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 5880 • Web www.oceanclubresorts.com 180–690 191 • • • • • • • • • • 

The Palms Turks & Caicos – Tel 649 946 8666/866 877 7256 • Web thepalmstc.com 595–1700 72 • • • • • • • • • • 


where to stay 

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Providenciales (continued) 

Pelican Nest Villa – Tel 649 342 5731 • Web www.pelicannest.tc 429–857 2 • • • • • • 

Point Grace – Tel 649 946 5096/888 209 5582 • Web www.pointgrace.com 424–1515 27 • • • • • • • • • • 

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 Residences at Grace Bay – Tel 800 532 8536 • Web www.reefresidence.com 275-385 24 • • • • • • • 

The Regent Grand – Tel 877 288 3206/649 941 7770 • Web www.theregentgrand.com 495–1100 50 • • • • • • • • • 

Royal West Indies Resort – Tel 800 332 4203/649 946 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 7777/649 333 7777 – Web www.sevenstarsgracebay.com 365–2400 165 • • • • • • • • • • 

The Shore Club – Tel 649 339 8000 – Web www.theshoreclubtc.com 465–4650 148 • • • • • • • • • • 

Sibonné Beach Hotel – Tel 888 570 2861/649 946 5547 • Web www.sibonne.com 110–375 29 • • • • • • • • 

The Somerset on Grace Bay – Tel 649 339 5900/888 386 8770 • Web www.thesomerset.com 350–1300 53 • • • • • • • • • • 

The Tuscany – Tel 866 359 6466/649 941 4667 • Web www.thetuscanyresort.com 975–1300 30 • • • • • • • • 

The Venetian – Tel 877 277 4793/649 941 3512 • Web www.thevenetiangracebay.com 695–1175 27 • • • • • • • • 

Villa del Mar – Tel 877 345 4890/649 941 5160 • Web www.yourvilladelmar.com 190–440 42 • • • • • • • 

Villa Mani – Tel 649 431 4444 • Web www.villamanitci.com 6500–9500 8 • • • • • • • 

Villa Renaissance – Tel 649 941 5160/877 345 4890 • www.villarenaissanceturksandcaicos.com 295–650 36 • • • • • • • • • 

The Villas at Blue Mountain – Tel 649 941 4255/866 883 5931 • www.villasatbluemountain.com 1200–2500 3 • • • • • • • • 

West Bay Club – Tel 855 749 5750/649 946 8550 • Web www.thewestbayclub.com 235–1163 46 • • • • • • • • • • 

Windsong Resort – Tel 649 333 7700/800 WINDSONG • Web www.windsongresort.com 275–925 50 • • • • • • • • • 

Wymara Resort & Villas – Tel 888 844 5986 • Web www.wymararesortandvillas.com 315–720 91 • • • • • • • • • • 

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 

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 Guest Suites – 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 • • • • • • • • 

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South Caicos 

East Bay Resort – Tel 844 260 8328/649 232 6444 • Web eastbayresort.com 198–1775 86 • • • • • • • • • • 

Sailrock South Caicos – Tel 800 929 7197/649 946 3777 • Web sailrockresort.com 800–4400 6 • • • • • • • • • • 

South Caicos Ocean & Beach Resort – Tel 877 774 5486/649 946 3219 

Web southcaicos.oceanandbeachresort.com 120–275 24 • • • • • 

Hotel & Tourism Association Member 

Green Globe Certified 

Rates (listed for doubles) do not include Government Accommodation Tax and Service Charge 

classified ads 

SCOOTER BOBS_Layout 1 8/8/18 10:57 AM Page GBC2017_Layout 1 2/16/17 9:10 AM Page 1 

We’re here to 

make your holiday 

the island way... 

DEPENDABLE VEHICLE HIRE 

SERVICE OFFERED: 

Provo & North-Middle Caicos 

Office: 946-4684 

Amos: 441-2667 (after hours) 

Yan: 247-6755 (after hours) 

Bob: 231-0262 (after hours) 

scooterbobs@gmail.com 

www.scooterbobstci.com 

Grace Bay Road across from Regent Street 

Fun Friendly People 

Appreciating Your Business! 

