In Hispaniola both Indians and Spaniards have two kinds of bread.
One sort is made of maíz, which is a grain, and the other of cassava.
Maize is grain that is borne on an ear about six to eight inches long.
This ear or spike is covered with grains almost as large as chickpeas.
Gonzalo Fernández de Oviedo, 1526

When I first met Simon Forbes he was dancing to scratched Reggae and Calypso records at Emanuel Hall’s store in Bambarra. And man, can that man dance! In those days, Hall had one of the few stand-alone generators on the island. It may seem surprising, but electricity didn’t arrive on Middle Caicos until the early 1980s — (a fact that fuels romanticized archaeological remembrances of working at night by kerosene lantern.)

Simon would never claim to be of Taíno descent. So what could my research possibly have to do with him? What does Simon’s dancing have to do with global climate change? And why eat the grits? Simply stated, what most fascinates me is tracing historical connections; teasing out those aspects of the past that have created the present, and are likely to influence the future.

Legacy maize field near Bas Limbe, Haiti

The reason that this particular plot of land was so productive is because the original inhabitants of the island lived there for about 200 years (circa AD 1300–1500) and their refuse (garbage, night soils, etc.) had greatly enriched the fertility of the otherwise sandy soil (called “whitelands” due to its light color and lack of fertility). The site has over a meter of very dark, organically enriched soil (along with artifacts from the original inhabitants) that extends to a depth of over one meter. Although it may be hard to envision, there is a definite connection between the remote past and the present. On other islands, Mayaguana for example, we have found that the “native” vegetation is far more luxuriant on Indian sites. Furthermore, throughout the Turks & Caicos, Shaun Sullivan found that archaeological sites are almost always found in Guinea grass patches (a grass introduced from Africa as cattle fodder) because this grass pioneers disturbed (formerly agricultural) landscapes. In essence, the modern landscape is the product of human activities going back thousands of years.

The historical thread is that the land Simon farmed was superior to the surrounding whitelands because the garbage of native peoples had enriched the soil. In addition, it was Amerindians who first cultivated many of his crops. This is a classic example of how much of what we do today is a legacy of the past. About 20 years ago the Florida Museum of Natural History developed a museum exhibit called “Better than Gold.” The point was that Amerindian plants transformed European cultures in more profound ways than did shiny metal.

Maize (Zea mays) is perhaps the most important crop in history. The British called it “Indian” or “Guinea” corn because the word corn means “small bit.” The Taínos called it maíz. The ancestors of maize are apparently wild grains related to teosinte and tripsacum, with small ears the size of a person’s thumb. It is possible that modern corn developed when humans carried this grain south from Mexico into Central and Andean South America where those related species crossbred. Cobs found in caves inhabited by people southeast of Mexico City date to 5,000 BC. Recent evidence from the study of pollen, phytoliths and starch grains suggests that humans in Central America began managing maize up to 10,000 years ago, and that it was brought into the Caribbean islands about 4,000 years ago.

The early races did not look much like modern varieties, and it may seem odd that people focused their attention on a plant that produced a small number of grains that required special collection methods and processing. Yet we now know that a wide variety of small-seeded grains (including wheat, rice, millet, sorghum, chenopodium, and amaranth) were cultivated at early dates to supplement what were otherwise foraging economies (more popularly known as hunter-gatherers). In the early variety of maize each kernel was covered by a cupule so it was necessary to winnow the collected seed to remove this inedible covering. Through human manipulation the kernels eventually became “naked” with only a surrounding husk.

Despite its humble beginnings, maize has transformed our world. When you go to the cinema or watch a movie at home you must eat popcorn. High fructose corn syrup is used to sweeten foods and soft drinks, and along with the corn oil used to fry foods, are major contributors to obesity. When you put gasoline in your car, up to 10% is ethanol distilled from maize. The steaks you just grilled are probably corn-fed beef, and cattle are significant contributors to global warming (methane). Cornstarch and corn meal are used to produce a wide variety of products, and maize agriculture receives billions of tax dollars in subsidies from the U.S. government every year. Maize can produce incredible yields per acre, but also requires enormous inputs of water (irrigation), fertilizer (nitrates) and pesticides, all of which degrade our environment. Moreover, maize yields were increased by creating a sterile hybrid, so farmers must buy their seed every year from the companies that hold the patents. In sum, maize has become the perfect storm.

We cannot blame the crop for its unintended consequences. Few plants have been so amenable to human manipulation. Maize now serves a vast number of purposes, is grown in a wide variety of environments, comes in a bewildering number of colors (check out blue corn tortilla chips), and is a component of almost everything we eat, drink or drive. Moreover, it has even been converted to entertainment. Because it can be grown at such a high density, corn mazes, more properly maize mazes, have become hugely popular during the Halloween season.

There are more than 300 races of maize. The plants range in size from two to twenty feet tall, with eight to 48 leaves, one to fifteen stalks from a single seed, and ears that range from thumb-sized to two feet in length. The basic classification recognizes “dents” with a softer kernel (95% of all maize), “flints” with a hard starch, “sweet” with a higher sugar content, “floury” with soft and mealy starch, “waxy” composed entirely of amelopectin, and “pop” which is a very hard flint — the water in the starch steam-pressures the endosperm to explode when heated.

Maize is a highly nutritious food, and contains more protein than any other cultigen. It has essentially the same nutritional content as breast milk, and has long served as a weaning food. It contributed to the rapid growth of human populations throughout much of the Americas, and was the staple crop for the Maya and Aztec. The one missing amino acid is lysine, which is found in beans. In Mexico, at the time of the European invasion, most gardens contained the perfect food combination; the “three Mary’s”: corn (maíz), beans and squash.

In the past, maize was people food. Today, nearly 80% of the harvest goes to feed cattle and fuel automobiles. Both of these uses have contributed substantially to global warming. Boy and girl cows have stomachs that evolved to digest grasses. You can feed them corn, and they will mature faster and she produces more milk, but they cannot completely digest the proteins in maize. The resulting “cow patties” are loaded with methane gas. Methane is the most egregious of greenhouse gasses, and cattle, not cars, are the main contributor to global warming. Maybe we should follow the advice of Chick-Fil-A and “eat mor chiken” (but this raises a whole number of other issues). In addition, the U.S. government has promoted the use of ethanol as an alternative fuel for cars, and corn growers now benefit from a number of subsidies. Yet, ethanol is a far less efficient fuel than gasoline, and the quantities of water, fertilizer, fuel for farm vehicles and the processing required to produce this fuel have never been fully disclosed. The use of ethanol may actually contribute to global warming. And recent commentaries have asked whether we should grow corn to feed cars or to feed people?

Enough gloom and doom; there is nothing quite like the original product. While conducting a survey of North Caicos years ago, our local guide stopped in his family farm and roasted several ears of corn on an open fire. When I peeled back the husk I found that several rows had popped. This was the only time I was ever treated to popcorn on the cob! Had this corn been allowed to fully ripen it would have been ground into the porridge that we call grits.

There are only a few places in the world where you can still get “legacy” corn. Middle and North Caicos are two of those places (we have colleagues doing DNA studies to trace the heritage). There is a world of difference in taste and nutritional value between legacy and modern varieties. We suggest you be a “locavore” (eat locally grown foods). Visit Daniel’s Café in Conch Bar, Middle Caicos, for a traditional grits breakfast on Saturdays, or buy these locally grown and hand-ground grits at the Middle Caicos Co-op on the second Saturday of each month at the Graceway Supermarket in Provo. You will experience a unique connection to the past, not to mention that there is nothing quite as tasty as Middle Caicos grits.

Dr. William Keegan is Curator of Caribbean Archaeology at the Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL.

Middle Caicos Grits

Landscaping is an almost unknown term in Middle Caicos, but small “farms” are found throughout the island where crops of cassava, okra, sweet potato, pigeon peas and corn still flourish. Home is where the heart is when it comes to Caicos corn . . . it is a beloved treat at all stages with new corn roasted on open fires and the favourful local grits sparking up all kinds of home cooking.

