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TURKS AND CAICOS POST CABINET MEETING STATEMENT

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#TurksandCaicos, March 25, 2021 – His Excellency the Governor, Nigel Dakin, chaired the 4th meeting of Cabinet on Monday 15 March 2021 at the Office of the Premier on Providenciales.

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) and discussed increased testing of front line staff and the population at large.

  • Approved the extension of existing control measures (curfew, business hours, capacity or persons allowed in named establishments/scenarios and ban on public and private gatherings, sporting or social activity of any description on all islands save for training for CARIFTA and by the TCIFA) on the basis of expert modelling advice.
  • Approved the following new measures with effect from Wednesday 17 March until Friday 2 April unless otherwise stated:

a)    Suspension of business operations for 8 or 15 days for repeat non-compliance with measures,

b)    Extending the use of logbooks until 30th June 2021, and

c)    Extending the ban on cruise ship arrivals until 31st August 2021.

·         Approved amendments to facilitate the operation of pleasure craft. These include:

a)     Pleasure craft are permitted to operate at a maximum occupancy of 30%,

b)     Vessels with a capacity of 10 persons or less be limited to a maximum of six persons from outside the same household,

c)     A ban on all boat parties,

d)     All pleasure craft are required to register with DECR, who will also be responsible for determining the capacity of each vessel.

·         Approved the appointment of Attorney Ms Elizabeth Charlton, Senior Crown Counsel, AG Chambers as a Member of the Allied Health and Pharmacy Council until 21 July 2021, replacing Ms. Chassidy Swann (Attorney).

·         Approved the discontinuation of the Social Stimulus Program within the Ministry of Education, with the balance of funds to be reallocated to the purchasing of food vouchers with distribution by the TCI Conglomerate of NGOs to assist vulnerable persons.

·         Noted progress with the provision of online education for all students. Approved a phased approach to the reopening of schools commencing on 22 March and 3 May 2021 depending on size of school and state of readiness.  All schools with less than 200 students are allowed to return to face to face learning with schools with 200 or more students to utilize a blended approach.

·         Approved the use of the Gaming Control Commission Board as a Commission appointed under the Casinos Ordinance and following the requirements of the Gaming Control Ordinance to consider an application from Desarollos Hotelco Ritz Carlton for the establishment of an in-house casino.   

·         Approved Supplementary Appropriation No. 3 relating to FY 20/21 reducing funding from the Public Sector Investment Program; reducing funding for specific capital projects; the transfer of funds from the Contingency Fund; and an adjustment to the recurrent expenditure. Some of the funds recovered will be used to cover the increase in retirement benefits and the increase in allocation to the economic stimulus program.   

·         Members discussed the implications of Supplementary Appropriation No. 3 and agreed next steps on a number of existing and new capital projects along with their associated human/funding requirements.   

·         In line with the process under the provisions of the Public Procurement Ordinance, approved the Procurement Board’s recommendations on the award of the following contracts:    

a)     TR 20/31, Consultancy Services for Valuation of the Turks and Caicos Islands Government (TCIG) Fixed Assets,

b)     PN 005577, Furniture for Road Safety – Providenciales (TR 20/49) and

c)     TCICAA 01/2020, Automobiles for the Turks and Caicos Civil Aviation Authority – Grand Turk (TR 20/27)

·         Approved the terms of settlement, as proposed by the Attorney General, to an ongoing claim against the TCI Government.

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

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DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM REGULATIONS INTRODUCES “RATE YOUR RIDE” SYSTEM FOR TOURISTS VISITING THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS

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FROM THE MINISTRY OF TOURISM

 

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 27th March, 2024 – Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands: The Department of Tourism Regulations is proud to unveil the “Rate Your Ride” system, a new initiative designed to enhance the vacation experience for tourists exploring our picturesque islands.

The “Rate Your Ride” system empowers tourists to provide valuable feedback on the quality of transportation services they receive while visiting the Turks and Caicos Islands. Through an easy-to-use online form, tourists can rate factors such as cleanliness, comfort, safety, and professionalism of drivers, helping us to assure the highest quality of service standards across all modes of transportation.

