News
Government watching, Tax Breaks & Concessions could be extended, says Premier
By Deandrea Hamilton
Editor
#TurksandCaicos, November 23, 2022 – The government is watching consumer pricing in Turks and Caicos supplier markets and according to Washington Misick, TCI Premier the move to cut taxes on imports and cap costs on fuel surcharges is a measure poised to be extended.
“I don’t want to pre-empt the decision by Cabinet, but I believe it is fair to accept that to the extent that that prices continue to rise and to the extent that, until we are able to do something with the living wage, we will be making every effort to assist consumers by holding down the prices.”
The matter of the dreadfully high cost of living arose as among the first concerns of residents who turned up at the Gus Lightbourne Gym for the government hosted public meeting on Monday night.
“We don’t actually have a price control law in place. What we prefer to do is to provide that support to consumers by way of subsidizing critical imports however there are many ways that the issue of cost of living is being addressed by the government.”
Turning to his Border Services minister, Arlington Musgrove, the premier announced there is a planned extension to
the Food & Fuel Tax Break, which sliced 2.5 per cent of the Customs Processing Fee (CPF) and reduced government fuel tax by 25 per cent; a $15 million cost absorption by TCIG which was laid out in March 2022.
The concession took effect on April 1 for a period of 12 months.
“Only today, we agreed to extend – a policy decision made six months ago, to remove the duties including taking off the CPF a whole basket of goods, that is being extended for a further six months, if I am not mistaken,” he said on Monday in the second of a series of roving public meetings.
Residents want more however, fearing that the duty free concessions which were added to the Food & Fuel Tax break are not being passed down by retailers. The premier admitted to similar concerns and agreed that government must find a way to track how the concessions meant for consumers are actually experienced by them. Until then, the government is having to get creative so that the consumers feel the savings and assistance.
“What has happened is that the government realised that we can’t control the transfer of savings through customs duties that we might have given to the merchant. Because of the absence of the ability (because of our tax structure) to literally examine people’s books and see what is going on, we can’t control whether they are passing those savings on.”
The PNP Administration, this summer announced a second plan to buffer the hard-hitting costs of consumables. A $16 Million concession was rolled out and included duty exemption to all residents bringing goods in for their households and a duty free list of food items which resulted in savings at local grocers. Residents also received a $1,000 cash stimulus and eventually benefitted from a $2.5 million Fuel Factor Stabilization Credit which resulted in a dramatic drop in energy bills.
The Government agreed to cap the fuel factor rate, which is being driven by high oil prices, paying the excess and saving FortisTCI customers hundreds of dollars at a time.
“Electricity now on your bill, you would notice, the fuel factor is something like about 30 cents or more, I’m not quite sure but we have capped to a maximum of 20 cents and that goes until the end of December, and the government has subsidised that directly to the consumer to the tune of $2.5M at least.”
The pace of this historic inflationary season is also challenging for governments; Turks and Caicos, like others is experiencing around an 11 per cent inflation rate, while salaries remain stagnant and as living costs, food and other commodities including fuel have surged to record-setting levels.
Caribbean News
Liberty Caribbean Supports Regional Forum on AI, Cyber Resilience and Digital Inclusion
Port of Spain, TRINIDAD & TOBAGO (February 24, 2026) — Liberty Caribbean, the operators of Flow, Liberty Business and BTC, recently served as Gold-Level Partner of the two-day Trinidad and Tobago Internet Governance Forum (TTIGF), themed “The Innovation Paradox – Balancing Progress with Responsibility and Resilience”.
The Digital Divide is of particular interest to Liberty Caribbean and is being addressed through its Charitable Foundation across the region. Low broadband penetration in the Caribbean contributes to diminished opportunities for individuals, communities, and local economies, but with the support of funding partners, this gap can be addressed through a comprehensive programme – JUMP – that focuses on providing access, devices, and digital skills.
“Liberty Caribbean was proud to serve as Gold-Level Partner of the TTIGF because the conversations taking place here shape key digital
policies for multiple stakeholders,” said Simone Martin-Sulgan, Vice President and General Manager, Flow Trinidad.
“As technology accelerates at an unprecedented pace, we must ensure that innovation strengthens our societies rather than fragments them. The theme, ‘The Innovation Paradox – Balancing Progress with Responsibility and Resilience,’ speaks directly to the work we do every day: building networks that are not only fast and reliable, but secure, inclusive and future-ready.”
