No right-minded client comes to these beautiful Islands with the intention of becoming a party to litigation. The Turks & Caicos Islands are no different than the rest of the world –in that everyone hates the litigation attorneys . . . until, that is, they need one.

Sadly, however, such a need can, and does, arise.

If and when it does, you can be left facing the possibility of expensive and lengthy litigation with a need to know what resources exist to assist you in your plight.

Given that you need to be aware of such unsavory possibilities, the question arises as to whether a relatively small jurisdiction has competent professionals to turn to. Far from there being insufficient numbers of high quality attorneys, and unlike other parts of the Caribbean, we can be justifiably proud of the strength of our litigation Bar: in which Turks & Caicos Islanders continue to play a major role.

A strong and competitive market amongst competent professionals should rightly be taken as a reassuring sign, rather than as a cause for alarm amongst the general populace. Recent appointments to Queen Counsel of prominent Turks & Caicos Islander attorneys in private practice further endorse the forward momentum of our jurisdiction. In addition, many view as beneficial the further experience that overseas attorneys bring to the jurisdiction, given that five years post-qualification experience is a mandatory requirement for any overseas lawyer seeking admission to the Bar of the Turks & Caicos Islands.

When the founding Partner of my firm, McLeans, Art Bishop, arrived on Providenciales in 1976 there were simply no litigation attorneys to be found. The period since then has seen a significant growth in numbers with most firms offering one or more litigation attorneys.

An important consideration is strength in depth: what happens when the lawyers handling your case are away from the Islands? Will there be someone sufficiently experienced available within that firm able to properly protect your interests at all times? Does your litigation attorney have sufficient commercial perspective to know when discretion is the better part of valour and a contested hearing may not be in your best interests?

Given that the law here is based on (and largely follows) the Common Law system of England and Wales, satisfy yourself as to whether your prospective attorney has ever worked there. If so, when and what links does he or she retain as a potential point of specialist consultation and advice on short notice?

Does your litigation attorney have corporate and commercial colleagues to help him or her attain that wider perspective on your particular circumstances? Be wary of any attorney whose first advice in a case is to complain about another attorney. Ask yourself whose interests are being best served: are you paying for old scores to be settled?

It is also extremely important to fully understand, in advance, the fee arrangements for any work to be undertaken by a litigation attorney. We are self-regulated by the Bar Council, and to whom you should feel able to voice any concerns regarding either the performance or billing practices of any attorney(s).

Having the above in mind at the time of your approaching a litigation attorney for representation will ensure a good working relationship. As inhabitants of these Islands, we are all fortunate in our judiciary. In 1844, the Chief Justice was paid 260 pounds, 8 shillings and 4 pence per year. As many of you will appreciate, the cost of justice has risen somewhat in the intervening period.

With the assistance of the British Department for International Development, we have a fully staffed judiciary. The English-trained Chief Justice, Richard Ground, has been living and working in the Caribbean since 1983 (Crown Counsel, Attorney General’s Chambers, Cayman Islands), held senior positions as a practicing attorney (Attorney General, Cayman Islands 1987-1992) and has been a full-time judge for over ten years (Supreme Court Judge, Bermuda 1992-1998, Chief Justice Turks & Caicos Islands 1998 onwards).

As a recent innovation, both Grand Turk and Providenciales each have their own Resident Magistrate, (Kwasi Bekoe in Grand Turk and Richard Williams in Providenciales), such is the current volume of work. Like other parts of the Caribbean, we have a Court of Appeal that visits bi-annually. Recent recommendations to the former Governor (Report of the Constitutional Modernisation Review Body, September 2002) included the suggestion that the Court of Appeal should visit more often. Beyond the Court of Appeal, appeal lies to the Privy Council, sitting in London, England.

As one of the potential pitfalls of investment in the Islands, the possibility of litigation must be acknowledged. However, with the right approach and an appreciation of the need for any litigation attorney to have a proven track record, this potential danger can be minimized (often in advance) and your interests properly protected at a reasonable cost and in proportion to the value of what it at stake. With that task accomplished, you can get on with enjoying what it was that brought you to the Islands in the first place.

Tim Prudhoe is Joint Managing Partner of McLeans, a full service law firm based in Providenciales. Tim practises predominantly in the field of commercial and civil litigation. Tim is dual qualified as an Attorney (Turks & Caicos Islands) and as a Barrister (England and Wales). Tim has been in practice in the TCI since 2000 and remains the youngest overseas attorney in this jurisdiction.

I have one hand around the back of an iguana’s spiny neck and the other just above its tail. I am kneeling to release it on hot white sand. These reptiles bite, so I let go quickly.

The iguana doesn’t move. Time slows as we stare at each other, the iguana not believing it is free of my grasp and me not quite believing I’m close enough to see the bright red sclera of this Turks & Caicos Rock Iguana. Finally, just as I’m about to stimulate it to action, the iguana bolts, scurrying through the sand and into a giant inkberry bush.

Found only in the Turks & Caicos Islands, the Rock Iguana (Cyclura carinata — the binomial name referring to the iguana’s ringed tail and rough skin) is the Islands’ largest native surviving terrestrial vertebrate. It is also, ecologically speaking, one of the most important animals on the Islands. Like the elephants of Africa, these vegetarians play an important role in their environment, dispersing and enhancing the germination of seeds of the native plants they consume. Sadly, like many other island natives, this lizard is in danger of going extinct.

The story of the Turks & Caicos Rock Iguana’s decline is unfortunately a common one. Their existence has been threatened by non-native species. Feral dogs and cats introduced by humans have decimated the original iguana population. Feral livestock have overgrazed native plant communities on which iguanas rely for survival and have trampled their burrows and nests. Now, iguanas are only found on the 5% of their original habitat where feral animals haven’t been introduced.

