Times of the Islands Summer 2023

TIMES
OF THE
SAMPLING THE SOUL OF THE TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDS SUMMER 2023 NO. 143
ISLANDS
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contents
Departments
6 From the Editor
19 The Way It Was
It’s Been 16 Years!
Story & Photos By Davidson Louis
22 Eye on the Sky
Steady As She Goes:
2023 Hurricane Season
By Paul Wilkerson
26 Creature Feature
Caribbean Spiny Lobster
By Kelly Currington
30 Making a Difference
“Proud of My Island”
By Ben Stubenberg
52 New Development
Pushing the Boundaries: Nivå Villas
By Kathy Borsuk ~ Photos Courtesy Windward
76 About the Islands/TCI Map
81 Subscription Form
82 Classified Ads
Features
44 Dive Enthusiast or Dive Addict?
By Kelly Currington
58 Sun, Surf, and . . . Salad?
A vegan visit to TCI
By Rachel Craft
Green Pages
33 Delving into the Data
By Eve Englefield and Emma Irving
37 Finding A (Nemo)ne
By Charlotte Kratovil-Lavelle and Clara Masseau
41 Earth Day Poetry Contest
Astrolabe
65 “John” of All Trades
Story & Historic Images By Jeff Dodge
TIMES
OF THE
ISLANDS
SAMPLING THE SOUL OF THE TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDS SUMMER 2023 NO. 143
On the Cover
This moody underwater shot was contributed by Dive
Provo (www.DiveProvo.com), one of the TCI’s oldest
dive operations and a member of the TripAdvisor
Certificate Hall of Fame. It was shot by Brilliant Studios
(www.brilliantstudios.com) on a dive site in Grace Bay,
Providenciales. It highlights the eye-catching, healthy
corals still to be seen by divers in the Turks & Caicos
Islands. It appropriately celebrates National Ocean Month
in June, which highlights the world’s marine ecosystems.
70 Remembering When:
The Town Strip in Grand Turk
By Dr. Richard Grainger ~
Images Courtesy Turks & Caicos
National Museum Photo Collection
33
J HAWKRIDGE/J TYNE
4 www.timespub.tc

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from the editor
MARTA MORTON—WWW.HARBOURCLUBVILLAS.COM
This intrepid hummingbird is feeding on the yellow flowers of the coconut palm. Note the specks of pollen on the tip of his beak.
One Moment at a Time
As I get older and a bit more worn down with loss and the “cares of the world,” I find myself wanting to slow down
and savor each day, each experience, each moment. The years of building this career, helping out my family, meeting
deadlines, traveling, and trying to juggle many responsibilities seem to have passed in a fuzzy flash. As we start to
experience the effects of climate change and unchecked development, I am realizing how important it is to be still
and be present to the precious and fragile natural beauty that still surrounds us. Look, listen, smell, taste, touch.
The “Beautiful by Nature” Turks & Caicos Islands are a good place to put this into practice. I am especially grateful
for the people who take the time to write the articles and take the photographs that we share in this magazine. They
are introductions to the adventures and opportunities that are just waiting to be discovered. Try snorkeling or scuba
diving to witness the underwater world of wonder; sample vegan cuisine and tread a little lighter on the planet; visit
Grand Turk or one of the Sister Islands to step back into an older, slower world. This issue can give you a sample of
what you will find when you voyage beyond the beach.
I love the phrase, “Life is about starting over, one breath at a time.” It helps make the overwhelming more digestible.
It gives us hope that we can still take action to make a difference in our planet. Reduce, reuse, recycle, revive.
It helps us find peace.
Kathy Borsuk, Editor
timespub@tciway.tc • (649) 431-4788
6 www.timespub.tc

Arc
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@livesouthbank
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use of such mark by South Bank and Arc is under license.

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TIMES
OF THE
ISLANDS
MANAGING EDITOR
Kathy Borsuk
ADVERTISING MANAGER
Claire Parrish
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Kathy Borsuk, Rachel Craft, Kelly Currington, Jeff Dodge,
Eve Englefield, Zavien Gardiner, Tyreke Glinton,
Dr. Richard Grainger, Emma Irving, Charlotte Kratovil-
Lavelle, Davidson Louis, Clara Masseau, Pari Ochani,
Ben Stubenberg, Lisa Turnbow-Talbot, Paul Wilkerson.
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Aqua TCI, Attimi Photography, Rachel Craft,
Kelly Currington, Dive Provo, Jeff Dodge, Abbie Dosell,
Elemento Photography Turks & Caicos, Eve Englefield,
Flamingo Divers, J. Hawkridge, Gary James—Provo Pictures,
Davidson Louis, Christine Morden and James Roy—Paradise
Photography, Marta Morton, Dr. C.E. O’Brien,
Shay Café Lounge, Shutterstock, Solana Restaurant, J. Tyne,
Turks & Caicos National Museum Collection,
Lisa Turnbow-Talbot, LeMens Welch—
Cayo Hica Media, Windward Development.
CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS
NOAA, Wavey Line Publishing.
PRINTING
PF Solutions, Miami, FL
Times of the Islands ISSN 1017-6853 is
published quarterly by Times Publications Ltd.
Copyright © 2023 by Times Publications Ltd. All rights reserved
under Universal and Pan American Copyright Conventions.
No part of this publication may be
reproduced without written permission.
Subscriptions $28/year; $32/year for
non-U.S. mailing addresses
Submissions We welcome submission of articles or photography, but
assume no responsibility for care and return of unsolicited material.
Return postage must accompany material if it is to be returned. In no
event shall any writer or photographer subject this magazine to any
claim for holding fees or damage charges on unsolicited material.
While every care has been taken in the compilation and reproduction of
information contained herein to ensure correctness, such information is
subject to change without notice. The publisher accepts no
responsibility for such alterations or for typographical or other errors.
Business Office
Times Publications Ltd., P.O. Box 234,
Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands, BWI
Tel 649 431 4788
E-mail timespub@tciway.tc
Web www.timespub.tc
Advertising tfadvert@tciway.tc
18 www.timespub.tc

the way it was
The South Caicos airport greeted Davidson Louis when he arrived for his summer sojourns in the early 2000s.
It’s Been 16 Years!
Memories of childhood summers in South Caicos.
Story & Photos By Davidson Louis
When you are 12 years old and living on an island, you quickly learn to enjoy the little things in life—the
simplest and most rewarding. Growing up in the Turks & Caicos Islands was special. In fact, it was actually
a gift. When summer came, most of my peers would brag about their exotic trips to go see friends and
families in different parts of the world. It was vastly different for me. Instead, I would be excited to go to
South Caicos . . . to do absolutely nothing.
Times of the Islands Summer 2023 19

South Caicos, if you haven’t been, isn’t for everyone.
It is so quiet I think calling it a “sleepy town” is probably
an exaggeration. The island has been left in the past,
but not totally forgotten. There are narrow streets, sunbleached
wooden homes that seem to be struggling to
remain upright, tiny churches, and small shops with wide
open screened doors. I always love the island.
Every summer, I would look forward to leaving
Providenciales and escape my ritualized life for six to
seven weeks. No parents, no problem. My mother would
drive to what used to be SkyKing’s office on Old Airport
Road to buy a one-way ticket the day before the grand
departure. She would hand me the pale-blue ticket that
resembled a boarding pass to make it clear that when she
said she had enough of me, she actually meant it.
I would barely sleep the night before my great domestic
getaway. I would gather my dearest belongings: my
swimming shorts, flip flops, a few books, and my mom’s
old Canon-XTi to capture everything. I would then count
the hours till morning. I was buzzing with excitement.
The trip itself was an adventure. I would clench the
handles throughout the entire ride. The plane, no bigger
than a mini-van, would shake from take-off to landing.
The 8 AM flight would be filled with people carrying all
sorts of packages. Mom would always have a friend who
needed an envelope to go over, so I was the messenger.
With so many bodies in the plane, it would heat up like a
toaster. The loud blowing air coming in from the air vents
made no great difference.
We used the old safety cards to fan ourselves. Safety
came second, staying cool was the priority. The dark blue
leather seats were overstretched and falling off the chair
frames. If the chairs could talk, they would tell some
interesting stories. You would feel every wind gust and
every cloud that passed, but in the height of it all, when
you looked down, there would lie the most divine body of
water.
Like marble, deep greens, hues of blues, and clearest
turquoise blended together effortlessly. All of a sudden,
my attention is shifted. The plane ride was no longer
exciting and the water underneath my feet took center
stage. The reef divides the blues, creating a long thread
that is stretched as far as the eyes can see. Beyond the
reef, deep blues are ignited under the glistening sun.
Sapphire blues are melted into pale aquamarines with
specks of white clashing waves, creating the most gorgeous
collage I have ever seen. The intricate yet fluid
palette of blues made me wonder if this is the origin of
TCI’s “Beautiful by Nature” tagline. I am always in awe.
Davidson Louis enjoyed fishing during his summer “vacations” to
South Caicos when he was a youngster.
A small wooden structure welcomed you to South
Caicos—it was the airport. The pond, I remember, would
be covered with bright pink flamingos creating a vibrant
contrast against the salina. Dragonflies and butterflies
were in abundance. The guinep trees gave the sweetest
fruits during these summer months and you could
ask anyone to climb their trees if you remember your
manners. The summer spent in South Caicos was utterly
peaceful.
I returned to South Caicos 16 years later, but this time
it was a bit different. I bought my own ticket with a return
date. The journey was similar, but I think I was even more
excited. South Caicos, this time around, felt like a déjà
vu experience. A wave of nostalgia brought memories
back as I tried to recall my younger years on the island.
Nothing drastic has changed. The flamingoes have not
left the pond and Victoria Salina looked the same as it
did more than a decade ago. Some streets seemed to be
more active than I remember while other streets seemed
quieter than ever.
Looking back, I should thank my parents for allowing
me to have these childhood memories. Slowly but
surely, the island is changing. South Caicos may never
be the same for my children to enjoy the way I enjoyed
it. Ambitious developments like East Bay and Sailrock will
change this quiet town forever. Sailrock wants to transform
the island into a luxury retreat. This is wonderful,
but I encourage you to take a trip to South Caicos while
the island still has its charm. South Caicos’ raw nature is
unparalleled.
Everyone who comes to visit the Turks & Caicos Islands
should devote a day or two to South Caicos or one of the
other out islands to enjoy the country’s true beauty. Stay
tuned to this column as I do the same! a
20 www.timespub.tc

These are some images Davidson Louis captured during his annual
trips to South Caicos. Clockwise from top left: Flying over the Caicos
Banks and its many-faceted ocean blues was an enthralling part of
the trip.
The activities and sights of this quiet island are suited for people
looking for rugged nature and tranquility.
Small fishing boats bring in fish, conch, and lobster to be processed
for international export.
The pursuit of edible snappers, groupers, and jacks has always been
both a necessity and a pastime on South Caicos.
Times of the Islands Summer 2023 21

MARTA MORTON—WWW.HARBOURCLUBVILLAS.COM

eye on the sky
Opposite page: Just like the contrasts in this photo of a quiet shore in TCI, El Niño and La Niña are two opposing climate patterns that break
the normal conditions in the Pacific Ocean. El Niño and La Niña both have global impacts on weather, wildfires, ecosystems, and economies.
NOAA
Above: NOAA GOES satellite captures Hurricane Ian as it made landfall on the barrier island of Cayo Costa in southwest Florida on September
28, 2022.
Steady As She Goes
What does the 2023 hurricane season hold?
By Paul Wilkerson
The predictions are in for the 2023 hurricane season for the Atlantic Basin. According to all of the primary
predictors, including Colorado State University and the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA’s) outlook, the 2023 season should be near normal overall. Colorado State gives a nod to a slightly
below normal season, while NOAA believes there are equal chances for an above or below normal season.
Times of the Islands Summer 2023 23

