News
Remarks by delivered by Her Excellency Anya Williams Deputy Governor & Head of the Public Service Turks and Caicos Islands Government Pay and Grading Review 4 December 2023
#TurksandCaicos, December 5, 2023
Acknowledging the protocol that has already been established, I greet everyone present in your respective capacities, including the Honourable Premier, Deputy Premier and Members of the Turks and Caicos Islands Cabinet and House of Assembly.
A special Good Morning to our public servants and members of the general public across the length and breadth of the Turks and Caicos Islands that are virtually attending this special briefing.
This morning, I am delighted to deliver the results of the 2023 Turks and Caicos Islands Government Pay and Grading Review.
Background:
The public service, as you are aware, is responsible for delivering on government’s mandate in providing key services to residents and visitors of the Turks and Caicos Islands. This includes key sectors such as: policing, national security, border protection and safety, as well as healthcare, education, social services, and various other services. 
To this end, it is important that government is, not only able to attract, but to also retain highly qualified, skilled, and motivated professionals to the public service, that are able to assist and to lead on delivering government’s mandate.
It is also important for government to have the ability to offer competitive remuneration packages on par with regional public services with similar economies as the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The last pay and grading review took place almost ten years ago in 2014 and was implemented in April 2015. It was approved as 2022/2023 budget objective for government to undergo a comprehensive independent review of all salaries and allowances for the core public service and government subverted bodies.
A budget of $700,000 was approved by the government to carry out this work, and, following an open tendering process, the Turks and Caicos Islands Government awarded a contract to Ernst & Young Services Ltd (EY); a reputable public accounting firm, whose brand is recognized in the Top 4 worldwide for their accounting practices and professional standards, to carry out a review of the pay and grading system of our public service. The review was set over a over a six-month period from May 2023 to November 2023.
The terms of reference for the review required the consultant to independently, propose a new Public Service pay and grading system, with consideration for inflation and the cost of living in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Objectives:
The objectives of the pay and grading review were:
- To create a pay and grading system that supports the delivery of high-quality public services, which includes support for the recruitment and retention of qualified personnel needed to manage and deliver those services.
- To create a system that motivates, recognizes, and rewards high levels of performance.
- To create a system that ensures that pay is equitable, taking account of job responsibilities and demands.
- To create a system that ensures that overall pay levels, the structure of the remuneration package and the terms and conditions are competitive in relevant markets, which may differ between occupational groups.
- To create a system that is sustainable and can be maintained over time within public service budget constraints.
- To ensure that pay and grading, and the way in which it is managed, is transparent, well understood and perceived to be fair.
Approach:
In regard to the approach, the overall approach of the review was participative, involving key stakeholders in all main tasks.
During the inception stage, it was agreed that the governance and consultation model for the review should consist of three tiers:
- The Governance Committee
- The Pay and Grading Working Group and
- The MDA-Ministry/Department level Pay and Grading Working Groups.
During the review, the Governance Committee chaired by myself as Deputy Governor and Head of the Public Service, met on a weekly basis to: guide the work of the EY project team; to review progress; and to ensure that the review’s options, recommendations and outputs aligned with the Government’s objectives.
The Pay and Grading Working Group consisting of representatives from: the Civil Service Association; the Police Executive and Welfare Association; the Ministry of Education; the Ministry of Health; and other key employment sectors from within in the Turks and Caicos Government, met periodically during the review, to review progress and to provide guidance and feedback on the emerging findings.
The MDA Ministry/Department level working groups were managed internally within each ministry/department, to review the findings from the review of specific relevance to the MDA.
Consultation:
In regards to consultation, there was also internal and external mechanisms in place during the consultancy.
This included engagement at key points in the review, including:
- Briefing meetings with the Premier and Deputy Premier.
- Cabinet briefing meetings.
- Briefing meeting with members of the House of Assembly including a review of comparator information on compensation for equivalent positions in legislative bodies in the region.
- Briefing meetings with the Executive Board.
- Briefing meeting with the Deputy Director of the Integrity Commission; and
- A final review meeting with the Integrity Commission.
Findings:
On to what we you have all been waiting for, the findings of the review.
