TCI News
TCI: ‘Reno’ work to NJS Francis to top $3 million, Premier explains
#Providenciales, November 29, 2018 – Turks and Caicos – The NJS Francis Building cost The Turks and Caicos Islands Government over $6 million to acquire and the structure is now severely run down and in dire need of refurbishment; that ‘reno’ work will reportedly top $3 million and force all occupants out according to Premier and Finance Minister, Sharlene Robinson.
The Premier agreed to a one on one interview with Magnetic Media on Wednesday (November 28) to address some of the burning issues and among them is the state of disrepair of the building bearing the name of a Turks and Caicos former Public Works minister and home to Parliament, Finance and the Office of the Premier – the NJS Francis Building located in Grand Turk.
“That project is included in this budget to the tune of $3 million; the majority of the damage to that building – he is correct – is not Irma and Maria it is an old problem and it is now our responsibility but at the end of the day it is very disingenuous to behave as if that building was just now falling apart.”
Premier Robinson was responding, in part, to a statement from the Opposition Leader, Washington Misick who slammed the PDM Administration for not, more quickly getting repairs done on the NJS Francis Building.
“Last year there was a project to the tune of $1.8m, when we were informed that there was a contract…and that we had to move from the building (NJS Francis)…” the Premier said this move would have included all tenants and shared that it had to be postponed because of a lack of foresight by the former PNP Administration.
“There was absolutely no funding in place for the relocation of these offices so at the end of financial year, pretty much, you had no funding available and you could not move forward with that project because you had no re-location, no new rents (budgeted) for the Ministry of Finance, for the Premier’s Office and that is the reason that project was cancelled at the time,” she explained during the interview conducted at her office in Providenciales.
For years, reports on the crumbling state of the building have made headlines and drawn criticism. For the second time in just over two years, the occupants of the NJS Francis are required to move out for renovation work. The House of Assembly has already been dismantled and reassembled at the HJ Robinson High school auditorium.
“Even before the hurricanes my government worked on a maintenance policy; and as with all governments but worse in the Turks and Caicos, we build buildings and we do not maintain. The situation with the NJS Francis building is that it is on the water. The salt air, the salt water, the thumping from ferocious waves at times will require more maintenance and zero maintenance was happening since the government bought that building to the tune of $6.1m from National Insurance.
The Premier said the National Insurance Board did have a maintenance contract in place when it was the owner of the NJS Francis, but that contract was discontinued by TCIG.
While the vistas surrounding the NJS Francis Building are stunning with the hues of blue of the Atlantic Ocean on the west side and the historic Pond Street salinas opposite its eastern side; it comes at a price. The extreme exposure to extreme elements has caused much of the extreme damage and the extremely hefty repair bill.
“I was Leader of the Opposition for four years and there was no air conditioning on the side where I was. We had House Meetings where members of the House of Assembly on the government side could not sit there when the building was leaking because there were shortages in the microphones.”
Last week, Leader of the Opposition, Washington Misick slammed the Premier for allowing the dilapidation on her watch. Misick recommended she resign and the Premier has now officially hit back.
“Now I notice that the Leader of the Opposition has woken from his slumber again to come out and say that I should resign or call snap elections for a building that has been falling apart from the time we purchased it many years ago.”
The difference explained the Premier between this move and the one under the Rufus Ewing administration in 2016, is that it is planned, comprehensive and fully budgeted.
“Under the former administration we did some quick patchwork. Persons would remember we did relocate to the HJ Robinson for a few months; we should have done the complete work then. But at the end of the day things happen for the best and I would say that because that contract would have been frustrated after the storms and we would have had to gone back to square one. The truth is it is poor planning on the part of the former administration, in that a contract may have been awarded but there was no relocation expenses budgeted. ”
Meanwhile, Premier Robinson said there will be no ‘snap elections’ because she is not dissolving parliament. Her advice to the elder statesman is for his party, the Progressive National Party, to wait its turn.
#MagneticMediaNews
#renoworkatNJSFrancisbuilding
Her Excellency the Governor is pleased to announce that following an expressions of interest process, and in accordance with Section 5 of the Financial Services Commission Ordinance 2007, Mr Dimaggio Rigby, Mr Geoff Scott and Mr Dennis Swann, have been appointed to serve as Commissioners on the Financial Services Commission Board of directors.
Mr Rigby brings specialist experience in cyber, media, and technology risks. He is currently employed in the City of London as a Cyber Insurance Market Consultant.
