RTC to Merge with Communications Directorate 

By Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer 

#TurksandCaicos, May 19, 2023 – Now under the Office of the Premier, several changes will be made to Radio Turks and Caicos including a merger between the station and the communications directorate.

The revelation was made by Shonia Thomas-Been, the Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Premier during a May 3rd sitting of the Appropriations Committee under questioning from Edwin Astwood, Committee Member and Leader of the Opposition.  Astwood was displeased with the optics of the decision to put the national radio station directly under the premier.

“Others who aren’t the Premier, or on his team may see that as a barrier to using the service, because the appearance of it is that it is communications for the Office of the Premier is not for the entire government or country.  That is how it would appear to people,” he maintained.

Astwood requested a guarantee that this would not be the case and PS Thomas-Been responded that the communications directorate was responsible for disseminating information on all areas of government.

“We don’t want the public to be misled because the program objectives are clear that the communications directorate will serve all of the government,” she said.

Another complaint coming from Astwood was the low wages not only for regular work hours but for overtime.  Astwood highlighted that with so much asked of the employees who broadcast national events including the House of Assembly live, they should be compensated well.

The PS agreed with Astwood on this count and promises were made of more rounded salary packages for the staff as the department found its footing following its move.

“This budget does not allow for innovation or creativity within Radio Turks and Caicos,” said Thomas-Been, who continued with,  “At some point we are going to have to revamp this whole budget so that we heighten the programs, products and services of RTC,”  she acknowledged.