Office of the Premier

Office of the Premier and Public Policy

Office of the Premier

Office of the Premier

TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS POST CABINET MEETING STATEMENT - Wednesday 14 April 2021

Cabinet Statements

His Excellency the Governor, Nigel Dakin, chaired the 8th meeting of Cabinet on Wednesday 14 April 2021 at the Office of the Premier on Providenciales.

All members were present.

At this meeting Cabinet:

 

Was updated on the successful interception of two sloops from Haiti on the evening of 14 April, and the processing and repatriation of the migrants.

Was given an update by the Ministry of Health on the measures being taken to address and mitigate against the threat of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) to the country, including:

  1. Progress on surveillance testing through the use of lateral flow devices and PCR,
  2. Progress on the instillation of oxygen generators at the Cheshire Hall Medical Center on Providenciales and the Cockburn Town Medical Center on Providenciales,
  3. the progression of the uptake of the COVID vaccine(s) and agreed next steps to further drive uptake, and
  4. staffing plans for both the Cheshire Hall Medical Center on Providenciales and the Cockburn Town Medical Center on Grand Turk.

Revised and approved the Fiscal and Strategic Policy Statement for 2020-2025 covering the Government’s fiscal targets for the next four (4) years, which will be submitted to the UK Government for approval prior to being laid before the House of Assembly.

Approved the:

  1. writing off of balances from the National Insurance Board (NIB) General Ledger on accounts with no activity, and
  2. adjustments to bank reconciliations representing unsolved adjustments spanning several years.

Approved a draft strategy for the rollout of E-governance services within the Turks and Caicos Islands Government and its Statutory Bodies, including priority projects, funding requirements, and personnel support.

Approved amendments to the National Insurance Unemployment Assistance Benefit Regulations to make provisions for where the average weekly insurable earnings (AWIE) of a claimant is below $275.00, the AWIE to be increased to $275.00 per week when calculating the benefit.

Approved amendments to the Citizen Stimulus Programme to:

  1. extend the deadline for the submission of supporting documentations to 23rdApril 2021 by persons who were unable to meet the deadline for health or mobility reasons,
  2. extend the deadline for persons to collect their cheques from the Government Treasury to the 30thof June (NB no provision will be made for 3rd part stimulus cheque collection), and
  3. allow for a delivery system for those with mobility restrictions.

Was updated on matters relating to the Juniper Hole Development Ltd. land.

Approved amendments to the Insolvency (Amendment) Bill in preparation for it to be laid before the House of Assembly.

Approved temporary policy amendments on the issuance of specific work permits for a period of 12 months with effect from 1stof May 2020.

Approved the appointment of Eric F. Salamanca as Acting Commissioner of the Energy and Utilities Department until such time that a Commissioner is appointed.

Approved the standardization of appointments to Statutory Bodies to coincide with financial years, a review of legislation governing boards and remuneration, and a training package to ensure members are adequately skilled for their respective roles.

Approved the appointment of Sonia Williams (Chair), Reverend Julia Williams (Deputy Chair), Gretle B. Dean, Deserika Lightbourne and Deondra Delancy as Members and Permanent Secretary for Education or Delegate and the Director of Education as Ex-officio Member of the Education Advisory Board / Scholarship Committee and Sharine Lightbourne as Secretary to the Committee for a period of two years effective 1 May 2021.

Approved the appointment of Selvyn Hawkins (Chair), Dr Marcella Malcolm (Deputy Chair), Olincia Missick Richard Gibbs Jnr and Shirley Williams as Members and President of the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College, Permanent Secretary or Deputy Permanent Secretary Finance and Permanent Secretary or Deputy Permanent Secretary Education as Ex-officio Members of the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College Board of Governors and Velma Smith as Secretary to the Board for a period of two years effective 1 May 2021.

Approved the appointment of Lilian Missick(Chairman), Sheba Wilson (Deputy Chair), Dr. Barbara Ambrister, Claudette Clare, Devon Fulford as Members and Director Education and Permanent Secretary Education as Ex-officio Members of the Higher Education Advisory Board for a period of two years effective from 12 April 2021.

Approved the appointment of Chalmers Andryell Misick (Chair), Samuel Harvey Jr, Cardinal Gardiner, and Marcusson Lightbourneas Members of the Physical Planning Appeals Tribunal and Bernadya Smith as Secretary to the Tribunal for a period of for a period of one year effective from 1 May 2021.

Approved the appointment of Ricardo James (Chair), Devon Cox (Deputy Chair), Khama Coalbrooke and Russell Alonzo Garland as Members and Director of Planning, Director DECR and Director of Disaster (DDME) as Ex-officio Members of the Physical Planning Board, and Reginald Charles as Secretary to the Board for a period of for a period of two years effective from 1 May 2021.

Approved the appointment of Beverly Howell (Chairman), Alexandria Missick (Deputy Chair), Shona Lewis, John Hilton, Owenta Coleby, and Tendra Musgrove as Members, and Permanent Secretary for Tourism or Delegate as Ex-officio Member of the Turks and Caicos Islands Tourist board for a period of two years effective from 15 April 2021.

Approved the appointment of Heather Allen Green (Chairman) (4 yrs), Dr. Alicia Malcolm (2 yrs), Sabrina Isaac (3 yrs), Edward Hall (2 yrs), David Been (3 yrs), Permanent Secretary Finance or her representative and Permanent Secretary Tourism or her representative as Members and Managing Directoras Ex-officio Member of the Gaming Commission for a period of two to four years depending on the Member effective 15 April 2021.

Were updated on ongoing works by the Ministries of:

  1. Immigration,
  2. Infrastructure,
  3. Education, and
  4. Health.

 

Further information on these matters will be provided by Ministers in due course.