As Grace Bay’s “Gold Coast” continues to reap accolades as the world’s best beach, development continues to propagate along its sugar-soft white sands and shimmering turquoise seas. And each new development attempts to offer buyers more than the last.

One of the newest entries into the upscale condominium market is The Pinnacle on Grace Bay. As its name implies, the Pinnacle team, led by Cayman Overseas Group’s Fraser Wellon, is reaching for the highest point of development.

The Pinnacle on Grace Bay offers its owners a number of peak experiences–among the most important, an abundance of space on a priceless beachfront property. Wellon explains, “Although we have a 4.6 acre site just west of Ocean Club West, we are only building 28 beachfront suites, just 6 suites per acre. All suites will be nearly 2,800 square feet, with 3 bedrooms, 3 1/2 bathrooms, and a media room. The rest of the site will be dedicated to amenities and services for owners, who will enjoy the luxury of expansiveness both inside and outside their units.”

Charles Manuel, Manager of RE/MAX Turks & Caicos for the last eight years, is listing agent for The Pinnacle on Grace Bay. He agrees that owners will enjoy an unprecedented degree of space and privacy. “All suites are beachfront with huge terraces facing the ocean. The small number of residences allows us to offer some of the widest suites on Grace Bay, at about 36 feet. This allows owners to really stretch out as they enjoy their tremendous views.” He adds, “Part of the market has changed from clients looking for a small pied-a-terre for an occasional holiday to those looking for a world-class second or third residence with all the comforts of home. The Pinnacle on Grace Bay will take this market to the next level.”

Enhancing owner’s enjoyment of The Pinnacle is the fact that it is designed as a residence, not a condominium-resort, shifting the emphasis away from vacation rentals. As such, the deliberate absence of an on-site restaurant will discourage off-property guests. Suites will be built to the highest specifications and none will be priced below $1 million. “The Pinnacle is designed strictly for its owners,” Wellon says emphatically. “We’re not trying to be all things to all people. And because all suites are nothing but first-class, owners can be assured that their neighbors are like-minded.”

Once inside the gated entry, the driveway winds through a lushly landscaped oasis leading to private parking garages. Pinnacle owners can stroll by the freeform terraced pool, tennis courts, water features and spas, and tranquil shaded seating areas designed for total relaxation in their tropical country estate. Other amenities include guest rooms for nannies, valets or pilots; an elegant owner’s lounge complete with billiards, a large fitness center with treatment rooms, and on-site management.

Following a series of successful Grand Cayman luxury condominium developments including The Grandview, The Regal Beach Club and The Pinnacle (one of the highest valued residential properties in the Cayman Islands), Wellon is now focusing on Providenciales–often termed Cayman’s “Little Brother.” Excited about its potential and privileged to be playing a role in its development, he says, “Right now, there are over 50 condominium developments on Grand Cayman’s Seven Mile Beach, so the dozen or so built and proposed along Grace Bay’s seemingly endless beach give all developments a wonderful feeling of space and privacy. By building an upmarket property of quality, rather than quantity, I hope to do my part to put Providenciales at the pinnacle of Caribbean destinations.”

The astute developer’s discovery of Providenciales came when his partner in the Cayman Overseas Group was vacationing here and met RE/MAXÕs Charles Manuel, who extolled the island’s charm and potential. It was the beginning of a long and successful relationship, which included the construction and sales of The Grandview on Grace Bay, an upscale condominium development completing in February 2002.

Wellon says it took nearly two years after his purchase of The Grandview property to find just the right piece of land for The Pinnacle on Grace Bay. “We have very specific criteria both in terms of quality of the beach and location on the beach. The Pinnacle site is a fantastic property located right at the crossroads of Grace Bay. Pinnacle owners will have great restaurants, shops, and services within easy walking distance.”

Project architect is John Redmond, whose firm has a long and accomplished history in the Turks & Caicos, including The Grandview. Redmond is heartened that a developer of Wellon’s caliber is involved here and pleased that he is focusing on upmarket, low-density projects. He says, “This is a very significant move for the future of the Islands.”

Design-wise, The Pinnacle builds on the success of the same-named Cayman concept . . . with refinements, of course. Redmond explains, “Fraser knows the market and knows his product, so there is no need to reinvent the wheel. Instead, we’ve all put our heads and experience together to ensure that The Pinnacle responds to the needs of today’s luxury buyer.” Redmond extols The Pinnacle’s tremendous attention to detail and quality, along with the fact that both the building and suites are designed to minimize post completion maintenance.

While awaiting final Planning Department approval to commence building, RE/MAX Turks and Caicos Ltd. has launched its marketing campaign. Manuel reports strong interest from The Grandview on Grace Bay owners, as well as satisfied owners in Wellon’s Cayman projects. “Pinnacle on Grace Bay suites are about 30% larger than their Cayman counterparts and 20% wider than Grandview suites. This sense of space is unparalleled in the market.”

