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Rats massacred! Rock Iguanas getting safer habitats after delays due to hurricanes

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#LittleWaterCay, Turks and Caicos Islands, Thursday April 26, 2018 – A unique alliance between the UK and the TCI has led to the execution of thousands of rats, and hopefully the annihilation of thousands more as work is resumed to save the endemic Rock Iguana.

“Iguana Island is still covered in Black Rats.”

The comment came in a media debriefing last month from International Species Recovery Officer, Sara Havery of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. Sara, was speaking to Turks and Caicos media about the delay brought on by the active storm season and damages of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, and she was explaining why the Black Rat (which is actually brown in colour) is a major menace.

“They actually eat the eggs of the iguanas and the juveniles hat means there is little recruitment to the actual population here, which is not just bad for the ecology of the island but also for tourism.”  

While total eradication is the ultimate goal, Sara explained that for now the focus is on rat control.

“We have a grid right across this (Little) Water Cay and every 25-metres we’ve put out a bait station which has rodenticide in it. So the whole point of this is the knock back the rat population give the iguanas the chance to hatch out their eggs, grow a bit bigger and hopefully be big enough to get out of the way of the rats as their (iguanas) population increases.”

The National Trust and Ministry of Tourism embraced the assistance at the onset and there has been staff training, so that the project has resident foot soldiers from among stakeholder agencies.  

“We had representatives from the Turks and Caicos National Trust, DECR and the Department of Agriculture here on Little Water Cay, and my colleague, Karen Varnum did a bio-security training course here to gain an overview of the impact of the rats here and also showed what we can do across the island including some monitoring techniques to determine if rats are still present; we found that they were everywhere.”

The rats scurry over in staggering numbers when there are low tides and will even swim to the cay, which is home to one of the largest populations of the Rock Iguana in the country.

Cats also continue to be a threat to the species, with scores of them terrorizing the iguanas to death.

Dr. Dellareese Higgs, Education and Public Awareness Manager with the National Trust gave an update on how the rat-trapping has progressed.

“It was thousands of rats have been trapped and killed since then…”  

In March, media was given a tour on Little Water Cay and allowed to see what the trapping process looked like.  We also learned that the rodenticide is an environmentally friendly method and the traps, though attractive to a few crabs, are generally more appealing to their intended victims – the Black Rat.

DECR representative Bryan Naqqi-Manco assured that the iguana death-toll due to the September 2017 hurricanes would have been minimal.

“Iguanas can go without food and water for weeks if they need to, and washing up on another island is not unheard of for them.  As long as it’s more than one they can start a new population. So they are an incredibly resilient… they are very tough animals.”

Naqqi-Manco shared that there is an estimated 50,000 Rock Iguanas in the Turks and Caicos Islands, outnumbering the indigenous human population by far.   

The Turks and Caicos Rock Iguana is the only one of its kind in the world, save for a few of the reptiles which live on a cay, just off Mayaguana island in The Bahamas.

Sara Havery added that, a conservation plan is also underway, as other cays within the Turks and Caicos are scoured and studied by their group which includes the San Diego Zoo, as ideal, potential new and safe habitats for the TCI Rock Iguana.

 

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TCI News

Frontier Airlines’ Arrival to Turks & Caicos Marks a Game-Changing Connection

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Turks and Caicos, October 25, 2025 – Budget-friendly skies are opening over the Turks and Caicos Islands as Frontier Airlines prepares to launch its first-ever nonstop flights between Providenciales International Airport (PLS) and Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) — the world’s busiest air hub.

Starting December 20, 2025, the twice-weekly service will offer residents and tourists a direct, affordable gateway to and from the U.S. mainland. The new route marks Frontier’s debut in the Turks and Caicos, part of a major regional expansion that includes 22 new routes across Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America.

“We couldn’t be more excited to begin operations in Providenciales,” said Josh Flyr, Frontier’s Vice President of Network and Operations Design. “With our nonstop service to Atlanta, we’re making travel easier, more affordable, and unlocking connections to countless destinations across the U.S. and beyond. It’s not just about tourism — it’s about opportunity.”

Big Win for Providenciales and the Region

The move positions Howard Hamilton International Airport as a growing Caribbean hub. Frontier’s low-fare model is expected to stimulate visitor arrivals, particularly from Atlanta — a key U.S. tourism feeder city — while giving Turks and Caicos residents new, cost-effective travel options for business, education, and leisure.