I work with a team to help protect the Turks & Caicos Rock Iguana. Protecting a species close to extinction takes more than concern or good intentions. It takes a lot of planning, creativity, patience, and good old-fashioned hard work. In the case of the Turks & Caicos Rock Iguana, it also takes a big boat, some sophisticated equipment, and a whole lot of scientists.

For the past two years, a research and conservation team, led by Dr. Glenn Gerber of the San Diego Zoo, has been working to repopulate the species. In the process they hope to learn more about rock iguanas in order to increase their chances of survival. I joined the team two years ago to assist with developing educational components to the research. We work with the Turks & Caicos National Trust, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the National Museum and the National Parks Department to transfer the knowledge gained from the research to both locals and visitors.

The project’s main focus is to increase the number of populations of Turks & Caicos Rock Iguanas. The animals are taken from cays with large, but threatened, populations of iguanas and translocated to cays that have good iguana habitat, are free of feral mammals and are protected from development. We move a negligible percentage of the source population but enough to allow for a healthy diversity of individuals to start the new population.

Back on the island, I watch Dr. Gerber insert a small hollow needle through the fatty tissue of one iguana’s dorsal crest (a relatively nerveless area much like earlobes on humans). He then pulls a wire with colored beads attached through the crest and secures it. These beads allow researchers to visually identify and differentiate between the iguanas. Each iguana also carries a passive integrated transmitter, or PIT tag, which identifies it with a unique number in case the bead tag is lost.

In early 2002, the iguanas were moved on the project’s research vessel (aptly named Cyclura, the genus for all rock iguanas) to their new homes. Now, a portion of them are recaptured at regular intervals to check up on their growth, health and reproductive status. “This is number 57, a small adult male,” says Dr. Gerber. “He’s gained some weight and by the looks of this new nick in his tail, he’s probably been scrapping with number 4, the big boy.” These comments and others observations about who is beating up on whom, who is growing like a weed or who is mating with whom are common among the researchers and belie a familial-like interest in the iguanas. During each checkup, we also draw a small amount of blood from the iguanas. The blood is chemically analyzed to determine the animal’s level of stress, which reveals how healthy the animal is, and to test for blood parasites.

By 5 PM, Dr. Gerber is on his knees digging in the sand. His right arm has disappeared up to his elbow into a small tunnel. It is June, the month when females lay between two and nine eggs in a nest burrow just under the sand surface. When he’s fairly positive that it is a nest burrow, he places a data-logger in the tunnel leading to the burrow. The data-logger is a small device that records environmental variables such as temperature and humidity in the vicinity of the nest burrow. Dr. Gerber will compare the number of offspring hatched to environmental data to determine how temperature and humidity affect hatching rates. Dr. Gerber will also retrieve genetic material from the hatchlings’ eggshells. This will allow him to determine who the parents are.

Eventually, Dr. Gerber will know how much each iguana has grown, which iguanas have mated and how many offspring they have, what food plants were available for the iguanas and which food plants they chose to eat, and where the iguanas traveled and burrowed. By making similar investigations of the source population of iguanas, Dr. Gerber will compare the two populations and study their differences. In this way, Dr. Gerber will be able to determine what types of environmental factors are important to iguana breeding, which will help future reintroduction efforts.

Through their work, the zoo researchers and their collaborators hope to inspire island residents and visitors to help protect the rock iguana and its habitat. These simple actions include keeping pets off of islands where iguanas live, politically supporting the protection of more iguana habitat, and obeying the regulations designed to protect the iguanas.

After a long day of capturing iguanas under the sweltering Caribbean sun I lie in my bunk bed on the Cyclura. I think about the animals we’ve caught today. The majority have gained weight since their last checkup three months ago. Some have wounds from territorial fighting. Others show signs of breeding. The process of reintroduction has two faces. We are reintroducing these iguanas, allowing the native landscape to become reacquainted them. Concurrently, we become more acquainted with the iguanas — their growth, their habits, and the intricacies of their lives. While we shape the iguanas’ lives they shape ours. It is this interaction that constantly renews my sense of hope for these endangered iguanas.

Lee Pagni is an international conservation education consultant. He works with communities to promote environmental awareness and stewardship.

Glenn Gerber is a Millennium Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Center for Reproduction of Endangered Species, Zoological Society of San Diego. He has studied iguanas throughout the West Indies for the past decade.

On behalf of the Zoological Society of San Diego, the author thanks the Caicos Marina & Shipyard for their generous contribution to the project.

A tiny chain of emerald green islands sit poised in a seemingly endless and vast deep-blue sea surrounded by
a thin fringe of crystal-white sands and shallow turquoise banks. Like glittering beads of a necklace, each color represents a precious jewel of natural history that makes these islands a paradise on earth. The deep-blue seas are where the islands began and hold the untold mysteries of their past and future. The crystal-white sands, like sugar coating a delicious treat, are worth their proverbial weight in the now burgeoning tourist industry. The unbelievable turquoise waters delicately gracing the boundaries of the chain contain diverse tropical reefs, productive estuaries and mangrove communities that are the breadbaskets of a thriving marine ecosystem. And finally, although certainly not least, are the emeralds themselves–rare tropical dry forests that remain much as they have for thousands of years.

In the beginning there was nothing but a blue sea and sky, and the ancient earth shifted moving sea floors to shallower depths where they could capture the scattered underwater light of the sun. The sun warmed the sea, and the light made it possible for algae and corals to colonize the shallow continental shelves eventually forming giant fringing reefs teeming with life. This was about 135 million years ago when the earth’s land masses were ruled by dinosaurs, but the islands themselves still did not break the surface of the vast expanse of blue.

Over eons of time, the fishes, corals, algae and other organisms engaged in the constant cycle of life and death, but as they lived and died, their legacy was left behind in the form of tiny calcium carbonate skeletons and bi-products. For ages and ages, the remnants of these early marine lifeforms collected in the troughs between reefs and on the shallow banks surrounding them, gradually building up sediment to form shallow turquoise bays.

