Caribbean News
Humpback Whales are coming; how to behave when you see the spectacular!
By Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, December 6, 2022 – As the winter months are upon us, many visitors flock to the Turks and Caicos’ shores, but not all of them are human. North Atlantic Humpback Whales making their way to warmer waters pass through the Turks and Caicos’ waters from as early as December to as late as April each year.
Humpback whales are the sixth largest whales on earth, and the average Humpback weighs between 28-33 short tons. The average deck-only boat weighs around 5000 pounds. The average adult male human weighs many times less; it would take about 275 of them to equal the weight of a single Humpback.
DECR’s Environmental Outreach Coordinator, Amy Avenant, spoke to Magnetic Media.
“The etiquette that has been established has been so in consultation with various tour operators and the TCI Whale Project, and it informs sustainable and respectful practices to keep both whales and humans safe and to ensure that
you have an enhanced experience while out on the water,“ she said.
To ensure optimal enjoyment, safety and respect, the DECR provided seven (7) tips to help residents, charter operators and visitors:
- Vessels are to approach slowly, carefully and quietly (keeping engine noise to a minimum). Maintaining a respectful distance ensures the animals will not feel stressed or threatened.
- Do not ‘fence in’ the animal. This includes blocking them between boats; being too close to the shore/shallow water; cutting off their direction of travel; chasing after them, or getting between mother and calf.
- If the animal changes direction three (3) or more times, it means they are feeling harassed or stressed. Simply maintain position and allow them their space. Disturbed whales will swim away, and your viewing will be compromised.
- When operating a vessel, move parallel to the animal to avoid approaching them head-on, as it may give the animal the impression that they are being chased. Surprised animals may show aggression and become very dangerous.
- Mothers and calves are tired and more likely to be spooked. They will require extra consideration of the above.
- If another vessel is with a whale/group of whales, display courtesy: radio/call the vessel to a) confirm whether it is safe to approach and b) request to join the experience.
- REMEMBER: Whales are large animals, outsizing humans and vessels alike. Safety is to be the first priority for both whales and viewers. Swimmers are to enter the water with caution and with an experienced guide. Approaching with caution ensures you will get the most out of your experience.
Whale safety keeps you, your guests and the whales safe; ensure all guidelines are followed.
Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, March 17, 2023 – Revenue from the Turks and Caicos’ Financial Services Sector will more than double in the next few years, if E Jay Saunders, Deputy Premier and Finance Minister gets his way. It ‘s one of the reasons the country is investing so much capital into getting off of the EU blacklist and becoming a secure trustworthy financial destination.
“The FSC’s revenues for 2020/21 was $10.5M— the figures for 2021/22, would be about similar,” he said. He further explained that $10.5 million from the FSC represented about 2.6 percent of the country’s 408.5-million-dollar
revenue. Though it increased to $14 million in the 2021/22 financial year, finance is still a small fry compared to tourism or even stamp duties but that will change, says Saunders.
“My revenue goal for the Government by the year 2029 [or] the election after the next election – is $500M. By that time, I want the financial sector (FSC) revenues to represent at least 5% ($25M). So that’s my goal for the financial sector by 2029.”
This goal, should it be met, would increase the Government’s revenue by 100 million dollars, a significant increase in spending power for local upgrades and improvements for Turks and Caicos residents and visitors.
Saunders says it’s time for the TCI to diversify its sources of revenue to make sure that what happened in the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw residents out of a job for months, will not happen again. Tourism now makes up around 80 percent of the country’s GDP. The Minister of Finance wants to push that down to 60 or even 50 percent.
Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#Haiti, March 17, 2023 – When a CARICOM delegation visited Haiti earlier this month, conspicuously absent was the Turks and Caicos Islands despite being one of the nations most directly affected by the multi-dimensional crisis there. There is no comment, as yet from the Premier, to say why this was the case.
Still, from the expedition, CARICOM heads of Government have informed that there will be lobbying in Africa for assistance in Haiti. They say they have decided that the best course of action for the Caribbean country is to bolster the Haitian National Police and act as intermediaries with Africa and the world. The decision follows a one day visit on February 27th, and a March 5th meeting chaired by the Bahamas.
CARICOM says during the trip delegates ‘met with a broad range of Haitian stakeholders to hear their views on the
way forward to a Haitian-led solution’. With that in mind it has made a decision on how to proceed.
“The Heads of Government agreed to support the Haitian National Police in their efforts to address the security situation. The focus of the Community will be the provision of training for the HNP and the provision of humanitarian assistance to HNP and the wider Haitian society, taking into account the challenging humanitarian and security situation”
It’s not clear yet where and how this training will take place. Also distinctly absent from the report, no more mention of boots on the ground from other countries despite CARICOM Member States indicating they were ready and willing should it come to that.
In addition, recognizing ‘the common historical experiences and the strong African-Caribbean relationship’ CARICOM says,
“Heads of Government also agreed to seek support from African countries for Haiti. They also agreed to work with the Governments of Canada and the United States as well as the UNDP”
Magnetic Media has reached out to the Premier’s Office to get a full debrief of the February 27th visit (led by Jamaica; including The Bahamas and Trinidad and Tobago) to learn of Turks and Caicos’ posture following the critical sessions.
Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, March 17, 2023 – Musicians from the New World Symphony will be in the Turks and Caicos in concert next month and residents are invited to attend in support of the future of Ashley’s Learning Center. 
A fairly young orchestral academy based in Miami, the New World Symphony was launched in the 1980s by 1987, Michael Tilson Thomas and Ted Arison,Carnival Cruises founder. From the 1500 applicants who vie for a spot each year, the symphony accepts around 35 music graduates annually for training fellowships.
A select few of those graduates will be in country on April 8th headlining at the Ashley’s Learning Center concert ‘We’re all in this together’. The concert which also feature local artistes will be held at Brayton Hall on Venetian Road from 6 pm to 8:30 pm
Tickets are available ON ISLEHELP $75 PER GENERAL SEAT $125 PER PREMIUM SEAT $195 PER GALLERY SEAT – with /FREFRESHMENTS.
For TICKET RESERVATIONs you can call: 649-341-2304 or email EVENTS@ASHLEYSLEARNINGCENTER.ORG
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