Pre-construction condominium investing is a lucrative phenomenon along Grace Bay Beach. Not only do the first investors get the best choice of units, but buying into a project at its earliest stages can also net the best appreciation on investment, especially since buyers are only required to pay a 15% deposit on contract signing. While a 5 to 20% average annual appreciation in value is not uncommon for the area, even higher values can be reached by the premium, first-choice units.

Given the enjoyment that The Pinnacle owners are sure to experience from their Grace Bay residences, earning strong appreciation at the same time seems almost decadent!

Although the name for the Turks & Caicos’ newest freight services company actually comes from a childhood nickname for its managing director, McAllister Hanchell, “Al Services Ltd.” accurately describes the concept that sets it apart. McAllister, best known these days as “Piper,” explains what makes AlServ so special, “In a nutshell, all the shipping services that our customers need are handled by us, in-house. This lets us serve our customers–both individuals and commercial–efficiently and personally.”

The comprehensive list of services goes beyond ocean freight shipping to include customs brokerage, trucking, freight forwarding, purchasing, same and next-day priority parcel delivery and complete moving packages both locally and internationally.

AlServ is the agent for Antillean Marine Shipping Corporation, a Miami-based carrier that currently delivers ocean freight to Providenciales weekly and South Caicos bi-monthly. They run on a unique timetable that departs from their Miami River terminal on Wednesday evenings to arrive at Providenciales’ South Dock on Saturday mornings.

This has proven very useful to AlServ customers for several reasons, Piper says. “Antillean’s warehouse is at a convenient location in the heart of Miami and all cargo is received right where the ships are loaded. This allows for a delivery cut-off time just a few hours before the ship sets sail.” Bills of lading are available on Friday mornings, allowing Provo customers to have customs entry forms processed on Friday (avoiding the typical early-week rush).

By Monday morning, containers are unloaded at AlServ’s bonded warehouse and cargo is ready to be picked up or delivered. Clients shipping full container loads can actually get their cargo on Saturday, Piper explains. “The supermarkets are able to pre-clear perishables, so we can truck their containers to the stores on Saturday morning, allowing fresh foods to be available on the busiest shopping day. Clients such as construction companies, who are willing to pay customs officers overtime charges for weekend inspections, can also have their containers on-site on Saturday.” (The current South Caicos schedule is slightly different, departing from Miami on Thursday evening and arriving on-island a week later, detouring through the Dominican Republic.)

AlServ’s staff of 16 is kept busy handling the variety of other services they offer. As independent customs brokers, AlServ guarantees customs clearance and delivery within 24 hours of arrival via all ports of entry and with any carrier . . . not just their own. Their fleet of vehicles has the capacity to deliver everything from full containers to heavy items requiring lifts to small packages.

Piper is especially proud of AlServ’s freight forwarding and purchasing services, “We work with Tropical Transfer in Miami who can either forward your cargo from its original destination on to Turks & Caicos or transfer it from Miami to the next shipper to continue onwards. They will also purchase specific items for our customers and make sure they are loaded on the boat or, if time is a priority, deliver to American Airlines’ cargo facility for same or next-day parcel shipment.”

AlServ also makes life easier for folks moving to or from the Islands. Says Piper, “We’ll pack or unpack your goods for home or office, move them to or from the dock and clear them through customs on either end . . . no third parties need be involved.”

A native of South Caicos, Piper, son of Edward Hanchell and Ena Rigby, got his start in the freight business soon after graduating from Marjorie Basden High School in 1985 and moving to Providenciales. He served as a government customs checker for one year, did a short stint as a stevedore, then worked full time for the next 12 years at Cairsea, the Islands’ original freight services company. Of this, Piper says, “I learned a lot working with Rodney and Sharon Thompson.” But by late 1998, Piper knew there was the need for a more comprehensive freight services company and decided that he was the man to start it.

AlServ officially opened for business on November 1, 1998 with three employees offering customs brokerage, light trucking and priority parcel services. Within a year, Piper was ready to expand. He says, “I started researching South Florida shipping lines on the Internet and Antillean Marine was one company I approached. They were a family business that had served the Caribbean since 1963 and had excellent ships, facilities and equipment. They agreed that the Turks & Caicos were ready for another reliable ocean freight service offering competitive pricing and strategic timing. We spent eight months negotiating the deal.”

Things moved quickly after that, with AlServ’s brand-new, 8,620 sq. ft., South Dock-based warehouse/office opening on December 16, 2000. Today, the AlServ/Antillean team handles 30% of the Islands’ ocean freight and maintains a long list of clients large and small, many initially referrals from satisfied customers.

What does Piper see as the key to his success? The upbeat businessman says it all ties into the company’s name, which emphasizes service. “I’m always pleasant to my customers and they never see me have a bad day. The same is true for our staff, who’ll always be sure to give you a big grin. I also stay involved in every aspect of the business, from coordinating shipments to loading freight, driving trucks and even nailing crates if need be.” (Piper’s office window looks directly into the warehouse!) He also praises his primarily native staff, most especially Office Manager Patsy Jennings who has been with AlServ since its start and his girlfriend Edith Cox, who serves as accountant and has been supportive since the beginning.

