News
Premier’s First 100 Days Report
Published
8 years agoon

Turks and Caicos, April 4, 2017 – Providenciales – Budget Preparation – On December 15, 2016, General Elections were held in TCI. We were sworn in as the Government on December 20, 2016. On laying the Estimates for 2017/18 for TCIG and Statutory Bodies I reported that the newly sworn Government began its work right away and it was in fact on December 22nd and not the 29th as was reported in error yesterday. On the 22nd December, I chaired a Capital Board Meeting with all Ministers and Senior Government officials present to receive an update on the performance of the capital program for the financial year 2016/17.
A number of projects were earmarked for further consideration and further revamping by the newly elected government. It was noted that during the first nine months only a total of 12 capital projects were awarded and the total committed during this period was only $7.5m. It was then envisaged that during the last quarter of the year that a total of 63 projects costing $17.1, will have to be committed by March 31st, 2017. There was a total of 10 projects that were slated to be cancelled among which unfortunately was the removal of the boat at Governor’s Beach. This project was costed some two years ago at $2.5m but the Government since that time had allocated a mere $700k which was grossly insufficient and could not be used.
Yesterday we celebrated the laying of the Proposed Budget 2017/18 and noted the accomplishment of having met all the debt sustainability indicators that were set out in the framework document agreed between the Governments of the United Kingdom and the Turks and Caicos Islands. Thus, this budget did not require the approval of the UKG. The calls to spend wildly and widely were many but this would have affected the cash required to meet this feat.
We met a large operating surplus but a challenged Project Program which saw millions of dollars tied up: monies that should be helping to stimulate the Island’s economy.
Immediately your Government embarked on getting tenders out and evaluations was carried out by our dedicated civil servants to the very end of the financial year. An aggressive Budget Circular was issued and Team Finance worked hard to ensure the new dates were met from FSPS approval to New Spend and Capital Program submissions to Challenge Meetings to extra Cabinet Meetings to the eventual laying of the Budget. I wish to again thank my Cabinet colleagues, my PS Finance, the Budget Team, the Permanent Secretaries, the CFO, the HODs, the Financial Managers and the Statutory Bodies for their efforts in realizing this goal.
Yesterday we laid a Budget projecting a 6.2% increase over last year’s expenditure resting at $267.9m and a projected revenue estimate of $273.5 million which will be funded through existing revenue streams and a $20 million loan through the CDB or a Commercial Bank.
Change Document and Throne Speech
We came to Office on a mandate of Change and we contrary to the new, new and even more destructive PNP, we have hit the ground running. You will have heard Ministers give an account of their stewardship (and you can get use to this) and I will do so now on behalf of the Premier’s Office and the Minister of Finance.
I begin by addressing the commitments made in the Blue Print and the Throne Speech:
Your Government committed to the return of Team TCI and an Economic Summit. This we did based on the premise that we could not imagine that any Government coming in after the Interim Administration period would not have created its own Policy for how they had wished for TCI to grow. Truth be told, I met the Investment Policy Statement of the Interim Administration in effect and did not agree to proceed on this. A consultant had been hired to carry out this work but was not engaged. My Ministry began dialogue with the consultant and gave the direction and vision of your Government and I am pleased to say that we are in possession of the White Paper which will be taken to Cabinet for input and then there will be consultation with the public and also during the hosting of the Economic Summit which will come. This Policy document is important as it says how we as a people wish to grow our country. Team TCI also hinges on the way we market TCI and this will be formed following the Economic Summit.
Supplementary Appropriation Bills
There were immediate needs and opportunities that presented itself that we could not ignore and so we were forced to bring 2 supplementary appropriation bills to address critical needs at HM Prison and the Home Help Program. We promised that we would expand home help and we did just that. We promised that we would address the needs of the Prison and we are doing just that. We have also to meet cost for detaining alleged poachers and of detaining and repatriating persons entering illegally by sloop. Your Government campaigned on growing TCIG’s assets and employing a strategy to reduce Government’s rents. We were presented with a year end decision to invest the monies wisely or allow it to go into a savings. It was a strategic decision and we moved a further supplementary as there was no budget in place to support the purchase of building already rented and occupied by TCIG. We subsequently made the decision to invest in the purchase of 2 Buldings that will house our Customer Care Center bring the change to services offered by Government through the Ministry of Border Control (Labour and Immigration), Road Safety of the Ministry of Home Affairs and Customs. I wish to again thank Team Finance, the hardworking Yaa McCartney of the AG’s Chambers and my Cabinet colleagues who saw the wisdom in saving our Government over $380k per year which can be used elsewhere against other priorities.
