Government

TCIG Announces: New Crown Land Ordinances brought into force

Published

2 years ago

June 12, 2023

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands-Thursday 1^st June 2023 – The Crown Land Unit, Lands Division of the Attorney General’s Chambers is pleased to announce that the provisions of the Crown Land (Amendment) Ordinance 2023 and Crown Land (Residential Conditional Purchase Lease) (Arrears and Mesne Profit) (Amnesty) Ordinance 2023 are now in force as of today Thursday 1^st June 2023.

The amendments to the Crown Land Ordinance, designed to assist Turks and Caicos Islanders to better access and utilise Crown Land, seek to –

permit the exchange of land in cases whether the Government has used private land, or a private landowner has used Crown land under a mistaken belief that there was an entitlement to that land and had relied on that mistaken belief to its detriment, subject to certain conditions set out in the Crown Land Ordinance.
extend the period during which a successful applicant is given to accept an offer letter for the purchase of the freehold title Crown land from 3 months to 6 months.
permit, where the holder of an expired Registered Residential Conditional Purchase Lease has passed away, the Executor or Administrator of the deceased’s Estate to apply to regularize the land, provided that the property was being used as the primary residence of the deceased.

The Crown Land (Residential Conditional Purchase Lease) (Arrears and Mesne Profit) (Amnesty) Ordinance 2023 is a new piece of legislation creating a new amnesty for persons who owe arrears in respect of Crown land. This new amnesty seeks to provide for an amnesty period of two years to allow persons to choose one of the new terminal options recommended by the Crown Land Review Report to regularize residential conditional purchase leases and to write-off the arrears and mesne profit in respect of residential conditional purchase leases.

As a result of the above, for a period of two years commencing today, June 1, 2023, a person who holds a current registered residential CPL or a person whose residential CPL has expired but who remains the registered leaseholder or the Executor or Administrator of the Estate of the registered leaseholder, will be able to apply to the Crown Land Unit to –

Convert a CPL to Freehold title without having to pay anything owed to the Crown (arrears and mesne profit)
Pay for a freehold title in installments, subject to certain conditions.
Convert a CPL to a long lease subject to certain conditions.
Shrink, reconfigure, or in exceptional case exchange parcels as a preliminary step to exercise one of the other terminal options to acquire freehold title.
Apply for a Utility Service Certificate, where he/she is the holders of a registered but expired CPL holder to apply in order to apply to a utility authority for utility, telecommunication and other services.

The Honourable Attorney General Rhondalee Braithwaite Knowles OBE KC, commenting on the changes stated, “It has been a long and challenging road to arrive at this watershed moment in working with the TCIG and the UKG over three administrations to realise the Turks and Caicos Islands’ Government’s desired goals in this area and we look forward to continuing to roll out other advancements during this financial year as we operationalise more sustainable policies for the use of Crown Land while at the same time establishing more user-friendly processes to enable Turks and Caicos Islanders to benefit from Crown Land, especially to improve housing security in the Islands.”

The Premier Honourable Charles Washington Misick commenting on the amendments to the Crown Land Ordinance stated, “I welcome this first step in a series of actions taken to regularise and facilitate ease access to residential Crown land by qualifying Turks and Caicos Islanders. While it has taken a while, I am happy to have achieved this step. I encourage qualifying Turks and Caicos Islanders to act quickly to avail themselves of these opportunities during the two years that are being offered.”

Holders of registered Residential Conditional Purchase Leases are encouraged to take advantage of The Crown Land (Residential Conditional Purchase Lease) (Arrears and Mesne Profit) (Amnesty) which is limited to a period of 2 (two) years only, thereafter, strict compliance and enforcement action will be taken to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Crown Land Ordinance so that land is available for use by other Turks and Caicos Islanders.

