Government
UK Imposed Procurement Process Slowed TCI getting off EU Blacklist
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.
#TurksandCaicos, September 29, 2023 – The Office of the Deputy Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands is pleased to announce Mr. Reginald Charles’ appointment to Assistant Director of Planning – Administration in the Physical Planning and Development Department within the Ministry of Physical Planning and Infrastructure Development.
Mr. Charles received an Associate’s Degree in Environmental Science from the Turks and Caicos Community College and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and Management from the University of Bradford in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Charles joined the Turks and Caicos Islands Government in 2014 as an Environmental Health Officer with the Department of Environmental Health and was later promoted to Land Use Planner within the Physical Planning and
Development Department. He was later appointed as the Secretary to the Physical Planning Board and advanced to the post of Environmental Compliance Manager. Until this appointment, Mr. Charles was the Assistant Director of Planning for a substantial period. He was able to gain valuable experience in the management and administrative functions needed to be successful in carrying out his tasks.
Mr. Charles, in commenting on his appointment, stated: “I am very excited to contribute to the success of my department, the Turks and Caicos Islands Government and my country. I have won the support of my colleagues, management, and staff, and they have helped to champion my cause, to which I am very grateful.”
Deputy Governor and Head of the Public Service, Her Excellency Anya Williams, in extending congratulatory remarks to Mr. Charles, stated:
Mr. Charles is a hardworking and dedicated public servant who has previously served in various capacities in the public service: Environmental Health Officer in the Environmental Health Department and as a former Land Use Planner and Environmental Compliance Manager in the Planning Department. In 2020, he was appointed Secretary to the Planning Board and has previously acted as Assistant Director of Planning.
Mr. Charles has had a progressive public service career, which we are proud of, and we are sure he will do well in this new role.
Congratulations on your well-deserved promotion Reginald!
#TurksandCaicos, September 29, 2023 – The Office of the Deputy Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands is pleased to announce Ms. Talestra Dixon’s appointment to the Registrar post in the Registrar General’s Department within the Ministry of Home Affairs, Transportation, Public Safety and Utilities.
Ms. Dixon completed her secondary education at the Raymond Gardiner High School in North Caicos and received two scholarships from the Ministry of Education. Ms. Dixon earned an Associate Degree in Hospitality and Tourism
Management from the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College. She later achieved a Bachelor’s Degree in Labour Employment Relations from the University of the West Indies in Barbados.
Ms. Dixon joined the Turks and Caicos Islands Government in 2021 as an Assistant Compliance Investigative Officer in the Citizenship and Naturalization Department—a post she held until this most recent appointment.
Ms. Dixon, in commenting on her appointment, stated: “I am delighted and grateful for the opportunity to begin this new journey within the public sector. My goal is to attain the mission, vision, and values of the civil service by assisting in creating strategies, policies and procedures that would continue to provide an efficient and effective work environment and its products, along with providing good customer service to all.”
Deputy Governor and Head of the Public Service, Her Excellency Anya Williams, in extending congratulatory remarks to Ms. Dixon, stated:
Ms. Dixon is one of our young professionals who recently joined the service and has already started to make a good name for herself. She adds to the team of Ms. Kayon Cox as Registrar General to assist in taking the Registrar General Department to the next level as we progress towards digitizing our services.
Congratulations on your promotion, Ms. Dixon!”
#TurksandCaicos, September 29, 2023 – The Office of the Deputy Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands is pleased to announce Mr. Leonardo Glasgow’s appointment to Assistant Director of Planning – Enforcement in the Physical Planning and Development Department within the Ministry of Physical Planning and Infrastructure Development.
Mr. Glasgow received an Associate’s Degree in Building and Design Technology from the Turks and Caicos Community College and a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Technology from Nottingham Trent University in the United Kingdom.
Mr. Glasgow recently returned home from the United Kingdom after taking study leave for a year to pursue and
complete a Master’s Degree in Property Development and Planning, also from Nottingham Trent University.
Mr. Glasgow joined the Turks and Caicos Islands Government in 2016 as a Planning Technician within the Physical Planning and Development Department. He was later appointed as a Land Use Planner and held that post until this most recent appointment. He played a vital role in developing the National Physical Development Plan.
Mr. Glasgow, in commenting on his appointment, stated:
“I must firstly thank God through whom all my success is attributed. I am constantly reminded of Philippians 4:6: “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”
This appointment humbles me, and it is an honour to be given the opportunity to lead and develop my department as I strive to be a better leader by being the best public servant I can be.”
Deputy Governor and Head of the Public Service, Her Excellency Anya Williams, in extending congratulatory remarks to Mr. Glasgow, stated:
Mr. Glasgow has given over seven years of service to the Planning Department. He has specialized skills in building and design, architecture, and property development. He has recently returned to the service following his Master’s of Property Development and Planning degree in August 2023, assisted by grant funding from the Public Service Professional Development Fund.
I am proud of Mr. Glasgow’s accomplishment and know he will do exceptionally well in this new role.
Congratulations on your well-deserved promotion Leonardo!
-
News7 days agoPolice say DNA confirmed identity of headless body
-
News7 days agoCarnival cruise port is open to others Cruise ships — Management
-
Caribbean News7 days agoSmart City Project a Testament to Innovation, Progressive – Dr. Morris Dixon
-
News3 days agoInvest TCI Hosts Successful Second Annual General Meeting at the Ritz Carlton
-
Finance7 days agoUK holds steady on interest rates
-
News7 days agoGrand Turk drops in Rank for Cruising, Port profits down; Still Optimism High after major meeting with Carnival
-
News7 days agoEnvironmental Health Officers participate in Legionella Training
-
Caribbean News2 days agoJamaica declares DENGUE OUTBREAK; control measures amped up