Opposition Leader response to press conference

Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer

#TurksandCaicos, September 2, 2022 – An out of touch government is how Opposition Leader Edwin Astwood is describing the current administration following last week’s press briefing.

The opposition leader slammed the government’s attempts at stemming inflation, saying they were having the opposite effect as prices continue to rise across all areas.

“I wanted to hear their plans to deal with the cost of living, food and fuel cost, power cost, jobs, illegal immigration, unemployment, and underemployment.” he said.  “Instead, our people only heard about how well the Premier and his ministers were received by the institutions they visited over the summer so far.”

The briefing, as advertised, dealt with a recent trip to Jamaica, during which a large delegation met with several Jamaican government agencies to form linkages and gather best practices.

Astwood called for more concrete plans to address the rising cost of living on the islands that would benefit more groups.

“I would like for the government to now consider giving direct monetary assistance to our pensioners, the unemployed, and those citizens who make under $3,000 per month. This could be an additional $500 or $1,000 to these vulnerable groups who are being hit the hardest by the very high cost of living facing our people.”

In addition, Astwood critiqued the Premiers position that he would not interfere between FortisTCI and residents who were having electricity issues, and listed ways he said the government had the authority to intervene.

• A. Where the Current Electricity Ordinance allows for Alternative Energy production, the Government of the day should seek investment in the alternative energy sector.
• I challenge this PNP government, that if they truly care for the people of this country, they will take the small sum of 10,000,000 from the huge surplus that we have to buy and distribute 1Kw solar panel system to all citizens who own a home, to help reduce the burden on our people.
• With the claim of so much money in the Treasury, they should be financing and subsidizing local business start-ups in the alternative energy sector.
• The Government should initiate meaningful talks with Fortis to prepare acceptable legislation to enable any savings from the production of alternative energy to be passed onto the Consumer.
• Any taxes or import duties on fuel for the production of electricity should be removed and regulations should be in place to ensure that savings are passed onto the Consumer.

Astwood said more care and willingness was needed in the government to fix the issues being faced by the people of the Turks and Caicos islands.