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Failure to complete more than half of capital projects; ‘That’s on us’ – Saunders

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By Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer

 

 

#TurksandCaicos, May 19, 2023 – The Government not only failed to deliver on promised capital projects despite historic budgeted expenditure in the last financial year (2022/23), but compared to previous years with much lower budgets they are barely above average.  The revelation came from E Jay Saunders, Deputy Premier and Finance Minister in the first day of budget debates, Tuesday May 16th.

“The [last] four administrations, The interim Administration, Hon Dr. Rufus Ewing’s Administration, Hon. Sharlene Cartwright Robinson’s Administration, and our current administration spent an average of $16.8 million per year on capital projects.”

Saunders admitted that the $18.2 million that the Government managed to spend last fiscal year, while more than $16 million, was not up to target.

“It made us averse to budget (lower than budget) by a staggering 67 percent.  That is on us. We budgeted $55.8 million for capital projects; we could only deliver 18.2,” he said.

Capital Projects can be described as those projects that improve overall quality of life in a tangible way, usually via upgrades to infrastructure, examples include recreational parks, upgrades to schools and more.

Projects that the Government managed to complete included: IT command and control systems for all Islands; upgrades to water storage and distribution facilities; lights installed in Grand Turk; new blocks for several schools; upgrades to the governor’s residence; repairs to police stations and more.

Even so, only 18 million of the budgeted $55.8 million that should have been spent on improving the lives and welfare of residents across the Turks and Caicos Islands was expended.  Saunders acknowledged that this, while technically better than average, is insufficient and committed to fixing the gap between budgeting and delivering.

“It is time to reevaluate the capital projects process from concept to delivery to enhance efficiency while maintaining the necessary checks and balances,” he said.

It’s a disheartening announcement for islanders once again as they remain without key infrastructure for play, work, and safety.  Aside from the slowed infrastructural development of the country and residents being deprived of their promised parks, school upgrades, road upgrades, and more; another major concern when capital projects remain undelivered, is what happens to the money that should have been used for them.

Saunders explained that to improve efficiency in 2022, the Government amended certain rules governing capital projects allowing ‘the entire appropriations development fund to be committed for a period of 2 financial years’.  It gave projects the needed funding whether they were started or not, restricting that money for use on those projects only.  With the financial year over and a chunk of those projects not yet started it meant:

“Consequently we would have started this financial year with $37.6 million of our cash on hand restricted due to capital projects that had not yet started.”

With a promise already made to the UK not to let their unrestricted funds fall below what was needed to run the country for 90 days (which would certainly have happened with $37 million tied up), TCIG had to allow the funding to expire with the financial year.

The bungled job of clearing Public Works before planning projects, means Public Infrastructure plans will have to be resubmitted to the House requiring a duplication of work further slowing the pace of projects in the country.

The Government has budgeted $64.4 million for Capital projects this (2023/24) financial year.

Government

Ministry of Tourism Participates in 30th Florida Caribbean Cruise Association Conference  

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PRESS RELEASE

 

FROM THE MINISTRY OF TOURISM, ENVIRONMENT, FISHERIES AND MARINE AFFAIRS, CULTURE AND HERITAGE, AGRICULTURE AND RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS AND GAMING

 

 

Cockburn Town, Turks and Caicos, 1st November 2024 – The Ministry of Tourism, Environment, Heritage, Fisheries, Agriculture, Religious Affairs, and Gaming actively participated in the 30th Florida Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) Conference, held from 22 to 26 October 2024, in collaboration with the Government of St. Maarten. Mr. Brian Been, the Ministry’s Policy, Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation Manager, represented the ministry at this significant event.

The FCCA Conference is recognised as the largest gathering of cruise industry stakeholders in the Caribbean. Attendees engaged in numerous one-on-one sessions, allowing destinations to connect directly with cruise operators. The agenda also featured discussions on training opportunities, capital investments for various destinations, and the latest trends in cruise tourism.

Hon. Josephine Connolly, Minister of Tourism, emphasized the ministry’s commitment to the sustainable development of the cruise industry, stating, “We are proud to have elevated our status to Platinum Membership, enhancing our connectivity in product development, marketing, and crucially, in capacity building through training. Recently, Experience TCI organized a series of workshops with FCCA trainers from Aquila in Grand Turk. We are dedicated to the integrated development of cruise tourism in collaboration with our partners.”

