TCI NPSDP - 3.0-4.0 Vision, Guiding Principle, Goals, and Objectives + Strategies

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VISION + PRINCIPLES

3.0- VISION + PRINCIPLES

VISION MANY CAYS, ONE TURKS AND CAICOS

UNIQUE ISLAND IDENTITIES

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The Turks and Caicos Islands archipelago is made up of many islands and cays - more than 40! While some are inhabited, all the cays make up the geography and culture of the Turks and Caicos Islands. The individual islands offer characteristics that differentiate each location from another, while also coming together to form the celebrated history and future of the small, but mighty island territory. The beauty of the Turks and Caicos Islands is the many parts that make it whole.

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Each island within the Turks and Caicos archipelago has a different character defined by its history, natural resources, culture and development aesthetic. The vision is to build on this existing character and pay homage to each island’s unique features. These are further defined in 3.2 Island Themes.

VISION

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The Turks and Caicos Islands will prosper environmentally and economically in an equitable manner from an established, thoughtful approach towards physical land planning.

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3.0- VISION + PRINCIPLES

Graphic: The inhabitated islands form large ‘puzzle pieces’ of the archipelago, while the numerous other islands and cays play an important role for TCI as well.

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PRINCIPLES

ONE TCIG - ONE TCI GOVERNMENT

Creating a framework for government agencies collaboration to ensure current needs are met and visions are planned for accordingly.

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Celebrate the history of the Turks and Caicos Islands while erecting a foundation for the future.

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CELEBRATE TCI’S CULTURAL IDENTITY

RESILIENCE + MULTI-FUNCTIONALITY

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An ever-changing environment means the NPSDP needs adaptability and multi-functionality: the plan must be able to adapt to natural and economic disasters. It must also serve multiple functions via their designated land use to protect against sprawl and maintain green-fields, while others must be protected to serve one purpose.

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ISLAND LINKAGE

The islands must be linked via physical, technological, and cultural connections.

NATURE AS BEAUTY

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The Turks and Caicos Islands represent the essence of ‘Nature as Beauty.’ The future must strike a balance between protecting the natural beauty and jewels of the archipelago and making them accessible to TCIslanders and visitors.

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ONE TCIG

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ISLAND LINKAGE

KEY THEMES

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CELEBRATING TCI’S CULTURAL IDENTITY

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RESILIENCE MULTI-FUNCTIONALITY

NATURE AS BEAUTY

Graphic: These principles ring true throughout all goals, strategies and recommendations in the National Physical Sustainable Development Plan.

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KEY UNDERSTANDINGS

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that any area(s) designated as a national park shall be open to members of the public for recreational use. Any area(s) designated as a nature reserve may be used for agricultural, arboricultural, pisciculture, sporting and recreational purposes, subject to restrictions as may be prescribed. Any area(s) designated as a sanctuary shall serve primarily for the purpose of the protection of the natural ecology and avoid disturbance of the area by human beings. Any area(s) designated of historical interest shall be primarily for the purpose of protecting an object of historical interest therein.

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After gathering existing information, studying the land, discussions and interviews with residents and members of TCIG, and surveying the public, the proposed structure of the progress National Physical Sustainable Development Plan (NPSDP) has started to take form. Our team proposes a vision of the future of Turks and Caicos Islands in the next ten (10) years governed by several core recommendations.

FOCUS DEVELOPMENT ON DEVELOPED (‘URBANIZED’) LAND AND MAINTAIN THE INTEGRITY OF NATIONAL PARKS

With the recent boom of development and the subsequent attempts to set preservation standards and protected areas, the Turks and Caicos Islands found themselves at the center of a conflict between preservation and development of the land. As previously mentioned in the project vision, goals, and strategies sections, the current plan seeks to strike a balance between these two. The protected areas are preserved because they are ecologically important to the whole of the environment.

Therefore, no revenue-generating development should be permitted within their boundaries. Per the National Parks Ordinance, ‘development’ allowed within national parks, reserves, marine reserves, and areas of historic interest are only those that are open to all members of the public for strictly recreational use. Development not deemed for recreational or research purposes can take advantage of existing vacant lots within the populated areas and should not be allowed.

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Globally, it is accepted that preservation of the natural environment needs to take precedence over sprawling human development for the continued growth of human settlements. While the character of the Turks and Caicos Islands should be preserved – island-scale, village-like, low density development – the preservation of the untouched, natural environment should be maintained. There is sufficient land available within existing built developments (settlements) for infill and adaptive use. Vacant parcels can be repurposed. Parcels with existing structures can be converted from one use to another, for example industrial to mixed-use, commercial to institutional, etc.

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The National Parks Ordinance sets forth the permitting powers for any form of development within parks, nature reserves, sanctuaries and areas of historical interest and for the conservation of the natural environment and ecology of the islands. In essence, the Ordinance requires

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ENSURE BETTER ISLAND CONNECTIVITY

islands rather than mainly Providenciales.

Infrastructure and transportation are vital areas of focus for the Turks and Caicos Islands within the next decade.

Infrastructure, especially large-scale, connection corridors, are particularly lacking within TCI. Although the airports are doing increasingly well, each island currently only has one option for cross-island connection, if any. As the population continues to increase, the lack of alternative routes becomes more apparent via traffic congestion. There are currently no plans proposed to address this issue, but the NPSDP proposes a few options.

The NPSDP proposes an enhanced ferry service, which will include: • Reduced travel times and increased frequency of transport • Improved watercraft • High speeds • Enclosed and comfortable for guests • Variety of ferry types including high speed, shallow draft ferries through the interior Caicos Bank (potentially via “hoverboats” or similar) and seaworthy vessels to safely and comfortably transport across most open sea conditions to Grand Turk, Salt Cay and South Caicos.

• Direct routes to more island locations (Middle Caicos, Central Providenciales, West Caicos) • Improved landings (i.e. Middle Caicos, North Caicos, Salt Cay, South Caicos) • Conditioned and enclosed waiting areas.

• Safe and shaded boarding areas • Baggage and small material handling • Maintenance system and redundant water craft to maintain set schedules

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More specifically, investment in infrastructure is critical, and even more critical is to prioritize the investments needed.

Connecting the islands by alternative means such as efficient ferry systems should be top on the list.

The Turks and Caicos Islands are geographically very well positioned to capitalize on the movement of goods and people through a comprehensive ferry system. The location leads itself to a ferry network, rather than the traditional vehicular or automobile network, as the primary method of inter-island transportation. This affords additional opportunities to experience perhaps the best asset of the islands: the crystal clear, turquoise water. The archipelago has always functioned as one with the water; historically, pre-flight days, the islands industries of fishing, sisal, and salt all functioned with boats as the primary mode of transportation.

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While there is an existing ferry system and network in place, it is often unreliable and not catered to creating a comfortable ride from one island to another. A successful ferry system must be reliable, comfortable, sufficiently frequent and safe to attract a continuous stream of residential and tourism users. More residents could rely on the ferry for work or recreational purposes, and tourists could spread their economic contribution through the

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Other island connectivity ideas also exist. Currently, the Turks and Caicos Government is exploring a proposal to connect the Caicos Bank islands through a causeway or “ultimate expressway” referred to as the TCI National Spine Road (or Spine Link). Phase One, estimated at approximately $200 million, would provide an 11-mile connection from Providenciales to North Caicos. Phase Two would connect South and Middle Caicos through East Caicos; a feasibly study has not been completed to date.

The entire route – Providenciales to South Caicos – would span approximately 60 miles. A Request for Proposals was issued in 2019, and the government is currently in the reviewing process.

sparsely populated, environmentally sensitive islands, such as Middle and East Caicos, for the protection for overdevelopment. Finally, the current route depicted from the RFP will negatively impact an internationally protected site: North, Middle, and East Caicos Nature Reserve.

This protected area was allotted from The Convention on Wetlands in Ramsar, Iran in 1971 by countries across the globe in an effort to protect critical wetland habitats.

Economically, a cost benefit analysis is needed to understand the direct impacts of the Spine Link Connection on each island individually. Would the economic effects be enough to offset the environmental detriments and required infrastructural upgrades to North, Middle, East, and South Caicos?