Across the Caribbean, the digital divide remains one of the most pressing barriers to equitable growth. Low broadband penetration limits access to education, entrepreneurship and essential services, and that is why we are deeply committed to closing this gap.
Through the Liberty Caribbean Charitable Foundation and initiatives like the JUMP Programme, the company is expanding access to technology, affordable connectivity and digital skills training so that individuals and communities are empowered to participate fully in the digital economy.
Martin-Sulgan further stated “at Liberty Caribbean, we believe progress and responsibility must move in lock step. By investing in resilient networks, inclusive programmes and trusted partnerships, we are helping to build a Caribbean that is innovative, secure and prepared for the opportunities ahead.”
Topics covered during the Forum, with over 140 participants, included “Securing Critical Infrastructure”, Integrating AI into Digital Transformation”, “The Digital Divide”, The Human Cost of Innovation – Mental Health and Well-being in the Digital Age’, and AI, Cyber Resilience and Regional Innovation”.
Focused on the underlying mandate of the Conference theme thought leaders, innovators, policymakers, technologists, researchers, and community stakeholders were invited to explore how countries can evolve boldly without compromising values or long-term stability.
Photo Caption:
TTIGF – l-r Darren Campo, Regulatory & Compliance Officer; Yolande Agard-Simmons, Senior Manager Communications; and Kevon Swift, Senior Manager Government and Regulatory Affairs of Flow Trinidad in attendance at the Post Event Mixer at Caribbean Telecommunications Union’s Head Office in St Clair, Port of Spain
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 20 February 2026 — The Informal Settlements Unit (ISU), in collaboration with key
government agencies, coordinated a multi-agency enforcement exercise on Thursday, February 5, 2026, at Block and Parcel 60609/33 in the Five Cays area.
The exercise was led by the Crown Land Unit, pursuant to its statutory mandate under the Crown Land Ordinance to prevent squatting and encroachment on Crown land. The ISU coordinated the operation, with support provided by the Planning Department and the Turks and Caicos Islands Border Force, while the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force ensured security throughout the activity.
The enforcement action followed a series of inspections conducted by the Crown Land Unit throughout Five Cays, which identified several illegally constructed buildings made of concrete and timber on sections of the subject parcel. In keeping with the provisions of the Crown Land Ordinance, occupied structures were served Letters of Illegal Occupation, delivered by hand to occupants and
posted on structures where individuals were absent. Incomplete and unoccupied structures were served Notices of Unauthorized Occupation pursuant to section 22 of the Ordinance. A total of ten (10) Letters of Illegal Occupation and three (3) Notices of Unauthorized Occupation were issued during the exercise.
The Informal Settlements Unit reiterates that these coordinated enforcement exercises form part of the Government’s ongoing efforts to uphold the law, protect Crown land, and manage informal settlements in a structured and lawful manner. Members of the public are reminded that unauthorised occupation and development on Crown land is unlawful and subject to enforcement action.
February is National Self- Check Month and family medicine physician at Cleveland Clinic, OH, John Hanicak, MD, highlights why at home self-checks are extremely important when it comes to not just early cancer detection but identifying other illnesses too and offers tips on what to look out for.
“Sometimes I look at them as sort of like your check engine light on the car, just like there would be a red flashing light that tells you that
there’s something wrong with a car and prompts you to bring that in and get serviced. Your body does the same thing. It gives you warning signs to look into that symptom a little bit further,” said Hanicak.
Dr. Hanicak said self-checks are going to be a little different for everyone.
However, in general, he recommends looking for anything that may seem abnormal, such as unexplained weight loss, blood in your urine, bumps and bruises that won’t heal, and changes in bowel habits.
For example, if you suddenly start going to the bathroom a lot more than you used to, that could be a sign of something more serious.
He also suggests doing regular skin checks and documenting any moles or spots that start to look different.
“Realize that you are your own person. There’s nobody else in the world exactly like you. You’ve got your own set of ideas, your own family history and your own genetics. Know what is normal for you, and when that changes, that’s the kind of thing that we would be interested in talking about,” said Dr. Hanicak.
Dr. Hanicak notes that self-checks are not meant to replace cancer screenings, as those are just as important to keep up with.
Press Release: Cleveland Clinic
