Turks and Caicos Islands

public safety and the environment are evident, demonstrating concern and dedication to the ever-present
risk from natural hazards, disasters and the changing climate.
7.9. Community Livelihoods, Gender, Poverty and Development
It is well documented, that women and men are differently affected by the effects of climate variability and
change. Reasons include the different responsibilities men and women assume in relation to care work,
income generating work, as well as their different levels of dependency on natural resources, knowledge
and capacities to cope with the effects because of differences in the access to education and information
systems.
Major elements of vulnerability were highlighted during research. Tourism is a significant component of the
local economy and directly or indirectly supports the employment of several residents. Generally, all
residents in all economic brackets are affected by hurricanes and tropical storms. Residents who work for
minimal pay are dually affected: (i) dealing with damage and losses at the household level; and (ii) being
unable to work for their regular income because of disruption of operations at the workplace or lack of
customers to fuel business operations.
Tourism facilities located on the beach are prone to storm surge events and coastal flooding impacts and
community residents working in fisheries are also vulnerable to storm surge impacts, if they own a boat.
Depending on the severity of weather, tourism facilities may remain closed for a short or long period of
time to conduct repairs, and staff will be out of work for that period, with the possibility of reduced
income. A fisherman’s boat is a crucial asset of his livelihoods, and damage or destruction to the boat will
be crippling. Although agriculture is practised on a very minor scale, farmers, like fishermen, are some of
the most vulnerable residents who stand to lose crops and soil during a hurricane.
Residents who are better off financially are, of course, more able to absorb the impacts of hurricanes and
rebound quickly. The vulnerability of women and men, based on community perspectives, is multi-faced
but suggests that both groups are vulnerable in different ways based on their perceptions of risk, state-ofmind
and level of responsibility within the household. Women and men who are heads of a household,
with a number of dependent relatives (children, elderly) have to bear all of the responsibility for disaster
preparation and recovery for the entire household, which places a tremendous strain on them.
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