News
TCIG nesting bird awareness
#TurksandCaicos, August 1, 2023 – The Department of Environment and Coastal Resources (DECR) would like to remind residents and visitors of the Turks and Caicos Islands that the summer seabird nesting season is underway. Many species of gulls, terns, noddies, and other seabirds nest on the cays and remote beaches from May through August yearly.
DECR notes that all birds and their nests and eggs are protected in Turks and Caicos Islands under the Wild Birds Protection Ordinance, specifically:
Section 3 (1) “Any person commits an offense against this Ordinance who – (a) Wilfully kills, wounds, or takes, or attempts to kill, wound, or take any wild bird;(b) takes, removes, injures or destroys any nest or egg of any wild bird.”
This includes disturbing nesting sites by landing on seabird cays, walking through nesting areas, and allowing pets onto seabird cays or into nesting areas. Breeding seabirds can be highly sensitive to human activities at or near their nesting sites. Disturbance can affect nesting success and have longer-term impacts on colonies. Eggs are fragile and easily broken, eggs and small chicks can die if left unattended, and adult birds can abandon their nest resulting in breeding failure if disturbance is persistent.
Most of the remote cays on which seabirds nest are Protected Areas under the National Parks Ordinance (see list at end of article); those seabirds and their nests are also protected from disturbance by that Ordinance. Many of the remote seabird nesting cays are classified as Sanctuaries, for which landing without written permission from DECR (including landing on the beaches) is prohibited.
Seabirds may also nest in open areas on other islands, especially on beaches and dunes. Many species of seabirds do not make nests and keep their well-camouflaged eggs and chicks directly on sand or rock, which makes walking through a nesting area very dangerous to the eggs and chicks.
If you enter an area where seabirds are flying closely and noisily overhead, it is important to leave the area immediately. Do not attempt to throw objects or sand at the birds. They will not leave their nests. It is also crucial that eggs or chicks, even if seemingly abandoned, are not removed from the wild. As visitors to their habitats, and stewards of their ecosystem, it is our responsibility to minimise disturbance in this crucial time of their life cycle.
DECR Director Lormeka Williams explains, “Seabirds come to land only once per year to reproduce, and even seemingly small disturbances can ruin a nesting year. We are only beginning to understand the vital ecological role of nesting seabirds to the health of our coral reefs and their fascinating domino effect whereby the perfectly-balanced nutrient load from their nesting areas promotes not only increased fish presence, but also the health of large pelagic fish such as sharks.”
Dr. Rhiannon Auston of University of Liverpool has been working on seabird research in collaboration with DECR and the Turks and Caicos National trust for several years.
Dr. Austin states, “Seabirds are important components of healthy marine ecosystems. Many species are marine top predators that eat huge quantities of fish and roam over large stretches of the oceans to find food. Therefore, they link offshore and nearshore ecosystems, and playing important roles in nutrient cycling and maintaining healthy
reefs.” Dr Auston continues, “Seabirds are sensitive to changes in food availability and breed on land, making them relatively easy to monitor. Thus, they are excellent indicators of the health of marine ecosystems and are great tools for management.”
Follow seabird research in TCI on social media: @tciseabirds
Cays within Sanctuaries, where landing without written permission is prohibited, include the following:
Caicos Bank: French Cay, Seal Cay, Seal Pup Cays, White Cay, Pear Cay, Indian Cay, Shot Cay, Bush Cay.
Turks Bank: Long Cay, Big Sand Cay.
Other cays that are protected as National Parks or Nature Reserves include the following:
Caicos Bank: Chalk Sound Cays, Little Water Cay, Mangrove Cay, Lizard Cay, Bird Cay, Star Island, Fort St George Cay, Grouper Cay, Stubbs Cay, Three Mary Cays, East Bay Cays, Guana Cay, Middleton Cay, Horse Cay, Iguana Cay, Small Moxey Bush, Dove Cay, Long Cay, Six Hills Cays, Fish Cays, Little Ambergris Cay,
Turks Bank: Gibb’s Cay, Round Cay, Penniston Cay, Pear Cay, Martin Alonzo Pinzon Cay (East Cay).
Turks and Caicos, May 23, 2026 – Invest Turks and Caicos Islands took center stage at one of the region’s most influential hospitality
investment gatherings this spring, serving as a Platinum Sponsor at ALIS CALA 2026 in Coral Gables, Florida.
Held April 28 to 30 at the Loews Coral Gables Hotel, the conference brought together more than 600 tourism, hotel and investment leaders from over 35 countries focused on the future of hospitality investment in the Caribbean and Latin America.
ALIS CALA — short for the Americas Lodging Investment Summit Caribbean and Latin America — is widely regarded as the region’s premier deal-driven hospitality investment conference. The platform emerged from the merger of the long-running Caribbean Hotel & Resort Investment Summit (CHRIS) and Hotel Opportunities Latin America (HOLA), creating what organizers describe as a high-level space where investors, developers, lenders, hotel brands and government leaders connect around major regional projects and opportunities.
The event is known for attracting senior decision-makers, with roughly one in three delegates holding titles such as Chairman, CEO, President, Owner or Principal.
Invest Turks and Caicos said its participation focused heavily on showcasing investment opportunities across the territory, particularly in the Family Islands.
CEO Angela Musgrove delivered a presentation highlighting development opportunities in the Turks and Caicos Islands to what the agency
described as a full room of attendees and strong stakeholder interest.
