Turks and Caicos, April 3, 2017 – Providenciales – For the first time since elected government was returned to the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Budget crafted by Cabinet Ministers did not need UK approval before being brought to the House of Assembly to be debated.
The PDM Administration was expressively thrilled at the feat announced today in the House of Assembly. Led by Premier and Finance Minister, Sharlene Robinson the PDM Administration revealed that the fiscal plan has met all of the debt sustainability indicators set out in the framework document between the UK and the TCI.
The PDM Budget is 6% more than last year’s budget allocation, at $273.5 million, and the country will continue to see the lion’s share of the expenditure go to Health, with 66% and next to Education with 15.3% of national spending. It was shared that when it comes to education, the Community College will get more money, a new primary school will be built in Provo and Long Bay High School will get more staff.
Other notables include: $29.8M or 11% for TCI Police and that will mean CCTV for what was called ‘civic areas’, a bolstered K-9 Unit and 18 new police officers. Road repairs will have an investment of $4M and Home Affairs will get 10 more staff for the prison and two more for the fire services department. At Border Control, there is to come eight new members for an Immigration Task Force, enhancement of the radar software and digitizing of records.
The Finance & Investment Minister explained that this is the biggest accomplishment of her government to date; adding that it normally takes eight months to prepare the budget, but the PDM Government did it in three months. Customs and the tourism sector will bring in the over 60% of the country’s revenue, with 9.8% of revenue to the country’s coiffeurs earned from work permits.
Tomorrow, the PDM will elaborate more on its first 100 Days when it holds a press conference in Provo.
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