Data compiled found that the Turks and Caicos Islands Public Service, the largest employer in the Turks and Caicos Islands, had grown in both size and levels of responsibility since it’s last pay and grading review and that there had been significant changes in economic conditions due to the impacts of inflation, which had resulted in the current levels of public service pay not being commensurate with the roles that staff play or with resident living conditions.
This was evidenced in the market survey which was carried out as a part of this review, which found public service pay to be, in some cases, significantly lower that of: government statutory bodies, the local private sector, as well as regional public services.
The review therefore concluded that while the current pay structure was suitable to be retained, that changes needed to be made to make the structure, including rate of pay, including the overall remuneration package more competitive.
To this end, the following recommendations were approved by the Turks and Caicos Islands Cabinet at its meeting on Wednesday November 29th, 2023:
- That a minimum 10% increase is to be applied to all grade structures across the Turks and Caicos Government effective December 1st, 2023.
- That a new grade structure is to be implemented for the health sector effective December 1, 2023.
- That the previous 10-point grade system would be expanded to include an eleventh grade for senior professionals, as well as three grade bands for executive staff.
- That the following allowances are to be absorbed into basic pay: Provo Allowance, Duty Allowance, Child Allowance and Professional Allowance.
- The previous grade structure for the Police and Teachers to be retained with modifications.
- That increases are to be implemented in a number of front-line special allowances.
Overall Results of the Review:
A total of $18.2m, an overall increase of 22% in manpower costs, has been approved by the Cabinet of the Turks and Caicos Islands to facilitate the implementation of the first phase of the pay regarding exercise for staff across the Turks and Caicos Islands Government.
Every member of staff, in every island, in every sector of the Turks and Caicos Islands Government will receive a minimum 10% increase in their net pay following the absorption of certain allowances, effective December 1st, 2023, with certain key sectors receiving higher levels of increases.
$13.1m or 72% of the total $18.2m pay and grading review budget has been allocated towards salary increases in the following key sectors:
- Policing
- Healthcare
- Education
- Front Line
- Administrative and Support Staff
These sectors account for 1,568 employees or 79% of our current workforce.
Pay and Grading Review Highlights
Education:
A total of $3,941,608 or 27.1% of the pay and grading budget has been allocated towards increases in pay in the education sector.
374 staff in the teaching sector will receive the following pay increases effective December 1, 2023
Trained Teachers 12.8%
Graduate Teachers 25%
Heads of Department 29.9%
Vice Principals 42%
Principals 57.1%
The basic salary for a Graduate Teacher has been increased to $48,320.00.
The basic salary for a Head of Department has been increased to $56,037
The basic salary for Vice Principals has been increased to $66,610.
The basic salary for Principals has been increased to $79,178.
All Teachers will continue to receive a Materials Allowance of $100 per month or $1,200 per annum in addition to their basic pay.
The compensation package for our 286 Graduate Teachers will be increased to $60,320 per annum, which places us at the upper point of the teaching scales in the region.
Healthcare:
A total of $1,880,441 or 10.4% of the pay and grading budget, has been allocated to facilitate pay increases in the health sector.
173 staff in the Ministry of Health will receive the following pay increases, following the absorption of Provo, Duty and Professional Allowance effective December 1, 2023:
Community Health Aide 28.9%
Community Mental Health Nurse 28.6%
Registered/Community Health Nurse 27.4%
Registered Nurse/Midwife 20.8%
Medical Officers 22.9%
Staff where appropriate will receive a telephone and transportation allowance.
Front Line Staff:
A total of 3,229,292 or 18% of the overall total cost of the 2023 pay and grading review has been allocated towards pay increases for our front-line staff.
378 staff in Grade 5 which includes: Immigration, Customs, Prison, Road Safety, Fire Safety, Fisheries, Maritime, Compliance, Administrative and other officers will receive a net pay increase of 28.3%
The basic pay for these posts has been increased to $38,691.00.
Duty and Provo Allowance has been absorbed into basic pay.
Immigration Task Force Officers will receive an additional $800 per month allowance and Supervisors will receive $1,000 per month, $12,000 per annum.
Senior Front-Line Officers:
In addition to the $3.2m allocated for front line officers, a total of $1,770,115 has been allocated towards increases for senior front-line officers.
