Times of the Islands Winter 2022/23

TIMES
OF THE
SAMPLING THE SOUL OF THE TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDS WINTER 2022/23 NO. 141
THE TEST OF TIME
Provo Golf Course turns 3o!
SNOWBIRDS WITH WINGS
Winter bird migration
WEATHER FORECASTS
Apps versus humans
ISLANDS

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contents
Departments
6 From the Editor
19 Getting to Know
Painting TCI History to Life
Local artist Richard McGhie
By Kathy Borsuk
22 Talking Taíno
Banana Rats for Lunch?
The “tail” of the hutia
By Bill Keegan and Betsy Carlson
28 Eye on the Sky
Forecasting the Future
Human versus weather app
By Paul Wilkerson
49 Faces & Places
Mosaic Workshop
By Jody Rathgeb ~ Photos By Tom Rathgeb
77 About the Islands/TCI Map
81 Subscription Form
82 Classified Ads
Features
50 “Snowbirds” with Wings
Massive migration of birds through TCI
By Simon Busuttil
56 Standing the Test of Time
Provo Golf Course Celebrates 30 years
By Kathy Borsuk
66 Exploring East Caicos
The turtle story
By Oshin Whyte & Amadyne Agenor
Green Pages
33 Building on the Past
By B Naqqi Manco
36 Using Technology to Preserve Nature
By Christopher May
39 Chasing Flowers for TIPAs
By Dodly Prosper
41 Home Is Where the Food Is
By Corinne Pita and Julia de los Reyes
Photos By Dr. C.E. O’Brien
46 Spikey Boys
By Alizee Zimmermann
TIMES
OF THE
ISLANDS
SAMPLING THE SOUL OF THE TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDS WINTER 2022/23 NO. 141
On the Cover
Gary James at Provo Pictures (www.provopictures.com)
made several visits to the Provo Golf Course to shoot this
intriguing overhead cover.
Gary has been supplying high end commercial photography
and videography for the hospitality, real estate, and
architectural industries for over a decade.
50
Astrolabe
71 The Name Behind a Name
The Frith family of Palm Grove, Grand Turk
Story & Illustrations By Jeff Dodge
NORM RODGERS
4 www.timespub.tc

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from the editor
MICHAEL MORTON—WWW.HARBOURCLUBVILLAS.COM
Michael Morton captured this nearly unbelievable shot of a flamboyance of flamingos at the Flamingo Pond overlook in North Caicos. Such a
mighty move of nature MUST be protected so future generations can experience such splendor.
Taking Care
I have a new appreciation for the skill called “caregiving.” Being responsible for the needs of an elderly or handicapped
person is a tremendous task, requiring patience, kindness, perseverance, sacrifice, and lots of love. That’s
why I continue to value the people who are “caretakers” of this “Beautiful by Nature” country. The Turks & Caicos
Islands, in all their grandeur, are a sight to behold. Yet as development, climate change, and population growth
encroach, I see fraying around the edges. Coral reefs are being degraded by disease; beaches (and turtle nesting
sites) eroded due to hurricanes and sea level rise; ocean creatures (like spiny urchins) experiencing unexplained dieouts;
and habitat destruction limiting the “wild places” where flora and fauna flourish. I often ache with sadness when
I recall what the country was like only 30 years ago, and I imagine older Islanders mourn their rich past even more.
Yet the rays of hope are the “caretakers,” and you can read about many in this issue. These are the folks who
step up, leave their comfort zones, and get involved in the healing of the planet — and especially this tiny corner
we call the Turks & Caicos. B Naqqi Manco and the team at DECR and the National Trust; Alizee Zimmermann and
the volunteers at TC Reef Fund; staff and students at the School for Field Studies; Ecologist Oshin Whyte — all are
involved in projects that will make a difference, discussed in this issue. I also applaud corporate efforts. The Royal
Turks & Caicos Golf Club, already an oasis for wildlife on Providenciales, is committed to becoming more “green” in
all that they do.
I agree wholeheartedly with Alizee’s plea: Think about the choices you are making. Change the ones that prick
your conscience. Be a caretaker of the world.
Kathy Borsuk, Editor timespub@tciway.tc • (649) 431-4788
6 www.timespub.tc

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TIMES
OF THE
ISLANDS
MANAGING EDITOR
Kathy Borsuk
ADVERTISING MANAGER
Claire Parrish
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Amadyne Agenor, Kathy Borsuk, Simon Busuttil,
Dr. Betsy Carlson, Jeff Dodge, Dr. Bill Keegan,
B Naqqi Manco, Christopher May, Corinne Pita,
Dodly Prosper, Jody Rathgeb, Julia de los Reyes,
Lisa Turnbow-Talbot, Oshin Whyte, Paul Wilkerson,
Alizee Zimmermann.
.
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
AGRRA, Mirt Alexander, Karel Bartik, Channing Benjamin
Photography, Simon Busuttil, Jeff Dodge, Kristen Grace–
Florida Museum of Natural History, Jeffrey Haake,
Gary James—Provo Pictures, Louise James, Sasa Komlen,
H.A. Lessios, B Naqqi Manco, Christopher May,
Marta Morton, Michael Morton, Dr. C.E. O’Brien,
Dodly Prosper, Tom Rathgeb, Norm Rodgers, Shutterstock,
Tropical Imaging, Lisa Turnbow-Talbot, Oshin Whyte,
Kathleen Wood, Alizee Zimmermann.
CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS
Richard McGhie, Wavey Line Publishing.
PRINTING
PF Solutions, Miami, FL
Times of the Islands ISSN 1017-6853 is
published quarterly by Times Publications Ltd.
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18 www.timespub.tc

getting to know
Here is a sampling of the work of artist Richard McGhie (at top left).
His focus is on depicting the history and culture of the Turks & Caicos
Islands.
Painting TCI History to Life
Local artist Richard McGhie
By Kathy Borsuk ~ Illustrations By Richard McGhie
Regular readers of Times of the Islands may recall the intriguing paintings of a 1798 pirate battle off
the coast of West Caicos (Fall 2021) and the treasure-laden Spanish galleon Concepción before it sank in
stormy seas (Spring 2022). Both images were realistic, detailed, accurate portraits of important moments
in Turks & Caicos history created by resident artist Richard McGhie.
Times of the Islands Winter 2022/23 19

I was introduced to Rich by Ben Stubenberg, who
regularly contributes articles on subjects far and wide —
including TCI history. Rich good-heartedly took on the
task of painting the pictures specifically for Ben’s wellresearched
history articles.
When I finally met Rich in person about a year ago,
I expected a “salty dog” — a grizzled, elderly character
who’d spent years in the sun and was settling down in TCI
to retire and paint. Instead, Rich is a young, casual, happy-go-lucky
bloke from the UK, who landed in the Islands
chasing a dream of living in the Caribbean. He and his
wife Ainara moved to Providenciales in 2014. Rich works
at the Royal Turks & Caicos Golf Club as a greenkeeper
and Ainara is a personal trainer and fitness instructor at
Graceway Sports Centre. In April 2021, they were enjoying
the recent birth of their first child Logan.
Rich has a smile as bright as the island sun and the
kind of optimistic patience that is key to keeping an even
keel when living and working in the Caribbean. Rich is
a self-taught artist, who only began avidly drawing and
painting since his move to TCI. He says, “I was immediately
captivated by my surroundings and I wanted to
capture the beauty and rich history of the Islands in my
art.”
He was especially surprised to discover there is little
art depicting TCI’s rich history. Besides the pirate battle
and galleon paintings showcased in Times of the Islands,
Rich is working on other paintings of TCI’s past. These
include the shipwreck of the Trouvadore and the slaves
wading onto shore; Lucayan Indians at the caves on
Middle Caicos; and Ann Bonny and Mary Read anchored
in a pirate ship off Pirate’s Cove. He says, “My goal is to
bring all the big events and cultures to life so people
can visually relate them to TCI. Much of the art I’ve seen
when referencing the country actually comes from The
Bahamas or other Caribbean islands. I’m a huge fan of
historical art, so I was pretty happy to find that there’s a
significant gap to fill here.” Other subjects he favors, as
seen here, relate to TCI’s beautiful seas and the creatures
who frequent them (including humans).
Rich works primarily in acrylics on canvas and also
pen and ink illustrations. His studio is his apartment at
the golf course. And yes, now that Logan is up and running
it is sometimes a bit chaotic. But Rich is the type
to roll with the punches, including the fact that since
his brother Chris is a professional artist for the Beano
and Dandy, he has big footsteps to follow. Interestingly,
the renowned figure and seascape painter John McGhie
(1867–1952) is from Glasgow, Scotland, where both of
Rich’s parents were born, and they share the similar rare
spelling of their surname. Rich’s historical paintings bear
similar qualities to John’s realistic seascapes. Perhaps he
is a descendant!
We hope to feature more of Rich’s paintings along
with tidbits of TCI history in future issues of Times of
the Islands. In April 2022, Rich, along with other local
artists, participated in the Exclusive Evening of Art Show
at The Shore Club, with proceeds benefiting the Edward
Gartland Youth Centre in Providenciales. He also hopes to
eventually donate pieces to the Turks & Caicos National
Museum.
For now, you can see more of his work on
Instagram at richmcghie_art or contact him directly at
richardmcghie@outlook.com. a
20 www.timespub.tc

The artwork shown on these pages reflects the diversity of Richard
McGhie’s interests and subjects. They range from a Junkanoo participant,
a shipwreck on Grand Turk, a local policewoman, resident David
Pease, a lionfish, a snorkler, and Zyzz, the iconic Wake to Wake dog
who swims with Jojo, TCI’s resident dolphin.
Times of the Islands Winter 2022/23 21

talking taíno
Opposite page: Owls, such as this Cuban giant owl, were likely the main predators for hutia populations in pre-Columbian Caribbean Islands.
Shown here is a solenodon rodent similar to a hutia.
Above: Hutias are common on Cuba, especially inside the US Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, where they are more protected from natural
predators.
KAREL BARTIK
Banana Rats for Lunch?
The “tail” of the hutia.
By Bill Keegan and Betsy Carlson
We were sitting under a scrubby tree at the long-abandoned North Base at US Naval Station Guantanamo
Bay (GTMO). The Cubans were blaring a speech by Fidel Castro from their observation posts across
the perimeter fence. It’s not clear whether any of the young Marines in the juxtaposed MOPS (Marine
Observation Posts) comprehended any of it. As we finished our lunch, someone on the team noticed a
baby Cuban hutia (Capromys pilorides) fast asleep in the crook of the tree only two feet from us but
oblivious to our presence. It was a thrill to see for the first time such a shy and rare (by TCI standards)
creature up close, especially after writing for years about their use as food by Caribbean Islanders. Large
military reserves throughout the Caribbean have had at least one positive impact — allowing local plants
and animals to survive unmolested in relatively isolated refugia.
Times of the Islands Winter 2022/23 23