Seasonal predictions are influenced by the global
effects of La Niña and El Niño, which are the warm and
cool phases of a recurring climate pattern across the tropical
Pacific. During La Niña summers/hurricane seasons,
much lighter winds are usually observed in the Atlantic
Basin along with abnormally warm waters. These ingredients
coupled together lead to higher than normal tropical
activity in many cases. During El Niño years, the upper
level wind field is generally stronger across the Atlantic
Basin, with opportunities for tropical development more
limited thanks to stronger wind shear and in normal El
Niño seasons, cooler water (relatively speaking). This
generally leads to below average hurricane seasons.
The last three hurricane seasons have featured
La Niña conditions, with 2020 producing record activity
with 30 named storms, 14 hurricanes, and 7 major
hurricanes. 2019 was the last El Niño hurricane season
which saw 18 named storms, 6 hurricanes, and 3 major
hurricanes. While there have been some marked differences
between the seasons consistent with the different
El Niño–Southern Oscillation patterns, those differences
are being reduced as time continues on. The main culprit?
Global warming.
Recently, the World Meteorological Society (WMO)
noted that global temperatures will likely hit record
levels over the next five years. This will continue to progress
due to greenhouse gas effects on our atmosphere.
WMO reports that sometime during the next five years,
the global temperature could spike by more than 1.5ºC
(2.7ºF) during that period. In fact, the chance of that happening
currently stands at 66%. While it is not likely to
remain at that level continuously, it could hit those levels
more consistently as the years pass by, until we get
to a point where that change becomes permanent. An
increase of 1.5ºC (2.7ºF) may not seem like a cause for
concern, but it certainly is. The impacts are far reaching.
From a meteorological standpoint, looking at global
warming with regards to hurricane season, one would
expect to see a more consistently active season possible,
along with stronger hurricanes overall. Temperatures in
the Atlantic Basin already are running above normal on
a fairly regular basis. Global warming will only continue
to add warmth to oceans. This in turn, over time, could
begin to negate some of the effects that El Niño brings to
the table in helping to reduce the overall number of systems
during a season. With higher water temperatures,
the low-level environment could be quite conducive to
tropical systems more frequently during El Niño periods.
In this case, it would likely be easier for upper-level
and low-level features to line up more often. In a normal
El Niño, it can sometimes be hard to get everything
to line up properly for systems to form. Normally we
have periods where there is little shear aloft (conducive
for development), but cooler sea surface temperatures
24 www.timespub.tc

(inhibits development). And sometimes it is the reverse.
Warmer waters, but strong shear. In these cases systems
struggle. Once we have one of these ingredients consistently
available all of the time, we will see more systems
develop, and that is likely what we would see with global
warming and impacts on El Niño. It will require many
years of studying to determine the true impacts these
changes are having on tropical system development and
intensity around the globe.
From an ecological standpoint, we have all seen the
collapse of whole coral reef systems across the globe
due to much higher sea temperatures. In general, corals
exist in a very small temperature equilibrium. When temperatures
climb above normal levels, coral bleaching can
result, wiping out vast areas of coral reef.
Over the last 10 years, coral reef bleaching has
become more and more common and has a profound
impact on the local ecology. Fish and many other species
dependent on coral reef systems for their livelihood are
wiped out when the coral bleaches and dies. It creates
localized collapse of the food chain, with ripple effects
across the board.
It is important that we recognize how we, as humans,
are impacting our oceans, so that we can become better
educated and better stewards of what has been entrusted
to us. By being good caretakers of our environment and
working together to reduce greenhouse gases and global
temperatures, we can turn this ship around. We can try to
save not only our coral reef systems, but possibly reduce
the risk of ever-stronger hurricanes, reducing the threat
to people everywhere. 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.
Times of the Islands Summer 2023 25

SHUTTERSTOCK

creature feature
Opposite page: Caribbean spiny lobsters have long, horn-like antennae
over their eyes that they wave to scare off predators, and smaller
antennae-like “antennules” that sense movement and detect chemicals
in the water.
KELLY CURRINGTON
Above: Caribbean spiny lobsters get their name from forward-pointing
spines that cover their bodies to help protect them from predators.
Right: Each of the lobster’s two eyes comprise up to 10,000 squareshaped
tubes that are packed together. Each tube is lined with a flat,
reflective surface that acts like a mirror to direct incoming light down
to the retina. This setup affords lobsters a full 180-degree view, compared
with humans’ 120-degree vision. Though they can’t see images
well, these crustaceans excel in sensing motion.
Caribbean Spiny Lobster
Taking a look at the “bugs” of the sea.
By Kelly Currington
When people hear the word “lobster” they generally think of a tasty entrée on their dinner plate, most
likely the large-clawed Maine version. In the Turks & Caicos Islands and the rest of the Caribbean, our
lobsters don’t have any claws and there is much more to these crustaceans than meets the eye.
Times of the Islands Summer 2023 27

KELLY CURRINGTON
Spiny lobster are nocturnal creatures and walk around at night when they are foraging for their food.
Caribbean spiny lobsters are quite the odd-looking
lobster. They range in colors from purple to red and
orange. Their presence is a sign of a healthy and bio-diverse
reef. As with every creature in the sea, they are
critical to a balanced ecosystem.
It takes a spiny lobster between two and five years to
reach sexual maturity. They cannot be legally harvested
in the Caribbean until their carapace (hard outer shell)
is 3 1/2 inches. They can spawn up to four times a year
and depending on the size of the female, she will produce
anywhere from 80,000 to 500,000 eggs per cycle. That’s
a lot of baby lobsters!
The male deposits sperm packets on the underside
of the female, which she then scratches to release the
sperm simultaneously as she releases her eggs. She carries
the fertilized eggs under her tail for nine to twelve
months. Once the eggs hatch, they will spend another
nine to twelve months as planktonic larvae known as
phyllosome until they transform into puerulus, the post
larval stage. At this point they are miniature versions of
mature lobsters—free swimming and becoming benthic
(bottom dwellers). They make their way to the reef and
start their life as lobsters. During this two-year journey
from fertilization, they feed on plankton and algae.
Once they reach the juvenile stage, between two and
three years, they start to feed on snails, crabs, clams,
and other bottom dwelling organisms. They will eventually
inhabit coral reefs, bays, and estuaries, but during
migration periods can be found in seagrass and soft bottom
areas at depths ranging from the shallows to around
90 meters.
Lobsters grow by molting, a process in which they
grow a new exoskeleton under their existing one and
break free. It takes about a day for the new exoskeleton
to harden, a time in which they are extremely vulnerable
to predation. They go through this process up to 25 times
in their first five to seven years of life, and then slow to
only once per year as they age. It is difficult to age these
crustaceans, but the estimation is that a ten-pound lobster
could be upwards of 50 years old.
Because spiny lobsters are easily susceptible to diseases,
which can be caused by shifts in the ecosystem
conditions, their assemblance in large numbers can be
detrimental to sizable portions of the group. Many predators
feed on juvenile and adult spiny lobsters, including
groupers, snappers, sharks, skates, turtles, and octopus,
but their biggest threat—as with most species—comes
from humans. According to the Turks & Caicos Reef Fund,
28 www.timespub.tc

over 800,000 pounds of lobster are caught annually in
TCI waters, which is very near the maximum sustainable
yield. Since records started being kept, the average lobster
size has decreased from 3 to 0.7 kilograms.
Spiny lobster are nocturnal, so during the day they
stay hidden in their dens and wait for cover of darkness
to forage for food, which starts about two hours after
sunset. Since they do not have actual claws, they rely on
smell and taste, using their front set of walking legs to
pull food towards their powerful mandibles, proving they
are formidable hunters.
These are interesting lobsters with a multitude of
color variations, and they have colorful personalities as
well. If you are diving or snorkeling during the day and
you see long spiny antennae sticking out from underneath
a coral head, slow down and watch the owner of
those antennae. Lobsters are curious creatures and if
you approach them slowly and at a respectable distance,
you can usually get a good view—and sometimes they
will even come out a little to investigate you. If startled
though, they will retreat backwards quickly.
I have had lobsters come out and feel my entire face
with their antennae and then duck back into their dens.
These encounters are special and emotional because you
know that they are communicating with you. You never
touch, it’s always on their terms, and if they aren’t interested,
you go about your dive and leave them in peace.
If you are night diving, you will most likely see lobsters
out foraging for food or strolling across the sand.
Again, if you slow down and watch, you may be lucky
enough to see them snag dinner!
I am very happy that in the Turks & Caicos Islands
there is a specified “season” for catching lobsters and
minimum size requirement so the species can survive.
The exact dates vary, with lobster season typically from
August 1 to March 31. The minimum carapace length is
3 1/4 inches, the minimum tail weight is five ounces, and
no egg bearing lobsters or moulting/soft shelled lobsters
can be taken.
My ever-present hope is that if you slow down and
pay close attention to the creatures in the sea, the way
they go about their lives, their interactions with other
creatures (and humans), and notice that they are thinking,
living souls, that maybe you’ll learn to see them as
more than an entrée on your dinner plate. Always respect
the creatures who are so important to reef health and
never harass, chase, or touch them. We are visitors in
their home, and they need our protection. a
Times of the Islands Summer 2023 29

making a difference
ATTIMI PHOTOGRAPHY
“Proud of My Island” shopping bags are both functional and feature spectacular pictures of TCI wildlife and landmarks that both locals and
visitors can take pride in. Descriptions of the animals and places tell a story and put them in context.
“Proud of My Island”
A dream inspires a movement.
By Ben Stubenberg
“Proud of My Island” began as a dream in the Fall of 2021 that inspired Providenciales residents Sammy
Kildegaard and Emiliano Otin to give back to the Turks & Caicos—islands that had given so much for them.
Environmentalists at heart, they envisioned making a product that would sharply reduce the use of plastic
bags while highlighting and protecting the physical and cultural heritage of TCI.
30 www.timespub.tc

The bags are also popular with tourists, and serve the purpose of visually promoting TCI when they are used for shopping in the US, Canada,
UK, and elsewhere.
TMW2022.qxp_Layout 1 3/2/22 3:41 PM Page 1
After much brainstorming, they asked themselves,
“Why not produce a functional shopping bag featuring
spectacular pictures of TCI wildlife and landmarks that
both locals and visitors could take pride in? And let’s go
a step further by selling those bags to raise money to
protect those treasures and keep TCI pristine for future
generations.”
Soon enough, Sammy and Emiliano, also founders
of Natural Trade Distribution Ltd., found themselves
immersed in a long-term mission to build an environmental
legacy. First, they sourced the right materials for the
best design and found a reliable manufacturing facility.
Next, they contacted local photographers Ileana Ravasio,
Kim Mortimer, and Agile LeVin, and invited them to submit
their best shots showcasing brown pelicans, humpback
whales, Pirate’s Cove, and Mudjin Harbour. These images
were then applied to each side of the bags, making them,
in effect, moveable works of art that catch the eye wherever
carried. The pair added descriptions of the animals
and places to tell a story and put them in context.
Local businesses recognized the value and signed up
to be sponsors of the dream. Before long, Sammy and
Emiliano had transformed a humble shopping bag into a
bold statement about TCI that evolved into a “Proud of My
Island” movement.
TRUST INTEGRITY
EXPERIENCE
Serving international & domestic clients
in real estate, property development, mortgages,
corporate matters, commercial matters,
immigration, and more.
TWA MARCELIN WOLF
ATTORNEYS AT LAW SINCE 1982
TELEPHONE 649.946.4261 | TMW@TMWLAW.TC
WWW.TWAMARCELINWOLF.COM
ATTIMI PHOTOGRAPHY
Times of the Islands Summer 2023 31