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VEHICULAR ISLAND CONNECTION

The consultant team believes there could be validity to the Spine Link Connection farther into the future. The current state of infrastructure – environmental, economic, and civic – is not yet equipped to handle the effects – positive and negative – that the Spine Link Connection will bring immediately upon opening. It is cruicial that the route of the Spine Link Connection should be examined in greater detail as to bring economic resilience without hindering environmental resilience. Additional studies must be conducted on the Spine Link Connection to strive for a balance between location, travel, speed, construction cost, settlement disturbance, and preservation of the sensitive and natural resources. Consideration must also be given so that boat traffic, whether private or commercial/ferry boats, are not restricted from travel. For the immediate future however, all islands, specifically the islands of the Caicos Bank, would benefit greatly from a successful ferry operation that would streamline the movement of people, goods, and services.

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Depending on the person interviewed and where they live, TCI residents feel differently about the Spine Link proposal.

The project would connect the islands and vastly improve the flow of goods and services. With tourism being the largest industry throughout the archipelago, further access to the islands could be beneficial. However, the project would need to be in tandem with development catalysts as to not allow an explosion of activity, development and tourism without proper infrastructure. There also would need to be very strict development protocols on the more

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With an estimated demand for approximately 8,600 – 13,300 new primary households during within the next two decades, housing will be by far the largest development sector over the next several years, in terms of land utilization. Currently a lack of housing options and affordable housing options specifically are experienced on all islands. Moreover, Providenciales and Grand Turk experience issues with informal settlements that pose a threat to human safety and contribute to environmental degradation.

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DIVERSIFICATION OF ECONOMY Apart from the tourism, offshore financial services, and real estate industries, the Turks and Caicos Islands do not have many more, if any, competitive industries. All industries previously mentioned have large caveats of potential instability. Tourism can fluctuate with global pandemics and the instability of the dollar ($) and pound (£). Offshore financial markets are currently subject to more regulation and scrutiny. Real estate as an industry will be expanded upon later in this summary. (you mean in the Private Ownership part? I would maybe add a one-line here about the Real Estate). In short, additional industries can add another layer of stability and sustainability to the Turks and Caicos Islands economy. There are several other potential industries that would make the Turks and Caicos Islands a more competitive option for new technology industry needs. The preliminary analysis and benchmark assessment of targeted growth industries and job creation brings a surface an understanding of key infrastructure support that will be needed to sustain select industry segments.

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HOUSING

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As a result and considering the desire to preserve land and open space throughout TCI, there should be a concentrated effort to focus more on intensified (multifamily) development. The demographic forecasts indicate planning for multifamily product will be met with an aging population and a marginally diminishing family base. While single family housing will still be prominent, higher density housing in particular is encouraged in Providenciales and can serve as the anchor for mixed use development. This same policy may apply to other islands such as Grand Turk and North Caicos, which should only help to alleviate the heavy concentration of housing in Providenciales. Moreover, there should also be a focus on increasing homeownership to provide residents a greater vested interest in their community. Lastly, there is a need to expand attainable/affordable housing which can be driven by policy initiatives, such as deconcentrating of poverty and inclusionary zoning.

This plan lays out space for projected future housing, with a phased approach for housing needs within the life of the plan (~10 years).

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The Turks and Caicos Islands delineate land through two typologies: private land and Crown land. Private land, like most other territories and countries, refers to land owned by a person or group of people other than the government.

In TCI specifically, private land could be owned by a local TCIslander or a foreigner with land ownership rights. Crown land is owned by the ‘Crown,” or the TCI government and managed by the Division of Crown Lands, housed under the Attorney General.

The Division of Crown Lands and other governmental entities have started to follow a more careful approach to the leasing and granting of Crown land parcels; in the Vision for Sustainable Land Use from the TCI National Socio-Economic Development Framework, Draft National Development Vision, 2007, it was noted that the government has adopted a commitment to maintain the land they currently managed.

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PRESERVATION OF CROWN LAND

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The purpose of Crown land is to provide for the current and future generations of TCIslanders through both development and preservation methods. Unfortunately, there has been a severe diminishment of Crown land within the last decade, due to corruption and capital gain. It is imperative now to protect the remaining parcels for the future of the Turks and Caicos Islands. As stated by the previous Governor D. R. Todd, Crown land is the “principal heritage asset of the people of the Turks and Caicos”.

The 2011 Crown Land Policy builds upon an evaluation completed in 2010 analyzing the status of the remaining parcels. It was found that much of the land has been transferred to private owners, (as of 2008, the Crown was the largest landowner in TCI). Some of the land should be used to provide services for the current residents, while other parcels should be preserved and protected for the future generations to come.

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Crown land needs to be preserved first and foremost.

There is an excess of private, undeveloped land on North Caicos, Middle Caicos, South Caicos, and Grand Turk. A portion of this aforementioned private land has had previous development parcels, but many proposals, developments, and activity have stalled, leaving a majority of parcels untouched and vacant in a physical sense, while others are dilapidated and perhaps negatively affecting the overall beauty of the islands as a whole. There are plenty of parcels on North Caicos, Middle Caicos, South Caicos, and Grand Turk to continue to promote development on private land rather than using the small percentage of usable Crown land remaining. The preservation of Crown land is more important for the future of the Turks and Caicos Islands than short-term economic growth.

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PROVIDENCIALES

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“The color turquoise was chosen to represent the islands of Providenciales, Pine Cay and West Caicos. The color is taken from the beautiful turquoise waters that surround these islands on which our famous Caicos fishing sloops sail. These turquoise waters also contribute to our newest industry: Tourism.”

TURQUOISE WATERS + TOURISM

Pristine and Comfortable The character of Providenciales is contemporary clean lines and a curated landscape. Restaurants, resorts and tourism development should appeal and cater to high income couples and families.

Credit: “Agile LeVin - Visit Turks and Caicos

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Design should be focused on comfort and ease of accessibility while providing a wide variaty of amenities.

Credit: “Agile LeVin - Visit Turks and Caicos Islands (www.visittci.com)”

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TURQUOISE

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REPRESENTS THE WATERS SURROUNDING THE ISLANDS

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Credit: “Agile LeVin - Visit Turks and Caicos Islands (www.visittci.com)”

Credit: “Agile LeVin - Visit Turks and Caicos Islands (www.visittci.com)”

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NORTH CAICOS

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“The color green was chosen to represent North Caicos and Parrot Cay. The color is taken from the fruit trees and other types of trees that flourish in the most fertile of all the islands. North Caicos is also home of Wade’s Green Plantation, the most successful of Caicos Islands cotton plantations.”

FRUIT TREES + FERTILE ISLANDS

Agriculturally Driven As a landscape of low stone walls and agricultural fields the identity of North Caicos is derived from farming and a slower pace. Any new development should remain small and have a “Bed and Breakfast” feel.

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Farm to table food can be implimented as a way to ensure agricultural practices remain active on the island, and promotes agri-tourism throughout the landscape. This quiet island has a simple bucolic aesthetic and new design should reflect that character.

Credit: “Agile LeVin - Visit Turks and Caicos Islands (www.visittci.com)”

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GREEN

REPRESENTS THE FRUIT TREES AND FERTILE LANDSCAPE

Credit: “Agile LeVin - Visit Turks and Caicos Islands (www.visittci.com)”

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3.2- VISION + PRINCIPLES | ISLAND THEMES

MIDDLE CAICOS

THATCH-WORK + MYSTERY

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“The color tan was chosen to represent Middle Caicos. The color is taken from the raw material (thatch) that once covered the roofs of the houses. It is also used to make straw hats, baskets and brooms. Middle Caicos is known for the superior quality of native craftwork”

Nature Tourism + Natural Landscape As the jewel of the Turks and Caicos, the character of this island should reflect natural Carribean landscape and “off-the-grid” nature + cultural based design. Development should remain small and fit within the topography of the island so that nature is preserved and highlighted.

Credit: “Agile LeVin - Visit Turks and Caicos

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Trails and pathways should be minimalistic in design to meet the needs of bikers and hikers while not creating highways to hidden jems such as caves and beaches.

Credit: “Agile LeVin - Visit Turks and Caicos Islands (www.visittci.com)”

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3.2- VISION + PRINCIPLES | ISLAND THEMES

BROWN

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REPRESENTS THE THATCHWORK AND NATURAL LANDSCAPE

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Credit: “Agile LeVin - Visit Turks and Caicos Islands (www.visittci.com)”

Credit: “Agile LeVin - Visit Turks and Caicos Islands (www.visittci.com)”

Credit: “Agile LeVin - Visit Turks and Caicos Islands (www.visittci.com)”

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3.2- VISION + PRINCIPLES | ISLAND THEMES

SOUTH CAICOS

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“The color orange was chosen to represent South and East Caicos. The color comes from the spiny lobster and fish and reflects the fishing industry in the Big South.”

