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TCI: Some increases for parliamentarians passed but are members putting their Party above their People?

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#Providenciales, May 2, 2019 – Turks and Caicos – House of Assembly members today opened up about the unrelenting demands of their jobs as elected representatives of the people; the admissions came during debate on the recommendations of a report by the Integrity Commission which would raise some payments to Members of Parliament.  

And while, for the most part, it appeared that all were on one accord about the allowances and constituency office increases, when it came time for voting everyone towed the party line.

All of the PDM Members voted to accept most of the recommendations of the Remuneration Report of the Integrity Commission.

All of the PNPs stuck with the leader of the party; either abstaining or voting ‘no’ on the proposal.

The two appointed members from the Governor’s Office also voted in favour of the changes.

First to contribute to the debate also had the most informative presentation; it came from the Member for Leeward and Long Bay Hills, Hon Akierra Missick. 

The former Deputy Premier spoke of her own experiences of having to pay out of pocket for expenses linked to her service to the people of the TCI during the Rufus Ewing Administration years.  It was pointedly stated that while some recommendations were egregiously high, others were at the very least reasonable and some suggestions showed that the drafters of the report were, she said, out of touch with the reality of the level and manner of the work of a Member of Parliament and Cabinet Minister.

Akierra Missick’s comments were supported by two from the Governing side of the aisle.  Deputy Premier Sean Astwood and Health Minister, Edwin Astwood both found common ground in some statements by the Member for Leeward and Long Bay and said as much when they made contribution to the debate.

But soon the mood would change and Ms. Missick would abandon her earlier remarks which unequivocally supported some changes to augment benefits to parliamentarians.

Vociferously disagreeing with the part of the report which did not make the raise in payment mandatorily retroactive to the former Speaker of the House of Assembly, was the PNP Opposition Leader, Washington Misick.

His comments in the House of Assembly were so profound, that the entire temperament of the chambers altered. 

It turned from a tone of jovial camaraderie to biting antagonism as he and the Premier disagreed on the retroactive element of the report’s recommendations.

Hon Misick said the former Speaker should get the back pay.  The Premier said no he should not.

Washington Misick described it as mean.  The Premier described his posture as hypocritical.

The Premier reminded that Misick as the immediate past Minister of Finance had the power in 2016 to set the wheels in motion for the former Speaker of the House of Assembly to retroactively benefit from the raise in allowance for that role; yet he did not.

Hon Sharlene Robinson said at this stage, there are far too many more important things to get done in the Turks and Caicos Islands for her to agree to the retroactive payment to the former Speaker.  The Premier also disagreed with the expensive allocation of $10,000 to $15,000 per month for an residential accommodation for the Premier in Providenciales. 

All Island Members of Parliament will each get $1,500 per month for their constituency allowances, up from$1,200; the Premier and Cabinet Ministers will receive $500 per month to assist with their cell phone bills; the Opposition Leader will receive $300 per month for the same.  The Speaker of the House is now able to receive $500 per month as a transportation allowance and Cabinet gets to decide if the provisions will be retroactively paid.

Despite the disagreement and the votes cast on the PNP side, every single member of the House of Assembly to whom the changes apply will get the increases.

The current Remuneration Revision Report completed by the Integrity Commission was presented to Government since June 2016.

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Bahamas News

RBC appoints new Country Manager and Area Vice President for Turks & Caicos 

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RBC Royal Bank (Bahamas) Limited (“RBC”) is pleased to announce the recent appointment of Kerryl-Lyn King-Henry as Country Manager and Area Vice President (“AVP”), Personal and Commercial Banking, Turks & Caicos Islands (TCI).

In her new role as Country Manager and AVP, King-Henry will take on full responsibility for the bank’s operations, strategy, and development in the TCI market, with a strong focus on solidifying partnerships with the Government, regulatory bodies, and the local community.

King-Henry brings to the role a dynamism influenced by nearly 25 years of industry experience. Prior to her new appointment, she served as AVP of Business Banking in Trinidad and Tobago. She has held progressively senior roles within both personal and commercial banking, as well as various functional units.

King-Henry holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree, with a specialization in Leadership, FinTech and Big Data Analysis, in addition to a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. Further enriching her professional profile, Kerryl-Lyn is a certified John C. Maxwell Coach, Trainer, Teacher, and Speaker. Her passion for leadership and development is matched by her commitment to community service, as she actively volunteers her time and leverages her professional expertise to mentor and support others. “

Kerryl-Lyn’s extensive experience and proven leadership capabilities make her the perfect choice to lead our operations in the Turks & Caicos Islands,” said Ericka Rolle, RBC’s Managing Director and Vice President, Personal Banking, The Bahamas and TCI.

