Mr. Speaker, Honourable Colleagues, Strangers in the gallery, residents of the best constituency, ED5, Leeward and Long Bay, as well as those listening via Radio Turks and Caicos and the internet, I bid you all a Happy Budget Week!
Mr. Speaker, I rise to pledge my support to this budget as presented, as it will continue to provide economic opportunities for the various communities throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands, under the theme of “An economy that works for all : People – Opportunity – Prosperity”. Mr. Speaker, this is my 10th budget contribution, and second as the Minister of PPID after a whirlwind of change took place at the polls last year. I pause to say thank you for the continued prayers, well wishes and encouragement from my family, friends, and supporters from Leeward & Long Bay, the Progressive National Party and the wider Turks & Caicos Islands.
With that said, please allow me to touch on a few of the PPID Ministry’s accomplishments thus far as well as our outlook for the future. I also pause here, to say thank you my staff for their continued hard work and dedication, despite the various challenges we face. The last 12 months has had many highs and several lows, as we in PPID seek to develop a sustainable and resilient Turks & Caicos Islands, through development that will stand the changing seasons.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to announce, that my government under the various phases of the COVID Works Program, was able to employ approximately 230 persons as part of the Employment Program, as well as executed a number of contracts, ranging from Demolition works, Verge Cutting, Road Grading, to name a few, across these Turks and Caicos Islands, thereby, providing employment opportunities for persons, at an overall total of $2.3M. Mr Speaker, you would recall that this program was one of our Government’s responses to the Covid-19 Pandemic and seeking to assist the petty and small contractors of these Islands to return to work by assisting their Government in meeting its Clean Communities pledge.
Mr Speaker as special thank you must be extended to the people of Salt Cay and their DC for working closely with us on the US$100,000 investment in that Island through the Covid Works Program on the reconsyrcution of the Salt Cay Bridge. That project is one that the people of Salt Cay can point to and say they built. We are also excited about the gazebo development in South Caicos, again at the hands of the people in South Caicos and guided by the District Commissioner.
To the people of Leeward and Long Bay and the Bight, you would note that your sidewalks and curbs are well underway to provide better access and movement through our communities in a safe manner. Leeward & Long Bay, our roads works are on the way including the necessary speedbumps in this upcoming financial year.
The successful launch of the Temporary Works Employment program provided short term in employment, for persons willing and able to work, including those with recorded criminal history, once they were registered with the Chance for Change program, under the Ministry of Home Affairs. This program, concluded on March 31st, 2022.
In recognizing the importance of the Works program, I am pleased to announce that my Government has supported funding for the continuation of this program for Financial Year 2022/23 at the sum of US$1,000,0000.
Housing and Community Renewal Department
The Housing Department has successfully concluded all key stakeholder engagements and extensive secondary research. In addition, the National Housing needs survey is also completed, and the gathered data is analyzed, and the final research document will be presented to the Cabinet shortly, with a Public Consultation to follow during the month of May 2022.
The remaining step is to work with an appointed Consultant to convert the recommendation paper to an official Policy by June 2022.
Mr. Speaker, the Director of the Housing Department has also met with the Consultants of the Crown Land Policy review and offered our recommendations to be able to efficiently and effectively undertake the roles of the Housing Department. We are currently progressing a working document of the identification and assessment of parcels to be allocated specifically or reserved for housing developments.
Shanty Towns
The Housing and Planning Departments continue to work together to visit identified and future Shanty Town areas, assessing conditions and producing reports and recommendations for addressing the identified issues.
Going forward, our priority will be to achieve a full departmental set up including office space and recruitment of all staff including a Deputy Director, Architect, Project Supervisor, Building Inspector and Administrative Officer. We anticipate that a policy would be approved by Cabinet, and we will be receiving inquiries for projects to be rolled out, whereby all hands should be on deck for effective management.
There are nine Housing Programs recommended within our Housing Strategy document for consideration and implementation. Our main priority would be to engage at least one project or roll out a specific policy for one of the programs to be implemented.
Our focus will be on advertising and promoting the Department Policy and objectives to attract interest for proposals, developments, or inquiries.