Hutias were everywhere at GTMO. They also proved to
be a huge pest. The undercarriages of the Humvees that
patrolled the base had to be outfitted with chicken wire
cages (chickens are a European introduction) to prevent
hutias from biting through coolant hoses and electrical
wiring. In return, Humvees were the hutias’ main predator.
Attracted to their headlights at night, hutias race into
the roadway, committing what the Marines call “Banana
Rat suicide.” (The Marines call hutia “Banana Rats”
because their scat is shaped like a tiny black banana.)
Every morning the road was littered with hutia roadkill.
Flocks of vultures circled overhead, with their daily feast
completely clearing the road by the time we returned to
the Navy Lodge in the evening. Hutias are abundant on
GTMO because no one hunts them. Outside the base’s
perimeter fence, hutias are less common due to predation
by feral dogs and the rural Cuban population.
Hutia (or Jutía) is their Taíno name. In the absence
of nonhuman predators, hutias reproduce like rabbits,
with up to four young born after a four-month gestation
period. They even look very much like a rodent version
of a rabbit. Adults reach up to two feet in length, have
a short tail, brown to black fur, and weigh in at about
10 pounds. They are one of the few mammals common
in the pre-Columbian Caribbean Islands, and the only
indigenous land mammal (except for bats) in all of The
Bahamas and the TCI. The racoons on Grand Bahama, and
the feral donkeys, cattle, and horses on Grand Turk, are
all recent introductions — the rats and mice arrived first
as stowaways on Columbus’ voyages.
There were once at least 13 species of hutias distributed
across the West Indies. The Bahamian hutia
(Geocapromys ingrahami) first arrived during the last ice
age. They were castaways on trees or vegetation mats
that floated from Cuba and washed ashore on islands of
the Great Bahama Bank. Such natural “rafts,” composed
of vegetation eroded from riverbanks during tropical
cyclones and washed out to sea, are not extraordinary.
In fact, rocks in the root ball of a tree that washed up at
Southeast Point, Great Inagua, were identified mineralogically
as originating on the north coast of the Dominican
Republic.
Hutia bones are found in paleontological deposits,
often in caverns where owls once roosted to eat their
prey. Today, both owls and hutias are mostly gone from
the Bahamian chain. The last remaining native colony of
hutia lives on East Plana Cay — a small, uninhabited, arid,
and mostly deforested islet off the northeast coast of
Acklins Island. This remnant population was scientifically
reported in 1891. The biologist Garrett Clough rediscov-
SASA KOMLEN
Hutias reproduce like rabbits, with up to four young born after a four-month gestation period.
24 www.timespub.tc

ered the East Plana Cay colony and studied them in the
1960s. In 1973, he released eleven hutias (six males,
five females) on Little Wax Cay (a small cay in the Exuma
chain) in an effort to save the Bahamian hutia from extinction.
This translocated population proceeded to grow at
an alarming rate, with almost zero mortality over the first
ten years. The cay’s vegetation was decimated by their
voracious feeding on the bark of trees, effectively “girdling”
the tree and causing it to drop its leaves. The cay
today stands out from its green neighbors as a brown,
barren landscape.
Historically, what predators would have kept populations
of Bahamian Hutia in check? Owls were likely their
main predator. The most unusual of the many extinct
owls from The Bahamas is a three-foot tall flightless owl
(Tyto pollens) known from bones in cave deposits in the
northern Bahamas, dated prior to the arrival of humans.
The legend of the “chickcharny,” a large mythical owl said
to live on Andros Island, may originate with this extinct
bird. Crocodiles once lived throughout the archipelago
and caught most of their prey on land. And last but not
least, large snakes were once far more common. We were
told that the best way to attract a Bahamian boa was to
have a litter of kittens. In the presence of these predators,
hutias would not have been as numerous as their potential
reproductive rate would allow.
Although hutias can climb trees, they mostly forage
on or close to the ground, and eat primarily leaves,
shoots, fruit, nuts, and bark. Bahamian hutia is described
as nocturnal, remaining underground in rocky crevasses
during the day, but daily activities have been observed
for the East Plana Cay animals, and we saw lots of Cuban
hutias during the daylight hours of our survey in Cuba.
Male and female hutias form life-long pair bonds
and their average life span is nine years. Although some
Cuban species aggressively defend their territory, the
East Plana Cay hutias were described as “most peaceable
rodents.”
Hutias were eaten by Indigenous Caribbean peoples
from their earliest arrival, as witnessed by the discovery
of their bones at archaeological sites. While paleontology
has shown that hutias were present on Great Bahama
Bank for thousands of years, the available evidence
suggests that humans moved hutias to the southern
Bahamian islands (south of Long Island). A recent DNA
study showed a direct genetic connection between the
hutias on Abaco Island and those on Eleuthera. The
islands are separated by a water passage that they are
not likely to have crossed on their own.
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A stamp printed in Cuba shows Hutia (Geocapromys colombianus) as
part of the Prehistoric Animals series, circa 1982.
There is other evidence of Indigenous Caribbean
peoples moving hutias from island to island. The “Puerto
Rican” hutia (Isolobodon puertoricensis) was introduced
in pre-Columbian times (likely 2,000 years ago) to Puerto
Rico and the Virgin Islands from Hispaniola, where, unlike
in Puerto Rico, they occur in pre-cultural paleontological
sites. Not only were these animals moved, they were
likely managed in captivity (perhaps even domesticated).
Evidence for this management is the age structure of the
archaeological hutia populations, which are overwhelmingly
young adults. At Ciboney (pre-Taíno) sites in Cuba,
there is even earlier evidence for possible management of
hutias, dating to around 3,000 years ago. While there is
no direct connection between Indigenous Cuba or Puerto
Rico and the Lucayans, the situations in both are similar
enough to consider domestication in the Bahamian chain
an option.
Archaeologists are reluctant to claim that certain
Caribbean animals were fully “domesticated.”
Nevertheless, genetic differences between northern and
southern hutias in the Bahama archipelago apparently
reflect human intervention, which probably took the form
of keeping animals with particular characteristics in pens
where they were allowed to breed. It could have begun as
simply as a child keeping a young animal as a pet.
Let’s look at the hutia populations of the TCI. There
never were any hutias living on the Turks Bank. Present
evidence suggests that hutias were not living in the Caicos
Islands either until around AD 1400, when they were
introduced by the Lucayans. Only one hutia is reported
from the ceremonial center MC-6 on Middle Caicos, and
she may have been an exchange item brought from elsewhere.
No hutia bones were found at the other three
excavated sites on Middle. The only significant record of
hutia in the Caicos occurs at the Palmetto Junction site
on the west coast of Providenciales, where they occur in
surprisingly large numbers. The site dates to the fifteenth
century. The only other Lucayan sites with larger quantities
of hutia bones are on Crooked Island, also located in
their southern range.
Hutias are either very abundant or virtually absent in
Lucayan archaeological deposits. This is most likely the
result of humans keeping groups of hutias as a ready protein
source. An isotopic analysis of hutia bones showed
at least some were eating maize. Did they raid Lucayan
gardens, or did the Lucayans feed them? (A new type of
“corn fed” meat!) Indigenous gardens are known to attract
a variety of animals, and garden hunting is a common
activity in native South America.
26 www.timespub.tc

We know that the Bahamian hutia reproduces quickly
and abundantly. Thus, we might expect them to be present
in such large numbers that they were easy prey.
However, on small islands these mammals could have
been overhunted quickly by the first people to reach the
island. The larger islands of the Greater Antilles are different.
Indigenous sites in Jamaica have dense middens
with nearly 90% hutia bones (far outnumbering even fish
bones). And several hutia species survive in Cuba today.
Island size matters!
Humans have a taste for red meat, even in small
packages. Lucayan sites with small quantities of hutia
bones probably reflect small numbers of hutias in the
area, resulting from few encounters and even fewer captured.
We see similar patterns in the distribution of bones
from other wild game, including iguanas, crocodiles, sea
turtles, and birds. All of these would have been widely
sought, but infrequently captured. In contrast, Lucayan
sites with large quantities of hutia bones reflect their
management and possible domestication. Hutias were
moved south, as the Lucayans moved north. Eventually
they reached the Caicos where we now have the best
evidence that hutias became the local equivalent of
guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus), which were domesticated
in pre-colonial Peru. In fact, guineas pigs were actually
brought into the Caribbean islands as an exchange item
about 1,000 years ago.
While hutias once were abundant throughout the
islands, and early European explorers saw them often,
they are today a threatened species protected under the
Wild Animals Act of 1968. There is talk of reintroducing
them to other Bahamian islands, but in the absence of
their natural predators such action could prove devas-
Hutia bones were found at the Palmetto Junction site in Providenciales.
tating. Nevertheless, there are a few remote cays in The
Bahamas (but not TCI) where you can still lunch with a
hutia. a
Dr. Bill Keegan is Emeritus Curator of Caribbean
Archaeology at the Florida Museum of Natural History
(University of Florida). Dr. Betsy Carlson is Senior
Archaeologist at Southeastern Archaeological Research
(SEARCH, Inc.) in Jonesville, FL.
KRISTEN GRACE, FLORIDA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
Times of the Islands Winter 2022/23 27

SHUTTERSTOCK

eye on the sky
Why is the forecast for the Turks & Caicos Islands so vastly different between meteorologists and the weather apps most people use on their
phones? Why are weather apps wrong so often in the Caribbean? In general, this is due to the lack of actual weather data from reporting
stations throughout the Caribbean.
SHUTTERSTOCK
Forecasting the Future
Human versus weather app – which is more accurate in the TCI?
I have been forecasting the weather for the Turks & Caicos Islands for the better part of eight years now.
The number one comment/question I get? “My app shows it raining the entire time I am there, will it
really be a washout for our trip?” Of the thousands of questions I have answered over the years, this one
comprises probably 95% of everything asked. And this is a very valid question because it can alter how
we go about our trip planning. It can range from anything as simple as adjusting attire to something as
drastic as cancelling or delaying a trip.
By Paul Wilkerson
Times of the Islands Winter 2022/23 29

MARTA MORTON—WWW.HARBOURCLUBVILLAS.COM
This surreal scene captures the tones of sunset at South Side Marina on Providenciales.
With that question in mind, let’s discuss the origins
of weather forecasting in the Western Hemisphere, and
discuss why you see such a difference between a forecast
a meteorologist puts out versus what that app on your
phone shows.
Weather predicting has been around for several thousand
years. In the earliest times, humans didn’t have
access to weather radar, satellite images, or the plethora
of other data we have at our disposal today. Early
forecasts were made simply by watching for recurring
meteorological events throughout the year during each
season. By surmising what was occurring in a particular
season, the earliest forecasters could then watch for
those same cues during the following corresponding season
to build a library of potential weather forecasts.
In the United States, weather forecasting really came
into being with the development of the first large-scale
weather observation network in 1849. One hundred fifty
stations comprised this first-of-its-kind network that
reported weather conditions at regular intervals each
day. By 1860, that network had ballooned to 500 stations
across the U.S.
During that day and age, the human weather observer
was the defacto “super-computer.” The information these
stations provided lent greater abilities to begin forecasting
weather into the future. By 1869, a telegraph service
was creating weather charts based off the data provided
by these weather observers. These charts were the catalyst
of the modern weather forecast provided by people.
In early 1870, the U.S. Weather Bureau was created as
part of the U.S. Army Signal Service. In 1890, the Weather
Bureau was brought out from under the U.S. Army Signal
Service and became a fully civilian-run agency under the
Department of Agriculture. In July 1970, the name of the
Weather Bureau was changed to the National Weather
Service. At the same time, the National Weather Service
was placed under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) within the Department of
Commerce where it remains. It comprises 122 stations
across the United States and Puerto Rico. Each station is
responsible for forecasting services for a pre-determined
area that may encompass parts of several states and millions
of people.
30 www.timespub.tc

So why is there such a disparity in forecasts between
meteorologists and the weather apps most people use
on their phones? In particular, why is the forecast for the
Turks & Caicos Islands so vastly different between the
two entities? Why are weather apps wrong so often in the
Caribbean? In general, this is due to the lack of actual
weather data from reporting stations throughout the
Caribbean. The apps that your phones utilize are pulling
data from weather models.
For the Caribbean, the most often used models in
forecasting are the American Global Forecast System
(GFS), and the European Model (EURO). These models
ingest real-time data from a Global Upper Air Network. In
the United States, there are at least 92 stations providing
this data, while only 10 stations stretched out across the
Caribbean are providing data.
Globally, more than 800 stations are active. These
stations send up balloons every morning and evening,
collecting data between the surface and 80,000 feet or
so, sometimes higher. When this data is transmitted back
to the stations, it heads to super-computers in the U.S.
and Europe, where the data is converted into weather
forecast models that predict forecasts out 10 to 15 days
in advance.
In the United States, weather apps tend to have more
accuracy because they are utilizing this model data that
is derived from at least 92 different points across the
country. These 92 stations enable a really good picture of
our atmosphere to be fed into computers that then work
their algorithmic magic to produce forecasts for locations
across the country.
In the Turks & Caicos, unfortunately, there are no stations
on the Islands. There also are no stations to the east
and very few stations to the south or west. (Remember
there are only 10 total in all of the Caribbean.) This means
very little valuable data is available, and with that, error
increases dramatically. Now imagine starting with this
error/lack of data, and then trying to forecast it out into
the future. The error generally grows, and as a result, you
end up with highly erroneous model data for some parts
of the Caribbean, which in turn is presented to you in
your weather app on your phone. The forecasts on nearly
all weather apps are produced by model weather data.
The flip side to these weather apps is found in a true
meteorologist, and in some cases, weather enthusiasts
who have studied a long time and have learned how the
tropics react over the years. As meteorologists, we have
access to the same data the weather apps are using to
create those highly erroneous forecasts. As expected
Times of the Islands Winter 2022/23 31