“Her commitment to excellence, combined with a genuine passion for community engagement, aligns perfectly with our Bank’s purpose of helping clients thrive and communities prosper. We are excited to see the positive impact she will undoubtedly bring to her new role,” she added.

 

 

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Government

MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DELEGATION VISITS WEST MIDLANDS AMBULANCE SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM, UK

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Providenciales, Tuesday 30 April, 2024 – A delegation from the Ministry of Health and Human Services, recently undertook a pivotal visit to the West Midlands Ambulance Service in Birmingham, United Kingdom. The visit, which took place from April 21st to April 23rd, 2024, was held under the esteemed patronage of the Ambassador of Health of the British Overseas Territories, Professor Ian Cumming.

Led by Permanent Secretary Mrs. Desiree Lewis OBE, the delegation included Ms. Renessa Williams, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Human Services, and Mr. Andy Brijmohansingh, Director of Emergency Medical Services. This strategic meeting was an integral part of the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to enhance emergency services within the Turks and Caicos Islands.

During the visit, representatives from the West Midlands Ambulance Service provided comprehensive insights into their operations, sharing valuable expertise and offering collaborative initiatives for the development of the TCIs emergency services. Discussions encompassed various aspects, including training and mentoring programs tailored to empower emergency personnel within the Turks and Caicos Islands.

“The visit marked a significant step forward in our strategy for the advancement of emergency services,” stated Mrs. Desiree Lewis OBE. “We are deeply grateful for the generosity and support extended by the West Midlands Ambulance Service, and we look forward to implementing the insights gained to further enhance emergency care within our country. Permanent Secretary Lewis also expressed the Ministry of Health’s gratitude to Professor Ian Cumming for his assistance by way of arranging the visit.”

Mr. Andy Brijmohansingh, Director of Emergency Medical Services for the Turks and Caicos Islands, underscored the importance of the discussions, emphasizing the poignant exchange of ideas and the potential for meaningful collaborations which signifies a commitment to improving emergency services and ensuring the safety and well-being of the residents of the Turks & Caicos Islands.

The Ministry of Health and Human Services expresses its sincere appreciation to the West Midlands Ambulance Service for their warm hospitality and invaluable contributions during the visit.

For additional information, please visit the Turks and Caicos Islands Ministry of Health and Human Services Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/tciministryofhealth/.

 

 

 

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TCI Court

Eight Months facing Police Accusations and Court, now Pedro Grant Exonerated

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Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer 

With no evidence to support their claim, the prosecution has dropped their case against Pedro Jose Alfredo Grant Gallon, the Dominican Republic citizen who was accused of impersonating an officer in September 2023.

The Police, who publicized the arrest and charge, have not yet commented on the matter despite Magnetic Media queries.

Grant, for his part, has always vehemently denied the accusations that he was impersonating an officer and described the circumstances surrounding his arrest as unfair.

He contends that on the evening of July 13, 2023, he was being followed by a strange driver, concerned, he waited until the man pulled off at a bar, then took his license plate number and called the police, but police never came to help Grant. He alleges that the next time he saw them, they came with handcuffs to arrest him. In a search, police found his IDs which included his documentation for humanitarian work with the International Diplomatic Alliance (IDA) and police lights attached to his vehicle. In explaining the possession of those lights, Grant said he told officers that they had been in his car from his time in the Dominican Republic where he was involved in law enforcement.

Since that time, Grant has maintained several facts:

  • The Police did not have a warrant to search his home and car;
  • The Police took his documents including passports and IDs, one of which was issued by the IDA, and to date have not returned them despite being court-ordered to do so;
  • The Police intimidated his wife with threats of deportation;
  • He never showed any ID, flashing lights at the man following him, or claimed to be an officer.

Police have steadfastly refused to comment on the case despite numerous queries into the bizarre circumstances, even with serious allegations like intimidation against them. Grant was officially charged with Impersonating an Officer in September but IDA Head Jerrod Crockett told Magnetic Media despite seizing documents from Grant to support their case, no one even called the organization to see if they were real or fake.

Now, when called to provide evidence to the court as to why they arrested and charged the resident, the police and DPPs office drew a complete blank as Wilkie Arthur, Magnetic Media Court Correspondent, confirmed it was a lack of evidence that got the case dropped.

Despite this win serious damage has been done Grant claims, describing his life as a ‘living hell’ and ‘miserable’ since the accusations were publicized.

The IDA says it has been affected as well.

“That really put a hurt on us for the last six to eight months now because of accusations of fraudulent documents that everybody else has seen. We’re trying to prove our legitimacy now because you guys can’t verify any documents— before you put everything out there as public information,” Crockett said of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF)

The president also told our news team they had lost thousands of dollars in funding.

Following the closure of the case we reached out again to police to find out on what grounds Grant had been arrested and charged but no response was issued.

 

 

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