In today’s tough times, Piper is undaunted by the challenges ahead. “I am on top of things,” he states with confidence. He is committed to remaining competitive and streamlining costs without laying off staff or cutting back on service. In fact, AlServ will soon offer weekly freight service to South Caicos, where they plan to build a state-of-the-art warehouse and office. Antillean’s route will also expand to add bi-monthly service from the Dominican Republic to Providenciales, opening up a second, low-priced marketplace to the Turks & Caicos, and may also include a second sailing from Miami.

For more information, call (649) 941-3267, e-mail al-services@tciway.tc or visit www.al-services.tc.

After the performance of equity markets in the last year and a half, most investors might think that the definition of Alternative Investment Management might be “making money.”

Certainly, the last year has seen a wild ride in markets, particularly the NASDAQ in the United States, and the ease with which money was made in the late 1990s is now but a distant memory. Looking ahead, the road is far from clear, but with valuations in stock markets still at historically high levels, many investors remain concerned about the ability to make money in what are increasingly volatile markets.

Whilst a diversified portfolio of stocks and bonds should provide sound long term returns, for many investors the very apparent short term volatility is very uncomfortable to experience. To this end, whilst sophisticated institutional investors have been utilizing alternative methods to increase portfolio returns whilst reducing volatility for some time now, the opportunity for the smaller investor has been somewhat limited. This limitation is partly due to restricted access to the investment managers who deal in these areas, and also partly due to domestic tax laws making it almost impossible to access these actively traded investment vehicles, other than with tax exempt funds (e.g. pension plans).

In recent years, however, primarily driven by European demand, and with the benefits of technology now at hand, the smaller (under $1 million) investor now has the ability to invest in what are loosely called “hedge funds.” The reason for this demand is quite simple– professionally managed hedge fund (and for this our definition precludes highly leveraged speculative funds) often demonstrate low, zero or even negative correlation with equity and bond markets.

Even more importantly, hedge fund managers are paid to make money (target absolute returns) rather than try to outperform indices (targeting relative returns). How many readers have spoken to their investment advisor who has joyously exclaimed, “Mr. Client, I am delighted to inform you that whilst the NASDAQ was down 20% in the last quarter, you were only down 18% . . . hip, hip hurrah!”

As part of a balanced portfolio, hedge funds can therefore provide important additional diversification, providing returns independent of traditional asset classes such as equities and bonds. This diversification in itself can lower the overall volatility of a portfolio, as professionally managed hedge funds will also target lower volatility in themselves, trying to achieve sound positive returns without experiencing violent swings.

So how do the managers achieve these returns? There are a number of recognized strategies, and funds may concentrate purely on one strategy, or more typically, they will adopt a number of complementary strategies, which in turn helps to lower the risk of the fund–i.e. if one strategy does not work, it may be offset by one of the others. This continues the theme of reducing risk and volatility by diversifying.

The basic hedge fund involves long and short and combination positions in stocks. Thus, a long bias fund will typically have both long and short positions in a portfolio of stocks, but with a net long position. A short bias fund will be the reverse, whilst a market neutral fund will have matching long and short positions, but is seeking to achieve positive returns through market inefficiencies. These inefficiencies may be inter-market (i.e. long Footsie, short DAX), market sectors (long oils, short technology) or specific industry groups (long Sun Micro, short Intel). In many cases, funds will leverage their positions so it is important to assess the level of leverage that the fund permits to determine the potential risk. (The Long Term Capital Management Fund leveraged over 100 times and unsurprisingly, did not last very long!).

On a more sophisticated level are the arbitrage funds–once again a loose description as the arbitrage is not pure arbitrage but a derivative of going long and short closely correlated financial instruments. Thus, for example, a convertible arbitrage play will involve the purchase of a convertible bond and the sale of the ordinary shares, seeking to benefit from price anomalies created by short term market volatility.

Similarly, a big market in arbitrage is in the fixed income sector where multiple yield plays exist in the government and corporate bond markets. Thus the U.S. banking system was saved in the early 1990s by the steepening of the yield curve, allowing banks to borrow at low short term interest rates and then invest in the longer term fixed interest securities at much higher interest rates, resulting in the restoration of their balance sheets to more solid levels. This has also happened in Japan where, for example, institutions have borrowed Japanese Yen at 1% (or thereabouts) and then converted to U.S. dollars and invested in longer-dated U.S. bonds returning 5% or 6%–free money, provided the currency is hedged properly. This was known as the Yen carry trade.

Other strategies involve merger arbitrage, where one buys the stock of a company that is being purchased and sells the stock of the purchasing company and distressed securities, which involves the purchase of stock or bonds in a company in trouble and either benefiting from a recovery or from the breakup of the company and a larger payout as a creditor than was priced into the bonds.

