Turks and Caicos Islands

tourism product, which is likewise used in many other Caribbean territories that have a heavy dependence
on tourism. This marketing concept underscores the necessary resources and conditions for tourism to
thrive: clear skies, limited or at least predictable rain, beautiful beaches and a pristine marine environment.
Visitors appreciate and ultimately make their travel plans to enjoy stable weather and calm seas. Minor
rainfall events are accommodated, but prolonged and heavy rainfall prohibits the outdoor activities that
visitors seek out. Persons who work at sea – including fishermen, sports fishing operators, snorkelling and
dive operators – also prefer stable weather and calm seas, although this is less of a priority for fishermen
who fish for subsistence than the marine recreation operators who are patronised by tourists. Although
fishermen may live in the area, and use the nearby beach as a landing site, fishing is done further offshore
outside of the nearby national park.
Many of residents who live in Lower Bight are employed by hotels or some of the smaller tourism
enterprises. Some residents are also craft vendors, patronised by tourists. The hotel and restaurant sector
is dominated by female employees who work within ancillary, housekeeping, food and beverage and front
desk service departments. Jobs in the tourism industry that are dominated by men include security officers,
chefs and bartenders in hotels; conducting sports fishing, diving and snorkelling tours; engage in craftmaking
and vending; and work as tour guides and taxi operators who take visitors on tours and excursions
around the island.
The sources of water supply in Turks and Caicos Islands are rainfall (some residents have installed water
cisterns to collect and store rainwater), desalination as well as some groundwater resources. Wells and
cesspits are of great importance for water resources on Providenciales especially. Most residents have
access to the piped water supply (or “city water”), but squatters tend to use water from wells. There is a
concern that in the event of a severe flood, there would be contamination of groundwater resources as a
result of pollution in the watershed. It was previously proposed at the government level that some of the
wells be capped to protect them from pollution.
Community knowledge of climate change and observed changes to the natural environment
Knowledge of climate change within the community varies: residents perceive their knowledge to range
from ‘average’ to ‘poor’. Some residents may be aware of some climate change issues through the media,
public education materials or through their work. However, just as many residents have had no direct
contact with climate change concepts or issues. Some of the perceptions are highlighted below:
1. The most widely shared view defined climate change as a change in weather patterns
2. Changes in, or changes that affect the natural environment. Differences have been observed
especially over the last two decades, including declines in biodiversity (specifically, some species of
fish and birds) and soil erosion.
3. Persons or countries that do not believe in climate change, or support actions to reduce the
impacts are in most cases (i) the most affected and (ii) the greatest contributors.
4. Climate change is considered to be a precursor to a major apocalyptic-scale or religious-type
occurrence (i.e. “a sign of the times”).
5. Climate change is also associated with extreme, short-term events such as hurricanes. Some
residents recalled Hurricane Kate (1985), which caused significant damage across the islands. The
storms of 1945 and 1960 were also catastrophic.
Based on their own evaluation, there are no significant differences between the knowledge of men and
women, who share similar perspectives on the manifestation of climate change and the observed changes
in the natural environment. However, views on gender vulnerability to climate change impacts differ, as
100