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Post Cabinet update and actions

Governor Peter Beckingham chaired the TCI Cabinet at the House of Assembly Building on Grand Turk on Wednesday, 26 February 2014,

From:
Governor's Office Waterloo Grand Turk
Published
27 February 2014
This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government
The Turks and Caicos Cabinet.

The Turks and Caicos Cabinet.

All Ministers were present. At this meeting Cabinet:

  1. Approved the draft 2014/15 TCIG budget and directed that the annual budget be submitted to the Secretary of State for approval in accordance with section 109 of the Constitution;

  2. Considered a proposal to permanently retain daylight saving time when the clocks go forward in the spring and agreed that the matter be the subject of public consultation later in the year;

  3. Approved a Turks and Caicos Islands stamp in honour of James Alexander George Smith McCartney the First Chief Minister and National Hero of the Turks and Caicos Islands;

  4. Advised the Governor to grant approval for the mutation of Parcels 60706/104 PT and 60706/16 to create two lots and to grant a 25 year lease over 0.27 acres to the National Trust for the purpose of the management of the Cheshire Hall plantation, at a rent of $10 per annum. In addition, to grant 25 year leases to the National Trust over Wades Green Plantation (Parcels 50301/61, 50301/62, 50301/63 and 50304/4), North Caicos at a rent of $10 per annum. The granting of leases are conditional on the National Trust submitting to TCIG for approval: an infrastructure development plan, a business plan and a site management plan for the development of the visitor experience at the Cheshire Hall Plantation;

  5. Advised the Governor to approve in principle the grant of a 25-year lease over Crown Land Parcel 60809/103 to Mills Institute for the expansion of the learning institution currently located on an adjacent parcel - 60808/104 subject to the terms and conditions of the Crown Land Ordinance 2012 and the filing of a planning application by Mills Institute;

  6. Advised the Governor to endorse the proposed development of a National Television Network by ACL from Providenciales through North, Middle and South Caicos to Grand Turk and Salt Cay. In addition, to approve a license over a portion of Parcel 20207/31, consisting of 0.18 of an acre for the construction and operation of Telecommunications Equipment Building and Transmission Tower in accordance with the provisions of the Crown Land Ordinance;

  7. Advised the Governor to approve the drafting of regulations to the Electronic Transactions Ordinance. The primary purpose of the proposed legislation is to create regulations to give effect to the provisions of the Electronic Transactions Ordinance, particularly in relation to regulations to prescribe the criteria for the issuance of an accredited certificate;

  8. Received a presentation from the National Assessment Team setting out preliminary findings from the Turks and Caicos Islands Country Poverty Assessment (CPA). The study, carried out during 2012 with the support of the Caribbean Development Bank, is the second such study carried out in TCI with the first having been completed in 2000. The findings will be communicated to the public in a series of public meetings;

  9. Approved a Provisional Warrant 2014 in the amount of $63,648,694 in respect of the recurrent expenditure of the Islands for part of the fiscal year 2014 and agreed that this proceed to the House of Assembly for endorsement in accordance with Section 25 of the Public Financial Management Ordinance 2012.

  10. Approved the wording of the Supplementary Appropriation Bill for Financial Year 2012/13 that will be submitted to the House of Assembly;

  11. Advised the Governor to amend the Hotel and Restaurant (Taxation) Ordinance CAP 10.09 (2009) to establish a registration threshold of $150,000 based on annual turnover. The amendment will be implemented from 1st April 2014;

  12. Agreed that a policy should be developed and immediately implemented that requires all uninsured freight vessels entering TCI territorial waters to pay a cash bond via the responsible agent in accordance with Ports Authority Regulation 15. The measure is being introduced to protect the economic and environmental interests of TCI;

  13. Advised the Governor to revise the Fisheries Protection Ordinance to change and improve regulation of the traditional turtle fishery in TCI waters;

  14. Advised the Governor to amend the Fisheries Protection Regulations to allow for the export of queen conch (strombus gigas) shells, jewellery, pearls and crafts during the closed season (July 15 - October 15);

  15. Advised the Governor to amend the Electricity Ordinance to effect measures to ensure only licensed electricians can perform electrical works in the Turks and Caicos Islands;

  16. Received a report from the Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture on the recent incident at the Clement Howell High School and Teacher Sick-Out. The Minister confirmed that the Ministry has received confirmation from the Principal of CHHS that the Teachers will return to the campus on Thursday.

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

Published 27 February 2014