TURKS AND CAICOS POST CABINET MEETING STATEMENT

#TurksandCaicos, July 17, 2023

Her Excellency the Acting Governor, Anya Williams, chaired the 18^th meeting of Cabinet on Tuesday 27 June 2023 at the Premier’s Office on Providenciales.

All Members were present.

At this meeting Cabinet:

• Was presented with a zero-emission, environment friendly, waste management proposal with the capacity to clear existing landfills, generate electricity, create employment opportunities and produce various waste products which can be use in the construction and agricultural sector.
• Noted the ruling of the Supreme Court for an interim settlement for asylum applicants currently in the Turks and Caicos Islands and approved the payment of the Judgement as failure to do so would constitute a contempt of the court’s Ruling.
• Discussed proposed policy changes for Renewable Energy Bill (2023) following advice from an independent consultancy, existing stakeholders and the Energy and Utilities Commissioner, aimed at increasing an uptick in renewable energy systems within the Turks and Caicos Islands and reduce the cost of energy for all.Members agreed next steps.
• Discussed the establishment of regulations to empower the Energy and Utilities Department to regulate all capital spending for public utility companies within the Turks and Caicos Islands, including but, not limited to approvals for capital projects, the provision of quarterly reports on all capital expenditure and the creation of tiered thresholds for approvals and denials of such projects applicable to all utilities within the Turks and Caicos Islands. Members agreed next steps.
• Discussed a paper on the Integrated Solid Waste Management Project for the Turks and Caicos Islands, co-funded by the Caribbean Development Bank, providing strategic planning and design of an improved Solid Waste Management System which will benefit all islands. Members agreed next steps.
• Approved an amendment to the licence fee for a previously granted application by BFF Cooper Jack (aka The Strand) for an area of crown land to be used for the creation of a pier, beach and five groynes.
• Was updated on the intention to increase passengers’ duty free allowance on goods imported for personal use through airports.  It is not intended for the exemption to be extended to goods imported for commercial sale and persons receiving the exemption will be required to pay CPF of 5%.
• Conditionally approved planning application PR 16963 for the rezoning of Parcel 60610/151 in Five Cays, Povidenciales from Commercial land to a Cemetery in order to construct a Mausoleum, subject to statutory requirements.
• Approved the re-appointment of Edward Hall Snr and appointment of Breanna O. Johnson as Members of the Turks and Caicos Gaming Control Commission Board with effect from 1 July 2023 to 31 March 2025.
• Approved the appointment of Quintin Lightbourne as Chairman of the Physical Planning Appeals Tribunal with effect from 1 July 2023 to 31 March 2026, and Simone Rigby and Kenya Forbes-Jagger as members of the same Tribunal with effect from 1 July 2023 to 31 March 2025.
• Approved the revocation of Kesha Gardiner’s appointment as Deputy Chair of the Turks and Caicos Islands Port Authority Board following her resignation and approved for serving Member Pastor Dennis Swann to be appointed as Deputy Chair and for Ms. Showonda Gardiner to be appointed as a Member of the Board for a period of two years with effect 1 July 2023 to 31 March 2025.
• Was updated on issues related to ongoing and well documented security concerns at the Grand Turk Cruise Centre, the winding down of the TCI Tourist Board and the rolling out of the Crown Land (Amendment) Ordinance, and the Crown Land (Residential Conditional Purchase Lease)(Arrears and Mesne Profit)(Amnesty) Ordinance 2023.

Further information on these matters will be provided by Ministers in due course.