News
No End in Sight for Conflict in Ukraine; TCI Gov’t Rolls Out $15 Million Tax Break to ‘Hold Down’ Costs
By Deandrea Hamilton
Editor
#TurksandCaicos, March 16, 2022 – Tax cuts worth $15 million were announced by Washington Misick, Turks and Caicos Islands Premier as a first step toward helping to “hold down” the escalating cost of goods in the marketplace; he addressed the nation on Tuesday March 15 in a press conference carried live.
Premier Misick said the conflict between Russia and Ukraine has exacerbated an already record-setting inflationary period as the world trudges out of the Coronavirus pandemic. 
“Even before the crisis started, or the conflict started between Russia and Ukraine we were already experiencing high rates of inflation and we spoke to you and told you that we would be dealing with it and dealing with it by the appointment of a commission to look at minimum wage and some other issues. That Commission has been appointed and the work is now beginning on that front,” he said on Tuesday evening.
While his government is prepared to swallow a budgetary loss of $15 million dollars, at this time, it could be that more action is needed as the country’s leader expressed uncertainty about an end to the conflict which has already claimed 691 lives and has forced three million people to flee the country.
“The conflict is not over, it is far from over and we cannot at this stage, predict with any degree of certainty what will happen as we move forward but the Turks and Caicos Government has taken into consideration the fact that the cost of the conflict will further impact the cost of living and the quality of life as a result of that. So we come today to speak to you about the initial package of relief that we will provide to try to mitigate the serious impact on the consumers of the Turks and Caicos Islands and they focus on food and fuel.”
Recognizing that the two eastern European countries together are super powers in oil and wheat production, the Premier somberly shared what intervention was approved at Cabinet, for now.
“There is a tax, which is an 85 cent levy per gallon on fuel; it is actually sometimes referred to as the additional duty on fuel and then there’s also the CPF.”
The Customs Processing Fee is a 7.5 per cent tax on the purchase value of the goods.
Government has decided to trim both.
“The Government has agreed, in Cabinet to provide a $15 Million package; a relief worth $15 Million for the time being,” said Hon Misick, “over the next 12 months and depending on how the situation unfolds, we will then be revisiting the concessions we are providing.”
The fuel sold at the pumps is taxed; the TCI Government takes from each gallon sold, 85 cents. That fuel tax will be reduced by 25%, said the Premier, which translates to the consumer saving 21 cents per gallon.
Government is forgoing collection of $2.7 million dollars due to this concession which takes effect from April 1.
“In addition to the fuel, there’s also proposed a CPF which now stands at 7.5 per cent, that will now be reduced to 5 per cent.”
Right now, prices at the pumps in the Turks and Caicos Islands resident for regular fuel is almost unbearable. One fuel station is already past $7 per gallon for regular gasoline.
Nearly 100 per cent of what people in the Turks and Caicos consume is imported, more than 85 per cent of the imports are from the United States and around 14 per cent is from the region, according to 2019 statistics.
“Things have gotten significantly worse as a result of the war between Russia and Ukraine. A little known fact until very recently, between Russia and Ukraine – they actually together produce 50 per cent of the world’s wheat and they are of course super producers of gas and oil; so today what we have already noticed is that the price has gone up significantly at the pump; supply lines and supply chains have started to tighten already.”
Now that the announcement is made outlining what Cabinet has decided in order to soften the blow on local prices due to the global inflation, E. Jay Saunders, the Minister of Finance and his Consumer & Trade Department must meet with local fuel suppliers, utility companies, grocers and other retailers to communicate the changes and expectations.
The hope is the Commercial sector, which has never before experienced any policing of its pricing, will need very little in terms of spot checks.
Government is optimistic these entities will do the right thing by passing on the full savings to consumers in support of their relief package for residents of the Turks and Caicos.
Wilkie Arthur
Court Correspondent
#TurksandCaicos, May 15, 2024 – It was an uneasy night on Tuesday May 14 for some residents of Five Cays, Providenciales owing to continuous, serious fire power with gun shots blaring in various areas of the community.
Some say they heard shots in Granny Hill and reported a man walking around with a gun, randomly shooting at unidentifiable targets. Some say shots were heard behind the Enid Capron Primary School. Some say they heard gun shot sounds coming from a residential area as well.