LEMENS WELCH—CAYA HICO MEDIA
This pair of donkeys are part of a third phase of bags displaying more breathtaking pictures from Grand Turk and East Caicos, along with
compelling stories highlighting TCI’s alluring grace and beauty.
Over the past year, the bags have wildly succeeded
with some 15,000 sold through local retail stores. Not
only do the stunning bags reinforce local pride in the
unique and special place we live, but impressed visitors
snap them up to take back home. Thus, the bags serve
yet another purpose of visually promoting TCI when they
are used for shopping in the US, Canada, UK, and elsewhere.
Proceeds from the bag sales and from sponsor
donations allow “Proud of My Island” to donate to local
charities such as the TCI Reef Fund and others that are
committed to keep the Islands’ environment healthy for
years to come.
Sammy and Emiliano are now creating a third phase
of bags displaying more breathtaking pictures from
Grand Turk and East Caicos, along with compelling stories
highlighting TCI’s alluring grace and beauty. “We love
these Islands,” the duo say with heartfelt pride. “And we
want to work with local people to help sustain the awe
and reverence we all feel of our home. There are so many
to thank for collaborating in this movement with us.” a
Ben Stubenberg, co-founder of the vacation adventure
company Caicu Naniki, is a regular contributor to Times
of the Islands.
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/
Much of the rich diversity of Turks & Caicos marine life is hidden below the surface of the water.
©ABBIE DOSELL—JNCC
Delving into the Data
Understanding the waters of the Turks & Caicos for effective management.
By Eve Englefield* and Emma Irving*, with input from Megan Tierney*, Tara Pelembe**,
David Vaughan*, Louise Anderson*, and Laura Pettit*
*Joint Nature Conservation Committee
** South Atlantic Environmental Research Institute (SAERI)
In the Turks & Caicos Islands, no one is ever far from the marine environment, and for many people,
their livelihoods depend on it. However, with much of the rich diversity hidden beneath the waves of the
turquoise waters, it’s easy to forget about nature below the surface.
Times of the Islands Summer 2023 33

green pages newsletter of the department of environment & coastal resources
©EVE ENGLEFIELD
34 www.timespub.tc

green pages newsletter of the department of environment & coastal resources
Opposite page: Work has been completed to understand the current state of sand habitats, and to identify which areas may be particularly
vulnerable to increasing pressure from human activities and climate change.
Above: Mangrove forests improve water quality, provide nursery habitat for fish, act as carbon sinks, and protect the coastline from erosion.
The coasts and oceans surrounding the Turks &
Caicos Islands provide many benefits and are crucial to
the Islands’ economy, livelihoods, and resilience. These
marine environments are the focus of a multi-partner
project that has developed marine management tools
and training to support decision making to protect these
diverse and valuable environments.
As people, it can be difficult to measure a healthy
lifestyle without understanding what impacts our health,
such as diet, exercise, pre-existing conditions, and pollution.
The same is true for our coasts and oceans. The
waters of the Turks & Caicos Islands are home to a diverse
range of habitats which includes coral reefs, seagrass
beds, sand, and mangroves. These places are important
for animals such as turtles, grouper, and conch.
Together, these habitats and species provide important
benefits for humans such as coastal protection, fisheries,
tourism opportunities, and carbon storage. However, if
we don’t understand the extent of these benefits or how
they are impacted by pressures on the environment, we
can’t make accurate decisions to ensure the “health” of
these areas for the benefit of biodiversity, the economy,
and for the people.
Developing ways to build this understanding has
been the focus of a three-year long project, funded by
the UK Government through Darwin Plus, and led by
the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), the
Turks & Caicos Government Department of Environment
and Coastal Resources (DECR), and the South Atlantic
Environmental Research Institute (SAERI). The project has
developed three broad techniques for assessing marine
and coastal environments, all of which will help to guide
decisions on what is required to improve the health of
these areas.
©EVE ENGLEFIELD
Times of the Islands Summer 2023 35

green pages newsletter of the department of environment & coastal resources
Protecting, Preserving, and
Restoring the Coral Reefs of the TCI
Come visit our Coral Growing Facility
and get your TCRF merchandise!
Located at South Bank Marina.
We are open 1-5pm
Monday - Friday
Rashguards, Stickers, BCD tags and more!
All proceeds go to our environmental
projects in TCI.
Firstly, work has been completed to understand the
current “health” of coral reefs, seagrass, and sand habitats,
and to identify which areas may be particularly
vulnerable to increasing pressure from human activities
and climate change. This information is useful now, but
it is equally important to understand how the situation
may change as time progresses. Checking and monitoring
every species, area, and habitat across the waters
of the TCI is costly and expensive, but researchers can
instead focus on specific elements that act as indicators
to understand changes to the health of the environment.
The second tool being developed are marine indicators
reflecting key aspects of these environments, such as the
extent of seagrass areas. Incorporating indicators into
environmental management is important for informing
management decisions, evaluating the impact of decisions,
and tracking progress towards objectives.
The third aspect of this project researched and catalogued
information about the benefits provided by key
habitats and species, and mapped where these benefits
are likely being delivered. Understanding which places
are most important for different benefits helps TCI make
informed decisions about sustainably managing marine
areas and reduces the risk of these valuable benefits
being overexploited in the future. For example, it was
found that the seagrass beds are important for the storage
of carbon, and for protection against erosion and
flooding. They also provide critical habitats for juvenile
grouper fish, supporting populations to the benefit of
divers, fishers, and restaurant patrons into the future.
These techniques are only useful if they are used in
the long term to monitor the coastline and oceans. To
support the work that has already been done, a series
of events to share knowledge on these tools and techniques
will take place in June, 2023. The event will
bring together marine resource managers and other key
stakeholders from across TCI to explore how to apply
and expand these techniques to inform management
decisions. However, the findings of this project remain
relevant to the entire community of the Turks & Caicos
through safeguarding the environment that provides livelihoods,
nutrition, and enjoyment to all. a
For more information, please visit the project
website: https://jncc.gov.uk/our-work/turks-caicos-islands-marine-coastal-management/.
36 www.timespub.tc

green pages newsletter of the department of environment & coastal resources
SHUTTERSTOCK
A red snapping shrimp (Alpheus armatus) lives inside its corkscrew anemone (Bartholomea annulata) “host.”
Finding A(Nemo)ne:
The fascinating relationship between red snapping shrimp and corkscrew anemones.
By Charlotte Kratovil-Lavelle (Dickinson College) and Clara Masseau (University of Colorado) ~
Edited by C.E. O’Brien, Ph.D. (The School for Field Studies, Center for Marine Resource Studies,
South Caicos, Turks & Caicos Islands)
Courtesy of Disney’s Finding Nemo (2003), many of us are familiar with the way clownfish make their
homes in sea anemones, having adapted to the anemone’s sting. What is relatively less known among
the general public is the relationship between the red snapping shrimp (Alpheus armatus) and the corkscrew
anemone (Bartholomea annulata). Native to the Western Atlantic, these species have been found
to coexist in a way that benefits both, a relationship known as obligatory mutualism.
Times of the Islands Summer 2023 37

This relationship is, of course, not a one-way relationship;
the shrimp must also take care of its home. A 2021
study investigating this symbiosis found that red snapping
shrimp undertook the important role of removing
sand and sediment from the anemone. This cleaning was
shown to aid the anemone in more effectively contracting
into its column, the body of the anemone, thus providing
both species with better protection from predators.
In addition to being tidy, red snapping shrimp are a
territorial species that has been known to defend their
host anemone against predators. A 2014 study found
that corkscrew anemone individuals that hosted red
snapping shrimp were less likely to suffer damage from
the bearded fireworm (Hermodice carunculata) when predated
on. The feisty shrimp aided in the defense of their
host anemone by rushing the fireworm and snapping at
and pinching the worm with its chelipeds (its pair of legs
with pincers).
Another benefit provided by the snapping shrimp is
the creation of nitrogenous waste, which can act as fertilizer
to the single-celled, microscopic algae known as
endosymbiotic zooxanthellae. Zooxanthellae are single
celled organisms that live in the tissues of a wide range
of marine organisms, including anemones, and operate
in mutualistic relationships. One well-known example of
this is the crucial relationship between zooxanthellae and
coral polyps, which provide coral with their color and a
food source. Similarly to their relationship with coral, zooxanthellae
live amongst corkscrew anemones and provide
photosynthetic benefits in which they produce sugars in
exchange for carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight.
Though the relationship between red snapping
shrimp and corkscrew anemone may not be one-way, it
is one-sided in terms of dependence. For the anemone,
this arrangement is advantageous, but not essential for
its survival, and it would therefore be considered facultative.
But for the shrimp, the use of the anemone as shelter
is crucial for their survival. In fact, a red snapping shrimp
will remain with the same host anemone for all three to
four years of its life (talk about a satisfied homeowner).
For the shrimp, the relationship is therefore known as
obligatory. Even if only one of the species involved in a
mutualistic symbiosis relies on that interaction for their
survival, we still categorize the relationship as obligatory.
The snapping shrimp are not the only organisms
that the corkscrew anemone hosts. In their commonalgreen
pages newsletter of the department of environment & coastal resources
Much like a homeowner, the red snapping shrimp
will choose, clean, and protect a corkscrew anemone.
But unlike your traditional brick or wooden home, the
corkscrew anemone is a living being with an active incentive
to protect and aid its invertebrate inhabitant. This
relationship has piqued the interest of researchers and
has been the subject of numerous studies throughout the
Western Atlantic. What are the mechanisms of this relationship?
Why do red snapping shrimp show preference
to the corkscrew anemone? Are there efforts being made
to observe and protect these symbiotic species? These
are a few of the questions we will dive into as we investigate
this oceanic perfect pairing.
In any ecosystem, organisms are constantly interacting
with one another in a variety of ways. Symbiosis
refers to the wide array of prolonged, close interactions
that occur between individuals from two or more species
within an ecosystem. You can think of the relationship
between snapping shrimp and corkscrew anemones like
an ecological quid pro quo; a “tit for tat,” in layman’s
terms. In scientific terms, we call this mutualism. Due
to the nature of the interactions between red snapping
shrimp and corkscrew anemone we would refer to it,
more specifically, as obligatory mutualism, but more
on that later.
We begin our discussion of this symbiotic mutualism
with the corkscrew anemone: the host of the
relationship. The anemone’s physical structure serves as
the habitat, providing its crustacean companion with a
place to call home. Interestingly, red snapping shrimp
have been shown to prefer spending their time under the
anemone, whereas other symbiotic crustaceans will be on
or near their anemone.
An anemone’s tentacles are armed with nematocysts,
specialized cells that uncoil like a harpoon to
inject a toxin into its victim. Fortunately for red snapping
shrimp, they have evolved the ability to develop immunity
against their host’s sting through a process known as
acclimation. This makes the anemone habitable for red
snapping shrimp while also deterring predators looking
to make a meal out of the shrimp. Aside from shelter,
the shrimp gain a food source by removing mucus, inorganic
debris, and necrotic tissue from the anemone. This
tissue, defined as excessive, diseased, or injured, and
non-natural, would harm the anemone if not removed by
the shrimp.
38 www.timespub.tc

