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UK Imposed Procurement Process Slowed TCI getting off EU Blacklist  

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By Dana Malcolm  

Staff Writer  

 

 

#TurksandCaicos, March 15, 2023 – The obstacle course that is the Government’s procurement processes has contributed to yet another failing in public sector operations; this time specifically bogging down the efforts to get the Turks and Caicos Islands off the infamous EU Blacklist. In an interview with Magnetic Media, E. Jay Saunders, Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance expounds on the road to getting the TCI Financial Services Sector exonerated by the OECD. 

Comments obtained on Monday March 13, 2023, exposed that while the country was languishing on a grey list, DP Saunders got in contact with Kroll, one of the world’s premier financial consultants, to fix the issue.  

“I reached out to them and said [told them] the issue that we’re having, and this was from last year July before we got Blacklisted— it’s just that government moves so slowly.” 

The lengthy procurement time frame is not the fault of departmental employees, but rather the UK’s rigid process which the TCI must manoeuvre in order to confirm and issue projects. It is notoriously criticized by successive elected Government Administrations. 

“We didn’t get to a contract stage until after we were Blacklisted, and that contract didn’t get finalized until January of this year. In the private sector, we would have turned around a contract with them within weeks.” 

Immediately after the contract was signed, around a month later, the consultants were on the ground in the Turks and Caicos.  

Last year Premier Washington Misick announced nationally that his Administration was working on the speed of the procurement process; this is the third Administration to make such a statement. Further to this, anticipated amendments to parts of the TCI 2011 Constitution Order, may effect change in the tedious nature of procurement. 

“Let me say that part of the issue that we do have is the slow rate at which procurement is made and we are making significant steps now working with the United Kingdom in updating the Procurement Ordinance,” said the Premier in a recorded from last July during a National Security Conference.  

Following that, the Premier met with Jesse Norman, then minister of the Foreign Office, regarding crime, Crown land, and the extensive procurement process to which TCI public sector contracts are subjected. 

It is expected that the issue will come up again at the Joint Ministerial Council (JMC) shifted from last November to this coming May; Premier Washington Misick will co-chair the session. 

The JMC now follows the coronation of King Charles lll, also in May.

Caribbean News

Millions to come from FSC 

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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.  

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Caribbean News

Debrief on Haiti Caribbean heads visit 

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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.  

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Caribbean News

New ASHLEY’S LEARNING CENTRE CONCERT

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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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