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Turks & Caicos post-cabinet meeting statement: 21 October 2020

H.E. the Acting Governor, Anya Williams, chaired the 40th meeting of the Cabinet on Wednesday 21 October at the Premier’s Office, Providenciales.

From:
Governor's Office Waterloo Grand Turk
Published
26 October 2020

Hon. Hilly Ewing Building

All members were present.

At this meeting Cabinet:

  • approved a revised Fiscal and Strategic Policy Statement (FSPS) for 2020/21 for submission to the House of Assembly

  • were updated by the Ministry of Finance Debt Advisor on short and long term debt funding options in the current domestic and international climate. Members discussed and agreed a debt financing strategy for the short to medium term

  • were updated on the state of the nation and discussed measures to further address and mitigate against any escalation of coronavirus (COVID-19)

  • approved a revised National COVID-19 testing strategy to include:

    1. mandatory testing of frontline workers including Police, Immigration, Customs, teachers, medical and prison staff,
    2. testing of all patients being admitted to TCI Hospitals, and
    3. development of community testing across all islands.

  • discussed proposed amendments to the Elections Ordinance for submission to the House of Assembly

  • discussed proposed amendments to the Electoral Districts Boundaries Amendment Bill for submission to the House of Assembly

  • approved Economic Substance Guidance Notes and their immediate publication to assist legal entities, companies including partnerships registered in the Turks and Caicos Islands to meet the compliance obligations under the Companies and Limited Partnerships (Economic Substance) Ordinance 2018 & Regulations

  • approved amendments to the Companies and Limited Partnerships (Economic Substance) Bill 2020 to be tabled at the next meeting of the House of Assembly

  • approved the restructuring of the National Insurance Budget for the provision of a new IT system for the National Insurance Board

  • approved Planning Application GT 4932 for the construction of the J.A.G.S. Memorial Statue at the international airport on Grand Turk

  • approved the appointment of Derry Handfield (Chair), Charlie Garland (Vice Chair), Lewis W. Parker and Carl Jolly as Members and the Director of Planning, Director DECR and Director of Disaster (DDME) as ex-officio Members, and Reginald Charles as Secretary of the Physical Planning Board from 26 October 2020 until 31 March 2022

  • approved the re-appointment of Andre Malcolm (Chair), Thomas Duncan, Willard H. Williams, Clyde Ewing and Max E. Garland as Members, and Leonardo Glasgow as Secretary of the Physical Planning Appeals Tribunal Board from 26 October 2020 until 31 March 2022

  • approved amendments to the Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2020 and the Insurance (Amendment) Regulations 2020 re-designating Producer Owned Reinsurance Companies to Producer Affiliated Reinsurance Companies and allowing for risks and affiliates to be prescribed

  • approved the giving of drafting instructions for amendments to the Money Transmitters Ordinance to include further clarification and expanding specific requirements

  • approved recommendations made by the Scholarship Committee for the granting of local scholarships to applicants that have met the required criteria and the financial provision made to each awardee

  • approve the naming of the Long Bay Primary School

  • approved the re-appointment of Eric Lightbourne as a Member of Prison Visiting Committee with effect from 19 October 2020 until 30 September 2021

  • discussed TCIG’s mediation with Beaches which will take place on 18 November 2020

  • were updated on work being carried out by the Turks and Caicos Islands Status Commission

  • were updated on an initial workshop on tackling the root causes of serious crime and establishing safer communities

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

Published 26 October 2020