The most compelling accounts, however, were on reported events in another area called “The Wells”; a community in the depths of Five Cays and South Dock.
Criminals took on law enforcement in a gun battle involving the armored truck and a CID vehicle.
No members of the Royal TCI Police were hit.
Not the same for the other side. One person was hit, a young man not known to police and it’s not clear if he was one of the men shooting at the police or an innocently caught in the crossfire.
The man was arrested as a possible suspect. He is also in hospital with an “entrance and exit” gunshot wound.
During the shootout in The Wells, the CID vehicle was shot at repeatedly, disabling its movement as gunfire damaged the engine. Concerning to us, these shootings were at different times and locations but came in rapid succession; one right after the other, I was told.
Most described the sounds as coming “from some big guns.”
Police the morning after allowed me in to see up close.
Video, photos feature my EXCLUSIVE, close-up look at the damage done by criminals; it is clear high powered rifles were used by these suspects still at large.
Wilkie Arthur
Freelance Court Correspondent
#TurksandCaicos, May 21, 2024 – A gruesome discovery was made around midday today (Sunday, May 19th, 2024) when police and fire rescue teams responded to a call at a location on Blue Hills Back Road, off Millennium Highway. The area, situated next to the Fortis Sub-Station, is accessible via a long, secluded dirt road.
Upon arrival, authorities found a vehicle completely engulfed in flames. The vehicle was later removed by police after being alerted by
an anonymous source to its burnt-out location. Local residents indicated that the fire had been ignited around 2-3 a.m. earlier that morning, but authorities were not notified until later in the day.
Residents could not provide details about the individual inside the vehicle or even discern its color due to the extensive damage caused by the fire. Videos of the discovery location are available, but footage of the vehicle itself will be provided once it has been located. The vehicle was reportedly still burning when police arrived at the scene.
Official Royal TCI Police Report:
Media Release – May 19th, 2024: Active Investigation Officers of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF) are currently on the scene of a vehicle fire in the Blue Hills, Providenciales area. Acting on received information, officers arrived at the location along North Side Close and discovered a burnt vehicle with what appeared to be a body inside.
The RTCIPF is conducting a thorough investigation to determine the circumstances of this incident. As this is an active investigation, more details will be provided to the public as they become available.
May 21, 2024 – The Turks and Caicos Islands have clear laws prohibiting the possession of firearms and or ammunition without a licence and strict penalties in order to serve and protect the community. Our Firearms Ordinance, which was amended in 2022, states that:
No person (other than a licensed gunsmith in the course of his trade) shall have in his possession, discharge or use any firearm or ammunition unless he is the holder of a firearm licence with respect to such firearm, or in case of ammunition he is the holder of a licence for a firearm which takes that ammunition.
Firearm and/or ammunition offences carry a mandatory minimum custodial sentence of twelve years plus a fine. Where a court finds there are exceptional circumstances, the sentencing judge has discretion, under the law, to impose a custodial sentence and a fine that are fair and just in the circumstances of each case rather than impose the mandatory minimum.
The Chief Justice is advancing sentencing guidelines in respect of the application of exceptional circumstances. Wider work is also ongoing with criminal justice partners to review the efficiency and effectiveness of case progression, in driving justice outcomes.
It is the traveller’s responsibility to ensure their baggage is free of firearms and/or ammunition. Permission from an airline carrier does not constitute permission to bring firearms or ammunition into the Turks and Caicos Islands. Travellers are also strongly advised to search their luggage before they travel to the Turks and Caicos Islands to ensure they do not bring in forbidden items inadvertently. Such offences will result in arrest.
The Turks and Caicos Islands is a British Overseas Territory with a common law legal system, and reserves the right to enforce its laws. All persons, including visitors, must follow lawful process.
The Turks and Caicos Islands welcomes all visitors but reminds travellers that persons in the Turks and Caicos Islands do not have a constitutional right to carry firearms. Equally, the importation of firearms, ammunition (including stray bullets), and other weapons is strictly forbidden, unless licence to do so has been issued by the Commissioner of Police.
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