Birth of an Archipelago
Then the earth cooled. Glaciers of mammoth proportions blanketed Eurasia and North America, drinking up stores of the oceans’ waters and causing the sea levels to recede. As many as four times, the great oceans rose and receded again, and then, about 75,000 years ago, during the last great ice age known as the Wisconsin, from the receding tide, the coral reefs and shallow bays emerged out of the water to form dry land.

The water receded slowly at first, revealing only wisps of sandy spits that disappeared each day with the rising tide. The same tides brought the first inhabitants of this new ephemeral and inhospitable place neither of the land nor the sea. These were ingenious trees that traveled the oceans of the earth in ready-to-grow packages called propagules. When they met the edge of the land, they put down roots and sprouted leaves to form forests of red mangroves (Rhizophora mangle) bridging the space between the new land and the sea.

Once the coastline was secured, other species of mangroves–Black (Avicennia germinans), White (Laguncularia racemosa) and Buttonwood (Conocarpus erectus) established themselves. Into their expansive root systems came the creatures of the sea. Providing food, shelter and protection for juvenile marine species, the mangroves soon became an important link in the marine food web, but they were also critical in the development of the land. Long-legged birds took advantage of the bounty of the mangroves and began to make their homes among them.

Thousands of years later, these keystone mangrove species continue their legacy, standing guard along the coastlines and protecting the fragile and ever-changing boundaries of the islands and their origins.
On the currents of the seas, tiny crystals of calcium carbonate known as “aragonite” drifted until they met the edge of the land and the sea where the mangroves grew. They deposited by the billions until miles and miles of brilliant white sand stretched where once there was only blue.

The seas continued to recede. At their lowest levels, the oceans were a monumental 400 feet below their current levels. This was a time when the islands flourished. What today comprise the numerous underwater banks of the island chains became acres and acres of flat lands. Ancient coral ridges and dunes became veritable mountain ranges of up to 600 feet in height. The islands were massive land masses extending their boundaries to the edges of the neighboring islands of Cuba and Hispaniola.

The Great Migration
It was then that an extraordinary mass migration began. Pioneers began to make their way to the new shores carried on the wind, currents and sea. The fertile beginnings of plants sailed the sea in buoyant pods, or flew with wings on the winds, or deposited in the dung of migrating birds that happened to pass by.

To these early inhabitants, the islands of the sea were an inhospitable place. There was no topsoil save the organic, salt-saturated muck that once lined the bottoms of ancient bays. Fresh water was a scarce commodity, and the sea and wind constantly drenched the land with fresh supplies of damaging salt spray. Many of the new arrivals did not survive at all. Those that did survive were able to adapt.

Island Biogeography
Perhaps it was at this time that a distant relative of Island Heather (Limonium bahamense) first made its way across the sea to settle. Confronted with the harsh environment, these delicate herbs changed themselves genetically in order to survive in this perilous new world. Today, this species has evolved into a plant that exists in a limited habitat only at the edges of salt ponds and low-lying salty flood plains. It exists nowhere else on earth.

Isolation and time–plenty of time–are the islands’ secrets. Islands throughout the world encompass only a small fraction of the earth’s surface, but they contain within their boundaries about 1/6 of all plant species.

This is one of nature’s ironic twists. The more treacherous the terrain, the more likely it will be that organisms will mutate and evolve to form endemic or unique species that are limited to a restricted geographical area. In many cases, they become so specialized that they cannot really exist in any other place on earth. Environmental change, both natural and unnatural, has led to a mass extinction of endemic species worldwide. Islands have been particularly vulnerable.

The clearance of land for development, dredging of salt ponds and salt flats to make way for marinas and general human interference could wipe out many plants unique to these islands and contribute to their extinction. This is the way with islands.

And, plants aren’t the only organisms affected by this phenomenon. In fact, many classes of organisms are subject to the mysterious evolutionary forces of island biogeography. Since the millions of years since their creation, islands have been the home to several unique species. We are all familiar with the tragic plight of the Dodo. This now extinct bird stands as a symbol for the creative forces of islands. It also stands as a testament to their vulnerability.

Other Pioneers
The sea brought forth other pioneers as well. Reptiles, insects and small mammals cast away from their native lands by tropical whirlwinds and storms grasped for life to floating rafts of driftwood and other debris. They sailed aimlessly on the sea until by chance, their unintentional crafts collided with the new land and they were able to disembark.

For others, it was easier. Birds and bats had the gift of flight and made their way easily to the uninhabited new land. Others took advantage of land bridges that formed at the edges of the massive ice age islands connecting them to larger islands to the east and south.

From North America, Cuba, Hispaniola, the Antilles and even as far away as Africa, the migrants came on the land, sea and air. As treacherous as the migrations were, this was not the end of their struggles.

Long ago on these islands of the sea, giant land tortoises and strange mammals known as Houtia roamed the land foraging on the fruit and leaves of island vegetation. Long-tailed tree iguanas climbed through the vegetation, basking in the treetops and seeking out the tender young shoots of edible leaves.

It is not known why these species no longer thrive here, but their fossilized remains have been found scattered throughout the islands in several Lucayan archaeological sites. This leads some to believe that the early human inhabitants of these islands, the Lucayan or Taino Indians, hunted them. Whatever the reason, they were not able to adapt quickly enough to survive in the changing world around them. The natural history of islands is also a history of extinction.

Remnants from the Past
Yet many animal relics from the past did survive and still remain today in the islands living much as they have for thousands of years. The Rock Iguana is a living testament to the evolutionary history of these islands. This species, Cyclura carinata carinata, evolved from an earlier form into a creature that exists nowhere else. Having formed in a sheltered environment free from large predators, their fate is now uncertain. Although they have survived the ecological battles of survival of the fittest, tropical tempests and other natural disasters, they stand no chance against a simple domesticated dog or cat.

