News
TCI Crown Land Unit Introduces Plan for Improved Crown Land Management
PROVIDENCIALES, TCI, April 1, 2025: The Turks and Caicos Islands Crown Land Unit (CLU) hosted a pivotal presentation on March 20, 2025, to key government stakeholders outlining the implementation plan for the upcoming Crown Land Access Support Programme (CLASP).
This event marks a significant step toward reforming and enhancing Crown Land management in the Turks and Caicos Islands, reaffirming the government’s commitment to improving land accessibility and administration.
The meeting brought together representatives from the National Land Secretariat, including the Crown Land Unit, Survey and Mapping Department, Valuation Department, and Land Registry, alongside officials from the Department of Environment and Coastal Resources (DECR), Housing Department, and Attorney General’s Chambers.
Tatum Clerveaux, Commissioner of Lands, expressed her enthusiasm for the initiative, emphasizing its transformative impact.
This is a significant milestone, marking the administrative launch of something transformative for the management of Crown Land in the Turks and Caicos Islands,” she stated. “As we utilize the CLASP Initiative to reform and enhance the systems currently in place, our implementation plan provides us with an outline which identifies the key steps we will take to achieve these vital changes. With a strong focus on timelines, resource allocation, and seamless coordination among stakeholders, we will successfully redefine land management for a more sustainable, transparent, and efficient future.”
Background on the CLASP Initiative: In 2022, the Cooper-Gardiner Report, which provided a comprehensive assessment of Crown Land policies, processes, resourcing, and legislation, was submitted to the Turks and Caicos Islands Government (TCIG). This review was
- Professor S. A. A. Cooper, PhD, nominated by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
- R. D. Gardiner, Attorney at Law, Notary Public, and Justice of the Peace, nominated by the Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands
Their extensive study resulted in 146 recommendations aimed at improving Crown Land administration and governance. Recognizing the importance of implementing these recommendations effectively, the Crown Land Unit engaged EY Consultants of Jamaica to support with the creation of the CLASP Initiative.
The Role of CLASP in Crown Land Reform: The Crown Land Access Support Programme has been developed as a structured approach to implementing the recommendations that come directly from Cooper-Gardiner Report. The programme is designed to ensure effective, transparent, and sustainable Crown Land management, benefiting both the government and the public.
Through CLASP, the Crown Land Unit will improve land management in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) a number of ways, including:
- Streamlining the land administration processes
- Enhancing access to land resources
- Improving efficiency and transparency
- Implementing technological advancements in land management practices
- Increasing capacity to offer better support to customers
By setting clear objectives and workstreams, CLASP will transform policy recommendations into tangible improvements.
Next Steps: This presentation is just one of the first steps in a long-term commitment by the TCIG to enhancing transparency, efficiency, and accessibility in Crown Land management. Once the Initiative is fully rolled out, key stakeholders will work collaboratively to ensure the success of CLASP projects, ensuring that land resources are effectively managed, equitably distributed, and sustainably developed for future generations.
PHOTO CAPTION:
Insert: (l to r) EY consultants Andrew Gale and Jon Llewellyn present the implementation plan to key government stakeholders.