Finally, there are the trading funds, which are hedge funds that actively trade stocks, bonds, currencies and commodities with a view to making a profit, and using different strategies with some leverage. The main impetus with these funds–as with the others described here–is that the managers have the objective of making positive absolute returns, whether or not the equity or bond markets are rising or falling.

So how does one invest conservatively in hedge funds? Firstly, the investor’s domestic tax position has to be assessed to determine the suitability of the fund. For example, many of the leading offshore hedge fund managers will not accept direct investment by U.S. tax payers. This is not a great problem, for the U.S. investor can simply utilize an offshore tax structure which meets U.S. Internal Revenue Service rules, and because the tax structure itself is not a U.S. person, access to these fund managers can be obtained.

As with all investment decisions, an analysis of the investor’s entire portfolio holdings is necessary in the first instance, to determine available assets and the level of diversification required to reduce overall risk. Having identified the assets that may then be invested in hedge funds, the next assessment is as to the level of concentration of risk. If a client has $5 million to allocate to hedge funds, then this might be allocated to (say) five different single manager funds adopting different investment styles. If, on the other hand, the investor has $100,000 to allocate, then this diversification might be better achieved by investing into a multi-manager fund, i.e. a fund of funds where the professional fund manager allocates the fund’s assets to a number of different managers, thus securing the portfolio diversification whilst only limited assets are available.

The era of easy money in the stock market is now over and the investment stars of the next ten years will be managers who earn their keep by making money in both rising and falling markets–managers who manage funds for all seasons.

Mark Smallwood is managing director of Smallwood Trust Company Ltd. and Smallwood Insurance Company Ltd., based in Providenciales since 1994. He is a director of two hedge funds with over $100 million in assets under management, and is experienced in advising on the selection of and investment into hedge funds managed by major international investment management groups. He can be reached at smallwd@tciway.tc or see www.smallwoodco.com.

A New Lease on Life for the Magical Mystics of the Sea

There she blows! The oft heard cry in days of old now heralds a new era in whaling, but one that hopes to conserve, rather than exterminate, the remaining whale populations of the world.

What is it about those massive marine creatures, once thought to be the monsters of the ocean world, that now seems to evoke an almost primordial passion in much of the human populace? In little more than the passing of a generation, marine mammals have evolved from monstrous meaty morsels to the magical mystics of the sea.

Why? Maybe because we no longer depend on whales to provide the light we read by, meat for our plates, or cartilage to make those corsets and hoops for the fashions of yonder years (thank heavens for that!). Yet, as the human race speeds off into techno-future and cyberspace, there seems to be an ever increasing urge to connect with an earthly, yet more spiritual realm. As our native ancestors before us, we are once again feeling the need to pay homage to the life forces that surround us. Only this time, we realize that not only have we forsaken other earthly benevolent beings, but have nearly obliterated them in the process.

Dolphins and whales have been an inspiration to mankind throughout much of our recorded history. The hieroglyphs of the great Egyptian pyramids are adorned with sculpted dolphins while the Ancient Greeks immortalized them in golden coin. Tales from these long gone civilizations imply that there was nothing more divine than the dolphin and that killing one should carry the penalty of death. Similarly and to this day, whales and dolphins have evoked a certain reverence in native indigenous populations, especially when it was necessary to kill them for human use. For instance, the Nootka tribe believes that the whale allows his death to spare people from hunger, and that therefore they must be worthy of it. (Williams, 1988)

Herman Melville’s Moby Dick reigned at a time when whaling was the life’s blood of many a harbor town. Every last morsel of whale served a purpose in the everyday life of those who lived in that era. Whaling was an arduous means of work in those days, filled with danger and risk. And many lost their lives or loved ones to the sea on these whaling expeditions. No wonder so many fantastic tales were woven to inspire awe, fear and horror of these monstrous creatures.

But then technology took off, decreasing the life-defying risks and increasing the efficiency of whaling operations. And somewhere along the line even the awe for whales was lost. Man began to view the whale as merely an essential element of an ever expanding economy.

For the Turks & Caicos, the history of whaling is not quite so heartless. On February 4, 1846, the first whale was caught off the shores of Grand Turk. This initial capture gave rise to the opening of whale companies on that island and Salt Cay. The records that exist don’t detail the total number of whales captured yearly, but imply that there were relatively few. (Salt CayÑ–one whale caught in March 1864 and another in April 1865) and remark that “a single whale of ordinary size being sufficient for the entire population to share in the delicacy of its flesh.” (Pusey, 1897). There was even a hint of respect and awe in the annual takings of whales. It is said that all of the children born since the killing of the last whale would be dipped in the blood of the new. This practice was said to infuse the strength of the great whale into the children. (Josiah Marvel, personal communication.) In 1883, the last whale was taken in the Turks & Caicos.