A highlight of the conference was the release of the BREA Study, which showcased the continuing success of the Turks and Caicos Islands in cruise tourism. The study revealed an economic contribution of US$116 million from the 2023/2024 cruise season, a significant increase from $86.47 million in 2018.

The Ministry of Tourism extends its gratitude to the Grand Turk Cruise Center, the Turks and Caicos Islands Statistics Authority, and other partners for their invaluable contributions to the data submission process.

The Ministry remains committed to promoting sustainable tourism practices and enhancing the overall visitor experience, with participation in events like the FCCA Platinum Member Conference playing a vital role in achieving these goals.

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The Department of Gender Affairs, within the Ministry of Home Affairs, Pinned House of Assembly (HOA) Members for Domestic Violence Awareness Month

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PRESS RELEASE 

From The Department of Gender Affairs

 

Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Islands October 29th 2024 – In a powerful display of solidarity, the Turks and Caicos Islands Government rallied behind Domestic Violence Awareness Month with a pinning of members of the House of Assembly. This symbolic act, where the leaders were pinned with an awareness badge, signifies their public commitment to the cause. The event, held on October 11th , 2024, was organized by the Department of Gender Affairs and led by Mrs. Carolyn Dickenson, Director of Gender Affairs, under the theme “Stop the Pain, Break the Chain: Silence Hides Violence.”

Premier Hon. Charles Washington Misick and several other esteemed members of the House of Assembly participated in the ceremony, demonstrating the government’s unwavering commitment to combating domestic violence. By wearing the awareness pins, these leaders visibly pledged their support for victims/survivors and their families, as well as their dedication to breaking the cycle of abuse.

Mrs. Dickenson expressed her elation at the overwhelming support shown by the members. “Their participation sends a powerful message that our government will not tolerate domestic violence in any form,” she stated. “It emphasizes that we all have a role to play in ending the silence that hides this devastating issue too often.”

Domestic Violence Awareness Month is an annual observance in the Turks and Caicos Islands aimed at raising awareness of the pervasive problem of domestic abuse and providing support to those affected. The theme “Stop the Pain, Break the Chain” is a call to action, emphasizing the need to break the silence surrounding domestic violence and create a chain of support for victims. It encourages everyone to speak out against domestic violence and support those who are affected.

The Turks and Caicos Islands Government urges all residents to join this important awareness campaign. Together, the community can play a crucial role in stopping the pain of domestic violence and breaking the chain of abuse for generations to come.

If you do not have a pin, we encourage you to collect one from the Department of Gender Affairs. Your participation is crucial in our collective efforts to end domestic violence.

For more information on Domestic Violence Awareness Month and resources for those affected by domestic abuse, please contact the Department of Gender Affairs via telephone at 649-338-2681 (Grand Turk), 649-338-2686 (Providenciales). You can also contact the Department via email at genderaffairs@gov.tc. Continue to look out for its various activities on facebook.com/genderaffairstci or Instagram: @genderaffairstci.

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Shakiah Lewis Appointed Dean of CARICOM Youth Ambassadors

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PRESS RELEASE

 

FROM THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

YOUTH, SPORTS, AND CULTURE

 

 

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 25th October 2024 – The Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture, through the Department of Youth Affairs is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Shakiah Lewis as Dean of the CARICOM Youth Ambassadors Program (CYAP) for the entire CARICOM region.

A dedicated educator and passionate youth advocate, Ms. Lewis, brings extensive experience in regional integration, leadership, and community involvement. She is a member of the TCI National Youth Parliament, TCI Community College Alumni Association, CSA Young Workers Leader, AOL Foundation advocate, and Rotaract Club of Grand Turk Director.

As Dean, Ms. Lewis will promote youth advocacy and leadership development, deepening youth participation in regional integration and development. Her one-year term will focus on championing youth-related issues such as education, employment, health, and social inclusion.

Hon. Rachel Taylor, Minister of Education, Youth, Sports & Culture stated, “I congratulate Ms. Shakiah Lewis on her well-deserved appointment as Dean of the CARICOM Youth Ambassadors Program. Her dedication and leadership as a TCI Youth Ambassador, coupled with her impressive civic portfolio have, prepared her well for this regional role. We are proud to have her represent our country and empower young leaders across the Caribbean.”

The Turks and Caicos Islands Government congratulates Ms. Lewis on this achievement and wishes her success in her new role.

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