Government
NIB Amnesty begins December 1, not a political ploy says Leeward and Long Bay Member
Deandrea Hamilton
Editor
Turks and Caicos, December 2, 2024 – The Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands, as the country’s Minister of Finance tabled a Bill, which he said is designed to press the “reset button” for those falling behind on their National Insurance Board payments. In a House of Assembly meeting on November 14, Hon Washington Misick announced a plan to give contributors six months to catch up on arrears.
Eight days later, on November 22, 2024 the NATIONAL INSURANCE (ADDITIONAL CHARGES) (AMNESTY) ORDINANCE 2024 Bill came into force, after having been placed in the Gazette.
“The bill Mr. Speaker, is really geared toward assisting businesses, but especially MSME entities whether they be corporate or sole traders
(particularly MSME’s) . It seeks to provide for the waiver for additional charge of late payment of National Insurance contributions by employees or self employed persons, additional charge is what we refer to as penalties and then of course the interest as well.”
The premier says Employers and the Self-Employed now have until May 31, 2025 to settle their balances in order to be compliant with the requirements of the National Insurance Ordinance.
By way of explanation, Premier Misick added, “The contribution is what is owed or what would be payable on every payroll, every person who is earning a salary or a wage. That is the contribution. The additional charges are penalties which arise as a result of not making those payments on time. And then of course there is the interest aspect and then there is a penalty which is compounded as time goes forward.”
The amnesty will run six months; it begins on December 1, 2024.
“What we are advising you to do is to pay the contribution portions of those outstanding bills and then you have until the end of May to pay the penalties, meaning the additional charge; the interest and penalties.”
In her contribution on the Bill, Akierra Missick, the Member for Leeward and Long Bay electoral district offered the PNP Administration’s motive for the amnesty.
“Mr. Speaker it’s just another notch on the path in finding measures to mitigate the cost of living in these islands. National Insurance is very important, and we might not see its importance today because the idea of the national insurance program is that it provides a social security safety net for the people who work and live in these islands,” said Hon Missick.
“There have been times where persons who are employing themselves, self employed persons may not have had the revenue that they should have had and/or decided that they would pay a Fortis bill instead of national insurance, and as a result when missed payments are made…”
The Member shared that this has led to civil claims in the Magistrate’s Court against those in default in order to force those payments.
“National Insurance is the most important institution we have in the islands, because National Insurance provides us an opportunity to make decisions today for our future selves. That is our pension, our retirement, our NIB cheque when they reach the age 60 or 65.”
The member explained that workers who are injured can claim disability, all women contributors and fathers can access maternity leave benefits and in recent years, an unemployment benefit was added to the list of advantages.
“This Bill gives an opportunity to give persons time to catch up on the arrears, the penalties that they owe the national insurance, it also provides them an opportunity to come forward.
As a practicing attorney, Akierra Missick cautioned those who are meant to benefit from the amnesty not to take the offer for granted or
underestimate the need to maintain payments into the plan.
“These are measures we are seeking to put in place to assist persons who are finding the burden of their debt, their penalties – those concerns – on top of their normal day to day operations and/or bills,” said Missick who added, “This administration has continuously, continuously over the last three and a half, almost four years done right by the people.
Grand Turk got the COVID $10,000 fund, that was a million dollars Cruise Grant. It’s not about money,I know a lot of people are saying that you think you can buy us off. It’s not about that in any way, shape or form – you’re a taxpayer, so your government is giving you back some of your tax money. That is literally what it is.”
The member for Leeward and Long Bay swatted away charges by the Opposition PDM that her party was manipulating the public purse. She described the National Insurance Additional Charges Amnesty Bill as “good,” and in keeping with the PNP Administration’s regular consideration of the impact of inflation on the local population; “it is not a political ploy.”
The outstanding contributions can be paid to the NIB in full or installments during the amnesty period. No civil litigation will take place against a contributor who owes the NIB during this time, explained the Premier.
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 10th July 2025 – The Office of the Deputy Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands is pleased to announce the appointment of Mrs. Odessa Forbes as the Director of Culture within the Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture.
Mrs. Forbes holds a Master’s in Business Administration and a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from the American Intercontinental University, FL, a certificate in Business from the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College and a certificate in Project Management through the University of the West Indies.
Bringing over 20 years of diverse leadership experience to her new role, Mrs. Forbes most recently served as Training Manager for the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force, where she led organisation-wide professional development and compliance training for over 400 officers and recruits. Her extensive experience also includes culture development through the leading initiatives that promote local heritage and community engagement, ensuring that cultural values are integrated into organisational practices and community programs within the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force.
Before assuming the Training Manager position, Mrs. Forbes served in the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force for over a decade,
rising through the ranks to become a Police Sergeant. Earlier in her career, she also gained valuable experience in the hospitality sector, working as a restaurant manager, where she developed strong operational, people management and customer engagement skills.