941-8500 

www.gracebaycarrentals.com 

78 www.timespub.tc

Calls Spa Services 

Out 

Hair Reduction 

Permanent 

& Body Waxing 

Face 

Facials 

Anti-aging 

classified ads 

Forbes Classified changes due_Layout 1 8/9/18 11:51 A 

FORBES REALTY TCI 

Caicu Naniki_Caicu Naniki classified 8/9/18 12:05 PM Page 1 

“Go Beyond Provo” 

Find your dream property on North Caicos, 

Middle Caicos, Salt Cay or Pine Cay. 

Call or email us today! 

R E J O U V E N A N C E 

SPA 

649-432-7546 

Touch of Bliss_Layout 1 8/9/18 11:59 AM Page 1 

www.rejouvenancespa.com 

www.ForbesRealtyTCI.com 

Sara Kaufman cell: 1-649-231-4884 

Ernest Forbes cell: 1-649-247-7599 

info@ForbesRealtyTCI.com 

Community Fellowship Centre 

A Life-Changing Experience 

Sunday Divine Worship 9 AM 

Visitors Welcome! 

Tel: 649.941.3484 • Web: cfctci.com 

Phone: 649-242-3439 or 649-346-7344 

Email: touchofbliss@rocketmail.com 

Newly located at Caribbean Place 

PRIVATE TOURS TO 

NORTH & MIDDLE CAICOS & 

SOUTH CAICOS. 

SWIM LESSONS & SWIM SAFARIS. 

STAND-UP-PADDLEBOARD 

RENTALS & SALES. 

5 STAR TRIP ADVISOR RATING 

Stop by Swim & Surf Store at 

Caicos Cafe Plaza, Grace Bay. 

(649) 432-5000 

www.caicunaniki.com 

Project1_Layout 1 11/27/18 10:34 PM Page 1 

R & K 

AUTO 

D&Bswift_Layout 1 5/8/18 7:24 AM Page 1 

JOHN GALLEYMORE 

Project Management 

Estate Management 

Homeowner Representation 

Concierge 

______ 

compasstci@gmail.com 

1 (649) 232 7083 

COMPASS Ltd 

Home Owner Services & Project Management 

Diagnostic Services • Wheel Alignment 

Balancing • Tune Ups 

Exhaust Repairs • A/C Repairs 

Radiator Pressure Testing 

Ralph Carmichael, Partner 

649 242 0063 • 432 2374 

Ocean Breeze_Layout 1 4/8/19 10:34 AM Page 1 

FOR ALL YOUR 

RELIABLE AND 

AFFORDABLE 

RENTAL NEEDS 

Our cleaning solutions are made 

from biodegradable materials that 

aren't harmful to the environment. 

Find our products throughout the 

Turks & Caicos Islands. 

Call 244-2526 

or 241-5584 

649-941-8438 and 649-241-4968 

autorental@dnbautoparts.com 

HOUSEHOLD AND COMMERCIAL CLEANING PRODUCTS 

www.oceanbreezetci.com 


dining out – providenciales 

Amanyara — Amanyara Resort. Tel: 941-8133. Light gourmet 

cuisine with menu changing daily. Open 6 to 10 PM. 

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 7 AM to 5 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 7:30 

AM to 10:30 PM. 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. 

Barbetta — The Somerset. Tel: 332-3250. Mediterranean classics, 

Caribbean specials, small plates and Spanish tapas. Dining 

in lounge, terrace or pool bar. Open daily 6 to 10 PM for dinner; 

pool bar open 8 AM to 8 PM. Kid’s menu. Take-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. Indoor or terrace seating above 

tropical garden. Open daily from 5:30 PM. Closed Sunday. Lunch 

and pizza in the garden. 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. Fresh 

local conch and seafood by the beach. Rum, buckets of beer, 

live local bands. Open daily from 11 AM to late. 

Cabana Beach Bar & Grill — Ocean Club. Tel: 946-5880. 

Casual island fare, burgers, salads, snacks. Open daily from 

8 AM to 10 PM. Tropical cocktails with a 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. 

Chicken Chicken — Times Square, downtown Provo. Fast food, 

fried chicken, native fare. 

