News
TCI Premier denies rejection of Build Back Budget by UK, slams Opposition, seeks extension for post hurricane concessions
#TurksandCaicos, January 17, 2018 – Providenciales – Premier Sharlene Robinson talks tough to the Opposition PNP as rumors were floating on social media about the #Supplementary sent to the United Kingdom for approval on spending in the aftermath of major September hurricanes. It was said the Supplementary, dispatched to London at Christmastime by the PDM Administration was rejected and there had been reported criticisms from the Opposition Member from Grand Turk North, George Lightbourne about the timing of the proposal of Budgetary changes.
#PremierRobinson cried shame on Lightbourne for instigating the social media chatter, “what basis would there be to deny critical works identified by the elected Government of these Islands, many of which will begin critical works to Schools among other critical projects? If the UK rejected such a Supplementary, the Hon Member should be joining the Government in protest and not celebrating as such as the last time I checked this country belonged to all of us. We must know that there are issues that we must stand resolute on and political division on national issues is not only immature but reckless.”
#MagneticMedia had also heard the rumor of a rejection. Our inquiry led to a firm ‘no, not true’ from the Member of Parliament to which we had reached out.
Many others were less inclined though to believe there had been no UK resistance to the PDM Proposal for Budgetary changes to accommodate reconstruction plans within the islands; some called the explanation by the Premier: “Lies!!!!”
The PDM Administration has come under heavy fire for having not yet started any significant reconstruction of public buildings, four months after Hurricanes Irma 
and Maria which struck in September 2017. The Turks and Caicos Islands Government is however not the only administration facing scathing reviews from its residents when it comes to building back; The Bahamas, Dominica, the British Virgin Islands and the United States are courting various critiques from citizens.
As for what the Supplementary is expected to take on, once approved, there was this explanation from the Finance Minister: “In the Supplementary submitted there are critical resources for the Police, funding for NHIP, repairs to Schools which can double as Shelters, funding to support the introduction of online payment to better secure government revenues and enhance public service, funding to support the critical work of the National Physical Development Plan, additional resources to support border control and planning enforcement activities, among other critical projects and matters. We can only hope that the people will continue to dismiss gutter style politics and demand a higher level of representation from all its elected members.”
A recent Cabinet Meeting, chaired by Acting Governor Anya Williams, held on January 10 exposed that an appeal for a contingency warrant to pay off outstanding post hurricane bills was asked to be approved; that March 31, 2018 was suggested as a new deadline for a customs duty waiver programme on hurricane victims’ replacement furniture, appliances and building materials; that approved was a duty waiver for Ocean Vibes company, on a replacement 48-foot catamaran destroyed by the hurricanes; that Mission of Hope Haiti Charity be exempt from paying warehouse storage fees for the hurricane relief materials brought in and a request to approve a financial break of 50% on customs duties for Club Med for building materials, furnishings, fixtures and equipment – conditionally and in line with the TCIG Refurbishment Policy be granted.
Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, April 19, 2024 – In an attempt to move to 24-hour-a-day operations Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority (TCIAA) is steadily recruiting Air Traffic Controllers to work at the Providenciales/Howard Hamilton International Airport, according to Godfrey Smith, TCIAA CEO, reporting to the Appropriations Committee.
Speaking on April 8th Smith said a cabinet paper would be sent soon requesting six more Air Traffic Controllers to make round the clock operation at the Provo International possible and to open the airport in Grand Turk till 12 a.m.
Currently, 17 posts are filled and seven are vacant.
Smith was candid with his responses to recent industrial action from ATCs which led to resignations and firings.
“What we have to do is find systems to mitigate such actions and that has to start with filling these jobs, putting people in that want to
work and doing right by people – and we always try to do right by our staff. Persons may not think that we are but we always do – we ain’t pick no fight,” he said in the meetings held at the NJS Francis building ahead of the National Budget Communication.
