Statement: Tuesday January 26 Cabinet Meeting

#TurksandCaicosIslands – January 28, 2021 – His Excellency the Governor, Nigel Dakin, chaired the 4^th meeting of Cabinet on Tuesday 26 January 2021 by video conference.

All members were present.

At this meeting Cabinet:

·        Were updated on the state of the nation and discussed measures to further address and mitigate against any escalation of Coronavirus (Covid-19). Members discussed the current rise in positive cases, implications on the population, frontline staff, elections and agreed on next steps to address these.

·        Were updated on vaccination roll out for persons who reside in the Islands, the increase in vaccinations following additional support from the private sector and plans for the delivery of a further batch of Pfizer vaccines from the UK.

·        Were updated on the successful establishment of on-island antigen (aka lateral flow) testing for persons requiring negative Covid-19 tests in order to return to their countries of residence as well as for community surveillance.

• Approved to the following extensions or new measures with effect from Wednesday 27January until 5am on Wednesday 10 February 2021 unless otherwise stated:

a)     Night curfew on Providenciales from 21.00 (9pm) to 05.00 (5am),

b)     Night curfew on Grand Turk from 20.00 (8pm) to 05.00 (5am),

c)     All businesses on Providenciales to be closed by 20.00 (8pm),

d)     All businesses on Grand Turk to be closed by 19.00 (7pm),

e)     All businesses on the Family Islands to be closed by 20.00 (8pm),

f)       A restriction to no more than six (6) persons on all pleasure crafts used for excursions,

g)     Religious places of worship to be limited to 20 persons both indoors and outdoors,

h)     Weddings be limited to 20 persons both indoors and outdoors,

i)       Funeral services and burial grounds be limited to 20 persons both indoors and outdoors,

j)       An extension of the complete ban on public and private gatherings or Social activity of any description on all islands, including on beaches, and

k)     An extension of the complete ban on all sporting events.

• Noted Procurement Board recommendations on the award of a contract, in line with the process under the provisions of the Public Procurement Ordinance, for:

                       i.          PN 005572, Technical Block Raymond Gardiner High School (TR 20/26), and

                     ii.          PN 005584, North Caicos Road (TR 20/15)

·        Exceptionally approved the temporary use of an FDA approved Lateral Flow Test within the Turks and Caicos Islands for a limited time of two weeks until approved testing facilities have access to the lateral flow devices that meet the approved TCI standards.

·        Were updated on government revenues and the positive impact on stamp duty and the likely positive impact on revenues due to the increased tourism numbers over the Holidays.

Further information on these matters will be provided by Ministers in due course.