green pages newsletter of the department of environment & coastal resources
A Pederson cleaner shrimp (Ancylomenes pedersoni) at left and a yellowline arrow crab (Stenorhynchus seticornis) at right perch near, but not
under, a corkscrew anemone (Bartholomea annulata).
ity among Caribbean reefs, corkscrew anemones host
several crustaceans from the order Decapoda, including
other shrimp and even crabs. Pederson cleaner shrimp
(Ancylomenes pedersoni) are particularly common tenants.
These little shrimp make their living by eating
parasites off of passing fish, another form of mutualistic
symbiosis (see “Cleaning Stations: The Greatest
Marine Restaurant and Spa”—Times of the Islands Winter
2022/23). Pederson shrimp will position themselves near
their home anemone and wave their antennae to advertise
their services to potential “clients.” Other species include
the yellowlined arrow crab (Stenorhynchus seticornis),
and spotted cleaner shrimp (Periclimenes yucatanicus).
Among the many symbionts, red snapping shrimp are
the most territorial and aggressive, especially when not
mated.
Corkscrew anemones are also not the only anemone
that forms partnership with other organisms in the Turks
& Caicos waters. Giant anemones (Condylactis gigantea),
branching anemones (Lebrunia danae), sun anemones
(Stichodactyla helianthus) and knobby anemones
(Ragactis lucida) are all known to host a variety of organisms.
One example is pictured here: a banded clinging
crab (Mithraculus cinctimanus), a small crab that can be
associated with anemones, sponges, or coral, hangs on to
the tentacles of a giant anemone (Condylactis gigantea).
This relationship is considered commensal, rather than
mutualistic as with snapping shrimp, since the crab benefits
from living there but the anemone is neither helped
nor harmed.
Studies have indicated that not all anemones are
created equal in the eyes of their prospective tenants.
A 2012 study conducted in the Puerto Morelos coral
reef found that the probability of a corkscrew anemone
hosting a crustacean such as red snapping shrimp was
influenced by reef zone and season. The likelihood of a
corkscrew anemone hosting any crustacean was found to
be significantly lower in the reef channels as compared
to the back reef or fore reef. One proposed explanation
is that anemones tend to be smaller in the reef channels
as compared to the fore reef to compensate for the channels’
high flow, which can dislodge an anemone. Why
would this matter? Well, it appears that in the eyes of red
snapping shrimp, bigger is better. For corkscrew anemones,
the probability of harboring crustaceans increased
significantly with surface area. This has interesting impli-
SHUTTERSTOCK
Times of the Islands Summer 2023 39

green pages newsletter of the department of environment & coastal resources
C.E. O’BRIEN
A banded clinging crab (Mithraculus cinctimanus) hangs onto the tentacles of a giant anemone (Condylactis gigantea).
cations on the distribution of red snapping shrimp and
corkscrew anemone symbiosis throughout the Western
Atlantic.
Every species plays a greater role in its ecosystem,
including our perfect pair. Unfortunately, due largely to
human activity, the corkscrew anemone is under threat.
Anemone populations have been found to rely on frequent
recruitment, the replenishment of young anemone
into the existing population to promote individual growth
and sustain viable populations. Sea anemones have short
lifespans, and they need to be constantly adding more
individuals to their population. In Florida, researchers
concluded that survival and recruitment rates of corkscrew
anemones were higher among areas less impacted
by humans and with cooler summer water temperatures.
Rising ocean temperatures and human impact, defined as
areas easily accessible to human traffic or visibly polluted
with debris, pose threats to the corkscrew anemone populations.
Corkscrew anemones are harvested and sold to
aquariums for decorative purposes, but without further
research conservation efforts and management cannot be
supported. Investigating the population dynamics of the
anemone is also important to understanding the implications
for the shrimp symbiont.
In the world of the big blue ocean, it must be nice to
have a place to call home, and a companion that has your
back. The symbiotic relationship between the red snapping
shrimp and corkscrew anemone is a great example
of obligatory mutualism in the Western Atlantic—each
species benefits the other, making life in the ocean a little
easier for both. As we continue to learn about these species,
we can better understand how our human activity
affects them and how we can better protect them.
In the long run, a healthy ecosystem tends to be better
for everyone involved, especially humans who call the
Western Atlantic home. Overall, the fascinating relationship
between the red snapping shrimp and the corkscrew
anemone warrants further investigation (and perhaps its
own blockbuster animated film). 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.
40 www.timespub.tc

green pages newsletter of the department of environment & coastal resources
Earth Day Poetry Contest
Earth Day is an annual event on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection. First held on April 22,
1970, it now includes a wide range of events celebrated by 1 billion people in more than 193 countries. The official
theme for 2023 was Invest In Our Planet.
To celebrate Earth Day 2023, the Turks & Caicos Department of Environment & Coastal Resources held an Earth
Day Poetry Contest. They received many creative and thoughtful submissions, and selected the following entrants as
the winners:
Tyreke Glinton, age 17, H.J. Robinson High School
Zavien Gardiner, age 11, Ona Glinton Primary School
Pari Ochani, age 10, Precious Treasures Primary School
Deep Blue Charters (Grand Turk) and SurfSide Ocean Academy (Providenciales) sponsored exciting prizes.
Times of the Islands Summer 2023 41

green pages newsletter of the department of environment & coastal resources
42 www.timespub.tc

green pages newsletter of the department of environment & coastal resources
Celebrate, celebrate Earth Day is here,
We live in TCI, God made it Beautiful by Nature,
It may be tiny but it’s clean and clear,
Beauty is one of its biggest feature.
It’s time to cherish the beauty of our land,
40 Islands/cays with world’s exceptional beaches,
The crystalline turquoise water and white pearly sand,
To stay calm, humble and kind, it preaches.
People, animals and sea life share these islands,
We have warm ocean and warm weather both,
All our pristine islands are like wonderful garlands,
Keep it the same way, on this Earth Day let’s take an oath.
Help us protect the land, coral, sea life and beauty,
Reuse, reduce, and recycle, it’s our duty.
By Pari Ochani
GARY JAMES—PROVO PICTURES
Times of the Islands Summer 2023 43

SHUTTERSTOCK

feature
Diving in the Turks & Caicos Islands is known for dramatic walls, warm, clear water, and healthy and diverse marine life. One of a number
of excellent dive operators is Flamingo Divers (www.FlamingoDivers.com), who contributed the photo above. They specialize in small group
diving and private dive charters.
FLAMINGO DIVERS—WWW.FLAMINGODIVERS.COM
Dive Enthusiast or Dive Addict?
Land-based or liveaboard diving . . . which is for you?
By Kelly Currington
A chance to dive the world-renowned reefs of the Turks & Caicos Islands is a coveted destination for any
diver. Known for dramatic walls, warm, crystal-clear turquoise water, healthy, diverse marine life, and
little or no current, choosing TCI as your destination is the easy decision. Deciding on the best option
for your dive vacation in the Turks & Caicos Islands can be a little more laborious, depending on many
factors.
Times of the Islands Summer 2023 45

Some think the perfect dive vacation consists of
doing a couple of dives during the day and then enjoying
island-life amenities like eating at oceanside restaurants,
walking on the stunning beaches, and strolling through
the local shops. Others view the ideal dive vacation as diving
as much as possible (including night dives), sleeping
and eating, and then doing it all over again every day of
their vacation.
These differing perspectives require thought in the
planning process to achieve the desired experience for
your perfect dive vacation. There are a few options for
diving our beautiful reefs and walls. You can choose to
mix diving in with other aspects of your vacation by diving
day boats; you can immerse yourself in all the diving
possible by choosing a liveaboard; or you can choose a
private charter and create your own schedule.
The Turks & Caicos Islands boast some of the most
beautiful resorts in the region, overlooking pristine white
sand beaches leading into turquoise waters so stunning
they look Photoshopped—but I can assure you they are
absolutely real! When you choose to stay on land and
dive with a day boat operator, you get to enjoy any one
of these beautiful properties while still getting your dive
fix, which for a diver is crucial on all vacations.
Most land-based operators provide two-tank trips, so
you dive one location, have a surface interval with water
and snacks, move to a new location, and then dive the
second dive. Some offer three-tank specials and private
charters, where the schedule is a little more customizable.
Because day boats are much smaller than liveaboard
vessels, they have the ability to get to locations that are
inaccessible to liveaboards due to depth or weight restrictions
on the mooring balls.
Once your diving thirst has been quenched for the
day, there are a variety of available adventures to be had
above the surface. Everything from dining out, shopping,
golf, tennis, casinos, exploring the pirate cave at Osprey
Rock, The Hole in Long Bay, or trying another sport like
kite surfing, parasailing, kayaking, or paddleboarding the
mangroves. A must-do for every visitor is the Thursday
Night Fish Fry on Providenciales. This is a festive celebration
of island culture with music, dancing, and local
vendors. When choosing land-based diving, you will have
plenty of time to enjoy other activities.
Another benefit of diving land-based is it gives you
the opportunity to visit the other Islands and expand
the boundaries of your holiday. You can choose to dive
at some of the other islands as well—each has features
unique to the area—and broaden your diving experience
in the Turks & Caicos.
A couple of the all-inclusive properties include diving
with your reservation, which is a big help with the budget.
If you are traveling with friends and/or family members
who don’t dive, this option usually works best so you
can dive and still have time to spend with your travel
companions. The all-Inclusive properties usually provide
non-divers with activities to enjoy while you are out playing
underwater. Everyone is happy!
©AQUA TCI—WWW.AQUATCI.COM
Dive operators have Instructors or Dive Masters in the water with you, and they tend to know where you may have a magical encounter. This
pod of dolphins was captured by Aqua TCI (www.aquatci.com), who specialize in small group diving, private charters, and private guiding.
46 www.timespub.tc

This exciting dive site is called “Chimney” at North West Point off Providenciales. At a
depth of about 80 feet, this Caribbean reef shark is watching an intrepid diver who is
inspecting the wall. Dive Provo is one of the Islands’ oldest operations.
BRILLIANT STUDIOS —WWW.BRILLIANTSTUDIOS.COM FOR DIVE PROVO—WWW.DIVEPROVO.COM

SHUTTERSTOCK
©AQUA TCI—WWW.AQUATCI.COM
Whether you are staying in a small hotel on Grand Turk or visiting for the day via cruise ship, the diving and snorkeling are superb. This shot
was taken on Horseshoe Reef off Gibb’s Cay.
Divers with Aqua TCI (www.aquatci.com) are enjoying an encounter
with a Hawksbill sea turtle. Aqua TCI was formed to encompass all
the great dive practices that founders Stephanie and Bill Wallwork
have seen and experienced from diving around the world.
Now, if you are a dive addict (meaning you must dive
as much as possible every day of your vacation, within
the safety limits of your dive computer), choosing a liveaboard
is the best way to feed your habit. Liveaboards are
floating hotels for divers, where you eat, sleep, and dive
without stepping foot on land once the vessel leaves the
marina for the week. This is a dive addict’s utopia!
The liveaboards here usually get in four to five dives a
day (including night dives), they have a chef onboard who
provides three meals a day plus snacks between dives.
The cabins have on-suite bathrooms and are comfortable.
The truth is, most people who choose the liveaboard
option don’t spend any time in their rooms except to
sleep. When not underwater, you are usually on the sundeck
talking to other divers about diving, in the salon
looking at photos and videos of your dives, or having
meals and, yes, you guessed it, talking about diving.
Liveaboard diving provides the opportunity to explore
each dive site more thoroughly since you usually do two
dives on each site. Night dives are something that most
land-based operators don’t offer as much due to the distance
of the reefs and the hazards of maneuvering the
channels in the dark, but since liveaboards are already
moored up at one of the prime locations, you can explore
the same dive sites at night that you have dived during
48 www.timespub.tc

The turquoise waters surrounding the Turks & Caicos Islands are stunningly clear, with little or no current year-round. This image includes
Aqua TCI’s custom Newton 36-foot Dive Special boat, Chuck’s Mate.
©AQUA TCI—WWW.AQUATCI.COM
the day. This opens up a whole new world of amazing
creatures as the day shift clocks out and the night shift
clocks in.
Considering you get accommodations, all meals,
snacks, alcohol, and up to 27 dives in a week, this is a
very cost-effective option for the dive addict. And, there is
something very special about waking up and having your
coffee out on the ocean as the sun rises. Falling asleep
as you are rocked by the motion of the sea is better than
any sleep aid.
The third, and least cost-effective choice, would be
a private vessel, where you can design your own schedule
for diving based on your needs and goals for your
holiday. You can decide to go out and dive during the
day, returning to the marina in the afternoon so you can
have access to all the amenities of the island. Or, you
can choose to stay out for days and transit around from
dive location to dive location, picking and choosing which
sites you dive and how many dives you do (always following
your dive computers NDL limits).
Both land-based and liveaboards offer dive training.
You can choose to become a diver or continue your dive
education, making your holiday both fun and educational.
Most who go on a liveaboard are at minimum Open Water
certified, but often choose to do their Nitrox, Advanced,
or Specialty courses throughout the week. You are surrounded
by experienced instructors, so what better time
to increase your skill set and knowledge?
Land-based operators offer courses from Discover
Scuba (a try-scuba experience) all the way up through
Instructor, so always check ahead of time and schedule
training early on to ensure an instructor is available
during your desired dates. Liveaboards are a great place
to continue your dive training and do specialty courses.
All dive operators, whether land-based or liveaboards,
have certified Instructors or Divemasters in the water
with divers, guiding you along the reef and showing you
points of interests, whether it be a structure, coral formation,
or marine creature. They tend to know where the
“good stuff” is!
Times of the Islands Summer 2023 49

FLAMINGO DIVERS—WWW.FLAMINGODIVERS.COM
Diving along TCI’s healthy coral reefs is a joyful and peaceful experience. That’s why the staff at Flamingo Divers (www.FlamingoDivers.com)
have been plying the Caribbean waters for the better part of 30 years and love what they do.

