TCI News
TCI: Press Statement from the Leader of The Opposition – Boomerang Politics
#Providenciales, July 25, 2018 – Turks and Caicos –
OFFICE OF THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION
N.J.S. Francis Building
Pond Street, Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Islands
Telephone: (649) 338-3706, Email: cwmisick@gov.tc
Providenciales Turks and Caicos Islands – July 24, 2018
Press Statement from the Office of the Leader of the Opposition
Service Charge and Boomerang Politics.
The following opinion by the Leader of the Opposition appeared in Volume 31 No. 26 page 10 of Turks & Caicos Weekly News – see link
https://issuu.com/tcweeklynews/docs/july_1-7__2017_-_all_pages.
Service Charge Debate – Deceit or naivety
The confusion around the equitable distribution of what has become known as ‘service charge’ is caused by a combination of the inexcusable deceit and naivety by some politicians who have misled hospitality workers and the public for their own ends. On this issue, the Premier prevarication is most offensive to a block of voters who she unequivocally pledged to ensure that 100% of the service charge is given. Since it is now clear that she has wised up to the fact that that promise was impractical, and not one that she can deliver – the poetry of campaign must now give way to the prose of governing. That requires a clear policy decision anchored in legislation.
The truth is that today’s ‘service charge’ defined in the Ordinance as ‘Any amount of money charged over and above the price of accommodation in a hotel, or the selling price of a meal or intoxicating liquor or beverage purchased by a customer, for service to a guest or customer, in a hotel or restaurant, but does not include any tax to be paid under any ordinance’ is an amalgamation of two add-ons to the published rates for the provision of hospitality services provided by some establishments prior to January 2004. In any case there were no obligations by establishments to collect or pay neither gratuity nor service charge to employees; and in fact, all-inclusive properties did not collect nor pay gratuity to employees before 2004.
To remove subjectivity from the system the Ordinance made it mandatory that all-inclusive properties levy and pay a 10% service charge to their employees. At the same time, recognizing the practice of other categories of hotels (that levied a 10% charge broken down into a 6% gratuity and a 4% resort fee) it left it to the discretion of management of the individual hotels to collect a service charge. However, the Ordinance does provide that if a service charged is collected 60% must be paid to employees. This reasoning is flawed – unless of course those establishments levy a charge sufficiently above 10% so that the 60% equate to the rate paid by the all-inclusive. Considering that all employers are required to pay the minimum wage whether all-inclusive or otherwise, and assuming parity of wage rates and other benefits across categories of employment obtains those persons working in non-inclusive hotels may very well be at a disadvantage.
The existing legislation is clear that the service charge levied by non-all-inclusive hotels is intended to be shared at minimum in the ratio 60:40 to employees and the business – reflecting the practice of many hotels at the time the ordinance was introduced. Establishments that are not adhering to the law are committing an offence. On the other hand, there is much confusion over the definition of the terminologies: gratuity, service charge and tips.
It is therefore necessary to contextualize the argument and suggest possible solution by defining the terms. Gratuity (tip) “a voluntary payment by patrons to service professionals as an expression of gratefulness for extraordinary service”. Albeit the subjectivity of the judgement of patrons impacts the aggregate amount of gratuity available to be shared among the staff. While a service charge is also additional payment on a service provided by a service professional it is mandatory rather than elective and may or may not deliver additional pay to the service professional who provides the service unless required by law.
In my view, the provision of hospitality services is a profession like any other, and it is right that it should not be left up to the discretion of patrons or hotel operators to, effectively set the pay for hospitality employees. Therefore, the idea of legally establishing an add-on to guests bills ringed fenced for hospitality workers is reasonable. On the other hand, a cover charge to a hospitality service establishment is standard in the industry; additionally, in a high-end tourism destination where customized service is demanded the level of hidden cost to a business is high; Allowance should also be made for non-cash benefits to employees including meals, transportation, uniform and training. Under those circumstances businesses not only earn a legitimate claim to a portion of the service charge but it is necessary for them to compete and prosper. We must remember that our survival depends on our ability to compete.
Finally, the current range of service charge in the TCI varies from 10% to 18% depending on the establishment – with all-inclusive properties pegged at 10% of which 100% goes to the employee. It therefore stands to reason that the amount paid to employees ought to be synchronized at an effective rate of 10% across categories of properties. This effective rate may be achieved through benefits in cash and kind. A commonsense compromise among all stakeholders encourages productivity, improve customer satisfaction and improves the bottom line of the business. Employees should not have to wait until Christmas for the necessary adjustment. The necessary amendment to the legislation to achieve a win-win solution should be done imminently.