North Caicos kitchen

Once cleaned and fanned, the grits are kept cool and fresh, ready to purchase at the Conch Bar Artisan Studio & Outlet. Local chefs use these grits to the delight of patrons. Daniel Forbes’ special, at Daniel’s Café in Middle Caicos is Conch and Grits, a treat that brings the flavor of the ocean to this simple dish. In a world of fast food, these wonderful grits, a labour of love and time, offer a taste sensation that is long remembered.

Miss Joycelyn’s Plain Grits Recipe

Use 3 cups water, salt to taste, 2 teaspoons butter, and 1 cup grits. Put water, salt and butter in medium pot and bring to a full boil. Add grits and stir thoroughly. Cover and cook over medium heat for 15 – 20 minutes. Check grits after 10 minutes – if too stiff, add more water (¼ cup – ½ cup). When cooked grits will be smooth and even. Serve as a side dish with more butter, salt and pepper.

Popular local options: Cook local beans, fry with butter and onion, and add to grits while cooking or chop and wash salt beef and add to pot with water, then boil with grits.

Courtesy, Sara Forbes – Conch Bar Artisan Studio and Outlet
649 946 4132 or middlecaicos@tciway.tc

By B. Naqqi Manco, TCI Naturalist

Tom Hanks and I have something in common. Both of us have found ourselves “cast away” on some very tiny islands during our careers, and both of us have established solid friendships there with nonhuman friends named Wilson.

My friend Wilson is not a volleyball with a hairdo made of sticks. My Wilson is much smaller, and not nearly as athletic. I first met him on the triple-crowned pedestal of rock called East Six Hills Cay, south of South Caicos. There he was, standing in the wind on a bare bit of rock — spindly, tough, and decidedly grey. I didn’t know who he was at the time, so of course I lifted him up, closed him in my notebook, and returned to the research boat.

Close up of Euphorbia wilsonii, one of TCI's tiny plants

Wilson is not alone in the choice of small stature made for him by nature. On islands as small as the Turks & Caicos, many of our plant and animal neighbours are smaller than their relatives elsewhere. Our Turks & Caicos rock iguana is the smallest rock iguana species in the Caribbean. We have the smallest boa constrictor in the world here, and two of the smallest geckos, so tiny that their scientific name in this print, Sphaerodactylus, is about as long as they are. Our adult Caicos pines are often half the size of their Bahamian relatives, and our Buccaneer palms squat on ridge tops as four-foot-tall trees rather than those of other Caribbean islands that exceed 20 feet in height.

Our habitats are tough on plants. Poor soil, constant wind, stifling heat, overabundance of salt, and limited fresh water conspire against all of the natural processes that plants must carry out to survive. The solution that some plants choose to adapt to these punishing conditions is simply to remain extremely tiny. Less mass demands fewer resources. Put one’s energy into reproduction rather than size, and suddenly there is a wealth of energy available where it was not before. A limited demand for resources also means that a plant with such a blasé attitude toward competitive conspicuous consumption can grow where other plants would choke, desiccate, and shrivel into dusty, starved, over-salted mummies. It takes a bit of effort to see these little plants, but they are worth a look as they help explain how life is sustained on small islands at all.

Many of these tiny plants can be found in salt marshes and salinas. Our national flower, the Turks & Caicos heather Limonium bahamense, is a perfect example of one such tiny plant. Admirers may need to get close to appreciate the beauty of the flowers, but a stoop to see them will reward the patient with papery white sepals, lined up in tightly-fitting double rows, each holding a royal blue trumpet contrasted by itty-bitty yellow stamens. The plant itself is attractive, forgoing leaves altogether in favour of photosynthetic rubbery stems in a waxy blue-green sea foam colour, or occasionally mauve. A meadow of it, interspersed with salt marsh grasses, or a cluster of heathers erupting startlingly from salina mud, display a rugged, subtle beauty that represents the Turks & Caicos Islands very well.

In some of the driest salinas, the Turks & Caicos heather has a companion that clings to rocks and creeps along the mud. Similar to its cousin the sea purslane Sesuvium portulacastrum, the dwarf sea purslane Sesuvium microphyllum grows where the larger plant can not. With leaves that look like miniature clusters of ruby-tinged Champagne grapes, bursting with stored water, and pink star-shaped flowers half the size of the larger Sesuvium, this plant enjoys its status as endemic to the Turks & Caicos Islands and Cuba. It is edible, as is sea purslane, perhaps a low-cal diet option compared to the more robust species.

A short jaunt up a dune from the salinas and one can find the grey ghost of a plant that no one could be ashamed of mistaking for dead. Crooked, compact, and covered with silvery hairs, the dune heliotrope does no service to its genus of otherwise well-known flowers. Cream-coloured blossoms barely 2 millimetres across and an altogether crunchy appearance reveal the plant as Heliotropium nanum. Looking dead helps the plants survive grazing by rock iguanas, and indeed they thrive on Big Ambergris Cay where the iguanas all but ignore them in favour of fresher foliage.

The octopus plant hides from herbivores.

Another tiny rock-loving plant is unique to TCI but is also just as inconspicuous — until it flowers. The Caroline’s pink Stenandrium carolinae squats in cracks of limestone bedrock on the tops and steep sides of ridges. The leaves — tough, hairy, red-brown — form a barely-noticeable rosette that blends into the soil colour. The plant’s flowers, which appear any time of year after rains, resemble small pink violets and are quite beautiful. When not in bloom, however, it adopts the same mode of protection as the dune heliotrope, by looking dead.

While the dune heliotrope makes itself undesirable to herbivores by looking dead, and the octopus plant disguises itself as not-a-plant, the burning match plant makes itself undetectable to herbivores by looking like it’s simply not there. Wiry, hair-thin stems in dull bronze and a few linear, needle-like bronze leaves keep Pectis linifolia out of the spotlight. This plant — if you can find it amongst the grasses where it hides — bears flowers that belie its true identity as a daisy. The flower is modified to be as inconspicuous as the rest of the plant — it has no ray florets (the “petals” of a daisy) and the central disk is limited to only a few elongated blossoms barely tipped in black and yellow. This colourful tip is reminiscent of a smouldering match head, hence the common name of the plant. Its seeds are two-pronged stickers, able to travel on animal skin or clothing, but wherever their travels take them they strive to remain cryptic and invisible.

One of my favourite diminutive plants is one that does stand in the spotlight, unlike the burning match plant. It stands right up in the biggest spotlight of all, the sun. On the harsh high windward dunes of a few islands in the Turks & Caicos, there lives a plant that survives by making itself into a sun-and-wind-pounded rock.

Bahamas buttonbush, Borreria bahamensis

And where else can one get to know my friend Wilson, if East Six Hills Cay is not on your island agenda? I have indeed met Wilson again on several other islands. He frequents East Caicos, West Caicos, South Caicos, and Salt Cay, but is strangely absent from Grand Turk, Providenciales, and North and Middle Caicos (his worldwide range is restricted to several other islands in the southern Bahamas). Knowing that Little Ambergris Cay had plenty of his preferred habitat — weathered rock slopes with no soil, where little else can grow — I made a point to seek him out when I visited the islet in May 2009. I scanned the ground for any sign of my wiry little friend, but found nothing. The mid-afternoon sun was at its highest as I arrived at the old coconut and date grove on Little Ambergris Cay, now comprising only three stunted palms, and I sat myself down on a slope of soft, dry sand in the shade of the only upright coconut palm.

As I put my hand down on the sand, I realised I was not there alone. Sharing my shade was a diminutive plant . . . sprawling, compact, definitely grey. I stooped over, brought my nose within inches of the ground, and scrutinised this familiar but strange looking little fellow. His stems were short, his branches were tight. He did not stand, but rather lay down on the ground, prostrate and supine, his middle twisted into a compact lump, his leaves hugged tightly almost under the stems. He was quite obviously cowering, terrified of something. The scattered tracks of passing iguanas explained his fearful posture — he had been grazed to within an inch of his life — and an inch of life was more than he could afford to spare.

