Grand Turk residents frustrated 

Dana Malcolm 

Staff writer

TurksandCaicos, December 10, 2023 – Grand Turk residents say they  are tired of repeated promises from governments to fix local issues and are calling for immediate action to restore the nation’s capital.

“Grand Turk needs something that has to be done now not a 10-year vision or a 20-year vision— a master plan for Grand Turk is sitting somewhere on somebody’s desk with nothing being done about it!” said one resident during a recent town hall meeting hosted by the Grand Turk Enhancement and Sustainability Agency (GTESA). 

“We need something now – we know you say you’re feeling our frustration but you ain’t feeling this frustration that we have built up,” said the attendee who pointed to the lack of care for historical buildings, as well as a lack of government facilities in the capital.

“Every government building closed down on Front Street. The old legislative building has been closed down for years. The old land registry? closed, Treasury? Closed,” she said.

The sentiment was supported by other Grand Turk residents in attendance, who applauded the woman as she spoke.

The GTESA was created through the passing of the Grand Turk Enhancement and Sustainability Agency Bill to enhance the community which serves as the sole cruise port in the country.

Residents said their frustration was aimed mainly at the successive governments and their slow pace of development for the island which welcomes well over one million cruise passengers annually.