PDM says more must be done for Royal TCI Police and the Country

By Dana Malcom

Staff Writer

#TurksandCaicos, October 12, 2022 – The People’s Democratic movement says a lot is missing on the second supplementary bill made in the house of assembly last week and detailed what they described as ‘key unaddressed areas’ in the bill.

An open letter pendant by Edwin Astwood, Leader of the Opposition listed the following as issues he believed should have been addressed with the supplementary budget. He said there was:

• No Overtime for police
• No Life Insurance for police
• No Enhanced Health insurance coverage for police
• No Rental of Buildings for satellite police stations
• No enhance OPBAT surveillance to support Law Enforcement (canceled).
• Nothing for the Prison Services- No 10% increase in pay, No protective equipment, No Life insurance, No enhanced Health insurance, no armored transport vehicle.
• Nothing for Immigration Task Force- No 10% increase in pay, No protective equipment, No Life insurance, No enhanced Health insurance, and no armored vehicle for operations.
• No armored high speed boats for law enforcement tactical operations.
• No provisions for our international students to collect their citizen’s inflation adjustment stimulus payments.
• No format, plan, or policy in place for the disbursement of the $2 million for citizens’ relief from Hurricane Fiona.
• No more classroom blocks at LGT High School (canceled)
• No more CPU storage building (canceled)
• No more renovations to the green door (canceled)
• No more construction of floating dock (canceled)
• No more training academy and headquarters for TCI Regiment (canceled)
• No more audio and visual equipment for NJS Francis Building (canceled)

However, the Opposition leader said, ‘the supplementary does contain over a million dollars for professional consultancy.’

The bill was tabled on October 3rd by Deputy Premier E. Jay Saunders who revealed that thanks to costs incurred by the ongoing gang wars, a 10 percent rise in inflation and Hurricane Fiona the Government would not likely end the year in a surplus for the first time in years.

The Government is projecting $404 million in revenue and $420 million in expenditure. Still the country remains clear of serious debt with the total amount coming in under $ 400 thousand.

Much of the new cash, announced as $18.4 million, is allocated for national security with the Attorney General’s Chambers, the Police, Immigration and Border Services, Foster Care, Social services, and Green Energy getting a slice of the pie.