Expressions of Thanks, Appreciation and Recognition
Thank you so much for what you have been doing to achieve
what we have as a country. We are in our 5th week of curfew and
remain grateful for those who understand the importance and have embraced the
importance of what we are doing.
I must say thank you to the law enforcement team policing the
curfew and which includes Police, Immigration, Customs, DECR and Road Safety
Officers. We are grateful to you, the men and women who are serving on the
frontline in this way.
We pause to celebrate our health care workers and support
teams. You are indeed superstars, and we are grateful for your service.
We must always likewise celebrate all our essential staff
workers who continue to serve in this time and which extends beyond law
enforcement and medical personnel. We salute you and all the work and services
that you are carrying out in this time.
This period has taught us so many valuable lessons: the
fragility of life, the true meaning of being our brothers and sisters keepers
and the real benefits of working together with a singleness of mind and purpose
and all the gains we can attain as a result, but it also teaches us to
appreciate the work of many that society really cannot do without.
May God bless, guide and protect each and every one of you as
you serve.
COVID-19
During this pandemic, we have relied so heavily on our health
experts who use a science that continues to change in many respects to advise
us. We salute these persons and this week, I must single out a little known
department led by our very own Dr Shandy, called NERU who is working behind the
scenes in analysing and studying the numbers that we see each day and it is
this expert advice that continues to assist in guiding us. It is the Ministry
and by extension, the Government’s aim to clearly communicate as much as we can
and I remain grateful for those who continue to share ideas on how we can
improve the dashboard so that the messages are clear. I know that many of you
welcome the change in the dashboard that now shows active cases which is a
critical condition given the recoveries that we are now seeing. It is important
to re-emphasise the message of Team Health in that; a person is deemed
recovered only after two negative test results.
I also want to remind us all that sicknesses never discriminate and
neither should we. We have received requests to release names and even areas of
victims. For the time being, it has been decided against, in the best interest
of the victims; and while we understand the request, we must encourage us all
to take care and follow good hygienic practices, shelter in place until
otherwise advised and please note that if you are revealed in any contact
tracing exercise, the small and dedicated team at the Ministry of Health will
advise you.
Change in Dashboard
While today’s numbers are encouraging, we are happy to see
this but recognise as well that the virus is in country and we must be prepared
to face the fight head-on, and every decision we take will determine how we do
battle.
During the
curfew, the MOH and the Government identified key investments and policies that
had to be made. It allowed us to slow down as it were, the spread of the virus
but in a contained way. We all agree that we cannot stay in a container forever
and careful consideration is underway and over the next days, as to how we move
forward.
On Thursday,
April 30th, HE The Governor and I will address you on the way
forward and what you can expect post May 4th.
Ahead of
this, I wish to say, share and pull together critical information for you to
appreciate how your sacrifice over the past weeks has ensured gains for us
while we seek to preserve our lives.
Testing
I am delighted
that we are in receipt of our first PCR Equipment which has been in the country
for the past week and which is an important part of our National Strategy. The
Hon Minister of Health and his Team have repeatedly stated that in country
testing must be central to any strategy as this will allow us to increase
testing of residents beyond the WHO definition and in country. We remain
grateful to the Bahamas and CARPHA in what remains a true regional partnership.
They continue to conduct testing for TCI, and we are greatly appreciative. TCI
continues to enjoy valuable partnerships with benefit to our people’s. We must
thank the people of Jamaica for their support in our Treatment Abroad Program
despite the recent unfortunate situation that made headlines. Our region has
been a great family support when it matters, and we likewise have also been
able to lend support.
But we are
delighted with this in country capability and await the start date as will be
announced by the Ministry of Health very soon.
We are also
delighted that another PCR Equipment is in route and was procured by Public
Health England, and this will increase our testing capability. This second
equipment builds redundancy and increases our capability to test more.
