TCI News
Turks and Caicos Post Cabinet Meeting Statement
#Providenciales, November 26, 2018 – Turks and Caicos – His Excellency the Governor, Dr John Freeman, chaired the 26th meeting of the Cabinet on Monday, 19 November 2018, at the Hon. Hilly Ewing Building on Providenciales.
All Ministers were present except the Minister of Education, Youth, Culture and Library Services
At this meeting Cabinet:
Agreed to the “Treatment of All-Inclusive Resorts” paper to advance the Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism (Taxation) (Amnesty) Bill 2018 to the House of Assembly.
- Received a paper presented by the Hon. Premier, as Minister of Finance, on the draft consultancy report on the redevelopment and modernization of South Dock, Providenciales. Cabinet noted the recommendations of the Board of Directors of the TCI Ports Authority in relation to the report;
- Approved the appointment of Mr. Ricardo D. Gardiner as the Opposition’s appointed Member on the Local Government Review and Modernization Committee;
- Approved the draft Home Owner’s Policy which includes incentives to first time and existing homeowners to be implemented with effect from 1 April 2019;
- Approved the appointment of the Commissioner of Labour as the Registrar of Trade Unions in accordance with Section 5 of the Trade Unions Ordinance;
- Agreed to the Jury (Amendment) Bill 2018 for advancement to the House of Assembly.
- Received as up-date from the Hon. Premier on the TCI National Disaster Recovery Task Force on the work of the Task Force;
- Advised His Excellency the Governor to agree to execute the framework agreement on compensations for compulsory acquisition of land by the Government.
- Noted the financial performance of the TCI Statutory Bodies for the period April – June 2018 as reported by the Accountant General in the 1stQuarter Financial Report 2018/19 submitted in accordance with Section 148 (1) of the Public Finance Management Regulations;
- Agreed for Invest TCI and Attorney General’s Chambers to commence negotiations, on a conditional basis, between TCIG and Windward Long Bay Ltd. on the proposed South Bank Resort and Marina Project;
Approved a draft TCIG Increment Policy paper governing the implementation of increments for the TCI Public Service;
- Received an update from the Premier and the Ministry of Finance on the critical work outstanding with regards to the EU Code of Conduct Group: the COCG’s response to TCIG’s latest correspondence, policy decisions made and the upcoming legislation to be presented to Cabinet;
- Received an update from Her Excellency the Deputy Governor on the visit of the EU Ambassador visit last week.
Further information on these matters will be provided by Ministers in due course.
Press Release: TCIG Press Office
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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