$109m approved for hotel development across TCI – major community enhancement projects underway

Some $109m has been approved by the Ministry of Physical Planning and Infrastructure Development (PPID) for the construction of hotel developments in the TCI and millions more are being spent to upgrade public infrastructure.

This was recently revealed by Mr Danier Lightbourne, Director of Planning within the Ministry of Physical Planning and Infrastructure Development (PPID).

He said: “We have approved over $109m of projects for the Turks and Caicos Islands, this includes a hotel in Grand Turk and several other hotel properties in Providenciales.”

Lightbourne recently updated the general public on the ongoing works of the ministry and approved projects to be undertaken during the course of this year in a video presentation disseminated by the Ministry.

He explained that the Department of Physical Planning is keen on approving projects that are aligned with the territory’s newly approved National Physical Development Plan.

He stressed that the Ministry has the mandate to facilitate development through optimal utilisation of the territory’s limited land resources.

“The process by which the department aims to achieve this is through effective and orderly land use planning and management.

“As you may be aware, the department completed its National Physical Development Plan, which is used as a guide for physical development and serves as an overarching framework for the use of land and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

“As the department received planning applications for development, they approved success with this overall development goal and guidelines in mind.”

He further explained that the Department of Planning is also responsible for investigating and monitoring illegal development in tandem with various stakeholder involvement and consultation with inter-government departments and the general public alike.

“The department is working closely with the newly established illegal development unit to address the very important issue of legal development and the Turks and Caicos Islands through the efficient and effective work of this essential department.

“We hope to continue to keep the Turks and Caicos Islands resilient, inclusive, caring, peaceful, and simply beautiful.”

Meanwhile, Minister of Physical Planning and Infrastructure Development (PPID) Hon Jamell Robinson explained that a number of rehabilitation projects have been completed, some are still ongoing and others will get underway in the next financial year.

He said: “From an infrastructure standpoint and projects, we have refurbished and repaired the Salt Cay salt shed, in Grand Turk we refurbish and reinstated

Front Street, we added an HJ Robinson High School block, we also reinstated in Victoria Public Library, amongst other things.

“In South Caicos, we fixed the public tank as well as refurbished the canal.

He continued: “On North Caicos, we did extensive work on road repair to the tune of $2m.

“In Providenciales, we completed the Enid Capron classroom block, as well as installed backup generators across the island for our critical infrastructure.”

Robinson explained that during the next fiscal year, several projects geared towards enhancing the lives of the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands will be rolled out.

He said: “We’re going to do extensive roads, electrification, solar lighting across the Turks and Caicos Islands to the tune of up to

$10m points and bridges are going to be refurbished over the next year.

“Projects that are due to be completed are things such as the Grand Turk Sports Complex, as well as the Raymond Gardner High School technical block.

“And that’s not to see what’s going to happen with the community enhancement programme that we are very, very excited about this… you’ll feel throughout the communities throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands.”

Member of Parliament for the District of Blue Hills, Mr Randy Howell also updated the public on some of the community enhancement work being done in his constituency and throughout the islands.

He said: “We’re talking about the cleaning of drainage and new drainage systems and Blue Hills, especially for you, you’re going to see repairs done to the jetty the focal point of Blue Hills.

“You’re going to see beach cabanas being built around the jetty district.

“You’re going to see the grading of roads throughout some of the main subdivisions where people reside.”

He continued: “You’re going to see the continuation of the sidewalk from where it stopped presently to another corner and going down through Wheeland…to the muchneeded new passageway from the district to the downtown area or the lower high bay area to ease that morning and evening traffic, as I said before, for you Blue Hills, great things coming to you for this year.”

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