TCI News
TCI: Better risk management, leads to stronger and more profitable businesses, says PwC
#TurksandCaicos, March 16, 2018 – Providenciales – PwC argues that better risk management practices make for better business. Cost savings, more efficient allocation of resources and improved business performance are all likely to be achieved when organisations formally integrate Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) into their strategic and operational activities.
“Companies that equip their line managers (i.e. the first line of defense) and staff with the tools and techniques to identify, assess and respond to risks in a proactive manner, will have a competitive edge,” said Bruce Scott, Risk Assurance Leader for PwC in the Caribbean. “We know that major risk exposures are rarely confined to discrete areas in an organisation, but rather, can have a domino effect across the organisation. It is for this reason that PwC has developed a holistic approach to risk management to help protect businesses, facilitating strategic decision making and enhancing efficiency. Our teams have extensive experience having already worked with public and private sector clients of all sizes to understand and address an extensive range of strategic and operational risks”.
Bruce was speaking on Thursday (March 8) at PwC in the Caribbean’s Risk Management seminar hosted at the Regent Village in Providenciales. The seminar is the latest in a regional series to improve the ability of businesses to manage risks at every stage. The third in the series, and the first in the Turks and Caicos Islands, entitled “Better risk management, better business performance”, not only looked at the practicalities of identifying and managing risk proactively and defensively, but also outlined the importance and roles of Three Lines of Defense in a business.
The three lines of defense are:
- First line of defense (line managers) is responsible for day-to-day execution and management of risk and controls;
- Second line of defense, includes the risk and compliance functions who a play a supporting role to the first line by providing risk management guidance, training and independent reviews of risk exposures faced by the first line; and
- Third line of defense is internal audit, which is responsible for independently testing that the company’s risks are being mitigated. The third line may also include external auditors and regulators.
The PwC team also shared expert insights on the importance of having a sound business continuity planning process that protects against natural disasters as well as unique disasters such as a fire and the importance of a multi-skilled internal audit function that can independently test controls 
over critical risks faced by an organisation. Other presenters included Nick Haywood, Territory Leader, PwC, Turks and Caicos Islands, Carolyn Bell Wisdom, Risk Assurance Partner, Jamaica, and David Green, Manager, Turks and Caicos Islands.
Nick Haywood, Territory Leader, PwC, Turks and Caicos Islands said, “PwC risk management teams led by Bruce Scott, have performed extensive research on why organisations have failed to properly identify, analyse and address business risks. We’ve worked with a number of businesses regionally to provide cutting edge Enterprise Risk Management Services. Our goal is to provide businesses with the knowledge and resources to manage enterprise-wide risk and for the local business community to be aware that PwC not only provides financial statements audits, but also a range of value-added non-audit services.
TCIG knew from April that fuel factor could surge almost 80%; Minister says $500 cost-of-living payment was part of Government’s response
PROVIDENCIALES — The Turks and Caicos Government knew months before July’s shocking electricity bills that consumers faced a potentially massive increase in the fuel factor.
Minister of Information Technology and Energy E. Jay Saunders revealed Friday that Pelican Energy warned his Ministry in April that generation fuel costs were projected to rise from $3.09 per gallon in May to $4.79 in June and July.
That translated into a projected fuel factor jump from about 17.5 cents to 31 cents per kilowatt-hour — an increase of almost 80%.
Saunders said he personally advised Cabinet of the projected increase and presented options for cushioning the impact.
He characterised Government’s $500 cost-of-living payment as its “initial response” to rising fuel costs, before a separate fuel-factor subsidy was approved.
Cabinet records show Government agreed on June 24 to provide funding to mitigate the fuel-factor impact, with the relief programme approved July 8.
Eligible residential customers — those averaging less than $1,500 monthly over the previous three bills — are capped at 22 cents per kWh from July through October.
Pelican confirmed Friday that Government’s contribution was already applied to July bills, meaning the bills now triggering widespread public outrage would have been even higher without the subsidy.
Saunders did not disclose the programme’s total cost.
His admission that Government knew since April, however, raises another question amid the backlash: why were consumers not directly warned by Government about the scale of the approaching increase?
PROVIDENCIALES — New commercial Crown Land applications are facing a six-month pause as the Turks and Caicos Islands Government takes inventory of its holdings.
During Cabinet meetings held July 15 and 16, an immediate six-month moratorium was approved on the acceptance, processing
and approval of new applications for commercial Crown Land grants, leases and allocations.
The pause will remain in place pending completion of the Crown Land Inventory Review. Cabinet’s summary did not state what prompted the review or indicate whether availability of commercial Crown Land is a concern.
The two-day meeting also advanced major consumer legislation. Cabinet approved the National Fair Competition Policy 2026 and drafting instructions for a Fair Competition Ordinance, moving TCI toward stronger consumer protection and fair competition rules.
In Grand Turk, Cabinet approved rezoning land in the North West Suburbs from low-density to medium-density residential use to facilitate a new apartment development.
Cabinet also advanced fisheries reforms, water legislation allowing private and public-private investment, minerals legislation and appointments across tourism, health and finance.
Progress toward establishing a TCI Credit Union was also noted.
PROVIDENCIALES — Major development projects outside Providenciales received Cabinet attention on July 8, with Government approving agreements connected to the redevelopment of Dellis Cay and a resort development in North Caicos.
Cabinet approved a Development Agreement between the Turks and Caicos Islands Government, Desarrollos Hotelco DC Ltd. and
Desarrollos Hotelco Astoria Ltd. for the redevelopment of Dellis Cay.
The long-discussed private island development sits between Providenciales and North Caicos and its return to Cabinet signals another step toward redevelopment.
Cabinet also approved amendments to an agreement involving SPR LND Ltd. (Royal Reef) and TCIG Development Agreement for a resort/hotel development in North Caicos.
Other decisions included approval of the First Supplementary Appropriation Bill 2026 for onward transmission and the appointment of Cindy Ewing as Chair of the Invest TCI Board, effective August 1 for three years.
Cabinet also noted consultation outcomes concerning changes to business licensing, approved professional membership expenses for qualifying Telecommunications Commission staff and approved advice relating to the Interim Clinical and Estates Services PPP.
The July 8 meeting was chaired by Acting Governor Anya Williams.
Photo Credit: Royal Reef (Keith)
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