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Gov’t will not go to FortisTCI for you; Premier responds to our question on Representation

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#TurksandCaicos, July 25, 2022 – Residents must take concerns about their consumption to FortisTCI themselves according to Premier Washington Misick who says the government cannot step in to seek clarification.

“First of all, if people are unhappy or feel as if they have been billed wrongly the first step would be to approach Fortis about why their bill is so high or why consumption has gone up,” Misick said.

He maintained that Fortis had a system where they would come in and assist with an audit of power consumption for residents.  He said questions alluded to ‘potential sleight of hand’ and the government would not insert themselves.

“The government wouldn’t get involved in any fight until there is hard evidence to prove—- the court system also exists for people to take their issues to.  Yes we do have a department of that deals with consumer protection and yes if that matter is reported and there is justifiable reason to suspect that something untoward is happening we will look into it and engage on behalf of consumers generally.”

He maintained though that this type of investigation would be terrible for FortisTCI.

“That would be a really bad reflection on Fortis, which is a publicly listed company from a reputational point of view. It could be extremely damaging if it could be proven that they are stealing from people.”

At the same time Misick unapologetically cast doubt on other companies and whether they were truly passing on the proceeds from the Food and Fuel Tax Break sanctioned in March.  This was despite acknowledging earlier in the press conference the massive increase in shipping costs and costs of goods.

“We reduced the CPF on fuel from seven percent to five percent and we expected that it would have had an impact on the power bills.   At the same time prices continued to rise.  Fortis has indicated that it has had no impact or very little impact on the bill. We could have gone several ways with the stimulus we could have reduced taxes by that amount or more through customs duty or CPS and leave it to the force of economics and have it trickle down to the population but we’ve learned that it doesn’t work that way because the merchants whether they be Fortis or the supermarkets or any other entity never seem to pass the savings on.”

The Premier maintained that it was a misunderstanding to say  the government had not done anything about the electricity bills as the stipend would  help and there would possibly be several stimulus payments in a single household to offset costs.

Additionally Missick maintained that they were in negotiations with Fortis about several issues including renewable energy and investments which could ‘potentially impact the cost of power.’

“For those people who are saying we haven’t touched the fuel factor or the decisions that we made we left Fortis out of the loop that is not the case.”

In March the government confirmed they had not met with any business owners including Fortis TCI to consult on the implementation and logistics of the Food and Fuel Tax break.  FortisTCI had also explained in March that because of the rising fuel costs the 2.5 percent decrease was unlikely to make a dent in electricity prices.

Residents still have questions about the raised consumption on their June bills which combined with the raised fuel bills sent some bills up hundreds of dollars.

In three days, the current FortisTCI electricity billing cycle ends.

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DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM REGULATIONS INTRODUCES “RATE YOUR RIDE” SYSTEM FOR TOURISTS VISITING THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS

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FROM THE MINISTRY OF TOURISM

 

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 27th March, 2024 – Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands: The Department of Tourism Regulations is proud to unveil the “Rate Your Ride” system, a new initiative designed to enhance the vacation experience for tourists exploring our picturesque islands.

The “Rate Your Ride” system empowers tourists to provide valuable feedback on the quality of transportation services they receive while visiting the Turks and Caicos Islands. Through an easy-to-use online form, tourists can rate factors such as cleanliness, comfort, safety, and professionalism of drivers, helping us to assure the highest quality of service standards across all modes of transportation.

By participating in the “Rate Your Ride” system, tourists play a crucial role in shaping the future of transportation services in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Their feedback will enable us to identify areas for improvement and ensure that every visitor enjoys safe, comfortable, and convenient travel throughout their stay in the Turks and Caicos.

The code will also be publicly accessible through the cooperation of volunteer drivers who will make the rating code available in their vehicles. Flyers and stickers displaying the code will be distributed at hotels, resorts and airports. The mandated display of these codes is expected to align with the rollout of our tourism regulations in 2025.

For more information about the “Rate Your Ride” system and other initiatives by the Department of Tourism Regulations, please visit gov.tc/tourismregulations/or contact us via telephone at 946-4970 and email at tourismregulations@gov.tc.

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THE DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIOURAL HEALTH SERVICES CONDEMNS RECORDING OF PERSONS WHO ARE IN CRISIS

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FROM THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

 

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 27th March 2024– The Department of Behavioral Health Services is appealing to the general public to refrain from recording and circulating videos of persons who may appear to be experiencing a mental health crisis. Anyone can experience a mental health crisis at some point in their life. According to the World Health Organization, 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem in any given year. Persons may struggle with very common conditions such as Anxiety and Depression or be diagnosed with more serious conditions like Bipolar Disorder or Psychosis.

“There are a lot of misunderstandings about various mental health conditions and how they may manifest. In addition, there are a number of negative perceptions and misconceptions that society exhibits towards people with mental health problems. However, just as we would show care and concern for someone diagnosed with Cancer, or any other physical illness, in the same way, we need to be as caring and helpful to persons with mental illnesses”– stated Director of the Department of Behavioral Health Services, Dr. Alicia Malcolm.

The Department is urging the public to call the following numbers if you see someone who appears to be experiencing a mental health crisis:

338-5473/338-3616: Providenciales, North or Middle Caicos

338-3614/338-3612: Grand Turk, South Caicos, Salt Cay

338-6301: Nights and Weekends

If someone is putting themselves or someone else in immediate, serious risk of harm, call 911.

The Department of Behavioral Health services is here to help and provides the following services which are free and confidential:

Location of above services:

o             Sam Harvey Building, Down Town, Providenciales,

o             Primary Health Care Department, Cheshire Hall Medical Center, Providenciales 

o             Department of Behavioural Health, Duncombe Alley, Grand Turk

 

Let’s all do our part in creating a community where people with mental health problems feel respected, supported and cared for. 

For additional information, please visit the Ministry of Health’s Facebook page on https://www.facebook.com/tciministryofhealth/ or the Department of Behavioral Health Services Faceebook on https://www.facebook.com/TCIDBHS/.

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Breaking Ground: TCI Could Lead in Regional Communication Standards

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Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom, 27th March 2024: The PR, marketing, and communications sector is poised for potential growth and could lead the Caribbean region in terms of industry standards says Damian Wilson. Wilson’s suggestion comes after the release of a new research report into the current trends and future direction of the sector as a possible emerging industry in the Turks & Caicos Islands (TCI).

Wilson is the report’s author, which conveys the findings of research which he initiated. “One of the key research results is the considerable optimism by industry practitioners and government alike, with persons seeing growth potential. I believe that we can become regional leaders in this field. I believe that one of the initiatives that could be used to do this is by establishing a ‘TCI Centre of Communications Excellence’ within the TCI Community College. Such an institute would be dedicated to communication and media innovation with a particular focus on digital communications and ICT,” says Wilson.

He further explained, “I believe that the PR, marketing, and communications sector, like much of the country, is at a crossroads and could have an even greater impact on our socio-economic fabric. Some may have concerns about our small size, but I believe this makes us far more agile than our neighbours. All in all, any potential growth must be underpinned by new investments, professional development, and a strategy to integrate the sector into the broader economy.”

Wilson also said that he sees his research as a first step in understanding our own industry sectors in the TCI and would love to see more profound research and analysis conducted. He’s hoping that the report will spark discussion along those lines. The report is entitled ‘Current Trends and Future Direction: A Preliminary Report on the PR, Marketing, and Communications Sector in the Turks & Caicos Islands’. Anyone wanting a copy of the report can contact Damian Wilson via his email, damian.wilson.pr@gmail.com.

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