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though, we have a significant advantage. We have access
to satellite data, current weather observations, weather
radars, aircraft weather reports, and so on. Many of us
have been through college to learn about the atmosphere
and how it behaves, and for many, in particular, the
Tropics.
We are able to do what no computer can do. We can
take our experience during our careers, lessons we have
learned, our training, and consultation with colleagues,
to provide forecasts for a location like the Turks & Caicos
that are far superior to what a weather app will provide.
The weather knowledge we are able to apply is an invaluable
tool in weather forecasting, and it really shines in
locations where real-time weather data is sparse. Will
we get the forecast wrong? At times, of course! The
atmosphere is fluid, and Mother Nature doesn’t always
cooperate.
Next time you take a look at your weather app and
it calls for “gloom and doom,” try to remember how that
information is developed. If you are ever concerned about
the forecast for your trip, you are welcome to send me a
message on the Turks and Caicos Weather Info page on
Facebook. I would be happy to help ease your concerns.
As well, the TCI is in the early stages of developing
its own National Meteorological Services through the
Turks & Caicos Islands Airport Authority, led by Director
of Meteorology Dr. Holly Hamilton. Its aim is to provide
weather forecasts, warnings of hazardous weather, and
other weather-related products for the purposes of protection,
safety, and general information.
The government realizes that the country cannot
continue to rely on other countries to provide data. As
hurricanes and climate change make weather events
more disastrous and dangerous, the TCI needs real time
information provided by state-of-the-art equipment so
that we know what is going to happen. This will allow for
early warning and early action. 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.
32 www.timespub.tc

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/
The DECR team is preparing an herbarium specimen at Bird Rock Point, Providenciales. From left are: Christopher May, DECR; Brianna Walcott,
TC National Trust; B Naqqi Manco, DECR; and Junel “Flash” Blaise, DECR.
DODLY PROSPER
Building on the Past
DECR debuts two exciting new projects.
By B Naqqi Manco, Assistant Director of Research and Development, DECR
When you love something, there’s always a fear. Parents fret about their children, homeowners worry
about their fortresses, and collectors obsess over the security of their hoards. For those of us who love
our work, that concern translates into anxiety regarding legacy. Will the hard work we have done to protect
something be in vain? Will we be able to release our hold on our beloved toil confidently to those
who come next? Within the Department of Environment & Coastal Resources (DECR), many of us ask these
questions—especially those of us who have been at it for some time.
Times of the Islands Winter 2022/23 33

green pages newsletter of the department of environment & coastal resources
Over two decades ago I returned to Turks & Caicos
Islands from university to begin work on a UK-funded
project focusing on the North, Middle, and East Caicos
Nature Reserve, a site listed under the Ramsar Convention
on Wetlands of International Importance as a Ramsar
site. I trudged through mangrove swamps, salt marshes,
flooded forests, and one particularly bizarre and treacherous
habitat that comprised seemingly endless sinkholes
choked with tangled red mangrove and sawgrass, each
ringed by rain-eroded razor rock bedecked with poisonwood
and skin-ripping spiny box briar.
My physique at the time allowed me to sink less far
into the sulphurously putrid mud, and my end-of-day
exhaustion was markedly less than it would be now.
But for these costs, I was supplied with rare glimpses of
endangered West Indian whistling ducks, gentle slaps in
the face by dangling rubbery leaves of mahogany mistletoe,
close encounters with surprisingly curious flamingos,
and numerous scenes that astounded sight and other
senses.
We were assessing habitats based on satellite imagery
that threw coarse 30 x 30-meter pixels of colour
across habitats, using GPS units that may or may not
have been off by as much
as 50 meters, and I was
having to learn species of
plants by immediate sight
on a logarithmic learning
curve. My special interests
in reptiles and orchids
were rarely disappointed.
My appreciation for all
things green and all things
creepy was both enthralled
and tested—sometimes
simultaneously. (Having
a dragonfly attracted to
a headlamp at night is
an experience something
akin to getting hit in the
face by a metallic fairy carrying
a baby rattle.)
Through the next two
decades, I worked on various
field-based projects
focused on plants, seeds,
bats, iguanas, snakes, spiders, butterflies, beetles, birds,
mysterious cave invertebrates, historic human populations,
bush medicine, and of course the National Tree,
Caicos pine. I noted gaps in knowledge, such as whether
or not hutias still live in TCI, how extensive ranges are of
our rarest endemic plants, and what on earth is going on
with two strange populations of Encyclia orchids that key
out to a species of which they don’t fit the description.
Two years ago, my role in DECR changed, and I was
lifted from the bush to a somewhat higher position—and
while I have had more opportunity to steer the directions
projects take, the resettlement to a more desk-based job
has been both challenging and worrying. What would
become of my past work?
I needn’t have worried. This year, DECR has pushed
full-throttle into two exciting new projects that largely
build on work going back those 20 years. Both supported
by UK Government’s Darwin Plus funding scheme, these
projects seek to fill some of those knowledge gaps identified
over past courses of work.
The Darwin Plus 129 project, “Understanding
Ramsar Wetland Dynamics for Marine Conservation and
Environmental Resilience,” is using far superior tools and
This rare patch of Encyclia orchids on Middle Caicos may be a new variety, subspecies, or even species to
science.
CHRISTOPHER MAY
34 www.timespub.tc

green pages newsletter of the department of environment & coastal resources
If you look closely, you can spot the flamingos flying over Flamingo Pond, North Caicos, one of many important parts of the Ramsar site.
technology to revisit, refine, and expand upon our understanding
of the Ramsar site. It uses both remote sensing and Development team as Terrestrial Ecologist, stepping
In March 2022, Dodly Prosper joined the Research
and ground-truthing work to identify current habitats, into the role of major contact point for the Darwin Plus
understand changes over time, and extrapolate potential 114 Tropical Important Plant Areas project. A month later,
impacts of climate change on the Ramsar site and the Christopher May joined the team as Wetlands Ecologist
ecosystem services it provides for us.
for the Darwin Plus 129 Ramsar mapping project. Both
The Darwin Plus 114 project, “Tropical Important have learnt their roles quickly and efficiently and use the
Plant Areas and Important Plant Species in TCI,” aims commonalities of their projects to carry out collaborative
to identify areas that qualify as Tropical Important Plant fieldwork as much as possible.
Areas, to assess the conservation status of our endemic In this issue’s Green Pages, Mr. Prosper and Mr. May
and near-endemic plant species, and to better understand
the taxonomic relations of two important groups of ing, ensuring that the foundation of work upon which so
introduce the projects on which they are currently focus-
plants—including those confounding Encyclia orchid populations
about which I’ve been obsessing for 15 years. conservation efforts into the future. a
many others have contributed will continue to support
I don’t get into the field as much as I would like to
anymore, but I still join as often as I can. The relieving
part of being frequently desk-bound is the capacity of
our terrestrial ecology team to carry out the work. Junel
“Flash” Blaise has been with DECR for 12 years and has
the sharpest eyes I’ve ever known for spotting and identifying
tiny plants and distant birds. (When he identifies a
backlit seabird half a mile away as a sooty tern, I insist it
isn’t even a bird, but just a lowercase m.) His understanding
of TCI’s wildlife and habitats has been instrumental in
training new staff for the challenging field roles.
CHRISTOPHER MAY CHRISTOPHER MAY
Times of the Islands Winter 2022/23 35

green pages newsletter of the department of environment & coastal resources
CHRISTOPHER MAY
Clockwise from top left are some of the species of flora and fauna fround in the Ramsar site nature reserve: Caicos pine seedling; Caicos
pine forest, Middle Caicos; hawksbill sea turtle, Middle Caicos; and blue crab, North Caicos. The Darwin Plus Project 129 aims to provide more
detailed scientific research and exploration of the reserve to aid in future conservation efforts.
Using Technology to
Preserve Nature
Darwin Plus 129 Ramsar Site Mapping Project.
By Christopher May, Wetlands Ecologist, DECR
The wetland habitats of the North, Middle, and East Caicos Nature Reserve support several important
functions that benefit the Turks & Caicos Islands, both nationally and internationally. The nature reserve
is recognised as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention, due to its worldwide
relevance in the conservation of species such as birds, plants, and marine reptiles.
36 www.timespub.tc

green pages newsletter of the department of environment & coastal resources
As both a protected area and a Ramsar site, it offers
many functions and benefits which include habitats for
native and migratory biota, protection of the Islands from
storms and hurricanes, carbon sequestering and storage,
and cultural and historical relevance. Ecosystems within
the Ramsar site include coastal habitats, intertidal mangrove
forests and marshlands, shrublands, limestone
forests, pine rocklands, ponds, and blue holes. These
environments provide niche habitats for marine fishes,
crustaceans, reptiles, and migratory birds like flamingos
and ducks. In order to better understand the Ramsar site
and its threats, DECR is using both on-the-ground data
collection and GIS imagery to remotely sense changes to
the site over time.
The Darwin Plus Project 129, “Understanding
Ramsar Wetland Dynamics for Marine Conservation and
Environmental Resilience,” aims to provide more detailed
scientific research and exploration of the reserve, to provide
evidence for future conservation efforts. The Ramsar
site, like many wetlands, is threatened by the looming
and ever encroaching effects of climate change, urbanization,
and pollution. Forested areas are threatened by
fragmentation when development occurs; water bodies
above and below ground are threatened by contamination;
and poaching and overharvesting puts wildlife
populations at risk. Climate change also produces many
long-term changes, including rises in temperature, fluctuations
in drought and precipitation cycles, wildfires, sea
level rise, fluctuations in the production cycle of plants,
and changes in spawning and migration cycles of animals.
Environment Systems Ltd. (ES) has been partnering
with the Department of Environment & Coastal Resources
(DECR) of the Turks & Caicos Islands Government for
almost eight years on various projects focusing on mapping
and GIS technology. Along with DECR and ES, other
international agencies are partnering on this project to
gather data and samples, identify areas at risk, and produce
interactive maps modelled to project how climate
change will affect the Ramsar site over the course of the
next 80 years. The other organizations involved (Joint
Nature Conservation Committee, Marine Conservation
Society, University of Exeter, and Wavehill) contribute
to the overall technological output, data management,
In November 2022, Environmental Systems team members visited TCI. The workshop included an exciting field day where they visited five
very different habitats in the Ramsar site.
DODLY PROSPER
Times of the Islands Winter 2022/23 37

green pages newsletter of the department of environment & coastal resources
CHRISTOPHER MAY
This mangrove island is found within Flamingo Pond on North Caicos. It is another example of the natural beauty found in the Ramsar site.
capacity building, public outreach, and biota tracking/
monitoring. The teams’ collective goals are to produce a
monitoring framework for long term studies, to expand
technical and scientific capacities within the country, and
to increase local and international awareness for social
backing in environmental causes. Historical changes and
meteorological data will be evaluated to provide evidence
for the more protective measures, and to support the
legal extension of the Ramsar site and nature reserve into
East Caicos.
In November 2022, ES team members visited TCI to
run the project’s first in-person workshop, which included
GIS satellite imagery manipulation training, several focus
sessions on different aspects of the Ramsar site, and an
exciting field day where five very different habitats in the
Ramsar site were visited, including pine rocklands, buttonwood
swamp, salina, dwarf red mangrove swamp, and
mangrove pond.
The DECR team members assigned and now well
trained to sample the Ramsar site have been steadily
involved in the creation of access trails, data sampling the
extents of the habitats, and expanding public knowledge
and technical capacities through workshops and outreach
activities. The recordings are documented and presented
to government officials to support the longevity of the
protection of these important ecosystems through legal
declaration and funding. Photographic and videographic
material is also generated to invite the public and tourists
a glimpse into the habitats, to increase awareness and
attachment to these key resources and wildlife.
The beauty and importance of TCI’s wildlife and
landscape should not be understated, nor should it be
neglected and destroyed. The ES and DECR teams have
worked to improve local understanding and appreciation
of the work being done. Two videos were presented at
the Turks & Caicos International Film Festival to share
with young students the wonderment and experience
of working within the environments. Several online and
in-person workshops have been conducted to provide
interdepartmental synergy and capacity building with
regards to data sampling and monitoring strategies using
maps. Photographs and videos have and will continue to
be shared to media outlets to invite the public to witness
the illustrious beauty of the Ramsar site and its irreplaceable
animals and plants.
The “Beautiful by Nature” motto of the country must
be reflected in the collective willingness to protect, conserve,
and preserve the environment, and the Darwin Plus
129 project is using technology to ensure that it is. a
38 www.timespub.tc

