ANOTHER CONFLICT OF INTEREST BY PREMIER MISICK

25 January 2024

Press Release

#TurksandCaicos, January 25, 2024 – My Fellow Turks and Caicos Islanders and residents, let me first take this opportunity to wish you all once again a prosperous and healthy 2024.

We are extremely concerned regarding Premier Hon. Washington Misick presenting the

Gaming amendment Bill to The House of Assembly on Tuesday 23^rd January. We believe the Premier is conflicted because of his affiliation with Casa Blanca Casino, and possibly other gaming establishments within the country.

We have just witnessed the Premier push forward two bills in the House of Assembly to decrease the gaming taxes being collected by the Government from gaming operators in the country. I must also note here that the bills received no support from members of the House of Assembly, including three cabinet ministers present during the debate. In addition, there were three cabinet ministers mysteriously missing from that meeting. Coincidentally, missing, were the Minister of Tourism and former minister responsible for gaming, The Deputy Premier and current minister responsible for gaming, and the minister of education, who is the wife of the Director of Gaming, while they were in the country. The only member who supported the bill during the debate was the minister of Health, Hon Shaun Malcolm.

While the Premier attempted to disguise the true purpose of the bills, which was to implement the decrease in gaming taxes that was included in the 2018 Gaming Control Ordinance. The Premier in his contributions when presenting the bills to the House for debate, represented that the bills were to improve on the regulatory mechanisms in bringing the TCI gaming industry on par with international standards. We encourage you the public to read the bills, and you will see that the bills have nothing to do with regulating the gaming industry.

The gaming parlour taxes decreased from 35% to 28%, with no explanation from the Government as to the reason for the decrease.  This decrease in gaming taxes is to the detriment of the people of this country, and significantly benefits certain Gaming Operators in particular the Gaming Operator that is alleged that the Premier sold his shares to in Casa Blanca casino for a whopping $9,000,000 dollars. This reduction will contribute to a significant decrease in Gaming machine revenue to the tune of millions of dollars to TCIG and the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

While the cost of living and inflation continue to increase, the Government has not taken any steps to offset this reality within the private sector. There are families that can barely pay their monthly expenses, we are hearing stories of children going to school hungry, because parents don’t have the money for food. Many Turks and Caicos Islanders are still struggling to pay their basic monthly bills for electrical and water, and the Government continues to ignore their burdens, while giving themselves huge increases in salaries.

How can it be that your government can impose two taxes on you within the last six months, $10 for Experience TCI, and $35 for airport redevelopment, but at the same time reduce the taxes for Gaming Operators, which we as a Christian nation deems to be a sin tax? Is it that someone, or some individuals are benefitting from the passing of this legislation and the decrease in gaming taxes, but it’s certainly not the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

We the PDM will continue to represent the Interest of TCIslanders and continue to hold the Government accountable for their actions.

Mr. Ezra Taylor

National Chairman of the PDM