Speaking on her new role, Mrs Forbes said, “I am deeply honoured and excited to serve as the Director of Culture. This role offers a powerful opportunity to preserve, celebrate and share the rich cultural identity of the Turks and Caicos Islands, both at home and with the world. As our society continues to grow and diversify, it is more important than ever that our national values, traditions and stories remain visible, accessible and deeply rooted in our collective identity. I look forward to working with communities across the islands to ensure our culture continues to inspire pride, unity and innovation for future generations. I remain grateful for the encouragement of my family and mentors and I embrace this role with humility, vision and purpose.
In congratulatory remarks, Deputy Governor and Head of the Public Service H.E. Anya Williams said, “It gives me great pleasure to congratulate Mrs. Odessa Forbes on her appointment as our new Director of Culture.
The promotion and preservation of culture is extremely important to our islands, as it not only honours our rich heritage but also shapes the identity and values of our future generations.
We wish Mrs. Forbes well on her appointment as she works to chart a new path in advancing cultural development, fostering creative expression and in ensuring that the diverse traditions of our people continue to thrive and inspire.
Congratulations on your new appointment, Mrs. Forbes!”
PRESS RELEASE
FROM THE OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY GOVERNOR AND HEAD OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 8th July 2025 – The Office of the Deputy Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Alexandria Missick as the Permanent Secretary of the National Lands Secretariat.
Ms. Missick holds a Certificate in Regulation: Theory, Strategy, and Practice from the London School of Economics in London, England, as well as a Master of Business Administration and a Diploma from Imperial College London. She also possesses a Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the University of Law in London and a Bachelor of Laws with Honours from Nottingham Trent University.
With her extensive experience, Ms. Missick has served as the Director of Legal Services, Compliance, and Assistant Company Secretary at FortisTCI. In this capacity, she managed the organisation’s legal, corporate governance, insurance, and compliance functions. She provided strategic legal counsel, skillfully addressing complex legal issues. Her responsibilities included managing and negotiating complex commercial agreements, evaluating legislative developments and their potential impact on the organisation, and ensuring compliance with applicable laws. Additionally, she played a vital role in corporate governance, developing and enforcing governance policies, securing insurance for the company’s assets, effectively managing insurance claims, and supporting the regulatory team.
During her tenure at Scotiabank (Turks & Caicos) Limited, Ms. Missick served in dual capacities as both the Manager of Human Resources and the Manager of Compliance and Legal Services. As Manager of Human Resources, she provided comprehensive guidance and support to ensure alignment with the bank’s strategic objectives. In her role as Manager of Compliance and Legal Services, she oversaw a robust compliance program that promoted good governance and adherence to the bank’s policies and procedures. This involved conducting thorough compliance assessments, designing tailored training programs, and evaluating legislative updates to understand their impact on operations.
Before her time at Scotiabank, she worked at TCI Bank Limited as the Company Secretary and Legal Officer. During her tenure, she
established an internal corporate secretariat office, developed relevant policies and procedures, and ensured compliance with regulatory standards. Additionally, during the bank’s provisional liquidation, she supported the Provisional Liquidators by assisting with operational matters, including human resources.
Speaking on her appointment, Ms. Missick said, “I am deeply honoured to commence this important journey in public service as the Permanent Secretary of the National Land Secretariat. This role offers a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact within our community by implementing innovative solutions and providing exemplary service. I look forward to collaborating with the talented professionals on our team and my esteemed colleagues throughout the public service, supporting their efforts and advancing our shared goals”.
In congratulatory remarks, Deputy Governor and Head of the Public Service, H.E. Anya Williams said, “It gives me great pleasure to officially congratulate Ms. Alexandria Missick on her appointment as the Permanent Secretary of the newly established National Lands Secretariat and to warmly welcome her to the Turks and Caicos Islands Public Service.
The Crown Land Division, which previously operated as a division under the Attorney General’s Chambers, now stands as a separate ministry with direct reporting responsibilities to Her Excellency the Governor and the Honourable Premier. This important restructuring reflects the government’s ongoing commitment to improving the delivery and efficiency of services within the Crown Lands Division.
We are pleased to welcome Ms. Missick to this critical role and are confident that her legal qualifications, extensive experience and strong leadership will be invaluable assets as she undertakes this responsibility.
As Permanent Secretary, Ms. Missick will have direct oversight of the following divisions:
Crown Land
Survey and Mapping
Valuation
Land Registry
We look forward to working closely with her as we continue to strengthen and modernise the land administration framework of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Congratulations once again, Ms. Missick, on your new appointment and welcome to the Turks and Caicos Islands Public Service”.
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