I have cause to travel on two occasions which were reported on before I left and on my return. I made representations on behalf of TCIG as promised on the matter of Post Brexit, SiPT Funding and Beneficial Ownership (which a live issue left unaddressed).
Police Support Provided and Legislative Agenda Approved
National Security has been a priority for my Government from day one and my first trip to the UK as promised I made representations on the need for UK support. The UK responded favorably and contracted a team to assess our security needs. Whilst other OTs were included, we were among one of the first and we are grateful. The team came to the Islands and met with various stakeholders and we await the report. We await a response and we are cautiously hopeful. Nonetheless we must learn to sail our own ship and you will see if you looked at the Throne Speech, Blue Print and our 12 Point Plan that those points that are directly under our remit has made considerable strides:
As promised, we have already agreed as a National Security Council the need for a Comprehensive National Security Strategy. This we believe is critical as we seek to share our limited resources in a most effective way by unifying efforts. As promised, we have already met with the Senior Police Officers in Grand Turk and Providenciales and many ideas were shared and our vision was likewise shared.
As promised we have already agreed to provide the Police with much needed equipment, laws and modern tools. The purchase of the Carlos Simmons Building is in support of providing the Police the space needed to house modern crime fighting initiatives and a more strategic approach to crime fighting. We have already agreed new vehicles, more manpower and a legislative agenda that will see the use of biometrics, fingerprinting, cctv and data protection, public order, matters addressing communication and a review of the Police Ordinance. The latter can be stated with assurances because this Good Government within its first 100 days has agreed a Legislative Agenda.
Rehabilitation of Offenders
Whilst we will provide the necessary resources for enforcement, we have also stated over and over again that prevention is critical and so is rehabilitation. We believed four years ago as we do strongly today and we must ascertain the reasons for crime and that we have done. I have spoken and met with a representative group of those who are incarcerated and those who were former inmates and I have concluded that unemployment, frustration and drugs are at the root of the majority of crimes. Your Government has therefore taken on a hands on approach and have already prepared an Information Paper for a national rehabilitation and prevention policy which will address skills, employment, entrepreneurship, health and rehabilitative programs for those incarcerated and those with criminal records who find it hard to find employment and support on release. In fact the Premier’s Office is already support the CED Entrepreneurship Training for inmates named Gateway To Hope and a separate Program for former inmates named Change Our Future. The public and the private sector will be clear and defined roles on how we can help to reduce the rate of reoffenders and this is near launch. We can no longer shun those who have already paid their debt to society and expect all to be well. We must also recognize the level of drug use in this country from our Schools and up. There are social issues that we must address head on and drug use and abuse is another.
We committed to supporting the Police and we will do just that through our own efforts and through strategic crime fighting and modern tools all enveloped in a national security strategy. You will already have heard that as Premier I have elevated the Ministry of Border Control to national security level so as to change the mind set of workers and the public as to the seriousness of the work of this Ministry and our commitment to ensuring that we bring the much needed change to this Ministry in terms of resources and reputation.
Meetings with Clergy and Church Services
We also committed in the Throne Speech that we would meet with the Clergy early and would have held Prayer Services around the Turks and Caicos Islands. This was included in the Throne Speech and today we can say Mission accomplished. We have heard from the clergy, taken our nation into prayer and forged valuable partnerships.
We have paid keen attention to the leading sectors of this country and have met with the TCHTA and Chamber of Commerce in Providenciales and also the Chamber of Commerce in Grand Turk.