green pages newsletter of the department of environment & coastal resources
B NAQQI MANCO
Clockwise from top left: Encyclia caicensis specimen found on
Crossing Place Trail, Middle Caicos. Dr. Colin Clubbe and Sara Barrios
(RBG Kew) and Christopher May (DECR) on the TIPAs research team
conducting surveys in the North, Middle and East Caicos Nature
Reserve on North Caicos. Herbarium specimen of Encyclia caicensis
collected and dried, ready for shipment to RBG Kew for further study.
Eventually, specimens like this will be returned to TCI’s National
Herbarium, currently being developed.
Chasing Flowers for TIPAs
Darwin Plus 114 Tropical Important Plant Areas Project
By Dodly Prosper, Terrestrial Ecologist, DECR
When you turn a mesmerised eye from the Turks & Caicos Islands’ stunning turquoise waters, you’ll
view the various hues and tints of greens and browns of the 541 species of native plants that create the
mosaics of its terrestrial habitats.
Times of the Islands Winter 2022/23 39

green pages newsletter of the department of environment & coastal resources
While much of the attention to Turk & Caicos Islands’
natural beauty is focused on the sea, our terrestrial habitats
and the plant communities on which they are based
are why we are here at all. We often don’t notice plants;
they form a verdant but taken-for-granted backdrop that
often goes unseen until they are missing; a phenomenon
known to science as “plant blindness.” Many of these
plants are unique regionally, some only to the Turks &
Caicos Islands, but we have only just begun to understand
the natural services they provide us. Researching
and protecting our native plants is the focus of a new
conservation project.
The Royal Botanic Gardens Kew (RBG Kew) and the
Department of Environment & Coastal Resources (DECR)
have partnered on the Darwin Plus 114, “Tropical
Important Plant Areas and Important Plant Species in the
Turks & Caicos Islands” project, supported by the United
Kingdom’s Darwin Plus grant programme. Although partnership
on this project began in 2019, its official launch
was delayed to 2022 due to COVID-19-related travel
restrictions, along with restructuring within both DECR
and RBG Kew.
Tropical Important Plant Areas (TIPAs) are a network
of key sites that are identified by criteria regarding threatened
species, imperilled habitats, and botanical richness
using scientifically robust data. TIPAs are not legal designations,
but a means to identify the most important
sites for wild plant diversity and to guide and inform the
management and protection of those populations and
habitats. Identifying TIPAs will help prevent the global
loss of plant diversity, whilst safeguarding the role of
plants as primary producers and providers of ecosystem
infrastructure, products, and services.
The TIPAs TCI project has identified 57 priority species,
of which 8 are endemic to the Turks & Caicos and
56 are range-restricted species. The main objective of the
project is identifying areas that qualify as TIPAs under the
criteria set by Plantlife International, International Union
for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and RBG Kew; and to
map a TIPAs network for TCI.
The project also aims to resolve taxonomic issues
regarding the unique populations of Encyclia and Agave
species using genomic methods, and conduct IUCN Red
Listing of endemic and near-endemic plants centred in
the Turks & Caicos Islands over the three-year duration of
this project. In addition, the project plans to train DECR
This spirit specimen was collected from Encyclia caicensis in Mudjin
Harbor, Middle Caicos.
staff both in the field in TCI and at the Herbarium and
Tropical Nursery at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (UK), to
collect and store the seeds of threatened species, to promote
plant conservation in TCI, and to identify socially,
economically, or culturally valuable species.
Following the TCI TIPAs Launch Workshop in May
2022, the DECR and RBG Kew teams began conducting
vegetative surveys on Middle and North Caicos, collecting
herbarium, spirit and DNA specimens of flowering
Encyclia caicensis while geotagging their populations.
Although Encyclia caicensis is one of the eight endemic
species, two Middle Caicos populations were prioritised
due to their flowers blooming half a year off from the species
description, which may allude to it being genetically
dissimilar and possibly a new variety, subspecies, or even
species to science. This possibility is also true for Agave
millspaughii, however, despite growing to heights of five
metres, they are far rarer and prove to be harder to find
when you compare it to the ever-so fragrant and vibrantly
coloured Encyclia caicensis.
For the remainder of 2022, both teams will continue
their surveys and collections in Providenciales, West
Caicos, Salt Cay, and Grand Turk, following the various
blooming periods of the Encyclia species and documenting
populations of rare and endemic plants throughout
the Islands. a
Dodly Prosper is a Grand Turk Terrestrial Ecologist,
based in North Caicos. B Naqqi Manco is a botanist and
Assistant Director of Research and Development, also
based in North Caicos. Both are researchers for the
Department of Environment & Coastal Resources.
B NAQQI MANCO
40 www.timespub.tc

green pages newsletter of the department of environment & coastal resources
A flamingo tongue snail (Cyphoma gibbosum) perches on a small gorgonian (Gorgonia ventalina) during a night dive near South Caicos. The
relationship between the two blur the lines between predation and parasitism.
Home Is Where the Food Is
The Flamingo tongue snail: Predator and parasite.
It’s easy to conjure images of predation: a lion pouncing on its prey, an owl hunting for mice, a spider
entwining a fly in its web. Similarly, one can picture classic examples of parasitism: a tapeworm, fleas on
a dog, the tick that ruined a summer camping trip. In nature, however, there exist complex relationships
that don’t fit neatly into these simple examples, and some that even blur the lines between predation
and parasitism.
By Corinne Pita (University of Michigan) and Julia de los Reyes (Yale University),
The School for Field Studies Center for Marine Resource Studies, South Caicos
Photos By Dr. C.E. O’Brien
Times of the Islands Winter 2022/23 41

green pages newsletter of the department of environment & coastal resources
One example of this is the relationship between sea
fans and the flamingo tongue, a curious little snail that is
both predator and parasite. This relationship can be seen
throughout the clear blue waters of the Turks & Caicos
Islands, where the common sea fan and flamingo tongue
are found in abundance.
The common sea fan, Gorgonia ventalina, is a species
of coral abundant in near-shore reefs throughout the
Caribbean and Western Atlantic, easily identified by its
purple color and wispy, fan-like shape. Often seen swaying
in the ocean current, G. ventalina is a member of a
group of similarly wispy corals known as gorgonians and
is broadly classified as an octocoral, meaning that its polyps—the
hundreds of tiny animals that together comprise
a large coral—have eight small tentacles. These tentacles
are used to catch its food: tiny bits of floating plankton.
While they are predators of plankton, sea fans are themselves
the prey of various marine predators, each armed
with unique adaptations to easily consume sea fans.
The flamingo tongue, also known as Cyphoma gibbosum,
is a marine mollusc present throughout the tropical
western Atlantic Ocean on shallow gorgonian-dominated
reefs. The characteristically beautiful patterns present on
C. gibbosum make them easily visible when they take residence
on sea fans and other octocorals like sea plumes
and sea rods. These patterns can differ greatly between
individuals, so much so that scientists once thought that
different shell patterns indicated the existence of multiple
species! C. gibbosum is most often seen with orange
spots outlined in black, but other patterns such as “fingerprint”
(elongated orange lines outlined in black) and
“broken spots” (similar spot pattern with black outlines
partially dissipating) also exist.
While these different characteristics caused scientists
in the 18th and 19th centuries to declare these flamingo
tongues different species, today we have DNA analysis to
tell us this is not the case. However, the reason for the difference
in shell patterns is actually unknown, even today,
and various hypotheses as to the reason for this disparity
are being investigated. One possible explanation is
in-process species divergence, which is the hypothesis
that C. gibbosum is in the middle of becoming separate
species since morphological differences tend to precede
genetic differences. Such a hypothesis implies that we
are witness to a stage in species divergence where morphological
differences have occurred but not genetic. To
This side-by-side comparison shows the difference between the “fingerprint” flamingo tongue pattern (left) and the “spotted” pattern (right.)
Many hypotheses exist for the differences in patterning.
42 www.timespub.tc

green pages newsletter of the department of environment & coastal resources
prove this, further study demonstrating a mating preference
between flamingo tongues with the same pattern
would be needed.
Then there’s the supergene hypothesis, which the
belief that flamingo tongues have a supergene, or a
strongly linked set of DNA sequences that don’t often
get separated over generations and which code for certain
morphological features. This scenario can result in
common and rare morphologies within a species, the
common ones here being the spotted orange and black
circle pattern, and the rare being the fingerprint and broken
spot patterns. Many other hypotheses exist for the
differences in patterning, but all point to one fact: C. gibbosum
is a much more diverse and multi-faceted species
than meets the eye.
What’s more, beyond the eye-catching coloration of
C. gibbosum lies a violent and intriguing story. At first
glance, the spotted snail perched on the swaying sea fan
looks innocent—serene, even. However, a closer look
reveals a complicated picture of both predation and parasitism.
C. gibbosum is a predator in that it consumes
G. ventalina and other soft coral polyps for sustenance.
Because of this, the flamingo tongue is classified as a
“tissue-stripping tropical corallivore.” But the flamingo
tongue also lives on its prey. How is it possible for an
organism to maintain long-term residency on something
it chooses to eat? The answer is that C. gibbosum rarely
kills its hosts, eating it slowly enough that the prey is able
regenerate its lost tissues.
What this means is that C. gibbosum may not be a true
predator, but instead can be classified as an exoparasite,
a parasite that affects its prey from the outside. Unlike
some other parasites such as tapeworms or ringworms,
flamingo tongues do their damage without entering their
hosts. Flamingo tongues benefit from their sea fan’s
continued functionality, purposely inducing only small
amounts of damage on their prey/hosts. By not causing
total mortality in their prey/host, flamingo tongues have
found a way to gain a long-lasting home as well as a reusable
food source. Indeed, all life stages of this species
are dependent on their host: C. gibbosum individuals lay
their eggs on gorgonians, from which free-floating larvae
develop after a week, settling back onto gorgonian colonies
as juveniles.
Here, a flamingo tongue is predating on a soft coral. On the left, the
flamingo tongue foot is visible. On the right, the flamingo tongue has
crawled a small distance away, exposing the empty cavities (black
dots) of the coral polyps it has just eaten.
Another interesting aspect of this relationship
involves chemical warfare: Sea fans have evolved toxins
to ward off predation, which are effective against many of
their potential predators. Known as allelochemicals, these
substances are known in part for their bad taste, but
more so for their toxicity to many potential consumers.
While this scary-sounding collection of chemicals seems
like it would be too much for a little flamingo tongue, this
stubborn mollusc has evolved resistance to host chemical
defenses such as these. Recent studies have suggested
that marine consumers like the flamingo tongue can tolerate
toxin-laden prey through the presence of special
enzymes, biological catalysts that respond to specific
chemical signatures. While they serve many purposes,
enzymes in the flamingo tongue and other marine consumers
are believed to be able to neutralize the toxins in
sea fans to keep them from inflicting their catastrophic
effects.
With these methods allowing C. gibbosum to consume
their toxic prey, these molluscs don’t just survive,
Times of the Islands Winter 2022/23 43

green pages newsletter of the department of environment & coastal resources
From top: If you look closely, you can spot a baby flamingo tongue
snail. Research suggests that the gorgonian-munching flamingo
tongue snail helps cultivate the diverse community structure of
healthy reefs by creating space for other types of coral to settle.
but thrive on their poisonous diet, going so far as to
assimilate the sea fan’s toxicity into their own tissues.
This gives the flamingo tongue a poisonous defense
mechanism against its own predators that its bright-orange
color then advertises. Warning coloration such as
this is referred to as aposematic coloration, and is meant
to signal to potential predators that it’s off the menu.
This is an incredible example of coevolution, a phenomenon
in which organisms evolve in response to each
other, with the flamingo tongue having evolved to thrive
on a diet that its prey had evolved to ward off other grazers,
and to even co-opt its prey’s defense mechanism as
its own. This ancient “evolutionary arms race” is what
we must thank for the beautiful coloration adored by
snorkelers throughout the tropical western Atlantic and
Caribbean.
So, what’s the deal with C. gibbosum: If it is both
a predator and parasite of corals, is it a threat to our
dwindling coral reefs? Or does it play a key role in these
complex coral communities? The answer likely lies somewhere
in the middle.
Research suggests that these gorgonian-munching
snails may help maintain coral reef diversity by creating
space for other types of coral to settle and flourish.
Thus, by eating sea fans and other octocorals, flamingo
tongues help cultivate the diverse community structure
of healthy reefs. However, if there is a change in population
dynamics, this healthy natural balance can be
dramatically shifted, having devastating impacts on sea
fan corals. For example, a 2008 outbreak of C. gibbosum
in Puerto Rico wiped out more than 90% of the sea fans
around the remote reefs around Mona Island.
One factor that can lead to this imbalance is overfishing—despite
the snail’s toxicity, there are species of
fish, primarily pufferfish and invertebrates such as lobster,
that consume it. These snail predators indirectly
maintain coral health by keeping the parasitic species in
check. For example, a study in the Florida Keys found that
C. gibbosum populations in areas where large predators
were removed increased to nearly 20 times their original
size, leading to extensive damage to the sea fans.
Here, the relationship between flamingo tongues,
sea fans, large predators, and the greater coral community
demonstrates the precarious balance of nature, a
precisely interwoven web vulnerable to human-mediated
shifts. While most imagine predation and parasitism as
44 www.timespub.tc

