News
THE PEOPLE’S TERM!
#TurksandCaicos, June 30, 2021 – Mr. Speaker, having heard the Hon. Premier’ presentation of the 2020/21 Appropriation Bill, I am indeed proud to be a part of this team Of People Centered Government. The desire as expressed by our Premier to move our people from poverty to prosperity is actualized in this budget. And why Mr. Speaker is this so. It is so because people are central to the economic and social development of our country. Mr. Speaker, there is a symbiotic relationship between economic development and social development; the Premier has demonstrated this.
And Mr. Speaker, as I listened attentively to our Hon. Premier, I heard ‘people’ mentioned at least 20 times throughout the presentation. What does this mean Mr. Speaker? It means that the People’s Term is here. It means that this Government led by the Hon. Premier is committed to the words of wisdom found in Proverbs 23:7 “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due when it is in your power to act.” It simply means Mr. Speaker to treat others right.
As I said Mr. Speaker, the Premier has demonstrated that this government is on its mission to do right by our people. Let us for a moment Mr. Speaker look at all the right things that have been done for the people of our country.
A FEW LIST HERE
Mr. Speaker: Our Government Droped a 15 million Stimulus Grant after few days coming yo office. We paid $1000.00 to every TCI & BOTC 18 years and older. More Good News Mr. Speaker, The People now have up to September 1, 2021 to collect their cheques.. WE COME FOR THIS WORK!! PNP.
Mr. Speaker: Our Government approved write-off interest and penalties on Outstanding Contributions for NIB & NHIB up to February 28, 2021.
Mr. Speaker: Our Government approved the waiver of Outstanding Customs Warehouse Rent up to March 31, 2021.
Mr. Speaker: Two weeks in Offic, Our Government removed Import Tariffs from all Essential Supplies used for Sanitation, Hygiene and Safety Purposes, including PPE’s for a period of six months. Starting March 2021 – September 2021.
Mr. Speaker: If You’re A Homemaker, A Farmer, A Doctor, A Taxi Driver, A Fisherman or Hotel.. Our Government Will Not Leave You Behind.
Mr.Speaker: Oh..If You’re A Youth, University Student or Young Business Person in this Country. This Government Will Not Leave You Behind..
Mr. Speaker: This Government in this 2021/22 has made spending on Infrastructure and the Social Development of this Country and PEOPLE TOP PRIORITIES.
Mr. Speaker, I mentioned the symbiotic relationship between social and economic development. Let me turn now to the social and economic aspects in this budget. Mr. Speaker, social development is about improving the well being of every individual in society so they can reach their full potential.
Ø It means investing in people;
Ø it means giving our people a good sound education where innovation and creativity are nurtured (support this with some numbers from the budget)
Ø It means releasing our people from the grips of poverty by ensuring the creation of quality jobs that support decent standards of living;
Ø It means ensuring that our young and innovative population have the opportunity to become entrepreneurs on the path to success and inclusion in the wealth of this country. As our Deputy continue to say, so that they can live their best lives here.
Conclusion
Mr. Speaker, The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said
“Economic development cannot take a nation forward on its own. We need a society and economy which complement each other. We need to take care of the poor, deprived and left behind sections of society.”
You will find Mr. Speaker representations of this in this budget. Mr. Speaker, this government did not run its campaign on promise. It entered into a binding Social Contract with the people of this country. This budget reflects that commitment. I lend my unwavering support to this budget.
May God continue to direct and guide the leadership of our dear country and bless this beautiful by nature Turks and Caicos Islands.
HON.SHAUN DAVID MALCOLM
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.
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.
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
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