Upon further searching I located several other Wilsons nearby, all likewise cowering as much as possible, hiding under themselves on the bare sandy slope. In a precocious fit of gumption, I slyly lifted one of Wilson’s branches and noted a few of the familiar black and yellow diminutive flowers and even two tiny fruit. I stood up and dusted myself off to continue on with my trek, satisfied in knowing that Wilson, or at least his little Wilsons, will be there to befriend me on Little Ambergris Cay the next time I am cast away there.

Epilogue: Wilson may survive on the remotest sea-sprayed cays (I visited him again on Little Ambergris Cay in March 2010), but he hasn’t survived the rigours of botanical nomenclature. Euphorbia wilsonii was considered to be similar enough to the pinweed spurge Euphorbia lecheoides to be combined with this species. Plant scientific names always favour the older name, so Wilson (1909) lost to lecheoides (1906, resembling Lechea plants). Tom Hanks may have lost his Wilson in the movie, but my Wilson will always be Wilson to me.

By B. Naqqi Manco, TCI Naturalist
Photos By Marlon Hibbert and Eric Salamanca

Anyone who spends time in nature and gets to know our fellow earth inhabitants quickly learns that human manners, while shamefully rare within our own kind, certainly stop at our species’ borders. Even our “housebroken” domestic animals slobber, scratch, drink from the toilet before licking our faces, and do all other manners of despicable things. In spite of this blasé ignorance of human cultural mores, we love them.

Some wild animals are a bit too rude to be contained within our homes, so we leave them outside. Cows are lovely to see, but few will argue that they’d make good house pets. They’ll not only eat everything off the dinner table, but attempt to eat the tablecloth as well. Let us not fathom the train wreck of culture shock that would accompany any attempt to constrain a water buffalo or hippopotamus to the rigours of Emily Post.

One creature though, in this author’s opinion, easily obtains the prize for the single rudest animal on the planet. At least the organism in question is thoughtful enough to keep itself far out to sea and away from our kind, but any concern it may bear stops there. This spring, it has truly pushed the envelope of just how much ignorance may be countenanced from a member of the animal kingdom. While they normally only visit inshore waters of the Lesser Antilles in the late spring, odd wind patterns in 2010 may have brought them more northward, and in droves they have been paying unwanted visits to Turks & Caicos and Bahamas shores.

Portuguese man-o-war

Beneath the float and sail are three other members of the siphonophore collective. One manages all of the consumption and functions as the creature’s mouthparts and digestive track. Another sees to all of the colony’s reproductive needs, and produces sperm or egg which, when fertilised, divides asexually immediately into the prototype cells for the four types of animals that make up a man-o-war. Lastly, the parts that work for snaring food, and the parts that make the man-o-war, in my opinion, the singly most obnoxious animal in the sea, are its tentacles.

Man-o-war tentacles are long, thin, and brittle. They have the approximate texture of a strand of spider’s silk slathered thickly in snot, and typically dangle down 30 feet into the water column when relaxed, flowing in the current in hopes of snaring a fish or two. However, for some bluebottles, as these balloon-toting weapons of localised destruction are sometimes called, the tentacles grow to over 150 feet in length. Relaxed tentacles spread their blue pigment out in concentrated spots thought to mimic small sea creatures drifting in the water, which attract prey into the deadly net of tentacles. The tentacles are lined with microscopic, venom-injecting harpoons called nematocysts, each with a trigger slightly less stable than the temper of a recently bathed feral cat, and infinitely quicker-acting. When barely touched, the harpoons fire, not only injecting their venom, but sticking the tentacle to the victim so that more nematocysts fire.

When the victim is a fish, the function of this method is to more severely entangle and stun the fish, which is then hauled in and eaten. When the victim is a human, the nematocysts fire in their venom causing extreme pain along with all sorts of other undesirable reactions. These can include lymph node swelling, shortness of breath, days’ worth of red swollen rash, and even complete and final expiration. A swimmer tangled in 150 feet of man-o-war tentacles, all vying for a patch of innocent skin into which to inject their natural torture serums, can experience shock strong enough to drown, or can even die from the physiological effects of the venom itself. And just in case the man-o-war doesn’t get its point across while alive, the nematocysts can still actively fire for weeks after the darn thing dies.

Drifting through the sea, these long-tentacled menaces literally throw caution to the wind, and go wherever the gales and breezes push them. Typically found in warmer ocean regions of the world, they most often occur in large groups (the collective term for men-o-war is a navy), which means when they reach inshore waters together they get to be obnoxious en masse. They do appear on some shores regularly and seasonally. Australia has problems with them on its beaches, as do southern Africa, south-western Europe, and Caribbean islands. Their presence demands beach closures, as swimming within view of a live one can mean its tentacles, or severed tentacles of others nearby, are drifting through the water within reach. Being as poor yachtsmen as they are, unable to see or hear, having no control of their sail and rigging, they regularly get blown off the surface of the water by strong gusts and up onto beaches. Imagine a lopsided purple balloon with an electric-shock string flying merrily out of the water and splatting onto the patch of sandy beach likely to be trodden upon by bare feet throughout the day. Once stranded on land, the man-o-war can’t do much but sit there and look colourful . . . and sting.

Victims of this sting describe a never-before-experienced sort of pain; intense, deep, debilitating; something like a bad itch gone horribly wrong. The venom is a power cocktail of neurotoxins and histamines that is about 3/4 the strength of the venom of cobras. Often, immediate treatments administered include vinegar or urine, or packs of mud that are allowed to dry to draw out the poison. Vinegar provides short-term relief, but is not advised for use because it actually causes the remaining nematocysts to fire more strongly, and it is more suitable for jellyfish stings (and the man-o-war is not a jellyfish); mud packs are a great deal of work for not much return; and it has been suggested that the urine solution offers nothing more than a friend’s opportunity to have an embarrassing story to tell later.

The best immediate treatment is to physically remove the tentacles (with an object other than the fingers; stings can even occur through gloves), apply salt water, and later soak in water as hot as is safe to apply to skin, which denatures the venom. Stings rarely cause death or long-term discomfort, but allergic individuals are severely endangered by stings.

Despite all of this awful stinging, the man-o-war does actually have some friends, albeit not very good ones. The man-o-war fish is a bug-eyed fish that looks as though it is in a trance. Its skin is covered in a special mucous and possesses excellent manoeuvrability that prevents the nematocysts from firing, and it can hide safely in the drifting tentacles and nip parts of the man-o-war’s meals and tentacles. Sometimes it does get eaten by the man-o-war in turn. Several species of clown fish also associate with them. The Australian blanket octopus may act like a friend, but only until it rips off a clump of man-o-war tentacles with a sting-immune arm and carries them around with it, poking the cluster towards potential enemies.

The man-o-war has far more enemies than friends. The very Dr. Dolittle-sounding purple sea snail drifts around on the surface of the tropical ocean regions on a sail of its own, constructed from inflated bubbles of mucous attached to its body at the edge of its lavender or mauve shell. If the snail’s bubbles pop and it sinks, it will likely die of starvation — because it is on the surface where it finds its favourite food: man-o-wars. Despite the sting, the man-o-war is also a common food source for the blue sea swallow (a type of sea slug, which incorporates the unfired stinging cells into its own body tissues for defence), loggerhead and leatherback sea turtles, and the mola (ocean sunfish). Despite all these hungry predators (which have to eat loads of the things, since men-o-war are made of up to 95% water) they still come close to shore in droves. In late April 2010, they forced the closure of at least one beach in Providenciales.

Beach closures are only one of the reasons of why I declare Portuguese men-o-war as nature’s single most inconsiderate marine animal. Let’s face it: dangerous weapons and a complete lack of locomotion control, vision, and decision-making ability are a poor combination. If I had 150 feet of explosively venomous tentacles trailing behind me, I’d at least have the decency to follow the Australian carpet octopus’s example and use them carefully and selectively for defence. The man-o-war, though, just gets blown around by the wind, completely out of any sort of control, arbitrarily crashing into things and stinging whatever will receive its toxic harpoons. Researching these wretched little balloons-with-a-kick has allowed me to learn about their fascinating life histories, but it also sealed the deal on the declaration of them being the most inconsiderate and rude animal in the sea. Admire their beauty and eccentricity from a distance — they’re fascinating, just not very nice.

