News
Back on the Road to Progress Hon. Jamell Robinson 2021 Budget Speech
#TurksandCaicos, June 30, 2021 – Good Morning Mr. Speaker, my honorable colleagues, those in the gallery, and the good people listening across the length and breadth of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Today is a good day Mr. Speaker, I even venture to say it is a great day. Mr. Speaker with the commencement of this budget debate after four plus long years, I say we are finally back on the road to Progress!!
Mr. Speaker, I intend to demonstrate and highlight how and why I believe we are back on the road to progress. Not by repeating rhetoric but by pointing to specific programs and budget items where we set out to achieve or make progress for our commitments made with the people of these islands in our citizens contract.
Civil Servants Gratuity, Pensions, and Professional Development
Mr. Speaker in 2014, consultations with the Civil Service Association and the Deputy Governor’s Office began with the previous Good Good Progressive Government to see how best Civil Servants Gratuity and Pensions could be reinstated, having been unjustly removed during the Interim Government. Here we are over 6 years later, TCIG reserves having peaked to over 100 million dollars sometime in 2019, yet the issue is still not resolved. Thankfully Mr. Speaker, we are back on the road to progress. This good good Progressive Government, the people’s government has allocated an additional 2 million dollars for the reinstatement of the civil Servants pension scheme which includes gratuities (P 3.37).
Further, a key Programme strategy for the Deputy Governor’s office is the conducting of a consulation and a review of the TCI Public Service Pension and Terminal Benefits by the end of the 3rd quarter i.e. by the end of the year (P 3.89). Hopefully, it doesn’t take that long as we have been beating this horse for some time now and it’s time to put this baby to bed in the best interest of Turks and Caicos Islander Civil Servants.
Mr. Speaker I’m all pleased to noted that for Civil Servants not only has your Professional Development vote been restored but it has been increased to the tune of $260,000! (P 3.98). Public Servants when I say this Good Progressive Government has your back, you can take that to the bank!! And there is more to come!
Review of the Public Service and Public Procurement Ordinances
Mr. Speaker both the Public Service Ordinance and the Public Procurement Ordinances came into force in 2012. Since that time only the latter was reviewed by the second quarter of the 2020/2021 fiscal year. However no further action was taken with either ordinance (P 3.89). The thresholds for the Public Procurement Ordinance must be revisited. Once cannot legislate integrity. Public servants must be given appropriate decision making responsibility and be held responsible for those decisions within reason. As for the Public Service Ordinance, it review is a must as only reviewing and updating the Public Service Handbook is not enough. The ordinance needs to expressly favor Turks and Caicos Islanders. Favor is not fair!!
Empowerment for Turks and Caicos Islanders
Mr. Speaker, I now turn to the empowerment of Turks and Caicos Islanders especially our Youth. On the campaign trail we committed to the following:
1. To ensure greater access to Financing and Capital through the MSME Program
2. To ensure greater access to Quality Jobs
3. To ensure greater access to Education
4. To ensure greater access to Crown Land
Mr. Speaker, I’m please to say in all regards we are indeed back on the road to progress!! In regard to financing and capital, through Invest TC we have committed to an increase in financial and technical support to domestic investment (P. 7.27/7.28). Additionally, the MSME Ordinance to scheduled for a review and updating with a view to improve service delivery, expand technical and financial support to MSME’s and to transfer the functions to a Development Financial Institute (DFI). All to be done by the end of the financial year. And guess what Mr. Speaker, money there to the tune of $690,975!
In regard to Quality Jobs, the Ministry of Education, Labour, and Employment services was set up with this specifically in mind. We educate you from early childhood straight to Tertiary Education and it’s our job to link the two to ensure you have a best opportunity in the employment market or on your career path. Of course if you want to go the entrepreneurship route, that’s good too. We have also seen the highly publicized jobs registration drive, J.O.B.S – Job Opportunity, Basic Skills. I’d like to commend the Minister of Education and her team for kicking this off the right way. If you are unemployed or underemployed, please register.
