TCI News
The Shoe is on the Other Foot. Are we Hypocrites?
#Providenciales, March 5, 2019 – Turks and Caicos – IPoliticians and their supporters have to be very careful what they say or do when they are in Opposition or even in Government as you never know when the shoe will be worn on the other foot.
Hypocrisy on both sides
In October/November 2016, the PNP administration brought to the House of Assembly a bill to write off $12 million in penalties for Cable & Wireless. This was related to taxes that Cable & Wireless should have charged their customers for the period June 2010 to May 2014 as a result of a change in law in 2011. However, management of Cable & Wireless (including myself, yes I was CEO then) was not aware of the change in law and never charged the customers the taxes and therefore never collected the taxes and so the Government thought it was fitting to waive the penalties as it would have detrimental impact on the company including the employees.
The Opposition (the PDM) at that time claimed they did not have enough information and did not vote or supported the waiver of the $12million. In fact, this write off was one of the campaign tactics that the Opposition used during the 2016 campaign. Supporters of the party spoke strongly against this write off saying the Government should not do it and that the money could have been used elsewhere. Are we a bunch of hypocrites?
This week, the House of Assembly met and this time, the PDM administration brought to the House of Assembly the amnesty waiver to write off penalties of $85mllion for hotels and restaurants. This time the PNP voted against the bill like what the PDM did in 2012. The people that openly spoke against the $12million write off in 2016 are now very quiet with the $85mllion and it is only because their party is in power. The PNP supporters on the other hand are crying shame on this write off. Aren’t these actions of hypocrisy by both PNP and PDM?
Beaches
I supported the write off for Cable & Wireless because C&W never collected the taxes from customers. Likewise, I will support a write off for the Hotels and Restaurants penalties especially if the hotels did not collect the taxes from guests. I also think the penalties calculations are excessive and a write off should take place. However, in the HOA, the Premier said that Beaches claimed they were told they only had to pay 60% of the accommodation tax. This is an alarming concern as the TCIG is saying there is no evidence of any agreement.
Now some supporters of this government are trying to turn this around and casting blame on Hon. Washington Misick. We are hypocrites. There is a letter circulating around on Facebook by John Brown. How did John Brown get a copy of the Ministry of Finance letter? This letter was in 2013 when the Government made changes to the tax platform by charging guests 12% on all services they receive during their time in TCI. Hon. Misick stated that the Revenue Commissioner informed him that Beaches is paying 60% based on the Development Agreement. How could Hon. Misick be blamed when the Development Agreement was signed during the Taylor Administration unless another development agreement was made during Mike Misick administration? I spoke to Hon. Derek prior to publishing this article and he is not aware of any arrangements of Beaches only paying 60%. I also contacted Hon. Mike Misick and his administration never agreed to Beaches only paying 60% of the taxes. I believe what both of the former leaders told me unless Beaches can show us something in writing.
How could an establishment collect taxes on behalf of TCIG and only payout 60%? How could an establishment operate without such a written agreement? Was Beaches only charging the guests 7.2% (which is 60% of 12%) or were they charging the full 12%? The law of the country is 12% and that is public knowledge and no agreement should supersede the laws of TCIG.
Reimburse the Companies that paid the excess penalties last year
I feel horrible about the fact that many other businesses especially the small ones paid excessive penalties in 2018 and early 2019 and there was no amnesty for them. (At least I am not aware of any). Some of these businesses had to borrow funds to pay for the penalties and now we have major hotels such as Beaches being waived of the penalties. Is it possible for TCIG to reimburse the businesses that paid the excess penalties in the last two years?
Conclusion
I know it is a tough decision for any Government to come to the people and tell them they are writing off $85million in outstanding penalties. Therefore, political parties must be cautious what they say or do when in opposition as you never know what shoe you will have to wear once you become the Government.
I am quite sure when Beaches was referring to the 60%, they were talking about the 60% service charges that were entitled to pay employees.
By: Drexwell Seymour
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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