In the case of the ocean’s gentle giants, time has reversed upon itself, reflecting a history that began with reverence, reverted to need followed by greed, and is now re-emerging in a more respectful realm. But still, few present day humans have relinquished the idea that all marine mammals are no more than a mere resource for our use. Albeit, the evolution of this “resource use” from whaling to whale watching, may be the only means by which these wondrous creatures have a chance to survive in this all too human dominated world.

Whale watching is defined as tours by boat, air or from land, formal or informal, with at least some commercial aspect, to see, swim with, and/or listen to any of the some 83 species of whales, dolphins or porpoises (Hoyt, 2001). (Dolphins and porpoises are actually considered small whales.)

On the one hand, whale watching offers many whale loving enthusiasts the otherwise-rare opportunity to interact at some level with the most majestic mammalian creations that have ever, and still are, roaming this planet. On the opposite end, there are those that would use the cleverly disguising cloak of what can be coined as a conservation minded industry to cover for their own personal financial gains. But, by combining the good with the bad, a new industry has been created that no longer needs to destroy the resource it relies upon. Although this still sounds somewhat cold and calculating, it is unfortunately the reality of the world we humans have created for ourselves.

The upside of the story is that many people are now more willing to stick their necks out, even if it is just craning to see a living whale or dolphin. They empty their pockets a bit in the process, which in many cases, goes to help save the whales. At least for the whale, this evolution of the whaling industry is far more preferable than the alternatives of being sliced and diced for a thousand sundry human uses.

But the war on commercial whaling has still not ended. Since 1946, the International Whaling Commission (IWC) has met yearly to debate the issues of whales. To date, Japan and Norway are still lobbying against the 15 year old ban on commercial whaling. Although that particular issue has yet to resurface on the table, they were successful in garnering a vote against two proposed whale sanctuaries in this year’s IWC meeting. To do so, several Caribbean nations in their own economic turmoil received large amounts of aid to side with the Japanese vote.

Where does whale watching fit into the picture? Simply as an alternative economic resource. But the utilization of this resource can benefit not only man and his need for economy, but the whales and dolphins that will be protected to sustain the industry in the process.

From a strictly economic viewpoint, where whale watching is just another commercial endeavor, the industry generates now at least $1 billion USD, with over 9 million people participating annually in 87 countries and territories (Hoyt, 2001). In the Caribbean, an estimated 39,000 people a year go whale watching (Hoyt, 1999) with expenditures for 1998 nearing $10 million (Hoyt, 2000). Between 1994 and 1998, the average annual rate of increase in whale watching tourism was 20.2% (Hoyt, 1999). The Turks & Caicos have noted an even greater increase–in 1991 there was minimal whale watching activity, by 1994 this number had risen to 100+ visitors, generating $10,000 in direct income and $35,000 in total expenditures.
By 1998, these stats had risen to 1,500 whale watching visitors, increasing direct expenditures to $43,000 and total expenditures to $150,000 (Hoyt, 2001). Not bad for a barely emerging industry in terms of simple economics, but we must remember the industry also has important educational, environmental, scientific and other socioeconomic benefits.

One of the most positive aspects in terms of the economics of the whale watching industry is that it often provides the financial resources or means to help sustain the well being of the “resource” it relies upon. In a perfect whale watching world, the animals are not harassed by curious observers and scientists are able to collect needed data to better understand the needs of the species. The added bonus is that the research endeavors are paid for by the tourists that board the boats. In reality, it’s not quite so clear cut and simple, but the whale lover world is steadily working towards that more utopian state.

“Whale watching has now grown from humble beginnings in the 1950s to become an almost universal human passion. Whale watching educates children and adults about our ocean planet, the magnificent creatures that share our world, and the importance of maintaining their habitat. It also provides a method for scientists to gain substantial information and monitoring capability and thereby contributing to their conservation.” (O’Regan in Hoyt, 2001)

The challenge lies in developing sustainable management practices within the whale watching industry. Without that, whale watching becomes a free-for-all that results in undesirable impacts for everyone involved: the operators, the tourists and most importantly, the whales and dolphins.

It was no fluke that the Department of Coastal and Environmental Resources (DECR) decided it was time for TCI to start planning for the future by protecting the marine mammals that pass through these waters. Neighboring countries have succumbed to somewhat reckless advances and haphazard controls in the emerging whale watching industry without proper planning in place. With this in mind, TCI hopes to make a smooth and deliberated approach to its potential in the industry, whilst creating an oceanic ambiance that the whales will want to return to.

The first plunge into charting the waters began at the 1999 International Whaling Commission in Grenada, when the Turks & Caicos (represented by DECR Acting Director Michelle Fulford) indicated interest in hosting a workshop in the Caribbean on behalf of the British Overseas Territories. The outcome was the Turks & Caicos Marine Mammals Conference held March 21-23, 2000 at Beaches Resort on Providenciales. With its cleverly coined logo “Flukes Happen–Seen Any Lately?,” the conference proceedings echoed its motto of “Building a Sustainable Whale Watching Industry in the Wider Caribbean.” Although primarily focused on delineating regulations, guidelines, protocols and materials for the TCI, the effort put forward sets a precedent for other small Caribbean nations to follow.

