Government
Cabinet update on Cyber Security Breach, MONDAY, 30 DECEMBER 2024
Turks and Caicos Islands – Governor, Her Excellency, Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam, chaired a special meeting of Cabinet held on Monday, 30th December 2024 at the Office of the Governor, Leeward Highway, Providenciales.
All members of Cabinet were present.
The Cabinet were briefed on the ongoing response by the external cyber security technical experts and TCIG officials from the Ministry of Finance, DETI and National Security.
Summary 
On Wednesday 18 December, the Turks and Caicos Islands Government (TCIG) was the victim of a ransomware cyber-attack resulting in major distribution to services.
The investigation into the attack continues by external forensic investigators funded by the UK Government.
Due to a number of factors including the heightened threat of attack from malign actors, restoration and recovery is being conducted carefully, balancing the need for access to critical operations against the necessity for safe restoration of services, appropriately secured against known threats.
TCIG has engaged external cyber security specialists who are taking forward the technical recovery, which is focused on the restoration of essential services. This has included deploying a capability that will manage the detection and response of any malicious activity within the network.
In order to accelerate the restoration of critical services, the relevant business continuity plans are being activated, initially focused on the TCIG financial systems to enable payments. In parallel, work is underway to build alternative systems whilst work is ongoing to restore systems. Additional resources are being sought to accelerate this further and to enhance security measures in the coming weeks.
Recovery and Business Continuity Measures
TCIG is working in collaboration with external forensic investigators and external cyber security specialists who are continuing to work around the clock to investigate the breach, contain the threat and restore functionality.
Supported by a managed threat response service, all affected systems are undergoing comprehensive assessments to ensure their security before being brought back online and endpoint protection.
To mitigate the immediate impact, business continuity plans are being enacted to manually process outstanding and urgent payments. Priority will be given to the processing of payments prioritised by urgency within the following categories:
- Social Welfare
-
Scholarship and Grants
-
Healthcare Related Payments
-
Cost of Living Program
-
Financial Assistance Program
-
Community Enhancement Program
-
Utility Payments
-
Bi-Weekly Employees
-
All other approved payments for goods and services
Dedicated resources from the Ministry of Finance are being deployed to process these transactions manually while ensuring compliance with all necessary controls and safeguards. Consequently, non-urgent payments are likely to experience delays.
A detailed report on the nature of the attack and the steps taken to prevent future incidents will be submitted once the recovery process is complete.
Cabinet were assured that every possible measure was being taken to address the incident comprehensively and ensure ongoing protection.
Cabinet was also advised that several other key databases and applications remain operational. These include:
- Status Cards;
- Passports;
- Elections Database;
- RDS application for Driver’s License;
- BMS Airport passenger processing; and
- ASYCUDA (customs clearance)
Cabinet affirmed its commitment to providing all the resources needed to restore TCIG’s systems, whilst also building resiliency to mitigate against future attacks.
Turks and Caicos, January 20, 2025 – Her Excellency the Governor Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam chaired the 41st meeting of Cabinet held on December 11th, 2024. All members of Cabinet were present with the exception of Hon. Rhondalee Knowles, Attorney General, with Ms. Khalila Astwood acting as Attorney General.
At this meeting Cabinet:
- Considered proposals related to the 2022 Crown Land Review Report.
- Approved the mutation of parcels 60603/57, 60610/316, 60700/107, and 20313/47, 58 & 59 and for the same to be vested with the
TCI Airports Authority. - Received a presentation on proposals on the integration of Virtual and Augmented Reality (VR/AR) technologies into programs at the Turks and Caicos Community College.
- Approved the management authority of parcel 60503/315 to the Turks & Caicos Islands Sports Commission for multi-purpose use for the development of a community park and recreational facility.
- Received a presentation from the Turks and Caicos Islands Sports Commission on the establishment of a National Sports Training Centre.
- Received a presentation from the Turks and Caicos Islands Sports Commission regarding the establishment of a Department of Parks and Recreation.
- Received a presentation from the Ministry of Health on matters relating to the National Health Insurance Board.
- Approved the re-appointment of Mrs. Angela Musgrove as the Chief Executive Officer of Invest Turks and Caicos for a three-year term.
- Approved the appointment of Mr. Henry Wilson as a member to the Fisheries Advisory Committee.
