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PDM Incensed, Makes Tourist Board Demise an Election Issue

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By Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer 

 

 

#TurksandCaicos, April 21, 2023 – As the deadline for the entity’s shutdown approaches, the PDM is promising to publicize all the emails of the dissolution of the Tourist Board and ‘follow the money trail’ if they are elected in the next general election.

The promise came from Ezra Taylor, PDM National Chairman in a strongly worded letter rejecting the removal of staff whom he said had proved “they have what it takes to move the needle on tourism in our country in a substantive and meaningful way.”

Using the record tourism numbers as proof of his statement, Taylor slammed the PNP for stripping the country of the institution “without reason or explanation,” and disenfranchising locals while giving expats an opportunity to flourish in their stead.

“Unfortunately, in this contemporary era, in the year of our lord 2023, our very own elected leaders, primarily the Premier, his Minister of Tourism, and this PNP administration has without an iota of substantive reasoning, taken the Tourist Board out of local Turks and Caicos Islanders’ management. In an era when Turks and Caicos Islanders has never been more educated, more qualified, and more capable of ushering the tourism sector in the Turks and Caicos Islands into the regional juggernaut that it is, and can become, under their guidance, our government is boldly telling them they are not capable, despite them proving that they are repeatedly,” he said

He described the move as, an insult to the staff to not only fire them in the volatile economic climate but to “seriously consider hiring persons from competing markets to manage our Tourism Industry.”

“Would other regional tourism-based countries hire Turks and Caicos Islanders over their indigenous people to manage their tourism sector? I think we all know the answer to that question,” he contended.

Describing the move as indefensible he said, “We will also follow the money trail to see who benefits from the firing of the seventeen local TCI staff and installing Foreign Competitors to manage our No. 1 Tourism Industry.”

Government

Register of Interests of the Members of the House of Assembly

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Turks and Caicos, September 14, 2024 – The Integrity Commission advises that the Register of Interests for Members of the Turks and Caicos Islands House of Assembly, as at 31st December 2023 has been completed.  Members of the House of Assembly are required by the Turks and Caicos Islands Constitution, Section 103(2), and the Integrity Commission Ordinance (the Ordinance), as amended, Section 52(1), to file with the Commission, Statements of Registrable Interests.

The Commission would, therefore, like to inform members of the public that, it is has compiled the information contained in these Statements of Registrable Interests and has produced The Register of Interests 2023 for the Members of the House of Assembly, as at 31st December 2023.

The Register of Interests 2023 is now available for public inspection at the following locations:

⦁ House of Assembly in Grand Turk

⦁ Office of the Premier – Grand Turk and Providenciales

⦁ Office of the Integrity Commission – Grand Turk and Providenciales (during the hours of 8:30am to 4:30pm from Mondays to Thursdays and 8:00am to 4:00pm on Fridays.)

⦁ Office of the District Commissioner – Middle Caicos, North Caicos, Salt Cay and 1 South Caicos.

The Register can be viewed at these locations during normal working hours or at a time that is convenient for the respective offices.

For further information or any assistance please contact the Integrity Commission: By telephone at: 946-1941(Grand Turk Office) or 941-7847 (Providenciales Office)

By e-mail at: secretary@integritycommission.tc or info@integritycommission.tc

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Government

Sixth UK Overseas Territories Forum on the Oversight of Public Finances and Good Governance, held in Westminster 10-12 September 2024

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United Kingdom, September 13, 2024 – A delegation from the Turks and Caicos Islands will visit the UK Parliament for the Good Governance and Public Finance Forum.

This week, delegates from the Turks and Caicos Islands are among 39 Overseas Territories representatives attending the Sixth UK Overseas Territories Forum on Good Governance and Oversight of Public Finance, hosted in the UK Parliament and UK National Audit Office.

The Turks and Caicos Islands’ delegation includes members of the House of Assembly and National Audit Office. Held between 10 – 12 September 2024, the UK Overseas Territories Forum on Good Governance and Oversight of Public Finances is an important event for many parliamentarians, parliamentary officials, and government auditors across Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, St Helena, and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

As the flagship annual conference, focused on enhancing good governance and oversight of public finance, the Forum stands as an important opportunity for parliamentarians, officials, and auditors alike to meet and share best practices.

Sarah Dickson OBE, Chief Executive of CPA UK, said: “Over the past eight years, the UK Overseas Territories Project has brought together people from across the Overseas Territories, the UK, and the Crown Dependencies to share good practice and exchange ideas. The Forum in London will be a great opportunity to strengthen the existing networks and partnerships across the Overseas Territories and build new ones.”

Hon. Gordon J. Burton, MHA, Speaker of the House of Assembly, said: “The CPA UK has been an invaluable partner to the House of Assembly for many years by providing training opportunities to members and by conducting post-election seminars through the UKOTP. This seminar is a continuation of that collaboration which strengthens our members ability to carry out their duties as members of the oversight committees of the House.”

The Forum is hosted by the UK Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, the UK Government Internal Audit Agency, and the UK National Audit Office.

Since 2016, the three organisations have worked with the authorities in the British Overseas Territories to deliver training, spaces to share knowledge learnt and insights gained, as well as opportunities for professionals to visit their counterparts overseas.

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Government

TCI Cabinet Approves Committee for formation of Mortgage Corporation – Wednesday August 7, 2024

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Turks and Caicos Islands – All members of Cabinet were present with the exception of the Minister for Tourism, Hon. Josephine Connolly and the Attorney General, Hon. Rhondalee Brathwaite-Knowles. Khalila Astwood sat as Acting Attorney General.

At this meeting of Cabinet:

  1. It approved the Crown Land (Amendment) Bill 2024 and the Crown Land Ordinance (Amendment of Schedule) Order 2024 for submission to the House of Assembly.
  2. It noted the First Quarter Financial Report for the Turks and Caicos Islands Government which will be published on the government website.
  3. It approved policy changes to Section 68 of the Customs Ordinance CAP 19.04 to allow auditors to conduct reassessments of goods in the post-clearance Audit function, noting that the required legislative amendments will return to Cabinet for approval.
  4. It approved a proposal for investing the Consolidated Fund free cash reserves into short-term fixed deposits.
  5. It approved recommendations regarding the Sandy Point Investors Limited (SPIL) Development Agreement Dock Facility at Bellefield Landing.
  6. It approved the establishment of a committee to progress the formation of the Mortgage Corporation.
  7. It approved for Parcels 60803/114,115,116 & 117 consisting of a total of 4.5 acres be sent out to tender and advertised in keeping with Section 34 of the Crown Land Ordinance 2012.
  8. It approved the reappointment of Ms. Louise Malcolm as a member of the Health Professions Authority Board for a period of three (3) years.
  9. It granted approval for the issuance of a tender in relation to Parcels 60803/114,115,116 & 117.
  10. It approved the reparcellation of Parcel 61113/57 and Parcel 61113/58 for the purpose of resolving an encroachment issue.
  11. It approved funding assistance for Enhancing Disaster Supplies and Storage Facilities across the Turks and Caicos Islands.
  12. It approved recommendations in respect of the American Airlines Expansion into South Caicos.
  13. It received an information paper relating to the installation of solar panels.
  14. It approved the establishment of a Public Private Partnership Monitoring Unit at the Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority.
  15. It approved an application for a licence to operate a Beach Bar on Parcel 60906/172, Providenciales.
  16. It considered proposals from developers regarding the Program Housing Concessions for Residential Developers.

Further information on these matters will be presented by Ministers in due course.

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