By Dana Malcolm & Deandrea  Hamilton

#TurksandCaicos, February 23, 2022 – A year has passed since the PNP Administration took office in a landslide victory. Led by Washington Misick, the administration has been faced with several challenges including an ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and rising inflation.

On Thursday Premier Washington Misick sought to assuage the fears of islanders regarding the transparency of his administration and provide insight into the 2022/2023 financial year.

Misick addressed several areas including security, education, social support, e-government, housing and finance.

UNLIMITED SAVINGS ON LAND TAX FOR NATIVES

The Premier started out with an announcement of an up to $50,000 duty concession on building materials for construction and home improvement. This received applause from the audience at the Brayton Hall where the national statement was being televised live.

Tax on land purchases by TCIs and British Overseas Territory Citizens, (BOTCs) are to receive a major discount.

“We are reducing stamp duties on land purchase by Turks and Caicos Island status holders and British overseas citizens by between 40 and 50 per cent.”

For Turks and Caicos status holders the purchase of multiple properties will be covered by the reduction and BOTCs can purchase one property under this reduction.

STIMULUS TO STUDENTS, EDUCATION SECTOR EXPANDING

Misick touched on education revealing that the Pan American Health Organization, (PAHO) has approved the Turks and Caicos to begin nursing practice by June.

The 10 nurses who had received their Associates Degrees but could not move on because they did not have provisions for nursing practice will now be able to continue their journey, and will start internships at the InterHealth Canada run hospitals by April.

This is only one of several other upgrades across all levels for the education sector and Premier Misick revealed programs to target special needs programs, an increase in scholarships, and in line with what youth in the country expressed in the national youth policy, more TVET courses will be offered.

A construction and hospitality institute are coming, said the Premier in the State of the State Address.

Stimulus for students is also budgeted in the new fiscal plan for 2022-2023; $212,000 is earmarked for students who are out of school and there is a $150,000 allocation for Special Needs students in that same category.

WAGE COMMISSION ACTIVATED, CONSUMER COURT COMING

The Premier acknowledged the growing agitation and revealed a re-assessment of the minimum wage; that a Minimum Wage Committee has been staffed and is ready to go.

The Committee will comprise government workers including  the Permanent Secretary of Labor, who will chair the committee; the Deputy Permanent Secretary of Finance; a representative from the Statistics Department, one from the Premier’s office and one from the Department of Labor.

Members of the Attorney General’s chambers and two private sector members will also be a part of the committee which will meet to advise the government on what constitutes a “socially just wage.”

The government though says that ‘just wage’ figure will be arrived at when combined with social support programs. The committee officially started their duties on Monday (February 21) and will run for three months.

Turks and Caicos Islanders are also set to benefit from a Consumer Protection Tribunal.

“The initiative is part of the government’s push to build infrastructure to begin to monitor business and trade practices and for unfair behavior,” Misick said.

The new Consumer Protection Tribunal will be a space where individuals can report unfair practices and get the issues addressed.

Misick did not say exactly when the Tribunal would be ready to receive consumer complaint reports.

NATIONAL SECURITY’S RUNNING TAB

In terms of border and citizen security, millions of dollars have been allocated, totaling 12 per cent of the budget, said the nation’s chief during the presentation made just days ahead of his one year in office anniversary, which was February 19.

In the works a new remand centre, the shocking news is that it is set to be established in Providenciales.

Premier Misick said land had been purchased to build the remand center.  Construction is also planned for the TCI Regiment’s barracks and a training academy at a cost of $1.8 million with $2 million respectively.

A cumulative spend of $15 million was announced for Border Security.  Benefiting from the multi-million dollar security package will be the TCI Regiment, the Royal TCI Police and the Radar system.

The premier seems ready to launch a partnership, which he hopes will work in curbing crime.  There was an appeal to the Church, youth groups, schools and parents.

“We believe the solutions begin in our homes. It starts with parents keeping their children out of harm’s way. We must keep more of our young people out of trouble with prevention strategies developed in conjunction with our communities,” he said.

BEAUTIFUL BY NATURE, EVERYWHERE

The Premier also committed financial assistance to repairing roads and electrification so that the Police could better access areas across the islands.

Add to this security solution, there is a move to clean up areas beyond award-winning Grace Bay.

“No more slum landlords please” was in a final string of appeals from Premier Washington Misick who said trash, indiscriminate dumping and poorly maintained private properties will soon no longer be off limits.

Under the National Physical Development Plan, (NPDP) which came to force this past October, the PNP Administration is now prepare to exercise its muscle to eradicate the high level of filth in communities which lie outside of the tourism district.

It was also apparent, that TCIG wants to ensure buildings are more resilient.  The increase and severity of storm systems around the world place an onus on Government’s to shore up construction to reduce losses and destruction.

The NPDP is aimed at enforcing sturdier construction.

“This plan supports effective and efficient development and supports sustainable land use. We are applying strict protocols for large scale projects. Settlements which ignore planning laws and litter the landscape with dwellings that are unsafe will be stopped. And I speak to TCI Islanders who are acting as slum landlords asking you not to engage in that practice.”

OWNING A HOME, AT HOME

Young professionals, single mothers, multigenerational families and the elderly can look forward to accessing new housing options from the government in the future.

The Premier announced that housing solutions have been earmarked for these specific groups, adding: “The new housing policy will ensure equitable distribution of purpose-built and sustainable housing solutions in the Turks and Caicos.”

The news signals the return of a dedicated housing department for the Turks and Caicos within the ministry of Physical Planning and Infrastructure Development.  A survey is currently being conducted to qualify and quantify the needs and expectations of the general public.

FUNDING TRIPLED FOR E-GOVERNMENT

It was also announced that the financial allocation for E-government has tripled this upcoming budget year from $2 million to $6 million.

The mammoth task of going fully digital is set to cost the government around $60 million dollars in the long run and will take years to be fully completed.  However, the Washington Misick-led government administration will accelerate the transition to e-government this year and explained some completed e-governance upgrades which Turks and Caicos residents can now access.

“Business license applications can be done online… now you have a business license in 48 to 72 hours and 80 per cent of services offered by the Immigration department can be accessed online.”

Throughout the speech, which lasted just over an hour, Premier Washington Misick insisted that Turks and Caicos Islanders would get their money back; a phrase he used to assure the nation that it will begin to tangibly experience the benefits of successively stellar economic seasons for the Turks and Caicos Islands.