Stifling of debate by the majority on issues it deliberately misrepresented does not of itself dispose of the problem, especially one that relates to the life-blood of the economy and the livelihood of people they purport to represent. Tourism and the welfare of hospitality workers should never be treated as a game of cricket. While I understand that the Premier faced batting from a self-inflected sticky wicket it is disappointing that she pulled up her stumps instead of defending her wicket.
Boomerang Politics
Fast forward to July 2018 the Premier created a smoke screen to walk back her ridiculous promise when in fact little will change for the hospitality worker, except now the discretion levy a service charge is remove and replaced with a legal obligation to do so. There will be no real appreciable 
change in the take home pay of an employee. The share of the service charge paid to employees by an establishment now applying a service charge of 15% to its bills, the proceeds of which is split 60:40 equates to 9% of the total bill; by the same token, an establishment charging 18% service charge pays its employees 10.8% of the total bill. Under the government’s proposal employees in the 15% scenario gets an uplift of 1% and employees in the 18% scenario losses 4/5th of 1%
The decision by the Government to cast in legislation a common rate for participation by all hospitality workers adapts my opinion in July 2017 and is the right thing to do. The bill is otherwise unnecessarily intrusive and in principle interferes with the invisible hands of the free market to the extent that it seeks to restrict what individual operators can charge for adding extraordinary value to their service delivery. This makes the assumption that service quality is homogeneous and it encourages the commoditization of the service that otherwise thrive on differentiation.
Without making the poacher the game-keeper, the Government having waited this long should take seriously the advice of all stakeholders including operators, customers and workers to ensure unintended design flaws do not negatively impact the industry causing another boomerang effect.
Turks and Caicos, April 06, 2026 – Technical excellence early in their jumps became the defining factor for two Turks and Caicos
athletes, as David Hall soared to gold in a nail-biting Under-20 high jump final at the 53rd CARIFTA Games in Grenada. Herwens Guerrier added to the country’s success with a 1.90 metre clearance to secure silver in the Under-17 division, finishing in a tightly contested field where all three medalists cleared the same height.
Both events were decided on countback — meaning the medals were determined not just by height cleared, but by which athlete did so with fewer failed attempts, highlighting the importance of precision and composure under pressure.
A wave of national pride followed the results, with congratulatory messages pouring in for the athletes who delivered under pressure on the regional stage. In a statement, Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam praised both competitors, saying their “hard work, discipline and determination have made the entire nation proud,” while encouraging the wider team to continue striving as competition unfolded at the Kirani James National Stadium in Grenada.
Team Turks and Caicos finished just outside of the top ten among 28 competing nations, and anticipation is already building for what is expected to be a spirited homecoming for the standout athletes, whose performances have ignited pride across the islands.
The 53rd staging of the CARIFTA Games, held at the Kirani James National Stadium in Grenada, unfolded under warm, at times testing
conditions, with intermittent showers and shifting winds challenging athletes across disciplines.
Jamaica once again asserted its dominance, capturing its 40th consecutive CARIFTA title, continuing an unmatched run in regional athletics. Among the standout performers was Shanoya Douglas, whose electrifying run in the Under-20 200 metres earned her the prestigious Austin Sealy Award — the Games’ highest individual honour — after she shattered the long-standing record of Bahamian Shaunae Miller-Uibo, who went on to become an Olympic gold medalist in the 400 metres. Douglas clocked an impressive 22.11 seconds to rewrite the CARIFTA record books.
For Turks and Caicos, however, the spotlight remained firmly on the field, where two high jumpers delivered performances defined by discipline and growth. Hall’s gold medal-winning clearance of 2.00 metres marked a significant step forward in his development, improving on his 1.89 metre silver medal performance at the 2025 Inter-High Championships. Guerrier’s 1.90 metre effort in the Under-17 division similarly places him among the country’s top emerging talents, signalling a strong future for the event locally.
Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.
PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands — It’s that time again — a period of compliance, accountability and transparency for those entrusted with public office and captured under the category of “Specified Persons in Public Life.”
The Integrity Commission is reminding all individuals who fall within this category that they are legally required to file their Declarations of Income, Assets and Liabilities, in accordance with Section 39 of the Integrity Commission Ordinance.
The declaration window is now officially open, running from April 1 to June 30, 2026, and applies to a wide cross-section of senior
public officials, statutory board members and others operating within the machinery of government.
