Turks and Caicos post-Cabinet statement
His Excellency the Governor, Peter Beckingham, chaired the meeting of the Cabinet on Thursday 7th August 2014 at the House of Assembly Building on Grand Turk.
All Ministers were present except Hon. Premier, Hon. Minister of Environment and Home Affairs and Hon. Minister of Health.
At this meeting Cabinet:
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Advised HE. the Governor to approve the drafting of amendments to the Companies Ordinance. The amendments make provision for a requirement that all companies must have a registered agent;
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Approved the recommendations of the Education Advisory Committee for the award of scholarships for tertiary level studies abroad and at TCICC;
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Noted the continued positive financial performance of the Turks and Caicos Islands Government for the period April to June 2014, as submitted in the First Quarter Financial Report from the Accountant General, and approved the publication of the said financial report as required by Section 46 of the Public Financial Management Ordinance, 2012. In particular Cabinet noted the increase in revenue for the period and the debt reduction in July funded from the Sinking Fund;
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Advised HE. the Governor to approve the Dormant Accounts Bill 2014 and forward the Bill to the House of Assembly for approval prior to implementation. The Bill requires Financial Institutions to identify accounts that have been dormant for a minimum of seven years and provides for the transfer of monies in dormant accounts to the Government;
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Approved the extension of the contract of the Director of the National Insurance Board (NIB) for one year to 1st September 2015 on the same terms and conditions as his current contract;
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Approved the renewal of the contract of the CEO of the Turks and Caicos Islands Airport Authority (TCIAA) to 1st September 2016 on local terms;
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Approved the renewal of the contract of the CEO of the National Health Insurance Board (NHIB) to 1st July 2016 on the same terms and conditions as her current contract;
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Endorsed the creation of a not for profit entity called the Centre for Entrepreneurial Development and agreed to enter into a long term partnership with the organisation to support SME development. The centre will be established by a steering committee of key stakeholders including the Bankers Association, Private Sector Representatives, TCIG Officials and Private Consultants;
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Noted the recommendations of the Procurement Board on award of the following contract; Fencing for the Clement Howell High School Providenciales - awarded to R&R Construction Ltd;
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Advised HE. the Governor to approve the National Honours and Awards (Amendment) Bill 2014 and Regulations and forward the Bill to the House of Assembly for approval prior to implementation. The Bill seeks to amend the National Honours and Awards Ordinance to provide a revised list of national Honours and awards;
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Received an update from the Minister Border Control and Labour on discussions with Bahamian Government on illegal immigration. It was noted that officials should work towards a formal agreement which would include the sharing of information and intelligence, the presence of respective police and armed forces on each others’ vessels, joint training exercises and support for a study on Haitian migration.
Further information on these matters will be provided by Ministers in due course.