SPINY LOBSTER + LOCAL FISHING

Quietly Colorful South Caicos is defined by quiet fishing villages. Colorful wooden boats and exposed stone walls become repeated characteristics.

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As these villages are reinvigorated, they should expand on the colorful detailing and fishing culture.

Credit: “Agile LeVin - Visit Turks and Caicos Islands (www.visittci.com)”

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ORANGE

REPRESENTS THE SPINY LOBSTER AND FISHING INDUSTRY

Credit: “Agile LeVin - Visit Turks and Caicos Islands (www.visittci.com)”

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3.2- VISION + PRINCIPLES | ISLAND THEMES

GRAND TURK

TURKS HEAD CACTUS

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“The color red was chosen to represent the nation’s capital, Grand Turk. The color is taken from the red/pink fruit found on the national plant, the Turks Head Cactus. They were once found in abundance on Grand Turk before they were removed to accommodate the salt ponds.”

Adventurous Aesthetic As one of the most active islands, Grand Turk caters to diving, fishing and other adventurous activities. This island’s character has a rustic feel and is the historical center of the Turks and Caicos.

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New development should match the historic aesthetic while providing new opportunities for tourism and locals alike.

Credit: “Agile LeVin - Visit Turks and Caicos Islands (www.visittci.com)”

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REPRESENTS THE RED/PINK FRUIT OF THE NATIONAL PLANT, THE TURKS HEAD CACTUS

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Credit: “Agile LeVin - Visit Turks and Caicos Islands (www.visittci.com)”

Credit: “Agile LeVin - Visit Turks and Caicos Islands (www.visittci.com)”

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3.2- VISION + PRINCIPLES | ISLAND THEMES

SALT CAY

SALT INDUSTRY

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“The color white was chosen to represent Salt Cay. The color came from salt. The salt industry was largely responsible for populating the islands of Salt Cay, Grand Turk, and South Caicos.”

Colonial History “The Island Time Forgot” has a rich history. The stuccoed colonial architecture, cut limestone block, and salina walls create an identity that is unique from the other islands.

Credit: “Agile LeVin - Visit Turks and Caicos

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New design in this area should reflect the character and muted colors of the colonial architecture and pay homage to the detailing and history of the salt industry. New structures should feel as if they were constructed during the peak of activity on Salt Cay.

Credit: “Agile LeVin - Visit Turks and Caicos Islands (www.visittci.com)”

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WHITE

REPRESENTS REPRESENTS THE SALT INDUSTRY ON THE ISLAND

Credit: “Agile LeVin - Visit Turks and Caicos Islands (www.visittci.com)”

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3.2- VISION + PRINCIPLES | ISLAND THEMES

OTHER ISLAND + CAYS “The color yellow represents God’s glory as the sun shining down on all our islands and cays. The sun also contributes to our newest industry: tourism.”

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“The color pink was chosen to represent that beautiful conch shell, flamingos and the numerous uninhabited cays that make up our chain of islands.”

CONCH SHELL, FLAMINGOS + SUN

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Natural The uninhabited islands of the Turks and Caicos should remain as untouched as possible. These islands are destinations for locals and tourists to experience the country in its natural state.

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Without natural places within the archipelago the Turks and caicos looses its sense of pristine wonder.

Credit: Adobe Stock

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YELLOW

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REPRESENTS THE SUN AND TOURISM INDUSTRY

PINK

REPRESENTS THE CONCH SHELL AND FLAMINGOS

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Credit: “Agile LeVin - Visit Turks and Caicos Islands (www.visittci.com)”

Credit: “Agile LeVin - Visit Turks and Caicos Islands (www.visittci.com)”

Credit: “Agile LeVin - Visit Turks and Caicos Islands (www.visittci.com)”

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GOALS, OBJECTIVES, + STRATEGIES

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GOAL 1

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FOCUS DEVELOPMENT: CONCENTRATE DEVELOPMENT AND SETTLEMENTS WHILE MAINTAINING EXISTING/HISTORIC CHARACTER

A more compact settlement node helps identify the character that defines each settlement. For example, Grace Bay has built up hospitality options, such as resorts and hotels, along the beach to create a walkable street from the eastern to western end with pedestrian infrastructure (sidewalks and street lights). The corridor would be more ideal for pedestrians if there were street lights and continuous street frontage that provided a sense of security and safety. While improvements could certainly be made, the Grace Bay node has an intrinsic and memorable identity appropriate for that particular settlement. On a similar note, Front Street operates with the same understanding. Each settlement should have its own unique identity.

A balance between settlements and the environment within the Turks and Caicos Islands will form the TCIslander culture. These low-density, urbanized cores cluster activity together to form the ‘center’ of each settlement.

The National Physical Sustainable Development Plan celebrates the individual and often historic character of the islands and overarching culture of the Turks and Caicos Islands. The settlements are the heart of the built environment for the archipelago. They provide a mix of land uses together as a nodal feature for TCIslanders and tourists.

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The clustering and increased activity together are better for the livelihood of each settlement. If a complete set of infrastructure is in place - circulation, ecological, social, civic, and mixed-use - the settlement core becomes walkable and easy to understand for the common resident. This concentration creates a ‘place’ that is easily recognized and remembered, offering a destination for locals and tourists to easily identify.

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Mixed Use / Settlement Elements

Historic preservation

Maintain character

Infill Development > New Development

Defining Land Use

Objectives

Growth Boundaries

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Design guidelines

Providing the parts for the complete system / providing a variety of uses that meet the needs of the residents

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4 .1 - S T R A T E G I C G O A L S

The environment is ever changing; however, it is globally accepted that human impact has sped up the process of climate change to a point that requires more thought into the decisions that are made within both the built environment and ecological realms.

GOAL 2

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STRENGTHEN RESILIENCE: ENVIRONMENTAL + ECONOMIC

Resilience refers to the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties (Google). Regions and cities globally are looking to resilience as a key indicator for sustainability; can the environment and economy survive local, national, and global disasters? The Turks and Caicos should strengthen their resilience for natural disasters from both an environmental and economic understanding.

The Turks and Caicos Islands should promote environmental and economic resilience in all projects and decisions.

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Environmental Environmental resilience is key to maintaining the essence of the Turks and Caicos Islands: nature as beauty. Following the phrases “Nature as Beauty” and “Beautiful by Nature,” TCI is known for its beauty of the natural environment. To maintain this characteristic, there must be protection of key assets.

Economic Economic resilience is the ability of an economy to “cope, recover, and reconstruct” to minimize negative economic impact after a natural disaster (Stephane Hallagatte, World Bank). With an increase in the frequency of natural disasters and the current experience of COVID-19, economic resilience is more important than ever for the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Objectives

ENVIRONMENTAL

ECONOMIC

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Growth Management

Preservation and Conservation Efforts Follow National Parks Ordinance in Relation to Land Use Decisions

Investment and Usage of Renewable Energy Protect Native Flora and Fauna Coastal Development and Management: Shoreline Protection Maritime Network Resilience

Diversification of Industries Locate New Industries in Viable Locations Engage in Pubic Private Partnerships Move Away from Real Estate-Driven Economy Enhance Hospitality Offerings Increase the Tourism Budget to Compete Regionally

Natural Disaster Resilience

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Equity in land use represents making decisions with the community, for the community. The NPSDP is a joint effort spearheaded by the Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing, and Planning and the Department of Planning, while the development of the plan is led by a nonpartisan consultant team.

GOAL 3

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EQUITY: EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL

While the consultant team has led this effort, the entire plan hinges on feedback gathered from TCI Governmental entities, key stakeholders, and the general public. The consultant team pieced the public input together and used their expertise in planning, design, infrastructure, economics, tourism, and coastal and environmental resources to make informed, thoughtful decisions for the future of preservation and development within the Turks and Cacios Islands.

The NPSDP will inject equity into every objective, strategy, and recommendation (policy).

