Times of the Islands Summer 2022

astrolabe newsletter of the Turks & Caicos National Museum
Museum Matters
Building fire in Grand Turk
In January 2022, the Museum was a victim of an arson
attack. We were extremely lucky that the fire did not
spread and was limited to damage on the north end
balcony and wall. The fire was spotted by a police officer
in the early morning hours of January 31. It had been
smoldering for several hours but had not spread any
further than the original site of ignition.
Thanks to the assistance of many local businesses
and supporters (see below), we were able to quickly
make repairs and improve security with the installation
of better cameras and alarm systems. The building was
protected internally with a fire extinguishing system
that was not activated or needed. We do not feel the fire
was a personal attack, but a continuation of an ongoing
issue on Grand Turk. If there is anything positive
to come of this, it was the show of support and concern
received from the community. The 200+ year-old
Guinep House continues to stand as a symbol of our
history and culture.
Thank you to local businesses and supporters who
provide special pricing or assistance to the Museum:
• Turks & Caicos Island Government—Special grants
and donations to help in various aspects of Museum
operation, security, exhibits and events.
• Turks & Caicos Banking Company—Assisted with
increased security at the Grand Turk location.
• Olympic Construction—Timely repairs and donated
their profit back to the Museum.
• Construction Advisory Services—Valuations recently
completed.
• LIME Turks & Caicos—Additional bandwidth provided.
• WC Security Services Ltd.—Installation of new security
system on Grand Turk and donated a new alarm
system for the Providenciales location.
• NW Hamilton Insurance—Quick resolution of claim. a
Grand Turk community projects
Botanical Garden
The Museum, in collaboration with Her Majesty’s Prison
on Grand Turk, created a work crew to clean up and
maintain the Botanical Garden. It was overgrown and
in need of major clean-up and attention. After several
weeks of hard work, the garden is ready for visitors and
locals alike to enjoy.
The plan is to have the work crew come as needed
to keep the garden maintained. Research has shown
that work projects can significantly reduce the risk of
re-offending, develop good work habits, and expand
skills. We thank the members of the work crew and HMP
administration for their assistance. It provides a service
to the community resulting in a win-win partnership for
everyone involved. a
Spay & Neuter Clinic
The Museum hosted the nonprofit group 4 Leaf Rover
who performed a five-day spay/neuter and medical
clinic, made possible with the help of the TCSPCA, local
volunteers, and 4 Leaf Rover volunteers. The group
worked all day and into the night to take care of as many
animals as possible. The final count exceeded 300, and
included cats, kittens, dogs, puppies, and a turtle.
We were delighted to see several children who were
on spring break come to the clinic to observe. They were
educated on the importance of animal care and spaying/
neutering their pets. There may even be a few future
vets or volunteers in the group.
4 Leaf Rover was created with the goal of improving
the lives of dogs and cats that are lacking necessities.
For more information and photos from the clinic, visit
www.4leafrover.net. a
Current Days & Hours of Operation:
Grand Turk (Front Street): Hours vary daily, but in general
open on all cruise ship days 9 AM to 1 PM. When a
ship arrives on or after 11 AM, we will open one hour
after arrival for three hours.
Providenciales (The Village of Grace Bay): Open
Tuesday and Thursday, 10 AM to 2 PM.
Both locations include exhibits and artifacts related
to the history and culture of the Islands. Visit our gift
shops for souvenirs, history books, and locally made
products such as baskets, jewelry, salt products and
more. Days and times of operation are subject to change
so please check our website or email us for updated
information:
www.tcmuseum.org• info@tcmuseum.org
72 www.timespub.tc