TCI News
TCI Gov’t launches round two of employee cash grant
CASH GRANTS PAYABLE TO ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES WITH TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDER STATUS – DATABASE FOR SUBMISSIONS OPENS TODAY
#TurksandCaicos, November 23, 2020 — The Turks and Caicos Islands Government has today, Saturday, 21st November, 2020, opened the database to accept online submissions from employees within various economic sectors in the Turks and Caicos Islands who were impacted by the economic downturn, a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Coronavirus Employee Stimulus Cash Grant #2 is another offering within a suite of grants that the Turks and Caicos Islands Government has been providing to assist residents and businesses that have been impacted financially due to reduced economic activity during the worldwide pandemic.
The Coronavirus Employee Stimulus Cash Grant #2 is opened only to employees with Turks and Caicos Islander Status. It will provide cash grants of $600.00 to eligible employees who can provide evidence that they were employed at least one month prior to the lockdown that occurred on March 26, 2020.
In this database, the applicant will see two options and will be asked if he/she is applying for the first time. The first-time grant is offered to employees operating in sectors other than the Hospitality and Tourism Sector. Meanwhile persons working within the Hospitality and Tourism Sector will receive a second grant if they hold Turks and Caicos Islander Status.
Applications will be received online by the Ministry of Finance as of today, 21st November, 2020 until 5th December, 2020; unless otherwise directed by the Permanent Secretary of Finance.
Applicants are advised that incomplete applications will not be processed. Therefore, it is important that you ensure that you read the instructions on how to fill the application to understand clearly what is needed, inclusive of the evidence to be provided.
Please note that the following sectors are excluded from benefitting from this cash grant:
– TCI Public Service
– TCI Statutory Bodies
– TCI Bodies of Good Governance
– TCI Constitutional Bodies
– Hospital, health care or medical facilities
– any water, electricity, telecommunications (including internet services) or other sector encompassing the provision of electronic communications including print and electronic media
– Waste disposal and sanitation companies and
– Self-employed persons
It is important to reiterate that an applicant must be able to provide proof of Turks and Caicos Islander Status. The TCI Status Card Number is the preferred means, but there are other forms of verification and validation.
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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