Other endemic creatures are the Pigmy Boa Constrictor, Curly-tail Lizard and Dead Leaf Butterfly. Each of these species is found only in this region and nowhere else on earth. Each of them once made the perilous journey across the seas, found their way to these isolated isles and changed genetically over time in order to adapt to their new environment.

Secrets of the Emerald Green Forests
Over time, the new pioneers established themselves and began the terrestrial cycles of growth, reproduction and death. Decaying biomass gradually, over thousands of years, formed thin soils that enabled more complex plants such as trees to get a foothold in the changing landscape. Seasonal rains came and went, making the growing periods short and difficult. Only the species that were able to withstand long periods of drought were able to gain a foothold. Then, very slowly, vast emerald green forests, dwarfed like natural bonsai gardens and perfectly adapted to the harsh island climate, grew where once there was only water, sun and a deep blue sea.

A tree stands in the forest. It has witnessed eons of change, and yet the forest still stands. Perhaps it is a Lignum Vitae (Guaiacum sanctum), carried once centuries earlier as a red, juicy seed in the beak or belly of a traveling bird searching for sanctuary from the encroaching cold from the north. Maybe it is a stately Mahogany (Swietennia mahogoni), whose winged seeds travel on the winds far and wide in search of suitable soils in which to sprout. Maybe it is a rare Caribbean Pine (Pinus caribbaea var. bahamense). Found only in this archipelago and nowhere else on earth, it keeps the mysteries of its origins a secret that is told only in the whispering of the wind through its needles.

It could be one of countless trees that make up the vast and untouched forests of the islands, unique in their composition, living and flourishing for thousands of years and withstanding the rising and lowering of the seas, hurricanes of incredible force, fires and the actions of man.
One day, the earth will warm again, melting the polar ice caps and unleashing the seas, which will follow with increasing tides. Once again, the islands of the sea will revert back to their origins to become flourishing underwater reefs and bays.

Until that time, we are the stewards of this precious moment in time and the unique organisms that inhabit these islands. Beautiful by nature and continuing to change and evolve with each rise and fall of the tides, these islands borne of the sea are the Turks and Caicos.

The Somerset on Grace Bay

Although they had an ocean between them, the sophisticated elite that settled in the sprawling penthouses of New York’s Upper East Side and the wealthy British Colonial travelers of yesteryear shared a common appreciation of elegance as they lived and traveled in style.

Interestingly, The Somerset on Grace Bay — among Providenciales’ most upscale new beachfront developments– is the dual effort of a Manhattan-centered developer and a Turks & Caicos-based team. And in both concept and design, The Somerset reflects a unique blend of cosmopolitan elegance and a comfortable tropical lifestyle . . . literally the best of both worlds.

Well-spaced over a 4.6 acre site, with nearly 300 feet of beachfront on Grace Bay, The Somerset places a premium on privacy and space. In fact, the 16 condominium units in the four oceanfront buildings are (properly) referred to as Estate Homes. With only one residence per floor, each spans 3,500 to 4,600 square feet, with the top floor, two-story penthouses offering over 5,200 square feet of magnificent living space. Allan Rauw, a partner in the project, describes their appeal, “We perceived a need for spacious, elegant and private villa-type beachfront homes in the heart of Grace Bay. They appeal to people who want to establish a second residence here, or simply enjoy vacationing in a home-away-from-home.”

Because each residence in the oceanfront Carlyle, Flintwick, Dundee and Welwyn buildings occupies the entire floor, residents will enjoy unobstructed vistas of the mesmerizing turquoise ocean just steps from their door. Private terraces on four sides expand the sense of limitless space and promise the whisper of sea breezes in every room.

Complementing The Somerset’s cosmopolitan style of architecture, interiors echo its grandeur. Accessed by private elevators, Estate Home penthouses feature a central entrance foyer that leads to a high-ceilinged Great Room with walls of wood-trimmed windows open to 60 feet of private seaside terrace. Steps up the sweeping staircase is a balcony overlooking the living area and leading to upper-level bedrooms, of which no two share a common wall. Master bathrooms include a Jacuzzi — both indoors and outdoors on the terrace, which is also serviced by its own wet bar. Kitchens are state-of-the art, with built-in china cabinets and wood-fronted refrigerator/freezers and are lit by elegant chandeliers. Peruvian hardwood flooring, wood moldings, marble countertops, hand-forged iron railings, pre-wired audio systems and a premier level of appliances, fixtures and finishing detail make The Somerset among the most luxurious residences on Providenciales.

Just behind the Estate Homes is Stirling House, a larger building housing 24 one to three bedroom, ocean view condominium residences. With combined interiors and terraces ranging in size from 1,500 to 2,600 square feet, these stylish condo units also offer a generous amount of living space. Elegant penthouses, with roof top terraces, duplicate the charming tower features of those in the Estate Homes. Beyond the reception fountain and croquet lawn, ten English Cottages offer a third option for a Somerset lifestyle. These two-story, 2,600 square foot townhomes boast private gardens fashioned after the tranquility of the English countryside, while just steps from Grace Bay Beach.

With a gated entrance, enclosed parking, private walkways and lush tropical landscaping, The Somerset property serves as a private retreat for its owners and guests. The site itself is well-situated, tucked between The Palms upscale condominium development and Rotary Park on a tranquil, and especially wide and gently sloping stretch of Grace Bay Beach’s 13-mile splendor.

A focal point of The Somerset’s grounds is a lengthy series of cascading pools. This unique water feature starts at Stirling House with a fountain, flowing to a long, controlled current pool for lap swimming and on to a huge, patio-lined “edgeless” pool ending in several waterfalls at the beach’s edge.

Although primarily designed as a residential property, The Somerset will offer owners and guests all the amenities of resort living. The elegant, fountain-fronted reception area is also suitable for private parties and will include a concierge to address every need, such as excursion planning, dining reservations and babysitting. Plans also include an on-site gourmet restaurant, beachfront cabana bar and grill, world-class spa, fitness center . . . and even an English-style rose garden.