In regard to Education, there was a 1.4 million increase in relation to Scholarships, Contributions to regional Institutions, and Subvention to the TCICC (P 3.123). I would even talk about the new buildings and programs on stream, as I will leave that for the Minister of Education to handle.
In regard to Crown Land, there is a twofold approach. The first and more immediate is the reestablishment of the Housing Department which will later become the Housing Authority whose primary responsibility will be to ensure adequate housing is available for Turks and Caicos Islanders. Once we are providing turnkey home to our people there will be less of a demand for land to build homes in the traditional way. Secondly and of greatest importance Land and all related departments inclusive of the Crown Land Unit, Land Registry, Survey and Mapping, and the Valuation Office are to be returned to a Ministerial Portfolio. To this end constitutional talks are due to resume with the FCO and the Premier’s office this September. So there is no doubt, if you were to check out Page 7 of the Citizen’s Contract, we campaigned on this issue and put it in black and white. This will ease the pressure on the AGC and allow for a greater focus on the legal side of things.
As an aside, I note that the Policy Planning and Administration Support of the Ministry of Finance is seeking to hire a Crown Counsel (P 4.28). This is noteworthy because given the complexity of Legislation interpretation and implementation, having a legal mind on staff is definitely a plus. I believe this is something that should be duplicated in each ministry even if they are housed within the AGC which responsible to provide specific advice to each Ministry and would help with improve understanding of the legal obligations of Government Departments and Statutory bodies which is a key programme strategy for the AGC.
Mr. Speaker, together all these empowerment tools and initiatives put us back on the road to Progress!!
Policing and National Security
Mr. Speaker, I will briefly speak about Policing and National Security. I commend the Force for its ramping up of the Community Policing Program and I would like to give special thanks to ACP Grant who heads the unit and Officer’s Clarke and Diaz, plus everyone who are a part of the team. For several years now there has been a freeze on the issuance of new gun licenses and while the overall crime statistics has been low during the Covid-19 pandemic largely due to the various curfew measures in place there will come a time again when law abiding citizens and business owners will need to protect themselves and their families or customers. This stance needs to be reviewed and those fit to carry a firearm should have the option to do so.
Mr. Speaker, I commend the Minister of Immigration and Border Services for commissioning a consultancy to go forward for conversion of the Customs and Immigration Departments to be merged into the Department of Home Land Security. This is a step that will get us ever closer to cutting our own cloth (P 3.41).
Ministry of Health
Mr. Speaker, before I close out there are three burning issues I must touch on, namely: the Dumps across the TCI; the Health Care Delivery System; and Special Needs. It is important into context why it was important for the Country to put us back on the road to Progress by first electing this Progressive Government, the People’s Government.
In 2016, the last Good Good PNP Government secured roughly an 80 million dollar loan facility with the Caribbean Development Bank specifically to address the seawall defenses on Front Street and for technical support to find a solution to the TCI’s Waste Management Issues i.e our Dump problem. Through all the issues over the last four years seen in the TCI, especially with the people of Wheeland, this loan was not drawn down on. Mr. Speaker if you ever want to find out why something is not changing, all you have to do is find out who is benefiting from it. Clearly, the people of Wheeland sorted out that problem.
Mr. Speaker, the People’s Government has seen it fit to allocate $672,500 of the CDB loan facility for the conduct of a Waste Management Study across the entire Turks and Caicos Islands (P 3.234). While this study is good news, we cannot and should not take a hundred years for recommendations and solutions. Further, in the interim we have allocated over 4 million dollars to address Waste Collection and Waste Management Service within the existing system (P 3.238). I want to Member from Wheeland and the people of Wheeland to know that we have your back, as a commitment made will be a commitment kept.
