Turks and Caicos Post Cabinet Meeting Statement – July 14, 2022

Her Excellency the Acting Governor, Anya Williams, chaired the 22nd meeting of Cabinet on Thursday 14 July 2022 at the Premier’s Office on Providenciales.

All Members were present with the exception of the Hon. Minister for Health.

At this meeting Cabinet:

• Approved the release of funds from the National Forfeiture Fund to the Financial Intelligence Agency and the Financial Crimes Unit of the RTCIPF to procure essential resources to support work undertaken to address national priorities.
• Approved an increase in the personal exemption allowance for arriving passengers for the importation of accompanying personal items from a maximum of $400 to a maximum of $600.
• Approved the cessation of the requirement for Customs Arriving Passenger Declaration forms at all International Airports (excluding FBOs) below the personal exemption allowance of $600.
• Approved the exemption of Customs Import duties in line with the Investment Policy, on various commodities imported by Ocean Breeze Resort, located in Bottle Creek North Caicos, a “European” style resort, with individual guest rooms and suites.
• Approved for the Telecommunications Commission to hire a consultant to prepare a business case and related studies for a national fibre-optic cable spanning from Providenciales (via the family Islands) to Grand Turk, to provide enhanced communications services.
• Approved a $16m Inflationary Economic Support Package adjustment to cushion the impact of the global rise in the cost of living in the Turks and Caicos Islands. This includes:
  • A payment of $1,000 to all persons previously approved in the March 2022 Citizen Stimulus Relief Program, with agreed criteria for persons not previously included in that batch.
  • Reduction in CPF to zero percent on an agreed list of food items.
  • Additional financial injection into the Works Programme.
• Approved the naming of a government building on South Caicos as the “Hon. Norman B. Saunders Sr. Complex” which will house Customs, Immigration, Treasure and Public Works Departments.
• Agreed for the Ministry of Health to rescind its 12th July 2022 public notice and to prepare a medium term solution around the concerns raised about the Migrant Health Evaluation Process to be presented to Cabinet as a matter of priority.
• Approved the appointment of Pedro Ariza (Chair and private sector representative) for three years effective from 1st August, Seamus Day (Deputy Chair and President, National Museum Foundation), Patricia Bradley (private sector representative), Alonzo Malcolm (Leader of the Opposition nominee), Permanent Secretary Finance or representative, Attorney General’s Chambers representative, Permanent Secretary, Office of the Premier, Permanent Secretary with responsibility for Culture and Heritage, the President of the Grand Turk Chamber of Commerce, Director, National Trust as Board Members of the Grand Turk Community Enhancement and Sustainability Agency for two years effective from 1st August.
• Approved urgent external technical assistance and a medium-term increase in human resources in the Energy and Utilities Department to address priority issues.
• Members were presented with digital copies of the 2021 revised laws of the Turks and Caicos Islands which comes into effect on 18th July 2022.
• Was updated on issues related to the Ministries of:
  1. Finance,
  2. Infrastructure,
  3. Education,
  4. Home, and
  5. Attorney General’s Chambers, and
  6. Office of the Deputy Governor.

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