A visit to The Somerset’s magnificent showroom in Grace Bay Court reveals the exquisite quality of its decor. Designed by renowned interior designer Keith Baltimore, with input from the entire Somerset team, interiors reflect a sophisticated elegance evoked with a Colonial tropical theme. Owners can choose from various design and furnishing packages, including British Khaki, English Traditional and Asian Contemporary.

The Somerset development team’s unique blend of influences has resulted in a project quite unlike any other on Grace Bay. The initial concept was hatched several years ago by Allan Rauw, a commercial developer from western Canada who has lived on Providenciales for seven years. He acquired the site and partnered with Antonio Dallamano, who represents Horton Realty, a company with an excellent reputation for turn-key project management by working in conjunction with Projetech Construction Management and Finishing Touches interior design. When Alan Sackman came on board as a major shareholder, The Somerset was set in motion. Sackman had long been familiar with the Islands and with a 40 year history of residential development in Manhattan, the founder of New York-based Sackman Enterprises recognized the need for larger units on Grace Bay that would appeal to people whose lifestyle includes villa living. Sackman’s daughter, Allyson Nick, took a special interest in the project and the family brought in New York-based Rosenberg Kolb Architects and Keith Baltimore to refine existing ideas to reflect a sense of style and elegance so boldly emanating from The Somerset’s commitment.

Plans are for Projetech to start construction in Spring, 2003, with local architectural firm Rothermel Cooke Smith preparing the working drawings and supervising building. Initial efforts will focus on the four beachfront buildings, with the entire project expected to be completed in three years time. Horton Realty, led by Walter Gardiner, is using its extensive world-wide network to market the project, with a number of residences already purchased at pre-construction prices. The Somerset will also offer resort management and a rental program for owners.

With space on Grace Bay Beach rapidly dwindling, The Somerset team believe their project represents a rare opportunity to secure a large, residential home overlooking its pristine shores.

A Sequel To Success

The Villas at Grace Bay Club
By Kathy Borsuk
Photo by Michael Grimm
Rendering by Gordon Pierce

John Fair, Mark Durliat, and Jerry Landeck spent three years searching the Caribbean for the perfect property on which to expand their vision. The team of experienced developers was eventually lead to the Turks & Caicos Islands, where the exclusive Grace Bay Club was quietly being offered for sale to an elite market.

Opened in 1993 as the first small luxury hotel on Providenciales, Grace Bay Club earned a gold-plated reputation for both the beauty of its elegant property and exquisite suites and its meticulous care and handling of an international cadre of upscale guests. Besides being a long-standing affiliate of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, the boutique hotel is consistently lauded in Conde Nast Readers’ Choice Awards as among the best in the Caribbean.

The well-established property seemed ideal to add to the team’s growing portfolio of five-star boutique resorts, which includes the new and highly acclaimed Esperanza Resort in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, already a member of Leading Hotels of the World and recently voted among the “Top 25 in the World” by Andrew Harper’s Hideaway Report.

Immediately following their purchase of Grace Bay Club in April 2002, the new owners began extensive refurbishment of the decade-old resort, with the intention, Mark Durliat explains, of sending a clear message. “We wanted to let our many repeat guests know that we had a strong interest in improving their experience and we wanted the staff to enjoy a better work environment. We didn’t want to come in and trade on the property’s good name without making our own investment in enhancing it.”

The next step was to announce the expansion of the current 21-suite hotel to include 38 ultra-luxury condominium residences: The Villas at Grace Bay Club. The move seemed a natural progression in making best use of the sprawling six acre site, which boasts an astounding 750 feet of frontage on Providenciales’ most lauded beach (and the property’s namesake). However, it was extremely important to the developers that Grace Bay Club retain the exclusive, intimate atmosphere that led to its success. “As a result,” Durliat says, “we only planned for 38 villas, placed in four buildings well-spaced across the site and surrounded by our trademark tropical gardens. This is a very low density project.”

Brought on board were visionary architect Gordon Pierce and his firm Resort Design Associates International, who the developers knew well for Pierce’s pioneering design role in the legendary Vail Village and Beaver Creek Village in Colorado, as well as the world-renowned Sonnenalp Hotel and Austria Haus in Vail and The Chateau at Beaver Creek, among other prominent properties around the world. They admired his passion for exemplary design, radiating timelessness and strength of character. Pierce made no less than a dozen visits to the Islands before taking on the challenge of weaving substantial new elements into a successful and much-admired property.

The Villas at Grace Bay Club reflect the distinctive Mediterranean style of the existing buildings, retaining golden stucco exteriors, russet clay tile roofing and arched open terraces surrounding each suite. With only two villas on each floor, the living experience remains intimate and exclusive. Buildings all face the glorious turquoise sea and each condominium has no fewer than three oceanfront terraces. Sea views wash into master bedrooms, each with a private terrace/sitting area, and sweep into the kitchen, dining and living rooms via expansive walls of glass and disappearing sliding doors. Designed to include all the amenities of a five-star experience, each bedroom has its own bath (with whirlpool tubs in the master), living rooms include a wet bar and unique “candle” fireplace, and kitchens sport an entertainment island and top-of-the-line appliances. The incomparable three and four bedroom penthouses take luxury a step further, enjoying the entire top floor of each building, with 80 feet of ocean frontage, two oceanfront master suites, a separate media room, 1,000 feet of terrace, an outdoor Jacuzzi and a host of other ultra-upscale amenities.

Interiors are elegant and modern, a reflection of the hotel’s renowned sophisticated taste. Owners can choose from several themes, carefully selected by interior designer Margaret Shannon. Ranging from cool and refreshing to calm and serene or hot and spicy, each palette includes extensive use of organic materials such as exotic woods, textured fabrics, stone, glass and decorative pieces that will make each suite feel like a private residence.

