News
Turks and Caicos, the delicate balance between development and preservation
#TurksandCaicos, November 11, 2023 – Like myself, some citizens are often skeptical about any major developments and rapid population growth across these islands. It is seen as a danger in commoditising deeply held traditions so closely linked to individuals and our collective identity.
But there is a caveat, many still see it as the primary way to keep these tiny islands alive and to survive.
Tourism is the bread and butter of this tiny British overseas territory, with close to 800 million US dollars annually.
This alone corresponds to approximately 75% of the country’s gross domestic product. Although Providenciales is the main hub for visitors via air travel, many are unaware that the sister islands are only a hop, skip and a jump away either by an interconnecting flight or the local ferry boats.
In recent years, visitors are flocking to the historical island of Grand Turk which is the capital of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Although, in terms of development, it may not appear to be.
On this island in particular, over 80 percent of the residents depend to some extent on tourism. Grand Turk has a number of the amenities as most major cities, but still gives you that small town feel.
Like the sister island, Salt Cay, some supplies are limited. There is a fairly large selection of groceries at the supermarkets, however, healthy foods come at a high price. What residents and visitors can depend on is fresh catch of the day, which is regularly available by the local fishermen at reasonable prices.
Those in the tourism business tend to try and earn as much of their income as possible from visitors during the peak tourism season which is between November and April.
Many of the locals are still passionate with keeping the culture alive, and aren’t just motivated by cash for cash own sake, or the US dollar which is the only currency used. Nevertheless, tourism money is most definitely needed to improve infrastructure and quality of life on practically all of these islands.
Apart from the transient visitors and on cruise ship days, the population on Grand Turk is roughly around 3500 residents. Over the years, it has slowly dwindled once major development on the island of Providenciales began to take shape.
The nature of island life especially on Grand Turk and Salt Cay, has satisfactory temperamental transportation, and with a bit of pre-planning, a trip to any one of these islands is plenty rewarding for those looking for a charming, quiet atmosphere, beautiful by nature beaches, and a unique culture.
The nightlife in Grand Turk is pretty quiet and may be a bit different from what some are used too. With some exceptions, there are a few small neighborhood bars where you can mingle with the locals or enjoy a good laugh or play a few games of dominoes.
Grand Turk is the home of one of the oldest lighthouses in the Caribbean. For lighthouse enthusiast, although entrance into the building itself is off limit, one will enjoy the breathtaking scenery and will find it both charming and fascinating.
If you’re like most tourists looking for fancy hotels, five course meals, or seeking a choice of watching a night show, these things are not the norm.
Come if you’re interested in this spectacular island laidback culture, where you are still greeted with big smiles, good morning, or good evening, waving hands, honking horns and most everyone knows you by your last name.
For many reasons, my favorite island still remains Grand Turk. It’s captures the essence of the Turks and Caicos Islands culture, with a shared sense of identity. This is where I graduated high school and made most of my early childhood memories. One of the few islands in the Caribbean where cows, horses, donkeys and friendly dogs still roam wild.
Among the many ecotourism and land activities, one can enjoy things like snorkeling, stingray encounters, fishing, ATV and horseback rides.
If your lucky, during peak season, you may get a glimpse of the humpback whales breaching right from the shoreline or pier, which is a niche market to Grand Turk and Salt Cay.
Most people come just to be in the middle of nature and have that small island feeling. An opportunity to bask in the sunshine, the tranquility, enjoy the secluded beaches and stretches of unspoiled coastlines.
What the islands are experiencing now is an influx of vacationers on their second or third time around. Many who have found lucrative business opportunities and are investing in vacation homes and Air BNB rentals.
When you’re on the island, you take it for granted that life is like that; you don’t see the value in living that hustle and bustle lifestyle elsewhere. If you’re lucky to arrive on cruise ship days to Grand Turk, you can enjoy some entertainment and food for a few hours before returning to the quiet lifestyle.
Many visitors are usually fascinated with the laidback culture, relatively low crime rate and friendly people.
In my opinion, the island itself will benefit more if greater focus is placed on developing our unique culture as one of the main attractions which tourists enjoy. This could also help to support the community’s ability to keep those traditions alive and thriving.
On the other hand, unchecked growth may have negative downstream consequences.
The rapid growth on the island of Providenciales is a good example of that. Grand Turk in particular has less than 5 commercial motels for tourists to stay, while the island of Providenciales is booming in this sector.
What we are beginning to see are more short term rentals and Air B&B-style accommodations. Albeit, I think having at least one major hotel in Grand Turk and a direct flight would be welcomed by many.
Nevertheless, more development could compromise both the community and the environment, swinging the Capital out of its current beautiful by nature precarious equilibrium.
Furthermore, with having limited real estate on this tiny island, finding that balance is crucial for the government. It could help to protect residents from predatory land grab and prevent them from being priced out of their homes.
Perhaps, it would be prudent to invest and capitalize on some of our existing natural resources and historical sites.