Cruise Sector
We have also reengaged the GT Cruise Port/Carnival and moved pass an impasse in relationship between TCIG and Carnival Owners. We are pleased to announce that we have already agreed to major infrastructural projects for GT from the stalled $6m Infrastructure Fund; A Vendors Stall and the rebuilding of the GT Library. I was pleased to have the initiative for the rebuilding of the library from the owners of Carnival in a well – received call to myself the morning after the fire. We are committed to engaging all businesses in this country for the greater good of our country.
We have also met with vendors operating on GT and have encouraged the formation of associations and we are pleased to say that two associations have already been formed and will receive support from your Government.
Financial Services Sector
As Minister of Finance I have met with the Financial Industry Association and the Chair and CEO of the FSC to share your Government’s vision for the sector. In our first 100 days we have revived an old project and altered its mandate, appointed leaders in the sector to assess the state of our financial services sector and to make recommendations for a path to growth. We eagerly await those findings as we remain committed to growing this sector and to diversifying the economy.
Vision Document & Medium Term Strategy
As Minister of Finance we have agreed the continuation of the Vision Document and the Medium Term Strategy at TCIG’s cost. This will see the introduction of a National Development Plan. We promised a National Symposium and a national direction and this will be finalized by August of this year.
Service Charge
As Minister of Finance on assuming office, I was advised that the surveys on the matter of service charge provided to employers and employees were low in response and that the Statistics Act had to be employed to obtain responses. I have had to then revisit this topic and on March 7th had a letter remitted to the Committee to suspend activities until a new budget was prepared and mechanisms were put in place. Service charge is not a political issue and that is why we took the approach of bringing a motion as this caused government to use its resources to find the best way forward on this issue in a manner that did not see the benefactors losing any of their varied benefits. We are committed to this issue and works will commence on the passage of this Budget and consultations with all stakeholders will resume. I will also visit with and meet employees in the hospitality industry with particular emphasis on Hotels and Resorts.
Review of Air BnB and VRBOs Sector
The Ministry of Finance has secured a consultant to conduct a review of Air BnB and VRBOs. This review is completed and a draft Report is in hand. We will update our people on this issue in the very near future.
Business Transformation Project
As Minister of Finance I remain committed to delivering on the goals of the Business Transformation Project and as such we have reengaged the consultant to complete the much needed work in delivering efficient and modern service to the people of this country.
Review of Statutory Bodies
As Minister of Finance and again in the Throne Speech we committed to a review of Statutory Bodies and I am pleased to say that we have met with all and will announce more in this area shortly.
Climate Change Committee
As promised in our commitment to the environment and to be a progressive Government, we have reestablished the Climate Change Committee and have added Planning representation to the Committee as we deem this office presence vital.
Highlights: A few Cabinet Papers
We have met the required number of Cabinet meetings with additional meetings to facilitate the early passage of the Budget and the saving of monies from this year end.
We have already agreed as promised support for stalled projects and I am happy that the Minister of Tourism was able to report your Government’s support for the moving forward of a stalled Project in North Caicos known as the Royal Reef. We have also agreed a new Tourism Property Project for North Caicos. We have already approved the Development Agreement for the Toscana Project also known as “The W Project”. After much complaints from a cross section of our people we have agreed a consultation for time change. As promised in the Change Document, we have already agreed the need the creation of a Policy Registry to fulfill our promise for policy consistency. Having suffered loss from flooding over the years, we have agreed an increase in insurance coverage to include flooding etc.
Beneficial Ownership
Your Government is working fast to meet the UK imposed deadline of June for the creation of a central registry. There will be more updates and dialogue about Beneficial Ownership in the weeks to come.
TOLCO
Though the Former Government had had even our agreement to repurchase the former TC Invest loans sold to TOLCO, your Government had to revisit the matter, give instructions to sign the contract and facilitate the payment. We will actively move forward now in agreeing a mechanism for its management.
National Savings Fund
We have already agreed the creation of a national savings account called the TCI National Wealth Fund and this will be presented during the next session of the House of Assembly.
Budget Session
I am pleased to announce today that the next Meeting of the House of Assembly which will be on April 18, 2017 and this will be the Budget Session.
Concessions Policy
I have given the directive for the creation of a Concessions Policy, the tidying up of an already prepared Cabinet Paper to give an incentive to first time home owners and to implement a shift system for customs that will aid in improving services and revenue.