This is not a routine administrative exercise. It is a cornerstone of good governance — designed to ensure that those in positions of power are transparent about their financial interests, and to guard against corruption, conflicts of interest and illicit enrichment.
Who Must File
The Commission outlines several categories of individuals required to submit declarations this cycle.
They include:
- Persons who last filed on or before June 30, 2024
- Individuals newly appointed to statutory boards or government positions from April 1, 2026 onward
- Those who have demitted office, resigned or whose contracts have ended — who must file within 90 days of leaving their post
- Individuals who may not have previously realized they fall under the legal requirement
The net is wide — and intentionally so.
“Specified Persons in Public Life” includes elected officials, senior civil servants, financial officers, law enforcement leadership, members of statutory bodies, and other key decision-makers whose roles carry influence over public resources and policy.
Among them are Members of the House of Assembly, Cabinet Ministers, Permanent Secretaries, Heads of Department, senior police officers, and individuals serving on public boards and commissions.
The Commission notes that the full schedule of designated roles is extensive, and persons are encouraged to consult the official list available through its office or website to confirm whether they are captured under the law.
How to File
Unlike many modern reporting systems, this process remains deliberately controlled.
All declarations must be:
- Submitted in person
- Delivered by appointment only
- Accompanied by supporting documentation
Declarants will be contacted directly with their assigned appointment details, including date, time and location. The Commission has made it clear — submissions through third parties, email or mail will not be accepted.
This approach reinforces the seriousness of the process and ensures the integrity of submissions.
Declaration forms are available via the Commission’s website, and assistance is accessible through its Providenciales office for those needing clarification.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
The warning from the Commission is unambiguous.
Failure to file a declaration without reasonable cause is a criminal offence.
Penalties include:
- Up to one year imprisonment
- A fine of up to $15,000
- Or both
Additionally, the Commission is mandated to publish the names of non-compliant individuals in the official Gazette — a move that carries both legal and reputational consequences.
Confidential but Critical
While the process is strict, the Commission emphasizes that all declarations are confidential documents, handled with discretion.
Still, the purpose is clear: transparency does not always mean public disclosure — but it does mean accountability to an independent oversight body.
In a region where public trust can be fragile, these filings serve as a quiet but powerful mechanism to reinforce confidence in governance.
For Turks and Caicos, this annual exercise is more than paperwork — it is a test of integrity at the highest levels.
And for those required to file, the message is simple: comply, disclose, and do it on time.
For more information or to confirm filing obligations, individuals are encouraged to contact the Integrity Commission directly.
Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.
News
CALL 649-338-4008 OR 649-338-2684 IF A CHILD IS AT RISK: TCI Confronts Alarming Reality During Child Abuse Prevention Month
06PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands — The Turks and Caicos Islands, a small British Overseas Territory though it is, is grappling with an unsettling truth: levels of physical and psychological violence against children remain alarmingly high.
Recent regional findings place the country among the most concerning in the Caribbean, with data showing that eight to nine out of
every ten children experience some form of violent discipline — whether physical punishment or emotional harm.
It is a reality the Department of Family and Children Services is not taking lightly.
As the country marks Child Abuse Prevention Month 2026 under the theme “Positive Childhoods Start with Us,” officials are pushing beyond awareness and into action.
Director of DFCS, Ashley Adams Forbes, said changing that reality requires action from the entire community.
“Positive childhoods are not guaranteed—they are built when communities choose to show up for families and protect their children. When we listen, when we care, and when we speak up for a child in need, we may be changing the course of a life.”
Minister with responsibility for DFCS, Shaun D. Malcolm, warned that the consequences of inaction extend beyond individual families.
“Protecting our children is the most urgent duty we share as a nation. When any child is unsafe, our entire society is at risk.”
But beyond the messaging and observances, the Department is making it clear: residents have a role to play — and the tools to act.
Contact lines are open for those who suspect abuse, neglect or risk:
- Providenciales: 649-338-4008
- Grand Turk: 649-338-2684
Officials say even uncertainty should not silence action — reporting concerns can be the first step in protecting a child.
Across the islands, the call is for stronger families, more attentive communities and a willingness to intervene when something is not right. Because while policies and programmes matter, it is often the decisions made in homes, schools and neighbourhoods that determine whether a child feels safe — or suffers in silence.
The message this April is clear.
Positive childhoods do not happen by chance.
They are built — or broken — by the choices adults make every day.
And in Turks and Caicos, the moment to choose differently is now.
Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.
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