TCI News

TCI: Parliament passes 10 Bills in one day sitting

Published

5 years ago

July 31, 2018

#GrandTurk, July 31, 2018 – Turks and Caicos – The House of Assembly has in its last two Meetings secured for itself an impressive new record in the passage of Legislation.

During its 19^th July Sitting, Parliament passed 5 Bills inclusive of the following:

MSME (Amendment)Bill to widen opportunities for budding entrepreneurs in Islands outside of Providenciales in tourist activity and to allow for a quicker approval of applications under the MSME Program;
Immigration (Amendment) Bill to ensure that persons who are granted PRCs in the investment category retain the investment for a 5yr period before parting with the investment;
TC Islander Status (Amendment) Bill to enable the establishment of the TC Islander Commission to process applications for citizenship other than by marriage;
Electricity (Validation) Bill which corrected actions begun since the 80s and
Road Safety (Amendment) Bill to introduce two new classes of public transportation to replace the illegal jitney services

There was near Bi partisanship on all Bills except the Road Safety Amendment Bill where there was no support from the former Minister and representative for Grand Turk North. Nonetheless all 5 Bills were passed.

The House of Assembly met again on Friday, July 27, 2018 to consider the following Bills and in a show of bi partisanship, members of the House of Assembly passed all 10 Bills in a single day sitting.

On the Agenda were the following Bills:

Gaming (Control) Bill 2018 which Debate was deferred two weeks before;
Banking (Amendment) Bill 2018;
Financial Service Commission (Amendment) Bill 2018;
Companies (Amendment) (No.2) Bill 2016;
Prevention of Terrorism (Amendment) Bill 2018;
Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Bill 2018;
Financial Intelligence Agency (Amendment) Bill 2018;;
Customs (Amendment) Bill 2018
Miscellaneous (Amendment) (Offences) Bill 2018 and
Court of Appeal (Amendment) Bill 2018

Premier Robinson commenting on this important feat stated that, “We are often quick to show up each other’s shortcomings and negativity but I pause to celebrate the bi partisanship I saw in the House of Assembly. There are instances that I personally expect full bi partisan support and was only recently disappointed that it was not so with all members of the Opposition on the amendment to introduce the legal transport to replace the illegal jitney. But I was pleased with the show of support for the last set of Bills. We got off to a slow start with a number of members being absent and a number of withdrawal of members from the Gaming Control Bill which has seen over 2 yrs of consultation and delay in its debate from the Meeting of the 19^th July. With two members overseas, two declarations of conflicts and 4 members declaring Church positions and thereafter abstaining from Debate, the Bill received wide debate. There was objection by members of the Opposition to the Gaming Control Bill and this persisted amidst the proposers sharing the importance to regulate and control the existing Industry and to ensure it meets International standards. Members of the Opposition disagreed in their report on the consultation that began under the former Administration. There was a healthy debate even among Government’s back and front bench.

There was an unprecedented show of bi partisanship during the evening where only two members the Opposition remained to discuss critical amendments for the regulation of the financial services industry and I wish to thank the Hon Washington Misick, the Leader of the Opposition and Hon Ruth Blackman who stayed the course and made contribution to the critical Bills that were all moved by the Attorney General that allowed TCI to be in a better position ahead of another assessment later this year.

It is such a thrill when people demonstrate this level of commitment to the people’s work whether opposing or supporting recognizing that each one has a voice that should be heard.

We have therefore been able to pass 15 critical pieces of legislation and we should all be proud of this record.”, Says Premier Robinson on the two most recent sittings of Parliament.

News

Turks and Caicos Islands school sports season 2023/24 officially opens in September

Published

3 days ago

September 19, 2023

Deandrea Hamilton

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, September 19, 2023 – After an active summer of events, Turks and Caicos Islands School Sports (TCISS) season 2023/24 will open with TCISS Football for Boys and Girls on September 30, 2023.

The opening ceremony of TCISS Football will take place at the TCI Football Association on Venetian Road, Providenciales and we will commute to the National Stadium for the games. Games will take place weekly on Fridays and Saturdays. After making their debut last year, TCISS Girls Football will run concurrently with Boys Football on a split pitch from September through October. The championship games are slated for October 28, 2023.

Last year’s Girls’ football champions were the Marjorie Basden High School after defeating the British West Indies Collegiate 2-1. The Boys’ champions were the Clement Howell High School who beat out the Elite High School who forfeited the game 1-0. All current students, fans and alumni are encouraged to watch the games weekly each Friday and Saturday, with tickets for Adults $5 and Children $3.

TCISS Boys Basketball quickly picks up after the Football season ends, spanning from early November 2023 to January 2024. Home and away games are one the highlights of this event, affording all teams a chance at a ‘home-court’ advantage throughout the season. As is tradition in TCISS, schools will be randomly selected and placed into pools to compete. Ultimately the strongest teams will meet at the championships. The reigning champions are the Clement Howell High School who defeated the A. Louise Garland Thomas High School 92-56 for the gold.

In a double-team affair, TCISS Girls Softball will launch a few weeks post Boys Basketball’s commencement, for a season which lasts from November 2023 – January 2024. This means softball and basketball seasons will run concurrently like last year, and tickets will allow entry to both games. The reigning champions are the HJ Robinson High School who won the championships 14-6 in their hometown Grand Turk against the Wesley Methodist High School. The championships will return to the nation’s capital next year, in honour of last year’s champions.

Ending the TCISS season will be the Track and Field events also known as Athletics. The Athletics opener will be the Track and Field Development meets. Historically this has been segmented into two meets: Sprints and Throws, Distance and Jumps.