Over 50 participants attended the 2 1/2 day workshop that was designed to incorporate the expertise and ideas of professionals and enthusiasts in the marine mammal arena. The conference was hosted by the DECR with funding assistance from the TCI Government Development Aid Fund, the British Foreign Commonwealth Office and the Tourist Board. Michelle Fulford (now Gardiner) coordinated the proceedings, assisted by her staff as well as that of the Tourist Board.

There were several foreign speakers in attendance including representatives from the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (Dr. Erich Hoyt), the International Wildlife Coalition (Heather Rockwell), the British Foreign Commonwealth Office (Kirsty Paton), Island Expeditions (Nicolas Popov) and the Dominica Ministry of Fisheries (Sebastian Riviera). Local speakers included our own experts in the field, Everett Freites of Oasis Divers, Dean Bernal of the JoJo Project, and historian Josiah Marvel. Among the participants were local dive/watersports operators and other representatives from the tourism industry, environmental educators, representatives from local government, researchers and local marine mammal enthusiasts.

The objectives of the conference were four-fold:
* To harmonize and standardize guidelines for marine mammal interactions;
* To develop environmental education materials for island residents and visitors;
* To develop research protocols and
* To assess initiatives for establishing a Humpback Whale Sanctuary.

The conference was designed in a working group format, wherein specific topics were broached and discussed in an open forum. Each session began with a few relative remarks on the subject at hand and then the floor opened for comments and questions. All participants with expertise or interest were given opportunity to voice their thoughts on a given topic. This information was then compiled by the rapporteurs and returned to the chairperson to prepare a summarization for the wrap up session and presentation of working group reports.

During the conference, working groups were established utilizing the roles of the regulators, watersports operators, environmental educators and researchers. The first group discussed the revision of whale watching guidelines in which local codes of conduct and experiences were reviewed. The next group included codes of conduct for small cetaceans (most specifically JoJo) and discussed revisions of regulations and sanctuary status. The third topic concerned the development of environmental education programs and materials, while the last group discussed research protocol for marine mammals in the southeastern Caribbean. In most cases, all attendees, no matter their specific role, participated in every discussion. This aspect of the conference planning was deemed most useful in terms of integrating the various programs being developed.

As with most conferences of this nature, success is measured in terms of its ability to establish a framework of ideals and a networking base through which the objectives can move forward. In this respect, the first Turks & Caicos Marine Mammals Conference can be viewed as a success in defining the stepping stones to future endeavors.

Whilst laying out a path for the future, tons of information was exchanged and deliberated over. Current whale watching guidelines and dolphin interaction etiquette, including those used by other countries, were bantered about in regards to their usefulness here. Regulatory needs in terms of existing legislation, permitting requirements and changes to be made were debated. The advantages of requiring permitted naturalists and researchers on board all whale watching vessels were looked into. Environmental education materials developed around the world were perused and ideas of how to revamp and utilize these efforts were discussed. Scientific protocols used elsewhere were noted and ways to fund research and equipment needs were reviewed.

A decision to pursue the development of a Marine Biosphere Reserve was made. Specifics for determining the area’s extent were discussed, along with what activities should be allowed within the area. Experiential information, statistical figures, historical endeavors, marketing concepts, anecdotes and advice were exchanged while contacts and networking arrangements were made. All of the information was recorded and will be published for public access in a Proceedings format in 2002.

In reward for all the effort and commitment made to develop a sustainable whale watching industry in the Turks & Caicos, the International Wildlife Coalition presented an Award of Merit from their Compassionate Traveler’s Program. This award is in recognition that the Turks & Caicos Government is committed to “promoting safe and protective whale watching practices . . . (with the) goal of developing ethical and operational guidelines for whale watching and small cetacean interaction in the coastal waters of the Turks & Caicos and wider Caribbean.” (Rockwell, 2000)

The TCI was applauded for its efforts in an even larger forum at the International Whaling Commission (2000) in Aidelaide, Australia and sponsored again to attend the IWC 2001 meeting in Hammersmith, London. This type of international exposure lends well to promotion of whale watching tourism for these islands.

Since the conference in March 2000, a number of initiatives have been activated:
*The whale watching guidelines that were suggested at the conference have been reviewed and are being put to use by watersports operators currently engaging in tours. Regulations are being addressed to accommodate the guidelines imposed so that grounds for enforcement are applicable if the need arises as the industry expands.

* Training for whale watching guides should begin during the season 2002. This training will incorporate some relevant research data collection while educating those on the tours.

* Tourist statistics are being collected from the local operators to update the existing user database.

* A TCI Stranding Network to deal with incidents of entangled and dead marine mammals is being organized in collaboration with a stranding team and NOAA, based on a contingency plan developed and managed by the DECR.

