Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, Monday, 6^th January 2025 – The Ministry of Finance, Investment and Trade is pleased to announce the resumption of the Cost-of-Living Relief Programme payment collection on Wednesday, 8^th January 2025 which had been temporarily disrupted due to a recent cyber incident.

We understand the importance of these payments and we are committed to ensuring that all eligible recipients receive the assistance they require.

The Ministry is currently in the process of distributing the final batches of payments: Batch 4 and Batch 5. Batch lists can be viewed by visiting www.gov.tc.

Approved applicants can collect their cheques at the Treasury on Providenciales, the Treasury on Grand Turk, or the sub-treasury on South Caicos and North Caicos. Collection times are Monday to Thursday from 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM, and Friday from 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM. Please remember to bring your reference number along with a valid form of identification for collection.

Please be advised that cheques are for in-person collection only. There will be no deposits to any bank accounts for the Cost-of-Living Relief Programme.

For relief recipients who are disabled or confined to their home (in Turks & Caicos Islands), the Treasury will provide a cheque delivery service. To utilize this facility, approved applicants or his or her representative are asked to make a written request, for the delivery of the cheque to colreliefsupport@gov.tc.

The request must include the following:

• a copy of the approved applicant Government Issued ID
• application number
• phone number and
• address for the cheque to be delivered

Cheques will be valid for six (6) months from the printed date. All uncollected cheques will be voided and cancelled. Lost or stale dated cheques will not be reissued.

We genuinely appreciate your patience and understanding throughout this challenging period. Your support has been invaluable, and we remain committed to keeping you informed as we progress.

For any assistance or inquiries related to the Cost-of-Living Relief payments, please do not hesitate to reach out to our support team at colreliefsupport@gov.tc. We are here to help and provide the information you need.

Thank you for your continued trust in us as we work together to support our community.

Nassau, Bahamas, December 2024 – The Salvation Army and its long-standing patron, CIBC Caribbean, rang in the sound of hope and generosity during the launch of this year’s Red Kettle Campaign.

The annual tradition, aimed at bringing vital support to those in need, is aiming to raise $150,000 this holiday season to provide assistance to individuals and families across the country.

CIBC Caribbean recently made a $16,000 donation which will in part support the Salvation Army’s Erin H. Gilmour School for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

The bank’s Managing Director, Dr. Jacqui Bend, said, “What makes this campaign special is its genuine impact on communities. As we enter the holiday season—a time filled with joy, gratitude, and togetherness for many—it is essential to remember that this season can bring different challenges for many in our community. Every dollar that goes into a kettle is a gift of hope, helping someone find a meal, a safe place to rest, or simply the support they need to face a new day.”

Dr. Bend also recognized and thanked volunteers for their “labor of love”.

“Volunteers who give their time, warmth, and energy to this campaign, standing by these kettles day in and day out, greeting people with smiles and spreading cheer are the heart and soul of this mission. CIBC Caribbean is proud to also inspire kindness, not just today but every day, in support of The Salvation Army’s life-changing work.”

Chairman of The Salvation Army’s Advisory Board, Felix Stubbs, underscored the campaign’s significance.

“Together, we can ensure that no one is left behind and that everyone has the opportunity to experience the joy of the Christmas season. By inspiring hope today, we are building a foundation for a better tomorrow.”

The funds raised are especially used to offer hot food safe shelter. It also helps to provide new Christmas toys, toiletries, and personal care items to those in need across the country.

PHOTO CAPTION:

HEADER: Standing from left to right are Major Aldene Meo, The Salvation Army Divisional Director of Women’s Ministry; Glenda Whylly, CIBC Caribbean Senior Manager in the Managing Director’s Office; Major Carol Roberts, The Salvation Army Assistant Secretary of Women’s Ministry and Commanding Officer of Nassau Citadel Corps and Dr. Jacqui Bend, CIBC Caribbean Managing Director

1ST INSERT: Students from the Salvation Army’s Erin H. Gilmour School for the Blind and Visually Impaired participated in the launch of this year’s Red Kettle Campaign.

2ND INSERT: CIBC Caribbean’s Managing Director, Dr. Jacqui Bend, stands at right as a donation is made by the youngest supporter present at the launch of this year’s Red Kettle Campaign.

Deandrea Hamilton

Editor 

Turks and Caicos, December 24, 2024 – What we know is that the TCI Government has been hacked by an unnamed attacker and it has caused significant disruptions at the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Immigration and Border Services and there could be more impacted by this breach.

“Relevant Ministries and Departments will advise the public of their alternative procedures to access government services while the TCIG assesses and repairs its system, to prevent any loss or further disruption,” said the government statement issued on Thursday December 19.

The cybersecurity crime hit TCIG on Wednesday December 18, according to the government release on the situation.

But that is all the public has been told. Almost one week later it remains a mystery who or what is behind this unprecedented assault on the central nervous system of Government operations.

The Turks and Caicos Islands Government (TCIG) wishes to advise that due to a possible breach to the TCIG revenue collection and payment systems, some business operations have been impacted.”

Critical management protocols are now in play following the stagnating security breach.  The British government and the TCI National Security Council are reportedly activated, but with no update, the general public is left to guess the scope of the hack.

The UK is helping.

“DETI has engaged TCIG’s enterprise providers to investigate and undertake an assessment of the systems to determine the extent of the potential compromise. Additionally, TCIG is working with the United Kingdom Government who are providing expert technical support.”

DETI is the Department of Digitization & E-Government Technology, a branch of the very ministry which has been targeted by the cyber criminals.

On Monday, the Ministry of Immigration and Border Services said, “is  implementing contingency plans to minimize disruptions to public services following a network outage.”

Despite the network compromise, the Customer Service Department is accepting applications; “However, payment receipts are currently being issued manually.”

It’s not the same situation at the Employment Services Department’s Customs Services unit; open but “currently not accepting payments.”

The statement went on to advise, “The Department’s Corporate Unit continues to accept applications, although receipt generation is temporarily unavailable.

Payments will be processed for applications with existing receipt.

In urgent cases requiring a temporary work permit (e.g., essential personnel, critical projects), applications will be accepted, and a manual receipt voucher will be issued.”

There was instruction from the Border Force.

“All import declarations will be processed as pre-entries using the relevant pre-entry form. Pre-entry forms are available at the Border Force website at https://borderforce.gov.tc/forms. Brokers must submit three hard copies of the pre-entry form along with the Bill of Lading/Airway Bill, Worksheet, and invoices.

Manifests are currently processed manually. Two hard copies of the Bill of Lading must be submitted to Border Force.

Vehicle Examinations are presently conducted using paper forms until the e-Vehicle portal is restored.

Duties and fee payments are accepted via credit/debit cards and cheques, with cheques currently preferred due to connectivity issues.”

This massive ministry is obviously hard hit by the breach. Adding that residents in dire need of any service to make requests known to drobinson@gov.tc via email or via letter hand-delivered to the Border Force Services Office on Airport Road, Providenciales.

Still the response could be slow going, as  requests will be processed manually.

“To facilitate cargo clearance, the Entry Processing Unit in Providenciales will extend its operating hours to 3:00 p.m. Border Force will also offer extended hours at transit sheds, although specific timings may vary. The public is advised to contact individual transit sheds directly to confirm their operating hours.”

Questions related to an update and explanation on this cyber attack on the Turks and Caicos Islands have gone out to both the Governor’s Office and the  Office of the Premier, however they went unanswered on this Christmas Eve.