R A

The Turks and Caicos Islands needs to continue to provide equal access for all; however, all governmental entities should make equity a priority for the National Physical Sustainable Development Plan (NPSDP). The goal of an equitable land use for all is to achieve a fair and just plan that correctly distributes resources and access within built and natural development. Equity will prove most beneficial for those who need more benefits or assistance, rather than ignoring some, creating opportunities is needed for those who will benefit the most. Equity can impact gentrification, affordable housing, access to transportation and open space, and the overall quality of life. Equity and resilience will need to overlap, as both goals must plan for the most vulnerable first.

D

Distribute Population Strategically Among Islands

Combination of Policies + Projects

Plan for Future Residential Development through Targeting Areas and a Phased Approach

Beach Access

Implement and Support (Affordable) Housing

Promote Sustainable Development Goals

Expand Opportunities for Agriculture

Create Long-term Housing Options for Current and Future Residents

Objectives

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GOAL 4

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CONNECTIVITY: CONNECT THE TURKS AND CAICOS

critically important in linking the island chain. In the near term, creating a practical and achievable system of island connectivity should be a critical goal. While some ferry services currently exist, their frequency is limited and their reliability is suspect. Further, not all major islands are served.

The Turks and Caicos archipelago presents a unique challenge for physical and cultural connections. The location and physical, geographic form offer fewer options for circulation than that of an entity without an island formation. It is a costly endeavor - environmentally and monetarily - for TCI to establish an island connection for vehicles. TCI has existed for years with the normalization of marine and air connections compared to vehicular connection.

Connectivity, of course, refers to on-island connectivity as well. Each island is responsible for completing all networks of infrastructure - pedestrian, biking, greenways, marine, and vehicular. All islands need some version of infrastructural improvements, from sidewalks to complete the pedestrian network on Grand Turk to the additional of a bicycle lane along the highway from Sandy Point to Bambarra on North and Middle Caicos or a network of greenways on each island for alternative, multi-modal transportation networks.

R A

Culturally, island and cay connection is further hindered without ease of access - in both a physical and nonmaterial sense. It is costly to move between islands for education, employment, and the exchange of cultural aspects.

Creation of an intra-coastal waterway to connect North Caicos, Middle Caicos, South Caicos, Grand Turk and Salt Cay to Providenciales should be studied in detail.

Generally, a system could be developed that would include vessels capable of open ocean travel (to/from South Caicos to Grand Turk and Salt Cay) as well as those with shallow water draft to utilize the Caicos Bank (to/from Provo, North Caicos, Middle Caicos and South Caicos).

The islands should establish a better connection for the movement of goods, services, and people. The ease of movement of goods and services will bring more economic opportunity to all inhabited islands. TCIslanders will be able to move with more ease for opportunities in employment, education, and in general if the inter-island connection is strengthened and/or established.

D

A physical connection is partly established presently. There is air travel between the majority of islands and a ferry connection between certain islands, as shown on the maps on the following page. The only vehicular connection that exists is between North and Middle Caicos, which is known locally as the causeway. See section 3.0 for additional information on the Spine Link Connection.

It is imperative to note that safety, reliability, and cohesion (speed?) are at the heart of every successful connectivity means. While some layers of connectivity are in place, the continued success and development of TCI will depend on adding to and improving existing connectivity.

While these connections were previously analyzed in the Site Inventory and Analysis Report, TCI must establish better physical connections amongst the inhabited islands.

In the highly segmented archipelago of TCI, reliable, efficient, and cost-effective connectivity of goods and people is a necessity. A reliable water-based system is 92

Table: Operational Ferry Routes, Comparatively

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Map: Existing Air Routes

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Map: Proposed Vehicular Connection (Spine Link Caicos Connection)

Distribute Population Strategically Among Islands

D

Combination of Policies + Projects

Promote Sustainable Development Goals

Implement and Support (Affordable) Housing

Expand Opportunities for Agriculture

Create Long-term Housing Options for Current and Future Residents

Plan for Future Residential Development through Targeting Areas and a Phased Approach

Objectives

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Beach Access

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TECHNOLOGY: ESTABLISHING A FUTURE AS A TECHNOLOGY HUB

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GOAL 5

The goal is to address technology in every sense of skill development, processes, and the production of goods and services within TCI. While traditional land use is not tied to technology and technological advances, it is important to understand the technological aspects that affect the physical allocation and use of the land. For example, the private and public sectors will become more tied to new technologies and access will become key. The creation of systems and networks will need to be overlaid over the physical land uses assigned across each island. These networks will have key nodes and patterns that need to be identified, understood, and protected for the future ease of access of the land.

Technology is at the center of the future on all fronts: adaptions to agriculture, changes to every day life, renewable resources, employment opportunities, and many more.

Both the public and private sectors need to push and implement new technologies to stay competitive regionally and globally, attract and retain new businesses and talent, and implement and promote cutting edge research and development processes and discoveries.

R A

The Turks and Caicos Islands are not ahead of the curve, but there should be a main priority within both the public and private sectors to stay technologically relevant and to not fall behind. If the future is technologically-focused, TCI needs to be on the forefront of cutting edge ideas, research and development (R&D), renewable resources, and technology access to stay competitive with the rest of the region.

D

Expand to two fiber optic cables

Objectives

Lead Caribbean in Tech Access and Development

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Implement and Promote Research and Development “Parks” (Space)

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Target industries that capitalize in new technologies

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D

Photo: Agile LeVin - Visit Turks and Caicos Islands (www.visittci.com)

Photo: Nenad Kajić / Veneko.hr

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OBJECTIVES + STRATEGIES 1. STRENGTHEN RESILIENCE

Follow National Park Ordinance in Relation to Land Use Decisions The national parks, reserves, marine reserves, and areas of historical interest identified in the National Parks Ordinance should be held to the highest standard of protection. Like previously mentioned, there should be no development allowed within any of the these identified areas for the preservation of the natural environment in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

FT

ENVIRONMENTAL

and conservation and evaluation of past methods of preservation and conservation.

Environmental resilience is key to maintain the essence of the Turks and Caicos Islands: nature as beauty. Following the phrases “Nature as Beauty” and “Beautiful by Nature,” TCI is known for its beauty of the natural environment. To maintain this characteristic, there must be protection of key assets.

Investment and Usage of Renewable Energy The TCI Government should continue and further crosscollaborate with other TCIG governmental entities and key stakeholders managing utilities, such as City Water, Digicel, Flow, FortisTCI, and TCI Water Company. A policy should be set to become renewable energy-focused within the next ten (10) years, with a long term projection for total island operation on solely renewable energy.

R A

The TCI Environmental Charter sets out ten (10) guiding principles and eleven (11) committments by both the U.K. Government and TCI Government for the future protection of the TCI environment.

Growth management In order to protect the natural envrionment, there must be boundaries to human or built development. Referred to as growth management, this strategy hinges on establishing boundaries for human settlements before built forms stretch into critical habitats or protected areas.

Growth boundaries should buffer built settlement from the untouched, natural environment. Growth management is an accepted practice and policy globally; the boundaries should be re-evaluated so that the NPSDP maintains environmental resilience.

D

Preservation and Conservation Efforts The Turks and Caicos Islands need to prioritize the preservation and conservation of open space, national parks, and critical habitats of both the land and sea. As mentioned previously, the natural environment is the jewel of the Turks and Caicos Islands; it must be protected for current and future generations to enjoy and admire.

There are on-going preservation and conservation programs, policies (ordinances,) and organziations, such as the National Trust. The TCI Governmental entities should continue to invest in preservation and conservation methodologies, while also reevaluating every update of the NPSDP as to what additional spaces need preservation

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The Turks and Caicos Islands Government partnered with FortisTCI and the Rocky Mountain Institute to establish the Resilient National Energy Transition Strategy (R-NETS) and focus on a sustainable future for TCIslanders. The (R-NETS) is important because it builds upon the Integrated Resources Plans (IRP) from previous years.

Currently, the Clinton Foundation, specifically the Clinton Climate Initiative, FortisTCI, and the Rocky Mountain Institute are finalizing an energy strategy for the Turks and Caicos Islands. The partners, led by the Clinton Climate Initiative, are working on the plan that solidifies the interest of all involved, including the TCI Government, towards a future with renewable energy. This is slated to finish by July 2020.

There are currently three islands with proposed projects currently going through permitting through Invest TCI and the Planning Department on the islands of Providenciales, North Caicos, and Grand Turk. Energy-based permitting projects should receive priority access to Crown land.

