$22 Million Allocation for Otis Morris and Home Affairs  

By Deandrea Hamilton & Dana Malcolm

Editorial Staff

#TurksandCaicos, May 16, 2022 – Water, Energy and Corrections is what the Ministry of Home Affairs says it will be focusing on this Budget year according to Otis Morris, holder of the portfolio which has secured just over $22 million dollars this fiscal period.

TCI residents will benefit from a new utilities regulatory body to be established over the next three years. Morris said a consultancy had been carried out and would inform the Bill creating the new entity.

Some $200,000 has been allocated for the establishment of the new utilities  regulatory bill and the hiring of core staff. When established the body will, “Regulate the activities of the electrical, water, petroleum and telecommunications sectors.” Morris said.

In terms of water, a vexing issue especially in his home island of Grand Turk, Minister Morris said the mandate to provide “consistent and high quality service with reduced periods of downtime to the islands of South Caicos, Grand Turk, Salt Cay” had been included in the national security plan.

In reducing the water insecurity experienced by these areas, the Minister of Home Affairs announced that a $1 million gallon tank in Grand Turk was almost completed. Along with that a new $1 million gallon reverse osmosis unit to convert salty brackish water into potable water was pledged for this 2022-2023 Budget Year.

Speaking of Grand Turk, Morris revealed that volunteer firefighters had been recruited and more permanent members were being hired.  Fire trucks are also in the works for Grand Turk and Providenciales.

An impressive, £1.4 million has also been granted to the Turks and Caicos Islands Government to help transition the country towards Green Energy. The money, a grant from European Development Fund of the EU should finance the installation of solar lights and panels on various government buildings and within neighborhoods in the family islands, Morris explained.

There was no timeline given for the completion of the project but Morris said the ministry was fast tracking the amendment of the electrical ordinance to include provisions for renewable energy.

In the area of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitative Services for inmates at the prison, Minister Morris said inmates are now benefiting from a tweaked department, which heavier focus upon giving them the skills to re-integrate to society and reduce recidivism.

The minister said the department, formed earlier this year, will provide rehabilitative support within the prison and outside.

A probation styled service seems to be what the Home Affairs minister was describing when he said each inmate under the program is assigned to an officer who will help them navigate from the prison to probation. Additionally an IT department was just launched which will make formal education accessible to the inmates though online learning.

When it came to the Road Safety Department or Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), which is tasked with bestowing and renewing drivers licenses and registering vehicles, the minister shared that an online applications process has been adopted to cater to new and renewal of drivers licenses.

It is hoped this will cut down the lines at the DMV.