Government
PDM Incensed, Makes Tourist Board Demise an Election Issue
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.”
Turks and Caicos
Governor, Her Excellency, Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam, chaired the 32nd meeting of Cabinet held on Wednesday, 9th October 2024 at the Office of the Premier and Public Policy, Leeward Highway, Providenciales.
All members of Cabinet were present with the exception of H.E. Deputy Governor, Anya Williams, Hon. Josephine Connolly, Minister for Tourism, and Hon. Arlington Musgrove, Minister for Immigration.
At this meeting of Cabinet:
- Received an update from the Statistics Authority on the progress of the current state of the Turks and Caicos Islands census.
- Approved the Supplementary Appropriation (2024/2025) Bill 2024 for onward submission to the House of Assembly.
- Approved, on an exceptional basis, the reinstatement of a Concession Order for Grace Bay Resorts.
- Approved the appointment of Ms. Latisha Williams -Bruce as Chairman of the National Insurance Appeal Tribunal for a period of two years.
- Approved the Turks and Caicos National Wealth Fund (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2024 for onward submission to the House of Assembly.
- Approved the introduction of the National Quality Policy 2024.
- Approved the renewal of the lease agreement for the Public Works Department in Grand Turk for a five-year term.
- Approved the appointment of the following medical professionals to the Medicine, Dentistry, and Veterinary Professions Council for a two-year term: Dr. Alexis Missick, Medical Practitioner; Dr. Janice Baron, Chief Dental Officer; and Dr. Reginald Thomas.
- Approved the reappointment of the following individuals as members of the Ports Authority Board for a three-year term: Mr. Tueton Williams (Chair), Crosly Bain (Member), Tracey Parker Gray (Permanent Secretary, Finance or Nominee), Permanent Secretary, Ports, Director of Ports, Chief Engineer, and Collector of Customs. Also approved the extension of Mr. Dennis Swann (Deputy Chair) and Showonda Gardiner for a term of two and a half years.
- Received an update on development for the island of South Caicos.
- Confirmed the transfer of funds from various Ministries to the Ministry of Education for additional scholarship funding.
Further information on these matters will be presented by Ministers in due course.
Turks and Caicos
Governor, Her Excellency, Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam, chaired the 33rd meeting of Cabinet held on Friday, 25th October 2024 at the Office of the Premier and Public Policy, Leeward Highway, Providenciales.
All members of Cabinet were present with the exception of Hon Josephine Connolly, Minister for Tourism, Hon. Shaun Malcolm, Minister for Health and Hon. Rhondalee Knowles, Attorney General with Ms. Khalila Astwood serving as Acting Attorney General.
At this meeting of Cabinet:
- Received an information paper on the Howard Hamilton International Airport Redevelopment Public Private Partnership Project and approved financing proposals for submission to the United Kingdom in line with the Public Finance Management Ordinance (PFMO).
Further information on these matters will be presented by Ministers in due course.
Turks and Caicos
Governor, Her Excellency, Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam, chaired the 34th meeting of Cabinet held on Wednesday, 30th October 2024 at the Office of the Premier and Public Policy, Leeward Highway, Providenciales.
All members of Cabinet were present with the exception of Hon. Otis Morris, Minister for Home Affairs.
At this meeting of Cabinet:
- Approved policy changes and amendments to the Business Licensing Ordinance.
- Approved amendments to be made to the National Insurance (Benefit) Regulations.
- Approved an Amnesty Ordinance to provide a 6-month amnesty on penalties for outstanding contributions as well as an amendment to the National Insurance Ordinance and Regulations.
- Approved amendments to the Elections Ordinance to align with the additional requirements and subsequent changes made to the Constitution.
- Approved the recommendations made by the Supervisor of Elections and the International Observers, following consultation and discussion with the Elections Oversight Group after the 2021 General Elections.
- Approved the reformation of the National Assessment Team (NAT) related to the poverty assessment for a period of seven months.
- Approved the appointment of Ms. Rudell Williams as Chairwoman of the TCI Credit Union and further granted approval for stipends for non-TCIG board members.
- Approved the payment of costs related to a Court matter CL 130/2023.
- Approved a duty concession on the importation of furniture and fixtures as per the Refurbishment Policy for Pelican Bay Restaurant & Bar.
- Received an update on the number of approvals granted in the Restricted Business Licence Application Category – Schedule 4 of the Business Licensing Regulations 2021.
- Approved the appointment of Ms. Cagina Foster as Collector of Stamp Duty commencing November 1, 2024.
- Approved a Bill to Repeal the Legislative Service (Special Provision) Pension Ordinance for onward submission to House of Assembly.
- Approved the withdrawal of the moratorium on a parcel located within Block 60804, the Bight and Thomas Stubbs, Providenciales.
- Approved a license to Henrik Arnth-Jensen and Ekaterina Arnth-Jensen for the repair of an existing groyne and the development of a boardwalk seaward of parcels 60702/59 and 60702/60, subject to various conditions.
- Approved a rental lease agreement for additional space for the Judicial Courts at Unit #1, Rhonda’s Building, Whitby, North Caicos, for a five-year term.
- Approved a lease agreement for the Department of Gender Affairs at Unit #3B, Courtyard Plaza, Providenciales (parcel 60703/24 K 17), for a five-year term.
- Approved the Revised Vehicle Import Duty Reduction Policy for current and former Civil Servants.
- Received an update on the Renewable Energy Consultation process.
- Approved a payment to be made in relation to a Claims Against Government-Judicial Review Matter CL153/2023.
- Approved the establishment of the Quality Assurance Consultative Committee, comprising the following members: Wesley Clerveaux (Chair), Danier Lightbourne (Member), Trefa Hinds (Member, ex-officio), Luc Clerveaux (Member, ex-officio), Candesha Mills (Member, ex-officio), John Hilton (Member), Mary Lightbourne (Member), and Sasha Arthur (Member). Further approved the payment of a stipend to non-TCIG members.
- Approved the commencement of the TCIG Christmas Salary Advance 2024 Programme for Public Officers and Pensioners.
Further information on these matters will be presented by Ministers in due course.
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