Mr. Speaker, the health of a nation is the wealth of a nation. We here in the Turks and Caicos Islands have a Universal Health Care System that is the envy of the Caribbean. Is it perfect? No. However, it’s my belief that our Health Professionals genuinely want to improve service delivery as was originally envisioned. Together we can and together will. We must continue to strengthen Primary Health Care services throughout our Clinical network. To end at least 4 new registered nurses will be hired for PHC (P 4.91). Preventative Care is central to the development of Healthy Lifestyles here in the TCI.
Mr. Speaker, again context is important in understanding why it’s critical for the TCI to be back on the Road to Progress. On March 31st, 2017 an Actuarial Review of NHIB was completed and only four years later are the recommendations being seriously considered at a time when a new actuarial review should be conducted (P 7.67). Imagine allowing a patient to go 4 years without treatment after being diagnosed with Cancer. One would be sued for medical malpractice but yet here we are with a system costing over $53 million dollars for Overseas Treatment ($19.5 Million), InterHealth Canada Clinical Services ($30.8 Million), and Hospital Utilities ($3 Million) only. We must seriously explore Third Party Income options to offset some of these expenses, in addition to finding the most efficient and cost effective way to operate without compromising service delivery for Turks and Caicos Islanders. The NHIB three year Strategic Plan that’s been long in coming has to be a matter of urgency (P 7.68). I believe we have the talent on the ground to develop it and in areas we don’t we must import it. Hopefully from the TCI Diaspora as a first option. Also, tapped is the development of a National Emergency Medical Services Strategy as a part of an updated National Health Strategic Plan (P3.230).
Lastly Mr. Speaker, Special Needs is everybody’s Business. FDR said “The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those that have too little.” This is near and dear to me, not only because I am the owner of an educational center but because we made a commitment that if given a chance to govern we would take a holistic approach to special needs. We’ve more than doubled the allocation for Treatment and Care to $200K, while also once again trying to recruit an Occupational Therapist and a Speech and Language Pathologist (P 3.241/4.97). The latter is critical because we must have the ability on island to diagnose kids from as early an age as possible so we can have a true understanding of the resources and facilities needed to service this specific population.
Mr. Speaker, I end by saying the words of Aberjhani “First steps are always the hardest but until they are taken the notion of progress remains only a notion and not an achievement.” I dare say Mr. Speaker that this budget is the first step back on the road to progress. Thank you.
Health system is among only a handful in the U.S. to offer the minimally invasive robotic procedure Cleveland Clinic is among the first hospitals in the country – and the first in Ohio – to perform a robotic nipple-sparing mastectomy procedure, following recent clearance by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Stephanie Valente, D.O., and a surgical team recently performed the first robotic nipple-sparing mastectomy with immediate breast cancer
reconstruction at Cleveland Clinic Fairview Hospital. The procedure offers a new minimally invasive approach to breast cancer surgery and risk-reducing mastectomy for patients at elevated risk.
This milestone places Cleveland Clinic among a select group of centers nationwide offering the advanced technology and brings one of the newest innovations in breast cancer surgery to patients in Northeast Ohio.
“This robotic approach offers greater precision through a much smaller incision, which can mean less visible scarring and faster recovery,” said Dr. Valente, director of the Cleveland Clinic Breast Surgery Fellowship Program and director of the West Region Multidisciplinary Breast Program. “Compared with the traditional procedure, which requires a larger incision, this approach can improve cosmetic outcomes, preserve the skin and nipple, and support a more natural appearance after surgery.”
During the procedure, surgeons use a 3D camera and robotic instruments inserted through a small incision of one inch, typically hidden along the side of the breast rather than across the underside, to remove breast tissue while preserving the nipple, areola and skin. The robotic platform, the da Vinci SP Surgical System, provides enhanced visualization and precision while minimizing disruption to the overlying skin.
Robotic surgery gives the surgeon better visualization of the operative field in what is typically a technically challenging procedure. This
enhanced view can improve nerve identification and preservation, reduce blood loss and allow surgeons to perform the same oncologic operation through a one-inch incision rather than the traditional five-inch open incision.