Civil Service Association
As promised I have met with the CSA Representatives and I am only awaiting the executive to meet with public service.
Caribbean Development Bank and Overseas Countries and Territories Association
On assuming the Office of Premier and Minister of Finance, I have assumed the role of Chair of OCTA and Chair of CDB. We are moving ahead feverishly to receive dignitaries in the coming months to meetings on our shores.
UK Engagement
Within the next few weeks we will continue the constitutional and crown land dialogue on our people’s behalf to the UK.
New Employment Opportunities Appeal
I wish to close by making a public appeal. In this upcoming Budget there will be 100 vacancies and there will be over $60m in projects. We need you to position yourselves to take advantage of the opportunities. We especially want persons to apply for the 18 new Police and the 10 new Prison Officers and the 8 new Immigration Task Force Officers. We must get serious about national security and protecting our country. I will in a few days announce meetings with local contractors that will be coupled with training for the tendering and bidding process.
It is your Government’s role to provide the opportunities: It is up to you to take advantage of them.
Happy 100 Days Turks and Caicos.
Happy 100 Days Colleagues!
We are well on our way!!!!!!
You may like
News
Beaches Turks and Caicos Showcases and Supports Local Creativity
Published
3 weeks agoon
September 12, 2025
September 12, 2025
PROVIDENCIALES, Turks & Caicos Islands – The Turks and Caicos Islands are home to a wealth of creativity, from artisans and craft vendors to musicians and performers. Beaches Turks and Caicos, the Caribbean’s leading all-inclusive family resort, has pledged its continued support for these individuals by providing meaningful platforms for them to share their skills and stories with guests from around the world.
The resort’s commitment is most evident in its weekly Cultural Night showcase, where visitors are immersed in the vibrant traditions of the islands. Guests enjoy live performances which feature local music genres such as ripsaw, while artisans display and sell handmade creations. This event not only enriches the guest experience but also strengthens economic opportunities for local entrepreneurs.
Entertainment Division Manager Garett Bailey emphasized the significance of Cultural Night, “we want to showcase everything the Turks and Caicos Islands culture has to offer. Our goal is for guests to leave with a deeper appreciation of the island’s art, music and traditions, while giving local talent the opportunity to share their creativity with visitors from across the globe.”
Beyond Cultural Night, Beaches Turks and Caicos also welcomes local craft vendors onto the resort every Wednesday and Friday where they are offered a direct space to market their goods. Guests have easy access to the Turks and Caicos Cultural Marketplace, where they can purchase authentic local arts and crafts.
Managing Director, James McAnally, highlighted how these initiatives reflect the resort’s broader mission, “we are committed to celebrating and sharing the vibrant culture of these islands with our guests. By showcasing local artistry and music, we not only provide entertainment but also help sustain and grow the creative industries of the Turks and Caicos Islands. From our cultural showcases to nightly live music, we are proud to create authentic connections between our guests and the people of these islands.”
Local musician Keon Hall, who frequently performs at the resort, expressed gratitude for the ongoing partnership, “being able to share my music with Beaches’ guests has created lasting relationships. Some visitors return year after year and request songs from previous performances. This partnership continues to celebrate what we do and strengthens the bond between local artists and the resort.”
The resort’s support of local artisans and entertainers extends beyond business opportunity; it is about preserving heritage and sharing stories. Guests take home more than souvenirs; they leave with experiences that deepen their understanding of Turks and Caicos’ culture and history.
Public Relations Manager, Orville Morgan, noted the importance of this commitment, “for many visitors, these interactions represent their first genuine connection to the Turks and Caicos Islands. From artisans and musicians to farmers and transport operators, our local talent helps shape every guest experience. At Beaches, we are proud to give them the stage to share their stories and their heritage.”
Beaches Turks & Caicos remains dedicated to developing cultural connections and supporting the artisans, musicians and entrepreneurs whose creativity makes the Turks and Caicos Islands unique. Each guest experience is an opportunity to celebrate and sustain the spirit of the islands.
Caribbean News
“Barbecue” is Cooked! US Turns Over 11 Million Haitians into Potential Informants with $5 Million Bounty
Published
2 months agoon
August 12, 2025
August 12, 2025
The United States just set fire to the underworld in Haiti — and this time, the smoke might finally flush out the man many call the most feared in the Caribbean.