Sightings of men-o-war — and seeing one usually means more are coming — should be reported to the Department of Environment & Coastal Resources, so that their arrival can be monitored and proper precautions can be announced. Never try to touch a man-o-war, as they can sting even when dead, and through some materials.

By Kathy Borsuk

From the day I moved into my office in the Lucille Lightbourne Building in downtown Providenciales, I noticed a steady bustle of activity around the small office next to mine. The sign on the door said “Got-U-Covered” and “Skyjuice” and trucks bearing the same names came and went from the parking lot at all hours. I peeked through the office window and saw a small reception area filled with oddly-matched decor: a leather sofa, ornate lamps, a dinner table with a different place setting at each spot, bouquets of artificial flowers, chairs of all shapes and sizes, a silver fountain, a podium, a large-screen TV and even a karaoke machine! At first I thought an eccentric family must be living there. Potted palms would line the building’s hall one day, and disappear the next. Our shared trash area often held strange things as well: a plastic Santa statue, a papier mache dolphin, psychedelically colored garlands. I watched and wondered . . .

The mystery was partially solved one day just before Christmas. After my workout in the Graceway Sports Centre fitness room, I did a double-take at the state of the large gymnasium. Its bland, utilitarian basketball court had been transformed into an elegant winter wonderland, with twinkling lights, cloth-draped tables, a disco dance floor and evergreen boughs everywhere. The change was so remarkable, I had to discover “what’s up.” Outside, I met Vernay Robinson tersely urging a workman to bring more chairs NOW! She took a quick minute to tell me that Got-U-Covered was preparing for the Graceway IGA’s annual Christmas party, and that this was but one of many functions they were handling that week.

Ah ha! A light bulb lit underneath my sweatband. That’s why I often saw Vernay and her colleagues around the office looking harried. That’s why Got-U-Covered trucks and workers frequented resorts and auditoriums. It even explained why Homey’s Restaurant (just below my office) was often cooking up a storm even when the storefront café was closed. By the next day, I had learned that Got-U-Covered — the country’s largest and most experienced event planning, party rental and catering company — was operating right under my unsuspecting nose.

Dion Pratt

Got-U-Covered’s job often starts when an idea is no more than a vague pipe dream. Dion will meet with the clients, determine their vision, needs and budget, and put his exhaustive creativity into play to design an event that will exceed all expectations! Depending on the project’s size and scope, this can mean handling everything from booking the venue and ordering/importing all necessary supplies to coordinating temporary work permits and licenses, building sets, stages and props from scratch and handling sound engineering, lighting and landscaping. As Dion explains, “We’re always the first in and last out.”

Sandy beach and coral reef within auditorium

Grace Bay Beach wedding tent

Got-U-Covered also works with all of TCI’s major resorts on weddings, banquets, charity fund-raisers, balls, award ceremonies and every kind of special event. Although regularly purchasing thousands of dollars of party supplies for each unique function, Dion also maintains an inventory of equipment, from plain to fancy. He notes that the catering industry has somewhat standardized basic chairs, tables, glassware, china, flatware and linens, which helps with cost control and stock management. As he says, “We can supply anything from the frilly toothpicks for pigs-in-a-blanket to elaborate crystal and silver place settings. Beaches Resort regularly calls on us for rentals when they have large functions.”

This flexibility was tested this winter, when Got-U-Covered assisted with the production of a multi-million dollar wedding at The Regent Palms for which the family rented the entire resort for a week. At the same time, local holiday parties, church events, galas and concerts were in full swing. Of this exhausting season, Dion recalls, “One day we hosted 15 events. It was a true test of planning, organization and staying focused. I think at one point we went 72 hours without sleep!”

When asked as to whether the economic slowdown has affected the party business, Dion replied, “There will always be special occasions and we cater to all the Islands, from womb to tomb. About 25% of our business is local and the remainder destination events. We’ve just had to give deeper discounts to help out our clients. But truthfully, we have such a large inventory and good reputation that we probably touch 99% of all events in the TCI.”

The dynamic businessman seems to have discovered the perfect outlet for his natural talent and wealth of work experience. Dion explains, “I was always gifted in art, but my early jobs were in hospitality, working as a bartender, waiter, chef and casino croupier across the Bahamas and TCI. This was followed by stints as a welder, diesel mechanic and carpenter. I found that I loved building things and working with my hands, and was able to travel and apprentice as a contractor for nearly a decade.” He also worked briefly as a movie extra in the States, learning the stage handling skills that are so crucial to his job now. He put these skills to the test when a French game show was filmed at North West Point in 1993, working to create many of the buildings and props used.

Got-U-Covered was born in 1995 after trying to plan his mother-in-law’s 54th birthday party. Dion recalls, “We couldn’t find a venue large enough to host the event, so we bought tents, draping, tables and chairs for the occasion. After that, it seemed family and friends wanted to ‘borrow’ the stuff every couple of days. One day, my charity turned to entrepreneurship and I said, ‘Let’s make this a business.’”

Dion believes the key to his company’s success is their professionalism and determination. “We try to remember that every event is a lifetime of memories for the participants. In this industry, if you don’t take that seriously, all it takes is one failure and you’re through.” With this in mind, Dion treats each customer as his “one and only,” breaking down large projects into manageable tasks that he delegates to his staff, pulling everything back together at the end. “Never be late” is a motto and multi-tasking an important part of his day, as is ALWAYS keeping cool for the sake of an event. He explains, “No matter what, the show must go on. You might win the battle, but lose the war if you fuss over petty issues. And never let anyone see you sweat!”

Also important is following the rules. He says, “We always make sure the off-island planners and our clients understand TCI rules and regulations regarding importing goods and labor. We can take the headaches out of customs and immigrations procedures, and work closely with any government departments involved.”

What are some lessons he’s learned along the way? “I’m now a stickler for having everything in writing, after we had set up for a wedding and wondered why no one was showing up. It turns out the wedding planner was off by one day. It could have been a total disaster.” Dion also says, “The only time I’ll turn down a job is if there is too short a notice to do it well. I’ve had people calling me a day before, an hour before, during and even after an event, saying ‘I SHOULD HAVE called you.’ I’m really pleased at the level of trust I get from well-known event planners, such as Robin Rosin, the famous designer with whom we’ve been working on the Beaches Resort Martha Stewart wedding concept and David Monn, who has done several weddings at Amanyara. They appreciate my quick responses to phone calls and emails; they know we’re on top of the situation, which makes them look good.”

Got-U-Covered’s full-time employees include many who have been with the company since the beginning, including Vernay Robinson, Dion’s confessed “right hand” and Jermone Ligele. As Vernay explains, “We don’t have specific positions or titles — we all work together to get the job done.”

Dion is proud of the positive role Got-U-Covered plays in the TCI economy. “I believe the fact that we offer this service, at a world-class level, brings a lot of revenue to the country in the form of bed and meal taxes and customs duties, along with stimulating business for hotels, restaurants, florists, photographers, anyone associated with this facet of the economy. I know, for instance, that The Regent Palms has been able to increase their corporate conference sales because we can handle the work.”

Ironically, while I was writing this story, Got-U-Covered had returned full circle, making plans to cater Dion’s wife Thelma’s 50th birthday party. It was “only” going to be a few hundred guests on the beach with a jazz theme, music and skits of meaningful events in her life. But no problem, because, as Dion says, “We got you covered!”

By Kathy Borsuk
Photos By Tropical Imaging

Known as a luxury vacation destination, there are places on Providenciales that can transport you from the common to the sublime. Few do it as well as The Regent Palms. As soon as you step onto its manicured grounds, you enter a bygone era of quiet elegance. The Messel-designed stone buildings, arched windows, stately palms and refined service combine to create an aura of tranquility often lost in our hectic lives.

Parallel23, the resort’s fine dining restaurant, carries forward the tradition of magnificence. An evening on its romantic, candle-lit terrace, enjoying the best in creative gourmet fare, gentle breezes and the sweet serenades of local singers, will leave you in the mood for more.

