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Community
Preserving
The goal of the Informal Settlements Unit is to help create communities across the Turks and Caicos Islands that are safe for residents and visitors and capable of supporting future development that allows for improvement while encouraging growth through sustainable efforts.
RECLAMATION PROGRESS BAR
2.4% Reclaimed
As of December 2023, the ISU has reclaimed 2.4% of the 556 acres of land currently occupied by informal settlements in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
As we continue to keep you informed of our progress, we ask that you help us to maintain these reclaimed areas by reporting any suspected informal settlements by using this link.
The Impact of Informal Settlements
Informal settlements present a host of negative effects not only on their residents but also on the surrounding areas and the country as a whole.
There are three main areas of concern when looking at the impact that informal settlements have: Health and wellness, Financial impact and Social impact
For a more in depth look at the impact of informal settlements and how we can best mitigate the problems they create, refer to this paper from unhabitat.org
Health & Wellness
Informal settlements in the Turks and Caicos Islands lack access to sanitation and running water. This typically results in residents resorting to make-shift open air toilets and trash heaps, both of which are breeding grounds for various pests and diseases...
Financial Impact
The Turks and Caicos Islands are highly dependent on the thriving tourism market. The TCI brand is that of scenic vistas and low crime rates and those two factors have brought millions of tourists to our economy. Informal settlements pose a threat to the country's ability to sustain its attractiveness to potential visitors...
Social Impact
One factor that cannot be overlooked is the human factor. It is not at all uncommon for residents of these informal settlements to live in extreme social conditions with individual shacks housing a dozen or more people...
About the Team
The Turks and Caicos Islands Informal Settlements Unit operates entirely within the legislation and ordinances put forth by the Turks and Caicos Islands Government and in accordance with International Humanitarian best practices.
For additional information on our operational guidelines, please use the links below to navigate to the appropriate pages.