Other Critical Needs Addressed
It is important to note as well that apart from the in
country testing capability, the MOH has also been working on our hospital
capacity and while we work towards maintaining low numbers, we expect that
wider testing will yield higher results and we must be able to address care. More
will be shared on Thursday regarding our increase in testing capability,
investment in hospital capacity, procurement of critical equipment and supplies
and medical personnel. Many of you have inquired whether we are seeking assistance
from Cuba in terms of medical uplift, and I am pleased to announce that we have
secured a contingent of medical personnel from Cuba. These critical
achievements strengthen our fight against COVID-19.
These key areas required time to resolve given the suddenness
of the impact but also the high demand throughout the region and the world.
More will be forthcoming on all of these critical strands in time.
Military Uplift
I must thank the UK Government as well for the support given
through the provision of military assistance. This Team is spread across
critical areas and continues to provide support for Health and Maritime. Their
support is welcomed at this time, and we have seen that even as we face this
challenge of COVID-19 we were thwarted with the arrival of sloops during the
curfew. We cannot continue to be exposed in this way during these trying times,
and I am pleased to announce that the UK is providing further UK Defence
support to the Turks and Caicos Islands to assist our counter-illegal
immigration
· With my support and the support of the
TCI Government, and on the advice of the Governor and the planners in Security
Assistance Team who are already with us, the UK is now deploying additional
military support to TCI.
· On
29 April, a chartered commercial flight carrying around 30 Royal Marines is
expected to land in TCI. These Royal Marines will fortify the 20 members of the
UK Security Assistance Team who emerged from quarantine on 20 April. All the
new arrivals will immediately enter quarantine for 14 days.
· Those 30 new
arrivals will focus on supporting the Maritime Branch of the Royal Turks and
Caicos Islands Police Service on counter-illegal immigration operations. The
TCI Government and the UK Government see this as an essential partnership to
prevent new transmissions of the coronavirus.
We are grateful for this, and we must realise that this is
not a normal assignment or the usual approach by the Military, and we believe
that these times call for unusual approaches.
Many of you have speculated today that I will announce an
extension and I have had many messages supporting either way. What I will say
is that much work has been ongoing over the past weeks to ensure that we are in
a better place after this period and to ensure that critical steps were taken
before considering a lift of the curfew. I will also say that Cabinet has met
to review our position and will meet again tomorrow to further discussions
around our national plan and again on Thursday, April 30th after
which the Governor and I will update the country on our National Approach post
May 4th. We will not risk losing the country’s gains achieved by your/our
sacrifices to shelter in place and as such I can say that we will not open as
we closed; that is with a big bang but are already resolved in our minds that a
phased and guarded approach is not only prudent but a must.
Governor, Emergency Powers and Local Government
I must commend our Governor for his approach to governance
and his valued partnership. We are indeed grateful for this, and even as we
invoke emergency powers to properly address this pandemic, local Government is
very much alive ; HE the Governor has taken decisions in Cabinet. I will in
another address, explain further the gains under Emergency Powers.
BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS
I turn our attention to
the recently passed Budget.
Over the past years, it became customary for me to address
this country in a press conference following the passage of the National
Budget. Today I wish to seize this
opportunity to provide highlights of the Appropriation Bill recently passed and
on the important and successful work of the House of Assembly over the past
week. And I do so again against the backdrop that it is extremely difficult to
forecast in these circumstances, but I also wish to assure us that there is a
strategy as I have outlined several times already, to funding our monthly
obligations, the critical programmes and projects in this Budget and the
unforeseen challenges particularly in the area of health.
This year we tabled the largest expenditure envelope in the
last decade totalling $337m which includes the cash grants under the Stimulus
Programme and the $35.2m capital expenditure. We are projecting a huge
shortfall in revenues and as such, laid a deficit Budget. The short fall at
this time is calculated at approximately $73m.