Industry observers note that the timing couldn’t be better. Turks and Caicos tourism remains on an upward trajectory in 2025, with hotel occupancy and airlift both climbing following the pandemic rebound. Frontier’s entry adds competitive pricing to an air market long dominated by legacy carriers, expanding the reach of the destination to more budget-minded travelers.

A Wider Growth Strategy

The Atlanta–Providenciales launch is part of Frontier’s aggressive Caribbean push this winter, which also includes new flights to NassauSt. MaartenPuerto Vallarta, and San José del Cabo. Introductory fares to select destinations are as low as US $69 one-way.

For Turks and Caicos, the connection to Atlanta — one of Frontier’s strategic bases — means instant access to hundreds of onward destinations in North America and beyond.

As Frontier joins the expanding roster of carriers serving the islands, tourism officials are calling it a “win-win for accessibility and affordability.” And for travelers? It’s a golden ticket to paradise — at a fraction of the cost.

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Turks & Caicos Police Commissioner Urges Students to “Awaken Their Sleeping Giants”

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Turks and Caicos, October 24, 2025 – Commissioner of Police Fitz Bailey delivered an impassioned address to male students at Clement Howell High School, calling on them to recognize their power, seize their potential, and “awaken the sleeping giants” within.

In a message that blended humility, faith, and personal experience, the Commissioner reminded the boys that the decisions they make today will shape their future.“The choices you make today determine who you become tomorrow,” he said.

Bailey, who revealed he was the first in his family to attend high school, urged the students to embrace education and discipline as tools of transformation.“Knowledge is power. If you want to be a real man, you need to read,” he told them. “Remember your potential — if others can do it, so can you. Some of you are sleeping giants waiting to be awakened.”

He emphasized that circumstances of birth do not dictate destiny, challenging the young men to carry self-respect, faith, and moral conviction wherever they go.  “Self-respect is key; respect yourself, respect others, and respect God,” he said.  “The circumstances you were born into do not define who you are.”

The Commissioner also spoke about resilience, advising that true strength often lies in restraint.

“There will be challenges, and people may try to impede your development — but rise above negativity. Sometimes, strength means walking away,” he said. “Some of you are sleeping lions; it’s time to awaken that instinct and rediscover your true potential.”

In closing, Commissioner Bailey delivered a stirring challenge:

“Each morning, look in the mirror and remind yourself that you were created by God and are capable of great exploits. You are a possibility with potential. Step forward with confidence — this is your country, your islands. Be the best version of yourself.”

Following his speech, the Commissioner engaged the students in open dialogue, answering questions and listening to their perspectives on issues affecting young men in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Developed by Deandrea Hamilton • with ChatGPT (AI) • edited by Magnetic Media.

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ISU SUPPORTS SUCCESSFUL MULTIAGENCY ENFORCEMENT EXERCISE IN FIVE CAYS AND BLUE HILLS

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Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 23 October 2025 — The Crown Land Unit, supported by the Informal Settlements Unit (ISU) and the Immigration and Border Services, led the successful execution of a reclamation exercise in Five Cays and Blue Hills on Tuesday August 26, 2025. The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force provided security for the operation which formed part of the Government’s mandate under the Crown Land Ordinance to prevent squatting and encroachment on Crown Land.

During routine inspections, the Crown Land Unit identified three unoccupied, illegally constructed steel and concrete block structures on parcels 60610/226, 60610/228, and 60610/239, located in the area commonly referred to as Sand Bar Street, Five Cays. Notices of Illegal Occupation were issued in accordance with the Crown Land Ordinance, however the owners of the structures failed to comply with the instructions contained in the Notices. As a result, enforcement action was taken to remove the structures and reclaim the land.

The exercise resulted in the full reclamation of 1.18 acres of Crown Land, with the removal of three unauthorized structures which were all block and concrete structures from foundation to belt beam stages of development.

Following the reclamation in Five Cays, the team proceeded to Blue Hills where ten Letters of Illegal Occupation were served across two parcels, reinforcing the Government’s commitment to land protection and management.

The ISU reaffirms its commitment to supporting partner agencies in the coordinated management of Crown Land, ensuring that all enforcement actions are conducted lawfully, efficiently, and in the public interest.

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