Chinson’s Grill Shack — Leeward Highway. Tel: 941-3533. 

The Islands’ best jerk and barbecue, Jamaican pastries. Open 

daily 8 AM to 10 PM; Friday to Midnight. 

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 from 5:30 PM daily. Look for the Cocovan airstream 

lounge with garden seating or take-away. 

Coconut Grove Restaurant & Lounge — Olympic Plaza, 

Downtown. Tel: 247-5610. Casual native fare. Cracked conch, 

conch fritters, fried fish. Open daily 11 AM to 10 PM. 

Coyaba Restaurant — Bonaventure Crescent. 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. 

Crackpot Kitchen — Ports of Call. Tel: 2313336. Experience 

the best of authentic Turks & Caicos and Caribbean cuisines 

with local celebrity Chef Nik. Open daily 5 to 10 PM except 

Thursday; Happy Hour 5 to 7 PM. 

Da Conch Shack — 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 — Grace Bay Road. Tel: 946-5921. Traditional 

American pub fare; imported draught beers. Open for lunch and 

dinner daily from 11 AM. Happy Hour specials. Large screen TVs 

for sporting events. Karaoke. 

The Deck — Seven Stars Resort. Tel: 333-7777. All day dining 

and cocktails by the water’s edge. Open daily 11 AM to 11 PM. 

Live music Friday nights. 

Drift — West Bay Club. Tel: 946-8550. Open-air beachfront dining. 

Creatively used local ingredients. Full bar. Open daily 7:30 

AM to 9:30 PM. 

Dune — Windsong Resort. Tel: 333-7700. Private beachfront 

dining with limited availability. Fresh fare prepared to perfection. 

Open daily. 

El Catador Tapas & Bar — Regent Village. Tel: 244-1134. 

Authentic Spanish tapas with a wide mix of cold and hot plates 

meant for sharing. Fun and lively atmosphere. Open daily from 

5 PM. 

Element — LeVele Plaza. Tel: 348-6424. Contemporary, creative 

cuisine in an elegant setting. Open for dinner Friday to 

Wednesday 6:30 to 10:30 PM. 

Fairways Bar & Grill — Provo Golf Club. Tel: 946-5833. Dine 

overlooking the “greens.” Open for breakfast and lunch from 7 

AM to 4 PM daily; Friday, Saturday and Sunday open until 8 PM. 

Great Sunday brunch 9 AM to 3 PM. 

Fire & Ice — Blue Haven Resort & Marina. Tel: 946-9900. 

Drinks at the Ice Bar, dessert by the fire pits. South Americanmeets-Caribbean 

flavors and spices. Open daily 5:30 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 souse. All-you-can-eat seafood buffet 

on Wednesday. Open daily 8 AM to 10 PM. Closed Sunday. 

Carry-out available. 

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 Sky Lounge & Bar — At the airport. Tel: 946-4472. 

Burgers, sandwiches, local food. Open daily 6 AM to 9 PM. 

Grace’s Cottage — Point Grace Resort. Tel: 946-5096. Refined 

new menu in the style of a tastefully sophisticated French bistro. 

Serving dinner from 6 to 10 PM nightly. 

The Grill — Grace Bay Club. Tel: 946-5050. Al fresco bistro. 

Italian-inspired menu and gourmet pizza. Fun cocktails. Open 

daily for 7 AM to 9:30 PM. 

Hemingways on the Beach — The Sands at Grace Bay. Tel: 

941-8408. Casual beachfront bar and restaurant. Fresh fish, 

80 www.timespub.tc

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. Full bar. A/C dining or outdoors on the 

deck. Open daily 7 AM to 9 PM. Pick-up/delivery available. 

Infiniti Restaurant & Raw Bar — Grace Bay Club. Tel: 946- 

5050. Elegant beachfront dining featuring sea-to-table fare. 

Dinner served nightly 6:30 to 9:30 PM. Reservations required. 

Island Raw — Le Petite Plaza. Tel: 346-5371. Vegan lifestyle 

kitchen, offering fresh, organic, raw, vegan, gourmet. Open 

Friday, Noon to 2 PM. 

