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The escalating cost of living in the Turks and Caicos Islands

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Cheers!

Ed Forbes 

 

Turks and Caicos, August 22, 2024 – Without a doubt, these are very extraordinary times in the lives of our people in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The economic impact and  inequality between the different Islands has drawn huge differences between those who can afford to continue thriving, and those who are barely making it.

Therefore, we need to take extraordinary measures to move beyond the suffering left by the pandemic, such as looking at the escalating cost of food prices and start with making provisions to alleviate this strain.

In my opinion, it should remain high on the priority list of this administration’s agenda, along with the other competing issues.

Currently, the minimum wage in TCI is $8 per hour, which is over a 20 percent increase within the past three years. Despite the increase, it has done very little to match the rising cost of inflation and is incomprehensible.

Unlike many of the other Caribbean islands, with the exception of seafood, practically all other consumable goods are imported and the service industry dominates the job market.

Is it time to raise the minimum wage again? There are several benefits to higher minimum wage. As a matter of fact, many experts have said it will help create jobs and grow the economy. The declining value of the current minimum wage in these islands is one of the primary causes of wage inequality, especially when the price of groceries continues to increase.

There is also a huge wage disparity between low- and middle-income workers; and that’s the majority of Turks Islanders. I’m inclined to believe if you were to poll TI’s, a large majority will support increasing the minimum wage again.

Income in these islands is a major determinant factor when it comes to the quality of life affecting the health and well-being of individuals and families.

This varies by social factors such as age and ethnicity. Medical experts have concluded over the years that the impact can also lead to obesity and other health related issues.

Although there is a minimum wage law in TCI, due to the  long-held traditions, you will find that it is not uncommon for some employers to still pay employees what they feel the job is worth.

As a small business owner myself, I realized that it could be difficult at times putting payroll together at the end of the week, but paying employees a fair wage is the right thing to do.

Many opponents may say given the economic challenges we are faced with, their businesses cannot afford to pay employees more, or will be forced to reduce hiring. I beg to differ, as there is never a perfect timing. As a matter of fact, it could further increase productivity in the long run.

Perhaps, if low-income workers earned more money, their dependence on working two jobs may be reduced, thereby creating more opportunities in the job market.

Being forced to work two jobs to make ends meet, could be very taxing on families especially those with children. In some cases, it could be contributing to the delinquency of our youth due to the lack of two fulltime parental homes.

Prior to the pandemic, improvements in productivity and economic growth in this country have outpaced increases in the minimum wage and housing affordability.

The current minimum wage as it stands, has not kept up with worldwide inflation.

Grocery stores prices are normally one of the tell tale signs for rising inflation. Although price increases are usually “transitory” in nature, this wave of increases appears to sticking around for far to long.

Monopolies can raise prices and keep them high, because they don’t face enough competition charging lower prices and pulling consumers away.

For example, the cost of a gallon of low fat milk in Grand Turk in literally $8-$10 plus, unless on sale, and probably higher is a few of the sister islands.

What that means is, you would literally have to work almost 2 hrs to afford a gallon of milk, that’s insane. Eating healthy is a choice, but with these prices, it could be very difficult for some working families to choose.

As pointed out by a team of International Election Experts who visited the islands in 2021, the eligible voters population in TI is approximately 8581, with an estimated population of about 45K to 50K. Now ponder this for a moment.

This data paints a disturbing picture, and it leaves one to wonder whether or not these chain grocery stores are catering to the working class in terms of affordability and income levels, or are the prices being driven by the high-end targeted population.

With that being said, don’t expect the prices of groceries to get lower anytime soon or get back to pre-pandemic levels. This makes it unsustainable for a minimum wage worker and many marginalized families.

To be quite frank, I think it’s about time the government require big corporations or publicly traded companies to disclose more about their costs and pricing strategies. These big corporations have enough monopoly power in the islands to keep prices high.

Despite government efforts to reduce the import duties on the “ bread basket items”, what we lack in this country is price control and worker protection. At some point it will have to be addressed in order to slow the widening gap of class disparity.