- Noted the award of the following contracts in line with the process according to the provisions of the Public Procurement Ordinance; Contract Award Notification:
- PN 005690, TR 24/09, Upgrading Bight Park
- PN 005729, TR 24/23, Vehicles for Immigration
- PN 005730, TR 24/08, DDME Communication Equipment – Mobile Antenna
- PN 005765, TR 24/31, Redevelopment of Regatta Village
- TCINIB 01/2024, TR 24/26, Vehicles for NIB
Further information on these matters will be presented by Ministers in due course.
Turks and Caicos – Her Excellency the Governor Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam chaired the 40th meeting of Cabinet held on December 4th, 2024. All members of Cabinet were present, with the exception of Hon. Jamell Robinson, Deputy Premier and Hon. Rhondalee Braithwaite-Knowles, Attorney General, with Ms. Khalila Astwood, acting as Attorney General.
At this meeting Cabinet:
- Approved the Turks and Caicos Islands Fiscal Strategic Policy Statement.
- Approved the negotiation of a Development Agreement/Order with Retreat Development Ltd.
- Approved the transfer of excess revenue from the Consolidated Fund into the National Wealth Fund for the Financial Year Ending 31 March 2024.
- Approved Planning Application PR 17673 for a proposed watch tower and rest station on block and parcel 60000/345 for the TCI Regiment.
- Approved the negotiation of a license agreement with the Proprietors of Balfour Salt Ltd. for a period of 10 years.
- Approved the policy document for the use of Biometrics and Introducing an Electronic Travel Authority Requirement.
- Approved the appointment of Mr. Lynden Hall Snr. as a member of the Turks and Caicos Islands Gaming Control Commission Board for a period of two years.
- Approved the write-off of water charges and penalties in accordance with Section 52 of the Public Financial Management Ordinance 2012.
Further information on these matters will be presented by Ministers in due course.
Kingston, Jamaica, January 18, 2025 – Prime Minister, Dr. the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has reiterated the Government’s commitment to ensuring that all Jamaicans have access to affordable housing solutions.
He noted that there is an imbalance between housing supply and affordability, with many qualified individuals struggling to find solutions within their income bracket.
“The issue is not the finance; it’s that people who qualify can’t get the houses that are available on the market,” he pointed out, while addressing a recent meeting with the National Leadership Prayer Breakfast Committee at the Office of the Prime Minister.
He explained that the market is producing homes primarily for those with higher income, leaving a gap for low and middle-income families.
In addition, he noted that houses priced at $12 million are often sold for $18 million due to market demand dynamics.
“What we want to do is to get the market to produce houses in all categories,” he said, stressing the need for affordable options alongside high-end developments.
“We need developers who can build houses at scale to bring down costs and make housing more affordable,” he stressed.
The Prime Minister noted the role of the National Housing Trust (NHT) in financing low-income and achievable housing projects.
“We’re doing everything to create what is called effective demand,” he said, noting that the Guaranteed Purchase Programme was introduced as a strategic measure to mitigate market risks for developers.
“We say to developers; you build the houses, we buy them at a specific price and then we sell them at an affordable price,” he detailed.
This approach aims to encourage developers to construct homes without fearing financial losses.
“Government can’t build houses; what we can do is use resources to finance affordable housing and say, ‘you can only get this finance if you sell at this price’,” he pointed out.
The Prime Minister cited other initiatives aimed at making housing more affordable, including reducing the interest rates on mortgages, with some low-income borrowers benefiting from a zero per cent interest rate.
Efforts are under way to deliver 43,000 houses over the next few years as part of a broader strategy to meet housing demands.
CONTACT: ANDREW LAIDLEY
Release: JIS
-
Crime2 days agoFrom TCI Police, a DOUBLE HOMICIDE:
-
Bahamas News1 week agoBahamas Prime Minister banking on 50% Food Tax reduction, Affordable Housing and Clean Energy to drive down Cost of Living
-
Bahamas News2 days agoFreeport Health Campus development, progressing steadily
-
Caribbean News1 week agoU.S. Virgin Islands Sets New Tourism Record in 2024, Welcoming Unprecedented Visitor Numbers
-
TCI News1 week agoNOMINATION DAY FOR TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDS GENERAL ELECTIONS 2025
-
Caribbean News1 week agoCARPHA and TEPHINET Sign MoU to Increase Technical Skills of Public Health Professionals in the Caribbean
-
TCI News4 days agoTURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS GOVERNMENT (TCIG) – SPACEX INCIDENT PUBLIC ADVISORY
-
Bahamas News5 days agoCIBC Caribbean warns about ‘smishing’ scam