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. 

Jack’s Fountain — Across from Casablanca Casino. Tel: 946- 

5225. Fresh crab, seafood, unique specialty items in a lively, 

relaxed “beach bar” atmosphere. Open daily except Monday 

11:30 AM to 10 PM. 

Jimmy’s Dive Bar & Grill — Central Square, Leeward Highway. 

Tel: 941-8925. Take-out lunch specials; daily drink and dinner 

specials. Wings, sliders, salads, pasta, burgers, seafood. Open 

daily Noon to 2 AM. 

Kalooki’s Grace Bay — Le Vele Plaza. Tel: 941-8388. The perfect 

mix of sweet and spicy Caribbean flavors. New location in 

Grace Bay. Open daily 11 AM to 10 PM. Closed Thursday. 

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 except Tuesday 

5:30 to 10 PM. 

Las Brisas — Neptune Villas, Chalk Sound. Tel: 946-5306. 

Mediterranean/Caribbean cuisine with tapas, wine and full bar. 

Terrace and gazebo dining overlooking Chalk Sound. Open daily 

8 AM to 10 PM. Take-out available; private parties. 

Le Bouchon du Village — Regent Village. Tel: 946-5234. A 

taste of Paris. Sidewalk café with sandwiches, salads, tartines, 

tapas, dinner specials, wine, cheese, dessert, coffees. Open 

daily 11 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. Tel: 941-4069. 

Gourmet coffeehouse. Sandwiches, muffins, cookies, croissants, 

yogurt, salads. Open Monday to Saturday 7:30 AM to 7 PM, 

Sunday 9 AM to 1 PM. 

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 dinner 5 to 10 PM. 

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. 

Mango Reef — Turtle Cove. Tel: 946-8200. Fresh local flavors 

and seafood, homemade desserts. Open daily 11 AM to 10 PM. 

Set price dinner on weekdays. Waterside deck, indoor or patio 

dining. 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, sandwiches, smoothies. Open daily 7 AM to 8 PM. 

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 Sunset Ridge Hotel (near airport). 

Tel: 242-6780. Serving fresh local seafood straight from 

the sea. Open daily 10 AM to 10:30 PM, Sunday 3 to 11 PM. 

Opus Wine • Bar • Grill — Ocean Club Plaza. Tel: 946-5885. 

International menu with Caribbean flair. Fresh seafood. Serving 

dinner nightly 6 to 10 PM. Closed Monday. Indoor/outdoor dining. 

Conference facility, events, catering. 

Outback Steakhouse TCI — Regent Village. Unbeatable 

steak cuts complemented by chicken, ribs, seafood, and pasta. 

Generous portions, moderately priced, casual atmosphere. Open 

daily 11 AM to 10 PM. 

Paparazzi Brazilian Steak House and Sushi Bar — Queen 

Angel Resort. Tel: 332-2810. Eat, drink and dance. Open 

Monday to Saturday for dinner. 

Parallel23 — The Palms Turks & Caicos. Tel: 946-8666. Pantropical 

cuisine in a setting of casual elegance. Boutique wine 

list. Al fresco or private dining room available. Open daily 6 to 

Midnight. 

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. 

Pelican Bay Restaurant & Bar — Royal West Indies Resort. 

Tel: 941-2365. Poolside restaurant and bar with Caribbean, 

French and Asian fare. Breakfast, lunch, dinner daily from 7:30 

AM to 10 PM. Special events each week. 

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. 

Provence — Le Vele Plaza. Tel: 946-4124. Traditional French 

artisan-style cuisine. Fresh pasta, gelato, cheeses, charcuterie, 

pastries, desserts. Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. 

Retreat Kitchen Vegetarian Café & Juice Bar — Ports of 

Call. Tel: 432-2485. Fresh, organic, vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free 

fare. Fresh juices, daily lunch specials. Open for lunch 

Monday to Saturday, 9 AM to 3 PM. Delivery available. 

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. 

Salt Bar & Grill — Blue Haven Resort & Marina. Tel: 946-9900. 