Michele Fulford Gardiner, now the DECR Chief Scientific Officer, is responsible for mobilizing most of the efforts thus far, and has undertaken several roles within the IWC’s Correspondence Groups. As a member of the Whale Watching Data Collection Group and Whale Watching Management Group, the Turks & Caicos will remain up-to-date and in keeping with the latest advances in marine mammal science and management for the region.

Several proposals have been submitted in terms of collecting the needed research data, and collaboration with other scientists should commence during the whale season 2002. One such proposal, funded through the Dolphin, Whale and Marine Wildlife Foundation and coordinated by Dean Bernal, endeavors to collect identification and behavior data around Salt Cay, Grand Turk and West Caicos. All data will be recorded in photo and video format that will be made available via live Internet feed for interested parties. Aside from providing information to scientists worldwide, it is an excellent opportunity for local schools to integrate into their environmental education curriculums. Ultimately, the grant hopes to document areas of special concern for preservation, in particular, the inclination that humpbacks calve in the waters near Salt Cay. With that information, plans for the TCI Marine Biosphere Reserve can move forward.

So, as promised, the Turks & Caicos are leaping into the new millennium in a way that, hopefully, the whales appreciate and therefore will continue to grace us with their gentle presence. Long gone are the days that we need to depend upon their flesh and fat for food and staples, but the time is right to appreciate them for the even rarer resource that they can now provide. In economic terms, the whale watching industry offers much to those who are banking on the tourist dollar. But for many, the value of the whales goes far beyond any material-like means. Whales, the living leviathans of earth”s watery realms, seem to inspire an age-old instinct to respect, love and protect all that surrounds us. We have much yet to learn from these gentle giants.

Humans, with their unaccountable ego and apparent need to conquer all, have once again proven that they can exterminate the earth’s largest organisms. And this action continues without even needing a reason to do so. Whales, on the other hand, have become the dominant species of their realm without killing their own kind to do so, whilst allowing their resources to renew themselves. Maybe it’s time we took advice from the masters of the sea.

And for those still not humbled by what can be seen as an inhumane past, then maybe they should consider turning towards the more god-like and daring challenge of finding out how to recreate the whales and the world that we have managed to destroy so thoughtlessly.

Developing a sustainable whale watching industry is a positive step towards a more harmonious existence for all. If managed appropriately, the industry will not only become a valuable economic resource for the TCI, but one that also provides a means for the preservation of these invaluable and wondrous beings. I think the whales and dolphins will be pleased with this new twist on their fate and commend mankind for this attempt at living in harmony. Maybe we are starting to learn a few things from our friends, the magical mystics of the sea.

References

Hoyt, Eric. 1999. The Potential of Whale Watching in the Caribbean: 1999+. Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, Bath, UK. 80 pages.

Hoyt, Eric. 2000. The Status and Potential of Whale Watching in the Caribbean. The Turks and Caicos Marine Mammal Workshop Plenary Session. Unpublished. 12 pages.

Hoyt, Eric. 2001. Whale Watching 2001. Worldwide tourism numbers, expenditures, and expanding socioeconomic benefits. International Fund for Animal Welfare, Yarmouth Port, MA, USA. 158 pages.

Pusey, J. Henry. 1897. Handbook of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Mortimer C. DeSouza, Jamaica.

Rockwell, Heather. 2000. The Turks and Caicos receives Award of Merit for whale watching initiatives. International Wildlife Coalition, MA, USA. News release publication. 2 pages.

Williams, Heathcote. 1988. Whale Nation. Jonathon Cape Ltd., London, UK. 190 pages.

Wyland. 2000. Ocean Wisdom. Health Communications, Inc., FL, USA. 263 pages.

Rugby is a hard-hitting game of endurance and grit. Surging adrenaline gives energy-devoured players the power and pace they need to play on. The game famed for the friendships and respect that emerge from tough encounters has firmly established itself here in the Turks & Caicos Islands. People from different backgrounds and of different ages are united in pursuing the great game. Some may go on to play for their nation or the West Indies. Sport offers all kinds of dreams but no barriers.

Historically, rugby is an old game. It is alleged to have been born in England in 1823 when 16 year old William Webb Ellis, disregarding his school’s version of football, took the ball in his arms and ran with it. By the 1840s, running with the ball had become the norm, and as the boys left “Rugby School,” they took the game with them. Soon, clubs sprang up throughout Great Britain and its colonies. The “Rugby Football Union” was founded in 1871 to bring together the many versions of the rugby-type game and the International Rugby Board (IRB) was founded in 1886 to become the world-governing and law-making body for the game of “Rugby Union.”

Today, rugby is played in more than 100 countries with IRB membership of 93 National Unions and one Regional Association. The Turks & Caicos Islands Rugby Football Club has just become a National Union, joining countries such as the Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines and Trinidad & Tobago.

In the early years, the game went through a transition from a 20-a-side game to fifteens. Today it is played as a 15-a-side game in the main, with the 7-a-side game a popular alternative. Rugby was an amateur sport until 1995. Now, players can be remunerated and, if good enough, become full-time professionals.