green pages newsletter of the department of environment & coastal resources
something of violence and destruction, it’s important to
recognize the delicate interplay of these relationships
that help to maintain balance in nature, and how necessary
it is to uphold their existence moving forward in our
changing world.
This flamingo tongue has its mantle mostly retracted, exposing the
unpatterned white shell beneath.
In case you were hoping to collect one of these beauties
for your shell collection, beware: These mystifying
patterns are only present in live flamingo tongues, as
they are created by a part of the mollusc’s body known
as the mantle, a soft covering that lies over the shell.
When the snail dies, or when it retracts into its shell for
protection, that distinct coloration disappears, leaving
just a plain orange cream-colored shell in its place. As a
result, flamingo tongues are best admired alive and from
a distance and should be in their natural habitat. This
way, everyone who visits our Islands will have the chance
to experience the beauty of the flamingo tongue’s shell
for generations to come. a
For detailed article references or more information
about The School for Field Studies, contact Director Heidi
Hertler on South Caicos at hhertler@fieldstudies.org or
visit www.fieldstudies.org.
Times of the Islands Winter 2022/23 45

green pages newsletter of the department of environment & coastal resources
SHUTTERSTOCK
ALIZEE ZIMMERMANN
Top: Long-spined sea urchins — the “Spikey Boys” — take their natural place on the seabed.
Left: A healthy juvenile Diadema antillarum hides from daylight under a ledge.
Right: A recently dead long-spined sea urchin — notice that the spines have dropped off.
Spikey Boys
The importance of having urchins.
By Alizee Zimmermann, Turks & Caicos Reef Fund
With flickers of iridescent blue, elegant spines of obsidian black, five self-sharpening teeth (yes, you did
read that right), and an ample appetite, the long-spined sea urchin (Diadema antillarum) might just be
the most interesting creature you didn’t know would fascinate you.
46 www.timespub.tc

green pages newsletter of the department of environment & coastal resources
A deep dive into the world of echinoderms (urchins
and sea stars) will send the imaginative mind reeling
from images of teeth with individual jaws, limbs that can
regenerate whole bodies, and painful pricks on unsuspecting
feet when exploring rocky shores and surf zones.
Aristotle’s Lantern (the urchin’s mouth) alone can be a little
nightmarish. Truth be told though, the real nightmare
would be a reef without them.
You see, these sunlight-shy herbivores love to roam
at night, “grazing the lawns” of an underwater world.
Have you ever seen those halos that form around patch
reefs along the banks or around coral bommies on your
favourite dive sites? Those are the markings of active
herbivory. Somewhat territorial and although hungry, not
mindless eating-machines, the distance of their nightly
travels and the vigor of their appetites can be discerned
via these aquatic crop circles.
A keystone species on our reefs, these surprisingly
active “spikey boys” keep substrate, coral skeletons,
and rocks clean of algae, a must to create an attractive
spot for coral larvae to settle on. Baby corals can travel
through the currents for weeks at a time, looking for that
perfect spot to land, at which point they become “settlers.”
A clean surface without algae is top of the list when
perusing real estate options!
In the mid 1980s there was a massive die-off of D.
antillarum throughout the region, covering an area of
approximately 3.5 million km 2 . This loss remains one of
the most widespread invertebrate mortality events ever
recorded. Over a 13-month period, more than 93% of the
population perished. Beginning in Panama (with unknown
origins), the die-off then extended around the Caribbean,
Florida, the Flower Garden Banks, and Bermuda.
Nearly four decades later, another mortality event is
threatening the still-recovering Atlantic and Caribbean
populations. According to the Atlantic and Gulf Rapid
Reef Assessment (AGRRA) program, “While we do not
know what is causing these dispersed die-offs, the speed
at which large numbers of sick urchins are now dying on
affected reefs resembles the mass mortality event of four
decades ago. We worry that a real crisis is developing
in the Caribbean, where stony coral tissue loss disease
(SCTLD) has already caused widespread coral losses
affecting about 34 coral species in 20 countries/territories.”
Although regional reports of urchin die-offs seem to
have stopped, we have no way of knowing if this current
mortality event is over yet.
This map shows the spread of D. antillarum mortality in the Caribbean
and mid-west Atlantic from January 1983 to February 1984.
H.A. LESSIOS
ALIZEE ZIMMERMANN
This less-than-one-centimeter coral recruit needs a clean surface to
settle — created by herbivores such as sea urchins.
Comparing the 1983–84 and 2022 mass mortality
events we can see differences in where each began
(Panama versus U.S. Virgin Islands) as well as in their
primary dispersal mechanisms. The 1980s event spread
from Panama by surface currents eventually to virtually
everywhere to its north and east in the Greater Caribbean
while the 2022 event has greater evidence of possible
anthropogenic dispersal, given the scattered new geographic
locations that popped up during this past spring.
Another difference is that only Diadema were affected
Times of the Islands Winter 2022/23 47

green pages newsletter of the department of environment & coastal resources
AGRRA
This Diadema Response Network map is an up-to-date report of the
state of health of Diadema populations across the Caribbean.
in the 1980s, whereas individuals of other urchin species
have also very occasionally died this year, however, this
has occurred exceedingly rarely (

faces and places
To learn about the art of mosaic, the class helped to create a TCI flag in mosaic to display in their classroom. From left: Tyson Joseph, Makai
Forbes, Zakaya Saunders, Rahjohn Coalbrooke, Mazhi Saunders, Raivon Coalbrooke, and teacher Margaret Torrance.
Mosaic workshop
A supplemental art class turned into a community event when students from Doris Robinson Primary School on
Middle Caicos recently participated in a Mosaic Workshop at a home in Whitby, North Caicos.
The students of Margaret Torrance learned about the ancient art of mosaic and got hands-on experience creating
a mosaic of the TCI flag to display in their classroom. The workshop was led by Jody Rathgeb with plenty
of assistance from local residents, expatriates, and visitors.
Among the adult participants were Sierra Taylor of
Conch Bar; Patti DesLauriers and Howie Bartels of Major
Hill; Dina Fernandez and Tom Rathgeb of Whitby; and
Mary Funke and Sarah Blenderman, visitors from the
U.S. Transportation was provided by the Middle Caicos
District Commissioner. a
By Jody Rathgeb ~ Photos By Tom Rathgeb
At left: Gluing randomly-shaped tiles is a process akin to solving a
jigsaw puzzle. Above: Breaking up tile to use in the flag’s blue field
was the favorite activity for most of the students.
Times of the Islands Winter 2022/23 49

SIMON BUSUTTIL

feature
Opposite page: In the fall, blackpoll warblers molt into yellow-green plumage and lose their black cap. This year, hundreds of thousands of
blackpoll warblers appeared across TCI in October as part of their annual migration.
Above: This American white pelican photographed at the Providenciales Golf Course in January 2019 was a first-ever record for TCI.
LOUISE JAMES
“Snowbirds” with Wings
The massive migration of birds brings many through the TCI.
By Simon Busuttil, RSPB Turks & Caicos Operations Manager,
Turks & Caicos Islands Iguana Partnership, Biosecurity Advisor
In the Spring 2022 Times of Islands I wrote about some of the discoveries about birds being made and
to be made in the Turks & Caicos Islands. Many were about seabirds and shorebirds using the remoter
parts of the archipelago, which required expeditions to locate.
However, the joy of birdwatching is that in many cases you can stay still (figuratively and literally), and
the birds will come to you. Most birds fly and many migrate. They are often opportunists and can learn.
Those of us who put up a bird table and keep it supplied with food can see how the number of birds and
species using it increases over time. And occasionally, a species that you’ve never seen before will turn
up in your yard.
Times of the Islands Winter 2022/23 51

At the peak of the last ice age (roughly 20,000 years
ago), almost all of Canada and some of the northern US
was covered in ice and much of the area south of this
was similar to Arctic conditions extant today — taiga
down to the Gulf of Mexico, cold steppe grassland on the
Great Plains. As the ice retreated, many birds began to
move north each season to exploit the increasing area of
habitat available. This north to south movement, increasing
over thousands of years as the ice retreated, likely
formed the origins of the annual avian migration pattern
we see today.
Migration patterns continue to change in response to
environmental factors. Many swans, ducks, and geese are
no longer flying as far south and west as in the past to
escape cold weather in the east and north. The waterbodies
that they use now remain unfrozen for longer periods
because of milder winters. They have no need to use up
precious energy resources flying further than necessary.
This phenomenon has become known as “short-stopping.”
We are yet to notice any short-stopping in TCI (though
this is not to say it is not happening). To record such a
phenomenon requires years of regular monitoring so that
change can be detected. This monitoring has not happened
here as it does in the more populous countries
where there are hundreds of thousands of birdwatchers
who want to put their hobby to good use. As volunteers,
their data is collected and analysed.
Around 75% of all the regular species found in North
America migrate. These means that over four billion birds
migrate in fall across North America. Some move only
as far as the southern states and the Gulf coast, others
into Central America and the Caribbean, and a few much
further down to southern Argentina. Species that migrate
vary from the well-known and obvious snow and Canada
geese and sandhill cranes, to a host of small birds like
warblers, tanagers, orioles, and sparrows — many of
which occur here in TCI. These are generally birds of the
bush, but many are as likely to occur (and much more
likely to be observed) in your garden or yard as they are
in an area of bush. They will come to you, their stories are
fascinating, and together form one of the natural world’s
great events.
One example: On October 21, 2022, hundreds of
thousands of blackpoll warblers appeared across TCI.
There was a steady movement east all day and birds
appeared everywhere from ground level to the tops of the
tallest trees. Over the next few days, numbers grew, with
birds using even a single tree in an otherwise urban area.
Many were reported dead or injured from collisions with
windows, falling prey to cats, or becoming victims of traffic.
By early November, numbers had fallen dramatically
through mortality and presumably, the birds continuing
on their next stage of migration.
SIMON BUSUTTIL
Cape May warblers spend the winter in TCI, feeding on fruit, nectar, and invertebrates. This one was photographed near Juba Sound,
Providenciales in November 2021.
52 www.timespub.tc

Blackpoll warblers breed in the extensive spruce
forests of Alaska and Canada and migrate to spend
the winter in northern South America. It is thought that
in autumn, the entire world population of this species
passes through the Caribbean. For the Alaskan breeders
this is an annual round trip of 11,000 miles. Birds
leave Canada when the wind is from the northwest,
heading southeast out into the Atlantic before picking
up the easterly trade winds over the Tropics to arrive on
their wintering grounds. It is likely that this year, they
encountered unusual weather that forced them west and
“grounded” them in TCI in particularly large numbers.
Warblers are the typical small birds of the bush that
“seep” and “sip” and disappear into the leaves. They
always occur in larger numbers in autumn than in spring.
Numbers moving across North America are about half
a billion lower in spring after mortality during the winter
months and from losses on migration. Also, birds
migrate more quickly in spring. There is an understandable
urgency to press on quickly to the northern breeding
grounds and claim a mate and territory.
Unlike the blackpoll warblers, most North American
birds migrate through Mexico with only outlying individuals
coming through the Lucayan archipelago. The peak
time to look out for these scarcer migrants — colourful
orioles, tanagers, grosbeaks, and warblers — is in
October, but migration runs from August through to
November and then again in the spring. Most migration
takes place at night. Early morning is when these birds
are most obvious — hungry after their night’s flight and
learning about their new temporary environment. But
they will be active all day if you sit tight and wait. Fresh
water in a garden can be a great attraction as the day
wears on.
Whilst many of these birds, including the blackpoll
warblers, move on by late November, several species
spend the winter with us, departing north in spring.
Cape May warblers feed on fruit, nectar, and invertebrates
during their winter in TCI. They can be found in
both native bush and landscaped grounds. Numbers vary
enormously each year as the population is controlled by
the number of spruce budworms available to feed their
young in the forests of northern North America. In good
years the population booms. (This winter 2022/23 is a
poor one compared to last year.)
Alongside Cape May warblers there are delicate grey
and yellow parula warblers, and both black-throated blue
warblers and yellow-throated warblers whose names
describe them perfectly. The former two are more
There are many inconspicuous birds that have only been recorded a
few times in TCI but are likely more common.
From top: Rose-breasted grosbeak photographed along the road to
North West Point, Providenciales in November 2022.
Eastern wood pewee photographed near Juba Sound, Providenciales
in November 2021.
Tennessee warbler photographed near Juba Sound, Providenciales in
October 2021.
JEFFREY HAAKE
SIMON BUSUTTIL
Times of the Islands Winter 2022/23 53

