News
Archaic laws and policies on the books in TCI – It’s time for a change!
#TurksandCaicos, August 17, 2023 – Like many developed countries, there are a number of laws and policies still in existence on the books in Turks and Caicos Islands that have no place in a progressive society.
These laws are negatively impacting our way of life and many citizens deemed them to be antiquated, obsolete and should no longer be applicable in some cases.
Case in point: If a motorist decided he or she no longer has use of a vehicle they previously owned or if the vehicle becomes mechanically disabled, they cannot just abandon it without renewing the tags. If for some reason the owner
Does this make logical sense in a civilized society? If a motorist is found in violation, a traffic ticket should be issued. Perhaps, an alternative should be to apply a nominal late fee during renewal of vehicle registration.
Likewise, a similar situation applies to drivers’ license holders.
If for one reason or another be it financial, illness, personal or imprisonment, if a driver decides not to renew their licenses and take a sabbatical from driving, they will be subject to fines dating back to the year they allowed their DL to lapse.
As a matter of fact, a pending case was recently brought before the courts in TCI, still awaiting a verdict.
A revision of such laws could avert a perpetuation of what some would consider a choice of survival; like driving with an invalid license to get to work due to the exorbitant cost associated with renewals.
These fines could equate to hundreds if not thousands of dollars for some, especially for diasporas who were previous drivers’ license holders returning to their home land. The same predicament applies to those who may not be in a financial position to purchase another vehicle instead of renewing an old tag.
Thirdly, apparently there is an ordinance or policy on the books that requires high ranking ministerial government vehicles to have their title on the license plates.
Despite the closely knitted communities, in my opinion, such ordinance should certainly be reviewed and revised to limit exposure.
This may seem minuscule, but from a national security standpoint, with the exponential growth in irregular migration to TCI over the years, in addition to the level of violence the country is now experiencing, it could be a potential safety risk for the officials themselves and those tasked with protecting them.
There is also a pressing need to reform our current business license ordinance and find ways to consolidate fees and eliminate some of the red tape.
For example, why is it necessary to pay a fee for a business name search if your existing business is keeping the same name? It’s understandable if it is a new start-up company or if there was a lapse in renewal of business licenses.
Laws like these in the long run could have wider implications and impact, especially on the growing number of local entrepreneurs and those who are already marginalized.
On a more positive note, citizens welcome the news of having digital access to our laws in TCI, as announced by the AG’s office some months ago.
In an era of polarization and increased involvement of citizenry, having online access to our system of laws and justice is very beneficial.
TCI is at a stage in its development where we must transcend time. As our society grows and develops, it should not rely so heavily on tradition. Sometimes new laws are needed or old laws need to be changed for the benefit of the
We know it can be done, because we have seen it played out over the years where special interest groups or big corporations with specific goals, being able to poke and prod legislators to take positions on new policies or regulations. Some, not necessarily in the best interest of the country or beneficial to all concerned.
Our government should constantly seek to reform our laws so we can ensure our system of law and justice meets the challenges of today’s society. Any changes must also be in the best interest of the masses not just a select few.
Ultimately, it’s the people of TCI who make the final decision by choosing to elect leaders with progressive ideas and agendas.
Some of these sectors require urgent attention and revision. Failure to revise existing laws that are no longer relevant, it could disproportionately impact certain segments of population.
It could also put natives at a disadvantage and infringe on our rights and responsibilities, including future careers and the way we work.
In order to stay ahead of the curve and drive real transformation, we will need more citizens with a shared thirst for justice, a deeper compassion for others and a heightened sense of awareness.
I firmly believe that if individuals are allowed to freely pursue their self-interest in a free market like TCI, without the set back of archaic government regulations and red tape, our nation will continue to prosper in a more progressive way.
Ed Forbes,
Concerned Citizen