Mr Scott is a financial services professional with over 30 years’ successful track record in banking. He currently leads the Bermuda Bankers Association and was, until August 2022, the Chief Executive Officer of the Insurance Cooperation of Barbados Limited (ICBL).
Mr Swann is a Fellow of the Institute of Canadian Bankers. He has expertise in Human Resources and worked for the Bank of Nova Scotia for 12 years. He has previously worked within the TCI FSC.
Commenting on the appointments, the Governor said:
“Following consultation with the Hon. Premier (in his capacity as th
e Minister of Finance) and the Hon. Leader of the Opposition, I have appointed Mr Dennis Swann, Mr Dimaggio Rigby and Mr Geoff Scott respectively, to serve as Commissioners (non-executive directors) on the Board of the Turks and Caicos Islands Financial Services Commission (FSC). I am confident that the combined experience of these three new Commissioners will help ensure the FSC delivers our vision for a technologically advanced financial services sector that is competitive and supports growth, is well regulated while agile and internationally respected.
I would like to thank Mr Keno Forbes for his previous service as a Commissioner.”
The appointments are for a three-year period, beginning in April 2024. Further details on the work of the Financial Services Commission can be found at TCIFSC.
Wednesday, April 17th 2024 – On Monday the 15th April at 11 am, the Turks and Caicos AIDS Awareness Foundation (TCAAF) unveiled their new brand to their supporters, members, the media, government departments and partnering NGO’s. The TCAAF, which is now the Turks and Caicos Health and Wellness Foundation (TCHWF) welcomed everyone to their new office which is oblique to the Edward Gartland Youth Centre, Downtown, Providenciales.
The TCHWF was founded in 2003 and is a registered non-profit organization in the TCI and a registered 501 (c) non-profit in the United States as well. TCHWF will focus on addressing broader health and social issues driven by the intersectionality of health and social factors, and disparities in services in the TCI.
At the ceremony, Dr. Dawn O’Sullivan, who provides medical care to persons living with HIV (PLHIV) through the Foundation and will continue to be the doctor on staff for TCHWF, gave the audience an insight on how the Foundation began. Dr. O’ Sullivan praised the board members, staff and volunteers for the success of the Foundation, which includes building the Edward Gartland Youth Centre. She explained that the rebranding was necessary since HIV is a chronic disease where you can take medication and live a long and healthy life, but support is needed for all persons living with chronic diseases and for the population that feels excluded or stigmatized.
TCHWF will provide holistic care to these populations. The new TCHWF office is comprised of a doctor’s office where patients can have consultations and be treated, and other comfortable spaces where persons can relax and unwind.
Nurse Nora Tyndall briefed the attendees on the services that the Foundation currently offers, such as the donation of a CD4 machine to the government so that patients can know their CD4 count before seeing the doctor. Other services being offered are free medical consultations, improved access to treatment and care, convenient access to medications, food cards, grocery distribution and the provision of formulas to infected mothers who give birth and cannot breastfeed. Nurse Tyndall highlighted that there is an increase in the number of pregnant women living with HIV in the TCI.
The new mandate of TCHWF is “Linking Lives, Transforming Communities”, the Foundation’s mission is to expand its services to connect HIV and non-HIV persons to entities and experts that can address varying needs.
The Executive Director of TCHWF, Anansa Jervis, highlighted the Foundation’s “aim to promote access to quality health services, information and education in the Turks and Caicos Islands.” Mrs. Jervis further explained that this would mean the need to “integrate HIV services and non-HIV services by increasing access to holistic and comprehensive health services needed for PLHIV and persons not living with HIV.” In this regard, the TCHWF intends to provide linkage to:
▪ The cultivation of youth empowerment and the development of life skills
▪ Health, hygiene, education and wellness strategies tailored to the needs of young women
▪ Care and support services for survivors of domestic violence
▪ Mental health, psychosocial services and recovery support services for persons with substance use disorders.
▪ Equitable access to HIV care and support services, addressing disparities.
To achieve these linkages, the Foundation has held discussions with various NGO’s and government organizations to provide the necessary services and support to persons with varying needs.
One of the Board Members of the Foundation, Giovanni Delancy, gave the closing address by expressing thanks to God, the members, staff, media and volunteers for attending the unveiling ceremony. He closed with “we will continue to bring awareness and education to those not only with HIV/AIDS but other STD’s and other diseases. Let us continue to make a difference wherever we go.”
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