Illegal Constructions torn Down, 27 Acres of land now free of squatters

By Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer 

#TurksandCaicos, April 3, 2023 – Twenty-four acres of private land and around three acres of Crown land were cleared of illegal structures in the first demolition exercise carried out by the Informal Settlement Unit on March 23rd and 24th.

The unit which aims to put an immediate and complete stop to the growing problem of informal settlement says the private land was cleared in the Bight and the Public Land in Five Cays.

Carl Simons KC, Head of the ISU told Magnetic Media the unit had actually been approached by the owners of the private land for help in clearing off the numerous squatters.

Aerial photos of the settlement show a sprawling operation thought to have housed up to 140 people according to estimates from the Unit.

Along with the ISU to ensure compliance representatives from the the Ministry of Planning and Infrastructure, the Human Rights Commission, the Fire Department, the Police, the electricity and water utility providers and Social Services were all in attendance.

Thirty-five structures were cleared in The Bight and representatives of the landowners sat in on the exercise to show support.

In a video  of the demolition shared  with Magnetic Media by Jamel Robinson, Minister of Physical Planning and Infrastructural Development residents can be heard speaking in distressed tones as the homes are bulldozed.

In Five Cays, the Police and Environmental Health Department  joined in the activities which saw only two illegal structures made of concrete removed.  At least one resident refused to leave a connected wooden dwelling.  The concrete structure was torn down and the wooden one left standing pending a court document, permitting the removal.

The ISU reiterated its mandate warning that:  “The proliferation of informal construction and the development of informal settlements is not the way of the future and will not be allowed.”