Turks and Caicos Islands

entity. One of the key resources necessary for construction includes sand, but this is sourced externally as
required quantities cannot be produced within the country. Other materials may be sourced locally, or may
also be imported. Severe weather would impact on construction work and progress. Work can otherwise
proceed in stable or slightly unstable weather. The aftermath of destruction after hurricanes and tropical
storms is also known to temporarily boost the construction industry, which becomes a priority sector in
efforts to restore and rebuild infrastructure as quickly as possible so that normal country operations can
resume.
Gender roles in community development
At the level of Government, there are no local divisions or representatives in the Turks and Caicos Islands,
as Direct Rule was enforced in 2009 by the British Government. Ordinarily, the Bight itself constituted one
electoral division, and both men and women were legally allowed to contest elections. However, men are
substantially more active in politics than women – a common trait in the political landscape across the
Caribbean, although this appears to stem from a lack of interest on the part of women moreso than gender
discrimination in politics. There are no strong or formal community organisations which contribute to the
running of the community in Lower Bight specifically, but smaller, less formal community groups exist to
effect micro-scale community development. These community groups are also gender-inclusive, but may
have more or less involvement of either gender based on the group’s objectives and work, and the interest
of residents.
In Providenciales, it was suggested that there are more local women than men, and this is reflected in
national statistics (e.g. Kairi Consultants Limited, 2000). Community residents suggested that figures are
less disparate when foreign populations are included, but women still outnumber men slightly. Many men
were reported to have migrated for work in previous times, resulting in a larger proportion of females
remaining on the island and therefore leaving a relatively large number of female-headed households.
Results from the household surveys also support this perspective (See Section 5.8). At the household level,
it was reported that the financially-independent women are more career-oriented and many of them tend
not to have families. However, men also consider themselves as the financial providers for the family in
more middle-income situations because a number of women have housewife roles and do not engage in
any income-generating activities. There are also a notable number of single-mother households. Under
normal circumstances, these households “get by”, but impacts of severe weather often results in a
significantly reduced ability to provide even basic needs.
Gender roles in disaster management
Men within the community consider themselves to be more vulnerable to weather and climate impacts
than women, because they give much less regard to climate risks than women and therefore, without any
anticipatory buffer or protection; stand to be impacted significantly. Conversely, women perceive their
vulnerabilities to be greater for several reasons based on differential access to social and economic benefits
compared to men; the resulting disadvantages that expose them more to the impacts of weather and
climate; and the fact that they bear more social vulnerabilities because of the burden of family care
especially in female-headed single-parent households. However, with the onset of tropical storms or
hurricanes and the associated impacts from flooding and storm surge, preparation is traditionally shared:
women ensure that necessary food and water supplies are present and in good supply, and tend to more
domestic-type tasks; and men take on the more physically-demanding tasks such as affixing shutters and
making repairs. After the system has passed, a similar division of labour follows suit. Men look after
structural repairs and assessments of damage around the house and community. Women will ensure family
well-being and assist with cleaning and clearing.
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