Estates Management Department
My government, in an effort aimed at expanding its footprint within the islands, purchased several properties for the benefit of our citizens and residence alike. Over the coming months, staff members and the public alike, shall benefit from newly renovated offices spaces, thereby promoting, safety, improved working environments, while offering value for money, in a government owned facility.
One such property worth mentioning is the Ministry of Education is the TCICC/Technical Vocational program, on the expansion of their campus to develop the Hospitality Institute on Providenciales. I am pleased to report that my team within the Public Works Department has begun scoping of the works for this project, which once completed, will be turned over to our framework contractors for further advancement.
In addition to the above, the following initiatives are also planned, through our Estates Management Department:
• Relocation of Estate Management, Housing and Community Renewal and Physical Planning Department, Grand Turk
•Consolidation of Ministry of Physical Planning and Department, Providenciales
• Relocation of Ministry of Tourism, Providenciales
•Relocation of Probationary Unit, Providenciales
• Relocation of Culture Department, Grand Turk
• Relocation of Department of Motor Vehicles, Providenciales
• Relocation of Education Department, Providenciales
• Security Upgrades various departments perimeter lighting upgrades various schools and properties
• Energy Management System installation for specific government own properties
• Fire Suppression equipment installation at critical buildings
. Privatization Mechanical Services Policy
. Privatization of the Janitorial staff
Public Works Department
The Public Works Department through their Project Management Division, was able to tender 35 projects with a total budget of US$32.9M, with all reaching evaluation stage as at March 31, 2022, 30 projects were successfully evaluated, noted by the Cabinet, and awarded, with a total budget of US$29.6M thereby creating employment opportunities for persons willing and able to work in the construction sector.
Physical Planning Department
Mr. Speaker, despite the staff and other challenges, the department continues to perform their assigned tasks as best as possible.
Amendment to National Physical Development Plan – Amendments on Density
The National Physical Development Plan came into effect on the 1st of October 2021; subsequently to the enactment date the Department discovered an error in the plan which refers to the 2014 Development Manual requirements for hotel minimum allowable heights and density instead of the latest amendment of the Development Manual in 2016. Given such a paper was submitted to amend pages 164 and 198 of the Plan 2020.
The proposed amendments will align the NPDP with the current 2016 Amendment of the TCI Development Manual. Cabinet was invited to approve the amendment for the department of Planning to carry out steps in accordance with section 34-37 of the Physical Planning Ordinance 2018. The misquote stems from an already formally- adopted standard – the TCI Development Manual.
The National Physical Development Plan, allows for the efficient and effective development throughout the Islands, ensuring sustainable construction practices and resourceful land use throughout all islands in the Turks and Caicos by empowering the Ministry of Planning with clear guidelines for national development for the next 10 years.
I hasten to remind us, that the National Physical Development Plan received an award from the ASLA Florida Design Awards Program. This award, encourages the advancement, expansion, and recognition of the Landscape Architecture profession by honoring projects that blend environmental and artistic principles that emphasize beauty, function, and the sustainability
The staff within the Physical Planning Department remains busy, having received a total of eight hundred and twenty (820) applications for review by the Physical Planning Board, PPB.
Providenciales continues to receive the greater number of applications; 82.4% of the applications received for development projects there, which is a marked increase, compared to the same period last year, when 162 more applications for the same period in 2020, when 514 applications were received. The increase of 162 represents (31.5%) of applications.
Grand Turk received sixty-one (61) more applications in 2021/2022 than 2020, the island received 17 applications. This is a three hundred and eighty-one percent (381%) increase.
As a result of the increased development activities, revenue targets were exceeded.
PPID Future Plans 2022 and beyond
Mr. Speaker, my Ministry continue to progress the work on the Turks and Caicos Transportation Master Plan and the Climate Resilient Coastal Protection study, with support from the Caribbean Development Bank, CDB.
This transportation plan will see a major shift in the way we travel within the Islands, as well as how we access Islands nationally, revolutionizing travel within and around the entire Turks and Caicos. The team from Mott McDonald, is presently in the TCI for the period May 2 – 5, 2022, for a series of stakeholder engagement meetings for each of the main islands. This consultancy is expected to conclude December 2022.
