Government

Remarks Delivered by the Honourable Charles Washington Misick Premier On the Pay and Regrading Review 2023 4 December 2023

Published

1 year ago

December 10, 2023

#TurksandCaicos, December 10, 2023 – Luke 12:48 KJV……. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. Foremost in my government’s mind in commissioning the review of the pay and regrading of public service employees are the three principles of Justice: Equity, Equality and need as it relates to the changing economic fortunes of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Because change is constant, we must constantly strive to counter balance the impact of negative changes to our people. As our economy grows our people must participate in the economic dividends of growth.

Social changes and demographic shifts, require a rebalancing paradigm between equity, equality and need. The pay and regrading initiative by my administration is another step in a series of steps that my government has taken to reflect the critical pre conditions of economic justice.

Every time that I have served as a member of the executive arm of government, I have made changes to boost the pay and the working conditions of people in these Islands – both public and private sectors.

This time the recent pandemic, supply-chain shortages, wars and other exogenous factors have fueled inflation making it difficult for families to cover the cost of shelter and food.

Even as my government have provided social programs to make up for the gap between pay and inflation, inflation continues to outpace these assistance programs thereby eroding the quality of life my government promised our people.

But as we promised that no one would be left behind we continue to try to match benefits against costs.

Unless benefits are matched by an increase in productivity, we would merely be adding fuel to the fire of inflation. It is therefore critical for all to understand the Ying and Yang between productivity and pay.

It is also important to understand that equality is only fair when all starts at the same position while equity means recognizing that we do not all start from the same place and must acknowledge and make adjustments for imbalances.

On the other hand, need speaks to necessity rather than desirability. Equality, equity and need is reflected in the end product of the consultant recommendations – leaving no one behind.

When in 2015 public servants received a pay increase, we promised that it would follow with further improvements to public service working conditions. We are now delivering on that promise.

In 2015 we increased the minimum wage and promised that we would make further increases on a needs basis and as dictated by the cost of living. We delivered on that earlier this year.

And now this comprehensive review of the public service pay has resulted in a reorganization of the structure scale to align with modern practice, competitiveness and when the new management system is added civil servants will be more accountable.

But it does not stop there. I have asked and cabinet has agreed to extend the consultancy to include a productivity audit of the public service. We simply cannot and should not reward poor performance or worse dishonesty in the delivery of service to the public who are paying for the service. The public deserve better and we promised them better.

We cannot and will not allow a few bad actors to spoil the reputation of the hardworking honest men and women of our civil service.

The same admonition I issue to public servants I issue to ministers and parliamentary colleagues who have also after almost twelve years receive an uplift in pay for the first time.

Also, it is socially unjust, inequitable, and unconscionable to ignore the need of our pensioners and recognize their service and the hardship they face in trying to live off of a pension that have been eroded by inflation.

In that regard the consultants will now turn to reviewing the pension of former civil servants with a mandate to have this completed by the end of the financial year with the intention of awarding a retro-active increase in pension effective December 1, 2023 – the same as the new pay arrangements for currently serving public servants.

And finally, my government have commissioned an actuarial review of vulnerable Turks and Caicos Islanders age 70 and over with the aim of purchasing an annuity to provide a guaranteed cost of living assistance of $1,000 monthly. The government will pay the NIB to administer this program which will become effective on April 1st 2024.

The government must no longer be the last resort in choice of employment. We have injected equality, equity and need in our remuneration structure and hope that our private sector partners will do the same.

My government is committed to empathy and compassion and a genuine commitment to build a safety net around the vulnerable and we are doing that as well.

No government in the history have done more to cater to the vulnerable of our society.

Government

Elisann Delancy Appointed Deputy Director of Education

Published

4 hours ago

March 18, 2025

Deandrea Hamilton

PRESS RELEASE

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY GOVERNOR

AND HEAD OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Tuesday, 18 March 2025: The Office of the Deputy Governor is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Elisann Delancy as the new Deputy Director of Education within the Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture.

Ms. Delancy began her career as a Graduate Teacher at the Marjorie Basden High School, where she quickly made a significant impact on her students and the community. She progressed through various positions, including Assistant Curriculum Development Officer and Curriculum Development Officer. Throughout her career, she has played a pivotal role in shaping local and regional literacy and numeracy programs, serving as the Turks and Caicos Islands Focal Point for the CARICOM, CDB, and OECS LET’s REAP Initiative.

Ms. Delancy holds: a Teacher’s Diploma (Honours) from Mico University College; a Bachelor of Education in Technical and Vocational Education from the University of Technology, Jamaica, and a Master of Education in Curriculum Development with Distinction from the University of the West Indies. Her award-winning research on the “Impact of Teacher Quality on Students Performance” in the Turks and Caicos Islands has garnered recognition and has been published, further demonstrating her expertise and dedication to the field of education.

In addition to her academic credentials, Ms. Delancy has honed her leadership and management skills through various professional development opportunities, including Organisational Leadership from Harvard Business School and Contemporary Project Management from UWI Cave Hill. She is also a Level 4 Caribbean Vocational Qualifications Assessor and an active member of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD). Currently, she is pursuing Public Financial Management qualifications through ACCA, London, to enhance her knowledge in this critical area.