SIMON BUSUTTIL
NORM RODGERS
From top: One of over 40 Pectoral sandpipers that spent several
weeks at the TCI Football Association’s soccer fields after Hurricane
Fiona in October 2022.
This Forster’s tern was documented in December 2016 at Blue Hills
pier. It is a tricky species to identify and rarely recorded in TCI.
This real-time migration monitoring program is publicly accessible.
common in native scrub but the yellow-throated has a
penchant for tall palm trees planted around resorts and
grounds. All can be seen relatively easily around resorts
and residential areas, especially those adjacent to remaining
areas of native bush.
There are many other inconspicuous birds that have
only been recorded a few times but are likely much
commoner than the number of records so far suggests.
Examples include: Rose-breasted grosbeaks travelling
to winter on the steep slopes of the northern Andes;
eastern wood pewees en route to the upper reaches of
the Amazon basin; and delicate Tennessee warblers that
share a similar boom and bust population cycle as the
Cape May warbler. They are rarely recorded in TCI, taking
a much more westerly migration route.
One of the exciting things about migratory birds is
that they can appear anywhere. There was an eastern
wood pewee in buttonwoods by the side of the road as
I took my kids to school one morning in November. The
TCI Football Association’s soccer fields at the Graceway
Sports Centre on Providenciales proved a mecca for
migrating birds after Hurricane Fiona this year. There are
few areas of freshwater marsh on TCI and after heavy
rain, the pitch was sodden and mimicking the freshwater
marshes needed by some species of wading bird. Over 40
pectoral sandpipers spent several weeks using the field
regularly, probing in the newly soft earth for invertebrates
to fuel their incredible journey. We know that these small
wading birds were on their way to the pampas grasslands
of southern Argentina. For the individuals breeding in the
furthest north, this is an incredible annual round trip of
over 18,000 miles.
Away from the bush, any walk
or visit has the potential to make
a bird discovery. The North West
Point area and the National Trust’s
Heritage Trail at Bird Rock Point at
opposite ends of Providenciales are
good places to see migrating birds.
Wheeland ponds and the Blue Hills
pier are easily accessible sites where
you do not even have to leave the car
to observe the birds. This can make
taking photographs relatively easy, as
birds are not as spooked by cars as
they are by people. Being close to the
sea, both areas attract seabirds, especially after storms.
Photographs can be great sources of information
about rare birds. Terns are generally white with a dark
54 www.timespub.tc

cap and apart from size are very similar looking, often
occurring in mixed flocks of different species. Several
types of tern are in TCI between March and September
and the largest, the royal tern with its huge orange bill,
spends all year with us. Other species occur during migration
or winter. Looking through bird photos with a friend
recently, we found that he had photographed a Forster’s
tern at Blue Hills pier back in 2016. A tricky species to
identify, it had only been recorded a few times in TCI and
never previously been fully documented.
An encounter with another keen photographer of
birds led to her sending me a series of photographs taken
during COVID lockdown walks. Scrolling through images
of “Herons, Egrets, and Flamingos,” I saw a couple called
“Pelicans.” Opening the files expecting to see our resident
brown pelican, I was delighted to find photographic
evidence of the first-ever record of an American white
pelican in TCI taken at Provo Golf Course in January 2019.
The migration of four billion birds into and out of
the North American continent is one of the earth’s great
natural rhythms. We see fragments of it here in TCI — a
small warbler resident in the trees around our yard for
a couple of days, a party of blue-winged teals on a pool
that were not there the day before. To get a broader view,
North America now has a sophisticated real-time monitoring
program that is publicly accessible (https://birdcast.
info/about/). Networks of radar combined with data and
algorithms create real-time forecasts and detailed maps
of the numbers of birds migrating on any particular night
during the migration season for the contiguous American
states. It does not cover the Caribbean but gives some
idea of what might be coming our way on any night and
thus what might be waiting to be found when we go birdwatching
the following day.
The scale of bird migration is astonishing. That such
an annual event takes place all around us — almost without
us knowing — is equally amazing. Observing it and
having even the slightest understanding of what is taking
place can create a strong sense of seasonality and a spiritual
link to the natural world. Increasingly we know that
these are important factors in robust mental health. a
Simon Busuttil now lives and works in TCI. He has been
birdwatching for 40 years and led birdwatching tours
across the world. He would be delighted to advise on
birds and birdwatching in TCI and look at any bird photographs.
He is currently writing a book on TCI’s birds
and would welcome any records that people have. He can
be contacted on simonb.tcint@gmail.com.
Times of the Islands Winter 2022/23 55

COURTESY PROVO GOLF CLUB

feature
CHANNING BENJAMIN PHOTOGRAPHY
Opposite page: Providenciales’ only 18-hole golf course was designed to complement the natural layout of the land, offering sweeping views.
Above: The stately clubhouse, designed by local architect Simon Wood, is the center of activity. In late 2021, Provo Golf Club was renamed
“Royal Turks & Caicos Golf Club,” to celebrate a fresh identity and vision for the future, yet honor its long history and heritage in TCI.
Standing the Test of Time
Provo Golf Course celebrates 30 years.
By Kathy Borsuk
It’s hard to believe that the Provo Golf Club (now known as the Royal Turks & Caicos Golf Club) turned
30 years old in November, 2022. When I arrived in the Islands, the course had just opened. I remember
marveling at the miracle of turning a huge plot of bush-topped rocky limestone into a contoured, manicured,
verdant playground for golfers.
The TCI’s sole 18-hole golf course has only grown lusher and more beautiful with age, as its tropical
foliage grows and matures under the course superintendent’s watchful eye. And as Providenciales hustles
and bustles with development, the golf club has turned into a rare, peaceful oasis for wildlife and humans
alike.
Times of the Islands Winter 2022/23 57

History
In 1989, the Provo Golf and Country Club was a dream
of the HAB Group, who coincidently owns and operates
Provo Water Company, the supplier of potable water to
Providenciales. They realized the importance of a worldclass
golf course to the fledgling tourism economy and
realized it would only be possible with the availability of
a huge volume of water in the TCI’s semi-arid climate.
By 1990, renowned golf course architect Karl Litten
was chosen as to design the course, while talented resident
architect Simon Wood (SWA Associates) designed the
stately clubhouse. Ground broke on the massive project
on May 1, 1991 and a little more than a year later, the
first golfer teed up. Peter Boyce was employed as the first
director of golf, with Dave Douglas as his part time assistant
in the winter months. (Dave is now starting his 27th
years as director of golf!)
The course opened as a 6,529 yard, Par 72 challenge,
described in early press releases as “a true test of the
game to everyone. Tight fairways . . . Unrelenting water
hazards and bunkers puts the player to the test of striking
accurate shots with large sandy waste areas bordering a
number of the fairways also creating target golf. Already
receiving great reviews, it’s the type of course that makes
you want to come back to play it again! It truly is a golf
course you will never forget!” How true 30 years later!
Interestingly, for much of the golf club’s history, HAB
Group has underwritten the cost of operations. It has only
been in recent years that the club achieved the critical
mass of golfers required to become self-sustaining, a
reflection of the TCI’s steady growth in tourism.
The careful and consistent cultivation of the course
along with a strong emphasis on customer satisfaction
has led to many awards over the years, beginning with a
four-star rating from Golf Digest in 2010 and naming as
a Top 10 Course for Caribbean Golf by Travel and Leisure
magazine in 2014. It consistently receives TripAdvisor
Certificates of Excellence and was recently voted as the
#3 Best Caribbean Golf Club by USA Today’s 10 Best.
In 2015, David Feherty, charismatic golf course commentator
for the Golf Channel and NBC, became the
courses’ ambassador. Other famous names walking the
fairways over the years include Bill Gates, Gary Woodland,
Richard Gere, Michael Phelps, Michael Jordan, Stephon
Curry, Charlize Theron, Bruce Willis, and Drake.
The course was chosen to host the Caribbean Amateur
Golf Open in 1999, 2009, and 2022, welcoming the stars
of the future from across the Caribbean.
Exceeding expectations
From the beginning, the golf course strived to exceed
expectations of its frequent return visitors and loyal
CHANNING BENJAMIN PHOTOGRAPHY
In 2017/18, $2.5 million was spent on re-turfing the entire course with Platinum Paspalum grass, the new industry standard.
58 www.timespub.tc

members. At the same time, the atmosphere was meant
to be relaxed and informal — not stuffy — in keeping
with a Caribbean “vibe.” Reviews are consistently excellent,
with newcomers often surprised at the quality of
the greens and service by the conscientious staff. Today,
it is on the bucket list of any visiting golfer, whether pro
or amateur.
Director of Golf Dave Douglas and Head Professional
Sean Wilson bring years of prime experience to their positions,
yet both enjoy a more rare trait — good humor and
optimism that transcend the hiccups of running a golf
course on an small island.
Course Superintendent Tim Mack also brought a strong
background in course construction, renovation, and technology
to his job in 2010 and has been a part of many
exciting changes. The most rewarding, he says, being the
turf renovation of 2017/18, where $2.5 million was spent
on re-turfing the entire course with Platinum Paspalum
grass, the new industry standard. This salt-tolerant turf
not only provides a fabulous dark-green playing surface,
but allows the club to use less reverse osmosis-generated
water. In fact, the 2022 World Cup in Qatar was played on
the same grass, as will be the Ryder Cup in Italy in 2023.
The Miami Dolphins have put it in their stadium along
with three Major League baseball teams and many quality
courses near the equator where salt is a factor.
From its inception, the course was intended to complement
the natural layout of the land, with fairways lined
with a mix of native vegetation and palms and offering
sweeping views. The front nine features water on five
holes, with the back nine offering six lakes — combining
for hazardous encounters on 13 holes. From the black
tees, the championship layout of 6,719 yards is sloped at
133. The most challenging hole is the 14th, a Par 4 with
gorgeous views, needing two separate long carries over
water playing dead into the wind. The slight dogleg right
often leaves you with a sidehill lie on the fairway.
A new name
In late 2021, Provo Golf Club was renamed “Royal Turks
& Caicos Golf Club.” The rebranding celebrates a fresh
identity and vision for the future, yet honors its long history
and heritage in TCI. A new logo pays homage to the
Brown Pelican, TCI’s national bird, representing the club’s
commitment to a sustainable, “green” future. The new
tagline, “An Exceptional Caribbean Golf Experience,” illustrates
the array of opportunities enjoyed by visitors when
they visit the course.
Times of the Islands Winter 2022/23 59

GARY JAMES—PROVO PICTURES
This bird’s eye view of the golf course at sunset shows why it is an oasis for wildlife and humans.

