TCI Security needs gobbled up much of Capital Projects Budget says Premier 

Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer

#TurksandCaicos, November 10, 2023 – Security costs are now affecting the Turks and Caicos’ ability to complete internal projects, namely roads, Washington Misick, TCI Premier, explained,

“To be honest with you, when we last budgeted, I thought we could set aside $50 million for roads, but as we went through the Capital budget, more and more of that money had to be allocated to different capital projects, particularly, say, security.”

He explained that boats alone would cost the government around $5 million.  Acknowledging the importance of the security expense, Misick maintained that this did not mean roads would be neglected.

“It’s a question of prioritization, security is a big, big issue, but I think we’ve got about $14 million in the budget for roads.”

The premier also said work was planned for one area that residents have been complaining about

“My government is aware that the lifespan of the Leeward Highway is coming to its useful end, and so we are looking at how we can redevelop that to fit the current position that the country is in at the moment.”

Hon Washington Misick also indicated that money had been allocated for a study to figure out how best to deal with the major roads in Providenciales.

When asked why the government didn’t just pull the money from its reserves or borrow to fix the roads the premier said in terms of borrowing the country would have to have efficient revenue to pay the funds back.  As for pulling from cash reserves, the premier said some of the money that could be used for these purposes was ring-fenced which meant there was a complicated process to get to it.

Investment in expanding roads is desperately needed in the Turks and Caicos for ease of access.  The premier was speaking on Radio Turks and Caicos with Drexwell Seymour’s Financially Speaking.