Benefits of the Budget for Borders Services detailed by Minister Musgrove

By Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer 

#TurksandCaicos, May 23, 2023 – The Ministry of Immigration and Border Services has managed to not only exceed its revenue expectations for the 2022/23 financial year but to spend nearly all the cash budgeted for projects in the country. Minister Arlington Musgrove made the revelations in his Budget Speech where he disclosed increases and allocations for the ministry insisting the budget was ‘much ado about something.’

He listed for residents the Tangible upgrades and changes that they would see thanks to the allocations that included the previously announced $4.8 million border management system.

IMMIGRATION MINISTRY

Interesting for residents is a $41 million allocation to be paid out over the next three years towards the redevelopment of the South Dock Port, $570,000 for port improvements in Grand Turk, $400,000 for the improvements to the South Caicos Port, and $500,000 for phase two of the Bellfield Landing in North Caicos.

Upgrades to the ports to facilitate larger vessels are a major need in the country as it struggles with extremely high cost of living, exacerbated by high importation costs.

Anticipated to be welcomed by residents is the announcement of two fire trucks for airports – one each for Salt Cay and North Caicos; the JAGS McCartney International is due to have a fire hall constructed, according to Minister Musgrove.

These will be funded via a $38 million allocation to upgrade airports broken down as follows:

• $8.7 million dollars in Grand Turk;
• $15 million dollars in Providenciales;
• $2.4 million dollars in South Caicos;
• $8.4 million dollars in North Caicos;
• $800,000 in Salt Cay, and;
• $200,000 in Middle Caicos.

Also on the way are new vehicles for customs; $200,000 worth of protective clothing, non-lethal weapons, and accidental insurance desperately needed by immigration frontline officers who face increasing danger in their profession.

Musgrove said contrary to what was said as a criticism about lack of training by Edwin Astwood, Opposition Leader, there was $2.3 million for implementation, data management and training of staff in addition to various training initiatives that are sponsored by the UK Government.

NORTH AND MIDDLE CAICOS 

Musgrove who is also the MP for the Twin Islands, explained what was in store for them:

• Refurbishment of the Aged Care and Special Needs Centre;
• Community Parks and Recreational Facilities Development;
• Roads and electrification development, and furniture and equipment for the primary schools.
• $750,000 for the renovation of Bambarra Beach;
• Renovation of the Lorimer’s Community Center
• Increase budgeted for District Administration to $193,000 and
• A brand-new ambulance,
• $1 million for the construction of the Bottle Creek Community Centre;
• $850,000 to repair the Raymond Gardiner High School Block;
• $500,000 for the refurbishment of the Horse Stable Beach Complex, and;
• $117,000 for the purchase of equipment for the DDME.

Musgrove’s Ministry brought in unaudited actuals of $186 million, $15 million more than the expected $171 million.

It spent 98.5 percent of its operating expenditure targets.

Althea Been, Permanent Secretary in the ministry had indicated the unspent cash was personnel costs they had not managed to fill.