The House of Assembly of the Turks and Caicos met for the third session of the Twelfth Legislature on Tuesday, 16 March 2021 at the Helena Jones Auditorium, Grand Turk.

In this sitting of the House, the Premier and Minister for Finance, Investment and Trade, Honourable Charles Washington Misick moved both the National Insurance Waiver of Additional Charges Bill 2021 and the National Health Insurance Waiver of Additional Charges Bill 2021 to passage.

The Bills will alleviate all additional charges including penalties and/or accumulated interest fees incurred for late or no payments on obligatory contributions to the National Insurance Board and the National Health Insurance Board as a result of COVID-19 business closures, temporary unemployment or termination and other COVID-19 restrictive measures.

The Premier during the parliamentary session expressed that fees summating approximately $112million USD will be written off; $100million USD from the National Insurance Board and $12million USD from the National Health Insurance Board.

Commenting on the passage of the Bills, Premier Misick stated: “It is important that we as a Government make every effort to aid Turks and Caicos Islanders who have been affected; through temporary unemployment, termination or increased financial obligations with limited incomes, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The people of the Turks and Caicos Islands have experienced much hardship through this period and will require much assistance to ease any existing financial burdens. The waivers of additional charges for the National Insurance Board and the National Health Insurance Board will not fix the financial strains brought on by this pandemic but it will surely alleviate some of the financial tension Turks and Caicos Islanders are experiencing.

The passage of the National Insurance Waiver of Additional Charges Bill 2021 and the National Health Insurance Waiver of Additional Charges Bill 2021 along with the delivery of the Citizen Relief Stimulus are tangible financial relief efforts provided by my Government to ensure that Turks and Caicos Islanders are able to sustain a good quality of life now and into the future.

I am happy that we were able to deliver this much needed relief for Turks and Caicos and my Government will continue to advance our substantial and proficient legislative agenda.”

Penalty fees will be removed automatically and will not require any further action by NIB and NHIP contributors, The National Insurance Waiver of Additional Charges Bill 2021 and the National Health Insurance Waiver of Additional Charges Bill 2021  both come into effect on 16 March 2021.