Key areas and announcements included in this Budget are as
follows:
- Increased
investment in border protection and security. Of the 160 new posts, 68 are in
border protection and security alone with a further 39 in manpower uplift for
the Police;
- Another
boat, drones and a new fleet of vehicles for the islands outside of
Providenciales;
- Increased
manpower at the Radar Station and critical radar upgrades to increase the rate
of success for intervention;
- Increased
manpower in immigration and the Prison;
- Funding
for the required consultancy to redevelop the Prison;
- Critical
manpower for DECR, a boat and drones;
- The
funding for a National Security Secretariat who will focus on the threats
identified in the National Security Strategy and also progressing works to set
up our very own Contingency Force/Defense Force.
- Investment
in Hurricane Preparedness: through manpower for DDME and the securing of
equipment to enhance communication and other equipment to prepare and respond.
- Funding
for the new Trade School works and staffing, for the required consultancy to
build a TCICC Provo Campus and for the purchase of a Special Needs School for
Grand Turk. Also included is an increase in scholarships which includes a
stipend to be paid to those who enrol in the Trade School, continued School
upgrades including new blocks and maintenance works.
- Funding
for required EIAs to conclude long outstanding work on the NPOs and to bring
welcomed closure for the unfortunate 10-year experience for Chalk Sound
Homeowners; to enhance gaming, and anti-money laundering training.
- Investment
in Social Security: increase in Home Help Programme for the elderly, seed
monies of $250k for a Credit Union for the Public Service; return of Terminal
Benefits/Gratuity for the Public Service.
- Ports
Redevelopment in Providenciales; continued work at the South Caicos Ports,
Belle Field Landing and the dredging works in the North Caicos Channel.
- The
Development of a multisector agency to regulate the electricity, water and
telecommunications sector.
- Local
Government works and continued community enhancement projects.
My Government’s overall
strategy is to continue to spend; consequently stimulating the economy. Our
capital programme is aimed at ensuring that there are employment opportunities
for many residents and is also heavily focused only on projects that will allow
money to remain in TCI.
Your Government believes that key investment to improve
lives, to enhance national security, to develop schools and provide educational
opportunities, to fund disaster management espeically as we get ready for the
hurricane season in a few weeks, to enhance deliverey of services and to
continue with community projects all must continue as we chart the way forward
beyond the pandemic.
Stimulus
I want to remind us all why the Budget had to be passed: in
order to give effect to the cash grants under the Stimulus Package. It is
important that we address things said that is intended to mislead our people.
The suggestion that we should remove the 3% to 10% limit off of the Contingency
Fund could not be considered neither did we have $30m unused and accessible
that could be used at the end of the financial year. There was also a suggestion that we increase
the Stimulus to $120m, which will essentially wipe out our unencumbered savings
in one month together with the funds needed for monthly obligations. I assure
the people of the country that these decisions are taken in our country’s best
interests as no one knows the length of this pandemic and the true fall-out.
While we fund the stimulus package and pay monthly obligations, we must also
consider the unknown health costs and the hurricane season on our heel. We
believe it best to proceed with caution and to recognise that we are possibly
in a marathon and not a sprint and that assistance must be gauged and reviewed
over the period of the pandemic.
The Budget went through the required constitutional changes
and was passed last Thursday, 23rd April 2020.
To date, the Ministry of Finance, Investment and Trade has
received over 9,500 employee grant applications and launched the Business Grant
Application over the weekend.
The Employee Stimulus
The Ministry of Finance, Investment and Trade is working with
programme developers to automate the process, so that documentation validations
will be the major part of the process requiring human input. We have found that there are a number of
duplications or erroneous applications, which when purged may take that
eligible number down to about 7,500. We
are aiming at having the payments released by Friday, 8 May, 2020.
Coronavirus Business
Assistance Grant
The Government, in an effort to assist the small business
community, has made allowances for eligible small businesses and self-employed
persons to access a one-off cash grant under the Coronavirus Business
Assistance Grant. The online application process was launched on 24th April
2020 following Cabinet’s approval of the Policy.