The Turks & Caicos Aggressor II liveaboard yacht awards the Iron Diver medal to guests who do all the dives offered during the week, usually
26 to 27 dives. It is hard-earned and for hard-core divers. The author is third from left. She and the two guests on the left are the only three
who made all the dives during a recent trip.
KELLY CURRINGTON
Take the opportunity to pick their brains about local
inhabitants. Ask about marine creatures, coral, local
conservation efforts, etc. One of the great things about
diving with an Instructor or Divemaster is that they are
knowledgeable about the waters they dive and enjoy
sharing that knowledge. Instead of saying you saw a blue
fish, yellow fish, flat fish, or mohawk fish, they will teach
you the proper common names of fish, creatures, and
coral as well as telling you interesting details and facts
about them. It’s a fun way to learn.
Regardless of preference for your dive holiday, the
ultimate reward will be dipping below the surface and
exploring our beautiful reefs, bustling with marine life,
and dramatic walls that drop off into the abyss. The reefs
of the Turks & Caicos boast a kaleidoscope of colors,
a plethora of amazing creatures, both large and small,
pelagic and macro, offering once-in-a lifetime encounters.
One common thread in all the choices is the chance
to mingle with other divers, where there is an unspoken
bond and shared interest in the sea, marine life, and
adventure in general. Many lifelong friendships have been
forged over dinner planning the next dive trip.
Come experience the magic of diving the Turks &
Caicos Islands. If you are underwater and blowing bubbles
it will no doubt be the most amazing holiday ever. a
Author Kelly Currington says, “My first dip below the service
of the sea brought a realm of beauty, tranquility, and
peace to my life that I had never known before. It changed
my life in an instant and my soul was completely saturated
with the power, vastness, and mysterious riches it
holds. I will spend every minute I can in that underwater
world.”
KELLY CURRINGTON
Times of the Islands Summer 2023 51

new development
Opposite page: Nivå is Swedish for “level” and each of the six island retreats are an arrangement of stacked living levels enveloped in slender
“sleeves” for protection from the sun and breeze.
Above: The Nivå villas seem melded into their limestone ridge; each has a floating deck in front, providing easy access to the turquoise sea
and an ideal spot for dining and drinks.
Pushing the Boundaries
Nivå limited villa series makes a bold architectural statement.
By Kathy Borsuk ~ Renderings Courtesy Windward
It’s inspiring to see architecture that reacts to a challenging environment with boldness and creativity.
The south shore of Providenciales is lined with craggy limestone ridges, not the classic ivory beaches of
the north side. While this allows buildings to have a close relationship with the ocean, it does require a
thoughtful approach to design. Nivå, an exclusive collection of only six villas on Turtle Tail, pushes the
boundaries of contemporary architecture in stunning fashion.
Times of the Islands Summer 2023 53

Nivå’s location at the tip of Turtle Tail offers views of the ocean and Caicos Bank, as well as the natural mangrove wetlands to the back.
I recently spoke to Ingo Reckhorn, Director of
Windward Development, about the process that brought
forth Nivå. He was as enthusiastic as I about introducing
the limited collection of island retreats that seem carved
into the ironshore and capture the sweeping horizons of
the area. When Windward secured the 2.9 acre parcel of
land at the tip of Turtle Tail, they knew they had something
special. Here, you could watch the sun rise over the
Caicos Bank and set over Juba Sound. The mangrove wetlands
to the north were protected, so views would remain
natural and unimpeded. Access to the property was along
a quiet winding road that promised privacy.
The Windward team, led by Ivor Stanbrook, himself an
architect, has always believed in pushing the bar of what
is possible in architectural design, yet at the same time
keeping in unison with the environment. After months of
searching, they discovered award-winning Scandinavian
architect Magnus Ström. His philosophy of framing views,
capturing horizons, and celebrating the power of clean
lines and flowing spaces forged an immediate connection.
After visiting the site, Magnus and his associates
were elated at the opportunity and Nivå was born.
Nivå is Swedish for “level” and the six island retreats
are each an arrangement of stacked living levels that
seem melded into the layers of limestone. What I found
most intriguing were the slender timber “sleeves” enveloping
each level. Besides softening the lines of the homes
and framing the natural views, they provide shelter from
the sun and brisk ocean breezes, allowing for large, open
outdoor living spaces that can be enjoyed at all times.
Interiors are defined by edge-to-edge glass and views
flow through each level, offering unfettered opportunities
for “the flow of life framed within the flow of nature.”
The design considers just how people use their second
homes these days. Ingo explains, “Owners of luxury
properties and those who vacation in them tend to travel
in ‘tribes’ of family and friends. Their home is a reprieve
from a stressful world, not a resort environment. Once
they arrive, they don’t want to leave the property. They
typically retain a private chef to prepare meals and a
house manager to shop and manage chores. If they want
to dive, fish, or explore the area by the boat, they will
call on a private charter to pick them up and drop them
off. This makes it especially important that the home is
completely comfortable and functional.”
54 www.timespub.tc

Nivå villas 1 through 5 offer over 4,000 square feet
of indoor space with 4 bedrooms and 4 1/2 baths, and a
total area of over 8,200 square feet in covered and uncovered
outdoor space. The living floors are set 20 to 25
feet above sea level. Beginning at the podium level, an
infinity pool runs across the front of the villa, with oceanfront
sunken seating areas and a firepit allowing owners
and guests an intimate connection with the magnificent
landscape. Stacked atop the podium level is the main living
space. The design maximizes views and features an
expansive dual-aspect kitchen with access to terraces on
both sides.
The second level, with its contrasting external sleeve,
houses the four bedrooms. At the pinnacle sits the grand
primary level, set back to create a stunning visual statement.
Slender elegant overhangs provide additional
outdoor space for covered terraces and an outdoor bath
and shower. The optional roof terrace features views
across both the Caicos Bank and Juba Sound.
Interiors include an office with Juba Sound water
views, a kitchen island, dedicated powder, pantry, and
laundry rooms on the first floor, a large owner’s storage
area on the second floor, and one indoor and one
outdoor bathtub. Buyers can personalize their villa with
a selection of ancillary options including the third floor
primary bedroom level with owner’s lock-out, balcony,
roof terrace and wet bar; an additional elevator across the
main floors; a garage, guest house, and gym; a hot tub
and an evening plunge pool.
Exteriors are simple in form, with the flow and function
of the house articulated by contrasting masonry,
glass, and timber. Each villa has a slightly different
arrangement along the ridgeline, hewn to the call of the
land. Their graceful outdoor pools (with optional hot
tub) and fire pits overlook the Caicos Bank and patios
are separated with privacy walls and wide garden areas
to retain an enclave in the beauty of the environment.
Owners can choose to add an ocean staircase cut into the
ironshore, leading to the floating decks that front each
villa for direct access to the ocean for day trips, kayaking,
watersports, fishing, diving, and exploring the area.
Nivå 6 is a singular showpiece at corner of the community
with over 6,500 square feet of indoor space and
over 14,700 square feet of total area. Along with unprecedented
villa frontage of 167 feet, its sweeping bedroom
level includes 7 ocean-facing bedrooms with breathtaking
views. All the optional features of Nivå 1 to 5 are
included in this trophy property, along with a vast shaded
terrace with seating areas for dining, an outdoor kitchen,
The longest established legal practice
in the Turks & Caicos Islands
Real Estate Investments
& Property Development
Immigration, Residency
& Business Licensing
Company & Commercial Law
Trusts & Estate Planning
Banking & Insurance
1 Caribbean Place, P.O. Box 97
Leeward Highway, Providenciales
Turks & Caicos Islands, BWI
Ph: 649 946 4344 • Fax: 649 946 4564
E-Mail: dempsey@tciway.tc
Cockburn House, P.O. Box 70
Market Street, Grand Turk
Turks & Caicos Islands, BWI
Ph: 649 946 2245 • Fax: 649 946 2758
E-Mail: ffdlawco@tciway.tc
john redmond associates ltd.
architects & designers
construction consultants
project management
p.o.box 21, providenciales, turks & caicos is.
tel.: 9464440 cell: 2314569 email: redmond@tciway.tc
Times of the Islands Summer 2023 55

and a Juba Sound-facing rooftop terrace. At the highest
level rests the grand primary area, where the extended
overhang provides for uninterrupted outdoor living from
sunrise to sunset, year-round.
With a unique interpretation of Brazilian Modernism
and Scandinavian styles, interiors are designed to be
simple, uncluttered, and in natural tones—an antidote to
modern life. Fresh off the success of South Bank and Arc,
Windward has developed a worldwide network of suppliers
extending to the UK, Europe, and now, Scandinavia.
This allows access to distinctive furniture, fittings, and
fabrics not commonly used in the Islands, but readily
administered with Windward’s years of expertise.
Exteriors create a stillness and quietness with the use of
walnut timbers and natural vegetation.
Ström Architects is in unison with Windward to
build integrated sustainability into their properties.
Construction is carefully planned to decrease demand for
energy and water, with materials used responsibly and
efficiently. Solar packages are available at the owners’
option.
Who are the likely buyers? Ingo expects they will be
Americans and Canadians who are nature-oriented, crave
privacy, and appreciate purchasing a property with architectural
significance. There will be no structured rental
program or monthly fees, and owners can choose whether
Above: Interiors are defined by edge-to-edge glass and views flow
through each level.
The dual aspect kitchen has access to terraces on both sides.
56 www.timespub.tc

Above: Outdoor pools and fire pits overlook the Caicos Bank, with
patios separated by privacy walls and wide garden areas.
This view of the back of a villa shows how Nivå is integrated into its
environment.
they want to rent their villas (or the optional third floor
bedroom/lockout) and can select their own management
company. Nivå villas are priced from $5,500,000 to
$9,950,000 and sold through Turks & Caicos Sotheby’s
International Realty. Construction will proceed independently
for each villa as each is sold.
I’ve found that Windward is an uncommon development
group with a unique vision. Ivor Stanbrook says,
“Our only constant is the creativity that runs through
everything we do and our ability and determination to
make anything possible. Our agile, bright, and mindful
team inspires those who work with us to find unexpected
answers and create iconic developments.” I’m
always amazed at their ability to look at a piece of vacant
land, see what others don’t, and create a masterpiece.
Windward’s other projects include the Providenciales
waterfront residential communities of South Bank, Blue
Cay, and the Peninsula at Emerald Point. There’s no doubt
that Nivå will be their next success. a
For more information, visit www.niva6.com.
Times of the Islands Summer 2023 57