The robotic approach removes the same breast tissue as a conventional mastectomy, while changing how the surgeon accesses the breast. For some patients, breast reconstruction can be performed during the same operation.
This approach is designed to reduce scarring, enhance cosmetic outcomes, preserve the natural skin envelope and nipple, improve sensation and accelerate recovery. For some patients, the less visible incision may also support confidence and body image after surgery. The procedure further expands Cleveland Clinic’s minimally invasive breast surgery options, which include endoscopic nipple-sparing mastectomy.
“As a field, we haven’t had many new options for patients with breast surgery for a decade now, so we are pleased to now have these minimally invasive procedures available for our patients,” said Dr. Valente. “Innovations like this support a more patient-centered experience as they allow us to address both the physical and emotional realities of breast cancer.”
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Friday, 2nd October 2026: Invest Turks and Caicos officially opened Caya
Hico Collective, the Grand Turk MSME Storefront, on Friday, September 18, 2026, marking a significant milestone in the Agency’s ongoing efforts to support local entrepreneurs, expand access to market opportunities, and strengthen the small business ecosystem.
Caya Hico Collective has been established as a dedicated retail space to showcase and sell locally made products, initially featuring entrepreneurs participating in the MSME Programme. As the initiative develops, there are plans to expand participation to include other small businesses producing locally made goods, including those not directly supported under the Programme. The storefront will provide local businesses with greater exposure and direct access to both residents and the thousands of visitors who arrive in Grand Turk each year creating stronger linkages between local entrepreneurs and the tourism economy. The store currently features fourteen (14) inaugural vendors, representing a diverse selection of local businesses and products from across the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Speaking on the significance of the initiative, Ms. Alexa Cooper, Chief Domestic Investment Officer, said:
“This storefront represents a practical and meaningful step in supporting our MSMEs by providing access to market, one of the most
critical components of business growth. It is a space where local talent, creativity and entrepreneurship can be showcased, supported and connected with new customers.”
A Name Chosen by Grand Turk’s Youth
The name Caya Hico Collective was selected through the Grand Turk MSME Storefront Naming Competition, an initiative conducted in partnership with H.J. Robinson High School. Students were invited to propose an original name that reflected Grand Turk’s identity, culture and heritage while also being suitable for a storefront showcasing locally made products.
Following an independent judging process, Mauvarii Selver was selected as the competition winner for the submission Caya Hico Collective.
The name was recognised for its cultural and historical significance, distinctiveness and strong storytelling potential. “Caya Hico” is derived from the Lucayan term meaning “string of islands,” reflecting the archipelagic identity and heritage of the Turks and Caicos Islands. The use of “Collective” further reflects the purpose of the storefront: bringing together products from multiple local entrepreneurs under one shared retail platform. Together, the name Caya Hico Collective connects the Islands’ heritage with the initiative’s vision of bringing local businesses, products and creativity together in one space.
The naming competition provided students with an opportunity to participate directly in a real-world branding exercise and contribute to an initiative that will form part of Grand Turk’s commercial and tourism landscape.
Mauvarii was formally recognised during the opening ceremony, alongside the other students who participated in the naming competition, the inaugural MSME vendors, and key stakeholders whose contributions supported the successful development and opening of the storefront.
Angela Musgrove, Chief Executive Officer of Invest Turks and Caicos, added:
“Caya Hico Collective is more than a retail space. It reflects our continued focus on strengthening linkages between local businesses and
the tourism sector, creating more opportunities for MSMEs to reach visitors, increasing sales and participate more fully in the tourism economy. At the same time, it gives visitors greater access to authentic products that reflect the creativity and culture of the Turks and Caicos Islands.”