Outdoor seating overlooking the marina. Sandwiches, burgers, 

salads, classic bar favorites. Open daily 11:30 AM to 9:30 PM. 

Seven — Seven Stars Resort. Tel: 339-7777. Elevated contemporary 

cuisine fused with TCI tradition. Open Monday to Saturday, 

5:30 to 9:30 PM. 

72ºWest — The Palms Turks & Caicos. 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; casual dining. Sports bar/slots. Open 


daily from 11 AM to 2 AM. 

Shay Café — Le Vele Plaza. Tel: 331-6349. Offering organic 

coffees, teas, sandwiches, salads, soup, pastries, gelato, sorbetto, 

smoothies, beer and wine. Open daily 7 AM to 7 PM. 

Simone’s Bar & Grill — La Vista Azul. Tel: 331-3031. Serving 

fresh seafood and local cuisine. Open daily 11 AM to 11 PM; 

weekends 7 AM to 11 PM. Popular bar! 

Skull Rock Cantina — Ports of Call. Tel: 941-4173. The place 

for Tex-Mex; daily drink specials. Open daily, 8 AM to Midnight. 

Solana! Restaurant — Ocean Club West. Tel: 946-5254. 

Oceanfront dining from sushi to burgers. Teppanyaki and Sushi 

Bar, engage with the chefs. Open daily 7:30 AM to 10 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 — Wymara Resort. Tel: 232-4444. Asian and international 

fusion featuring fresh fish and seafood. Open 6 to 10 PM 

daily, until 2 AM on Friday with DJ. 

Sui-Ren — The Shore Club. Tel: 339-8000. Inspired flavors of 

Peruvian-Japanese fusion cuisine with fresh seafood and organic 

produce in a unique setting. Open daily. Reservations required. 

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. 

Turkberry Frozen Yogurt — The Saltmills. Tel: 431-2233. 

Frozen yogurt in a variety of flavors, with a large selection of 

toppings. Custom donut bar. 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. Open from 5:30 PM to 

late. Closed Thursday. Saturday is Pizza Night! 

The Vix Asian Bistro & Grill — Regent Village. Tel: 941-4144. 

Contemporary Asian menu with a wok station, dim sum, vegan 

specialties and keto dishes. Open daily Noon to 3 PM; 5:30 to 

10 PM. Delivery to select locations. Catering menus. 

Yoshi’s Sushi & Grill — The Saltmills. Tel: 941-3374/431- 

0012. Sushi bar menu plus Japanese cuisine. Open daily Noon 

to 3 PM; 6 to 10 PM. Closed Sunday. Dine indoors or out. Carry 

out available. 

Zest! — Wymara Resort. Tel: 232-4444. Lunch and dinner 

beachfront. Seasonal grilled fare, ceviches and homemade 

pizza. Open daily Noon to 5 PM; 6 to 9 PM. Fisherman’s night 

Wednesday. a 

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SUSTAINABLE 

ENERGY 

You Can 

Count On 

R-NETS: A roadmap for 

TCI’s energy future 

Solar integration 

to the FortisTCI grid 

We’re building partnerships to deliver a more sustainable 

energy future for the Turks and Caicos Islands. 

With the Resilient National Energy Transition 

Strategy (R-NETS) serving as a roadmap, and with 

new and ongoing investments in solar energy 

generation, solar plus battery pilot project, and 

an electric vehicle and charging station project, 

FortisTCI is working every day to deliver resilient, 

cost-effective and environmentally sustainable 

energy, to fuel growth and development. 

Solar + battery storage 

pilot project 

Electric vehicle 

pilot project 

www.fortistci.com | 649-946-4313 |

For Those Who Seek An 

Exceptional Vacation Home & Lifestyle 

Beach Enclave North Shore 

Blue Mountain Beachfront 

MLS 1900212 

THE FINEST COLLECTION 

Condominium | Home & Villa | Land | New Development 

649.946.4474 | info@tcsothebysrealty.com | turksandcaicosSIR.com 

Venture House, Grace Bay | Resort Locations: Grace Bay Club and The Palms 

Each franchise is Independently Owned and Operated.

Times of the Islands Winter 2019/20

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