Related Topics:#NewCrownLandOrdinances #rhondaleebraithwaiteknowles

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Deandrea Hamilton

Government

Paula Virgil-Stubbs Appointed Executive Administrator in The Office of The Deputy Governor

Published

3 days ago

May 9, 2025

Deandrea Hamilton

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – The Office of the Deputy Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands is pleased to announce the appointment of Mrs. Paula Virgil-Stubbs as Executive Administrator in the Office of the Deputy Governor.

Mrs. Virgil-Stubbs brings a wealth of experience and a strong professional background to her new position. Holding an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration from the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College, she has continually demonstrated her commitment to professional development through a series of advanced training programs. Most recently, she completed the Administrative Excellence course offered by the Turks and Caicos Islands Training Department, further sharpening her leadership and office management skills.

Her career within the Turks and Caicos Islands Government (TCIG) began at the Grand Turk Post Office, where she worked as a sales-clerk. After relocating to Providenciales and gaining valuable experience in the private sector, she returned to TCIG in 2018, joining the Office of the Premier as an Administrative Officer. Over the years, she quickly advanced, taking on the role of Senior Administrative Officer in 2021 before stepping into the position of Assistant Protocol Officer.

As Executive Administrator, Mrs. Virgil-Stubbs will play a key role in managing the day-to-day operations of the Deputy Governor’s Office. This includes organizing and coordinating meetings, managing appointments and the Deputy Governor’s diary, and providing critical administrative support to ensure the smooth operation of the office. Additionally, Mrs. Virgil-Stubbs will assist with high-level administrative tasks, including handling correspondence, organizing events, and managing administrative functions with the utmost professionalism. In commenting on her new appointment, Mrs. Virgil Stubbs stated, “As I begin this new chapter in my career as Executive Administrator within the Deputy Governor Officer, I want to first give thanks to God for making this opportunity possible. I am deeply grateful to my family for their unwavering love, support, and constant encouragement to strive for excellence. This moment truly shows that hard work and dedication pay off. I am also sincerely thankful to the Turks and Caicos Island Government for entrusting me with this new role. I look forward to embracing the opportunity to apply my skills and knowledge while continuing to grow, learn, and gain valuable experience in this position. I am committed to serving with integrity, professionalism, and pride.”

Deputy Governor and Head of the Public Service, H.E. Anya Williams, congratulated Mrs. Virgil-Stubbs, stating, “It gives me great pleasure to officially announce and congratulate Mrs. Paula Virgil-Stubbs on her appointment as Executive Administrator in my office. As Executive Administrator, Mrs. Virgil-Stubbs will manage multiple administrative tasks, from coordinating my schedule to providing key support during meetings and events. Paula has proven herself to be a diligent and reliable public servant. I am confident that her experience and dedication will undoubtedly be an asset to my office and the entire public service.

Welcome to our team, and congratulations on your new appointment, Paula!”

Government

TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS HOSTS FIRST STATE OF PREPAREDNESS MEETING AHEAD OF 2025 HURRICANE SEASON

Published

3 days ago

May 9, 2025

Deandrea Hamilton

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 7th May 2025 – In a proactive step toward strengthening national resilience, Acting Governor Her Excellency Anya Williams and Premier and Minister of Finance, the Honourable Charles Washington Misick, who joined virtually, chaired the Turks and Caicos Islands first State of Preparedness Meeting in anticipation of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, which officially begins on June 1.

The high-level meeting was convened to assess the country’s readiness and reinforce inter-agency coordination in the face of potential tropical threats.

The meeting brought together key members of Cabinet, senior government officials, and representatives from critical service and emergency response sectors.

Attendees included: Minister of Physical Planning and Infrastructure Development, the Honourable Arlington Musgrove; Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture, the Honourable Rachel Taylor; Minister of Health and Human Services, the Honourable Kyle Knowles; and Minister of Tourism and the Environment, the Honourable Zhavago Jolly.