The developers’ vision for The Villas encompasses additional amenities to elevate the Grace Bay Club experience to a new level of perfection and pampering. Pierce’s grand design for the property includes a second dramatic beachfront pool that appears to blend seamlessly into its aqua backdrop. Nearby, a swim-up bar and casual grill will add variety to the more-formal dining available at the venerable Anacaona gourmet restaurant, also due to be expanded. Plans include a magnificent European spa and state-of-the-art fitness center to complement the existing watersports, tennis and spa facilities and a new, more centralized reception building will welcome guests.

Although still in the pre-construction phase, Durliat has already seen strong sales of The Villas condominiums, priced from $850,000 to $2,200,000 for two, three and four-bedroom suites ranging in size from 2,100 to 3,600 sq. ft. He says, “With the successful operating history of the resort as a guide, the investment is much less speculative than in an untried venture. In fact, over 1/2 of our purchasers are previous hotel guests and encompass a sophisticated international clientele.”

Anticipating that some owners will want to generate income from their units, complete rental and property management programs are provided and The Villas’ “lock-out” studio emulates a five-star hotel suite. Providenciales resort marketing guru Joe Zahm, who was brought into the project in its early stages and serves as its exclusive sales agent through Connolly Zahm Properties, explains, “Each villa includes a 525 sq. ft. ocean view studio suite with a private balcony, five-piece bath and separate entrance. This type of room is a best seller in the existing hotel and especially attractive to couples. Of course, the larger two and three bedroom suites are available for families and groups.” Marketing efforts will take advantage of Grace Bay Club’s recognized market presence and reservations services.

Construction of The Villas at Grace Bay Club is slated to begin in Summer, 2003 and will be undertaken in one phase. The hotel’s longtime Dutch manager, Martein van Wagenberg, admired for his meticulous attention to detail, has extracted promises from the developers that disruption will be kept to a minimum. Local architect John Redmond & Associates will implement architects’ plans and the local law firm of Miller Simons O’Sullivan serves as project attorneys.

Although John Fair, Mark Durliat, and Jerry Landeck have a combined total of over 50 years of experience in resort, residential and commercial development, they are especially excited to see their newest Caribbean venture get underway. Durliat explains, “We’re eager to create another unique product that will have a presence in the world.”

Whether you approach from the beach or via the road, the Turks & Caicos Club seems to magically appear like a beautiful mirage. Its striking combination of white-trimmed, ivory buildings and red clay-tiled roofs stands in brilliant contrast to the deep blue sky, turquoise sea and verdant landscaping surrounding it.

But don’t worry. You don’t have to be a member to enjoy the pleasures of this club. Just opened in December 2002, the 21 room luxury hotel combines the intimacy conjured by the term “club” with a comfortable, “unstuffy” atmosphere and warm hospitality that makes it an ideal place to enjoy a Caribbean holiday.

The Turks & Caicos Club occupies a peaceful, two acre site on the western end of Providenciales’ north shore, nestled in a primarily residential area, with one of the island’s best snorkeling reefs just steps away. As a result, the footprints of Club guests are usually the only ones on the wide stretch of beach lining the property and the ocean waves beckon to them alone. Security fencing around the site and imposing concrete and wrought iron gating at the property’s entrance serve as further assurance that guests won’t be disturbed.

One and two bedroom suites occupy two buildings; one fronts the beach and a smaller building offers ocean and pool/garden views. Architecture recalls a Caribbean Colonial style, with charming accents of gingerbread trim, latticework, bannistered balconies, large window shutters and wrought iron lamps. Especially prominent are the spacious private verandas and balconies adjoining each suite, the perfect place on which to relax and savor the sea breezes and marvelous ocean views. Notably, the Turks & Caicos Club was designed by Anthony Walkin, who runs Conservative Architects Ltd., and is the first Belonger-designed hotel project on Grace Bay.

When it’s time to explore, guests need only follow a boardwalk over the sand dunes and past a forest of waving sea grasses to access 12 miles of beach and the Princess Alexandra Marine Park. The hotel provides a number of complimentary watersports, including HobieCats, windsurfers, sea kayaks and snorkeling equipment for the guests’ use. When it’s time to relax, comfortable lounging chairs can be found on the beach or around the pedal-shaped freshwater pool privately located in the heart of the Club complex. The surrounding terrace includes a covered gazebo, where a stack of fluffy beach towels stand at the ready. Drinks and snacks are available throughout the day from the adjoining Simba Bar and Restaurant. (See below.)

The Club’s spotless rooms are elegantly designed in calming shades of beige and complement the Colonial architecture with extensive use of maple, rattan, bamboo and woven fabrics and accents in a safari theme. With one bedroom suites sized at 1,150 to 1,200 sq. ft. and two bedrooms at 1,377 to 1,582 sq. ft., there’s plenty of room to spread out. All are fully air conditioned with ceiling fans and include cable TV and available VCR/DVD players, writing desks and direct dial telephones with Internet access. In a romantic gesture, four-poster king beds are surrounded by wisps of mosquito netting and bedrooms are set back in a raised alcove behind the living area. Kitchens are strictly modern with deep blue tiled counters contrasting dramatically with sleek, black, state-of-the-art appliances. A separate alcove encloses a circular dining table, although many guests prefer to dine al fresco on their patio. Full sized bathrooms include shower and bath with luxurious bath amenities. Each unit includes a small washer/dryer. Maid service is provided twice daily.

In striving for a five star rating, the Turks & Caicos Club has put all the amenities in place to pamper guests in style. Besides the gourmet restaurant and bar on premises, deluxe Continental breakfast is included in the room rate and room service is available. There is a fully equipped fitness center and bicycles for guests’ use and a masseuse is on-call for in-suite spa services. From the reception building, a concierge helps arrange for scuba diving, sailing, touring and other excursions and can assist with dining reservations, car rental and even baby-sitting. The resort is especially proud of their transportation service, with airport transfers and trips around the island provided by Bradley Dean, about whom visitors say, “This is the first place where I’ve seen guests hug their taxi driver.”