In a statement following the conference, Invest Turks and Caicos said discussions centered on tourism expansion, sustainable development and long-term investment partnerships designed to position the Turks and Caicos Islands as a leading investment destination in the region.
The agency added that it looks forward to continuing conversations started at ALIS CALA and building new partnerships with investors, developers and strategic stakeholders interested in growth opportunities throughout the islands.
The conference itself focused heavily on capital access, hotel development pipelines, mixed-use tourism projects and investment confidence throughout the Caribbean basin — sectors where Turks and Caicos continues to attract increasing international attention.
The Rick Fox Political Timeline
“Are You Thinking About Politics?”
Fox publicly acknowledged growing calls for him to enter Bahamian politics, saying he had been hearing from women, youth, business owners and everyday Bahamians who were “ready for something different.”
October 19, 2025
“Then Jump, Man.”
Fox revealed a conversation with NBA legend Michael Jordan, who encouraged him to enter politics after asking whether he believed he could help young Bahamians.
November 24, 2025
“The Bahamas Must Be First”
Fox officially announced his intention to run in the 2026 General Election, promising transparency, affordability, opportunity and a modern Bahamian economy.
February 4, 2026
“Officially Picked”
The Free National Movement formally ratified Fox as its candidate for Garden Hills, instantly making him one of the most talked-about figures in the election cycle.
March 20, 2026
“From Courtside to Campaign Stage”
Fox mounted the national campaign stage for the first time at the FNM’s major campaign launch at Baha Mar Resort in Nassau.
March 30, 2026
“I’m Giving The Salary Back”
Fox announced he would not take a parliamentary salary if elected, saying the funds should instead go back into helping the people of
Garden Hills.
April 14, 2026
“Nomination Eve Goes Viral”
A heated confrontation involving Fox and PLP supporters outside the Parliamentary Registration Department exploded across social media after video captured the tense exchange.
April 16, 2026
“Pick Rick” Officially Launches
Nomination Day cemented Fox’s candidacy and formally launched the now-famous “Pick Rick” campaign branding.
April 19, 2026
“Vote and Win”
Jamiah Burrows won a vehicle through Fox’s civic participation challenge, part of a campaign effort encouraging voter engagement and turnout.
April 20, 2026
“The Wealthiest Candidate”
Financial disclosures revealed Fox as the wealthiest candidate in the 2026 election cycle, with reported assets exceeding $469 million, ending speculation about his financial standing.
April 25, 2026
“The Garden Hills Blueprint”
Fox unveiled detailed policy graphics outlining plans for:
- youth development,
- healthcare access,
- infrastructure upgrades,
- environmental restoration,
- entrepreneurship,
- and a proposed $10 million investment fund for Garden Hills.
May 4, 2026
“The Numbers Don’t Lie”
Fox’s campaign highlighted more than:
- 20 community clean-ups,
- 16 streets and locations served,
- and 13 solar lights installed across Garden Hills during the campaign.
May 6, 2026
“Shaq Steps In”
NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal publicly endorsed Fox, helping elevate international attention surrounding the campaign.
May 8, 2026
“Buju Backs Rick”
Jamaican reggae icon Buju Banton threw his support behind Fox ahead of Election Day.
May 10, 2026
“Vanessa Williams Endorses”
Fox’s former wife, actress and singer Vanessa Williams publicly endorsed his campaign.
May 11, 2026
“Magic Joins the Campaign”
NBA icon Magic Johnson became the latest major celebrity to endorse Fox just one day before Bahamians went to the polls.
May 12, 2026
“Election Day”
Fox contested the Garden Hills constituency seat against PLP incumbent Mario Bowleg in one of the country’s most closely watched races.
May 13, 2026
“Grace in Defeat”
Fox publicly conceded the race and congratulated Bowleg on his victory in Garden Hills.
May 18, 2026
“We Pick Rick”
Despite losing at the polls, Fox officially entered Parliament after being appointed to the Senate by the FNM — with the party itself declaring:
“We Pick Rick.”
The appointment made Fox one of the most internationally recognized figures ever to serve in the Bahamian Senate.
Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands — The Informal Settlements Unit (ISU), in coordination with the Planning Department and key partner agencies, conducted a multi-agency enforcement exercise on Thursday, May 7, 2026, in the Lower Bight area in Providenciales. The exercise resulted in the complete removal of a total of eight (8) unauthorized structures and all associated debris from a
privately-owned parcel of land.
The operation was led by the Planning Department, with coordination by the ISU and support from the TCI Border Force, the Crown Land Unit, and Pelican Energy. Security for the exercise was provided by the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force. All agencies worked collaboratively to ensure the exercise was carried out in a safe, orderly, and controlled manner.
The enforcement action followed a structured and lawful process in accordance with the Physical Planning regulatory framework of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Section 45 Enforcement Notices were first issued on the affected parcel in December 2024, identifying unauthorized structures erected without the requisite approvals. This was followed by the issuance of Warning Notices on April 16, 2026, which advised occupants that they were in breach of planning and land use regulations and provided notice that demolition activities would proceed following the prescribed compliance period. Despite these notices and the time afforded for compliance, the unauthorized structures remained in place.
This exercise represents part of an ongoing commitment to ensuring that development within the Turks and Caicos Islands is lawful, safe, and aligned with national standards.
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