300 Pensioners approved for 20 percent increase 

Dana Malcolm

Staff writer 

#TurksandCaicos, December 15, 2023 – “Check your account today, the money is in your account now!” said Premier Washington Misick to whoops and pounding in the House of Assembly, on December 13 as he announced that the boom will now also impact pensioners in the Turks and Caicos Islands who will receive an across-the-board increase of 20 percent effective immediately.

The increase is being implemented to the tune of $1 million.

The boosted cash follows a fast-tracked consultation to determine what pensioners should be paid, days after increases for active workers in the public service were announced via a National Press Conference.

“I did say, during the press conference, that pensioners, that is, those persons who joined the public service before 1992, that the government was considering uplifting their pension.”

Misick had been unsure if the money would come through in time for Christmas, and the decision was expected in April 2024, at the beginning of the financial year.

“We were able to fast track that review,” he revealed.

Misick made the announcement to the jubilation of Members of the House of Assembly, on Wednesday, December 13th.

“I’m very happy that we have been able to do so,” he maintained that this was part of allowing retirees to improve their standard of living.

In a statement following the announcement, Anya Williams, Deputy Governor and Head of the Public Service, echoed these sentiments, she stated, “We recognize and value the hard work and dedication of both our current and former public servants that would have made invaluable contributions to the Turks and Caicos Islands Public Service.”

The cash has already been paid out for the first month and will apply to around 283  pre-1992 pensioners.