TROPICAL IMAGING
Above: Provo Golf Course was chosen to host the Caribbean Amateur Golf Open in 1999, 2009, and 2022, welcoming the stars of the future
from across the Caribbean.
Below: The pink flamingo is but one of many birds that take advantage of the golf course’s eco-system.
CHANNING BENJAMIN PHOTOGRAPHY
Noted for a challenging round of golf and a quick pace
of play (four hours or less), the course offers four sets of
tees for all golfing abilities and premium Titleist rental
clubs. Facilities include a full-service pro shop (recently
refurbished), practice warm-up area, chipping and putting
greens, bag storage, flood-lit tennis courts, and two
pickleball courts. The club’s fleet of EZ-GO electric carts
are equipped with GPS and electronic scorecards. PGA
golf pros are on hand for advice and lessons, multi-round
playing passes are available, and juniors are encouraged
to play with parents after 10:30 AM at no fee.
The #19 Bar and Restaurant (open to the public) is a
popular place for tourists and members to mix and mingle.
(The burgers and conch fritters are famous!) Guests
can dine on the shaded outdoor deck or the rotunda interior,
with golf flags from clubs around the globe hanging
from the ceiling.
Going green
HAB Group is committed to being a leader in environmental
performance and reducing its “footprint,” with a
strong obligation to ensuring that the ecosystems of the
“Beautiful by Nature” Turks & Caicos remain healthy and
62 www.timespub.tc

intact. As custodians of the largest sporting facility in
the TCI (650 acres), the Royal Turks & Caicos Golf Club
(RTCGC) strives to operate in the most sustainable way
possible.
Besides replacing the turf with a less water-hungry
strain, water stations are located throughout the course
where golfers can fill up their water bottles or branded
reusable bottles from the pro shop, reducing the burden
of the ubiquitous plastic water bottles on the local landfill.
RTCGC is working towards GEO Certification for sustainable
golf. This widely regarded international ecolabel
is designed to help golf courses be recognized for their
environmental and social responsibility. Steps taken
will involve protecting the current ecosystem (11 lakes,
140 acres of fairways and greens) that are home to the
American kestral, white heron, kingfisher, pink flamingo,
and green turtle, as well as a variety of cacti, the flame
tree, and sea dunes.
It will also involve working to reduce carbon emissions
by installing solar panels than can power the golf course
property and beyond. Along with eliminating single-use
plastic and adding recycle/reuse containers across the
grounds, the club will invest in education of employees
and visitors in more sustainable habits.
Giving back
Besides taking responsibility for the club’s operating
costs to buttress the tourism product, HAB Group has
a long history of giving back to the community, with
more donations than any other single entity in the Turks
& Caicos Islands. Since 1996, the club has helped raise
over $2 million for local charities through tournaments
such as the: Jadot Cup, Wine Cellar Cup, Bob Graham
TCIGA Scramble, Bordier Bank Youth Soccer Scramble,
National Cancer Society Scramble and the Corporate
Charity Challenge.
Funds raised help support the Edward C. Gartland
Youth Center, National AIDs Awareness Foundation, Food
4 Thought children’s breakfast program, TCI Community
College, TCI Senior Citizens’ Home and the TCI Children’s
Home, among other worthy causes. The generosity of the
club’s 110 members and visiting golfers reflects their
benevolence and satisfaction with the overall golf course
experience.
The club’s love of local sports is reflected in sponsorship
of children’s soccer programs, ladies’ softball,
the junior golf program, and a $50,000 donation to the
TCI Sports Federation for athletes to compete in the
Times of the Islands Winter 2022/23 63

CHANNING BENJAMIN PHOTOGRAPHY
COURTESY PROVO GOLF CLUB
Above: The beautiful flame tree, also known as royal poinciana, graces
the fairways at Provo Golf Course. As custodians of the largest sporting
facility in TCI (650 acres), the club strives to operate in the most
sustainable way possible.
Below: “Going green” includes installing solar panels than can power
the golf course property and beyond.
Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, UK. HAB group
has provided $50,000 annually since 1996 via the TCIG
sponsorship fund. In 2023, RTCGC will donate .5% of the
green fee to a new Community Fund.
To encourage the Tiger Woods of the future, RTCGC
is developing a young golfer’s program to introduce
children to golf in a fun and safe environment using a
games-based learning technique. This will supplement
current youth coaching and kid’s camps during school
vacations.
RTCGC is also home to the TCI Tennis Academy and
a school program sanctioned by the International Tennis
Federation, run by Tennis Pro Rey Garcia. It uses modified
courts, racquets, and balls and a “learning through play”
philosophy to make the experience fun and exciting.
The club will continue to support the local economy
not only with its ever-growing reputation attracting golfers
from around the world, but also with ongoing disaster
relief, event sponsorship, and working with the TCI Hotel
& Tourism Association to encourage local youth in the
hospitality industry.
Life on the golf course
I envy the wise investors who have made the 200-acre
golf course residential community their home. Not only
are the homes, villas, and townhomes well-spaced in
manicured surroundings, but the atmosphere is family-oriented,
quiet, and steeped in nature. Best of all,
development is planned, so property owners know what
to expect in the future — no one can block their view or
crowd their privacy!
Existing single-family homes do come on the market
from time to time. There are six developments of townhomes
and club villas bordering the 1st, 10th, and 18th
fairways which offer affordable living enhanced by proximity
to the beach, schools, shopping, restaurants and
the attractions of Grace Bay — besides immediate access
to the golf course and tennis courts. These two and
three-bedroom units are popular among full and parttime
residents and various units do become available for
rental or resale.
The Royal Turks & Caicos Golf Club has stood the
test of time by virtue of its excellence, generosity, and
accountability to the environment, country, and local
community. Although it is no longer a secret, it is more
than worthy of discovering and enjoying. a
For more information and to book a tee time, visit
royalturksandcaicosgolf.com.
64 www.timespub.tc

JAMES ROY—PARADISE PHOTOGRAPHY

feature
Opposite page: East Caicos is the largest uninhabited island in the Turks & Caicos and is valued as a sanctuary for flora and fauna, particularly
endemic Turks & Caicos plants and birds.
Above: Sea turtles are one of the oldest creatures on Earth and have been here for over 110 million years. As long as we do the work needed
to take care of them and their environment, these turtles will have a fighting chance.
MICHAEL MORTON—WWW.HARBOURCLUBVILLAS.COM
Exploring East Caicos
The turtle story.
By Oshin Whyte, Environmental Scientist, and Amadyne Agenor ~ Photos By Oshin Whyte
East Caicos: it is one of the islands that most Turks & Caicos Islanders can point out on a map but have
never travelled to or experienced — at least persons belonging to my generation. Those of us who are
fortunate enough to have “old folks” in our lives occasionally hear stories about the “olden days” of South
Caicos fishermen travelling to East Caicos for wild cow hunting. It was a time before commercialization,
widespread refrigeration, and most importantly, supermarkets like IGA.
Times of the Islands Winter 2022/23 67

These cows were remnants of a settlement created
in the 1800s known as Jacksonville. The settlement had
cattle ranches and sisal plantations, which were relatively
successful. Unfortunately, Jacksonville was eventually
abandoned but the cows remained and roamed free.
Throughout the 1970s and late 1980s, brave men would
journey to East Caicos, and using traditional knowledge
and know-how, stalk a cow and butcher it. They would
proceed to quarter the animal, then make the journey
back to South. This endeavor was laborious and sometimes
took two days to complete.
Alas, a steak dinner is not the reason that I, Ms.
Amadyne Agenor, and Mr. Timothy Hamilton — affectionately
known as Cap’n Tim — journeyed to East Caicos.
We were on the prowl for . . . SEA TURTLES. The coastline
of East Caicos is a nationally important nesting habitat
for threatened green and hawksbill turtles. These beautiful
creatures can migrate thousands of miles across our
oceans and find their way back to where they themselves
hatched decades ago to breed.
Oshin Whyte (left) and Amadyne Agenor (right) set off to explore sea
turtle nesting sites on the north coast of East Caicos.
For generations, fisherfolk across the Islands have
caught and eaten sea turtles, as a local delicacy. However,
the occasional capture of adult turtles was impeding the
recovery of the Islands’ genetically distinct but severely
depleted breeding populations. Enter the Turks & Caicos
Islands Turtle Project (TCITP). Established in 2008, it is
a collaborative initiative led by the Marine Conservation
Society (based in the UK) and the TCI Government. It
strives to enhance the management of the Islands’ traditional
marine turtle fishery while respecting the rights of
Islanders to responsibly harvest this resource. The TCITP
helped change the turtle fishery regulations in 2014 and
has conducted extensive turtle satellite tracking research
here. It now is partner to a new Darwin Plus-funded project
led by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
(RSPB) and the TCI National Trust to develop a local community-driven
and locally owned action plan to guide
future management and sustainable development of East
Caicos. An aspect of this new project is to assess sea turtle
nesting habitat and feeding grounds on and around
East Caicos.
To achieve this objective, we embarked on an epic
journey to record some of this season’s turtle nesting
on the northern shores. There was much apprehension
and excitement, as this was Amadyne’s first time visiting
East Caicos and my first time camping on the island for
an extended period. Cap’n Tim is an expert naturalist
and knows the island like the back of his hand, which
put our minds at ease. We set out early, as the plan was
to walk the entire northern coast of the island — Breezy
Point to Lorimers — a total of five miles and record any
evidence of nesting turtles, including tracks, nesting pits
and emerged nests.
The boat ride from South Caicos to East Caicos had
some of the most breath-taking scenery. The shimmer
of the sun’s reflection on the emerald water, the basking
nurse shark on the banks, the crisp air. It felt surreal and
for a moment, like Gerard Manley Hopkins in 1877, we
too acknowledge the grandeur of God.
This state of mind was shattered when we got to
Breezy Point, East Caicos and started our exploration of
the beach. We had experienced a Category 3 hurricane in
September, and even though a full lunar cycle had lapsed
since the hurricane and the sampling period, the coastline
had significant damage and severe erosion. This was
the narrative from Breezy Point to Lorimers. The erosion
was so significant that in many places a ridge of sand was
created that measured as much as three to four feet in
some areas. It was as if someone (i.e., Hurricane Fiona)
68 www.timespub.tc

Clockwise from top left: Captain Tim Hamilton teaches Amadyne to
fish. Hurricane Fiona caused significant erosion to the East Caicos
coastline. Amadyne records GPS waypoints and beach characteristics.
This baby sea turtle was discovered in a survey on East Caicos in
2021. Amadyne caught her first-ever fish on the way to East Caicos.
KATHLEEN WOOD
Times of the Islands Winter 2022/23 69

had taken an ice cream scoop and ran it along the coastline,
scooping out all the sand.
So what does this mean for sea turtle nesting? Sadly, we
think the erosion made it difficult for sea turtles to crawl
up the beach and deposit their eggs. Sea turtle eggs need
sand around them to incubate, and exposed eggs will die
if inundated by waves. If there were any eggs deposited,
they were long gone, washed away by the strong waves
that Hurricane Fiona created. Five miles walked, and no
nests or signs of turtles. This is a stark contrast to last
year’s nesting survey of the area, where significant nesting
activity was documented on the northern East Caicos
shore for the first time by the TCI Turtle Project.
Habitat destruction is always a risk, as hurricane season
and sea turtle nesting season overlap. However, due
to climate change, hurricane frequency and intensity are
increasing. Seeing the damage that Hurricane Fiona had
done to East Caicos’ coastline signals the urgency in
implementing solutions to our climate crisis.
In the meantime, nature has proven to us time and
time again that if we give it a chance, it will recover. Even
in its fragile state, East Caicos was incredibly beautiful,
and there was much hope as donkeys, piping plovers,
brown pelicans, Cuban crows, and curly tail lizards had
returned to the coastline. Amadyne put it this way, “The
island is extraordinarily beautiful and unique. I want to
explore more of its beauty. I feel incredibly proud of
myself for making this journey and catching my first fish!”
Sea turtles are one of the oldest creatures on Earth,
having been here for over 110 million years. As long as
we do the work needed to take care of them and their
environment these turtles will have a fighting chance. We
hope this article piques the interest of other young Turks
& Caicos Islanders, to know that being an Environmental
Scientist is a worthwhile endeavor. It is our duty to be
stewards of these “Beautiful by Nature” Islands. a
Oshin Whyte is from Providenciales and earned a BSc in
Environmental Sciences in Oxford, England. Her prior
work as a PADI Divemaster provided her with the opportunity
to become an advocate for the marine environment.
Most recently Oshin read a South Atlantic Environmental
Research Institute (SAERI) funded Masters by Research on
the Coastal Cultural Values (CCV) of the Turks & Caicos
Islands at the University of Kent. She is well versed in
environmental sustainability, impact assessments, and
marine conservation. It is her dream to have a coalition of
Islander Environmental Scientists who are wholeheartedly
dedicated to keeping TCI beautiful by nature.
70 www.timespub.tc

