TCI News
Press Statement from the Office of the Leader of the Opposition
#Providenciales, November 20, 2018 – Turks and Caicos – The conditions and the circumstances which have made the NJS Francis building unfit for occupation thereby resulting in the relocation of the employees falls 
squarely at the feet of the Premier.
Endemic to leadership roles are decision rights which make the leader accountable and obligated to assume responsibility for policies, actions, decisions as well as the obligation to report, explain and answer for the result be it favourable or unfavourable. Yet, the Premier as the Leader of government, has neither reported nor offered an explanation. In many governments around the world, such abject failure would result in the government vacating office – considering that the problem was entirely avoidable.
The vindictive and capricious style of leadership which this Premier embrace, has resulted in various cancellations or delays to several infrastructure projects, including JAGS McCartney International Airport, Waterloo, the South Caicos International Airport Terminal and the Cultural Amphitheatre (fish-fry village). However, the awarding of the contract for the repairs and refurbishment of the NJS Francis Building is perhaps the most egregious frustration of a contract award, given the building’s centrality to TCI democracy, being the physical seat of government.
To aggravate the situation, the Premier reduced and then removed the 2.1 million-dollar originally allocation in the 2016/17 budget for the repairs to the building, and for which tenders went out in 2016. A contract with TCIG and a local contractor was signed in April 2017. However, instead of informing the contractor of the commencement date of the contract a letter of cancellation was sent on February 7, 2018.
The consequences of this will require the HOA to occupy the HJ Robinson High School Auditorium for an indeterminable period, thereby depriving students of valuable space and facilities. In addition, this failure will incur recurrent expenditure to accommodate Ministry of Finance and other staff. It will also result in an increase capital layout because of defects, which, had they been repaired as scheduled, would have resulted in less hurricane damage.
It is also noteworthy that there is a large tranche of funds available despite the Premier’ intransigence to appeals to 
help old and indigent hurricane victims – 55 million dollars in access according to the Government Press statement, the flow of which is like that of molasses. This hoarding of cash will only result in continuous degradation of infrastructure, more potential failures and mould infestation of government buildings. As has become the norm for the Premier, this national disgrace will once again be blamed erroneously on Irma and Maria. In the meantime, the delivery of services suffers because the government will now have to submit a supplementary appropriation bill and have it passed before it could retender the contract for the repairs and refurbishment. This is likely to take us well into 2020.
It is in the public interest that this government advises the Governor to dissolve the HOA and call a general election to avoid a complete systemic breakdown.
Press Release
TCIG knew from April that fuel factor could surge almost 80%; Minister says $500 cost-of-living payment was part of Government’s response
PROVIDENCIALES — The Turks and Caicos Government knew months before July’s shocking electricity bills that consumers faced a potentially massive increase in the fuel factor.
Minister of Information Technology and Energy E. Jay Saunders revealed Friday that Pelican Energy warned his Ministry in April that generation fuel costs were projected to rise from $3.09 per gallon in May to $4.79 in June and July.
That translated into a projected fuel factor jump from about 17.5 cents to 31 cents per kilowatt-hour — an increase of almost 80%.
Saunders said he personally advised Cabinet of the projected increase and presented options for cushioning the impact.
He characterised Government’s $500 cost-of-living payment as its “initial response” to rising fuel costs, before a separate fuel-factor subsidy was approved.
Cabinet records show Government agreed on June 24 to provide funding to mitigate the fuel-factor impact, with the relief programme approved July 8.
Eligible residential customers — those averaging less than $1,500 monthly over the previous three bills — are capped at 22 cents per kWh from July through October.
Pelican confirmed Friday that Government’s contribution was already applied to July bills, meaning the bills now triggering widespread public outrage would have been even higher without the subsidy.
Saunders did not disclose the programme’s total cost.
His admission that Government knew since April, however, raises another question amid the backlash: why were consumers not directly warned by Government about the scale of the approaching increase?
PROVIDENCIALES — New commercial Crown Land applications are facing a six-month pause as the Turks and Caicos Islands Government takes inventory of its holdings.
During Cabinet meetings held July 15 and 16, an immediate six-month moratorium was approved on the acceptance, processing
and approval of new applications for commercial Crown Land grants, leases and allocations.
The pause will remain in place pending completion of the Crown Land Inventory Review. Cabinet’s summary did not state what prompted the review or indicate whether availability of commercial Crown Land is a concern.
The two-day meeting also advanced major consumer legislation. Cabinet approved the National Fair Competition Policy 2026 and drafting instructions for a Fair Competition Ordinance, moving TCI toward stronger consumer protection and fair competition rules.
In Grand Turk, Cabinet approved rezoning land in the North West Suburbs from low-density to medium-density residential use to facilitate a new apartment development.
Cabinet also advanced fisheries reforms, water legislation allowing private and public-private investment, minerals legislation and appointments across tourism, health and finance.
Progress toward establishing a TCI Credit Union was also noted.
PROVIDENCIALES — Major development projects outside Providenciales received Cabinet attention on July 8, with Government approving agreements connected to the redevelopment of Dellis Cay and a resort development in North Caicos.
Cabinet approved a Development Agreement between the Turks and Caicos Islands Government, Desarrollos Hotelco DC Ltd. and
Desarrollos Hotelco Astoria Ltd. for the redevelopment of Dellis Cay.
The long-discussed private island development sits between Providenciales and North Caicos and its return to Cabinet signals another step toward redevelopment.
Cabinet also approved amendments to an agreement involving SPR LND Ltd. (Royal Reef) and TCIG Development Agreement for a resort/hotel development in North Caicos.
Other decisions included approval of the First Supplementary Appropriation Bill 2026 for onward transmission and the appointment of Cindy Ewing as Chair of the Invest TCI Board, effective August 1 for three years.
Cabinet also noted consultation outcomes concerning changes to business licensing, approved professional membership expenses for qualifying Telecommunications Commission staff and approved advice relating to the Interim Clinical and Estates Services PPP.
The July 8 meeting was chaired by Acting Governor Anya Williams.
Photo Credit: Royal Reef (Keith)
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