TCI News
TCI: Tenth Anniversary for SIPT; $100 million for $28 million
#Providenciales, August 12, 2019 – Turks and Caicos – How much do you think the pursuit of justice for an alleged misuse of about $28 million in public funds and assets should cost the Turks and Caicos Islands, or any country for that matter? For the TCI, it has racked up a bill of over $100 million.
It is unclear how the UK justifies this gross payout for a matter which in the first instance they say cost the people bundles of money, and now in the second instance is still costing the people even more bundles of money. What is clear, is that the Turks and Caicos people continue to be plundered.
Even Helen Garlick has retired from the SIPT. Garlick was hired 10 years ago to run the controversial investigation and litigation.
The Special Investigation and Prosecution Team, SIPT was activated on August 9, 2009 and that is when the country was first introduced to the then lead in the probe.
In Garlick’s defence, she explained to media that her belief is the process should never cost the country any exorbitant amount of money. Nor did she approve of the expense of the matter superseding national development spending.
But it did and it has and there appears to be no stopping for this train from “hell”.
The trial, which is estimated to have another two-years of life left and which is just now preparing to get started on the defence side, will continue to be extremely expensive.
The country – that is the public – is paying millions in security for the SIPT. We are paying millions for the prosecution team to live and to work; we are paying millions for the defence attorneys which have teams of attorneys to prove their innocence and reportedly the payments are so sweet that the income is making lots of lawyers filthy rich.
The investigation and trial is costing the country three times more than the 11 defendants allegedly cost the country. It appears as if this trial has lost its moral compass, say some. It has certainly lost public support, say so many more.
Yet, members of the public who are to be the beneficiaries of ‘Justice’ believe they are actually losing in this pursuit.
Infrastructure across the country needs upgrade. Defence could use some better tools. Tourism could use a larger, more modern airport. Public offices need more space and higher efficiency. TCIG wants to be more e-savvy in its systems and documentations and all of it costs money, more money than is in the national budget.
Much needed public dollars are being thrown at the SIPT and for many residents who speak to me ‘off the record’ the funds are generally considered to be vital cash going down the drain.
The SIPT, now 10 years and two days old is indisputably an expensive blow to the TCI public purse and a reputational blow to the faith in the process of justice being served.
No doubt, at first, much of the public wanted to be defended! Now, they just want this trial to be ended.
#magneticmedianews
#sipttrialtenthanniversary
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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