Times of the Islands Fall 2023
Presents the "soul of the Turks & Caicos Islands" with in-depth features about local people, culture, history, environment, real estate, businesses, resorts, restaurants and activities.
Presents the "soul of the Turks & Caicos Islands" with in-depth features about local people, culture, history, environment, real estate, businesses, resorts, restaurants and activities.
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Sisal produced in <strong>the</strong> Caicos <strong>Islands</strong> was important for nautical use until economics and politics swung favor to manila hemp from <strong>the</strong><br />
Philippines. In addition to its use in rope, sisal was also used in domestic items.<br />
The late Claudius Williams <strong>of</strong> Bottle Creek, who<br />
became <strong>the</strong> agricultural <strong>of</strong>ficer for <strong>the</strong> <strong>Islands</strong>, was key<br />
to this revival. He involved his son Carlton in <strong>the</strong> “new”<br />
sisal industry, which was aided by mechanisation with <strong>the</strong><br />
raspidor, a device that made it easier to strip <strong>the</strong> plant<br />
down to its useable fiber. Carlton, unfortunately, lost his<br />
fingers to this device, giving some <strong>of</strong> his own self to <strong>the</strong><br />
sisal industry.<br />
Time to grow<br />
The new museum is thus both local and countrywide,<br />
and, like sisal, a way to tie toge<strong>the</strong>r past and future and<br />
<strong>the</strong> interests <strong>of</strong> government and private enterprise. Also<br />
like sisal, it needs some time to grow.<br />
The coalition that brought <strong>the</strong> Carlton Williams<br />
Promenade toge<strong>the</strong>r is an ambitious one. It is a site<br />
under <strong>the</strong> wing <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> TCI Ministry <strong>of</strong> Tourism, but it also<br />
includes <strong>the</strong> support <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Department <strong>of</strong> Environmental<br />
and Coastal Resources (DECR) and <strong>the</strong> Turks & Caicos<br />
National Trust. Toge<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong>y are <strong>the</strong> administrators for a<br />
project that <strong>of</strong>fers leasing space to local businesses. Sisal<br />
weaves it all toge<strong>the</strong>r.<br />
Its buildings, erected by contractor Steven Walkin,<br />
appear from <strong>the</strong> waterside as a pyramid, with <strong>the</strong> museum<br />
at <strong>the</strong> top. The area was beautifully landscaped by North<br />
Caicos farmer and entrepreneur Courtney Missick, and<br />
early leases include Miss B’s Bayside Café and D’s Native<br />
Gift Shop. There is room for growth, and an actual “promenade”<br />
area along <strong>the</strong> water. An existing, but crumbling,<br />
dock area is slated for improvement (although it should<br />
be noted that Bottle Creek is quite shallow and can<br />
accommodate only small, flat boats). The museum currently<br />
has only a few items relating to <strong>the</strong> sisal industry,<br />
but more artifacts and better explanations are planned,<br />
including an actual raspidor like <strong>the</strong> one that took Mr.<br />
Williams’ fingers.<br />
<strong>Times</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Islands</strong> Summer <strong>2023</strong> 37