OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY PREMIER, MINISTRY OF INFRASTRUCTURE, HOUSING, PLANNING, AND DEVELOPMENT
DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING
PRESS RELEASE
10-YEAR NATIONAL PHYSICAL SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS
The Turks and Caicos Islands Government (TCIG) has commissioned the internationally renowned EDSA Inc, a Planning and Urban Design Consultancy firm based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida to prepare a 10-year National Physical Sustainable Development Plan (NPSDP) for the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI). The Plan will be an update of the expired 1987 National Physical Development plan.
The NPSDP would be a Master Land Use Zoning Planning tool intended to guide and direct future physical, social and environmental development in the islands. It is meant to be a strategic planning tool for facilitating and giving directions to decisions, so that it can contribute to economic efficiency and the achievement of social goals and objectives, while preserving the natural environment. Most importantly, the NPSDP will be a strategy for sustainable development that brings together the aspirations and capabilities of the government, civil society and the private sector to create a vision for the future.
The Consultants commenced work on the Plan in late 2019 and made two visits to the islands in January and February 2020, when meetings were held with key public and private sector stakeholders and carry out ground trothing exercises. The Consultants intended to make further visits to the TCI during the months of April, May and June 2020 to continue their work on the Plan, but was unable to do so due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the globally-implemented travel ban.
The official launch of the NPSDP was scheduled to take place in June of 2020, but this had to be rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the international closure of borders. However, work on the Plan continues and the Consultants are scheduled to complete their work on the Plan by October 2020.
Phase one of the project is completed - Site Inventory and Analysis Report Draft. Presentation of phase one findings will be presented via the project website, virtual zoom meetings and virtual videos.
The Department of Planning has established the NPSDP official website - https://planning.gov.tc/, that will be used as a public awareness tool to educate the general public on the Plan preparation process and afford them the opportunity to interact with the Consultants by asking questions, completing surveys and making comments. It will also provide an avenue for stakeholders, grassroots organizations, political and religious organizations and the general public to express their desires and aspirations for the future development of their country.
The public is encouraged to visit the website https://planning.gov.tc/ and let their views be heard.
ENDS
