What happened at March 15 Cabinet Meeting, including E-Gates, Tax Break Extensions & Report on Haitian Visa Moratorium

#TurksandCaicos, March 31, 2023 – His Excellency the Governor, Nigel Dakin, chaired the 6^th meeting of Cabinet on Wednesday 15 March 2023 at the Governor’s Residence on Grand Turk.

All Members were present with the exception of the Hon Minister of Health and the Deputy Governor, away from TCI on business.

At this meeting Cabinet:

• Noted a list a list of nominations received by the National Honours and Awards Committee for awards in 2023 and approved those that were in line with the Ordinance.
• Discussed proposed amendments to the Immigration Ordinance and agreed next steps.
• Approved measures for the introduction of the digitisation of border services in the Turks and Caicos Islands, including an immigration management system, biometrics for non-citizens and automation technology at the border (aka e-Gates).
• Noted the impact of the moratorium on the issuance of new visas to Haitian nationals originating out of Haiti and approved next steps.
• Approved amendments to Schedule 7 to the Regulations under the Immigration Ordinance, to include fee structures for police officers, nurses and teachers who qualify to become Permanent Residents.
• Approved planning application SC 841 for the rezoning of Parcel 20314/217 from low density residential (3 units per acre) to high density residential (6-10 units per acre) in order to construct a two-story building comprised of ten apartments/ancillary facilities in Cockburn Harbour, South Caicos.
• Approved a revised Fiscal Strategic Policy Statement (FSPS) 2023-27 to include funding for road improvements and electrification across all islands funded from cash reserves and for this to be submitted to the UK and onward to the House of Assembly.
• Approved the Turks and Caicos National Wealth Fund (Amendment) Bill 2023 seeking to establish the Citizens Empowerment Fund and for this to be submitted to the House of Assembly.
• Was updated on the status of the TCI National Health Insurance Board and the National Health Insurance Plan, and agreed next steps.
• Approved amendments to the Hurricane Fiona Relief Policy to streamline the process of claims for qualifying persons.
• Approved the extension to the Customs (Import Duty Exemption) (No. 2) Order 2022 and (Customs Processing Fee) (Variation of Rate) (No. 2) Order 2022 (the Order), exempting the payment of Import Customs Duties and Customs Processing Fee on the importation of Breadbasket Items to 30th of September 2023.
• Approved an extension on reduced rates on the importation of fuel by 25% and on Customs Processing Fee by 2.5% on the importation of all goods with effect from 1 April 2023 for a period of six months.
• Approved the re-printing of uncollected cheques related to Part I of the Inflationary Economic Stimulus that would have become stale-dated on February 2, 2023, policy changes and extended the period for collection to six months.
• Approved for the Ministry of Immigration and Border Services to request the UK to extend the appointment of a program and change manager to the Ministry of Immigration and Border Services, and agreed next steps.
• Approved as a matter of policy for the Premier’s Delivery Unit, which will formally be renamed the “National Delivery Unit”, to continue for a further year, subject to the public procurement process.
• Was updated on the further steps being undertaken by the Ministry of Tourism to transition the Tourist Board to the DMO and agreed next steps.
• Noted a paper setting out the sharing of biometric data with the US Government (BITMAP) and confirmed its earlier approval of next steps towards the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the USA.
• Was updated on the recent Northern Caribbean Security Summit attended by a strong TCI delegation led by HE the Governor, Minister for Immigration and Attorney General.
• Members were also updated on issues relating to the Office of the Governor.