News
TCI Premier Speaks to ‘Crime Fighting’ in the House of Assembly
By Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, May 12, 2022 – TCI Residents have been understandably anxious for word from the government after the constant barrage of violent crimes on tourists and locals alike over the past few weeks.
Premier And Co-chair of the Security Council Washington Misick addressed the situation in the House of Assembly on Monday once again acknowledging the lack of communication.
“I can understand the disquiet, I can understand the anxiety. I can understand their concern, I can understand their fear…” he said. “I believe one could understandably interpret silence as complicity but that would be ridiculous because no leader would be complicit as it relates to crime.”
Misick did not outline any plans to improve the line of communication to the public but denounced at-home speculation.
“Much has been done and much is being done in the fight against crime, but crime is a very complex issue. It is not a straight line solution” the Premier said.
“Too many of us sit in the comfort of our home on our social media in our armchairs and prescribe solutions and it’s
not that easy. Crime is asymmetrical, the police can’t be everywhere for every crime it’s just not going to happen.”
About the recent cruel attacks on tourists which continue to shock the nation. Premier Misick reinforced the need for border security saying, “Most of these crimes are alien to us, chopping people and chopping tourists is alien to us.”
He cautioned villa owners to ensure they were properly licensed, had security, and had put preventative measures in place to protect their guests from harm.
The Premier also criticized the Opposition (PDM) for what he described as being divisive and taking advantage of the public’s anxiety while maintaining that the security forces were working hard.
“The truth of the matter is exploiting the anxiety of people to boom blast and [spread] vitriol is wrong, boom-blasting and vitriol is not a substitute for action…outrage is good only when it leads to action. Crime and national security is not something that we are divided on.” He added, “This Government and the other agencies on the front line are not sitting on their hands.”
Speaking of security forces The Premier said that the private security providers on the island needed to be upgraded so they could assist the Police and were identified as an important part of fighting crime. He said a code of conduct has been developed as a first step toward regulating the security industry.
Missick maintained that the Police and other agencies were working hard but agreed more needed to be done.
“We are doing a lot. Can we do more and will we do more? Yes.” Misick said. “The border situation will continue and we will have to continue to pour money into it, it is like a chronic disease you have to continue to pour money into it, that is what has to happen given the geography of the Turks and Caicos.”
He said at least six different projects were running in concert at the moment; one of them being a $2 million allocation to deal with illegal settlements or shanty towns.
The Premier urged residents who see something to say something and to continue doing their part to help the Police fight crime.
Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, March 17, 2023 – Revenue from the Turks and Caicos’ Financial Services Sector will more than double in the next few years, if E Jay Saunders, Deputy Premier and Finance Minister gets his way. It ‘s one of the reasons the country is investing so much capital into getting off of the EU blacklist and becoming a secure trustworthy financial destination.
“The FSC’s revenues for 2020/21 was $10.5M— the figures for 2021/22, would be about similar,” he said. He further explained that $10.5 million from the FSC represented about 2.6 percent of the country’s 408.5-million-dollar
revenue. Though it increased to $14 million in the 2021/22 financial year, finance is still a small fry compared to tourism or even stamp duties but that will change, says Saunders.
“My revenue goal for the Government by the year 2029 [or] the election after the next election – is $500M. By that time, I want the financial sector (FSC) revenues to represent at least 5% ($25M). So that’s my goal for the financial sector by 2029.”
This goal, should it be met, would increase the Government’s revenue by 100 million dollars, a significant increase in spending power for local upgrades and improvements for Turks and Caicos residents and visitors.
Saunders says it’s time for the TCI to diversify its sources of revenue to make sure that what happened in the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw residents out of a job for months, will not happen again. Tourism now makes up around 80 percent of the country’s GDP. The Minister of Finance wants to push that down to 60 or even 50 percent.
Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#Haiti, March 17, 2023 – When a CARICOM delegation visited Haiti earlier this month, conspicuously absent was the Turks and Caicos Islands despite being one of the nations most directly affected by the multi-dimensional crisis there. There is no comment, as yet from the Premier, to say why this was the case.
Still, from the expedition, CARICOM heads of Government have informed that there will be lobbying in Africa for assistance in Haiti. They say they have decided that the best course of action for the Caribbean country is to bolster the Haitian National Police and act as intermediaries with Africa and the world. The decision follows a one day visit on February 27th, and a March 5th meeting chaired by the Bahamas.
CARICOM says during the trip delegates ‘met with a broad range of Haitian stakeholders to hear their views on the
way forward to a Haitian-led solution’. With that in mind it has made a decision on how to proceed.
“The Heads of Government agreed to support the Haitian National Police in their efforts to address the security situation. The focus of the Community will be the provision of training for the HNP and the provision of humanitarian assistance to HNP and the wider Haitian society, taking into account the challenging humanitarian and security situation”
It’s not clear yet where and how this training will take place. Also distinctly absent from the report, no more mention of boots on the ground from other countries despite CARICOM Member States indicating they were ready and willing should it come to that.
In addition, recognizing ‘the common historical experiences and the strong African-Caribbean relationship’ CARICOM says,
“Heads of Government also agreed to seek support from African countries for Haiti. They also agreed to work with the Governments of Canada and the United States as well as the UNDP”
Magnetic Media has reached out to the Premier’s Office to get a full debrief of the February 27th visit (led by Jamaica; including The Bahamas and Trinidad and Tobago) to learn of Turks and Caicos’ posture following the critical sessions.
Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, March 17, 2023 – Musicians from the New World Symphony will be in the Turks and Caicos in concert next month and residents are invited to attend in support of the future of Ashley’s Learning Center. 
A fairly young orchestral academy based in Miami, the New World Symphony was launched in the 1980s by 1987, Michael Tilson Thomas and Ted Arison,Carnival Cruises founder. From the 1500 applicants who vie for a spot each year, the symphony accepts around 35 music graduates annually for training fellowships.
A select few of those graduates will be in country on April 8th headlining at the Ashley’s Learning Center concert ‘We’re all in this together’. The concert which also feature local artistes will be held at Brayton Hall on Venetian Road from 6 pm to 8:30 pm
Tickets are available ON ISLEHELP $75 PER GENERAL SEAT $125 PER PREMIUM SEAT $195 PER GALLERY SEAT – with /FREFRESHMENTS.
For TICKET RESERVATIONs you can call: 649-341-2304 or email EVENTS@ASHLEYSLEARNINGCENTER.ORG
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