Above all, the resort has put a premium on ensuring that the staff provide the best in service and hospitality. Importance is placed on finding and hiring qualified Belongers.

And so far, initial guest reaction has been positive. The resort has had a number of high-powered guests who find it extremely relaxing. Besides the obvious attractions of sun, sand and sea, the Turks & Caicos Club provides a luxurious atmosphere that’s not stuffy. It’s not the kind of place where you need to dress up to come down to the pool and no one cares what your title is. Actions speak louder than words: already a number of guests have made their reservations to return next year.

For more information or reservations, contact the Turks & Caicos Club at (649) 946-5800; fax (649) 946-5858; e-mail: info@turksandcaicosclub.com; web site: 

Story by David Bowen, Cultural Officer, Turks & Caicos Tourist Board

One of the very first tasks I put to myself, as the Tourist Board’s newly appointed Cultural Officer, was to work on getting a national costume recognized. Throughout my travels and many years abroad, I have seen a number of countries displaying their national costumes during national holidays, celebrations and cultural shows. When I moved back home to the Turks & Caicos in the mid 1990s, I worked at Beaches Resort as Entertainment Manager, and during that time I had to use the Jamaican national costume (due to a lack of our own), for some of my productions and group functions where a “Native Island look” was required.

The Jamaican national dress is called the Bandana. It is quite beautiful and when I later learnt the meaning and history behind its design, pattern and colors, I was very impressed. That made me curious as to why Turks & Caicos did not have a national dress of our own, since we did have somewhat of a interesting and colorful past including English Loyalists, Bermudian salt rakers and African-American and African slaves.

THE START OF AN IDEA
In August 2001, the Tourist Board asked me to assist a group of students who were representing the Turks & Caicos in a youth conference being held in Guyana. As part of the conference, each group of students had to perform something highlighting their native culture. With the help of Youth Director Craig Archibold as musical director, I choreographed and directed a ten-minute medley of folk songs and dances for the group to perform. During a rehearsal, I asked the students what type of costume was being worn for the performance and was told, “A T-shirt and jeans for the boys and a skirt and T-shirt for the girls.” That response really turned my head. Here we were representing the country and culture on the international stage and no thought was given to the type of truly native costume our group would be displaying.

With haste I put together an “Island Look” of loose pants, straw hats and colorful print shirts from my personal assortment of costumes, but in the end the group had to have costumes made in Guyana. Despite this, the Turks & Caicos group actually won First Prize for Best Cultural Presentation — quite a feat considering the rich cultural heritage of the other Caribbean nations attending — and I always felt it would have left a more lasting impression if our group were dressed in a national costume.

Shortly after signing on with the Tourist Board a few weeks later, I put the national costume on top of my “Things to Do” list. I am proud to say that eight months later, on June 1, 2002, the National Dress made its debut in the nation’s capital of Grand Turk during the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Celebration. What follows is the story behind the development of the Turks & Caicos National Dress.

AN IDEA SHARED BY MANY
Over the years, there have been many designs, dresses and costumes presented in cultural shows, parades, pageants, international performances and Tourist Board functions with the good intention of displaying and representing our country. Some were African in style and design; some had a typical generic Caribbean flair while others were made to look like the symbols of what was felt at the time to represent our heritage and culture. There were some fantastic costumes made to resemble the Turks Head Cactus, the Conch Shell, the Hibiscus Flower and even a Lobster, but nothing stuck.

In 1994, Valerie Forbin, then the Tourist Board’s Information Officer (now the Assistant Director of Cultural Development) and Stanley Astwood began a campaign to introduce a number of national symbols and among the items on their list was a quest for a national dress. The idea at the time was to have a design somewhat like a costume used by the Turks & Caicos Cultural Group under the direction of Joe Robinson. (A photograph can be seen on the jacket of the record album “Bonefish Bitin’,” a recording of folk songs made by the group.) Unfortunately, red tape and a lack of interest put the project on the back burner until September, 2001 when Ms. Forbin gave a copy of her national symbol proposal to me when she discovered that I was very interested and sincere in my quest to research and help develop a national dress for Turks & Caicos Islanders.

The problem was, of course, deciding what kind of design would accurately represent our nation and its unique cultural heritage. A national dress should reflect a country’s history and culture and at the same time, represent the various aspects of its diverse population, industry, beauty and character.

With 40 islands and cays, several different industries and most of our settlements separated by water, trying to define our cultural heritage in a single costume presented a huge challenge. The natives on each of the six inhabited islands (Grand Turk, Salt Cay, South Caicos, Middle Caicos, North Caicos and Providenciales) are known to be very patriotic to their island home, so any design that leaned too much towards one island or another would truly upset the others. It would be a tricky situation to please all and at the same time honestly represent the nation as a whole. Clear thinking and an impartial viewpoint were needed . . . and let’s not forget, lots of luck!

THE BEGINNING
The task began at the library, researching and studying the national costumes of the world for background information on their history and reasons for the various styles, colors and designs. Some were very simple, like the national dress of Israel, while others were flamboyant and spectacular, like the costume of Thailand, but in the end one thing became very clear: the vast majority of the designs were based on what the working people wore during the developing stages of their country. What was truly fascinating was that almost every part of the costumes had meaning and reflected important aspects of the culture, people and history.

Armed with this information, the next stop was the Turks & Caicos National Museum, where Brian Riggs and Nigel Sadler provided photographs, sketches and written descriptions on the background, work clothes and lifestyle of the salt rakers, farmers, fishermen and plantation slaves who lived and worked in the Islands. Senior citizens such as James Dean, Alton Higgs, Mary Quelch, Stanley Fulford, Constance Hall, Mr. & Mrs. Walter Malcolm and Mr. & Mrs. Donald Hamilton, just to name a few, were also consulted since they were able to talk from experience about what was worn and what daily life was like in the early years.

