ISU informs, HUNDREDS of acres under ILLEGAL CONSTRUCTION

Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer

#TurksandCaicos, September 19, 2023 – Over 500 acres of land has been lost to informal settlements mostly in Providenciales and Grand Turk and the Informal Settlement Unit (ISU) is planning to recoup some of that in a three month period.

The final figure could very well rise as the Unit has indicated it is in advanced stages of its assessment.  It was also revealed, at an August press event, that the Statistics Department has supported intel gathering for the ISU with a tailored survey for the Dock Yard area of Providenciales.  It was discovered, there are at the very least 3,000 people living in this concentrated community.

A September 6th update via the National Security Council (NSC) indicated there are at least forty-five (45) informal settlements in the country, spread across 700 parcels of both Crown and private land.

The ISU indicated to the NSC that it is developing a ‘90-day operational plan’. This will give squatters the time to get their affairs in order and move off of the ill-gotten property.

So far only one land-clearing activity has been carried out in the country where at least 27 acres were recovered.

The Government says it has the support of private landowners in its endeavor as well.