World Country Guide

General Information

Area
430 sq km (166 sq miles).

Population
19,000 (official estimate 2001).

Population Density
44.2 per sq km.

Capital
Cockburn Town (on Grand Turk). Population: 2500 (official estimate 1987).

Geography
The Turks & Caicos Islands are an archipelago of more than 30 islands forming the southeastern end of the Bahamas chain. There are two principal groups, each surrounded by a continuous coral reef. Caicos is the larger group and includes Providenciales, Middle (or Grand) Caicos, and the islands of North, South, East and West Caicos, plus numerous small cays, some of which are inhabited. The Turks group, separated by a 35km- (22 mile-) wide channel of water, consists of Grand Turk, Salt Cay and a number of small uninhabited cays.

Government
British Overseas Territory since 1670. Gained internal autonomy in 1962. Head of State: HM Queen Elizabeth II, represented locally by Governor Jim Poston since 2002. Head of Government: Chief Minister Michael Eugene Misick since 2003.

Language
The official language is English. Some Creole is spoken.

Religion
Roman Catholic, Anglican, Methodist, Baptist, Seventh Day Adventist and Pentecostal.

Time
GMT - 5 (GMT - 4 from first Sunday in April to Saturday before last Sunday in October).

Electricity
120/240 volts AC, 60 Hz.

Communications

Telephone
IDD is available. Country code: 1 649. Outgoing international code: 001. There is a good communications network run by Cable & Wireless Ltd, with automatic exchange on all the islands. The local telephone directory lists charges for international calls. There is a 10 per cent tax on all calls. Public card-phones are in operation on all the islands; phonecards are available from Cable & Wireless and outlets near phone booths. Cheap rates are in operation Mon-Fri 1900-0600 and Sat-Sun all day.

Mobile telephone
GSM 850 available, operated by Cable & Wireless West Indies LTD.

Fax
All the islands have services.

Internet
ISPs include Cable & Wireless (website: www.cw.tc). Public access is available in Internet kiosks located at the airport and in Internet cafes around the islands.

Post
The General Post Office is on Grand Turk, with sub-offices in South Caicos, Salt Cay and Providenciales. Airmail to Western Europe takes 5 days. Post office hours: Mon-Thurs 0800-1630, Fri 0800-1600.

Press
The Turks & Caicos Free Press, Turks & Caicos Press and The Turks & Caicos Weekly News are published weekly, and The Times of the Islands Magazine quarterly. Where, When, How is a travel magazine which appears monthly.

Radio
BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online.