fp Turks and Caicos

The general public of the Turks and Caicos Islands by the Ministry of Natural Resources is asked to be aware of the ‘Crown Land Illegal Occupation Ordinance (2008)’ which was past in April 2008, in the House of Assembly and made effective December 2008.

Illegal Crown Land Occupancy, locally know as ‘squatting’ has slowly became a problem that is now leading into a crisis in various communities throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands, especially the Five Cays and Blue Hills settlements of Providenciales and now a threat to the island of North Caicos.

When contacted by the “fp”, Minister of Natural Resources, Hon. Greg Lightbourne stated, “For a long time now attempts to address the issue of illegal occupation of Crown Land by regularizing those individuals who have come forward to take steps to owning their land in which squatters has occupied. Squatting has being a long time issue that my ministry has been battling and with the establishment of the Crown Land Unit we have now taken a more hard line approach to the squatting situation here in the Turks and Caicos Islands.”

The ‘Crown Land Illegal Occupation Ordinance (2008) makes it unlawful for any individual without legalized authority to make use of or occupy, construct any building or structure, or discard any vehicle on Crown Land. Persons found guilty of such an offence is liable upon summary conviction to a fine of US$10,000 or to imprisonment for six months and upon conviction on indictment to a fine of US$50,000 or to imprisonment for two years, or to both such fine and imprisonment.

“We recognize the frustration that many persons may have with the current system of awarding Crown Land and we acknowledge that it is not a perfect system. It is very time consuming in most cases however, through trial and error, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Crown Land Unit have recently in diversifying bills and policies that will aid in land applications being addressed in a more timely manner as the land is made available and to alleviate any dissatisfaction among persons that have been waiting to require Crown Land” says Hon. Lightbourne.

Notwithstanding understood frustrations, the Court has the authorization to command offenders to vacate and restore the land to its original state. Offenses by a body corporate body, any director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the body corporate who consented to the offence can be fined.

The Ordinance is enforceable by the Commissioners of Lands and Assistant Commissioners of Land, who have the power to:

(a) require a person to cease the unauthorized occupation of Crown land, give up possession of the land and restore the land to a condition satisfactory to the Minister;

(b) seize on behalf of the government all improvements, goods, chattels or other materials on the Crown land;

(c) Require the person to remove any improvements made by the person on the Crown land, to the satisfaction of the Minister, within the time specified in the notice.

Land Commissioners are also empowered to remove or demolish any structure if persons fail to comply with notices. Any cost incurred by the Commissioner of Lands will be recovered as a debt due to the Government from the person upon whom the notice was served.