PROVIDENCIALES, TCI MAY 8, 2024: The Informal Settlement Unit (ISU) has actively resumed containment activities across the Turks and Caicos Islands after a brief suspension was put in place during November of 2023. 

As it resumes its activities, the ISU is also displaying its commitment to ensuring that all due process is followed, by providing extensions to those that have provided ample documentation to warrant further validation. The ISU remains dedicated to addressing the nuances of ownership documentation, ensuring a fair and sustainable approach to containment efforts. 

In mid-November 2023, the organization announced that it would be suspending all containment activities in the Dock Yard area in light of the number of affected individuals who came forward with papers showing receipts for payment of the lands they occupy. This suspension was also extended to private lands where containment activities would have resulted in displacement given the then-approaching Christmas season. 

While the suspension has now ended and containment activities have resumed across the country, persons who have provided supporting paperwork will see the suspension remain in effect while the issues of validating said paperwork and proof of ownership continue to be resolved. 

Speaking on the issues stemming from the Dock Yard situation, Justice Carlos Simons, Strategic Lead of the ISU, issued a statement saying, “Though many of the structures found in the Dock Yard informal settlement are illegal, at least to the extent that they infringe on the planning code in one way or another, it is important that we do our due diligence in ensuring that we properly validate all claims of ownership”. 

He continued in his statement, saying, “The mission of the ISU is to contain, manage, and eliminate informal settlements throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands, and this also includes formalizing where possible. It is this organization’s goal to achieve its mission in such a way that we are able to eventually build safer, more sustainable communities”. 

Since reclamation exercises have resumed, the ISU is on track to clear approximately 47 unoccupied structures across four parcels of Crown Land by the end of May. This work also includes removing concrete foundations and perimeter walls, as well as domestic and construction garbage and debris, abandoned vehicles, and shipping containers. 

With regards to private lands, the Planning Department will be assisting the owners of at least three parcels in clearing their lands of informal structures before the end of May. 

The ISU continues its public education work to ensure that people are aware that building on any land, Crown Land or private, that is not registered to you and building without planning permission is unlawful and constitutes an offence against various ordinances for which persons may be prosecuted. 

The ISU cautions private landowners to regularly monitor their lands and to refrain from encouraging or becoming complicit in the establishment of informal settlement communities on their properties. Both are offences that will be addressed by the ISU in carrying out its work. 

For more information on the Informal Settlement Unit, residents are encouraged to visit their office on the 2nd floor of Laporte’s Plaza, Downtown, Providenciales, and subscribe to their multilingual website at www.isutci.tc on the web. 

Residents are also encouraged to follow the organization on their social media pages on Facebook and Instagram: @isutci.