astrolabe
newsletter of the Turks & Caicos National Museum
Front Street, PO Box 188, Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos Islands, BWI TKCA 1ZZ
tel 649 247 2160/US incoming 786 220 1159 • email info@tcmuseum.org • web www.tcmuseum.org
This postcard (circa 1906) was commercially produced to sell to the public. It appears in the picture that the Friths are hosting an “At Home,”
as it was called in the day—a gathering that included friends, relatives, and dignitaries.
The Name Behind a Name
The Frith family of Palm Grove, Grand Turk.
Story and Illustrations By Jeff Dodge
Today, the name Palm Grove designates a neighborhood on Grand Turk that’s just south of Cockburn
Town. How many residents of this neighborhood know where the name Palm Grove originated or the
history behind the name?
Times of the Islands Winter 2022/23 71

astrolabe newsletter of the Turks & Caicos National Museum
Palm Grove was the
name that the Benjamin
Charles Frith family gave
to their stately home on
Grand Turk just south
of Cockburn Town. It
was probably built in the
fourth quarter of the 19th
century, but exactly when
B.C., as he was called,
built Palm Grove, seems
to be a mystery.
B.C. Frith was born
in 1855 on Grand Turk
to Daniel Nichols Frith
and Jane Frith Butterfield.
Benjamin and his brothers
formed Frith Brothers
& Company, which at one
time was the largest producer
of salt on Grand
Turk. In addition to salt
This privately produced postcard of Palm Grove circa 1906 was made from a personal photograph that
would have been used by the Frith family. It shows the back of the house.
This photo illustrates Benjamin C. Frith, entrepreneur of Frith Brothers
& Company, a thriving business in Grand Turk in the late 1800s.
production, Frith Bros. & Co. were involved in growing
and processing sisal on West Caicos, mining guano on
Middle Caicos, and operating retail businesses selling all
manner of goods on Grand Turk.
B.C. inherited a coconut palm plantation from his
father on the north end of Grand Turk—northwest of
North Creek. It’s reported that Edmund Neale Coverley, a
shopkeeper and photographer on Grand Turk, managed
the plantation for B.C. The postcard on the opposite page
is evidence of this—it was produced by Coverley to sell in
his store and depicts his son among the coconut palms.
B.C., or his father, built a house on this property
that was known as “Little Bluff” or “The Summer House.”
The house was reported to have been a two story stone
structure that was used as a family get-away in the
summer—for the breezes and cooler temperatures.
Unfortunately, the coconut palms were wiped out by a
blight that swept through the Bahamas and West Indies
in the early 20th century.
In 1875, B.C. married Frances Elizabeth Streeter who
was living in Great Britain at the time. They had 13 children
on Grand Turk, however six died before their first
birthday. Frances died in 1910.
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astrolabe newsletter of the Turks & Caicos National Museum
The child in this circa 1909 postcard is Edmund Neale Coverley’s son, Flavius Lytton Coverley.
B.C.’s businesses often took him to New York and it must have been during one of his trips to the U.S. that he
met Virginia Sawyer of Owensboro, Kentucky. They were married in 1916 when B.C. was 61 years old and she was
48. B.C. passed away in 1933, leaving Palm Grove to his youngest living son, Geoffrey Hammond Frith. B.C.’s second
wife, Virginia, continued living at Palm Grove until her death in late 1944.
Geoffrey was born on Grand Turk in 1891. He served in the Middle East during WW I as a captain in the
British Army. After the war,
he was employed on Grand
Turk as a civil servant until
1927. His various positions
included: Justice of the Peace,
Acting Police Inspector,
Assistant Customs Collector,
Postmaster, Clerk to
Commissioner and Secretary
to the Board of Education.
Geoffrey married Thelma
Izeyl Whitfield Smith in
1921—her father was the
commissioner and judge for
the Turks & Caicos Islands
from 1914 until 1923.
Geoffrey and Thelma lived in
a house on Duke Street—now The house in the background of this circa 1906 postcard may be Frith’s summer get-away.
Times of the Islands Winter 2022/23 73

astrolabe newsletter of the Turks & Caicos National Museum
This photo of Terrance and Nancy Frith was likely taken at their wedding
in 1953 in Toronto, Canada after becoming missionaries.
the Salt Raker Inn—until 1927. Geoffrey once wrote a letter
to his brother Arthur, who was living in Vancouver at
the time, saying he preferred living in his house in town
to living at Palm Grove.
Thelma had two miscarriages prior to her third pregnancy
in 1927. For this reason, Thelma and Geoffrey
decided to move from Grand Turk to Barbados hoping
for better medical care. Their only son, Terrence R. Frith,
was born on Barbados in February the following year.
Geoffrey continued working as a civil servant while
on Barbados serving as postmaster. In 1929, the family
was sent to the Cayman Islands where Geoffrey served as
the commissioner until 1931. Next he was assigned the
job of treasurer on Tobago and in 1932, he was transferred
to Trinidad to work as the assistant auditor. From
1934 to 1939, he was the treasurer on St. Lucia—while
there he also served as acting commissioner for about a
year.
Geoffrey was posted to the Falkland Islands in 1940.
He had a stroke after six months and returned to Grand
Turk to recuperate. While recuperating, he worked for
the Turks & Caicos government. In 1942, Geoffrey and
his family moved to St. Vincent where he served as that
country’s treasurer.
Geoffrey and family returned to Grand Turk in 1945
to find that Palm Grove, the family home, was in terrible
condition. It had been uninhabited for over six months
following the death of Virginia Frith—B.C.’s second wife.
A Frith descendant says that the caretaker had stolen
most of the furnishings. Geoffrey threatened the caretaker
with a lawsuit, but passed away in April 1945 before
his lawsuit was adjudicated. Some thought the caretaker
had poisoned him, however, descendants insist he died
of an aneurysm. Geoffrey left Palm Grove to his only son
Terrence.
Thelma and her son Terrence moved from Grand
Turk to Barbados in 1946 where she lived until her death
in 1984. In 1946 or 1947, Terrence, having no interest in
returning to Grand Turk, sold Palm Grove to the Cable &
Wireless company.
Cable & Wireless demolished the house, which was
termite infested, in order to build housing for their
employees. Palm Grove was said to have been situated
on 13 acres of land and was reportedly sold to Cable &
Wireless for just £250—however, this figure has not been
confirmed.
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astrolabe newsletter of the Turks & Caicos National Museum
Terrence moved to Toronto, Canada in 1947 and by
1952 had joined the Anglican Church Army for evangelical
training to become a missionary. The following year
he married Nancy Elizabeth Dunseith of Toronto who was
also training to be a missionary. By the end of 1953, the
church sent both Terrence and Nancy to Tuktoyaktuk, an
Inuit hamlet in the Canadian North West Territories. They
served in the Diocese of the Arctic for 22 years—their five
children were born there.
In 1974, Terrence and Nancy moved to Barbados
where he pastored the Pentecostal Church until he retired
in 1985. Terrence and Nancy moved to Ladysmith, British
Columbia, Canada in 2003. He passed away in 2009 in
Ladysmith—Nancy died the following year.
Palm Grove’s exact location is yet another mystery.
Nobody seems to know for certain where it was located.
Two different possibilities are marked below with a red
star. However, no evidence that either location is correct
has surfaced.
B.C. Frith and his family were proud of their stately
home. They had at least three different postcards made
from personal photographs of Palm Grove. These postcards
were for family use and not sold to the public.
It is a shame that there isn’t a marker or plaque
marking where this historic house was located? Perhaps
readers of this article will make that happen. a
The author wishes to thank Edward Grice, Benjamin C.
Frith’s great-grandson, for providing much of the Frith
family history for this article.
Top right: This circa 1968 photo depicts Terrance and Nancy Frith and their five children in Canada. Above: The map shows two possible
locations of B.C. Frith’s Palm Grove home. No evidence that either location is correct has surfaced. Can you help?
Times of the Islands Winter 2022/23 75

astrolabe newsletter of the Turks & Caicos National Museum
Museum Matters
New exhibits and updates
We are updating the John Glenn and Scott Carpenter
exhibit with new story boards and photo boards. People
often comment that they did not realize that Turks &
Caicos Islands played such an important role in the
space race of the 1960s.
We have added a Donkey and Cart exhibit to the
Salt Industry section. One of the most frequently asked
questions is, “What’s up with all the donkeys?” This
exhibit explains why they are on the Salt Islands and
the integral role they played in the salt industry and in
the early settlement of the Islands.
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.
MARTA MORTON—WWW.HARBOURCLUBVILLAS.
We continue to work on the People of the Islands
exhibit. We have new banners of several of the people
interviewed. Additional story boards and banners are
being added regarding the history each of the inhabited
islands.
Part of the exhibits will be finished by the end of
November, with the final touches being completed by
end of this year. a
Providenciales (The Village of Grace Bay): Open
Tuesday and Thursday, 10 AM to 2 PM.
Both locations include interesting 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
Hurricane Fiona
The Grand Turk museum did not suffer any damage
during Hurricane Fiona. The botanical garden
did lose some fencing that was quickly repaired. The
Providenciales location suffered minor damage to the
Heritage House roof and repairs are undergoing. a
76 www.timespub.tc

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 43,000.
Getting here
There are international airports on Grand Turk,
Providenciales, and South Caicos, with domestic airports
on all of the islands except East Caicos.
As of May 1, 2022, all visitors ages 18 and above
must be fully vaccinated but are no longer required to
apply for travel authorization nor provide evidence of a
negative COVID-19 test prior to arrival nor present evidence
of travel insurance nor wear masks/face coverings.
Proof of vaccination in either a digital or paper record
must be presented on arrival. Visitors are fully responsible
for the cost of quarantine/isolation, hospitalization,
or medical repatriation in the event they test positive
during their stay. For more information and details, visit
www.turksandcaicostourism.com.
Times of the Islands Winter 2022/23 77

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
connections. 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 your airline ticket cost.
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 are
located downtown on Airport Road. In Grand Turk, the
Post Office and Philatelic Bureau are on Church Folly. The
Islands are known for their 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.
78 www.timespub.tc

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.
Hon. Charles Washington Misick is the country’s premier,
leading a majority Progressive National Party (PNP) 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.
Times of the Islands Winter 2022/23 79

The Turks & Caicos Islands are recognised as an
important offshore financial centre, offering services
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 submitted at port of entry to obtain clearance
from the TCI Department of Agriculture.
National symbols
The National Bird is the Brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis).
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,
sashes and hat bands. The National Song is “This Land
of Ours” by the late Rev. E.C. Howell. 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. There is also a
ban on importation of plastic straws and some polystyrene
products, including cups and plates.
Recreation
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, snuba, kiteboarding, stand up paddleboarding,
mermaid encounters and beachcombing. Pristine reefs,
abundant marine life and excellent visibility make TCI
a world-class diving destination. Whale and dolphin
encounters are possible, especially during the winter/
spring months.
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
80 www.timespub.tc

major historical sites. Birdwatching is superb, and there
is a guided trail on Grand Turk.
There is an excellent national museum on Grand
Turk, with an auxillary branch on Providenciales that
includes the Caicos Heritage House. 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 are
two casinos on Providenciales, along with many electronic
gaming parlours. Stargazing is extraordinary!
Shoppers will find paintings, T-shirts, sports and
beachwear and locally made handicrafts, including straw
work, conch crafts and beach jewellery. Duty free outlets
sell liquor, jewellery, watches, perfume, leather goods,
crystal, china, cameras, electronics, brand-name clothing
and accessories, along with Cuban cigars. a
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
Food for Thought Foundation Inc. (NP #102)
subscription form
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Times of the Islands Winter 2022/23 81

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WE ARE LEADING THE WAY TO
A CLEANER ENERGY FUTURE
Our executive team: (L-R) Vice President of Corporate Services and CFO Aisha Laporte; Vice President
of Grand Turk and Sister Island Operations Allan Robinson; President and CEO Ruth Forbes; Senior Vice
President of Operations Devon Cox; Vice President of Engineering and Energy Production and Delivery
Don Forsyth (seated); and Vice President of Innovation, Technology and Strategic Planning Rachell Roullet.
In a rapidly evolving electricity sector, energy leaders of today are
focused on driving the transformation to cleaner, more sustainable
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At FortisTCI, our purpose and passion are unwavering – to serve our
customers, community, and the Turks and Caicos Islands with the
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Every day, we are working towards an energy future that is cleaner,
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www.fortistci.com | 649-946-4313 |

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