By participating in the “Rate Your Ride” system, tourists play a crucial role in shaping the future of transportation services in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Their feedback will enable us to identify areas for improvement and ensure that every visitor enjoys safe, comfortable, and convenient travel throughout their stay in the Turks and Caicos.

The code will also be publicly accessible through the cooperation of volunteer drivers who will make the rating code available in their vehicles. Flyers and stickers displaying the code will be distributed at hotels, resorts and airports. The mandated display of these codes is expected to align with the rollout of our tourism regulations in 2025.

For more information about the “Rate Your Ride” system and other initiatives by the Department of Tourism Regulations, please visit gov.tc/tourismregulations/or contact us via telephone at 946-4970 and email at tourismregulations@gov.tc.

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THE DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIOURAL HEALTH SERVICES CONDEMNS RECORDING OF PERSONS WHO ARE IN CRISIS

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FROM THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

 

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 27th March 2024– The Department of Behavioral Health Services is appealing to the general public to refrain from recording and circulating videos of persons who may appear to be experiencing a mental health crisis. Anyone can experience a mental health crisis at some point in their life. According to the World Health Organization, 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem in any given year. Persons may struggle with very common conditions such as Anxiety and Depression or be diagnosed with more serious conditions like Bipolar Disorder or Psychosis.

“There are a lot of misunderstandings about various mental health conditions and how they may manifest. In addition, there are a number of negative perceptions and misconceptions that society exhibits towards people with mental health problems. However, just as we would show care and concern for someone diagnosed with Cancer, or any other physical illness, in the same way, we need to be as caring and helpful to persons with mental illnesses”– stated Director of the Department of Behavioral Health Services, Dr. Alicia Malcolm.

The Department is urging the public to call the following numbers if you see someone who appears to be experiencing a mental health crisis:

338-5473/338-3616: Providenciales, North or Middle Caicos

338-3614/338-3612: Grand Turk, South Caicos, Salt Cay

338-6301: Nights and Weekends

If someone is putting themselves or someone else in immediate, serious risk of harm, call 911.

The Department of Behavioral Health services is here to help and provides the following services which are free and confidential:

Location of above services:

o             Sam Harvey Building, Down Town, Providenciales,

o             Primary Health Care Department, Cheshire Hall Medical Center, Providenciales 

o             Department of Behavioural Health, Duncombe Alley, Grand Turk

 

Let’s all do our part in creating a community where people with mental health problems feel respected, supported and cared for. 

For additional information, please visit the Ministry of Health’s Facebook page on https://www.facebook.com/tciministryofhealth/ or the Department of Behavioral Health Services Faceebook on https://www.facebook.com/TCIDBHS/.

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Breaking Ground: TCI Could Lead in Regional Communication Standards

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Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom, 27th March 2024: The PR, marketing, and communications sector is poised for potential growth and could lead the Caribbean region in terms of industry standards says Damian Wilson. Wilson’s suggestion comes after the release of a new research report into the current trends and future direction of the sector as a possible emerging industry in the Turks & Caicos Islands (TCI).

Wilson is the report’s author, which conveys the findings of research which he initiated. “One of the key research results is the considerable optimism by industry practitioners and government alike, with persons seeing growth potential. I believe that we can become regional leaders in this field. I believe that one of the initiatives that could be used to do this is by establishing a ‘TCI Centre of Communications Excellence’ within the TCI Community College. Such an institute would be dedicated to communication and media innovation with a particular focus on digital communications and ICT,” says Wilson.

He further explained, “I believe that the PR, marketing, and communications sector, like much of the country, is at a crossroads and could have an even greater impact on our socio-economic fabric. Some may have concerns about our small size, but I believe this makes us far more agile than our neighbours. All in all, any potential growth must be underpinned by new investments, professional development, and a strategy to integrate the sector into the broader economy.”

Wilson also said that he sees his research as a first step in understanding our own industry sectors in the TCI and would love to see more profound research and analysis conducted. He’s hoping that the report will spark discussion along those lines. The report is entitled ‘Current Trends and Future Direction: A Preliminary Report on the PR, Marketing, and Communications Sector in the Turks & Caicos Islands’. Anyone wanting a copy of the report can contact Damian Wilson via his email, damian.wilson.pr@gmail.com.

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