Connect with us

Caribbean News

TCI: Proclamation Issued: Turks & Caicos will this Friday Swear in a New Government; Outdoors!

Published

on

The Constitution requires it at least 14-days following the General Election and on Friday, the newly elected Progressive National Party government will convene not indoors for its first sitting of the House of Assembly but outdoors.

“Cabinet has approved, that Her Excellency the Governor (Any Williams – Acting) can issue a proclamation to actually re-locate the House of Assembly for the ceremonial swearing in to the parade grounds in Grand Turk so that we can have more space and the ability to social distance as a lot of interest has been expressed since the General Election of persons who would like to attend the ceremony,” said Akierra Missick, Minister of Infrastructure, Housing, Planning and Development.

Traditionally, this is a ‘standing room only’ event for the Turks and Caicos with official regional government delegations flying in to personally congratulate a new, duly elected administration.  Much of that will be either missing or diminished due to the mandatory precautions in place amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Obviously we cannot accommodate everyone who wants to attend so we will be streaming the ceremony on the Premier’s Facebook page, as well as RTC and the House of Assembly’s normal parliamentary streaming page,” said the Government’s Leader of Business in the House of Assembly, Hon Akierra Missick.

“Because the House of Assembly is the citadel of democracy of these islands, the decision was taken to relocate it outside so that we could adhere to the protocols, keep everyone safe, follow the rules but also allow the people to see the people’s house.”

The PNP Government administration is, as expected, not revealing its picks for Speaker of the House of Assembly or Deputy Speaker as yet but there was a bit more insight from the Minister of Infrastructure about the Speech from the Throne.

“That one is going to be interesting.  As we had campaigned on and the Premier has said, we want to increase our transparency as a government and the Freedom of Information Act is one of the paramount pieces of legislation that we will be seeking to achieve within our first quarter as we had pledged. So you will hear an indication of our Government’s priority in terms of legislation.”

The First Sitting of the new PNP Government, led by Hon Charles Washington Misick, Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands is Friday March 5, 2021 at 10 o’ clock in the morning.

Caribbean News

Millions to come from FSC 

Published

on

Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer 

 

 

#TurksandCaicos, March 17, 2023 – Revenue from the Turks and Caicos’ Financial Services Sector will more than double in the next few years, if E Jay Saunders, Deputy Premier and Finance Minister gets his way.  It ‘s one of the reasons the country is investing so much capital into getting off of the EU blacklist and becoming a secure trustworthy financial destination. 

“The FSC’s revenues for 2020/21 was $10.5M— the figures for 2021/22, would be about similar,” he said.  He further explained that $10.5 million from the FSC represented about 2.6 percent of the country’s 408.5-million-dollar revenue.  Though it increased to $14 million in the 2021/22 financial year, finance is still a small fry compared to tourism or even stamp duties but that will change, says Saunders. 

“My revenue goal for the Government by the year 2029 [or] the election after the next election – is $500M.  By that time, I want the financial sector (FSC) revenues to represent at least 5% ($25M).  So that’s my goal for the financial sector by 2029.” 

This goal, should it be met, would increase the Government’s revenue by 100 million dollars, a significant increase in spending power for local upgrades and improvements for Turks and Caicos residents and visitors. 

Saunders says it’s time for the TCI to diversify its sources of revenue to make sure that what happened in the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw residents out of a job for months, will not happen again.  Tourism now makes up around 80 percent of the country’s GDP.  The Minister of Finance wants to push that down to 60 or even 50 percent.  

Continue Reading

Caribbean News

Debrief on Haiti Caribbean heads visit 

Published

on

Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer 

 

 

#Haiti, March 17, 2023 – When a CARICOM delegation visited Haiti earlier this month, conspicuously absent was the Turks and Caicos Islands despite being one of the nations most directly affected by the multi-dimensional crisis there.  There is no comment, as yet from the Premier, to say why this was the case.  

Still, from the expedition, CARICOM heads of Government have informed that there will be lobbying in Africa for assistance in Haiti.  They say they have decided that the best course of action for the Caribbean country is to bolster the Haitian National Police and act as intermediaries with Africa and the world.  The decision follows a one day visit on February 27th, and a March 5th meeting chaired by the Bahamas. 

CARICOM says during the trip delegates ‘met with a broad range of Haitian stakeholders to hear their views on the way forward to a Haitian-led solution’. With that in mind it has made a decision on how to proceed.

“The Heads of Government agreed to support the Haitian National Police in their efforts to address the security situation.  The focus of the Community will be the provision of training for the HNP and the provision of humanitarian assistance to HNP and the wider Haitian society, taking into account the challenging humanitarian and security situation”

It’s not clear yet where and how this training will take place.  Also distinctly absent from the report, no more mention of boots on the ground from other countries despite CARICOM Member States indicating they were ready and willing should it come to that.

In addition, recognizing ‘the common historical experiences and the strong African-Caribbean relationship’ CARICOM says,

“Heads of Government also agreed to seek support from African countries for Haiti.  They also agreed to work with the Governments of Canada and the United States as well as the UNDP”

Magnetic Media has reached out to the Premier’s Office to get a full debrief of the February 27th visit (led by Jamaica; including The Bahamas and Trinidad and Tobago) to learn of Turks and Caicos’ posture following the critical sessions.  

Continue Reading

Caribbean News

New ASHLEY’S LEARNING CENTRE CONCERT

Published

on

Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer

 

 

#TurksandCaicos, March 17, 2023 – Musicians from the New World Symphony will be in the Turks and Caicos in concert next month and residents are invited to attend in support of the future of Ashley’s Learning Center.

A fairly young orchestral academy based in Miami, the New World Symphony was launched in the 1980s by 1987, Michael Tilson Thomas and Ted Arison,Carnival Cruises founder.  From the 1500 applicants who vie for a spot each year, the symphony accepts around 35 music graduates annually for training fellowships. 

A select few of those graduates will be in country on April 8th headlining at the Ashley’s Learning Center concert ‘We’re all in this together’.  The concert which also feature local artistes will be held at Brayton Hall on Venetian Road from 6 pm to 8:30 pm

Tickets are available ON ISLEHELP  $75 PER GENERAL SEAT $125 PER PREMIUM SEAT $195 PER GALLERY SEAT – with /FREFRESHMENTS. 

For TICKET RESERVATIONs you can call: 649-341-2304 or email  EVENTS@ASHLEYSLEARNINGCENTER.ORG 

 

Continue Reading

FIND US ON FACEBOOK

TRENDING