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New Fiscal Year for the Turks and Caicos

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#TurksandCaicos, April 4, 2022 – April 1st passed over the weekend, and with it the start of the new fiscal year for the Turks and Caicos Islands, bringing several changes into effect.

The Gun Amnesty has officially ended and with it any chance of individuals with illegal firearms to avoid prison time if they are caught, with an unregistered gun or ammunition. Now, April signals the start of a new policing strategy to get illegal guns off of the street.

The initiative, which offered a cash incentive to the handover of unregistered weapons, was announced at the start of March.  The Amnesty ran March 1-31st.

“Be reassured, we will match them every step of the way.  We hope it does not reach there, but we are capable of doing just that, said Rodney Adams, Deputy Commissioner of Police in addressing a concern that the Royal TCI Police is outmatched when it comes to firepower.  He added, “We will continue to do what needs to be done in terms of enforcement, however, the good news is that for this time, we are giving them one month to turn it in, and obviously moving forward, there will be zero tolerance.”

April also brings with it some reductions in taxes and the Food & Fuel Tax breaks came into force on the first day of the month.

In announcing the measure, designed to offset the staggering weight of rising inflation and the exacerbation caused by sanctions which followed the Russian invasion of the Ukraine, Premier Washington Misick held a national press conference to explain how government plans to help.

“We are initially providing a relief of $15 million dollars over the next 12 months” this, he said was to ‘hold down costs to consumers.’

April 1 is also the start of the announced increase in National Insurance Board payments for workers and employers across the country.

“In order to protect its reserves, which are specifically set aside for the continuous payment of future benefits during periods of economic downturn, it is necessary to immediately increase the existing contribution rate structure.

Cabinet in accordance with the recommendations of the Actuary, has accepted and approved the implementation of incremental increases in the current contribution rates over the next three years with effect from April 1, 2022,” a January 2022 press release from the NIB explained.

In the private sector, the rate on taxable income is raised to 10 per cent; 5.5 per cent is to be paid by the employer and 4.5 per cent is to be paid by the employee.

In the public sector, the rate is up to 9.15 per cent with the worker paying 4.075 per cent and the employer or government paying 5.075 per cent.

The self-employed NIB rate is hiked to 8 per cent.

Pension increases for retired individuals over 65, who are for the first time accessing their pensions will see incremental increases up to 30 per cent; however the increase is for those who opt to tap their retirement later.

Also to begin April at the NIB, an outright end to invalidity payments which do not meeting a 300 contribution payment threshold.  Previously, invalidity beneficiaries were accepted after 150 payments into the plan

Another whopper announcement for April came from the TCI Government for its 2,500 staff members.

The new Public Sector Employees Pension Fund and the  Pensions Amendment Bills were also passed in the  House of Assembly with a budget of $23 – $30 million dollars in the first year of the benefit to civil servants.

This means public sector workers officially have a working pension plan along with their NIB pension plan; historic and effective on April 1.

The new savings strategy – which employs a co-payment system – was designed to ensure islanders can look forward to healthier remuneration for disability, death, late and early retirement.

Attorney General Rhondalee Brathwaite-Knowles said, “It is the right of every public sector worker to not only be provided with the tools that allow them to appropriately carry out the roles that are recruited to do, but that they also receive fair compensation and benefits for doing so.”

Additionally, the start of the quarter offered to business licensees across the Turks and Caicos Islands a three-month opportunity to pay off their business license arrears. Government presented a ‘debt forgiveness’ offer to the tune of $1.4 Million and cancelled all penalty charges attracted due to unpaid business license fees, dating back to 02018.

 

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Robbery Accused Granted Bail

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***MEDIA RELEASE***

 

Turks and Caicos, 28th April 2025 – RENARDO CLARKE was granted $5000 bail when he appeared before a Magistrate today (Monday, April 28, 2025), charged with Robbery.

As part of his bail conditions, the accused is required to reside at a relative’s home and report to the Grace Bay Police Station three days per week during specific times. The accused will also observe a daily curfew from 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.

The matter was adjourned for a sufficiency hearing on June 6, 2025.

Clarke was charged following investigations into an incident reported on April 17, 2025, in Long Bay, where a male victim was robbed of cash and valuables while at the canal off Old Grace Road, Long Bay.

Following the report, officers commenced an investigation and charged Clarke on 22nd April.

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Illegals Detained        

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Turks and Caicos, 28th April 2025 – On Saturday, April 26th, 2025, officers from the Marine Branch of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RT&CIPF) responded to a report of illegal migrants spotted in the mangrove area along the southeastern side of North Caicos.

The United States Coast Guard (Air Support Unit), the Turks and Caicos Islands Regiment, and the Department of Fisheries and Marine Resources Management supported the operation.

Upon arrival at the location, RT&CIPF officers apprehended eleven (11) male individuals, all confirmed to be of Haitian nationality.

The individuals were detained and transported to Providenciales, where they were handed over to officers from Border Force for processing and further investigation.

We continue to urge members of the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious maritime or coastal activity to the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force by calling 911 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-8477 to provide information anonymously.

Additionally, individuals are encouraged to download the Crime Stoppers P3 app to share information.

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Crime

Attempted Murder Charge

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Turks and Caicos, 28th April 2025 – JUNIOR BELIZAIRE, 24, is expected to appear before a Magistrate later this week.

Belizaire of The Bight faces the following charges:

  • One Count – Attempted Murder
  • One Count – Unlawful Entry

The accused was charged on Sunday, 27th April 2025.

The charges stem from a violent incident that occurred on the evening of 21st April 2025, when a 26-year-old male victim was attacked and sustained multiple chop wounds to his head and body.

The victim was found bleeding and transported to the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre (CHMC) for emergency treatment.

Due to the severity of his injuries, the victim has since been flown overseas for further medical care. His condition remains stable.

The Serious Crime Unit, after an intensive investigation, identified Belizaire as the alleged perpetrator of the attack.

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