Smith indicated that recruitment was an issue across the board, ‘we need to find ways to recruit a little bit better’ he told the committee. Also in need of a push was capital spending or projects according to the CEO, who said the agency had ‘not been very good’ at meeting that mark but insisted they had recognized the issue and could do better.
A very important key performance indicator drawn up by the TCIAA is increasing passenger satisfaction at the Howard Hamilton International Airport. For the TCIAA part of this means a 30 percent increase in seating by Q2 of this year.
When queried on if they could even handle this increase the CEO said,
“The fact of the matter is we already have the capacity there. What we need is to make the service a bit better.”
Staff shortages have become such a frustrating issue that the TCIAA is instituting a scholarship program created by Authority Chairman, Selvyn Hawkins
“What the board wants to do is basically allocate $25,000 annually for a scholarship and they’ve approved it already.”
This process would cover tuition and all other costs for one student.
The student would return as a summer intern and other breaks to work at the TCIAA and upon graduation, assume a role at the company.
“We identify a particular skill we need, we go after it and we build capacity that is in a nutshell the nexus of the program,” Smith said.
The Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority (TCIAA) is allocated $49 million this financial year; over $20 million goes to salaries.
Company delivers fastest speeds nationwide and boosts service reliability
PROVIDENCIALES, TURKS AND CAICOS, APRIL 19th, 2024 – More connections, faster speeds and greater support for customers. This is the promise from communications and entertainment provider, Flow TCI, as it embarks on an initiative to provide households with enhanced connections, greater overall reliability and now, for the first time, speeds up to one gigabit person second.
FLOW TCI Country Manager, Joanne Missick shared: “Our customers are at the heart of everything we do. We listen to our customers and want to exceed their demands, so we are focused on delivering unmatched value with customer centric products and services that are future proof. Flow subscribers on our Fibre Extreme package can now access up to one gigabyte speeds and subscribers on our Fibre Plus and Fibre Max package, as of April 1st, are also now benefitting from up to 5x more speeds.”
This is third speed boost for Flow customers in the last two years. This comes under the umbrella of the the Company’s recently launched “Working for You” campaign, where technicians are going into the neighborhoods across the island to conduct repairs, decommission copper cables, and increase the brand’s visibility in local communities.
“To date several neighborhoods have been served by technicians and the company will continue to go across the islands to ensure each neighborhood receives personal attention. We recognize that over the past few months some customers have experienced issues with the quality and delivery of our services. This is not what we stand for. Flow remains committed to providing technology and innovation
that enables growth and positively impacts lives”, says, newly appointed Head of Technical Operations, Simeon Thomas.
Thomas adds, “We have been closely monitoring and reviewing every aspect of our network and there is room for improvement across each of the islands. Where we find shortcomings, we are taking concrete actions and assigning our technicians to rapidly make all necessary adjustments and improvements for our customers”.
Flow has made significant investments in expanding and modernizing its infrastructure and delivering a more robust and reliable network paving the way for the country’s digital transformation.
For more information on speed increases visit https://www2.discoverflow.co/turks-and-caicos/price-adjustment-speed-increase on our website.
Thank you for your usual assistance in sharing our stories.
-
News5 days agoDR man rented Jet Ski nine days ago in Providenciales; where is he now?
-
Health6 days agoDengue cases rising in Region
-
TCI News2 days agoExperience Turks and Caicos and Ministry of Tourism explore development of Cruise industry at Seatrade Global Cruise Conference
-
Caribbean News4 days agoCARICOM pushes need for Reparations Tribunal at Forum in Geneva
-
Caribbean News1 week agoCARICOM, UN applauds published decree establishing Haiti’s Transitional Government
-
Caribbean News1 week agoHaiti Gang Firearms more than Police – UN says where they come from.
-
Education4 days agoCampus Brawl at Clement Howell High sends students to Hospital
-
Caribbean News4 days agoCARICOM sends warning as Oil prices creep higher in the Israel v Iran conflict; 14 regional states import energy