209 Senior Front-Line Officers in Grade 6 which includes Senior Immigration, Senior Customs, Senior Prison, Senior Fire Safety, Senior Administrative, Finance and Tax Officers following the absorption of Provo and Duty Allowance will receive a net increase of 22.5%
The basic salaries for these posts have been increased to $46,992.
Staff where appropriate will receive a telephone and transportation allowance.
Police:
A total of $1,480,449 has been allocated towards additional pay increases in the Police sector.
317 staff in the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force will receive the following net pay increases effective December 1, 2023 in addition to the 14% across the board salary increase they received in 2022/2023:
District Constables 18.8%
Constable 12.2%
Sergeant 12.8%
Inspector 12.6%
Assistant Superintendent 13.6%
Superintendent 17.7%
The basic salary for a Police Constable has been increased to $37,748; Sergeant $49,528; Inspector $56,037; Assistant Superintendent $63,400; Superintendent $73,525.
All Police Officers will continue to receive a Housing Allowance.
Detective, Marine, Close Protection and Tactical Allowances will be increased by 100% from $500 to $1,000 per month or $12,000 per annum.
Combining the 14% salary increase awarded to the Police in October 2022 with the increases to be awarded in December 2023, Police salaries are being increased by 25-30%.
Support Staff:
A total of $805,866 has been allocated to provide 117 staff in Grade 4, which includes Administrative Assistants will receive a 27.3% net pay increase raising their basic salary to $32,550 following the absorption of Provo Allowance.
Other Grades:
In regards to other sectors:
- 4 staff in Grade 2 will receive a 40.4% net pay increase
- 37 staff in Grade 3 will receive a 38.7% net pay increase
- 123 staff in Grade 7 will receive a 19.1% net pay increase
- 93 staff in Grade 8 will receive a 16.5% net pay increase
- 67 staff in Grade 9 will receive a 13.9% net pay increase
- 34 staff in Grade 10 will receive a 13.8% net pay increase
- 8 members of staff will be included in the new Grade 11
- Deputy Permanent Secretaries will be included in the new Executive 1 scale
- Permanent Secretaries will be included in the new Executive 2 scale
The Attorney General and Deputy Governor will be included in the Executive 3 scale
House of Assembly:
Since 2012 there has not been a review of Ministers and Members of the House of Assembly remuneration.
With the approval of the Integrity Commission, a new remuneration package has also been approved for Ministers and Members of the House of Assembly that with the exception of across-the-board increases, unlike the mainstream public service would not have benefited from previous increment or other increases in pay.
A total of $600,000 or 3% of the total pay and grading budget has been allocated to facilitate these adjustments.
Conclusion:
In concluding, let me be clear, no member of staff is losing in this review. For those who held allowances that have now been absorbed, this simply means we are now adding it to your basic pay, and you are receiving a minimum of a 10% increase after the absorption, which is beneficial to you as allowances are used a part of the computation for your terminal gratuity o pension payments.
Through this review employee in most cases, will receive more than a 10% increase to their net-pay.
This is the largest single-phased increase ever implemented by the Turks and Caicos Islands Government!
On behalf of the public service of the Turks and Caicos Islands I express profound gratitude to the Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands, in particular the Honourable Premier and Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance who without any reservations or hesitation, agreed to provide the financial and other resources that were necessary to undertake this review.
When the funding request was made, the Premier questioned whether we were sure that we could deliver the findings in 6 months or before the end of both the calendar and also the financial year. We did not only deliver the findings Honorable Premier, we are actively working towards implementation within that timeframe as well, which could not have been done without you and your Cabinet’s support.
Thank you for agreeing the recommendations in totality, for your vision and leadership, and for making the public service one of your government’s key priorities.
Thank you as well to members of the private sector and regional bodies that participated in the market survey. This helped to provide us with a better understanding of the pay structure that currently exist outside of our government.
To the various associations, the Civil Service Association the Police Welfare Association, the Teachers Association and all ministries and departments across government for your participation in the various stakeholder meetings, thank you.
To the staff in the Office of the Deputy Governor, the Ministry of Finance, Attorney Generals Chambers, and other agencies for your engagement and work on this. To Ernst and Young for delivering a comprehensive, on time report and in advance to the Human Resource Management Directorate and staff in the Payroll Unit in the Treasury who we are certain will ensure that the job gets done and that our public servants are able to have a Happy Christmas by ensuring that these increases are reflected on their December payroll!
