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Turks and Caicos Islands governor releases post cabinet meeting statement

His Excellency Governor Ric Todd chaired the Turks and Caicos Islands’ (TCI) cabinet meeting on Wednesday 13 March 2013.

From:
Governor's Office Waterloo Grand Turk
Published
13 March 2013
This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government
The Turks and Caicos Cabinet

The Turks and Caicos Cabinet

At this meeting, the Cabinet:

  1. agreed to put to the House of Assembly a minor technical change in legislation relating to money laundering; and second, that the governor should approve the previously agreed legislation on companies and the proceeds of crime and regulations concerning anti money laundering and prevention of terrorist funding, non-profit organisations and companies fees. It also approved two contracts on fencing and well drilling relating to the building of a new reverse osmosis plant on Grand Turk;

  2. discussed proposed changes to taxation legislation concering concerned amendments on stamp duty rates, an increase in accommodation tax from 11% to 12%, widening of accommodation tax to other services, and plugging a loophole in the hotel and restaurant taxation ordinance on the definition of premises for board and lodging.

  3. discussed a paper on the medium term outlook of the TCI Port Authority. It underlined the role of ports in the development of TCI; looked to the new Port Authority Board to play a key role in this; and agreed the importance of drawing up a strategic plan for the development of ports on TCI. Cabinet further agreed to return to this subject at a future meeting and to recommend to the Governor that he appoint Ms Denika Been as Secretary of the Port Authority Board;

  4. confirmed its commitment to the creation of a strong and effective Exchange of Information Unit in the Ministry of Finance and agreed that the appropriate level of resources for the Unit would be agreed in the budget round;

  5. heard a briefing from GU-MED on the progress to date in its development of a medical university on TCI. It repeated TCIG’s full support to the project, notably in the area of licensing, accreditation and regulation

  6. was briefed by the Human Rights Commissioner, Mrs Doreen Quelch-Missick. Cabinet welcomed the Commission’s activities and underlined its support for the work of the Commission and the need for it to receive appropriate funding. It noted that changes were required to the Ordinance on the Human Rights Commission, asked for work to be completed on this and agreed to consider draft legislation at a future meeting;

  7. noted the importance of maintaining a full record of the assets held by TCIG and a proper policy on the continuing recording and control of these assets. It endorsed a proposal from the Minister of Finance to spend up to $80,000 on acquiring a software system to improve work to this end;

  8. supported the proposal from the Deputy Premier, Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture, for a National Consultation on Education to be held before the end of the Financial Year;

  9. considered the key elements of the draft Financial Strategy and Policy Statement (FSPS) and agreed that further should be done as quickly as possible to finalise the FSPS.

  10. Given the approaching end of the Financial Year, agreed to an additional cabinet meeting next week on 20 March.

  11. Further information on the issues taken by Cabinet will be provided by TCI Ministers in due course.

  12. Cabinet congratulated the Finance Minister, Washington Misick, on the occasion of his 63rd birthday.

Published 13 March 2013