Government
Opposition Leader says Budget increases going to Consultancies not TCI People
By Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, May 19, 2023 – The increases in the PNP’s historic $424 million budget are hidden in consultancy, utility, and normal salary inflation costs while programs and services to the people of the Turks and Caicos either remained the same or were directly cut sometimes by thousands of dollars; Edwin Astwood, Leader of the Opposition, was speaking in his response to the new budget.
Astwood maintained, on Wednesday, it is money residents won’t see directly.
“There are big jumps in utility and electricity costs, that is what the minister is bragging about. It isn’t programs, it isn’t money going directly to the people.”
Astwood, who had referred to the budget as a ‘Historic Budget of Constraints,’ found cuts in every ministry and department he shared during his response on May 17th. He said the size of the budget increased every year making them all ‘historic,’ but what was important was the amount of money going directly to the people. That is where he says this budget fails.
“I have seen budgets from former PDM and PNP Administrations provide far, far more for our people while being less in total expenditure. Previous administrations had a higher percentage of the budget going to the people, whereas this budget has almost nothing going directly to the people. The $424 million is the most ever in the overall total but the least ever percentage being spent directly on the people.”
In that vein, he listed what had increased and what had been cut for residents listening in. Astwood said decreases (in budgeted or actual spending) were recorded in: Community Policing; Social Welfare for the Police: Local Training for the Attorney General’s chambers and Deputy Governor’s office; Court Costs; Advertising for the Deputy Governor’s Office; Youth Activities for all schools’ Witness Protection (cut by half); Local Government Transformation; Ministry Travel; Youth Activities in the Youth Department; Cemetery Upkeep; the DMV; Travel, Rations, Maintenance and Social welfare in the Department of Corrections; the Works Program; Maintenance of Roads, fixed assets medical buildings; and public assets in the Ministry of PPID.
There were no decreases (or increases) awarded to the following: Training for police; Legal aid; Repatriation; Invest TCI; Street cleaning under PPID; Maintenance of Street Lights and Vehicles and Youth Activities in the Department of Heritage; Scholarships.
Astwood was incensed at the cuts and lack of increases he said, “We aren’t increasing scholarships? The position of our country today and how we need scholarships– there’s not one cent more in this historic $424 million budget with over $200 million in the bank?” he asked.
He said he was especially frustrated at the cuts and non-increases to youth programs.
“It’s much ado about nothing, nothing has changed. Everything is the same, no increase-” he said, referring to the Department of Heritage’s stagnant budget.
“That is saying that this money isn’t for our children – we have $424 million and $200 in the bank but our children, taking part in culture, you get nothing.”
Despite claims to the contrary, Green and Gender Budgeting are copiously missing from the budget according to Astwood. He expressed disdain at the $4,800 budgeted for Environmental Awareness Week.
“It’s just a catchphrase for you all. I don’t know if the Premier and Finance Minister knows what green budgeting is; from the allocations here, I have to draw that conclusion,” he said.
Astwood acknowledges increases in the following areas: National Celebrations; Home Help and Welfare; Consultancies in the Police Department, Immigration, Education, and Tourism. Utilities in the Judiciary; Home Affairs among others also increased. Daycare, After School Programs and Feeding Programs were new programs with significant allocations. Civil Servant costs increased across most departments.
E Jay Saunders, Finance Minister and Deputy Premier, had lambasted Astwood on Tuesday for disparaging his Budget, maintaining that they were spending more on the population than ever before.
“We are spending $135 million more on the people of our beautiful by nature Turks and Caicos Islands than has ever been spent prior to our government— if I’m wrong, tomorrow or today or whenever you come with your speech, please show me where we’re spending less,” he challenged.
Astwood responded to the claims, “We can’t be talking about the biggest budget ever and we’re here cutting and cutting— The Minister of Finance tried to make me out to be a teller of untruth– someone who is misleading the people but we can see it right here in front of us cuts, cuts, cuts!”
He maintained that he was committed to presenting the truth to TCI islanders as it was his job and he would continue to do so.