Evening dining at Parallel23 on Providenciales

Our first stop was the Green Flamingo Bar, a clubby spot with the intimate ambiance of a English salon. We sampled several cocktails, including the trendy-again Cosmopolitan and a well-made French Martini, nibbled on the nuts, chips and olives presented on a silver tray, and dispersed between the dark mahogany bar and the large, comfortable chairs grouped on the terrace. My friend had already marked a spot for the next evening cocktails gathering of her young mother’s group, much appreciating the large outdoor seating space around which all could gather to chat, attentive bar service and lovely cool breeze. We noted that bar fare was readily available, with a bistro-style menu that also included such casual offerings as “sliders” and pizza.

As day dimmed to evening, Parallel23’s romantic ambiance slowly revealed itself. The restaurant is placed at the back of a lovely courtyard, embraced by promenades, The Regent Palms’ grand entrance lobby and the Manor House. The soft lights from the shops, chandelier and manor were perfectly complemented by the backlit palms and landscaping and the flickering candles on each table. As we were ushered to our places, it felt like we were entering our own intimate, glowing bubble of hospitality.

Parallel23’s menu focuses on uniquely interpreted Pan-Tropical fare, with an emphasis on perfectly grilled beef and fish entrees and great side dishes. While we passed on the seared Foie Gras, we had to check out P23’s take on a local favorite. “Symphony of Conch,” is a trio of curried conch bisque, conch tempura, conch hush puppies and smoked conch ceviche — each served with an appropriate and unique sauce or glaze. Quite a step up from the traditional cracked conch, and all holding their own in the melody. The grilled beef satay literally melted in my mouth, and was nicely accented with cumin-spiced grilled pineapple and a tangy peanut sauce. We’ve also heard rave reviews for the Spiced Pumpkin Soup, its so-Caribbean combination of ginger, lime and coconut milk elevating this rather plebian squash to another level. The chef’s treat to the table tonight were tiny squares of toasted sweet bread topped with a luscious ham paté, and the bread basket was filled with herb-infused rolls, baked in the restaurant’s wood-fired brick oven and served with whipped butter and olive tapenade.

Although not a drinker, my friends counseled me that the wine list more than held its own, with a hand-picked sampling of boutique wines from around the world. With the server’s help, they chose an Oriel Setena red from Spain to pair with dinner. I was too busy admiring the beautiful plate decor, which was soon whisked away when dinner was served. Parallel23 boasts a state-of-the art display kitchen, where you can see your dry-aged prime cuts of beef and fresh seafood grilled to perfection. Many of our group chose one of the chef’s blackboard offerings: grilled fresh Caicos grouper. The tender, well-flavored fish was served atop a marvelous morel mushroom risotto with a rich wine-cream infusion. “Surf & Turf” inadequately describes the luscious, butter-tender prime tenderloin cut, accompanied by a black tiger prawn. It went well with one of the many “sides and accessories,” each marked by the stamp of gourmet design. (For instance, there was no mere “baked potato,” but a “sea salt baked Idaho Potato with a chive creme fraiche and smoked pancetta bacon bits,” while the creamed spinach included truffles and the mac and cheese a blend of three cheeses.

In keeping with the Pan-Tropical theme, another in our group sampled the red snapper, served in a sweet/spicy coconut-serrano broth with an intriguing black-bean roast banana mash, pronouncing it “quite a collection of flavors.” I think the health-conscious would swoon over the “Simply Spa” four-course meal, featuring low-carb/low-calorie dishes to delight every sense, and including a grilled veal tenderloin with sun-dried tomato, caper, raisin and olive oil broth served on a bed of vegetable spaghetti; no-sugar strawberry trifle the dessert.

Besides the striking plate presentations, a very special part of the experience was the entertainment. On the evening we visited, local musician Craig Archibold combined his accomplished keyboard skills and silky smooth voice in a melange of melodies that was the perfect accompaniment to our meal. We learned that Craig is a regular on Friday nights performing “Motown” and “island feel” music, while the husband/wife duo NaDa plays international and easy listening music on Wednesdays and Perry Delancey jazzes up Saturday nights.

While none of us had room for dessert, we eyed the interesting dessert menu and earmarked the fantasy that was warm chocolate moulleux with lime/ginger sorbet for a future visit. Again, the chef treated us to a plate of tiny, delectably flavored cheesecake bites to complete the sense-satisfying experience that was dinner at Parallel23. I suspect that on a weekend evening, several of our male companions would have preferred to retire to the softly lit bar for a vintage rum or brandy and fine cigar.

Rogerio Guerreiro, The Regent Palms’ Food & Beverage Manager, notes that the quieter summer and fall months are an ideal time for TCI residents to partake of the pleasures at the restaurant and bar. With a new chef due shortly, and the possible re-institution of movie nights on the beach and concerts in the courtyard, the community is sure to find Parallel23 and the Green Flamingo Bar a fresh new option to add to their social schedule. Planned for the last weekend in May was “An Evening at the Opera,” featuring music by The Three Tenors and Andrea Bocelli, along with a champagne and caviar bar and prix fix menu.

As well, the stately Messel Ballroom is a wonderful venue for weddings, fund-raisers, meetings and conferences — recently hosting such events as the Le Reve Ball and TCI Museum Night. Rogerio promises special rates to TCI residents and businesses for rental space, which can accommodate as many as 100 people for dinner.

Our carefully constructed bubble of inspiring food, attentive service, lively conversation and lovely ambiance eventually had to end. As we drifted home in a dreamy mood, thoughts turned to planning another visit to this paradise under the stars.

For more information or dinner reservations, call 649 946 8666 or visit www.RegentPalms.com.

By Suzanne Gerber
Photos By Barbara Shiveley

No, you’re not confused: There are anemones in your garden, and there are sea anemones in the ocean. In fact, the ornately colored sea anemone (uh-NEM-uh-nee) is so called because of the striking resemblance it bears to its colorful terrestrial namesake.

As beautiful and delicate as they may be, anemones are actually highly poisonous predatory creatures. These marine animals, which attach to rocks or corals by an adhesive pedal disc, or foot, spend most of their life laying in wait for unsuspecting fish to swim close enough to get ensnared in their venom-filled tentacles. Of the 1,000 species of anemones found in shallow coastal waters (and occasionally in deeper water) across the globe, a handful has the ability to move — though they’ll never set any speed records. At best they can travel four inches an hour. Some creep along on their suction foot. Others appear to be somersaulting. Still others locomote by flexing their bodies.

Watching them in motion can be fun. Barbara recalls seeing a golden crinoid traversing the side of a nearly vertical wall one night last summer on Grand Turk. “I knew anemones could move,” she says, “but I didn’t realize they could change neighborhoods!”

Giant anemone on Turks & Caicos reef

Sea anemones come in all sizes, shapes and colors, but in the waters surrounding the TCI, we tend to see the tubular-tentacled species that Barbara has so beautifully captured for this story. The tentacles serve two purposes. Not only do they protect the animal, but they are what it uses to catch food. Those undulating “fingers” that we divers and snorkelers admire from a distance are studded with microscopic stinging capsules (called nematocysts), and at the slightest touch or provocation will eject a harpoon-like filament that paralyzes its prey with a poisonous neurotoxin. (This is what gives the anemone that sticky feeling.) Favorite victims — er, meals — include fish, mussels, zooplankton, shrimp and worms. On the flip side of the food chain, sea anemones have very few predators themselves: mostly just nudibranchs, snails, sea stars and certain fish, like the Tompot Blenny.

Green-tipped giant anemone on Turks & Caicos reef

Solid purple giant anemone on Turks & Caicos reef

By Kathy Borsuk

On April 9, 2010, a Friday afternoon, Turks & Caicos Islands Bank Ltd. (TCIB) was placed under provisional liquidation — basically “closed” for the time being. Thousands of small depositors, along with local and overseas business customers, no longer had access to their funds. For some, this was a minor inconvenience; for others, it meant not meeting the payroll or paying for supplies. In the worse cases, people could not buy food or gas, pay medical bills, send money to loved ones overseas and faced the potential loss of their life savings. After the shock wave subsided though, it became clear that TCI regulators are doing their job and that the country’s other banks, by virtue of their differences from TCIB, remain stable. As well, plans for deposit protection insurance have moved to the forefront of the TCI Government’s agenda in the belief that such a decision can benefit the reputation of the jurisdiction in the future.

