fp Turks and Caicos

A new Crown land policy published Aug. 4 aims to protect what little land is left, reclaim land improperly used, and make sure the remaining land is distributed and utilized in a transparent, public process.

Crown land advisor Jon Llewllyn made his first public presentation Wednesday on Salt Cay, explaining the details and answering questions about the 26-page document. More meetings are scheduled on other islands over the next week.

Aug. 4 Salt Cay, Community Center 3:30-6:30 p.m.
Aug.5 South Caicos, Iris Stubbs Primary Sch 6:30-9:30 p.m.
Aug. 6 Grand Turk, Ona Glinton Primary Sch 6:30-9:30 p.m.
Aug. 10 North Caicos, Adelaide Oemler Sch 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Aug. 11 Middle Caicos, Community Center 12:30-3:30p.m.
Aug. 12 Provo, Gustarvus Lightbourne Cmplx 6:30-9:30 p.m.

The interim government has already begun its pledge of transparency, publishing Crown land registers and maps on the Internet that show what land has been allocated and who got it. The cost of land documents will soon be reduced to make it easier for people to get information on who got land.

However, His Excellency the Gov. Gordon Wetherell said in a forward to the report that “due to inconsistent record keeping in the past, this process is only likely to yield 80 percent of past allocations.”

Only 23 percent of usable land in the country remains as available Crown land, excluding Protected Areas and uninhabitable lowlands.

From now on, the only Belongers who can seek Crown land are those who have never received it and who do not already own a residential parcel.

While residential plot sizes have averaged a half acre, “future plot sizes will be smaller, typically less than a quarter of an acre, and general housing densities increased to provide greater utility,” the policy states.

New priorities for Crown land use include land government use to replace rented offices, social and emergency housing, land for recreational use and land for tourism promotion.

The policy states that developers will only be able to get Crown land if:
“1. the private land market is unable to fulfill the particular development need
“2. a viable and detailed business case has been demonstrated
“3. the amount of Crown land allocated is commensurate with the planned development
“4. a clear and continuing benefit will accrue to the Turks and Caicos Islands”

The governor will appoint a Crown Land Advisory Panel to review future Crown land allocations. Membership will include community representatives, the governor’s office, the Crown Land Unit, the Survey and Mapping Department, the Planning Department, the Housing Department, Social Welfare and the Human Rights Commission.

The policy also stresses protection of remaining Crown land, as well as land already granted.

“Prior transactions will be examined to ensure that procedures were followed particularly in relation to Belonger discounts previously granted,” the policy states.

“The government will vigorously challenge harmful actions against Crown land. This includes physical activities such as illegal dumping of waste, breaches of planning regulations, encroachment, delaying payments, refusing to pay rent or avoidance of duty.

“These actions deny the government the revenue it needs or result in a cost to the public. Action has already begun to be taken with respect to unpaid rent and informal settlement.”

The policy also addresses the country’s Protected Areas, in which Crown land was granted recently for improper residential and resort development, including Chalk Sound National Park and Pigeon Pond and Frenchman’s Creek Nature Reserve.

The government has said it will not allow those people to build on those properties, although a few had started in Chalk Sound.

Comprehensive managements plans will be developed for all Protected Areas, with conforming use criteria set out for what can be done in those areas, the policy says.

The new policy takes effect Sept. 1, and a Crown Land Ordinance that substantially includes the provisions of the policy will be enacted by July 1, 2011.

Click HERE to read the complete policy.

For free Crown land maps and registers, go to www.tcilandinfo.tc.