Listed are a non-exhaustive list of the actual figures itemised by the Leader of the Opposition as as read from the year’s budget book with decreases either from the Budgeted or actual spending in the last financial year:
Social Welfare (Police) $284 thousand (actual) down to $250 thousand
Local Training (Attorney General) $26 thousand down to $22 thousand
Court Costs (Judiciary $361 thousand down to $346 thousand
Advertising (Deputy Governor) $55 thousand down to $50 thousand
Local Training (Deputy Governor) $52 thousand down to $40 thousand
Youth Activities (HJ Robinson) $20 thousand down to $14 thousand
Youth Activities (Youth Department) $142 thousand down to $125 thousand
Witness Protection (Home Affairs) $54 thousand down to $21 thousand
Local Government Transformation $49 thousand down to $35 thousand
Cemetery Upkeep from $10 thousand down to $7,500
Travel (Dept of Corrections) $23 thousand down to $13 thousand
Rations(Dept of Corrections) $369 thousand down to $356 thousand
Maintenance (Dept of Corrections) $439 thousand down to $191 thousand
Social welfare (Dept of Corrections) $251 thousand down to $150 thousand
Works Program (PPID) $3.4 million down to $900 thousand
Maintenance of roads (PPID) $670 thousand down to $635 thousand
A non-exhaustive list of increases as quoted by Astwood included:
Consultancy (Judiciary) $2,000 up to $44 thousand
Consultancy (Immigration) $79 thousand up to $3.1 million
Local training (Immigration) $1,900 up to $3,185
Daycare (Education) new items
National Celebrations (Tourism) $177 Thousand up to $ 213 thousand
Home Help (Home Affairs) $1.5 million up to $1.6 million
Welfare (Home Affairs) $2.37 million up to $2.38 million
Welfare Grants (Home Affairs) $128 thousand up to $210 thousand
Government
Ministry of Tourism, Environment, Fisheries and Marine Affairs, Culture and Heritage, Agriculture, and Religious Affairs Delivers Impressive Quarterly Report on Achievements
#TheBahamas, April 15, 2024 – The Bahamas Government says the Grand Bahama Port Authority owes over $300 million, now causing a very public squabble between the two entities and potential years long arbitration proceedings.
The total owed according to the government is $357 million over the last five fiscal years, 2018-2022.
Seemingly down to business, the Davis Administration, according to reports, sent a letter to the Port Authority at the start of the month, in which 30 days was given for them to pay up.
If the 30-day deadline isn’t met, Davis says the Government has the right to start arbitration proceedings.
A Grand Bahama attorney who criticized the government’s actions, also expressed that the tension could lead to up to five years of arbitration.
The letter, as reported by the Tribune, refers to clause 1(5)(c) of the Hawksbill Creek Agreement.
Regarding the tensions between the Port Authority and the Government, the financial conflict apparently rests on Davis’ accusation that the Port Authority failed to follow its obligations under the Hawksbill Creek Agreement.
“Unfortunately, the Port Authority has not been living up to its legal obligations to develop and grow the economy in Freeport. In many cases, the government has had to step in where the Port has failed. Let’s be clear about what this means: it means that the Bahamian people have been subsidizing the profits of these private shareholders! That is not right. You deserve flourishing, thriving communities. You deserve an inclusive economy that generates opportunity, dignity, and security. You deserve what is owed to you under the Hawksbill Creek Agreement,” Davis said.
In a clap back at the Government’s accusations, the Port Authority in reports are quoted declining the Government’s claim that they owe the “sum of $357 million.”
“We reject and will robustly defend against this claim, which we firmly believe will be defeated,” it stated.
Davis, who was speaking in a meeting on Saturday April 6, informed that before things got to this level, they were having meetings.
“We had many, many meetings and exchanges before we arrived at this point. But there were too many delays and too many dead ends. When only one side appears interested in advancement – and when the people of Freeport urgently need change and progress – then decisive action is the only choice,” he maintained.
The now peaked tension was sparked in June of 2023 when Davis stated that the Authority is failing to maintain Freeport’s infrastructure and encourage the growth of the city, as it claimed owed expenses, now said to be the hundreds of millions.
To this, in June 2023, the free quasi-governmental authority responded saying the sums stated by the government are “contested” and “it is yet to be satisfied,” claims reports say, are supported by credible evidence.
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