There are plenty of high profile competitions. The Rugby World Cup, first staged in 1987 and contested every four years, is one of the world’s top sporting competitions behind the Olympics and FIFA World Cup Football. The Rugby World Cup is clearly a great spectacle as a 15-a-side game, but the Rugby World Cup Sevens is perhaps more worthy of note to a small nation like ours. First staged in 1993 and contested every four years, it involves many countries worldwide. The tiny island nation of Fiji won in 1997 and is a very strong nation to be reckoned with when it comes to Rugby Sevens. The latest and most ambitious addition to the international rugby scene is the IRB World Sevens Series providing a winner on an annual basis. The West Indies entered a team for the first time this year.

The last Rugby World Cup attained a TV audience of 3.1 billion. This high figure represents many new recruits to the sport and they need not feel inexpert. In any rugby club, there is disparity of player ability, experience and age. Whatever a club’s facilities or make up, the variations of the game mean fitness training and competition can be attained.

The Turks & Caicos Islands Rugby Football Union (TCIRFU), based in Providenciales, has had little in the way of facilities over the years. Only through local business sponsorship and assistance from individuals has the club come so far. From 1991, a small core group of hardened rugby enthusiasts played weekly touch rugby at the Ball Park in downtown Providenciales. Coached by Simon Taylor for the last 18 months, the “club,” now an International Rugby Union, wants to see rugby develop throughout the Turks & Caicos Islands in order to create a first class national team.

Where better to introduce the discipline and camaraderie that comes with the game of rugby than with children? Five to ten year olds are invited to attend sessions run by Peter Savory every other Sunday on Grace Bay Beach. Playing the game is a fun way for youngsters to learn the basics of rules and tactics.

Children here in the Islands have some great players to follow. In the last year, the TCIRFU has inspired all who follow them by sending teams to the Carib Trinidad & Tobago Sevens, the Kalik Sevens in the Bahamas, and their first international fixture playing the Dominican Republic’s national team at 15-a-side rugby. Amongst these great games, the 20-10 victory against the Dominican Republic’s first choice national team gave players and supporters a particularly huge feeling of achievement.

Assembling a full 15-side team to play in Santo Domingo was a measure of the fledgling TCIRFU’s determination to introduce its members and supporters to an international full contact game. The “club” may not have had the numbers to put together an experienced side, but it had the necessary elements of power in its forwards, effective tackling, accurate passing, and pace from its backs. Amidst the physically hard-hitting tackles the conviction of new recruits during the Dominican Republic Tour was impressive. Another in the long line of William Webb Ellis followers, Dorell Williams of the British West Indies Collegiate used his pace to gain a vital try and the lead before the half-time call, and did the very same in the second half.

Rugby in the Islands is being further developed through tournaments at home. Whether Sevens-touch or 5-a-side full contact rugby, from time to time the “club” invites all interested parties to try the game by fielding a team, through their work, school or friends. At these tournaments, the Best New Player’s Award is on offer. New talent will be the TCIRFU’s future and playing the game for the first time in a recent Stella Artois 5-a-side Contact Beach Rugby Tournament was best newcomer Levardo Turbot (“Willow”). Not long after Dorell Williams returned from the Dominican Republic Tour fired up about the tough game, Dorell, Willow and friends were to be seen in one of the local restaurants watching the relentlessly flowing full contact game on TV. More familiar with American football, the absence of customary pads and stops was viewed in awe. This novice side, coached by Keith Burant, took third place at the tournament after a succession of crunching games in the heat of the day on unforgiving sand . . . and they didn’t stop smiling!

The TCIRFU is currently fund-raising to build a rugby pitch and clubhouse on land in Providenciales, generously donated by Frank Coggins. The “club” wants to see rugby teams emerging throughout the Turks & Caicos Islands. Ongoing fundraising is needed to give those teams the opportunity to visit Providenciales to play matches on a grass pitch. With the development of a national side and a good center for play, teams from other countries will be attracted to visit us. Sport is more than just exercise for a developing nation like ours. It provides the opportunity to unite our Islands and promote our country abroad. Whether your interest is playing, fundraising or spectating, enquiries about the “club” may be directed to Keith D. Burant, Public Relations Officer, TCIRFU.

Special thanks go again to Frank Coggins for his donation of land to be used for a rugby pitch. The “club” also wishes to thank its generous sponsors: IGA Supermarket, Discount Liquors and Hey JoseÕs Caribbean Cantina for supporting fund-raising events and supplying tour shirts over the last year. Thanks also go to Banana Boat Caribbean Grill, Club Med Turkoise, Contractors Equipment & Supplies, Marvin Johnson, Portia Cox, Dempsey & Co., Lyndon Gardiner and Inter Island Airways Ltd., Lattitudes Tavern & Grill, Turks Head Brewing, TCIFA, TC Trading, and the Rugby Football Clubs of Trinidad, Nassau and Dominican Republic for their generous assistance.