I learnt that our ancestors’ dress was basic and practical. Clothes were usually handed down and reused since there was not much wealth in those days. It didn’t take long to realize that what they wore represented a simple and humble lifestyle.

WHAT THEY WORE

The ladies’ dresses were long and hung around the calf and ankle. They were usually tied, gathered, or hung loose at the waist. The sleeves were both long and short with a modest collar. In the Caicos Islands, sometimes pants were worn under the dresses as protection from mosquitoes and bugs. Materials and fabrics such as cotton, denim, oznerburg cloth, flour bags, khaki, croca sacks, drill, and chambray were all used to make clothes. Headscarfs and handmade wide-brim straw hats, made from the dried leaves of the Silver Palm top, were worn to provide protection from the sun while working in the fields or bagging salt. In the Caicos Islands, both women and men wore slippers made from leaves or grass, but the majority of the people worked barefoot. In later years, “Wompers” — handmade shoes made from washed-up materials — came into fashion.

The men wore simple shirts and loose pants, which they rolled up to the calf or knee while they worked. Belts or a piece of rope kept their pants up. Shirts had both short and long sleeves, which were also rolled up while working.

Handmade straw hats completed the outfit, providing shade from the burning sun on fishing boats and while raking salt in the ponds or picking cotton and sisal on the plantations. On Sundays and special occasions such as weddings, funerals or going “courting,” the natives would wear their best outfits. For the women, it was usually a white or colorful print dress with a “church hat” and a pair of leather shoes with a short heel. The men always had a jacket or coat suit (usually black), a white shirt and they always sported a hat.

DECIDING ON A DESIGN
With all this information in mind, I drew a simple picture and armed with this design, I went around getting input and suggestions from co-workers, friends and knowledgeable persons in the community. I received some good and constructive feedback and came to the conclusion that the design was on the mark.

The next problem was that of what kind of material to use. This problem was solved in late January when I noticed that everywhere, cotton trees were in bloom. Cotton is lightweight, cool, and easy to cut and sew and it was also a vibrant industry in these Islands before the boll weevil destroyed the cotton plantations in the late 1700s.

REPRESENTING THE ISLANDS, HERITAGE AND CULTURE
Because the local population on each of the six inhabited islands is very patriotic to their island home, the national dress would have to somehow represent each island and its subculture equally. Luckily Valerie, then the Tourist Board’s Information Officer, had been printing brochures about each island for visiting tourists. To distinguish one from the other she used various colored paper. The idea to color code the islands was a natural, but more research had to be conducted into what color best suited each island.

With the help of Valerie, Tourist Board Public Relations Manager Jackie Mulligan — with the input of Nigel Sadler, director of the Turks & Caicos Museum — devised a color scheme and eight colors were chosen with each island’s special quality in mind. There were six colors for the main islands and two others for symbols of national pride. It was very important that the color layout and overall design also function as an educational tool, with information and facts about the culture, history and heritage of each island and the nation as a whole.

CHOOSING THE COLORS
RED was chosen to represent the nation’s capital, Grand Turk. The color is taken from the red/pink fruit found on the national plant, the Turks Head Cactus. They were once found in abundance on Grand Turk before they were removed to accommodate the salt ponds.

WHITE was chosen to represent Salt Cay. The color came from salt. The salt industry was largely responsible for populating the islands of Salt Cay, Grand Turk and South Caicos.

ORANGE was chosen to represent South and East Caicos. The color comes from the Spiny Lobster and fish and reflects the fishing industry in the “Big South.”

TAN was chosen to represent Middle Caicos. The color is taken from the raw material (thatch) that once covered the roofs of the houses. It is also used to make straw hats, baskets and brooms. Middle Caicos is known for the superior quality of native craftwork.

GREEN was chosen to represent North Caicos and Parrot Cay. The color is taken from the fruit trees and other types of trees that flourish in the most fertile of all the islands. North Caicos is also home of Wade’s Green Plantation, the most successful of Caicos Islands cotton plantations.

TURQUOISE was chosen to represent the islands of Providenciales, Pine Cay and West Caicos. The color is taken from the beautiful turquoise waters that surround these islands on which our famous Caicos fishing sloops sail. These turquoise waters also contribute to our newest industry, tourism.

PINK was chosen to represent the beautiful conch shell, flamingoes and the numerous uninhabited cays that make up our chain of islands.

YELLOW represents God’s glory as the sun shining down on all our beautiful islands and cays. The sun also contributes to our newest industry, tourism.

Finally, it was very important to bring out the individual island pride when folks wore their national dresses. I wanted people to be proud of their island home and also make it easy to recognize and identify which island the individual called home. Using the color scheme, the scarf and sash worn by the women corresponds with the color chosen for their island home. Men display their color as a band on their hats.

(1) Colors must follow a specific pattern. For the women, the first four colors must be laid out in the following order — Yellow, Red, White and Orange — and are worn on their sleeves. The remaining four colors in this order — Tan, Green, Turquoise and Pink Ñ are worn along the base of their dresses. The men must display the first four colors on the right sleeve and the other four on the left.

(2) Straw hats MUST be worn, with the appropriate scarf, sash and hatband. (Footwear optional.)

The National Dress of the Turks & Caicos Islands symbolizes the humble, hard-working life of our ancestors, who raked the salt ponds, toiled in the fields on the various plantations, fished the oceans and harvested conch and sponges on our many islands. Its rainbow of colors boldly highlights our natural beauty and symbolizes the unique characteristics of each of our many islands. It should be worn with pride and dignity, as a statement of our love and respect for this wonderful country, not only by Belongers but by all who call the Turks & Caicos Islands home.