Special Distribution of Inflation Stimulus to Deferred Applicants says Minister

Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer

#TurksandCaicos, March 31, 2022 – Deferred Applicants should not despair over the free cash Government has agreed to distribute in its Inflation Stimulus Package.  A special process is devised, said the Minister of Finance, to ensure younger applicants who were unable to provide requisite documents, like utility bills, will still be able to qualify.

“I would like to point out that deferred is not the same as declined.” He continued, “You will have a process that we will use in order to help many of those applicants to receive a similar stimulus so I want those persons to know we have not forgotten them.”

Of the 13,094 applicants, 88 per cent or 11,481 were approved; 222 or 2 per cent were duplicate applications and 67 per cent were declined.

The remaining 1,324 or 10 per cent were applicants deferred.

Speaking directly to Magnetic Media, Deputy Premier Saunders said the stimulus would not be extended but the process to deal with the deferred applicants included the students who did not have the required documentation and would commence after the last cheques had been issued.

Saunders denied that the government had not properly thought out the process indicating many applicants were not in possession of important government identifications.

“I want to encourage them to rethink their position as persons having the right documentation (which) makes it easier for the government to identify and verify them and most importantly provide support for them in time of need,” said the minister.

In addition to Deferred Applicants, E. Jay Saunders expressed optimism about the lines at the Public Treasury diminishing significantly as we exit the month of March.  Unfortunately several residents reached out to Magnetic Media to report that after waiting hours in line they were rebuffed by Treasury staff who told to come back another day despite having been in the line long prior to closing time.

Despite the unresolved complaints Saunders promised that the government would not give out a mass payment this way again, saying that he was already addressing the issue as a priority and the long lines at the Treasury would not be seen for much longer.

March is one of the busiest months for the Public Treasury; as it is the TCI Government’s transition period and deadline for many payments.  The TCIGs new fiscal year begins April 1.