Why close a bank?
The Turks & Caicos Islands Bank Ltd. (TCIB) was closed after the TCI Financial Services Commission (FSC), the industry watchdog, asked the Supreme Court to intervene via court order. According to the FSC, they were forced to take this action after the bank had “suffered a number of significant withdrawals which left it unable to operate normally and meet its obligations in a timely manner.” The FSC took this drastic step when it became clear that the TCIB Board could not obtain additional financial support to continue to trade. They felt the only solution was to seek a liquidation in order to safeguard the remaining assets — which included huge deposits by the country’s National Insurance Board — and to ensure fair distribution to creditors.

Anthony Kikivarakis and Mark Munnings, partners of the international firm Deloitte & Touche, were appointed as liquidators, charged by the court to quickly protect the bank’s assets and explore all avenues, including purchase by other investors, to rescue it.

FSC Chairman Sandy Lightbourne explained, “The bank’s position as a new and stand-alone operation has left it very vulnerable to the current global economic downturn. The FSC has been working closely with the bank’s current Board and management to find a solution to the difficulties, and some progress was being made. But regrettably, it seems that in recent weeks the bank suffered a growing lost of confidence on the part of some of its important depositors.”

According to statements by Ervine Quelch, chairman of the National Insurance Board (NIB), which has an estimated $22 million of public contributions to its pension fund tied up in the bank, the NIB had been concerned about the bank’s performance for some time. In the months prior to the closing, NIB assisted the bank with financial support and encouraged the bank to seek additional investments and comply with recommendations made by bank auditors, the FSC and Merchant Bank consultants to place the bank on a more sustainable path toward growth and development. These included reducing operating costs (closing the Grace Bay and North Caicos branches), strengthening management and operational practices and addressing the bank’s ever-growing non-performing loans portfolio, which continued to decline as the poor economy took its toll on local debtors.

TCIB was opened in 2006, touted as the first “nation’s” bank. (Some 10% of its shares are held by the TCI National Insurance Board, while the largest shareholder group — TCI Belongers and companies majority-owned by TCI Belongers — hold 40% of the bank’s shares. A mixed group of TCI Belongers and permanent residents own 20%, while a group of Eastern Caribbean banks own the remaining 30% of the bank’s share capital.) Many residents chose to support this “indigenous” bank, also encouraged by small queues, a commitment to customer service, Saturday opening hours, tailored loan packages and perks such as b-mobile banking. In a 2006 article published in Times of the Islands, TCIB Managing Director John Benjamin said that TCIB “strikes a balance between its dual goals of giving T&C Islanders and residents opportunities to realize their dreams of becoming significant players in the country’s economic activity and financing and providing a wide range of services to the inward investment community.” Ironically, he predicted that by June 2011, “TCI Bank projects that it will gain the largest share of banking business in the Turks & Caicos Islands.”

What about the rest?
All banks operating in the TCI must be licensed through the Financial Services Commission. There are two kinds of licences: national (for carrying on banking with locals and residents) and overseas (excludes banking business with locals and residents), although many banks hold both licenses. Currently, national (commercial) banks include: British Caribbean (formerly Belize) Bank, FirstCaribbean International Bank, International Banking Group, Royal Bank of Canada, Scotiabank Turks & Caicos and the Turks & Caicos Islands Bank (in provisional liquidation), while overseas (private) banks include Bordier International Bank & Trust and Turks & Caicos Banking Company. Hemisphere Bank is a managed overseas bank with no physical presence in the Islands, while Hallmark Bank & Trust holds a restricted license for the purposing of issuing debit cards.

With many concerned about the widespread implications of a bank closure and the health of TCI’s remaining banks, the TCI Banker’s Association (TCBA) immediately reassured the public that the remaining licensed banks in the TCI are strong, stable and well capitalized. According to TCBA President Anton Faessler, “All of TCI’s licensed commercial banks benefit from significant shareholding or complete ownership by large international institutions including the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, Royal Bank of Canada, Scotiabank and Cayman National. This makes a tremendous difference in a bank’s ability to weather the storm of financial market turmoil. They also boast years of experience, a proven track record, conservative lending policies and security-backed lending.” He adds, “In the case of the private banks, which are generally not in the lending market, their capital ratios far exceed international standards. All TCI banks respect lending limits set by national legislation which do not allow one lender to borrow more than 25% of capital and ensure assigned capital to risk weighted assets is not less than 11% (3% higher than international standards).”

Kevin Higgins, managing director of the Financial Services Commission, agreed that the FSC views the country’s remaining banks as “stable, although under pressure” due to the tough economic times. Mr. Higgins notes that in May 2002, TCI’s Banking Ordinance was radically amended to reflect new standards introduced by the Basel Committee on Banking. These included provisions for the risk of weighting of assets, retention of a minimum paid-up share capital, the creation and maintenance of a reserve fund and new rules in relation to lending, all of which further strengthened the industry. He described the behind-the-scenes work done by his office to regulate all banks registered in the TCI. “Firstly, we carefully monitor quarterly, and in some cases monthly, financial statements to ensure banks are adhering to the ordinance and operating under International Best Practices. We follow up with on-site visits and audits to make sure reports reflect reality and that certain best-practice procedures are being followed.” In the current economy, he says they have intensified the frequency of on-site visits and recommended that banks set higher reserves and be more careful in making loans — steps the banks’ wise international parents have already put in place.

Mr. Higgins says the FSC is supportive of a Depositor Protection Ordinance, an idea that had been in process for some time, but is expected to be approved in the near future. Basically, this scheme would provide depositor protection for individual resident account holders up to defined limits. It would be funded by the country’s licensed banks, inevitably resulting in increased service charges.

Local banks react

Scotiabank TCI's main Providenciales branch

Anton Faessler, president of the TCI Banker's Association

TCBC caters to the private investor, focusing on wealth and portfolio management. Holding both local and overseas licenses, services include current and fixed deposit accounts, securities and precious metal trading, escrow services and foreign exchange in major currencies and markets. Conservative European by nature, Mr. Faessler outlines TCBC’s investment philosophy. “We believe the core principles of successful investment are preservation of capital, growth and income with the right mix of assets and investment vehicles depending on the goal and time horizon in mind.” His comments in an article in the Summer 2002 issue of Times of the Islands remain strikingly true today. “Historic data shows that long-term investments steadily rise. Like an ocean voyage, you must ride the waves up and down, but with cautious and careful steering, you will always reach your destination. Fear and loss of confidence are the biggest enemies of investors.” This summer, TCBC plans to move its Provo office from Caribbean Place to the popular Regent Village in Grace Bay, with room for continued expansion of its services.

International Banking Group building in Providenciales

Are Browne and IBG’s shareholders leery about opening a new bank during these unstable times? Not at all. Mr. Browne, a veteran of the Caribbean banking business for 30 years and winner of a Lifetime Honorary Fellowship in the Caribbean Association of Banking and Financial Institutes, says, “We plan to differentiate ourselves by the level of service we offer. We cater to a niche market of business and personal customers — those who look forward to spending as little time in the bank as possible and will appreciate our advanced technology, designed to facilitate accurate, safe and reliable banking. We’ll offer extensive on-line banking services — everything from managing your account to ordering drafts for pick-up later in the day. Access to Internet banking will be free for our customers and our ATMs, including our drive-through ATMs with left and right hand drive stations, will be free to customers using the IBG Visa Debit Card. We also plan to make opening accounts and applying for loans a streamlined process, letting our customers know the requirements upfront and making it as easy as possible, while still maintaining due diligence. We’ve hired our staff based on their customer service attitudes and have and will continue to invest heavily in staff training. We’ve done a lot of research on customer banking experiences in the TCI and feel we can solve many of the problems.”

