Government officials and stakeholder organizations met on 5 October at the Salvation Army Brighter Futures Centre in Providenciales to address the housing crisis and the growth of informal settlements. The World Habitat Day roundtable focused on establishing a coordinated inter-agency approach to land use, infrastructure, and housing affordability across the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The event, hosted by the Informal Settlements Unit, the Department of Housing and Community Renewal, and the Planning Department, featured remarks from Governor Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam and Premier Charles Washington Misick. Discussions centered on the disconnect between housing costs and income, and the impact of rapid economic growth. Premier Misick urged officials to move beyond planning, stating, “let’s focus on actually delivering what we have been tasked to deliver.” Governor Daniel-Selvaratnam noted the challenge of balancing humanitarian needs with the enforcement of land use and immigration laws, emphasizing that the state must address vulnerability while maintaining safety standards.
Representatives from the Planning Department and the Informal Settlements Unit presented data from recent GIS mapping and social needs assessments to guide policy. Agencies agreed to create a formal stakeholder liaison network to improve communication. Each participating organization will designate a representative to serve as a principal point of contact to ensure continued collaboration on shared mandates regarding housing and infrastructure development.