#Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands –
September 13, 2020 — Thousands of households in Turks and Caicos will
benefit from a new stimulus grant program rolled out by the country’s premier
and finance minister on September 10.
“Today I am pleased to announce the launch of a new
stimulus grant program to attempt to address the economic fall-out resulting
from the pandemic, the Turks and Caicos government has re-apportioned or reclassified $5m in stimulus
grant that were appropriated in April 2020,” said Sharlene Robinson during a press
conference at the Office of the Premier.
Three hundred taxi drivers; 9,700 workers and 11,000
households are expected to benefit from the stimulus suite featuring cash
payments, unemployment benefits and food assistance.
“$4.5 million will now be made available in direct
assistance to employees that would have been impacted during the national lockdown
in the Turks and Caicos islands during the period march to June 2020; it is
being proposed that these individuals will be given a one off payment of $600,”
explained the Premier in her statement broadcast live on national radio and
over social media.
The Premier shared the criteria for eligibility will be
revealed later and informed native Turks and Caicos Islanders, who benefited
from the first wave in stimulus payouts, would be able to apply for support
once again.
“If you would have received a first stimulus, you would
only need to provide proof and not necessary for you to through the entire
process of providing documents again.”
Previously all hospitality workers – indigenous and
expatriate – were deemed eligible for $1,200 government cash assistance. Taxi drivers
and other public service vehicle license holders were not included but are now singled
out for government cash support.
“Half a million dollars has now been made available for a
separate stimulus program for persons operating within the public service vehicle
license sector; this included eligible operators in the community cab, taxi and
private transfer vehicle category,” the Premier added, “This will certainly assist
the taxi drivers who have been waiting for their stimulus to be offered and to
be approved.”
Taxi drivers had protested in July; demanding inclusion
in the stimulus payouts. Many of the
drivers were either not registered with the National Insurance Board, NIB or
had sizable arrears. Efforts to bypass
these restrictive requirements were stalled.
The Premier and Finance Minister, last Thursday delivered the welcoming
news following a decision by Cabinet.
“We will be opening that stimulus program back up, for
persons to apply,” explained the Premier who, on Thursday repeated that details
of distribution of the funds were to be announced.
Acknowledgement of the traditionally slow tourism season,
the usually busy hurricane season and the unprecedented impact of the
coronavirus pandemic even on back to school, has not been lost of the
government, shared Mrs. Robinson.
“Your government has identified approximately 11,000
households within the Turks and Caicos Islands; identified by parcel and head
of household for this program,” it was
added that, “This program will be led under the Office of the Premier, Local
Government and Community Affairs who
will provide further information on the temporary food program.”
It is a temporary program, approved by the TCI Cabinet, which
will support households nationwide.
During the press conference, which welcomed media via
ZOOM, Premier Robinson announced an unemployment and under employment benefit scheme
to come for the Turks and Caicos workforce through the NIB.
The NIB has approved $4.2 million for eight weeks of
unemployment benefit payments.
“Contributors would have had to have a minimum of 250 or
five years of contributions with special provisions for Turks and Caicos Islanders
and PRC holders, the applicant must either have been laid off or terminated as
a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The proposed benefit rate is fifty percent of the individuals’ average weekly,
insurable earnings and is payable for an initial period of eight weeks or until
the exhaustion of the $4.2 million.”
The NIB fund is expected to support 2,200 workers.