News
TCI Statistics Department to be dismantled; rebuilt
By Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, December 19, 2022 – Recognizing the disjointed state of statistics in the country, the Government has decided to phase out the old Department of Statistics and institute a new body.
- E Jay Saunders, Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance, Investment and Trade with responsibility for statistics described the current structure as.
“fragmented with no coordination mechanism, no common strategy and program, and no institutional leadership— [as] statistics are currently disseminated by various agencies, leading to no overarching strategy or plan.”
With the passing of the new Statistics Bill on December 13th a new body independent of the government will be formed, the National Statistical Authority. It replaces the Department of Statistics and fulfills yet another promise of the people’s contract between the PNP government and the residents of the TCI.
Saunders said the “recent obligations at the local, regional, and international levels have placed new demands on the national statistical system” and current staffing could not keep up.
The Authority will have access to all records, documents, returns, and certificates in the control of public bodies
Saunders explained. Whether this will include the police was not specifically stated by the Minister.
As it stands now, getting statistics from the police in the Turks and Caicos is a dismal affair, queries go unanswered, murder victims ago unnamed and suspicious deaths are reported and never heard about again. There are instances of all these in 2022 alone. But it’s not just the police, statistics on inflation and interest rates were not accessible to the public even as the globe struggled through a cost of living and supply chain crisis and there were multiple instances where statistics on COVID-19 cases just stopped being disseminated for extended periods of time in the midst of the pandemic.
And population sizes on the islands remain obscure.
“It is our Government’s intention for the Statistical Authority to become the Statistical Governing Body of these islands, and lead the processes required for the modernization of the data management systems.” Saunders explained
He detailed that the new agency would oversee
- The measurement of new concerns like the environment. climate change, and sustainable development.
- Regional and International reporting commitments.
It also makes provisions for mandatory annual reporting by the Authority to the House of Assembly and the creation of an advisory body, the National Statistical Committee (NSC). This committee will be comprised of heads of other agencies and the representatives of the private sector “to ensure a participatory, consultative, all-inclusive, and transparent approach to the development and dissemination of national statistics.”
Saunders ensured that there would be no mass firing of employees. All would be able to choose whether they wanted to stay on with the new authority or remain a public servant in another department.
By Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, March 29, 2023 – On April 1st, the second round of increases on contributions at the National Insurance Board will kick in for the Turks and Caicos workforce. Announced last year, the increases were instituted to keep the NIB from running out of money by 2027 as it services a population that is living longer with contributions that had not been increased in 30 years.
As the Government’s new financial year begins, increases at NIB will mean a higher cost for doing business and a higher cost for running the Government.
The private sector is expected to pay contributions at a rate of 11 percent on your taxable income. The hike is up from last year’s 10 per cent; six percent of which is to be paid by the Employer and five percent is to be paid by the
Employee. For wages of $2000, this will mean a $200 improvement in income per month to the NIB. As for the burn on residents’ pockets, based on a minimum wage of $1200 monthly salary, that’s at least $60 dollars a month and $720 per year.
Public sector rates will move to 10.15 percent up from 9.15 per cent with the worker paying 4.575 per cent and the Government paying 5.575 per cent; that’s $54 a month and $648 a year at minimum wage.
The NIB rate as of April 1, 2023, will jump to 9 percent for self-employed individuals; For self-employed individuals at minimum wage, that is $108 dollars a month or $1296 per year.
As taxable incomes increase so will the contribution.
The increases follow a 2019 Actuarial review, undertaken every three years, which unearthed that the NIB was facing a dismal future, possible collapse. Contribution rates were growing at a rate much slower than NIB expenses, which included beneficiary payouts. On that trajectory, the NIB’s earnings would be eclipsed by its income by 2027, forcing the worker protection plan to draw down on money saved for economic shocks like Covid-19.
Unsurprisingly, this was deemed untenable, and an immediate increase was recommended.
Despite this scramble to boost earnings, the NIB has simultaneously increased payouts. Payouts for pensions, funeral grants, maternity grants and more will all attract bigger sums.
These incremental increases on contributions and payouts were all consultant recommendations, informed statements from the Board.
Bahamas News
Work of NAECOB critical in ensuring high standards in education, says Minister Hanna-Martin
“We’re the Ministry of Education and they’re our schools. We are accountable to NAECOB. They ensure that what is happening on the campuses throughout the nation meets the physical standards and the qualitative standards of education. You would have heard classroom size and teacher/student ratio. We may have challenges, and we do at the Ministry of Education but when these issues are brought to our attention we are obliged and compelled to seek resolution to ensure that the standards are met.
the criteria to offer an educational service in The Bahamas as outlined in the Education Act. She said it is mandatory that all educational institutions/provider offering/proposing to offer an educational service in the Bahamas must be registered according to the NAECOB Act and the Education Act.BIS Photos/Mark Ford
Header: Seated at the table, from left: – Lorraine Armbrister, Permanent Secretary; Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin; Dominique McCartney Russell, Acting Director; Cassia Minnis, Registration Officer; Thelma Grimes, Council Chairperson; Howard Newbold, Inspector, Council Member; Shena Williams, Council and Inspector; Dorothy Anderson, Inspector; T. Nicola McKay, Deputy Chairperson; (seated behind) Willard Barr, Council and Inspector.
1st insert: Thelma Grimes, Council Chairperson
2nd insert: Howard Newbold, Inspector and Council Member
3rd insert: The Hon. Glenys Hanna-Martin, Minister of Education and Technical and Vocational Training
4th insert: Cassia Minnis, Registration Officer
#TheBahamas, March 27, 2023 – As the 50th anniversary of our nation’s independence approaches, Bahamians everywhere are teeming with excitement and expectancy around the year-long celebrations set by The National
Independence Secretariat.
Yesterday, the Prime Minister joined H.E Leslia Miller Brice, Chair of The National Independence Secretariat to unveil the Calendar of Events for the 50th Independence celebrations.
The calendar comprises a host of events, initiatives and recommendations for celebrations throughout all 33 islands of The Bahamas.
At this jubilant occasion the PM stated, “Celebrating independence is about acknowledging the greatness around us, the greatness within us, and the greatness ahead of us.
We are Bahamians. That identity is special.”
View the newly released calendar of events here:
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