SHUTTERSTOCK

food for thought
Opposite page: Individuals who follow a vegan diet have opted to remove all animal-based foods. This vegan assortment includes falafel,
edamame beans, carrots, cucumbers, radishes, tomatoes, avocado, hummus, and sesame seeds.
Above: Fruit is a staple food group for a nutritious vegan diet. This cool dessert includes mango, papaya, passion fruit and kiwi jelly.
SHUTTERSTOCK
Sun, Surf, and . . . Salad?
A vegan visit to TCI.
By Rachel Craft
When I landed in Providenciales for a week-long beach vacation, my suitcase was packed with the usual:
swimsuits, snorkel gear, gallons of sunscreen—and plenty of emergency snacks. No offense, TCI; I do
this everywhere I travel. It’s one of the survival instincts you develop when you go vegan.
Times of the Islands Summer 2023 59

A stricter version of the now-popular “plant-based”
diet, a vegan diet eschews all animal products, including
meat, fish (yep, that includes conch), and dairy. This can
make dining out a challenge, especially while traveling,
as many regional cuisines rely heavily on nonvegan ingredients
like eggs and butter. The word “vegan” is virtually
unheard-of in some countries—and most of the southern
United States, which, culinarily speaking, is practically
another country. Last time I was in Alabama, I had to
spell the word “salad” into a McDonald’s drive-through
window. If you can believe it, they didn’t have any.
After 15 years as a vegan, I’ve learned how to reconcile
my penchant for travel with my caloric needs. I book
hotels with kitchens wherever possible (thank you, Inn
at Grace Bay), and I have no shame packing an entire jar
of peanut butter and loaf of bread in my checked bag.
However, I was pleasantly surprised by the number of
vegan dining options I discovered on the small island of
Providenciales. Most menus had at least one dish that
was either vegan or easily veganized, and all the servers
I spoke to were familiar with veganism and happy to help
me tweak my order as needed. Between beach sessions
and snorkel trips, I sampled a variety of filling, flavorful
vegan dishes across the island.
For breakfast and brunch, I visited Shay Café on Grace
Bay for a hearty slab of avocado toast. The Graceway
Gourmet supermarket has a long list of vegan smoothies
made with oat milk, hemp milk, coconut milk, and rice
protein; and the drink shop Beans & Leaves offers many
flavors of nondairy boba tea. Sail Shades, a new restaurant
in Long Bay, is known for its “doubles”—sandwiches
made of curried chickpeas nestled between deep-fried
flatbreads. This addictive breakfast dish and hangover
cure originated in Trinidad & Tobago, and has grown into
a popular street food throughout the Caribbean. It seems
veganism is on trend in many Caribbean islands, which
is no surprise for places where fruits like coconut are
easy to grow and where the local cuisine has been heavily
influenced by Indian, Asian, and African traditions.
At home in the US, I’ve learned non-Western restaurants
are some of the most dependable places to find
vegan food—and TCI is no exception. Grace Bay’s Thai
Orchid offers several tofu dishes, and the Mexican eatery
Skull Rock serves sizzling tofu fajitas. Turks Kebab uses
falafel and hummus as protein in their vegetarian pitas,
which can be veganized by removing the feta and tzatziki.
Yoshi’s Sushi has several veg-friendly options, including
the rather vaguely named “spring roll with avocado.” This
SHAY CAFE LOUNGE
The Avocado Toast served at Shay Café Lounge at Le Vele Plaza in Grace Bay was a favorite breakfast or brunch stop for the vegan author.
60 www.timespub.tc

CHRISTINE MORDEN—PARADISE PHOTOGRAPHY
Island Raw’s founder Regina Radisic operates a fully vegan café. It specializes in locally crafted kombucha (at left) and cold pressed juice
(at right), along with artisanal chocolate. Her goal is to create “plant-based cuisine committed to helping you elevate your body, beauty, and
well-being.”
title fails to do justice to the unique deliciousness of this
sushi roll, which has a deep-fried veggie spring roll, still
hot, wrapped up inside.
In TCI, the burgeoning vegan scene seems closely tied
to the health food movement. Provo’s two fully vegan
cafés, the Farmacy and Island Raw, cater to both veg-
ans and health-conscious diners seeking organic eats
free of preservatives and other additives. Island Raw’s
founder, Regina Radisic, says her café is frequented by
Rastafarians, many of whom follow a clean, mostly plantbased
“ital” diet as a way to strengthen their sacred bond
with nature.
Times of the Islands Summer 2023 61

ELEMENTO PHOTOGRAHY—TURKS & CAICOS
Even upscale, gourmet restaurants on Providenciales offer vegan options, as shown here at Grace Bay Club’s Infiniti Restaurant and Raw Bar.
Health is a common reason for people to adopt a
vegan diet, and you don’t have to be a nutritionist to see
why. Less meat and dairy means less fat and cholesterol;
more veggies means more fiber and vitamins. Studies
have shown plant-based eating to lower the risk of heart
disease, type 2 diabetes, colon cancer, and more.
But health is just one facet of the vibrant world of
veganism. Some vegans do it for ethical reasons, to
avoid contributing to the inhumane practices and animal
suffering that occur on factory farms. Many of these
less health-minded vegans, myself included, don’t mind
eating “slutty” vegan foods like veggie burgers and coconut
milk ice cream. I was pleased to discover that many
restaurants on Provo, including the iconic Cocovan, offer
a veggie burger—though Big Al’s Island Grill wins the
prize with three different types of vegan patty. On my
first night on the island, I discovered acai sorbet and
nondairy mango soft-serve at the candy and ice cream
shop Giggles. (I returned shamelessly every night until
my plane left for the US.)
62 www.timespub.tc

SHUTTERSTOCK
Graceway Gourmet offers a long list of vegan smoothies to go.
Another common reason people adopt a vegan diet is
to shrink their environmental footprint. According to the
UN’s Food & Agriculture Organization, the meat and dairy
industries alone account for nearly 15% of global greenhouse
gas emissions—and that’s not to mention the vast
amounts of land and water required to raise livestock, or
the pollution caused by manure runoff. While the positive
environmental impact of a vegan diet is well established,
it’s a little different on an island, where so many foods
have to be shipped in over long distances. This leads to
more greenhouse gas emissions, and more preservatives
added to food to ensure it survives the journey.
As a result, some restaurants in TCI are striving to
incorporate more locally grown ingredients. The Farm,
the latest culinary venture by Grace Bay’s Seven Stars
Resort, harvests their produce from an on-site hydroponic
farm—bringing diners fresh, minimally processed fruit
and vegetables without the financial and environmental
costs of transportation. This isn’t the only vegan-friendly
resort restaurant; many of the swanky beachfront spots
along Grace Bay offer at least one vegan option. Infiniti
has a vegan curry entrée, Solana has a tofu stir-fry, and
Vita at Rock House has an entire vegan/vegetarian menu.
As a vegan, I sometimes field questions about my opinion
on vegetarians, Meatless Monday-ers, or other “less
Times of the Islands Summer 2023 63

Solana! at Ocean Club West offers this colorful, appealing, and tasty
tofu stir-fry as a vegan option.
SOLANA! RESTAURANT
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)
committed” people in this dietary lifestyle. The answer is:
I love them all. I’m thrilled to see others recognizing the
benefits of vegan eating and partaking in whatever way
works for them. I love to support fully vegan restaurants,
but I also think it’s important to recognize omnivorous
eateries that offer a vegan menu or even a single vegan
dish. It’s encouraging to see so many people learning
about the vegan lifestyle and joining the movement, even
in a small way. And like many people and places across
the globe, TCI is moving in the right direction.
When I returned home from my blissful beach vacation,
I still had half a jar of leftover peanut butter in my
suitcase—and I count that as a win. a
Rachel Craft is a Colorado-based writer and recovered
engineer who loves all things outdoors. When
she’s not busy exploring, she writes fantasy and sci-fi
stories for children. You can learn more about her at
www.racheldelaneycraft.com.
64 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
The story of John Ney Reynolds includes a mystery. What happened to land on East Caicos for which he had a 99-year lease from the government?
Did his children give or sell their interests in it to his daughter Grace Reynolds? The story remains to be told.
JAMES ROY—PARADISE PHOTOGRAPHY
“John” of All Trades
The unfinished story of John Ney Reynolds, 19th century salt proprietor,
merchant, cattleman, and guano exporter.
Story & Historic Images By Jeff Dodge
John Ney Reynolds and his wife Bridget were an Irish couple who emigrated to the Turks & Caicos Islands
around 1865. The story of this entrepreneur and his family has been painstakingly re-constructed with
original source material, although there are still some loose ends. What a fascinating life they lived over
a century and a half ago!
Times of the Islands Summer 2023 65

astrolabe newsletter of the Turks & Caicos National Museum
Origin and family
John Ney Reynolds was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1828.
There he married a woman named Bridget (last name
unknown). They had at least one child, Leonore (Norah),
before they moved to the Turks & Caicos Islands. Leonore
was born in 1860.
It is not certain when John and Bridget Reynolds
moved to the Turks & Caicos Islands, however it was at
least by 1865 because by then Reynolds was in the salt
business at East Harbour (now Cockburn Harbour) on
South Caicos Island.
John and Bridget had seven children that survived
childhood and were alive when John Reynolds wrote and
signed an addendum to his Will in February 1890. The
children: Mary, Leonore (Norah), Eleanor, Alice, John N.
Jr., Robert, and Henry were mentioned in this addendum
as was Grace, a daughter by John’s second wife.
John married Elizabeth A. S. Adams of the Turks &
Caicos Islands in 1872, just a year after Bridget’s death.
They had a daughter, Grace or Gracie, as she was called,
in 1880.
Salt proprietor and merchant
By 1865, John Reynolds was in the salt business at East
Top: This picture postcard presents a view of East Harbour (Cockburn
Harbour) on South Caicos Island circa 1907.
Above: By the time Bridget died in 1871, she had at least seven children
who reached adulthood. She was only 33 years old when she
died. If Catherine Elizabeth Reynolds (listed above Bridget in the St.
Thomas Registry of Deaths) was her daughter, did both perish from
a disease such as typhoid?
Harbour. His business interests there eventually included
the Victoria Salina, which was probably the largest salt
pond on the island, and a company store that catered to
his salt workers.
Reynolds paid his employees with copper tokens that
could only be exchanged for goods in his store. Although
66 www.timespub.tc

astrolabe newsletter of the Turks & Caicos National Museum
SAILROCK ARCHIVAL COLLECTIONS
Reynolds was the first on
the Turks & Caicos Islands
to use the “truck system,”
he was not the last.
Reynolds’ tokens were
issued in three denominations—25
cents, 12 1/2
cents and 6 1/4 cents (U.S.
currency).
Top: The West Caicos Sisal Company continued the practice of paying
employees with tokens into the 1890s, in spite of the “truck” system
being abolished in 1881 by the TCI Legislative Board.
Above: This photo shows salt waiting to be shipped at East Harbour
(Cockburn Harbour) circa 1910.
East Caicos land purchase and the
Stamers–Reynolds connection
On December 13, 1871, acting as trustee for his children,
John N. Reynolds purchased 1,288 acres of land
at Breezy Point on East Caicos—once considered part
of Grand Caicos (now Middle Caicos)—from Copeland
Place Stamers, who was acting on his own behalf and as
attorney for his two siblings, Benjamin Henry Stamers
and Susan Deborah Stamers. They were the children of
Hon. Copeland John Stamers who passed away in 1866.
Copeland John Stamers acquired the 1,288 acre parcel of
land at Breezy Point in the early 1800s.
Included in this sale to John Reynolds was a
99-year lease for additional property on East Caicos.
Copeland Place Stamers had obtained this lease from the
Government of the Turks & Caicos Islands on March 14,
1871. The size of the leased property is unknown, but
it likely included most of East Caicos not already part of
the 1,288 acre parcel at Breezy Point. The lease stipulated
that the lessee pay the government £10 a year for five
years and that he maintain at least 25 head of horned
cattle on the property. The lease specified that the government
would retain mineral rights.
John Reynolds paid the three children of the Hon.
Copeland John Stamers $1,000 (£200) for the 1,288 acre
parcel at Breezy Point and the 99-year lease for additional
property on the island.
Copeland John Stamers
Copeland John Stamers was born in Bermuda in 1802
and by about 1825 was living on the Turks & Caicos
Islands—at least on a part time basis. Stamers married
Caroline Samuel Smith of Bermuda in 1830. They had five
children—three survived early childhood. Those surviving
were: Benjamin Henry, Copeland Place, and Susanna
Deborah. Copeland John Stamers was appointed to the
Legislative Council of the Turks & Caicos Islands circa
Copeland J. Stamers owned over 3,500 acres of land at Blue Hills on
the island of Providence Caicos (Providenciales) as well as salt properties
on Salt Cay. He also owned approximately 1,368 acres on East
Caicos. He raised cattle on Providence Caicos and may have done so
on his East Caicos holdings. To this day, a section of Providenciales
is known as Blue Hills & Stamers Run.
Times of the Islands Summer 2023 67