On Tuesday, the U.S. government slapped a $5 million bounty on the head of Jimmy “Barbecue” Chérizier, the ex-police officer turned gang boss accused of orchestrating massacres, torching neighborhoods, and strangling Haiti’s capital into chaos. This isn’t just a headline — it’s a full-blown game-changer.
That kind of cash — offered under the State Department’s Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program — is enough to turn the country’s entire population, more than 11 million people, into potential informants overnight. Add the millions in the Haitian diaspora, and Chérizier isn’t just wanted. He’s surrounded.
The Number That Changes Everything
Five million U.S. dollars today equals about 655 million Haitian Gourdes. In a country where many scrape by on less than $5 a day, that’s not just life-changing — it’s life-defining. It’s enough to rebuild homes, put generations through school, or buy a one-way ticket far from the gunfire.
In a place where trust is scarce and survival is everything, that figure is more than tempting — it’s irresistible. For Chérizier, it means every friend could be a future informant, and every loyalist might be calculating the cost of staying loyal.
‘We Will Find Them’ — Jeanine Pirro, U.S. Attorney
Jeanine “Judge Jeanine” Pirro, the U.S. Attorney, set the tone with fire in her voice. “This indictment is the first of its kind,” she announced. “Jimmy Chérizier, also known as ‘Barbecue,’ is a notorious gang leader from Haiti who has orchestrated and committed various acts of violence against Haitians, including the 2018 La Saline attack in which approximately 71 people were killed. He both planned and participated in that massacre.
“Anyone who is giving money to ‘Barbecue’ cannot say, ‘I didn’t know.’ They will be prosecuted, and we will find them. They are supporting an individual who is committing human rights abuses, and we will not look the other way.”
Pirro wasn’t just going after Chérizier. She was sending a warning to the Haitian diaspora accused of feeding his war chest from abroad: the days of claiming ignorance are over.
‘No Safe Haven’ — Darren Cox, FBI
Then came Darren Cox, Deputy Assistant Director of the FBI, delivering the muscle of America’s most powerful investigative force. “There is no safe haven for Chérizier and his network,” Cox declared. “We are closing every link, every cell.” Since January, he said, the FBI has arrested three Top Ten fugitives, taken more than 19,000 criminals off the streets, and seized thousands of tons of narcotics — enough to save millions of lives across the U.S.
The FBI’s Miami and Houston offices have already bagged one of Chérizier’s Viv Ansanm associates inside the United States without firing a shot. “These efforts are a deliberate and coordinated plan,” Cox said, “to protect our communities and confront escalating threats from terrorist organizations like Viv Ansanm.”
‘Three-Year Investigation’ — Ivan Arvelo, HSI
Ivan Arvelo, Assistant Director of Homeland Security Investigations, brought the receipts. “This is the result of a three-year investigation into Chérizier’s procurement networks, cash pipelines, and operational financing that violates sanctions,” he explained. Arvelo described 400 structures destroyed, entire communities erased, and a gang exploiting U.S. dollars, technology, and immigration loopholes to keep its killing machine running. “We tracked how Americans unwittingly bankrolled brutality,” he said — proof that the net is tightening both inside Haiti and abroad.
‘The Worst of the Worst’ — Chris Lambert, State Department
Chris Lambert, representing the State Department’s International Affairs division, gave the political bottom line.
“Mass violence in Haiti must end,” Lambert said. “The instability resulting from Chérizier’s actions fuels illegal migration, regional instability, and transnational crime. We will continue to apply every tool available — including our rewards programs — to stop the spread of unchecked violence, especially to target the worst of the worst criminal leaders threatening the people of our hemisphere.”
Lambert confirmed what many have long known: Chérizier is not just a gang leader. He commands Viv Ansanm, officially designated in May as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. In the eyes of the U.S., that makes him not just Haiti’s problem — but everyone’s.
Why Haitians May Not Resist
In Haiti, money talks — loudly. And when you put 655 million Gourdes on the table, it shouts.