Following will be the TCISS Inter-High Track and Field Championships also known as Nationals in March 2024 then the TCISS Inter-Primary Track and Field Championships also in March. Last year’s champions of Inter-High was the A. Louise Garland Thomas High School and for Inter-Primary the Ona Glinton Primary School. After being implemented last season, TCISS Track and Field champions are determined by a medal count with gold holding the most weight.

TCISS 2023/24 Sport Schedule

TCISS Inter-High School Football Boys, TCISS Inter-High School Football Girls – September 30, 2023 – October 28, 2023 (Providenciales)
TCISS Inter-High School Basketball – November 2023 – January 2024 (All-Island)
TCISS Inter-High School Softball – November 2023 – January 2023 (Season Games – Providenciales. Semi-finals & Championships – Grand Turk)
Track and Field Development Meets – February 2024
TCISS Inter-High School Track and Field – February – March 2024 (Providenciales)
TCISS Inter-Primary School Track and Field – March 2023 (Providenciales)

The full TCISS event schedule and further updates will be found on the TCI Sports Commission’s website www.gov.tc/sports/.

For the latest news on the TCISS, fans can follow on Instagram (@tcisportscommission) and Facebook (Turks and Caicos Islands Sports Commission). To share your experience with TCISS on social, use the hashtags #TCISS and #morethanjustsports.

News

Court Ruling leaves Young Son without Mother, Father killed in 2022 violence

Published

3 days ago

September 19, 2023

Deandrea Hamilton

Wilkie Arthur

Freelance Court Reporter

#TurksandCaicos, September 19, 2023 – A young son is left without a father, taken through gun violence and his mother, now deported back to her home country of Jamaica.

A Jamaican woman, ANDREA ROSE MARIE ATKINSON, now in her late fifties, who was married to a Wheeland, Blue Hills, Providenciales native, appeared before the Hon. Chief Magistrate Mr. Jolyon Hatmin.

Atkinson was charged on August 7th with remaining in the Islands beyond the permitted time. The Chief Magistrate (CM) asked the lady if she would like an opportunity to get legal representation? She said, your Honour, I just want to get this over with because “mi can’t take da cell no more” “mi bin lock up now fa sa much days, mi just a plea guilty and go back to mi Yard.”

The lady, communicating in her native, raw Jamaican patois tried to explain to the CM that she once had a permanent resident certificate (PRC) but after the divorced she was trying to get a work permit.

She said, yes, she overstayed but she was trying to make herself legal.

The woman asked the CM for some time to sort out her son and her things before they send her home. The mother of a boy child told the chief magistrate that she didn’t know where her child was because since law enforcement arrested her and took her into Immigration lock-up and since, she has not seen or heard from her son.

This matter was heard in August.

Investigation by this reporter uncovered that the son, a Turks and Caicos Islander, was taken in by one of the deceased sisters; therefore an aunt to the boy.

The CM sentenced the Jamaican woman ANDREA ROSE MARIE ATKINSON to a fine of $2,000.00 to be paid immediately in default, she will serve 90 days imprisonment.

He also recommended deportation; giving the former PRC holder seven days to sort out her son and her belongings.

Government

REOPENING OF THE TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDS HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY

Published

3 days ago

September 19, 2023

Deandrea Hamilton

The First (1st) Sitting of the First (1st) Meeting of the Third (3rd) Session of the Twelfth (12th) Legislature of the House of Assembly of the Turks & Caicos Islands

The Opening Ceremony for the First (1st) Sitting of the First (1st) Meeting of the Third (3rd) Session of the Twelfth (12th) Legislature of the House of Assembly occurred on the 14th September at 10 o’clock in the forenoon with its usual pomp and fanfare.

During the proceedings, the Honourable Premier and Minister for Public Policy, Hon. C. Washington Misick, moved the motion that the House of Assembly be suspended to allow for the reading of the Speech from the Throne, presented by Her Excellency, the Governor Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam.

The Speech from the Throne, having highlighted some of the Government’s accomplishments since being elected to office on 19^th February 2021, culminated with the proposed Legislative Agenda to be considered for the upcoming legislative year which included, but is not limited to:

Constitution (Amendment) Order;

Retiring Allowance (Amendment) Bill;

Community College (Amendment) Bill;

Gaming Control (Amendment) Bill;

Business Licensing (Amendment) Bill;

Real Estate Licensing Bill

Immigration Bill; and

Crown Land (Amendment) Bill

The Speech from the Throne took a long-term perspective and placed emphasis on fulfilling the objectives of the Vision 2040 document and the Government’s strategic plan to move the Turks and Caicos Islands towards developed country status within the next two decades by investing in projects and policies that will result in a more robust triple-bottom-line economy.

The Speech from the Throne also addressed short to medium term deliverables; highlighting that the Government has twelve (12) high-priority projects being progressed. It posited that the National Delivery Unit (NDU) is tasked with assisting project owners and implementers advance the Government’s priorities. The value added by this Unit is the facilitation with streamlining of project management processes to ensure the most efficient timelines and use of available resources – all for the ultimate benefit of the citizens of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The day’s proceeding ended with a motion entitled: Write-Off of TC Invest/TOLCO Loan that was tabled by the Minister of Finance, the Honourable E. Jay Saunders. The motion which sought to write off $10.8 million in debt accumulated by scores of borrowers was passed. This write-off was a welcomed intervention by many Turks and Caicos Islanders, laden with debt obligations for over 11 years following the divestiture of the former TC Invest Agency. The write-off directly affects over 150 borrowers but is indirectly beneficial to many more.

For some, giving them a second lease on life, which, when property ownership is considered can be extended to inter-generationally.