TCI News
Turks & Caicos Gov’t offers interest-free Christmas advance to Civil Servants
TurksandCaicosIslands – December 10, 2020 – TCIG PRESS RELEASE – The Turks and Caicos Islands Government is pleased to advise of the approval of the Public Financial Management (Special Christmas Advance) (Temporary Provisions) Bill 2020 which was approved by the Cabinet and subsequently the House of Assembly to facilitate the payment of an interest free Christmas Advance to all interested Civil Servants.
The Turks and Caicos Islands Government has for the past two decades and beyond, always provided its staff with some form of a Christmas Advance/Loan Program.
In 2011 TCIG regrettably ceased the direct offering of the program itself due to fiscal constraints. However, a partnership was entered into with the local financial institutions to offer a program to staff at commercial interest rates.
In 2019 TCIG reinstated the direct offering of an interest free Christmas Advance to its staff on more favorable terms than in the past as the previous programs only allowed a maximum payout of $2,000 while the new program allows staff up to a maximum of their basic monthly salary.
Some 1,148 civil servants benefited from the 2019 program at a cost of $2.9m to the Turks and Caicos Government with a payback rate of over 99% demonstrating its great success.
Commenting on the program Deputy Governor Anya Williams said: “We are pleased to once again offer our staff an interest free Christmas Advance Program this financial year.
Civil servants have worked tirelessly throughout the past few months during the pandemic to ensure that service continued to be delivered to persons across the Turks and Caicos Islands in a highly difficult environment.
They have done an excellent job in responding to the pandemic by working to keep us safe and healthy, ensure that revenue continued to be collected, expenses continued to be paid, our borders were able to be reopened, our streets continued to be policed and maintained and our children continued to receive instructional learning through our online learning platforms, among other areas.
We are grateful for their continued dedication and commitment and will continue to do our best to improve the social, economic and physical well-being of civil servants across the TCI by continuing to establish policies and programs to their benefit.”
Premier Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson in commenting said: “Notwithstanding the fiscal challenges around the world at the moment, my Government is pleased to once again facilitate an interest free Christmas Advance program for the civil service this year.
We know that this has been a very difficult year for many persons, including persons in the civil service who while receiving their full salaries during the pandemic may still have been impacted by other means due to loss of income by other family members.
Having prioritized our finances, we have as a government sought during the pandemic to provide much needed support to persons across the Turks and Caicos Islands through our Stimulus, Business Grant, Feeding and other assistance programs and will continue to provide support and assistance where necessary to all persons possible, including those in the civil service.”
#TurksandCaicos, May 21, 2024 – Officers from the Serious Crime Unit (SCU) of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force have made a breakthrough following boat thefts in the TCI.
On May 19, 2024, FARIDSON JEAN BAPTISTE, a Haitian national, was charged with the following offences:
- Theft of TCI boat Marauder
- Theft of TCI boat Jupiter
- Theft of TCI boat Team Baja
- Handling Stolen Goods
- Assisting Illegal Entry into the TCI
Mr JEAN BAPTISTE was initially detained on April 5 th 2024, while attempting to enter the TCI on a high-powered boat that was reported stolen. At the time of the interception, thirty (30) irregular migrants were being transported.
Mr JEAN BAPTISTE remains in custody pending a court date. The arrest and subsequent charges against Mr Jean Baptiste follow a complex, multi-jurisdictional investigation by the SCU and the Haitian National Police.
These investigations resulted in the recovery of boats and other property stolen from the TCI, which were retrieved from several locations in Haiti.
The recovered property has an estimated value of over $1.2 million.
#TurksandCaicos, May 21, 2024 – The Traffic Enforcement Unit of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force conducted joint road operations alongside the TCI Border Force on May 13th and 16th, 2024, focusing on crime reduction, illegal migration, and road safety.
These efforts aimed to ensure compliance with Road Traffic regulations and yielded significant results. During these operations, THIRTY-EIGHT (38) individuals were detained for immigration violations, and SIXTY-SIX (66) were reported for traffic offences. For April and May 2024, overall joint operations have resulted in ONE HUNDRED and TWENTY (120) persons detained for immigration purposes, and ONE HUNDRED and NINETY-NINE (199) reported for traffic violations.
Acting Inspector Damian Mitchell emphasised the interconnectedness of road traffic compliance, crime, and illegal migration.
He stated, “These operations focus on addressing each critical area.”
Division B and Community Policing head Superintendent Dwight Gardiner noted a general increase in public compliance with traffic regulations during the first quarter of the year.
Superintendent Gardiner encouraged road users to adhere to all aspects of the law, stating, “Let us all strive to keep our roads safe for everyone and reduce crime in our communities. Adhere to the rules of the road. Thanks to our law enforcement partners and you, members of the public.”
Motorists are especially urged to comply with regulations regarding vehicle window tints. Violations carry a substantial penalty of $250 per window.
The RTCIPF and TCI Border Force thank the public for their cooperation and continued efforts to maintain safety and order on the roads.
Wilkie Arthur
Freelance Court Correspondent
#TurksandCaicos, May 21, 2024 – An undocumented Haitian male, aged 20, faces charges related to gang activity and firearms.
He was apprehended along with others in a small blue car in front of Sunny Foods Supermarket on South Dock/Five Cays Road on Tuesday, May 2nd, 2024. Providing the name JAMES SIMON to the police, he was accompanied by a 16/17-year-old (name withheld) who faces charges of unlawful entry.
The accused is charged with illegal possession of a Black Glock 44 (serial number AEBE402) containing 10 rounds of 22LR ammunition on South Dock/Five Cays Road, Providenciales.
Additionally, he is alleged to be one of three individuals involved in a morning robbery at 809 or Chances, Blue Hills, Providenciales. The robbery, captured on video, involved the gunpoint theft of a female’s white handbag containing $799.00.
He has been remanded until the next sufficiency hearing on July 7th, 2024. Appearing in court on Monday, May 13th, he was represented by Mr. Ashwood Forbes, with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions represented by Ms. Enjaleek Dickerson.
He was arraigned on the following charges:
- Gang membership
- Robbery
- Possession of a firearm for the benefit of a gang
- Possession of ammunition for the benefit of a gang
- Unlawful entry
- Possession of a firearm
- Possession of ammunition
Both individuals are Creole-speaking.
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