Supporting Local Enterprise and Tourism Linkages
Caya Hico Collective is expected to serve as an important platform for local entrepreneurs by increasing the visibility of locally produced goods, creating additional sales opportunities and providing visitors with greater access to authentic products from the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Through the storefront, Invest Turks and Caicos aims to encourage residents and visitors alike to discover, purchase and support locally made products, while creating a stronger connection between entrepreneurship, culture and the visitor experience in Grand Turk. The initiative is intended to increase opportunities for local businesses to benefit from tourism activity by connecting visitors directly with locally made products that showcase the creativity and talent of entrepreneurs across the Turks and Caicos Islands. This forms part of Invest Turks and Caicos’ broader commitment to promoting economic diversification, sustainable business development and stronger linkages between local enterprises and the tourism sector.
Nassau, Bahamas, 1 October 2026 – Every Saturday this month, communities across The Bahamas will take steps in support of cancer patients and survivors as CIBC Caribbean’s Walk for the Cure returns to New Providence, Abaco, Eleuthera, and Grand Bahama.
CIBC Caribbean Head of Country, Terrance Gibson, said, “Each Saturday in October represents another community coming together,
another opportunity to raise awareness and, most importantly, more support for the organizations that are doing this work every day.”
The month of activities begins this Saturday, October 3, in New Providence, with participants gathering at the Goodman’s Bay Corporate Centre for a 6:30am start.
CIBC Caribbean Walk Champion, Antionette Fox, said the series of walks gives communities across the country an opportunity to contribute to a cause that directly supports Bahamian cancer organizations.
“Every Saturday for the month of October, there will be a walk that you can participate in to contribute towards this worthy cause,” Fox said.
In New Providence, the morning will extend beyond the walk itself, with Zumba, wellness activities, informational vendors, and opportunities for participants to connect with organizations working directly with cancer patients and survivors.
Gennie Dean Caring and Sharing Cancer Support Group President Duquesa Dean said participants do not have to complete the full route to be part of the morning.
“Just come out…there is something for everyone, come for the community,” Dean said. “There’s a survivor ceremony, so come and
participate and celebrate the people who have gone through cancer and are here as evidence that you could live after a cancer diagnosis.”
The Gennie Dean Caring and Sharing Cancer Support Group is one of eight cancer organizations in The Bahamas that benefit from funds raised through Walk for the Cure. The others are the Sister Sister Breast Cancer Support Groups of New Providence and Grand Bahama, Cancer Society of The Bahamas, the Cancer Societies of Abaco, Eleuthera, and Grand Bahama, and the Cancer Association of Grand Bahama.
Dean explained that CIBC Caribbean covers the cost of staging WFTC, allowing donations raised to support the work of beneficiary organizations.
For her organization, that assistance translates into tangible support for people navigating cancer, including food assistance, financial aid, prosthetic breasts, and mastectomy bras, as well as programs such as Step Into Wellness, which promotes movement and healthy living among cancer patients and survivors.
Corporate partners are also helping to strengthen this year’s effort. Bamboo Shack has joined the initiative as a gold sponsor, with representative Ghandi Pinder sharing that the cause has a personal significance for her.
Pinder recalled shaving her hair in solidarity with her sister after she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer and began losing her hair during chemotherapy.
“We see you, we’re here with you, we’re in it with you,” Pinder said of Bamboo Shack’s message to those affected by cancer.
She also encouraged more of Corporate Bahamas to support initiatives that directly impact the communities they serve.
“At Bamboo Shack, we always say a better Bahamas begins with you… Together, we can make a difference,” she said.
Registration for Walk for the Cure is $30 for adults and $15 for children and can be completed at any CIBC Caribbean branch. CIBC Caribbean clients can also donate through online banking.
The New Providence Walk begins promptly at 6:30am on Saturday, October 3, at the Goodman’s Bay Corporate Centre, followed by Walk for the Cure events in other islands each Saturday throughout October. The Grand Bahama WFTC event will be held on October 10 and the Abaco and Eleuthera WFTC events will occur on October 17 and October 24 respectively.
Gibson added, “Some will walk for themselves, some in celebration of a survivor, and others in memory of someone they have lost. Whatever brings you to Walk for the Cure, every person who shows up becomes part of a much bigger expression of support for those affected by cancer.”
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