The Climate Resilient Coastal Protection & Management Plan will result in a clear way forward on mitigating the effects of rising sea water and coastal erosion in Grand Turk, Salt Cay and Providenciales. The study for each island is well on the way, with an overall objective to develop structures, soft and hard, to protect each island coast against erosion. This consultancy is expected to conclude by December 2022, with preliminary designs offered from August 2022. The team from CBCL Ltd, a registered company in Canada, departed the on April 29th, 2022, following a series of stakeholder engagement meetings over the period April 21st – 29th, 2022.
TCI Renewal Energy Development
Mr. Speaker, accompanied by our Director of Planning and our Director of Housing and Community Renewal, I attended the 14th Caribbean Renewable Energy Forum, CREF, which was held from April 26 – 28, 2022, 2022, in Miami Florida. This forum brought the full ecosystem of policy-makers, regulators, utilities, investors, developers and financiers together in an environment, which encourages the market to meet, originate and transact.
Mr. Speaker, it is against this backdrop that we participated, knowing the roles my Planning and Housing Departments, shall paly in the future development of renewal energy in the Turks and Caicos Islands. It is my pledge to work closely with the Ministry of Home Affairs – Energy and Utitlities Department on the Renewable Energy Framework in these Islands. Further, I have established dialogue with the DECR in the TCI and our Colleagues in the Bahamas on the Blue Carbon Credit legislation they’ve recently passed, to diversify our ability to raise capital with a docus on environmental mitigation, infrastructural resilience and development all in line with the National Physical Development Plan.
Mr. Speaker, in the coming months, the Ministry of Physical Planning and Infrastructure Development, intends to work with the team from the Caribbean Development Bank, CDB, on the identification and appointment of a consultants, to assist with the completion of the policy papers for the Housing and Community Renewal Department, Estates Management Department, Public Works Department and the Planning Department.
In the coming months’ construction of PWD Mechanical Workshop/Storage for Government Vehicles will commence on Grand Turk, thereby providing an improved working environment for the staff and visitors alike. The Mechanical Services Department shall also take delivery of several government vehicles during the month of July 2022, with others to follow soon thereafter.
We will also commence construction of the Vendors Village in Sapodilla Bay (on the Beach), Providenciales and complete the enhancement works to the Vendor’s Village on Grand Turk, with plans to offer additional spaces and other amenities.
The Project Management Division of the Public Works Department which is responsible for the management of all Capital Development Infrastructure Projects undertaken, is expected to manage a total of 9 projects for FY 2022/2023, with an overall total of 20.1M, under this Ministry, as follows:
a. Highway and Road Improvement – $5.6M
b. Remediation Works to Ponds and Bridges – $2.75M (with land reclaimation)
c. Drainage Improvement Works – $5.6M
d. Upgrade to the Government Business Park – $850,000
e. Furniture and Equipment for Planning – $150,000
f. Renovations and Retrofit Works to PPID, PLS – $500,000
g. Replacement Vehicles for Department – $666,210
h. Construction of GT Floating Dock – $2M
i. Training Academy and Headquarters for the Regiment – $2M
This small unit also provides support to all other Ministries in helping them to execute their Capital projects throughout each financial year, which this budget is set to the sum of US$50,000,000. Yes, Mr Speaker, 50M in new TCIG led infrastructure investment across these Islands.
The Ministry of PPID intends to continue with its capacity building in terms of recruiting additional technical staff that will provide much needed oversight and support to all our departments under this Ministry, as well as the wider government, including our family islands. Vacancies that exist and due to close on Friday May 6th, 2022, as followed:
1. Structural Engineer
2. Administrative Officer – Housing
3. Deputy Director
4. Assistant Deputy Director
5. Principal Quantity Surveyor
6. Assistant Architect
7. Assistant Quantity Surveyor
8. Civil Engineer
9. Electrical Inspector
10. Environmental Impact Assessment Specialist
11. Assistant Director of Planning
12. MEP Engineer (Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing)
13. Development Control Officer
We have, with the assistance of the Human Resources department, advertised for several positions under this Ministry and we encourage interested persons to submit their application for consideration.
Mr. Speaker, in closing, you would see that we have a number of initiatives planned and taking place and I would like to say thank you to my team at the Ministry as well as the public for the support and for the opportunity. May God continue to bless us all, and once again Thank you to Leeward and Long Bay for your continued support. #LeewardLongBayMP