For the purpose of this grant programme, small businesses are
micro, small and medium-sized enterprises or MSMEs registered under the
Business Licensing Ordinance. These businesses are then further defined in
relation to the number of employees within each category. It is critical to
note that in giving effect to this initiative, the Government must institute
appropriate processes that are in accordance with existing legislation and
procedure. As such, self-employed persons and MSMEs are required to satisfy a
set of criteria which would enable them access to the grant funding available.
Further to pre-existing criteria as provided for under the
MSME Development Ordinance (commenced on 1st April 2016), the grant provides
financial assistance to those categories of small businesses that are “not
wholly or majority owned or a subsidiary of a larger company, and businesses
majority owned by Turks and Caicos Islanders.” However, this does not
exclude other small business operators who do not satisfy this criterion from
benefitting under the stimulus package. In fact, persons who do not meet these
criteria may be eligible to apply for financial assistance under this grant
programme as self-employed persons. It should also be noted that persons
employed by any category of business that serves the hospitality sector are
invited to apply for the financial assistance available to hospitality workers.
I wish to repeat that the Stimulus, when conceived, was to
support the hospitality sector and businesses that support the hospitality sector.
Businesses were listed, and a provision for others was inserted as the list was
in-exhaustive. Since this time, we have initiated a mandatory shut down which
has further impacted other sectors. The Ministry of Finance is looking at how
we might provide assistance to those businesses and employees who have been
impacted by the curfew and mandatory closure of businesses. This includes
identifying funding, the numbers of persons and the level of, and/or type of assistance. A number of
sectors have reached out to myself and the Ministry and are being considered in
the grander scheme of things guided by the availability of funding.
Let me state clearly; this programme is designed to stimulate
this economy by getting cash to those whose income has been impacted by
the COVID-19 pandemic and the
consequential economic fall-out. We understand the concerns from many who like
us will be appalled if in fact monies are remitted overseas. Truth is in our
consideration; we have too heard from businesses whose goods will see an
increase in cost should a further tax be applied and likewise we have heard
from TC Islanders who have children overseas or relatives who may need to share
their gains in that manner. Both sides are not lost on us, and we are carefully
considering all factors.
Additionally, I am advising you that the Ministry of
Education has sought and received the approval of its Social Enhancement Aide
Stimulus Policy and will be rolling it out within the next few days. This
programme will assist those who are
unemployed and seeks to support as many families as possible through the
provision of food vouchers.
Likewise, it is important to listen to the announcements to
come from the Ministry of Immigration, Citizenship, Labour and Employment
Services as it relates to work permit holders who will no longer be employed.
Efforts continue to secure the names of TC Islanders who wish
to return home and those who wish to leave the Turks and Caicos Islands. This
work is spearheaded by the Ministry of Tourism, and we invite those interested,
to make contact with the Ministry.
Bills and Regulations
Critical Bills and Regulations saw passage in the HOA during
the recent sitting.
Among these were for the work of the Courts and the House of
Assembly to continue virtually when and where possible.
We are pleased to also have provided further assistance to
those who hold loans with TCIG under the TC Invest Programme inclusive of the
former TOLCO loan accounts.
It is so important that we assist where we can not just as a
Government but as individuals and organisations. Many are in need, and no
Government is able to do it all. We must truly bless where we are able to and
watch these blessings return to us.
CONCLUSION
This is our
5th week since the curfew has been enf, and much has changed worldwide
and the life that we have grown accustomed to, seemed to have changed in a
split second. By all accounts, social distancing will be with us for a while.
We must recognise that there will be a new normal and we must remain vigilant
as we chart forward.
I have
already announced the Government’s strategy on life beyond the pandemic, in
devising an economic strategy for the short, medium and long term. The Economic
Council will be announced next week.
Even in the
midst of this pandemic, we must chart the way forward.
May God
bless us all and may He bless this beautiful by nature Turks and Caicos
Islands.