In order for the government to truly protect the interest of the people, it must regulate businesses in a way that supports the ability of ordinary Turks Islanders to prosper. When it’s all said and done, it must start with price control and enforcement of any signs of price gouging.

Of course, the upcoming election will also hinge on some of these issues. When consumer sentiment and confidence are trending down or upwards, it will weight heavily on the minds of the people.

Henceforth, it’s high time we have a call to action on this initiative. Although it may be an inflated expectation, hopefully this government with take a pragmatic approach to this matter, while balancing it with the economic needs of the country.

Finance

EXTENSION OF CHEQUE COLLECTION DEADLINE FOR THE COST OF LIVING RELIEF PROGRAMME

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Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – 9th July 2025 – The Ministry of Finance, Economic Development, Investment and Trade wishes to inform the public that the deadline for cheque collection for Cost of Living Relief Programme has been extended to 20th July 2025.

IMPORTANT COLLECTION DETAILS

Reprinted Cheques: All stale-dated cheques, that were not collected, have been reprinted.

Collection Start Date: Reprinted cheques will be available for collection beginning 11th July 2025.

Collection Locations: Cheques are to be collected at the various Treasury and Sub-Treasury locations across the islands.

What You Need: Please ensure you bring a valid form of identification and your reference number when collecting your cheque.

REMINDERS

  • Cheques can only be collected by the approved recipient
  • Cheques will not be deposited to any bank accounts
  • Cheque delivery service is still available

A total of 15,615 applications were received of which 14,733 were approved. This translates to a percentage total of 94.4% of applicants being approved to receive the $1,000 grant; 287 applications or 1.8% were flagged as duplicate submissions and 595 or 3.8% of the applications were declined. Of the 15,615 applicants, 10,856 were Turks and Caicos Islands Status Holders and 4,759 were British Overseas Territory Citizens.

To date, 98% of cheques have been collected.

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Finance

TCI’s Green Paper Charts Ambitious Economic Path for Independence

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Deandrea Hamilton | Editor 

 

Turks and Caicos, June 28, 2025 – The Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) has taken a bold step toward reimagining its economic future with the presentation of a Green Paper on independence, outlining an ambitious blueprint for diversification and self-sufficiency. The document, titled Economic Diversification and Self-Sufficiency, signals a major rethinking of the country’s development model—but it remains unclear who commissioned the paper and what, if anything, will become of its proposals.

At present, TCI relies heavily on tourism, its number one industry, followed by financial services and fisheries. While these sectors generate significant revenue, the country’s trade deficit is stark—TCI produces virtually nothing for export and remains deeply reliant on imports. The Green Paper argues that such a model is unsustainable for a country seeking political independence and national resilience.

Central to the paper is the goal of economic diversification. The first pillar is an expansion of financial services and offshore banking. It proposes positioning TCI as a regional hub for private banking, wealth management, and asset protection—while introducing strong financial regulations to avoid reputational damage. A citizenship-by-investment program, similar to those in St. Kitts and Dominica, is also suggested as a revenue stream.

Technology is another focal point. The paper envisions TCI as a digital-friendly jurisdiction through the creation of a Turks and Caicos Digital Nomad Visa, targeted at high-earning remote workers. Investment in fiber-optic infrastructure would help support fintech, offshore data centers, and the broader digital economy.

Food security and economic empowerment are addressed through support for local agriculture and aquaculture. The report calls for expanded hydroponic farming and sustainable fisheries, backed by government grants and training programs to reduce dependence on costly food imports and increase export potential.

Real estate and construction reform also feature prominently. The Green Paper recommends a government-backed homeownership program to help locals access property, along with stronger policies to prevent foreign monopolization of land and ensure local workers benefit from major development projects.

One of the more transformative ideas is a transition to renewable energy. By investing in solar, wind, and ocean power, TCI could reduce its dependency on imported fuel and eventually export clean energy to neighboring islands such as the Bahamas and the Dominican Republic.

To secure long-term economic stability, the creation of a Sovereign Wealth Fund is proposed. Modeled after Norway’s, the fund would be built from tourism taxes, real estate fees, and offshore sector contributions, then invested globally for future generations.