In short order, starting with the restoration of our eighteen century light house, the old prison, our Salt house or more vigorously promoting the “magnificant wall”. The Wall as it is referred to, is an amazing 7k feet deep ocean shelf, approximately 1000 feet off Grand Turk shore line, a dream for snorkelers and scuba diving enthusiasts.
To attract repeat visitors, so much more can be done, while limiting the proliferation of brick and mortar buildings. The million dollar question now is how much development do we want? Despite the rustic look, the inconvenience at times, the occasional mosquitoes, the lack of adequate resources in some areas, its still a hidden gem.
For those having duel citizenship and easy access to travel visas, being able to go back and forward to the United States and elsewhere as one desires, it’s priceless! This is truly having the best of both worlds.
Cheers!
Ed Forbes
NASSAU, The Bahamas – Participants of the Ministry of Social Services, Information and Broadcasting’s Camp Inclusion, including the camp’s student advocates, recently toured Nassau Cruise Port in a move designed to produce multiple benefits for the children.
Camp officials said the tour was part of the “moving away” from the old tradition of keeping children with disabilities locked away at home, and towards greater social inclusion for persons with disabilities – especially children.
Facilitated by the Community Affairs Division of the Ministry of Social Services, Information and Broadcasting at the Flamingo Gardens Family Life Centre, the camp is a collaborative effort between the Ministry, its Community Affairs and Disability Affairs Divisions, the Bahamas Coalition of Advocates for Disability Awareness and Service (BaCADAS), and the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD). The majority of the Camp Instructors are persons with disabilities.
The Camp is in keeping with the Global Family Day 2024 theme of “Embracing Diversity, Strengthening Families,” and is an extension of the Ministry’s continued efforts to take the lead in ensuring access and inclusion for all — particularly the community of persons with disabilities — in every aspect of society.
Children with different levels and types of disabilities, along with student advocates, participated. Its focus was to ensure that participating youth learn about living with mobility and intellectual disabilities, advocacy, inclusion and accessibility.
Mr. Townsley Roberts, Deputy Executive Secretary of the Secretariat of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, said
the visit is expected to have a number of expected outcomes.
“It was very important to get the kids out and for them to see parts of the island that they rarely get a chance to experience,” Mr. Roberts said. “It was also an opportunity for them to feel a part of the Bahamian society because many times they are kept at home or just in the classroom (and) so this gives them a chance to spread their wings; an opportunity to dream. You never know, something they saw today can spark their imaginations and some may become artists, want to work in the tourism field or even just to try and experience a cruise. The ability to dream, to feel a part of society, to feel included, is important to the growth of all children, including persons with disabilities.”
Mr. Roberts applauded officials at Nassau Cruise Port for agreeing to the tour, which he said also allowed chaperones to inform the student advocates of some of the aspects that makes a facility accessible and inclusive.
“We are so happy that the Cruise Port allowed us the opportunity to come and tour the facility. As the name of the camp goes, what we are promoting is inclusion — total inclusion in all aspects of Bahamian society including the culture, and the open spaces. We want to make sure that all spaces are accessible and one of the things we know, because we had the opportunity to inspect the cruise port, is that the Port is accessible to persons with disabilities. So why not bring the children – including the student advocates — here as a means of helping them to understand and to witness first-hand what accessibility means and how it, or the lack of accessibility, affects the lives of persons with disabilities.”
Mr. Antoine Munroe, a Camp Instructor and employee of the Disability Affairs Division of the Ministry of Social Services, Information and Broadcasting, said access and inclusion ensures that every person is able to achieve the same outcomes whether in social, educational, or employment settings, and are the best methods of ensuring that persons with disabilities are given the same opportunities to participate in society. He applauded the inclusion of the student advocates in the camp.
“It is a passion of my own to see young people included and exposed to the life of persons with disabilities. Being able to tour the facility gave me an understanding of how I can use my cane to move about with a little assistance and I thought that was very, very smooth. I congratulate those persons who were able to cause this to happen, and also the persons in charge of the Nassau Cruise Port. I think this is a very good step in the right direction,” Mr. Munroe added.
Release: BIS
(BIS Photos/Patrice Johnson)
Bahamas News
National Commission for Persons with Disabilities gauges ‘accessibility’ at ZNS, BIS as part of ongoing inspection schedule
NASSAU, The Bahamas – Inspectors attached to the Inspectorate Division of the Secretariat of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD) conducted assessments of the facilities at the Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas, and Bahamas Information Services, Tuesday (July 23) as part of their ongoing efforts to ensure that all public facilities, and those private facilities that provide services to members of the public, are accessible for all.
Both entities fall under the remit of the Ministry of Social Services, Information and Broadcasting as does the Secretariat.
The team was headed by Mr. Townsley Roberts, Deputy Executive Secretary, Secretariat of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, and included Mr. G. Michael Ellis, Senior Inspector; Mr. Wesley Paul, Inspector; and Mr. Thorne Clarke, Inspector.
