TCI News
TCI: Civil Servants Increments to be Reinstated in 2019
#Providenciales, February 13, 2019 – Turks and Caicos – The Turks and Caicos Government is pleased to advise that following the suspension of increments since 2010, public servants in the Turks and Caicos Islands upon the successful completion of their 2018/2019 appraisals will receive their first increment under the new Pay and Grading system which was implemented in 2014.
Deputy Governor and Head of the Public Service commenting said; “The freezing of increments was simultaneously implemented with the 10% salary reduction in May 2010 as a part of several austerity measures aimed at reducing the unsustainable cost of the civil service at that time. Since 2010 we have worked to carefully manage our public service costs ensuring that our ratios are less than 40% of revenue income each year, whilst still being able to implement a new pay and grading system and to increase our staff complement each year since that time.
We are grateful to our staff for the work that they do and believe that they should be appropriately compensated based on performance. As such we are thrilled to announce the reinstatement of increments under the new Performance Management Program and will continue to work to improve the well-being of staff across government through various review and reform programs aimed at enhancing the delivery and well-being of the Turks and Caicos Islands civil service.”
The Honourable Premier and Minister of Finance in commenting said; “It has been nearly 10 years since increments for public servants were frozen and whilst many understood the position as it was then, there was an expectancy then that this decision would be reversed once our financial position improved. On being elected, we committed ourselves to improving the working conditions for the public service only to have a pause as it were following the Storms which came 9 months after coming to Office. Since the storms, we continue to manage the public purse with fiscal prudence and are pleased to be at this place.
“Today, our economy remains strong, and we are pleased that even in this rebuilding period, we are able to finance this benefit for the many hard – working, well deserving public servants. We are grateful for those who continue to work hard and with excellence for they have made it possible for my Government to achieve what we have to date. This is a conscious decision taken by my Government to incentivise those of you who continue to perform well and to deliver same in the face of competing priorities. We value you and we trust this again demonstrates this.
“Whilst we seek to improve working conditions through this financial incentive, we are pleased to also announce that we have in this upcoming Budget set aside a significant sum of monies to temporarily relocate offices while critical government building repairs are moving forward under our Capital Program for 2018/19. We anticipate greater efficiency and productivity as we provide financial incentives, new and improved working environments, manpower and other resources.”
Release: TCIG
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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