The plan emphasizes workforce development through vocational training and partnerships with international institutions. It also recommends enforcing local ownership quotas in key industries and boosting entrepreneurship with incubators and low-interest loans.

Finally, regional integration is a key part of the vision. TCI would deepen ties with CARICOM, the OECS, and major trade partners like the U.S. and Canada while developing its logistics infrastructure to become a trade hub.

Still, while the vision is expansive, the Green Paper’s authorship and political backing remain uncertain. With no clear indication of who requested the paper or how its recommendations will be adopted, the future of the plan remains as open-ended as the independence question itself.

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Caribbean News

CIBC Caribbean and JetBlue Expand Partnership with Introduction of New JetBlue Business Card for Business Clients in Four Caribbean Destinations

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Bridgetown, Barbados (June 23, 2025)– CIBC Caribbean and Mastercard have unveiled a third card, the JetBlue Business Credit Card, designed for business clients across four Caribbean markets where JetBlue operates: The Bahamas, Barbados, The Cayman Islands and Jamaica. Developed with customers in mind, the new JetBlue Business Card offers exclusive rewards, valuable travel benefits, and enhanced opportunities to earn and redeem TrueBlue points, underscoring JetBlue’s ongoing commitment to fostering loyalty by becoming an integral part of its customers’ daily business journeys.

“We are thrilled to expand our card offerings with the addition of the JetBlue Business Card by CIBC Caribbean which will offer a truly enhanced travel experience for the business traveler,” said Jennifer Fuller, Director Enterprise Payments, Cards and Merchant Services.

“As a leading airline in the Caribbean, JetBlue takes great pride in our continued commitment to delivering innovative programs and products to our loyal customers throughout the region,” said Edward Pouthier, Vice President of Loyalty and Personalization at JetBlue. “We’re excited to strengthen our partnership with CIBC Caribbean through the launch of the new JetBlue Business Card, an offering designed specifically for our business customers. This new card provides exclusive rewards and benefits, allowing cardmembers to earn and redeem TrueBlue points across JetBlue’s network of more than 100 destinations and partner airlines, bringing them one swipe closer to their next journey.”

The JetBlue Business Credit Card offers TrueBlue points based on eligible spend, and clients with frequent travel to North America and beyond, will also benefit from using the business credit card for purchases instead of using their personal cards.

The new business card will allow holders in The Bahamas, Barbados, The Cayman Islands and Jamaica to enjoy Group A priority boarding on select flights, the first checked bag free for up to three eligible travel companions in the same reservation, earn 4X points on eligible JetBlue purchases and get 10,000 TrueBlue points annually.

The new JetBlue Business Credit Card by CIBC Caribbean is the latest offering following the launch of the JetBlue Mastercard and JetBlue Select Mastercard by CIBC FirstCaribbean which were introduced in November 2023 in The Bahamas, Barbados, The Cayman Islands, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago. These cards provide cardmembers exclusive rewards, benefits, and an opportunity to earn TrueBlue® points that can be used to travel to more than 100 destinations in JetBlue’s network.

 

PHOTO CAPTION: 

HEADER: L-R Head of Country – Gemel Sobers, Deborah Mercer, Director, Strategic Business Units, CIBC Caribbean, Mr. and Mrs. Rodriguez, Samuel McField Morgan, and Chris Morgan.

1ST INSERT:  L-R Grand Prize winner Susan Boyko congratulated by Donna Wellington, Chief Country Management Officer, CIBC Caribbean.

2ND INSERT: L_R Jose Vargas, Vice President, Head of Sales and Account Management, Mastercard Direct Services, Edward Pouthier, Vice President Loyalty and Personalisation, JetBlue, Pim van der Burg ,Chief Commercial Officer, CIBC Caribbean, Danielle Dumas, Director, Business Development Mastercard, Jennifer Fuller, Director, Enterprise Payments, Cards & Merchant Services, CIBC Caribbean, Lucia Bastidas, Manager, Intl. Co-brand and Loyalty, JetBlue.

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