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There is a finite amount of physical coastline in the TCI archipelago. Further, limited amounts of varying shoreline types are present on each island, if at all, with varying degrees of existing development. As such, coastal properties and shorelines represent a finite resource that must be responsibly and holistically managed. This management must occur on a national scale as well as island and smaller zonal shoreline scales. Emphasis should be put on conservation, management, and preservation. Table 6 presents an inventory of shoreline types for each primary study islands. Total shoreline length of the primary study islands is approximately 244 miles and estimated total shoreline length of all islands and cays within the nation of TCI is over 500 miles.

FT

Protect Native Flora and Fauna by Defining Limits of Critical Ecosystems The ultimate goal of of environmental protection and environmental resilience is the protection of native flora and fauna within and specific to the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Not all types of coastal shorelines in TCI can support all types of coastal development. Final mapping exhibits and GIS framework data are included in Appendix A2.3 that indicates a range of potential coastal development types and rankings along shorelines of each study island.

R A

In the Site Inventory and Analysis Report, maps delineate land cover/habitat for the six islands cover under this project: Providenciales, North Caicos, Middle Caicos, South Caicos, Grand Turk and Salt Cay. Data was based on the vegetation and mapping project completed by Blue Dolphin in 2010 for TCI; however, given the limitations of this project, no new information or data on habitat categories, species of interest, and critical habitat was gathered. There should be further work done to protect the critical habitats identified within the Site Inventory and Analysis Report.

D

Coastal Development and Management: Shoreline Protection The results of the coastal development potential analysis are presented in perimeter defined maps for Providenciales, North Caicos, Middle Caicos, South Caicos, Grand Turk, and Salt Cay. However, simply because a shoreline can theoretically support a particular type or types of development, does not necessarily exclude the possibility of others, or of complete preservation or restoration of the natural environment. The results of the coastal development potential are ultimately intended to be used as a practical reference in combination with other layers of data to guide planning and decision making on a case by case basis. The framework plans should be used as a guide as to where preserve shorelines and where amenable development could prosper (with all other factors considered.) An appropriate amount of development has been identified for each island.

TCI shorelines are a valuable coastal resource for numerous reasons. They provide physical settings for coastal development, water and public access, attraction for tourism, recreation, coastal hazard protection, outstanding natural beauty, and an assortment of environmental habitats, species, and processes.

The management of the coastal zone, whether developed or preserved, must account for specific coastal hazards that exist now, as well as future hazards due to climate change and sea level rise that will significantly impact TCI. The planning, design, construction, and operations of any development in the coastal zone must incorporate resiliency, specifically against coastal hazards and climate change.

Sand mining should be evaluated to provide a source of beach compatible sand for shoreline restoration projects.

The official policy framework that governs coastal resources and development in the coastal zone, must be clear, effective, efficient, and enforceable.

Maritime Network Resilience The system of seaports must support the typical operational needs of the islands but also incorporate resilience in their capacity and operations to serve

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Improvements are required on North Caicos and South Caicos. Facilities should be evaluated on Middle Caicos and Salt Cay. Minimal attributes should include: • Functional water depth including entrance waterways and berths should support all existing and envisioned vessel drafts plus 3-4 ft of over-dredge for advance maintenance and ship flexibility.

• Minimal infrastructure to support RoRo and container vessels.

• Properly sized and designed seawalls, bollards, fendering, ramps and piers • Hurricane tie down equipment • Secure storage facilities appropriate for the site/ island • Perimeter fencing and security Natural Disaster Resilience Natural disasters are becoming a more common occurance as the climate changes at a faster rate than in the past.

The TCIG should prioritize natural methods to increase resilience rather than man-made of built methods.

FT

of large-scale projects. Individual development or infrastructure projects should not be required to construct waterfront facilities that only serve the needs of a single project. This increases costs, discourages development, and does not provide wider benefits to the islands and their inhabitants.

Development on islands without seaport facilities or facilities with low capacity or poor infrastructure will necessarily be severely limited.

R A

The commercial maritime industry, including cargo vessels, shipping and construction barges, similar operations, and the entities that own and operate them must be expanded to increase capacity, introduce competition, improve reliability and efficiency, and lower costs. Uncertainty and high costs related to existing cargo and shipping movement discourages development.

The ability to provide goods and equipment is critical to quality of life. Also, development on islands without seaport facilities or facilities with low capacity or poor infrastructure will necessarily be severely limited.

D

Due to island build-out, population density, and tourism demand, Providenciales is and should continue to be the primary port in the TCI. The envisioned improvement plan for Provo’s port should remain a priority.

A stormwater network needs to be established, specifically for the more developed islands of Providenciales and Grand Turk. The system of wells on Providenciales should be more closely monitored and constantly flooding, low-lying areas should be excluded from continuous redevelopment.

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ECONOMIC

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Economic resilience is the ability of an economy to “cope, recover, and reconstruct” to minimize negative economic impact after a natural disaster (Stephane Hallagatte, World Bank), a global pandemic in the case of COVID-19, or political upheavals. With an increase in the frequency of natural disasters and the current experience of COVID-19, economic resilience is more important than ever for the Turks and Caicos Islands.

smaller communities with an influx of people, circulation, or infrastructure needs. All industries recommended in the attached appendix of economic assessment should be located in areas that already have the needed infrastructure or would require less additional infrastructure compared to vacant parcels far away from development nodes or settlement centers. New industries should have locations on islands outside of Providenciales in an effort to spread the economic benefits and limit the additional pressure on Providenciales. Key locations are highlighted on the island Framework Plans, but it is highly suggested to target settlement centers when possible.

Engage Public Private Partnerships (P3) Public private partnerships are great options for attracting new industries and businesses to the Turks and Caicos Islands. A P3 is defined as “a contractual agreement between a public agency (federal, state, or local) and a private sector entity. Through this agreement, the skills and assets of each sector (public and private) are shared in delivering a service or facility for the use of the general public. In addition to the sharing of resources, each party shares in the risks and rewards potential in the delivery of the service and/or facility,” (National Council for PublicPrivate Partnerships (NCPPPP). As the Turks and Caicos Government already has experience with P3s, new, largescale projects should take advantage of the development opportunities allotted with each potential partnership.

R A

Diversification of Industries Apart from the tourism, off shore financial services, and real estate industries, the Turks and Caicos Islands do not have many more, if any, competitive industries. All industries previously mentioned have large caveats of potential instability. Tourism can fluctuate with global pandemics and the instability of the dollar ($) and pound (£). Off shore financial markets are subject to more regulation and scrutiny. Real estate as an industry will be expanded upon later on in this summary. In short, the three industries mentioned need to balanced out with symbiotic alternatives; additional industries will add another layer of stability and sustainability to the Turks and Caicos Islands economy.

D

Industry diversification is imperative for the Turks and Caicos Islands. The current economy relies heavily on tourism with support from the financial services and real estate industries. A singular-focus on tourism is not sustainable and is more difficult to make resilient. Factors like economic competitiveness, promoting an increase in trade of goods and services, and establishing businesses that develop trade skills all play a role in the diversification of industries.

TCIG should vet and explore several other potential industries that would make the Turks and Caicos Islands a more competitive option for new technology and industry needs. There are more details in the Appendix under Economic and Tourism.

Locate New Industries in Viable Locations New industries should be strategically placed to take advantage of existing infrastructure and to not overwhelm

Move Away from Real Estate Economy The Turks and Caicos Islands development strategy is wholly dependent not on tourism as the numbers reflect, but also on real estate. Development in TCI is driven by pure real estate transactions.

Residential development does not produce the amount of jobs or retail demand that pure tourism does. Currently, retail accounts only for 2% of their expenditure pattern, which is extremely low as compared to other competing destinations.

The definition of the hospitality industry should be clarified to promote balance and sustainability. Relying primarily on stamp duty related to real estate development and offering the same incentives for both hotels and real estate

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There has to be a balance, and there needs to be a clear line on what normally constitutes tourism and/or hospitality investment versus real estate investment.

FT

To mitigate the impact of the constant fluctuations in available hotel rooms, TCI policies should encourage a healthy balance and control growth on vacation rentals with limitations for occupancy lasting longer than 60 days.

