Deputy Premier Hon. Sean Astwood has calledfor the creation of a Turks and Caicos Islands database to track landpurchases, distinguishing between Turks and Caicos Islanders and foreigners.Speaking in the House of Assembly on August 17th, Astwood highlighted theabsence of such a resource, which he said would provide valuable insights intoland ownership trends and the impact of government policies.

Astwood emphasized the importance ofgovernment land concessions for Turks and Caicos Islanders, stating they areoften the deciding factor in purchases, especially during economic uncertainty.He dismissed opposition criticism of these concessions, noting that they arecrucial in stimulating economic activity by encouraging continued investmentand development during challenging times like the current pandemic.

The Deputy Premier also defended thegovernment’s stimulus measures, such as stamp duty reductions, as essentialstrategies to maintain investor confidence and drive economic growth. He notedthat such initiatives ensure that projects move forward, benefiting theislands’ economy. Astwood criticized the opposition for not appreciating thecomplexities of governance, stating that these policies are part of a broaderplan to secure long-term economic stability and development for the Turks andCaicos Islands.