astrolabe newsletter of the Turks & Caicos National Museum
1862—hence the title “Honorable.” He died in Brooklyn,
NY in 1866.
An inheritance denied?
It has been alleged that Copeland John Stamers did not
actually have legal title to the 1,288 acres of land at
Breezy Point, East Caicos. In 1807, Bermudians John and
Thomas Ingham were the first to acquire the Breezy Point
property by way of a separate land grant to each brother
from the Governor of the Bahamas, Charles Cameron Esq.
According to the original documents, their two land grants
totaled approximately 1,368 acres. A proper survey later
may have changed this figure to 1,288 acres. Thomas and
John’s intention was to raise cattle on East Caicos. (Note:
In 1766, the Turks & Caicos Islands were placed under
the jurisdiction of the Bahamian Government. In 1799
they were placed under the control of the British Colonial
Administration with the Bahamas maintaining control,
but now the Islands had an appointed representative in
the Assembly. Bahamian control of the Islands ended in
December 1848.)
John Ingham’s Will has just surfaced from the
Bahamian Archives in Nassau and it is hoped that it and
other archived documents will shed light on exactly how
Copeland John Stamers ended up as the owner of the
Ingham’s land at Breezy Point. It has been alleged that
fraud might have been involved because John Ingham had
two children and at least one, his daughter Rose, survived
him, but this is a subject requiring additional research.
Hiram T. Jones was born on Grand Turk Island in 1834. He moved
to Bangor, Maine about 1875 and by 1882 was in the business of
importing salt from the Turks & Caicos Islands. Salt was an important
commodity in the New England states, as it was required for the
preservation of fish, mostly cod, which was then sold throughout the
eastern United States.
because Stubbs remained in the salt business at East
Harbour, passing it on to his daughter Emilie Jane Stubbs
following his death in 1913. She improved the Victoria
Salina and remained in the salt business until she was
forced to sell it to the Turks Island Salt Co. circa 1951.
Emilie passed away in 1956. John Reynolds remained in
the business of exporting salt.
Reynolds sells salt works
By 1882, Reynolds had decided to sell his salt properties
and his “company” store at East Harbour to Alfred
Stubbs (born 1847). Negotiations took more than a year
but it was finally agreed that Reynolds would finance
Stubbs’ purchase of the properties. The agreement also
stipulated that Reynolds would supply Stubbs’ store with
merchandise and would act as the sole export agent for
all the salt Stubbs produced less 20,000 bushels a year.
A few years later, Reynolds accused Stubbs of selling
salt to Hiram T. Jones and thereby not abiding by the
terms of their agreement. Reynolds also accused Stubbs
of falling behind in his payments.
Stubbs, in turn, argued that Reynolds was manipulating
his accounts and accused him of overloading vessels
with his salt. A settlement must have been reached
This promotional postcard is an indication that John N. Reynolds
remained in the salt export businesse after selling his saltworks at
East Harbour to Alfred Stubbs. In 1884, Reynolds mailed this postcard
to the Commission Merchants, F.W. Nickerson & Co. of Boston,
promoting the exceptional quality of the salt gathered at Salt Cay and
East Harbour. Reynolds notes that he just loaded two vessels with
salt from these islands at prices below those of a shipment recently
loaded at Grand Turk Island.
East Caicos cattleman and guano exporter
John Reynolds must have started raising cattle at Breezy
Point shortly following his purchase of the 1,288 acres
and the 99-year lease in 1871 in order to comply with the
SAILROCK ARCHIVAL COLLECTION
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astrolabe newsletter of the Turks & Caicos National Museum
terms of the lease. At some point, possibly about 1882,
Reynolds became aware that bat guano from the caves
on the northwest side the island would be a profitable
export commodity and before long he was exporting it to
Jamaica and other islands where sugar cane was grown.
The guano operation petered out after a few years,
but the cattle operation was successful and eventually
Reynolds had as many as 1,500 head of cattle on the
island. He sold beef to the inhabitants of Grand Turk
and hides to Haiti. After Reynolds’ death, the cattle were
hunted by local Islanders—possibly by Americans as
well—to the extent that by 1939 there were no cattle left
on East Caicos.
This was confirmed when a small group of Californians
that included John Reynolds’ daughter, Grace Reynolds
Lake, went to East Caicos in 1940 with the intent of forming
a colony on the land Grace had inherited from her
father. They had been led to believe that they would be
able to supplement their diet with beef from wild cattle
roaming the island. However, after three days of searching
the island for cattle the “colonists” came up empty
handed—there were no cattle to be found.
Sisal on East Caicos
Following the death of John N. Reynolds on March 5,
1890, the property he held in trust for his children on
East Caicos was leased to a newly formed company that
intended to grow and process sisal there. The East Caicos
Sisal Company was officially registered in 1891. It was
managed by Frith & Murphy Co. They hired A. Lewis Jones
as their manager as well as an engineer, several clerks
and 300–400 workers. It’s possible Reynolds explored
whether sisal would grow successfully on East Caicos
prior to his death, but there is no evidence of this.
Buildings where the sisal was processed and barracks
for the workers were built at Breezy Point and Jacksonville.
In addition, a 14 mile long rail system was constructed so
that donkeys pulling rail cars could move sisal from the
fields to Jacksonville where it would be processed and
then shipped.
The Hon. Thomas Capper A.B., Jamaica’s Inspector of
Schools, observed during a brief stopover at Jacksonville
in 1885, that the truck system was being employed there
and that laborers were being fired unless they spent most
of their wages at the company’s store even though the
truck system was outlawed in 1881. (Note: Tokens bearing
the name of the East Caicos Sisal Co. have never been
found.) By 1919, the superior qualities of manila hemp
from the Philippines caused sisal prices to decline to such
an extent that the East Caicos Sisal Co. was forced to
cease operation.
John Ney Reynolds’ death and legacy
John Reynolds wrote and signed his Will on December
28, 1889. In it he states that “being of sound mind, but
advanced in years owing to the uncertainty of life deem
it advisable to make this my last Will and Testament to
whit . . .” In this Will, he leaves the 1,288 acres of land at
Breezy Point to his wife Elizabeth and daughters Alice and
Grace—each to receive a 1/3rd interest. He nominated his
wife, Elizabeth, to be the sole Executor.
On February 4, 1890, John Reynolds wrote an addendum
to his last Will and Testament whereby he left the
remaining years of the 99-year lease for land on East
Caicos to his eight children. Here he names them: Mary
Reynolds; Norah (Leonore) Baker, (the wife of Dr. W.W.
Baker); Eleanor Reynolds Frith, the wife of Daniel T. Frith;
Alice Bridget Reynolds; John Ney Reynolds Jr.; Robert
Reynolds; Henry Reynolds and Gracie Reynolds. In addi-
Left: This image shows a building and sisal plants at the East Caicos
Sisal Co., circa 1895.
Above: This rail car was used for hauling sisal from the fields to
Jacksonville for processing.
TURKS & CAICOS NATIONAL MUSEUM COLLECTION
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astrolabe newsletter of the Turks & Caicos National Museum
tion to the leased land on East Caicos, the addendum
included the buildings and houses erected thereon and
cattle and other animals thereupon as well as three boats.
Little is known about Mary or Eleanor Reynolds
though they both probably moved to the Boston area in
the 1880s. Robert moved to Boston in 1882 and John
N. Jr. in 1884. He was followed by Henry in 1886. John
Jr. and Henry worked for a steamship company. Leonore
moved to the US in 1888 and married Dr. W. W.Baker—
they lived in Ohio.
Grace became the sole owner of the 1,288 acre parcel
at Breezy Point following the death of her sister Alice in
1909 and her mother Elizabeth in 1928.
There is much more to the story of Grace Reynolds and
her East Caicos inheritance. You can read about it online.
See “Modern Crusoes” in the Winter 2020/2021 Times
of the Islands (https://www.timespub.tc/2021/01/
modern-crusoes-2/). Keep in mind that there are some
inaccuracies in the story as John Reynolds’ Will had not
been found at the time it was written.
The St. Thomas Registry of Deaths notes that John Ney Reynolds died
on March 5, 1890.
Just a few months following the death of John N.
Reynolds on March 5, 1890, John’s wife Elizabeth and
daughters Gracie and Alice moved to Boston to join and
live with John N. Jr. and Henry.
Afterwards
On April 29, 1890, Elizabeth A. Reynolds, acting on her
own behalf and on the behalf of her children, agreed to
lease the the land at Breezy Point to Jeremiah Murphy
for a period of 20 years together with any houses, outhouses,
buildings, etc. as well as the sloop O.K.. In the
terms of the lease, Murphy was to pay the Reynolds family
$2,500 upon execution of the lease and an annual
rent of $1,100/year payable in equal quarterly payments
for the duration of the lease. Murphy of Frith & Murphy
established the East Caicos Sisal Co. on this land.
In April 1890, Mary Reynolds, Robert Reynolds, and
Henry Reynolds, all of Boston, Massachusetts, appointed
John Ney Reynolds Jr., the oldest son of the late John
Ney Reynolds, to be their attorney to represent them—“to
act, demand, levy, require, recover and receive all of and
from all and every person ... their share of money, debts,
goods, wares, merchandise, owing them” as a result of
their father’s death.
An unfinished story
It is not known what caused John and Bridget to move to
the Turks & Caicos Islands or what their life was like in
Ireland. Did they have friends or relatives living there? Did
John arrive on the Islands with the funds to buy salt properties
or did he have investors, and if so, who were they?
Did John, his second wife Elizabeth, and their children
live on South Caicos or move to Grand Turk following the
sale of John’s salt interests in 1883?
The addendum to John’s Will gave the land leased
from the government for 99 years to his eight children.
In April 1890, they leased their East Caicos holdings to
Jeremiah Murphy (East Caicos Sisal Co.). But what happened
following the demise of the sisal company in
1919? Was this leased property sold or given to Grace
who in 1928 was the sole owner of the 1,288 acre parcel
at Breezy Point?
Only time will tell. a
The author wishes to thank the following for their invaluable
assistance with this article: John Adams, former
Bermuda Government archivist; Linda Abend and Toni
Butz for their contribution of original source material
from the Bermuda National Trust; Christian Buys, author
of the book Historic South Caicos, Turks and Caicos
Islands; Dr. Donald Keith of Ships of Discovery; the
Sailrock Archival Collection; Margorie Sadler, author of
the revised edition of Turks Islands Landfall; Nigel Sadler
of the Sands of Time Consultancy; Lisa Talbot, Director
of the Turks & Caicos National Museum; and Deborah
Dodge for her help transcribing original documents and
editing this story.
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astrolabe newsletter of the Turks & Caicos National Museum
This 1965 slide shows an aerial view of the old airstrip running near to St Thomas’s Church in Grand Turk. You can see the salt ponds in the
foreground.
Remembering When:
The Town Strip in Grand Turk.
By Dr. Richard Grainger ~ Images Courtesy Turks & Caicos National Museum Photo Collection
Most people will not know that there were once two airstrips on Grand Turk. Many remember the American
Air Force base and of course the present JAGS McCartney International Airport, but will either have forgotten
or had never known that there was another landing strip, known as Town Strip. Curiously, it did
not seem to feature on contemporary maps of the island.
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astrolabe newsletter of the Turks & Caicos National Museum
There were two airlines serving the Islands in the
early 1970s. They were affectionately named “Air Chaos”
and “Chaos Airways.” Air Caicos were based in Grand
Turk whilst Caicos Airways were based in South Caicos.
The US Air Force base was used by Air Caicos for their
Convair 444 flights from Nassau via Eleuthera into Grand
Turk. They also had their Piper Aztec planes based there
which served the Islands as far out as “Blue Hills,” as
Providenciales was commonly known then. Air Caicos
were able to use the US base as they carried sufficient
insurance whilst planes not carrying enough insurance
had to use the airstrip in the centre of Cockburn Town.
The Town Strip
Town Strip was curious in a number of ways. Most runways
have an area at each end to allow for undershooting
or overshooting of the landing area. Because of houses
on the seaward end of Town Strip there was no undershooting
area. The overshoot was unusual, as the runway
ended at the cemetery wall and the overshoot was at 90º
to the runway and passed parallel to the wall.
A degree of skill was required in order to land at Town
Strip. The land surveyor’s house was directly under the
flight path, so planes went very close to his roof in order
to get down to the start of the runway. Once the land surveyor
was working on his roof when a plane approached
and came in so close he had to lie down flat on the roof,
as he felt in danger.
The Town Strip was also unusual in that there were
no facilities apart from the runway itself. There was no
air traffic control, so that pilots had to make a visual
approach and take off to ensure that the runway was
clear. In addition, there was no facility for refuelling. If an
aircraft needed fuel it had to be brought to the airstrip or
alternatively, the pilot would need to go with a can to the
local aviation fuel supplier. At a very simple level that did
not appear to be even a windsock or fire extinguisher on
site and there were no facilities for passengers as there
was no terminal building.
The Town Strip was not fenced so that there was
always a risk of feral donkeys walking across the runway.
Donkeys were very common (and still are) as they had
been abandoned when the salt industry ceased to function
and continued to breed. One instance occurred when
Here is another 1965 aerial view of the old airstrip running near to St Thomas’s Church in Grand Turk. The runway ended at the cemetery
wall and the overshoot was at 90º to the runway and passed parallel to the wall.
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astrolabe newsletter of the Turks & Caicos National Museum
This 1963 slide shows a plane landing on the Grand Turk airstrip,
with horses in the way!
a plane was beginning to take off as a donkey wandered
onto the runway—fortunately the pilot had got enough
lift so that he was able to pop over the donkey, touch
down on the other side, and continue his take off run.
Thankfully there was not a lot of rain on Grand Turk
as the runway had very poor drainage. There was one
instance where a Beechcraft Baron was coming in to land
following a heavy rain shower. As the plane was passing
along the runway, the wheels hit a deep puddle with soft
mud at the bottom, which resulted in the plane going
base over apex and was severely damaged. For a long
time the damaged plane was at the side of the runway as
a warning of the hazards of landing at Town Strip.
There were a number of aeroplanes landing at Town
Strip. There were DC-3 aircraft landing there on a regular
basis. Strangely, one of them still had the label
Alaskan Airlines written on the fuselage and the wings
still had their de-icing boots fitted. (These were rubber
attachments to the front of the wings which could be
expanded when in the air to prevent ice collecting on
the wings!) Most of the planes that came in were Caicos
Airways Beechcraft Barons, although a number of private
planes also called. One of the small planes was from the
Evangelists of the Bible Baptist organisation. Their plane
had an accident when they ran out of fuel on the way
towards Turks & Caicos when coming from the Bahamas.
A number of other small planes were calling mainly as a
stopover from places like the Dominican Republic and
This slide is an aerial view of Grand Turk in July 1964. It shows the salt ponds and South Base, with the airfield behind the dock and to the
side of the road.
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astrolabe newsletter of the Turks & Caicos National Museum
Colombia. At the time, South Caicos was a major hub for
bringing in illegal drugs on their way to the United States.
We may only speculate that some of the traffic actually
went through Grand Turk rather than South Caicos.
The DC-3 went on visits to the Dominican Republic to
bring back vegetables and other consumables that were
difficult to get in the Turks & Caicos Islands. There were
occasionally charters for visits to Haiti with calls at the
Citadelle Laferrière, a large, early 19th-century fortress
situated approximately 17 miles south of Cap-Haïtien.
It was commissioned by Emperor Henri Christophe, and
built by tens of thousands of former slaves.
My son, Andrew, was very young at the time but loved
to watch the planes landing. I was driving up to the hospital
late one afternoon with Andrew when we saw a bright
light out to the west. I thought it was the light of the
plane coming in to land so parked near the government
offices to await the plane’s arrival. The light started to
get larger but did not come any closer and after a time,
a perfectly round cloud started to spread out from the
light. I had not experienced this sort of sight before and
found it rather eerie and almost threatening. After a time
I carried on up to the hospital and told the nurses what
I had seen. They were quite relaxed and explained that
it was just a second stage rocket from Cape Canaveral,
igniting and heading off into outer space.
brakes were released, and the plane, hopefully, gathered
enough speed to take off.
There was a relaxed view to flying in Turks & Caicos.
Once in December, a Christmas tree was brought into the
cabin and threaded down between a full plane of seated
passengers. I experienced an unusual landing at South
Caicos where one plane was landing from one end of the
runway whilst another the plane was coming in from the
other end. Presumably the pilots were communicating to
say which side of the runway they were going to take as
they passed in the middle!
There was a rumour that Ultramar, an oil company,
was going to develop an oil refuelling station on the
northern end of East Caicos. The pilot who I was discussing
this with said, “Oh let’s go and have a look at the site.”
People of Town Strip
The pilots who flew into Town Strip were an interesting
group (and all male to my knowledge). Most of the
pilots of single engine planes just had private pilot’s
licences and navigated from island to island around the
Caribbean. The professional pilots were a very disparate
group. There were pilots flying around the Turks & Caicos
Islands who were on long term contracts. Other pilots
were only there for a very short period of time between
their main jobs, for example, as crop sprayers.
Once a number of them left the island at short notice
to go to West Africa. The Biafran War had just finished but
there was still a need for pilots. One pilot explained one
of the tricks for getting a DC-3 off a short runway. The
plane was manually moved as far back down the runway
as possible. Then a number of men sat on at the tail,
the brakes were applied, the engines were run up to full
speed, and the propeller’s pitch adjusted to give maximum
power. At a signal the men leapt off the tail, the
This is a 1979 slide of the Admiral Arm’s Inn, South Caicos, a base and
home for many pilots.
Although the flight was to go from Grand Turk straight
to Blue Hills, he diverted to see the proposed site for the
development.
Some of the pilots would have not been out of
place as characters in an Ernest Hemingway novel. The
Admiral’s Arms hotel in South Caicos was a base and
home for many and the idea of limited flying hours, rest
periods, and no alcohol around the time of flying were
alien concepts at the time. It was not unusual for pilots
to fly their hangovers around the Islands!
Many histories do not capture the culture and atmosphere
of a community by ignoring the everyday life and
times as they existed. Town Strip and its users do deserve
to be remembered as they were important for the wellbeing
of Grand Turk and epitomised the lifestyle and
traditions of the past. a
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astrolabe newsletter of the Turks & Caicos National Museum
Museum Matters
Children’s club
The Museum had a second Kid’s Painting event in April.
The kids painted Petey, my potcake. Emerging from the
event were some budding artists!
Local artist Aysha is hosting a series of eight afterschool
art classes at the Museum. The children will
learn to draw, paint, and shade. After the last class, the
Museum will be hosting a Beach Fun Day. For more
information, email info@tcmuseum.org. a
Grub, grill, and good times
Mark your calendar for the annual Grub, Grill, and
Good Times event on Saturday, July 22 at the Grand
Turk Museum location. This event highlights local cuisine
and music with local vendors selling your island
favorites and live music with V6 Band and Zeus. A raffle
is also held with prizes from many local restaurants,
watersports operators, cash prizes, and more. a
Grand Turk campus
• The Museum continues to be the premiere stop on
land tours offered through the cruise ships. Our gift
shop is often complimented as the best on the island. If
you are visiting Grand Turk, be sure to stop in and see
our various new products, T-shirts, books, and locally
made handicrafts.
• The on-island guests also continue to visit the
Museum and gift shop. We appreciate the support from
the hotels and vacation rentals. a
Current days & hours of operation:
Grand Turk (Front Street): Hours vary daily, but in general
open on all cruise ship days 9 AM to 1 PM. When a
ship arrives on or after 11 AM, we will open one hour
after arrival for three hours.
Providenciales (The Village at 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
Story & Photos By Museum Manager Lisa Talbot
Providenciales campus
• New plant identification cards are being ordered for
the Heritage House Garden.
• We are always looking for more volunteers so we can
expand our opening hours at this location. Please contact
us if you are interested in donating a day or two of
your time each month.
• Condominiums, hotels, and a shopping area are currently
being planned for the Grace Bay Village. As this
area continues to develop, the Museum will be in a prime
location to get additional exposure and support. a
Times of the Islands Summer 2023 75