Commenting on her appointment, Ms Delancy stated, “The responsibility of leadership comes with great expectations, and I embrace this calling with gratitude and humility. Luke 12:48 states, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” I am deeply grateful to God for guiding my path as I continue working to advance education for all. I did not stumble into the path of Educating; I chose this path because I recognised its power as the greatest equaliser, a force that can break cycles of disadvantage and create opportunities for all. The work ahead remains critical, and I am fully committed to working with the new Director of Education and our team at the Department of Education to build a progressive and responsive education system.”

Meanwhile, Deputy Governor and Head of the Public Service H. E. Anya Williams congratulated Ms. Delancy on her new appointment, stating, “We are thrilled to have Ms. Delancy stepping into this vital position. Her passion for education, proven leadership skills, and commitment to developing our youth will undoubtedly propel our educational system forward. We look forward to the positive impact she will have in this role.

Congratulations, Ms. Delancy, on your well-deserved promotion.”

Government

Post Cabinet Report Renews Fisheries Applications

Published

3 days ago

March 15, 2025

Deandrea Hamilton

Turks and Caicos, March 15, 2025 – Her Excellency the Governor Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam chaired the 2^nd meeting of Cabinet held on February 26^th, 2025, at the Hon Hilly Ewing Building, Providenciales. All members of the Cabinet were present.

At this meeting Cabinet:

Reviewed the TCIG 3^rd Quarter Financial Report for FY 2024-2025 and approved its publication.
Reviewed the Statutory Bodies 3^rd Quarter Special Purpose Financial Report for FY 2024-2025 and approved its publication.
Approved a Development Agreement for the Retreat Development Ltd.
Reviewed the National Health Insurance Board’s quarterly reports and agreed actions to address key risks.
Approved the appointment of Ms. Desericka Lightbourne as Secretary to the Credit Union Project Implementation Committee effective April 1, 2025.

Noted the award of the following contracts in line with the process according to the provisions of the Public Procurement Ordinance; Contract Award Notification:

- PN005695, TR 24/27 Interior Design and Supply Furniture and Equipment
- PN005811/TR 24/42 Works to Matthew Canal-Salt Cay
Approved the draft variation to the Development Agreement over parcels 60900/291-325 and 327-362 to WACAL Holdings Ltd. Development.
Approved an amendment to the Immigration Protocol Document for the Hamilton Education Foundation Ltd.
Approved the following appointments to the Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority for a period of two years:
- Dwayne Gardiner, Chairman
- Gardvin Missick, Deputy Chairman
- Godfrey Smith, Director
Approved settlement terms relating to a DECR matter.
Approved applications for Class A Processing and Export Licenses for the 2024-2025 year for Caicos Seafood Ltd.; Caicos Fisheries Ltd.; and Provo Seafood.

Further information on these matters will be provided by Ministers in due course.

Government

Swearing-in of the 30th Canadian Ministry led by Mark Carney, New Prime Minister

Published

4 days ago

March 14, 2025

Deandrea Hamilton

Ottawa, ON, Canada, March 14, 2025 – Today, at a ceremony presided by the Governor General, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, at Rideau Hall, Canada’s new Prime Minister, Mark Carney, was sworn in alongside members of the 30th Canadian Ministry.

This new, leaner, focused Cabinet includes returning ministers, seasoned leaders, and new voices who will bring fresh ideas and perspectives to the team as it delivers on the things that matter most to Canadians, such as strengthening Canada’s economy and security.

The new Cabinet is as follows:

Mark Carney, Prime Minister
Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of International Trade and Intergovernmental Affairs and President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada
Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development
François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Finance
Anita Anand, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry
Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence
Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services
Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources
Ginette Petitpas Taylor, President of the Treasury Board
Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Culture and Identity, Parks Canada and Quebec Lieutenant
Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Transport and Internal Trade
Kamal Khera, Minister of Health
Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs
Rechie Valdez, Chief Government Whip
Steven MacKinnon, Minister of Jobs and Families
David J. McGuinty, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Terry Duguid, Minister of Environment and Climate Change
Nate Erskine-Smith, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities
Rachel Bendayan, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
Élisabeth Brière, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Minister responsible for the Canada Revenue Agency
Joanne Thompson, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard
Arielle Kayabaga, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Minister of Democratic Institutions
Kody Blois, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Rural Economic Development
Ali Ehsassi, Minister of Government Transformation, Public Services and Procurement

This team reflects the ambition that makes Canada strong and it will work each day to protect workers, families, and businesses. It will take action to unite Canadians, defend Canada’s sovereignty in the face of unjustified trade actions by the United States, make Canada an energy superpower in both conventional and clean energy, create new trade corridors with reliable partners, and build one Canadian economy – the strongest economy in the G7.

“This team is built for immediate action and focused on protecting Canadian workers, supporting their families, and growing this great country. We are changing how things work, so our government can deliver to Canadians faster – and we have an experienced team that is made to meet the moment we are in. Our government is united and strong, and we are getting right to work.”

The Rt. Hon. Mark Carney, is the s 24th Prime Minister of Canada. His cabinet is the 30th Canadian Ministry and consists of a total of 23 ministers, in addition to the Prime Minister. The Cabinet is the central decision-making forum in government, responsible for its administration and the establishment of its policy. Its members are each responsible for individual portfolios or departments.