With a beautiful, brand-new 15,000 sq. ft. building at the Graceway Plaza round-about and their state-of-the-art equipment in place, Mr. Browne says IBG will open as soon as every last detail is in place. “We know we have only one chance to do it right, and we want to make the best first impression possible.”

British Caribbean Bank (BCB) has as its parent company Belize Bank Ltd., the first and oldest continuous banking operation in Belize. They branched into the Turks & Caicos Islands in 1998, holding National and Overseas Bank Licenses. Both Belize Bank and BCB value a tradition of service. With more than BZ$880 million dollars in assets, BZ$147 million in capital reserves and a track record of consistent growth, the Belize Bank is a pillar of strength, stability and integrity in the Belizean economy.

BCB offers both current accounts and term deposits in US dollars, Canadian dollars and UK pounds. BCB accounts are well suited for international customers who require immediate access to their funds by wire transfer.

BCB is a leading provider of customized lending products with flexible loan terms and highly competitive interest rates. This includes tourism-related development financing, residential mortgages and service businesses throughout the TCI. Loan specialists deal one-on-one with clients and provide a speedy response to requests.

At the end of the day, TCI banking professionals sympathize with TCIB depositors who are, at press time (late May 2010) still without access to their funds and are doing everything possible to be lenient and helpful in dealings with them. They agree, though, that TCIB is an isolated case in what is otherwise a stable, sound industry and look forward to better days ahead.

By Kathy Borsuk

There’s no doubt that God has a special place in His heart for children, and, through the teachings of His Son Jesus Christ, encourages us to do the same. We can mourn along with the Father when any child is hungry, hurt, abused, or lacks stable parents or home. Thanks to a group of concerned, committed residents, a lot of work and, I believe, a touch of grace, there is now a safe haven for such suffering children. And through the love and nurturing care they receive at the Provo Children’s Home, these kids— among the most resilient of souls — can rise like eagles with hope for a better future.

Provo Children's Home

The recently completed Provo Children’s Home (PCH) is a residential facility designed for 20 children and 4 adult caretakers. The lovely building sits atop a low hill in Chalk Sound, just across from the police sub-station. The morning we visited, a cool breeze swept through the foyer and the large, open-plan kitchen/dining/living area — all spotlessly clean — was comfortable and inviting. The central area also includes a play room, library/study/ computer lab, laundry and lots of storage space, along with two overnight rooms for children in emergency situations and a meeting room for caseworkers and parents. Separate girls’ and boys’ dormitory wings flank either side, with kids doubling up in each bedroom and two spacious bathroom/shower areas for each gender. (I was envious of the ocean view from the girls’ bath!) Far from institutional, rooms are bright and cheery, outfitted with quality materials and soothing colors. I remained impressed with how tidy it all was — House Manager Kelly Hedges assured me this is the result of the daily chore list! Besides the paved driveway which doubles as a basketball court/roller skating rink, children can enjoy the outdoors on the breezy patio out back, which will soon be the site of a home-grown salad garden. The entire one-acre site is fenced, gated and alarm-protected for safety, with a back gate leading to the beach at Sapodilla Bay.

Only open since January 22, 2010, PCH is already nearly full to capacity, with 17 children. Its purpose, Kelly explains, is to serve as a warm, loving “temporary” home for children between the ages of 4 to 16 who need care and protection. Not designed as a long-term facility, the goal is to return children to their family or relatives when the situation improves or find a foster home or permanent adoption. The average stay is from six months to a year. Within that time, PCH staff tries to envelop the children in a nurturing environment, with plenty of opportunities for learning, developing social skills, and experiencing activities that may be totally new to them — in effect, opening their eyes to a world of possibility.

PCH staff members exude empathy and love, seasoned with a backbone of discipline and structure. Children are expected to do chores, attend school, complete their homework and get along with the other kids. Many attend counseling sessions with TCI’s social service psychologists (as do their families when necessary). But there’s plenty of time for fun and casual learning, too. The children partake in all that Provo has to offer for kids, from ballet to soccer, including classes, tutoring and activities at the Edward Gartland Youth Center. During holidays and summer breaks, they participate in various kid’s camps, in most cases at little or no charge.

From there to here
PCH was born in March 2006 as a private, long-term orphanage called Nissi House, in Thompson Cove. In mid-2007, the focus was changed to include all children in need of a safe environment. After Hurricane Ike damaged Nissi House in September 2008, the children and caretakers had to live in two separate, temporary locations until a better solution could be found.

In December 2008, a group of concerned TCI residents, led by Chairperson Tanis Wake-Forbes, formed the PCH Build Group, a private charity. Their idea was to work with TCI government to secure Crown Land for a proper 20-child facility, then raise $1 million to build it. Their lofty goal was to complete the facility within six months of breaking ground, by imploring the community to contribute towards the cause of making a difference in many children’s lives.

This seed of an idea blossomed as PCH Build Group members — 17 accomplished professionals — led the way. Belonger architect Shane Outten provided plans for the new facility; Projetech stepped up as builders, led by owner David Hartshorn and Steve Thompson; engineering support came from Peter Kerrigan’s firm EDS Ltd., Graham Shaw’s design practice BSD Ltd. and John Lawson. Tanis’s interior design company, Finishing Touch, and her designer Lauren Brown took charge of finishes and furnishings procurement, while Art Forbes wrangled with legal issues and Star Management’s Jenny Douglas handled accounting. Belongers Lucille Wilson and Roxann Wake-Forbes (also the PCH psychologist) served as government liaisons for policies and procedures, while Monique Davies, Karen Lawson, Bonnie Voynovich, Stephanie Fitzgerald, Angela Belvin and Kelly Hedges teamed with Tanis and her daughter Roxann to raise funds. PR support was led by Lynn Bengtsson of Grace Bay Resorts, while Tanis’s sister Tracey Wake of Adventurescape provided web site design.

With lots of elbow grease and not a little arm-twisting, the Build Group’s combined determination spread through the community. Resorts, businesses, community organizations, residents and even visitors either donated funds directly, took part in numerous PCH-targeted fund-raisers, or gave of goods or services. A glance at the PCH web site (www.pch.tc) Wall of Fame shows a list of those who made large Founder’s Donations and other contributions. In a touching gesture, students at Enid Capron Primary School took special notice of the kids and contributed their April “Jeans Day” money to help build the home. The teachers added their own contribution and plan to continue the donation every year.

Ground broke on July 2009, and, with almost supernatural speed despite many setbacks, six months later — right on target — the children had a new home.

Keeping it running
“If it could only be that simple,” Tanis Wake-Forbes bemoans. Tanis is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to getting something done for PCH, and she, more than anyone, knows there is still a long road ahead. She explains, “At the end of the day, we raised a 1/2 million dollars, and took out a loan for the other 1/2 million. Now this loan has to be paid back and ongoing operating costs must be met. Government is currently not in a position to provide the original funding as promised so we still need to find innovative ways to raise operating costs.”

And that’s where each reader of this story can step in now. PCH’s web site, www.pch.tc, reveals several pledge plans, including pledging $1/day ($365/year) for three years as an individual or through a company, church or community group pledge of $10/day ($3,650/year) or purchasing a room through the “Donate a Room” pledge.

PCH Wish Lists for day-to-day food and supplies are also posted on the web site. This makes it easy to buy a little extra when you shop and bring in your donation to help fill the large pantry. Other suggestions include donating kid-friendly gift certificates (mini-golf, cinema, bookstore, ice cream or pizza parlor, barber shop or salon), toiletries, household items, clothing and shoes, school/office supplies, games and toys, crafts and just about anything you would use in your own home. Just be sure to contact PCH before dropping off supplies. You can also choose to sponsor a meal plan; some local restaurants already donate food, which is very welcome.

If you like to organize or participate in events, be sure to support one of the annual PCH fund-raisers (organized by either PCH or others), including the “Race for the Conch” Eco-Swim on July 10, annual Champagne & Sushi Cruise in September, Wrightfully Fit Fitness Fun Run in November, Thanksgiving Dinner at Sharkbite, and a Seventies Disco Dance at Christmastime. One generous and creative set of newlyweds requested that relatives and friends make donations to PCH in place of wedding gifts. PCH will also be selling logoed beach bags and a limited edition jewelry piece to add to the kitty.

