Federation A Part of Children’s Park Facility

Last Tuesday the ground breaking for the Children’s Park Complex in the Bight broke ground, starting a model for future cooperative development projects between seller, developer and Government.

The project was initiated by the former Minister of Natural Resources, Honourable Galmo Williams and continued by the present Minister, Honourable McAllister Hanchell. Both Ministers applauded the concept and the realisation of the negotiations and planning.

The Turks and Caicos Maritime Heritage Federation was invited to have a presence in the complex by Minister Williams over two years ago. Honourable Hanchell declared that this Government was committed to providing recreational parks throughout the Islands and to use this model for development.

Chance of A Lifetime Youth Sail Still Needs Youth

With the Spirit on its way here we still do not have the two berths reserved for children over 15 years of age resident here in the Turks and Caicos Islands to sail to Bermuda aboard the school ship, Spirit of Bermuda.

The requirements are on the Bermuda Sloop Foundation website,http://www.bermudasloop.org/

If you want your child to sail aboard this vessel, which has been voted the best sailing school by the American Sailing Association, contact me, after reading the requirements, as soon as possible at (649) 243 2093.

Sherlock Walkin is paying for their return from Bermuda by air.

Spirit of Bermuda Voyage Update

Sent via email from Director of the Bermuda Sloop Foundation, Malcolm Kirkland:

At 0900 hrs, Wednesday, SPIRIT was half way up Bermudian's ancestral course to Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos, BWI. (26* 22' N 067* 41' W).After a rough two and half days days since her departure late Sunday which saw SPIRIT beating into a moderate gale, the ship's company of twenty seven was back on its feet "with all now eating" after the expected hiatus to 'mal de mer'.

Before the voyage, Dr. Clarence Maxwell confided that he was both intellectually excited as a Bermudian historian and just plain nervous about the 830 mile beat up to Bermuda's former "colony" at the entrance to the windward passage to the Leeward Islands. Capt. Blake reported today that novice mariner Dr. Maxwell steered SPIRIT for three hours on Tuesday and was revelling in his tracing the course of Bermuda's ancestors. Dr. Maxwell will be speaking at the Windward Passage Symposium along with Dr. Michael Jarvis, well known historian on Bermuda's role in the development of the Atlantic world.

The Windward Passage Symposium

The Symposium Speakers are on their ways by a variety of means. Kimberly Monk is flying in from London today. As well, Keynote Speaker Mike Jarvis is arriving from Rochester, New York on the same flight from Miami. They will be overnighting on Providenciales before continuing on to Grand Turk tomorrow afternoon.

Tomorrow afternoon, arriving from Miami, will be Professor Gene Tinnie and hopefully catching the same Sky King afternoon flight as Kim and Mike. Clarence Maxwell, as per the above update, is overcoming seasickness or ‘mal de mer’ and on his way aboard Spirit making that windward passage in much more pleasant seas then the first couple of days out. The winds reportedly reached 56 knots…

Dr. Morris and Dr. Hitch are already here, well Morris is on Providenciales and Hitch is at home on Grand Turk.

The Symposium particulars are seen on this link.  We hope as many as can can attend. It is worth the trip to GT, even if only for a part of what will be said.

One bright star aspect of this gathering is the putting together knowledgeable heads to figure out how to go about making the Turks and Caicos Islands the centre for maritime heritage studies in the Caribbean Region because of its historic connection to both Bermuda and the UK.

TCI Cultural Festival

Don’t forget to support the Cultural Arts Commission sponsored Turks and Caicos Islands Cultural Festival this Friday and Saturday, 16th and 17th of May. There will be local artists’ exhibits, craft displays, and workshops on Storytelling and Maypole platting given by Director of Culture David Bowen, as well as recitals by the TCI Youth Chorale.

The TCI Cultural Festival is supported by the Turks and Caicos Friends of the Arts Foundation.

You can call 941 8434 for further information.