Garfield Ekon

Staff Writer

#TurksandCaicos, April 19, 2024 – All-Island candidate for the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM), Ralf Higgs says the last three “Biggest Budgets,” have not “significantly improved” the lives of the majority of the Turks and Cacaos Island (TCI) citizens.

In chiding the Government for passing “these historic Budgets,” he said schools, roads, parks, police vehicles, coastal patrol boats, police plane, police stations, and public medical facilities “have all deteriorated over the last three years and more.

“This Government has not prioritised nation building to the extent of the PDM administration from 2016 to 2021, even though it has not faced the same level of natural disasters as its predecessor,” Mr. Higgs argued, adding that the PDM delivered significant developments such as road paving in Grand Turk, improvements and new buildings on the parade grounds, construction of a new school block, and the removal of Mega One Triton, an old wrecked boat, from Governor’s Beach, among others.

He further added that in Salt Cay, under the former administration, there was the construction of a new airport terminal and expansion and resurfacing of the runway.

Under the former administration, Mr. Higgs said, the South Caicos saw tangible physical projects from “our country’s budget for the first time in a long while, including a new airport terminal and office complex.

Mr. Higgs said the police got a new headquarters on airport road. Customs, Immigration, and the Department of Motor Vehicles got new professional offices on airport road. A new post office facility was constructed, and a building for the establishment of the first-ever technical school was purchased.

Mr. Higgs said Heaving Down Rock was developed to ease shipping between the islands. Forty Million dollars were approved for the redevelopment of South Dock by the Ports Authority.  New police vehicles were purchased, and several other capital projects were approved and funded under the former administration “but did not commence due to the pandemic.”

He said the Minister of Finance has been involved in TCI finances for “almost all of your 40 years in public life,” yet you have “done little with the people’s money to develop our communities. Why shouldn’t you be described as the Do-Nothing Minister of Finance? At the peak of your political career, you accomplished very little, why do you still think that in the twilight of your career, you can achieve more?” he said.

Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer 

#TurksandCaicos, April 19, 2024 – Even though a banner year has been predicted for cruising globally the Turks and Caicos numbers are trending down, less ships might be the temporary cause.

“Cruise visitors were lower in January and February 2024 when compared to the corresponding period for 2023.  The Grand Turk Cruise Centre welcomed 86,822* cruise passengers in January 2024 and 78, 293* in February compared to 88,471 cruise passengers in January 2023 and 96,127 in February 2023, a 1.89 percent and −18.56% percent reduction respectively,” a March 18 report from Experience Turks and Caicos said.  Air arrivals in the Turks and Caicos showed an increase while the cruise numbers lowered

It’s a contrast to the December 2023 report from Reuters that predicted a record year for cruising companies based on tickets already bought.

“Next year is looking like a banner year for cruise vacations, as travelers across all income and budget levels have been booking voyages at greater volumes than even before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to U.S. cruise operators and travel agents,” it declared.

The tickets are bought and residents are traveling plus the Caribbean remains top ranked among travelers. A market data report shared by Gitnux says, “4.8 million passengers took ocean cruises in 2022, with 1.75 million of those passengers visiting the Caribbean, the Bahamas, and Bermuda, making it the most popular destination.”

With the region maintaining popularity and cruise tickets up, the dip in the TCIs numbers could be down to less ships.

Based on data shared by the Grand Turk Cruise Centre in February 2024, there were 22 dockings over 13 days.

In February 2023 there had been 27 dockings over 19 days.  Every weekday that month had seen at least one arrival barring the first day of the month.

In January the situation was similar.  For January 2024 there were 25 dockings over 17 days.  However in 2023 there were 27 dockings over 17 days.

Despite the numbers, cruise vendors and other stakeholders need not worry.

The stats are likely to go back to their normal trend of increasing in March as there are 31 ships slated to arrive over 21 days.  It’s an increase compared to 29 ships scheduled over 17 days in 2023.

In fact another year on year increase is possible for the Turks and Caicos.  There are 33 ships scheduled for April versus 26 in 2023.  In May 2024 there are 28 scheduled versus 19 in 2023.  In June 2024 there will be 22 ships docking,  an increase over the 15 in 2023.