Also present were Permanent Secretaries, Deputy Secretaries, District Commissioners, the Acting Director of the Department of Disaster Management Ms. Kevaun Lucas and Emergencies (DDME), the Director of Meteorology Dr. Holly Hamilton, as well as representatives from the TCI Regiment, telecommunications provider Flow TCI, Provo Water Company, Fortis TCI, Rubis TCI, the Turks and Caicos Islands Red Cross, InterHealth Canada, and other relevant partners and stakeholders.

The session began with an in-depth presentation by Dr. Holly Hamilton, who shared forecasts and projections for the upcoming hurricane season. Her briefing included insights from regional and international meteorological bodies, highlighting an expected increase in storm activity due to above-average sea surface temperatures and other climatic conditions.

Participants engaged in extensive discussions on key preparedness pillars, including the status and capacity of emergency shelters across the islands, strengthening telecommunications and utility infrastructure, logistics for relief distribution, public health readiness, and inter-agency coordination protocols. Emphasis was placed on community engagement, public education, and early warning systems to ensure the population is adequately informed and equipped ahead of any storm event.

Acting Governor Williams commended the collaborative efforts of all agencies involved and underscored the importance of preparedness, particularly in light of increasingly unpredictable weather patterns due to climate change. She stressed that national resilience is a shared responsibility and encouraged all sectors to finalise and test their contingency plans in the weeks leading up to the season’s start.

This meeting marked the beginning of a series of preparedness activities scheduled to take place across the country, including simulation exercises, shelter inspections, and community outreach initiatives aimed at enhancing overall disaster readiness.

Government

Cabinet Agrees on Changes to Car Import Regulations

Published

3 days ago

May 9, 2025

Deandrea Hamilton

Turks and Caicos, May 9, 2025 – Her Excellency, Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam chaired the 5^th meeting of Cabinet held on Wednesday April 2, 2025, at the Hon Hilly Ewing Building, Providenciales. All members of Cabinet were present.

At this meeting Cabinet:

Noted the outcome or performance of the cost of living relief programme.
Approved the new administrative mechanism for the collection of payment of share transfer duty/tax.
Approved the development agreement for the construction of a resort and staff housing development for the Palace Company TCI Ltd. Hadley Investment III Ltd.
Agreed to the terms of a settlement of legal proceedings.
Endorsed the draft UK-OT biodiversity strategy.
Agreed in principle for TCIG to enter into an agreement regarding financial assurances in relation to airlift to South Caicos.
Noted the findings of the recent queen conch study and agreed to the proposed plan of action.
Approved the appointment of the following persons to the Sports Commission Board effective April 1, 2025:

- Two-Year Period-

- - Mrs. Desiree Adams-Robinson, Deputy Chair
  - Mr. Thomas Ewing, Member
  - Ms. Pekeira Brooks, Member

- One-Year Period-

- - Mrs. Tamara Bassett, Member

Approved legislative changes to the Magistrate’s Court Act and the Firearms Act.
Approved the appointment of the following persons to boards within the Ministry of Immigration and Border Services:

- Work Permit Board Zone 1, April 1, 2025-March 31, 2028

- - Mr. Marciano Williams, Chairman

- Work Permit Board Zone 1, April 1, 2025-March 31, 2027

- - Hon. Emily Saunders, Member (South Caicos Representative)
  - Mr. Benmore Kennedy, Member

- Work Permit Board Zone 2, April 1, 2025-March 31, 2027

- - Mr. Addison A. Gardiner, Member
  - Mr. Marcusson Lightbourne, Member

- Immigration Appeal Tribunal, April 1, 2025-March 31, 2027

- - Mr. Robert Fulford, Member
  - Mrs. Desmona Belliard, Member

Approved amendments to the Road Traffic Act 2021 and Customs Act for further submission to Parliament to remove the requirement for permits for the importation of vehicles and to restrict the importation of a criteria of Japanese vehicles over 5 years.
Noted a report from the World Bank Group Global Digital Summit.

Further information on these matters will be presented by Ministers in due course.