This marks a significant investment in the public service. We promise the government and people of these islands that we will diligently work to deliver on this and future governments mandate to the benefit of this our beautiful Turks and Caicos Islands!
September 12, 2025
PROVIDENCIALES, Turks & Caicos Islands – The Turks and Caicos Islands are home to a wealth of creativity, from artisans and craft vendors to musicians and performers. Beaches Turks and Caicos, the Caribbean’s leading all-inclusive family resort, has pledged its continued support for these individuals by providing meaningful platforms for them to share their skills and stories with guests from around the world.
The resort’s commitment is most evident in its weekly Cultural Night showcase, where visitors are immersed in the vibrant traditions of the islands. Guests enjoy live performances which feature local music genres such as ripsaw, while artisans display and sell handmade creations. This event not only enriches the guest experience but also strengthens economic opportunities for local entrepreneurs.
Entertainment Division Manager Garett Bailey emphasized the significance of Cultural Night, “we want to showcase everything the Turks and Caicos Islands culture has to offer. Our goal is for guests to leave with a deeper appreciation of the island’s art, music and traditions, while giving local talent the opportunity to share their creativity with visitors from across the globe.”
Beyond Cultural Night, Beaches Turks and Caicos also welcomes local craft vendors onto the resort every Wednesday and Friday
where they are offered a direct space to market their goods. Guests have easy access to the Turks and Caicos Cultural Marketplace, where they can purchase authentic local arts and crafts.
Managing Director, James McAnally, highlighted how these initiatives reflect the resort’s broader mission, “we are committed to celebrating and sharing the vibrant culture of these islands with our guests. By showcasing local artistry and music, we not only provide entertainment but also help sustain and grow the creative industries of the Turks and Caicos Islands. From our cultural showcases to nightly live music, we are proud to create authentic connections between our guests and the people of these islands.”
Local musician Keon Hall, who frequently performs at the resort, expressed gratitude for the ongoing partnership, “being able to share my music with Beaches’ guests has created lasting relationships. Some visitors return year after year and request songs from previous performances. This partnership continues to celebrate what we do and strengthens the bond between local artists and the resort.”
The resort’s support of local artisans and entertainers extends beyond business opportunity; it is about preserving heritage and sharing stories. Guests take home more than souvenirs; they leave with experiences that deepen their understanding of Turks and Caicos’ culture and history.
Public Relations Manager, Orville Morgan, noted the importance of this commitment, “for many visitors, these interactions represent their first genuine connection to the Turks and Caicos Islands. From artisans and musicians to farmers and transport operators, our local talent helps shape every guest experience. At Beaches, we are proud to give them the stage to share their stories and their heritage.”
Beaches Turks & Caicos remains dedicated to developing cultural connections and supporting the artisans, musicians and entrepreneurs whose creativity makes the Turks and Caicos Islands unique. Each guest experience is an opportunity to celebrate and sustain the spirit of the islands.
Caribbean News
“Barbecue” is Cooked! US Turns Over 11 Million Haitians into Potential Informants with $5 Million Bounty
August 12, 2025
The United States just set fire to the underworld in Haiti — and this time, the smoke might finally flush out the man many call the most feared in the Caribbean.
On Tuesday, the U.S. government slapped a $5 million bounty on the head of Jimmy “Barbecue” Chérizier, the ex-police officer
turned gang boss accused of orchestrating massacres, torching neighborhoods, and strangling Haiti’s capital into chaos. This isn’t just a headline — it’s a full-blown game-changer.
That kind of cash — offered under the State Department’s Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program — is enough to turn the country’s entire population, more than 11 million people, into potential informants overnight. Add the millions in the Haitian diaspora, and Chérizier isn’t just wanted. He’s surrounded.
The Number That Changes Everything
Five million U.S. dollars today equals about 655 million Haitian Gourdes. In a country where many scrape by on less than $5 a day, that’s not just life-changing — it’s life-defining. It’s enough to rebuild homes, put generations through school, or buy a one-way ticket far from the gunfire.
In a place where trust is scarce and survival is everything, that figure is more than tempting — it’s irresistible. For Chérizier, it means every friend could be a future informant, and every loyalist might be calculating the cost of staying loyal.