It’s an indication that the popularity of the Turks and Caicos as a cruising destination is not waning.

Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer 

#TurksandCaicos, April 19th, 2024 – Tradition has been flipped on its head for the 2024/25 Budget Debate following a refusal by Government Ministers and the Opposition Leader to debate the spending sheet, and the public is left holding the short end of the stick.

Following a tradition of transparency mirrored across the globe in different governments,  parliamentary front benchers usually speak directly to what funds allocated to their ministries will be used for, outline the benefits to the general public and even update on progresses over the preceding fiscal period but not so in the Turks and Caicos Islands this time around.

The National Budget and its breakdown in spending is the heart and head of the sitting administration and without it, nothing can be achieved and yet, there was on Wednesday April 17, one day after the official communication by the finance minister, total radio silence.

“[They] sat there in silence all day and refused to give an account of their ministries or constituencies to the electorate in the final budget debate after collecting hefty salaries for the last 3+ years,” said one angry resident responding to the unusual display.

The decision not to speak means the public has no idea how ministers plan to use the $485 million of the people’s money that they’ve been allotted this year.

Many are livid.

“Them PNP ministers didn’t report on their budgets because they ain’t do ***** for their constituents, so they don’t have ***** to report. Report card score is zero O,” ranted one individual.

Others were just as disappointed in Edwin Astwood, the Opposition Leader.

“It is shameful that the Leader of the Opposition didn’t come prepared to deliver his rebuttal to the Premier’s speech; and to make matters worse, he had the audacity to go on live interview during lunch and say he wasn’t prepared,” said one resident.

Astwood defended his decision to the public.

“Instead of myself getting up and speaking right after the Premier and then you would have eight or nine persons speak after me, spinning a different story, I said, as the Leader of the Opposition I need to be able to address the Premier and all his ministers.”

That didn’t happen and the debate was shockingly wrapped up with only contributions from the Premier, in his capacity as finance minister, and the two Governor’s Appointed Members.

The entire fiasco was apparently brought down by the change in protocol, where Astwood, who usually speaks before the Ministers, asked to speak after them instead so that he could respond to them all in full. It’s a decision that was accepted by the Speaker and which Astwood says he informed the Ministers of as well.

“They were afraid of me speaking after them and they were saying ‘We’re gonna make sure you speak before us.’ I told them ‘If you don’t get up, I am not getting up.’ This is your Budget. You need to tell the people how you are spending their money in your current ministry,” he said.

Astwood accused them of ‘playing chicken’ while some Residents couldn’t comprehend the actions of either side.  A choice to break with tradition and play tit for tat over respectfully seizing the opportunity to inform the Electorate what was to be done with public funds over the next 12 months.

“You mean to tell me that Seven (7) Ministers, Six (6) Elected Backbenchers, and 1 PNP Appointed Member were terrified to speak before the Leader of the Opposition because he would have torn their speeches apart???” asked a resident.

As the story evolves some residents applaud Astwood for standing his ground.

“The Leader of the Opposition did absolutely the right thing.  His insistence that the Ministers should defend the budget was correct and he was right to “Break with Tradition,” to let them all speak and then Reply.  It is a good move for democracy and accountability,” a TC resident explained

In response to the confusion and outrage, the government released the following statement late Tuesday.

“If there is no one willing to speak, a decision is made by the Speaker to advise members of his intention to close the debate. The mover is then asked to wrap up the debate on the motion. Today, this is what occurred in the House of Assembly.”

On Wednesday when we sought clarification on the matter Jamell Robinson, Deputy Premier and Minister of Physical Planning and Infrastructure Development told us, “We will be in Committee as of 10 am today. Debate on the second reading of the bill is completed.”

When we asked why Robinson decided to forgo his speech he told us this, “What took place yesterday was very unfortunate as the Leader of the Opposition chose our 4th budget presentation to try and break a long-standing convention. As for residents, I have already begun distributing relevant information in relation to what is in store for Budget 2024/25 from an Infrastructure standpoint.”

No other official statements have come from the ministers regarding the decision though Magnetic Media has reached out to all of them.