If funds are tight or you prefer a more meaningful experience, PCH needs your time and talent! Tanis explains, “We encourage residents and even visitors (especially child-care professionals) to volunteer a minimum of two hours/week, at a set day and time (after-school and weekends are best).” Kelly says the list of possibilities is unlimited, “We need homework tutors and reading instructors, along with folks to share skills in cooking, sewing, art & crafts, creative writing, budgeting and money management, gardening, sports, fishing, or simply mentoring.” Volunteers are asked to complete a form, provide a current police record and maintain confidentiality.

Finally, there is need for the ultimate gift of love: opening your home as a foster parent or adoption. Sadly, some of the children at PCH simply have no parents or no suitable family environment to return to.

Hope for the future
Landscaping of PCH grounds is underway, with each of the island’s landscaping companies doing their part. Tanis says with the Rotary Club’s help, plans are underway to prepare ground and lay an irrigation system for a large vegetable garden, enough for PCH consumption with hopes of selling any surplus in the Provo Farmer’s Market.

The future of this haven of compassion is in the hands of the newly elected PCH Board (Chair Bloneva Greene-Williams, Clayton Greene, Matt Trayler, Angela Musgrove, Adelle Elliott Edwards, Hopeful Campbell and Irene Butterfield), who are advised by the newly formed PCH Advisory Committee (Tanis Wake-Forbes, Roxann Wake-Forbes, Melinda Mensen, Denise Saunders, Doreen Quelch Stubbs and Dawn O’Sullivan) that ensures that all works together to serve the children’s best interests. As Tanis states, “There are policies and procedures delineated in the manuals to make sure the home is used for its stated purpose and we work closely with the TCI Social Development Department to ensure these are met and to assure the safety and security of the children.

Provo Children's Home staff

House Manager Kelly Hedges and Carers Leon Williams and Ingrid Dean and Housekeeper Irma Joinville have been working at PCH since its re-creation in 2007, while Assistant House Manager Pamela Stubbs joined the staff in May, 2010. They all share deep wells of patience and perseverance, along with a boundless enthusiasm and optimism not only for PCH’s future, but for the future of the children they work with. Kelly explains, “No doubt most of our kids come in a bit ‘rough around the edges’ because they have not been in the ideal family situation. But their successes are monumental. We had one girl who had flunked kindergarten; after a short time of care, attention and tutoring, she came out on top of the class in first grade. We had a 12 year old who could not even spell his own name; two years later, he was on the honor roll.” She adds, “We also love seeing a child react when they are introduced to something like dance or hockey for the first time, you can see their eyes light up with this exciting new thing. We encourage each child to learn to swim — even though it’s a pretty slow process! One of my best days was when an older kid I had spent lots of time teaching turned around and start instructing one of the younger kids. It’s a step towards sharing and having compassion for others.” Kelly says the ongoing success stories they witness, even after children have left PCH and returned home, are what keep her and the staff going during the challenging times.

In spite of the optimistic reports, all agree that the truth is that no child should have to be at PCH. Unfortunately, for every kid who landed there, there are dozens more that might need such a safe haven. Tanis encourages anyone to report suspected physical, sexual or emotional abuse to the government social development agency or the police. They have the authority to remove children from homes via the courts and order that families get the help or counseling needed.

I caught a glimpse of what drives Tanis and the other members of PCH Build Group and Board during our interview. Tanis stated emphatically, “There is NO REASON these children should not have a place where they can be safe, nurtured and cared for! And there’s no reason they shouldn’t feel proud of where they’re living. We all have to work together to ensure that PCH continues to succeed.”

Let’s all find that special place in our hearts and do what we can.

By Kathy Borsuk

Imagine being able to download your favorite tunes, photos, movies, streaming videos and games into your Blackberry, iPhone or iPad with lightning-fast speed. Surf the Web and access email while making a call! Want to see who you’re speaking to while you talk? Tired of hard-to-hear and dropped mobile calls? TCI is poised to step into the new generation of improved telecommunications with the launching of world class 3G service by local provider Islandcom Wireless. Stand back and prepare to be awed, as the winds of change sweep by!

All the latest devices work on Islandcom's new 3G network.

Islandcom, TCI’s only locally owned wireless carrier, has been re-born into a cutting-edge entity called Islandcom Wireless. It’s a competitive, high-tech firm that’s ready to bring speed, performance and sophistication to the TCI wireless market.

We last reported on Islandcom in late 2008, when it had just welcomed Bermuda Digital Communications (a subsidiary of industry giant Atlantic Tele-Network) as a major shareholder, strengthening the company originally dreamed up by Salt Cay native Sandra Garland in 2004 when the TCI telecommunications industry was deregulated. BDC’s influence led to a major restructuring of Islandcom plans, and in March 2009, their international team of telecommunication specialists began work on a $6 million commitment to build a 3G network in the Turks & Caicos. Islandcom Wireless CEO Kate Bonner explains what was involved, “We removed all our original equipment from the eleven existing shared cell towers and updated them to UMTS. We also added seven new cell towers of our own. By the end of this year, we will have Islandcom 3G coverage operating in twenty sites around the country, including Providenciales, North Caicos, Middle Caicos, South Caicos and Grand Turk.”

3G is the third-generation evolution of wireless technology. It uses a UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) which provides more “robust” service by utilizing a larger bandwidth with which to carry data. As Kate explained, in real terms this means that cell phone calls are of better quality: clearer and less likely to drop or not connect. It also means that you’ll now be able to take advantage of all the features on your “smart phone” that were not supported by the existing 2-G network: thanks to sizzling speeds rivaling hard-wired computers when it comes to transferring data, including music, photos, streaming videos and games. Plus, you can enjoy simultaneous voice and data capabilities allowing you to talk on your phone and surf the Net at the same time. And, because Islandcom Wireless provides international roaming, you can take your 3G service with you when traveling overseas.

According to the enthusiastic CEO, who boasts 24 years of experience in the telecommunications industry, “We started testing our network in December 2009 and were delighted to confirm that after an independent competitive test drive analysis, we can document that we offer clearer call quality, wider coverage and fewer dropped calls than our competitors.”

In the meantime, Islandcom upgraded its retail outlets on Providenciales and Grand Turk, plus added full service dealers in North and South Caicos. Here, Bonner promises, customers will find the latest and coolest 3G handsets and smart phones, including the much sought-after Apple iPhone, HTC Nexus Google and Blackberry Bold 9700. The stores will also carry such innovative devices as the Apple iPad and HP Mini Netbook, along with the wireless USB Modem which allows you to access 3G service on your laptop computer, all at very competitive prices. She adds, “We also think we have the best staff and salespeople in the country! They’re young, hip, charismatic, and very knowledgeable about our products. We want to take customer service to a whole new level.”

In tandem, Islandcom’s rate plans and call bundles — either pre-paid or post-paid — are easy to understand, yet comprehensive and competitive. Paying bills, topping up and checking voicemail can all be done on-line, while pre-paid top-up is available in 47 TCI locations. Islandcom Wireless’s corporate department offers custom-designed suites of voice and data services, including innovative data applications, to make it easy to conduct business from remote locations and coordinate your workforce. Corporate Account Manager Manno Papachristou explains, “Because we’re new, local and committed to technology, we’re very nimble and can react quickly to the specific needs of the local business community.”

Founder Sandra Garland is proud to say that the “new and improved” Islandcom hasn’t left its core values behind. “Our company remains committed to hiring and training locals, and 78% of the current workforce are Belongers. We’re also sponsoring several community events including the Fool’s Regatta, Eco-Swim, Big South Regatta and Grand Turk Billfishing Tournament.

Islandcom Wireless is due to launch in June, exploding into the marketplace with special offers including free data service for three months and free Islandcom to Islandcom calls. Don’t blink or you may miss it!

For more information, visit www.islandcom.tc or visit Islandcom’s retail stores in Graceway Plaza in Providenciales or Windmills Plaza in Grand Turk.