Deputy Executive Secretary Roberts said the inspections were two-fold.
“Today we are inspecting ZNS and BIS which are both a part of the Ministry of Social Services, Information and Broadcasting to ensure that they are accessible because it is our belief that we cannot ask the public to do the things required by law without first ensuring that our entities are also in compliance,” Mr. Roberts said.
“People need to understand that accessibility to persons with disabilities is just as important as it is to persons without a disability. We want to be able to go about your day-to-day business without any obstacles in our way.
“What makes us disabled is the built environment, the barriers in front of us. If you remove those barriers, then we can do many of the same things persons without disabilities can do, and sometimes better. So this is what we are about. We are trying to make The Bahamas a place for all persons (and) where it will be comfortable for persons with disabilities to be able to manoeuvre through buildings and other spaces with the same ease and comfort expected by everyone else.”
The inspection team conducted assessments of wheelchair ramps, bathrooms, office spaces, and parking and reception areas, and measured doorway and hallway widths, in addition to other spaces to ensure that the requirements as set out in the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities) Act, 2014, are met.
Mr. Ellis, who spent 34 years as a member of the Royal Bahamas Police Force before retiring as a Senior Police Officer and who brings that same knowledge of the law to his new role, said the inspections help to ensure that the community of persons with disabilities enjoy the same rights to accessibility as any other citizen.
“Persons with disabilities, including those in wheelchairs, persons with walkers, crutches and those who use other assistive devices such as canes, should be able to move around just like everyone else,” Mr. Ellis said.
“We were looking to make sure that there were accessible bathrooms for both males and females, to ensure that there are proper ramps and that the ramps are the proper sizes, to ensure that all of the offices are accessible and all of the other areas are accessible for persons with disabilities.
“The Act says whatever we, as able bodied persons can do, a person with a disability should be permitted or allowed to do the same without any hindrance. Our job is to ensure that these facilities are in compliance with the Act.”
Once inspections are completed, Adjustment Orders are sent to those facilities/businesses found not to be in compliance with the Act, advising them of any faults, and providing a time-frame for compliance.
(BIS Photos/Anthon Thompson)
Release: Bahamas Information Services
PHOTO CAPTIONS
Header: – ZNS/BCB
Left to right:
1: G. Michael Ellis – Sr. Inspector (NCPD)
2: Thorne Clarke – Inspector (NCPD)
3: Townsley Roberts – Deputy Executive Secretary (NCPD)
4: Wesley Paul – Inspector (NCPD)
5: Carlton Smith – Chief Security Officer (BCB)
Insert: – BIS
Left to right:
1: Elcott Coleby – Director General (BIS)
2: Wesley Paul – Inspector (NCPD)
3: Townsley Roberts – Deputy Executive Secretary (NCPD)
4: Carlton Smith – Chief Security Officer (BCB)
5: Thorne Clarke – Inspector (NCPD)
6: G. Michael Ellis – Sr. Inspector (NCPD)
***MEDIA RELEASE***
July 23rd, 2024.
Around 10:59 am, the Police Control Room received a call of gunshots at a location along the Millennium Highway, Providenciales.
Officers of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force were dispatched and, based on preliminary investigations, were told that the occupant (s) of a red Suzuki Swift was at a business place when another car pulled alongside it, and the occupants started shooting.
The driver of the Swift drove off while the other unidentified vehicle sped off in a separate direction. 
Officers found the Swift abandoned near Miracle Close, Blue Hills, shortly after.
Based on investigations, no injuries were reported.
This remains an active investigation.
The RT&CIPF is asking anyone with information or CCTV footage of the shooting that may assist the police with enquiries to contact 911, the closest police station, the Serious Crime Unit at 231-1842, or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-8477 and anonymously give any information.
Additionally, persons are being asked to download the Crime Stoppers P3 app.
-
Caribbean News1 week agoCayman Relief Mission to Hurricane hit CARICOM nations
-
Caribbean News1 week agoCARICOM raising profile and priority of its Migration Policy; curbing challenges ‘a tall order’
-
Caribbean News1 week agoHurricane Help; Money donated to Jamaica, Barbados, St Vincent & the Grenadines, St Lucia and Grenada
-
Caribbean News1 week agoJamaica’s Hurricane Recovery Efforts Bolstered by Donation from Cayman Islands
-
Bahamas News1 week agoPrime Minister Davis: Cannabis Reform Compendium 2024 ‘a long time coming’
-
News1 week agoWhat the new UK Prime Minister had to say about the Rwanda Deportation Plan at his first press conference
-
News1 week agoTurks & Caicos’ E.J Saunders part of Election Observer team in UK on July 4
-
News3 days agoTHE GOVERNMENT OF THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS SUCCESSFULLY DEFENDS JUDICIAL REVIEW APPLICATION BROUGHT BY FORTIS TCI LTD AGAINST THE ENERGY AND UTILITIES COMMISSIONER