This will create a stabilized permanent pool of hotel supply always available to the tourist market consistent with market demand. Likewise, it will mitigate the impact on the housing sector of constant fluctuations in housing stock to accommodate tourists during peak periods, which turn into unoccupied housing units during shoulder and slower times of year.

success. Now more than ever many destinations are forced to reinvent themselves and strengthen their ability to respond to the challenges of retaining customers, gaining confidence and attracting new customers. This entails the following resources: • Robust marketing resources • Fast and efficient organization with an adequate governance structure with the integration of different private and public stakeholders operating under a common goal: providing input, guidance, decision-making and resources.

• Marketing intelligence to define strategy and real time statistics for policy decision making.

• Collecting relevant sector data on a timely basis.

As compared to similar destinations the budget allocated to the Tourist board is extremely poor. The budget is not consistent with the revenues directly generated by the industry, such as accommodation tax and other associated fees and taxes (ie: airport and air travel taxes and stamp duty on land transaction). These revenues alone represent 26 percent of the total revenue by economic classification for financial year 2020/2021. With the remaining of the resources detailed in the paragraph above absent as well, it will difficult if not almost impossible to ensure an effective marketing effort that allows the destination to recover from the most catastrophic event in the industry´s history. A concerted effort will be needed to retain the destinations positioning.

R A

Traditional hotels and branded hotels have been critical elements for the success of other competing destinations.

It is anticipated that should vacation rental supply continue to grow at this pace coupled with muted demand on the hotels, it could exercise a negative pressure on the destination’s overall performance.

D

Pursuing sustainability and tourism development as the road to economic recovery will require a healthy balance in lodging supply and a clear differentiation between what constitutes tourism development and what constitutes real estate development. This is clearly a policy issue. The need to determine the road between competing to attract tourism or promoting real estate development or striking a balance between both is critical for the long-term success of the destination. In any instance, to attract investment it is necessary to qualify tourist offer.

Enhance Hospitality Offerings Sense of place is essential for a destination to succeed and excel in tourism. People travel to experience a destination - to sense it, to taste it, and to feel a part of it. Architecture, landmarks, attractions, gastronomy, local craftsmanship, galleries and connecting with the destination´s history and its people are the most effective instruments to generate a sense of place. There as some very good examples on how leading destinations have brough both residents and locals together to generate a sense of place.

Increase the Tourism Budget to Compete Regionally Effective marketing is an essential tool for a destination’s

Tourism and transport sector employ 13,000 persons annually (directly or indirectly) and contributed more than USD 357 million of the country´s GDP in 2019. It is critical to examine ways on how public and private sector can come together to protect the industry.

Migrating from a traditionally marketing and promotion focus, to the formation of a Destination Marketing Organization is trend and an excellent option to consider.

Consistent with our findings, TCI has excelled in tourism in many aspects and more importantly Provo as the major hub of tourism is consolidated enough to take the reign.

This will allow for the much-needed cohesive tourism development in the remaining of the country. Public and private efforts and resources to the use of the destination´s main industry, all under one goal.

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GROWTH BOUNDARIES

HISTORIC PRESERVATION + MAINTAIN CHARACTER Protecting the character and history of the Turks and Caicos Islands is vital for current and future generations of TCIslanders. Standards established in the Development Manual and Design Guidelines should be adhered to in an effort to maintain the character and culture established for each island and settlement, as well as the archipelago in its entirity.

FT

2. CONCENTRATE DEVELOPMENT SETTLEMENTS WHILE MAINTAINING EXISTING + HISTORIC CHARACTER

Design Guidelines Guidelines on the development and design standards are provided in Appendix A4.0 of this document. These guidelines are provided to perpetuate the island character and overall culture of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

R A

In order to protect the natural envrionment, there must be boundaries to human or built development. Referred to as growth management, this strategy hinges on establishing boundaries for human settlements before built forms stretch into critical habitats or protected areas. Growth management is an accepted practice and policy globally; the boundaries should be re-evaluated every update to the NPSDP to maintain environmental resilience.

DEFINING LAND USE

This plan includes a land use plan for each inhabited island (excluding private cays) that should be treated as the first stop on any development process or permitting process within or outside of the Planning Department.

INFILL DEVELOPMENT BEFORE NEW DEVELOPMENT

D

Due to the shrinking amount of Crown land on each island and a pro-environmental stance, the Turks and Caicos Islands should focus development within areas where development alreay occurs, referred to as infill development, rather than parcels with no current or previous development, referred to as greenfields.

MIXED-USE SETTLEMENT ELEMENTS It is imperative to provide a variety of uses that meet the needs of the residents. Mixed-use development is more environmentally-friendly and provides a cluster of services and housing typologies within a smaller footprint. Mixeduse land designations should focus along commerical corridors and settlement centers.

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3. EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL

FT

DISTRIBUTE POPULATION STRATEGICALLY AMONG ISLANDS

of Housing should work with the Planning Department and the Division of Crown Land to focus on developing Crown land parcels into affordable housing developments, while also establishing a policy to work with local developers on privatized affordable housing.

Housing There is an estimated demand for between roughly 8,600 and 13,300 new primary households during the next 20+ years. In terms of land utilization, housing will be by far the largest development sector over the next several years. As a result, and considering the desire to preserve land and open space throughout TCI, there should be a concentrated effort to focus more on intensified (multifamily) development. As a matter of fact, demographic forecasts indicate planning for multifamily product will be met with an aging population and a marginally diminishing family base. While single family housing will still be prominent, higher density housing in particular is encouraged in Providenciales and can serve as the anchor for mixed use development. This same policy may apply to other islands such as Grand Turk and North Caicos, which should only help to alleviate the heavy concentration of housing in Providenciales. Moreover, there should also be a focus on increasing homeownership to provide residents a greater vested interest in their community.

R A

Currently, Providenciales is overwhelmed with development and population size, while other islands are experiencing a flight of their population. Opportunity, development, education, and catalystic projects and supporting policies should be strategically placed among the inhabited islands. This does not mean all islands should become as ‘urbanized’ or populated as Providenciales; however, Providenciales cannot continue to develop and grow at the current rate without major, structural change in development and policy.

CREATE LONG-TERM HOUSING OPTIONS FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE RESIDENTS

COMBINATION OF POLICIES + PROJECTS

The Planning Department should strategically lead the coordination and collaboration of TCIG departments, entities, and key stakeholders on cross-referencing policies, strategies, and current and future visions to make sure all entities are on the same page and understanding of a cohesive future.

D

There should be an effort made to collaborate on key, catalyst projects and the enforcement and support of policies across many departments.

IMPLEMENT AND SUPPORT (AFFORDABLE) HOUSING There is a need to expand attainable/affordable housing which can be driven by policy initiatives such as deconcentration of poverty and inclusionary zoning.

TCIG should work with developers and the Department of Housing to create affordable units within each multifamily development; the most successful precedents require a percentage of units within each multifamily development, such as 10-20% of total units. The reinstated Department

More importantly, there is a need to plan for an aging population. The Planning Department and Department of Housing should focus on accessory apartments, shared housing arrangements, multifamily apartments, assisted living, small-scale campuses. Universal Design practices should be promoted to accommodate all levels of ability. A key in the location of housing for an aging population are to focus on nearby infrastructure access; the developments should be within a close range of transportation options or a walkable distance to civic and local commercial facilities.

Future policies should consider • Walkability • Transportation options • Affordability • Accessibility • Access to social services and cultural amenities

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PLAN FOR FUTURE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH TARGETING AREAS AND A PHASED APPROACH

BEACH ACCESS

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To truly development in a comprehensive and cohesive manner, the Planning Deaprtment should target or focus on specific settlements and/or developments with a phased approach and understanding. Each settlement should have all pieces of infrastructure implemented for full functionality and projected success. The final NPSDP will include implementation, monitoring, and evaluation strategies that can be deployed on all islands.

There are seventeen (17) goals that are projected to 2030.  No poverty  Zero hunger  Good Health and Well-Being  Quality Education  Gender Equality  Clean Water and Sanitation  Affordable and Clean Energy  Decent Work and Economic Growth  industry, innovation, and infrastructure  Reduced Inequalities  Sustainable Cities and Communities  Responsible Consumption and Production  Climate Action  Life Below Water  Life on Land  Peace and Justice Strong Institutions  Partnerships for the Goals.

All 17 goals can apply to the Turks and Caicos Islands, and they are attempting to achieve these goals.

