Gov’t still has $600,000 to give Grand Turk businesses

By Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer

#TurksandCaicos, December 24, 2021 – The Cruise Tourism Sector Assistance Grant has gone 60 per cent undersubscribed and the Turks and Caicos Islands Government has created several avenues to enable more Grand Turk businesses to access the $1 Million fund.

Deputy Premier E. J Saunders said government has written off $21,000 in business license arrears for Grand Turk businesses in the cruise tourism sector.  The write off, approved in the House of Assembly on December 13 was geared toward freeing up business with outstanding penalties so those businesses could benefit from the $1 million Cruise Tourism Sector Assistance grants.

So far under the grant program,  there have been payouts to businesses totaling over $400,000.

The business that missed out though will have to wait until January to see their share of the stimulus package. Deputy Premier Saunders urged owners who fall within this category not to worry about missing the Christmas rush, saying, “Christmas created this artificial deadline… and I understand the urgency but the winter season goes beyond Christmas and we want people to benefit from that…people who didn’t benefit from it for Christmas will benefit for the rest of the season.”

Saunders said government expects a very good winter season, hence the rush to get business on their feet. He stressed that his government was all about helping people and told Magnetic Media that if people still needed support come February and March, it would be considered.

The Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance also said the program would extend to all of the Turks and Caicos.

“We have brought papers to Cabinet to write off, those amounts right across the Turks and Caicos and have that passed to Parliament so it can be approved on the house.”

He explained that the delay was because the bills tabled before the Cabinet needed more information saying that for transparency purposes the information had to be completely accurate.

“They have gone back to the Ministry of Finance so they can get more supporting documentation so when they go to the house we will be able to answer every question as it comes up.”

Saunders said the intention is not to hold up the cruise sector while write offs are secured for the rest of the country which is why Grand Turk benefitted first.

So far the government has given $180,000 thousand to Taxi Service providers; $94,000 to land tour operators; $47,000 to Water Sports equipment companies; $38,000 to Native Arts and Craft stores; $30 thousand to Water Tour Operators; $10,500 to Hair Braiding businesses and $3,500  to Spas and Massage Parlours.

When announced by Akierra Missick, Minister of Physical Planning and Infrastructure which is actually funding the program, it was said allotments were in the range of $3,500 to $10,000.

An appeals process was, this week, set up for those applicants who were denied and persons can send their appeals to tcicruisegrant@gov.tc