It is my pleasure as Minister of Home Affairs, with responsibility for Physical Planning, to speak to you briefly on the celebration of World Town Planning Day observed annually on November 8th.
World Town Planning Day was initiated in 1949 by the late Professor Carlos Maria della Paolera, of the University of Buenos Aires, to advance public and professional interest in planning, both locally and abroad.
It is a special day to give special recognition to the ideals of community planning which bring professional planners and the general public together.
World Town Planning Day presents an opportunity to look at planning from a global perspective, an event which appeals to the conscience of citizens and public authorities in order to draw attention to the environmental impact resulting from the development of cities and territories.
I therefore join with the Department of Physical Planning in endorsing World Town Planning Day 2020 as a strategy to promote broad-based awareness, support, and advocacy for community and national planning in Anguilla – and encourage all stakeholders involved in development to consider planning challenges and sustainable solutions.
This year, we in Anguilla are celebrating World Town Planning Day under the following objectives:
i. To draw attention to the aims, objectives, and progress of urban and regional planning around the globe.
ii. To engage local citizens and officials in the value of physical planning and to participate in shaping our community.
iii. To highlight the valuable contribution sound planning has made to the quality of human settlements and our environment.
iv. To give coverage to the ideals of physical planning, not only within the profession but also among the general public.
In the coming years, the Physical Planning Department and the Government of Anguilla will aim to develop a national physical plan with a focus on building a sustainable Island framework.
This plan will concentrate on “People, Places and the Island” with technology as an enabler. Emphasis will be placed on smart thinking and planning and design to develop a Smart and Sustainable Island focusing on “smart people,” “smart places,” and “smart island” to ensure innovative solutions to create a livable, walkable, resilient, and happy island for everyone to enjoy.
The plan refers to:
1. “Smart People”: To plan with, for and by the people. It aims to allocate land to support cultural, social, economic, and environmental uses geared towards citizens having a healthy lifestyle conscious of environmental and social sustainability.
2. “Smart Places”: To develop key sites as smart places designed for people to enjoy, intending to develop a smart destination or “Smart island” where the natural environment and the built environment work together in harmony.
3. “Smart Living”: To promote a better quality of life through the wise allocation of land that is livable and affordable, thereby providing adequate open space and community facilities.
4. “Smart Environment”: To focus on building sustainability and resiliency in the local economy, striking a balance between development and environmental issues. It includes constructing hurricane and earthquake resistant buildings, green buildings and neighborhoods and open and public spaces.
5. “Smart Mobility”: A key aspect where accessibility and connectivity with multi-modal public transport, transit and pedestrian oriented development is prioritized. This is coupled with non-motorized transport options like footpaths and bike ways.
6. “Smart Infrastructure”: To allocate land for basic infrastructure like proper air and seaport development and roads and utilities enabled with ICT technology.
7. “Smart Governance”: To refer to land development with a common vision, engaging the community in a transparent and inclusive manner and good governance with sound decision-making processes, and finally:
8. “Smart Economy”: To support the provision of land resources for a diverse economy that promotes knowledge-based and clean industries while being locally viable and nurturing entrepreneurship and offering employment opportunities.
This is the vision that will form the foundation on which the National Plan would be developed, coupled with technology as an enabler to help create a smart and sustainable Anguilla with strong viable communities.
In the words of Edward T. McMahon, the renowned advocate on sustainable development:
“Growth is inevitable and desirable, but destruction of community character is not. The question is not whether your part of the world is going to change. The question is how.”
Happy World Town Planning Day 2020. I thank you for listening.
