News
Seniors’ Home in North Caicos: A Questionable Deal
By Ralph Higgs
#TurksandCaicos, June 24, 2024 – The old saying “Something stinks in Denmark and it ain’t cheese” aplty describes the situation in North Caicos. A deal involving the purchase of the former Miss B’s Restaurant” has raised significant concerns.
In the latest edition of the TCI Sun Newspaper, the MP for ED#04 proudly announced, “We have completed purchase of the old Miss B’s building for use as an Aged Care Home for the elderly people of North and Middle Caicos”.
However, the deal appears to be highly suspect and warrants thorough scrutiny. How could it be that Miss B’s property, bought for approximately $350,000 from the bank about 24 months ago, was sold to TCIG for a staggering $1.6 million dollars, approximately?
The individual who purchased the property did nothing to improve it—no renovations, no paint, not even basic maintenance—yet managed to sell it to TCIG for an exorbitant profit nearly $1.25 million in less than two years.
To date, TCIG has not sought public input on the suitability of this property for its proposed use as a Seniors home. Those familiar with the area know it is prone to flooding and is not easily accessible to residents of Kew, Whitby, Sandy Point or Bottle Creek, Conch Bar, Lorimers, or Bambara without vehicular transportation. Middle Caicos should have its own senior citizen facility, conveniently located for family visits.
Furthermore, the purchase property is ill suited for a Seniors’ Homepe. It is in a commerical zone, too close to the highway, and likely to be noisy. This questionable deal lacks transparency and proper consultation with the public.
Let me be clear: I recognize and support the need for a facility for our seniors in North and Middle Caicos. In fact, under the PDM administration, we initiated work on such facility, earmarked the old clinic next door to the current clinic for this purpose. The old clinic is far more appropriate than the former Miss B’s restaurant.
I am writing this to ensure the public is aware of how their money is being spent. TCIG has a legal duty to consult with the public on such significant expenditures and ensure value for money. The former Miss B’s Restaurant would likely cost an additional $1.5 million to retrofit for senior housing, which is impractical given the building’s current state and location.
I call on TCIG, including HE Dileeni Daniel-Salvaratnam and the AG Rhondalee Braithwaite-Knowles, to publicly disclose whether a proper appraisal of the former Miss B’s restaurant was conducted before the purchase and to prove that public consultations determined the suitability of this location for a Seniors’ Home. Additionally, they must confirmed that the property has been rezoned from commercial to residential use.
Failing to provide these answers undermines the principles of good governance, for which HE has direct responsibility. Not demonstrating that proper appraisals were conducted and considering other options would violate the Public Finance Management Ordinance, which TCIG including the HE and the AG, are sworn to uphold. The public is watching.
For more information:
Ralph Higgs
649.232.3917