R A

While the Department of the Environment and Coastal Resources (DECR) is finalizing a Beach Access Policy, the importance of beach access points should not be forgotten. Specifically, a concerted effort should be made to provide easily accessible shoreline and beach access to the general public. Consideration should be given to requiring such access be considered or incorporated when private developments are planned and constructed.

Note that beach access points were not identified due to the scale of this investigation. It is recommended that improvements be made particularly on Providenciales including parking, signage, solid waste collection, shade structures and in some cases bathrooms.

D

PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

The United Nations (UN) established 17 sustainability goals in 2015 as the follow up to the Millennium Development Goals (2000-2015). The eight United Nations Millennium Development Goals were established as the original callto-action focusing on six aspects: poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, environmental degradation, and discrimination against women. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) succeeded the Millennium Development Goals in 2016.

The Department of Statistics is tracking the progress via its collection of quantitative data; the department has tied together the TCI Vision 2040 with sustainable development, for which the SDGs are embedded. The department mentioned a few challenges: a lack of commitment from stakeholders, a lack of human resources, and a lack of funding. They are collecting data through the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) which was developed by UNICEF in the 1990s; MICS collects information relating to 11 SDGs. There are a few ‘next steps’ the Department of Statistics plans to take in order to further define and reach the SDGs; these actions include identifying stakeholders directly related to each goal, establishing a committee focused on the SDGs obtainment, and using MOUs to allow for the exchange of information relating to the SDGs more readily.

The team plans to take the Sustainable Development Goals into consideration with every decision made in the 2020 NPSDP. The future development and preservation of the TCI can easily tie to each and every SDG, and vice versa.

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EXPAND OPPORTUNITIES FOR AGRICULTURE

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The Turks and Caicos Islands would be well served with having focuses on food security and sustainability and further its evaluation of the agri-tourism sector. On-going exploration of the nascent hydroponics sub-industry is also warranted. This speciďŹ c industry creates opportunities to enhance agricultural output through either indoor or outdoor production and provides a major contribution to sustainable farming. However, this industry is not without notable challenges around knowledge, costs, power needs, and disease vulnerability. Therefore, from a land use and development planning perspective, there is a

need to consider the optimal geographic positioning of not only traditional farming methods, but these emerging sectors as well. Furthermore, improving the domestic transportation and supply chain infrastructure would give TCI the opportunity to better support linkages to the tourism industry.

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TCI should continue to build on the Kew Government Farm in North Caicos, which currently serves primarily as a de facto demonstration plot. The National Physical Development Plan will include commercial agricultural land recommendations and best suited for Middle and North Caicos.

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4. CONNECTIVITY

ADVANCE MOBILITY OPTIONS

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Walking Pedestrians will only choose to walk if there is proper infrstructure in place. This infrastructure includes sidewalks, street lighting, walkability radi, buffer landscaping from heavy traffic, signage and wayfinding, and trials, greenways, or multi-modal pathways. Settlements should be obvious places to start implementing complete pedestrian infrastructure networks. It is recommended to established a Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan for the islands.

Marine While there is an existing ferry system and network in place, it is often unreliable and not catered to creating a comfortable ride from one island to another. A successful ferry system must be reliable, comfortable, sufficiently frequent and safe to attract a continuous stream of residential and tourism users. More residents could rely on the ferry for work or recreational purposes, and tourists could spread their economic contribution through the islands rather than mainly Provo.

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Biking Bicycling is a mode of transportation that has the most potential, as the infrastructure can be easily added to vehicular mobility corridors and tends to be a lower cost investment with a high pay off if a network is established.

It is most vital to create an easily-idenitifed system on each island for comfort and safety aspects for cyclists and vehicular users to utilize and understand, respectively.

The NPSDP proposes an enhanced ferry service, which will include: • Reduced travel times and increased frequency of transport • Improved watercraft • High speeds • Enclosed and comfortable for guests • Variety of ferry types including high speed, shallow draft ferries through the interior Caicos Bank (potentially via “hoverboats” or similar) and seaworthy vessels to safely and comfortably transport across most open sea conditions to Grand Turk, Salt Cay and South Caicos.

• Direct routes to more island locations (Middle Caicos, Central Providenciales, West Caicos) • Improved landings (i.e. Middle Caicos, North Caicos, Salt Cay, South Caicos) • Conditioned and enclosed waiting areas.

• Safe and shaded boarding areas • Baggage and small material handling • Maintenance system and redundant water craft to maintain set schedules

Bicycling should also be pushed as a mode of transportaiton to attract bicycling tourism. With a geography and beauty like the Turks and Caicos Islands, cyclists will flock to the island if the infrastructure is in place. Sports tourism has potential in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

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Public Transit With the future of automobiles a desestating effect on the environment, the high traffic counts and near-capacity Providenciales highways, and the high cost assoicated with personal use automobiles in TCI, it is highly recommended to implement a public transit system. A system might sound daunting, but with an island like Providenciales, the system might operate with shorter routes to and ffrom key destinations. Public transit, if utilized correctly, will reduce the number of personal cars on the highways, which, in turn, reduces traffic. This is mainly applicable to Providenciales. A study on the top destinations for taxis and personal car systems should align with key development nodes; this study will bring to light the key areas to implement public transit stops.

To note: public transit only works when connected to comprehensive pedestrian and/or bicycling networks.

Existing ports and ferry landings were mapped with the marina facilities development potential results as, together, these operations create TCI’s commercial maritime network.

Potential locations for future facilities are also mapped based on deep water access, routing, island location, and similar needs.

Vehicular The team has visually assessed the roadway system with respect to their condition and integrity and generally determined what, if any remedial work is required to maintain or improve their lifespan. Please see Appendix A1.0 Site Inventory and Analysis Report for the teams findings.

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an excellent option to implement for alternative modes of transportation. Other benefits have been mentioned under ‘Advance Mobility Options’.

AIRPORT ENHANCEMENT

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All islands function circulation-wise through access to a personal car. While there is a global trend moving away from personal automobiles, the current roadway network needs to consider a few aspects for upgrades in the coming decade. All islands should develop access standards for future developments (including access spacing and need for turn lanes for safe operation and to prevent impeding traffic flow for through traffic). There should also be uniform traffic control (traffic signs and markings) within all islands for wayfinding and operations purposes. All islands should apply and use speed-control devices, develop sight visibility standards, and provide recommendations regarding the use of stop signs, traffic circles and traffic signals at minor and major intersections.

There should be safe operation of school buses (at locations for drop off and pick up of students) policy applied as well.

The Providenciales International Airport (PLS) is the only international port of entry besides the Grand Turk Cruise Terminal. It is the main point of entry for the Turks and Caicos Islands. The TCI Airport Authority has plans for a new terminal creation on the southern side of the airport.

The NPSDP Providenciales Framework Plan addresses this project with vigor and the associated circulation route update as well.

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All other islands have airport footprints; however, not all are currently functioning. Middle Caicos should be left to the end of the priority list, as the North Caicos airport can provide access for Middle Caicos as well. North Caicos also has current plans through Invest TCI and the Planning Department for an redevelopment. South Caicos is in immediate need of redevelopment and enhancement. The Grand Turk airport would benefit from improvements to make it applicable to international flights, as a future hub for the Turks Islands. The Salt Cay airport was recently updated. Reliability and guest comfort should be improved at each airport throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Providenciales, specifically, should develop short-term (2-3 years) and long-term (5-10 years) transportation improvement programs. The short-term transportation improvement program would include auxiliary lanes, replacement of speed bumps with speed humps or speed tables, traffic signals, replacement of sub-standard traffic circles. Long term transportation improvements would include roadway widening (from 2 lanes to 2 lanes + center turn lane, from 2-4 lanes and from 4-6 lanes).

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CREATE NEW MULTI-MODAL TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE

Pedestrian and bicycling infrastructure together creating multi-modal transportation options for residents and locals alike. With the beauty of the Turks and Caicos Islands combined with flat topography, greenways - multimodal pathways often separated from vehicular circulation - are

REPAIR AND UPGRADE EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE Connectivity references all types of infrastructure including utilities.

XXX - Information from Peter/Joaquin

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5. FUTURE AS A TECHNOLOGY HUB EXPAND TO FIBER OPTIC NETWORK industries in order to diversify its tourism dependency unless a strategy is put in place to attract foreign workers.

