House Administration Committee recommends haste for license plates by prisoners

#TurksandCaicos, November 24, 2021 – Constitutionally charged through Section 64 with ensuring government departments deliver services efficiently to the general public, the Administration Committee of the House of Assembly is activated and turned in a report to parliament which should bring about more proficiency and expediency in several key offices.

From the report, findings revealed proactive interventions and recommendations which are already reaping returns said Alvin Garland, Opposition Appointed member who is Chairman of the Administration Committee.

Garland laid the report on Monday (November 22) and elaborated on its findings.

“The committee was concerned with the joint venture between Citizenship, Naturalization and Customer Service departments,” said the Chairman, who continued with, “It was noted that after the appearance by the Director of Citizenship & Naturalisation and the Registrar General, on the 11 June 2021, the Committee recalled the Permanent Secretary of Home Affairs department of citizenship and naturalization in the register general office on 3 August 2021 to conduct a walk-through of the various departments and discovered that there were apparent deficiencies in the various departments after the new system was implemented.

Mr. Speaker, the Committee then informed the Permanent Secretary of its concerns with their findings. That the software shown was not sufficient and was not satisfactory,” said Hon Garland.

A staff training exercise took place in September and daily reports are being produced in an effort to ensure there is close monitoring – by the Administration Committee – for at least the next three months.

“Hence the productivity of the staff has increased and the staff now feels more at ease with the new system.”

Another recommendation was for Road Safety Department to complete by next week, a draft Memorandum of Understanding which will accelerate the plan for license plates to be produced in-country by inmates at the Department of Corrections.

“The Committee encouraged the department of Motor Vehicles on having the policy finalised and presented to Cabinet for final approval to eliminate the challenges experienced in obtaining a drivers license and license plates etc.  Mr. Speaker the Committee recommends that the draft memorandum of understanding be made available by next week to allow prisoners to begin printing license plates. The Superintendent of prisons is tasked with finding individuals who can be trusted.”

It is a solution which should end the issue of license plates being unavailable for months at a time to motorists.  The lag time in vehicle owners receiving license plates has also been categorized as a national security threat.

The Committee, also staffed with John Malcolm, South Caicos Member; Harold Charles, Governor’s Appointed member; Jameka Williams, Government’s Appointed Member and Kyle Knowles, Wheeland district Member, also determined that the deputy director of road safety department position needs to be filled urgently.

“Due to workload of responsibility for the Department of Road Safety, that the positon of Deputy Director – if not filled – needs to be filled urgently and immediately.”

The group put forward that the community cabs program should be broadened to include work permit holders and limit cabs to 10 maximum, per operator.

“The Committee recommends that the regulations as it relates to Community Cabs be amended to allow work permit holders to have drivers’ license of the Community Cabs, the Committee also recommends that person with Community Cabs business license be allowed to have a maximum of ten cars.

While South Caicos was approved for equipment support for water production for its islanders there, Salt Cay was not “at this time”.

It was also determined, Permanent Residency Certificate applicants – at submission – should pay a non-refundable $1,000 deposit, which can be deducted from their final charge if approved for PRC status.

The findings were concluded through sessions spanning June to October and involved department heads and the permanent secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs, Transportation, Broadcasting, Energy & Utilities and Telecommunications Commission.

The report was approved as accepted by House of Assembly members, within the same sitting on Monday November 22, 2021.