News
Five years since Hurricanes & Maria, Waterloo re-opens better, stronger
By Deandrea Hamilton & Dana Malcolm
Editorial Staff
#TurksandCaicos, March 24, 2022 – An enchanted evening at an historical treasure and now the Governor’s residence Grand Turk is once again habitable; Waterloo was in 2017 devastated by the harrowing hit of Hurricanes Irma and Maria.
Five years on and His Excellency Nigel Dakin takes to his Instagram to share highlights from a string of events
He penned: “A gem of a house, constructed in 1815, its seen 207 years of TCI’s history. Pounded by the 2017 hurricanes it was uninhabitable but last night saw its rebirth.
Back in 2019, in my inauguration speech, I said I hoped to both “preserve and improve” and I hope this wonderful property proves to be an analogy of that. Like TCI it’s bounced back stronger from the adversity of the last few years.
The fabric of the building has been strengthened- better to survive future disaster – but the integrity of the design remains true to the original. Those visiting will not notice a huge, if any, serious change.”
The exterior he said will continue to celebrate the past; inside Mr. and Mrs. Dakin hoped to showcase the bright future for the Turks and Caicos, he said.
“Local artists are exhibited on the walls (their paintings available to purchase) and the voluminous space created by removing false ceilings, and paying respect to the workmanship in the Timbers, helps lift your spirits.
The historic dining room table remains (it could tell some stories) but the furniture is there to be minimalist,
The gardens, always beautiful, have been tidied and the amount of foliage slightly reduced to provide light and space but framed with verdant green and vibrant colors.”
Guests to the special dinner function were serve what we could only imagine was savory meal, helped by two inmates of the prison.
“… they’ve been brilliant in helping us prepare and we have ambitious plans going forward linked to training those leaving the prison for the hospitality sector using the fantastic industrial kitchen we have in Waterloo.”
On Instagram, where Governor Dakin has some 5,839 followers, there is also announcement about inmate made handbags travelling across the pond for a London fashion debut.
“On that Anya Willique has been collaborating with Mandy to produce a range of bags and totes to be made in the prison out of kites donated by Big Blue and H2O. If all goes to plan Anya has a place secured at London fashion week in September.”
There is also an assertive effort to getting more inmates working with the TCI Community College and the first of many Farmers’ Markets is coming for Waterloo. The produce and the livestock are being grown at the prison grounds.
“I was at the Prison today (Monday) looking at the significant improvement at the Farm. I used some funds available to me from the UK to support this.
The staff and prisoners have done an amazing job at generating a model farm; rearing livestock and growing fruits and vegetables. As well as feeding the inmates we intend to launch a farmers market in the grounds of Waterloo where theirs and others produce can be sold.
The Minister responsible for Agriculture (Hon Josephine Connolly) was there along with Dr. Brown the Chief Vet whose done so much to support the animal husbandry.”
A tour Monday included government ministers for Home Affairs, Hon Otis Morris and Physical Planning and Infrastructure Development, Hon Akierra Missick.
Government is seeking to lead by example in ensuring the rate of recidivism is reduced by ensuring more inmates, once complete their sentence are making a healthier transition to society.
“We now have a proposed way forward – more to follow in future months. And the great news is others are playing their part. Two Hotels have recently employed previous inmates. Thank you.
From education through agriculture to mechanics to textile production to hospitality we’ve started, and we can do that because the prison is now a disciplined place. The present inmates are our future neighbors and stopping recidivism is in all our favor.”