That’s the kind of figure that turns casual acquaintances into informants and makes even the most hardened loyalist wonder if the payout is worth more than the risk. It’s not a matter of “if” word gets out, it’s a matter of “who will be first to collect.”
For grieving families, it’s a chance at justice. For the desperate, it’s a chance at survival. For Haiti as a whole, it’s hope — wrapped in the most dangerous of temptations.
An Answer to Prayers
For years, Haiti’s headlines have been a scroll of horrors — kidnappings, executions, burned neighborhoods, bodies in the streets. Chérizier’s name has been attached to too many of them.
This move by the U.S. isn’t just strategy. It’s personal. It’s a signal to every Haitian — at home or abroad — that the days of impunity could be ending.
I’ll admit it: when I heard the news, I danced, I sang, and I nearly cried. Not because $5 million is a lot of money, but because of what it means — the possibility, at last, of stopping the man accused of helping turn Haiti into hell on earth.
Four officials, four angles, one mission: Pirro’s fire, Cox’s grit, Arvelo’s precision, Lambert’s conviction. Together, they’ve put the heat on “Barbecue” like never before.
BBQ is cooked. The only question now is: which one of over 11 million potential informants will serve him up?
Africa
What If Caribbean Dollars Flowed to Africa? A Trade Revolution Within Reach
Published
2 months agoon
August 8, 2025
By Deandrea Hamilton | Editor
What would happen if the Caribbean started spending more with Africa?
That question is no longer hypothetical. It’s the vision behind a growing movement that sees the Caribbean not just as a neighbor of the Americas, but as a key partner in the rise of a “Global Africa.” With shared history, deep cultural ties, and emerging trade frameworks, experts say the potential is enormous—if the will to act finally matches the passion of the speeches.
Billions on the Table
Today, trade between Africa and the Caribbean sits at just over US $729 million annually. But the International Trade Centre (ITC) and Afreximbank project that number could balloon to US $1.8 billion per year by 2028—more than doubling in just a few years.
This boost is expected to come not just from commodities, but increasingly from services, particularly in transport, travel, food exports, and creative industries. Two-thirds of that growth, according to analysts, could come from services alone—sectors where the Caribbean is eager to expand. (afreximbank.com).
Meanwhile, Africa’s consumer and business spending is forecasted to skyrocket to US $6.66 trillion by 2030, driven by a population boom and rising middle class.
The Case for a New Trade Axis
The Caribbean imports 80% of its food, but many of those goods can be sourced from African markets. What we offer in return? World-class logistics, tourism know-how, financial services, and proximity to the U.S. market. It’s a natural fit—one that is currently underdeveloped.
The recent call by Grenadian Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell for a “Global Africa Commission” underscores this urgency. He urged stakeholders at the Afreximbank Trade Expo to stop the cycle of empty talk and get to work: building shipping routes, finalizing trade agreements, and boosting knowledge of what each region actually has to offer.
“We will not leave here with another communiqué,” Mitchell continued. “We will leave here with a commitment to act, to build together, to trade together, to succeed together and rise together.” The statement underscored a central theme of the summit — that both Africa and the Caribbean can no longer afford to admire the idea of unity; they must operationalize it.Pilot platforms like the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) are already simplifying how cross-border payments work between African countries—and could extend to Caribbean partners. The system removes the need for U.S. dollars in trade between African nations, creating space for sovereign empowerment.
What’s the Hold-Up?
Let’s be blunt: political will, slow bureaucracies, and lack of coordination are stalling real action. Despite a decade of “Africa–Caribbean unity” talk, less than 3% of CARICOM trade currently involves the African continent. That fact continues to undermine these brave speeches and ambitious notions.
Where Caribbean Consumers Fit In
Caribbean consumers—especially the younger, tech-savvy generation—are already looking for affordable, ethical, and culturally relevant goods. African markets offer exactly that. Redirecting even a fraction of spending toward African-made clothing, beauty products, tech tools, or agro-processed foods could start a real trade revolution.
Bottom Line
If the political leaders won’t build the bridge fast enough, maybe Caribbean consumers will. The money is there. The interest is rising. Now it’s time to turn the “Global Africa” vision into a real economic shift—one shopping cart at a time.