TCI News
Rats massacred! Rock Iguanas getting safer habitats after delays due to hurricanes
#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.
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – May 14th, 2024 – The Turks and Caicos Islands Government and Molo Hotel Group reached a pivotal juncture on Monday, May 13th, 2024, with the ceremonial signing of a development agreement at the Premier’s Office on Providenciales. The agreement, which received official Cabinet approval on March 13th, 2024, signifies a steadfast commitment to advancing the economic landscape of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Molo Hotel Group is a family-owned business, renowned for its distinguished portfolio of high-quality hotels worldwide. The
development initiative encompasses the construction of three distinct IHG branded hotels: InterContinental Turks and Caicos, Kimpton Turks and Caicos and Hotel Indigo Turks and Caicos. Scheduled for completion by 2027, each resort boasts a distinctive design from luxury to laidback sophistication spanning across the shores of Grace Bay Beach.
Kimpton Turks and Caicos – an epitome of luxury lifestyle living, will feature 192 guest rooms including three outdoor pools, a luxury spa and a fitness center. Additionally, seven dining options ranging from a beachfront restaurant to a rooftop bar.
Adjacent to the Kimpton, InterContinental Turks and Caicos will offer 59 classic luxury suites with panoramic ocean views. Mirroring its counterpart, this resort will offer an array of dining options and upscale facilities.
Steps away from the Intercontinental and Kimpton resorts, Hotel Indigo Turks and Caicos will embrace a sense of community and contemporary elegance, offering 56 bedrooms. The resort will feature an onsite restaurant, lobby bar, outdoor pool, and fitness room.
Beyond the realm of hospitality, this development agreement underscores the government’s commitment to fostering economic growth and enhancing employment opportunities in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Molo is partnering with the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College (TCICC) to actively promote hospitality as a career choice and support in developing training programs, career fairs, seminars, workshops, and events to raise awareness about hospitality careers. Molo has committed to provide employment and apprentice opportunities to TCICC students and provide mentoring and practical on property training to students.
The signing event was graced by Hon. Charles Washington Missick, Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands, Hon. Jamell Robinson, Deputy Premier, Hon. Kyle Knowles, Minister of Public Safety and Utilities, Hon. Rachel Taylor, Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture, Łukasz and Marcin Slominski, Owners of Molo, Ross Morrow, Managing Director Molo, Arik Kono, Vice President Upscale Development for IHG, Dr. Candice Williams, President and CEO of the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College, Angela Musgrove, InvestTCI CEO, Dr. Barbara Ambrister, Chairperson of the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College, Dr. Delores Stapleton- Harris, Vice President of Academic, Vocational and Student Affairs for the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College, Mr. Kevin Baxter, Dean of Technical Vocational Education Training (TVET) and Sheryl McLaughlin, InvestTCI Investment Services Executive.
Commenting on the development agreement, Premier, Hon. Misick, stated “The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing of
IHG/Molo Hotels is a significant step towards a sustainable future for hospitality in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Three hotels, Kimpton, Intercontinental, and Hotel Indigo, will be introduced, enhancing our tourism product and creating employment opportunities.”
He further added, “Partnerships with the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College and Turks and Caicos Islands Sports Commission are underway, demonstrating the Government’s commitment to developing human capital and elevating tourism offerings. This project will bring economic growth, embrace local talent, and enrich our economy.”
Additionally, Mrs. Angela Musgrove, CEO of Invest Turks and Caicos Islands, emphasized “This collaboration confirms our commitment to fostering economic growth and prosperity within our country. We have worked closely with Molo Hotel Group, and we are confident that this transformative project will further position the Turks and Caicos Islands as a premier destination for travel and investment. Much to our delight, it will also provide opportunities for engagement with our Community College and small business community.”
The Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands, operating through its primary Investment Promotion
Agency, Invest Turks and Caicos Islands, remains committed to attracting and facilitating Foreign Direct Investments to the country by providing a comprehensive suite of services. Through strategic initiatives and targeted promotion, the agency catalyzes sustainable development, driving innovation and small business opportunities across various sectors of the economy.
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