‘We Will Find Them’ — Jeanine Pirro, U.S. Attorney
Jeanine “Judge Jeanine” Pirro, the U.S. Attorney, set the tone with fire in her voice. “This indictment is the first of its kind,” she announced. “Jimmy Chérizier, also known as ‘Barbecue,’ is a notorious gang leader from Haiti who has orchestrated and committed various acts of violence against Haitians, including the 2018 La Saline attack in which approximately 71 people were killed. He both planned and participated in that massacre.
“Anyone who is giving money to ‘Barbecue’ cannot say, ‘I didn’t know.’ They will be prosecuted, and we will find them. They are supporting an individual who is committing human rights abuses, and we will not look the other way.”
Pirro wasn’t just going after Chérizier. She was sending a warning to the Haitian diaspora accused of feeding his war chest from abroad: the days of claiming ignorance are over.
‘No Safe Haven’ — Darren Cox, FBI
Then came Darren Cox, Deputy Assistant Director of the FBI, delivering the muscle of America’s most powerful investigative force. “There is no safe haven for Chérizier and his network,” Cox declared. “We are closing every link, every cell.” Since January, he said, the FBI has arrested three Top Ten fugitives, taken more than 19,000 criminals off the streets, and seized thousands of tons of narcotics — enough to save millions of lives across the U.S.
The FBI’s Miami and Houston offices have already bagged one of Chérizier’s Viv Ansanm associates inside the United States without firing a shot. “These efforts are a deliberate and coordinated plan,” Cox said, “to protect our communities and confront escalating threats from terrorist organizations like Viv Ansanm.”
‘Three-Year Investigation’ — Ivan Arvelo, HSI
Ivan Arvelo, Assistant Director of Homeland Security Investigations, brought the receipts. “This is the result of a three-year investigation into Chérizier’s procurement networks, cash pipelines, and operational financing that violates sanctions,” he explained. Arvelo described 400 structures destroyed, entire communities erased, and a gang exploiting U.S. dollars, technology, and immigration loopholes to keep its killing machine running. “We tracked how Americans unwittingly bankrolled brutality,” he said — proof that the net is tightening both inside Haiti and abroad.
‘The Worst of the Worst’ — Chris Lambert, State Department
Chris Lambert, representing the State Department’s International Affairs division, gave the political bottom line.
“Mass violence in Haiti must end,” Lambert said. “The instability resulting from Chérizier’s actions fuels illegal migration, regional
instability, and transnational crime. We will continue to apply every tool available — including our rewards programs — to stop the spread of unchecked violence, especially to target the worst of the worst criminal leaders threatening the people of our hemisphere.”
Lambert confirmed what many have long known: Chérizier is not just a gang leader. He commands Viv Ansanm, officially designated in May as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. In the eyes of the U.S., that makes him not just Haiti’s problem — but everyone’s.
Why Haitians May Not Resist
In Haiti, money talks — loudly. And when you put 655 million Gourdes on the table, it shouts.
That’s the kind of figure that turns casual acquaintances into informants and makes even the most hardened loyalist wonder if the payout is worth more than the risk. It’s not a matter of “if” word gets out, it’s a matter of “who will be first to collect.”
For grieving families, it’s a chance at justice. For the desperate, it’s a chance at survival. For Haiti as a whole, it’s hope — wrapped in the most dangerous of temptations.
An Answer to Prayers
For years, Haiti’s headlines have been a scroll of horrors — kidnappings, executions, burned neighborhoods, bodies in the streets. Chérizier’s name has been attached to too many of them.
This move by the U.S. isn’t just strategy. It’s personal. It’s a signal to every Haitian — at home or abroad — that the days of impunity could be ending.
I’ll admit it: when I heard the news, I danced, I sang, and I nearly cried. Not because $5 million is a lot of money, but because of what it means — the possibility, at last, of stopping the man accused of helping turn Haiti into hell on earth.
Four officials, four angles, one mission: Pirro’s fire, Cox’s grit, Arvelo’s precision, Lambert’s conviction. Together, they’ve put the heat on “Barbecue” like never before.
BBQ is cooked. The only question now is: which one of over 11 million potential informants will serve him up?