In line with Barbados’ 12-month remote -work stay program, TCI could offer an extra incentive. Promote skilled workers to run their businesses from Provo or to open new ones with special strong incentives in sister islands. The sister islands could benefit from artists, designers, architects, and persons with different skill sets to come and establish businesses. Transfer of knowledge and experience between visitors and locals would promote social cohesion.

The program could serve to attract and support investment that generates wealth and qualified employment.

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To be competitive with other Caribbean nations in a technology market, the Turks and Caicos Islands should prioritize investing in replacing the needed components of the current, singular fiber optic cable and and a secondary fiber optic cable. Technological access, no matter the distance, is highly valued by travelers and those who work remotely. As COVID-19 has shown, remote work is becoming much more attainable for most; employees are looking for locations with excellent internet access to set up longer, temporary work stations or new hubs of employment if the facilities exist. Access to high speed internet is vital.

Locations for future skills training facilities should be clustered within mixed-use developments, settlement centers, community centers, and secondary education campuses.

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A secondary fiber optic cable is also the only way to attract investors and businesses interested in establishing data centers. Besides the high investment in the fiber optic cable, the remainder of the infrastructure would be low cost to TCIG. A secondary fiber optic cable will be a large capital investment project, but it has the potential to bring another industry to better pad the TCI economy for future longevity, attract remote workers, and better access for current TCIslanders.

LEAD CARIBBEAN IN TECH ACCESS AND DEVELOPMENT

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Expand Skills Training Human resources (as it relates to population and skills) are a unique transversal asset. In general, the Turks and Caicos Islands has a population with good skills, education, and a strong orientation to quality service. The biggest challenge is the low population.

TCI has 12 tourists per person vs. Latin American and the Caribbean’s 1.2 tourists per person, and a worldwide 3.3 tourists per person. This is a reason for concern due to the risks associated with not being able to serve tourist demands because of the short supply of workforce. It becomes critical to reinforce the prestige of tourism jobs, create critical mass adapted to market needs, and promote equal opportunities.

The rapid growth of Provo´s tourism industry is challenged by a shortage of willing and skilled workers. It is very unlikely the destination is capable of expanding into other

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Promote Hi-Tech Research Centers In an effort to provide more options for industry diversification, TCI could focus on merging technology, education and research, and environmental sustainability.

Reserach-able institutions (and education centers) such as The School for Field Studies Marine Resource Center and the South Atlantic Environmental Research Institute, among others, would capitalize on opportunities to have space within the Turks and Caicos Islands for nearby research projects. TCIG should make these opportunities available and attractive for like-minded institutions to research aspects related to the future of TCI and globe at a high interest level.

IMPLEMENT AND PROMOTE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT NODES There is estimated demand for 250,000+ (moderate) to 450,000+ (upper) square feet of office space during the next 20+ horizon. Providenciales provides an opportunity to accommodate at least half of the office demand within more centralized business clusters supporting financial, professional/technical services, and medical uses.

Furthermore, new office development can potentially serve as a strong supporting use within mixed use development.

Outside of Providenciales, the balance of demand can

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be positioned around emerging housing and commercial nodes which is likely to be in Grand Turk, or North Caicos with the opportunity to leverage off of the government’s central facilities.

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Estimates for industrial demand indicate a range of 600,000+ (moderate) to 900,000 square feet (upper) over a 20+ year time frame. The natural positioning for industrial development is proximity to the port and airport in Providenciales. However, depending upon infrastructure and connectivity planning, some industrial related uses will be needed around commercial activity in Grand Turk, as well as for potential agriculture (ie. hydroponics) in North Caicos.

continues to engage with experts for further industry development, including through a recent KPMG report.

These initiatives seemingly factored into prospective job growth as highlighted in preceding sections. It is clear that TCI is furthest along the path to a robust financial services industry in comparison to all of the other targeted industry assessments. Nevertheless, given the established foundations and the strength of the industry, further development of the financial services industry remains extremely viable.

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TARGET INDUSTRIES THAT CAPITALIZE IN NEW TECHNOLOGIES

Tech-focused Agriculture Tech-focued agriculture, such as hydroponics and aquaculture, is an option that should be further explored as a potential new industry that can positively impact the future TCI economy. Currently, the islands rely heavily on imports in terms of food consumption. As North Caicos is the only truly viable island for traditional agriculture due to soil typology, other, newer methods of agriculture should be explored to provide more sustainable food production and, hopefully, a positive economic benefit.

Existing Industry: Financial Services The financial services industry, second only to tourism, leads the Turks and Caicos Islands economy. Given viability of further industry development, financial services industry should remain a targeted focus of TCIG. TCIG could consider fintech as a way to jump-start further industry development, perhaps by examining Mauritian and Anguilla for insight into applicable initiatives.

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Many promising, industry-forward policies have been passed, but room still exists for further legislative updates and for new legislation, including a modern Tax Administration Procedures Act and updated Banking and Insurance Ordinances. From a labor standpoint, there are some TCIslander-focused programs, including a job training program, but progress remains unclear.

Much further progress would appear to come from refinement, rather than revamping, of the overall strategy; as such, TCIG might consider identifying a short series of “policy quick wins” from any prior, unimplemented recommendations within the 2007 National Socioeconomic Development Framework, the recent KPMG report, or any previous IMF reports on TCI’s financial services industry.

TCI exhibits strong engagement with international organizations to ensure compliance, build its reputation, and better develop its policy framework. Moreover, TCI

Aquaculture There is a strong indication from a regional perspective that vast potential exists for aquaculture opportunities in TCI. Though largely non-existent now, several next steps present themselves naturally to the aquaculture sector: • Consider a National Aquaculture Development Strategy modeled after St. Lucia’s • Move forward with more intensive environmental assessments that has already been identified as a needed initiative • Submit proposals for international investment and collaboration in aquaculture From a land use and development planning perspective, it is recommended to further explore the opportunity to use the underutilized inland salinas and convert them into aquaculture sites; and, determine suitable offshore locations for mariculture development.

Cloud and Data Centers Cloud and data centers, and the tech sector more broadly, present an exciting non-traditional industry opportunity to the Turks and Caicos Islands, especially as geography becomes less of a constraining factor in the modern world.

Prior to examining benchmark case studies, it is useful to

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The amount of labor required to operate data centers is fairly intensive and generally comprising: facility management; technical support and security. The technical component requires specified and experienced skill sets.

Accordingly, some level of staffing among technical and security personnel is often required 24/7.

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note the main structural conditions necessary to build data centers: • Location According to data center site location experts, there are generally six criterion for the location factor: availability, cost and redundancy of power; low/moderate risk of adverse weather or natural disasters; high-quality construction at reasonable cost; existing telecommunications infrastructure; cooling technology/equipment; and, quality of life.

• Capital Expenditure Expenditure for tech/data is quite extensive. The facilities themselves need to be well built and equipped with redundancy. Beyond that, the interior build out and equipment (racks, servers, wiring) is quite costly.

• Land area Dependent on capacity, land area need not be a crippling factor, with more than 50% of data centers globally being less than 50,000 square feet.

• Power Data centers consume an inordinate amount of power, estimated to be 10-50 times the power of an office building with the same floor space.

Accordingly, access and control of a power source creates competitive advantages and one factor that TCI can leverage upon with its local authority.

• Telecommunications Infrastructure This infrastructure largely refers to the fiber network with two key resources including: “dark” (or owned) fiber; and, “lit” (or shared) fiber. A key differential is control and capacity; naturally, the optimal structure is dark fiber which is generally far more costly. Nonetheless, some fiber infrastructure implementation is already underway in Providenciales and Grand Turk (Digicel).

• Labor

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There is little to no cloud/data/tech industry to speak of in TCI currently. Some promising ICT infrastructure has been put in place, including some fiber optic and coaxial on Providenciales and Grand Turk; infrastructure is divergent by island, however, with no broadband whatsoever on the Family Islands. The 2007 National Socio-economic Development Framework featured several ICT-related plans, including a proposed Science Park in South Caicos and a National Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy.

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TCI’s already existing building blocks—its fiber infrastructure and its ICT in Education policies, for example—indicate an opportunity to build momentum in the industry. The threat of potentially investing in ICT infrastructure only to still not attract cloud/data center corporations and/or venture capital cannot be discounted.

Notably, though, the industry is unique in that investment in ICT infrastructure could potentially have positive social and economic ripple effects extending far beyond the cloud/ data/tech industry itself.

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