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 April 1, 2023, all COVID-19 related travel
restrictions have been removed for travel to the Turks &
Caicos Islands. There is no vaccine, testing, or insurance
requirement. On August 12, 2022, the last day of statistics,
32,338 people were vaccinated in the Turks & Caicos
against COVID-19 (at least one dose). This was approximately
73% of the total population. For more information
and details, visit www.visittci.com.
Language
English.
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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 roundabouts
at major junctions. 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.
Times of the Islands Summer 2023 77

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. There are also a number of local
radio stations, magazines and newspapers.
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
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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 Turks & Caicos Islanders.
Government/Legal system
TCI is a British Crown colony. There is a Queen-appointed
Governor. The post is currently held by Acting Governor
HE Anya Williams. She 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.
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.
Times of the Islands Summer 2023 79

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
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.
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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
subscription form
TIMES
OF THE
ISLANDS
SAMPLING THE SOUL OF THE TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDS
One year subscription
$28 U.S. addresses/$32 non-U.S. addresses
VISIT WWW.TIMESPUB.TC TO VIEW CURRENT ISSUE ON-LINE!
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Times of the Islands Summer 2023 81

classified ads
B R A Z I L I A N
B I K I N I
L A S E R
H A I R
R E D U C T I O N
$95
REJOUVENANCESPA.COM
+1-649-432-7546
Community Fellowship Centre
A Life-Changing Experience
Sunday Divine Worship 9 AM
Visitors Welcome!
Tel: 649.941.3484 • Web: cfctci.com
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FOR ALL YOUR
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We’re here to
make your holiday
the island way...
DEPENDABLE VEHICLE HIRE
SERVICE OFFERED:
Provo & North-Middle Caicos
Office: 946-4684
Amos: 441-2667 (after hours)
Yan: 247-6755 (after hours)
Bob: 231-0262 (after hours)
scooterbobs@gmail.com
www.scooterbobstci.com
Grace Bay Road across from Regent Street
Fun Friendly People
Appreciating Your Business!
941-8500
www.gracebaycarrentals.com
82 www.timespub.tc

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
energy sources.
At FortisTCI, our purpose and passion are unwavering – to serve our
customers, community, and the Turks and Caicos Islands with the
safe, reliable, and least-cost electricity they need – whenever and
wherever.
Every day, we are working towards an energy future that is cleaner,
more resilient, reliable, and sustainable.
www.fortistci.com | 649-946-4313 |

We help you turn some day into right now . . .
nothing compares to what’s next.
La Mer South
Sapodilla Bay
THE FINEST COLLECTION
Condominium | Home & Villa | Land | New Development
649.946.4474 | info@tcsothebysrealty.com | turksandcaicossir.com
Venture House, Grace Bay | Resort Locations: Grace Bay Club and The Palms
Each franchise is Independently Owned and Operated.