News
Leader of the Opposition says Throne Speech was no Strategic Plan
Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, September 15, 2023 – ‘No parties while people suffer’ was the decisive declaration from Edwin Astwood, Leader of the Opposition as he called on the Government to maximize benefits for Turks and Caicos residents in his response to the 2023 Speech from the Throne.
“It’s supposed to be a Strategic plan, for the government [with] strategic action. No action at all after having access to more money than any other government in the history of the Turks and Caicos,” he said of the 30-minute speech
He criticized the decision to advertise Christmas parties while residents were suffering.
“Instead of putting things in place for our people we see the Premier advertising Christmas parties — in the middle of summer in the middle of hurricane season?” he continued. “For every dollar spent on government propaganda, there is one less dollar for healthcare, scholarships, youth organizations, rehabilitation, and fighting crime and these s are things that people need.”
The Opposition Leader said he would not honor the invitation extended to him out of solidarity with residents.
“When our people are asking for help and assistance not getting anything I must be seen partying on the people’s purse? Not me,” he said.
He also spoke on several issues that the Premier had wrote on in his speech.
Education
The opposition leader expressed distress about the scholarship situation in the country claiming that he had met young people who were turned down even with excellent performance and queried who the government was preparing to fill the labour needs of the country.
He also slammed the government for being ill-prepared for yearly school repairs.
“Bigger and better cant get school repairs done on time for when school opens in September?” he queried. Astwood described it as gross mismanagement.
Labour 
The Opposition Leader referenced the boom in business and population that the country was expecting and said TCIG was ill-prepared for it.
“This government has done little to prepare our country to meet these demands.”
Social Services
Astwood accused the government of creating a ‘welfare nation’ by giving healthy able-bodied men increased social services payments which he claimed would reduce their incentive to find meaningful jobs.
E-Government
“Do you have your electronic I-D cards? Does anyone have their electronic ID cards?” Astwood asked as he complained about the slow pace of digitization in the country.
He implored the government to go back to the drawing board and do more for the residents of the country with the significant cash at their disposal.