Governor Ric Todd’s quarterly tour of the Turks and Caicos Family Islands continues apace with dates and time now announced for Grand Turk and Provo following on from successful visits to North Caicos, Middle Caicos, South Caicos and Salt Cay.
His Excellency will hold public meetings at 6.30pm sharp at the Ona Glinton Primary School Grand Turk on Tuesday, 22 May, and again at the Gus Lightbourne Sports Centre Providenciales on Thursday, 24 May 2012.
The first four meetings have allowed The Governor to provide an update on progress towards achieving the milestones and to provide the people of the TCI with an opportunity to speak to him directly and for the Governor to listen to and discuss their concerns.
Issues raised and actions arising from the first four meetings include:
North and Middle Caicos – visited 10 and 11 May accompanied by Permanent Secretaries Anya Williams and Clara Gardiner
- The Governor confirmed that his previous action to progress work on the Ciacos Causeway was well in hand with repairs due to start in June 2012
- Permanent Secretary Anya Williams confirmed that TCIG’s proposed new bankers Scotiabank are required to install ATMs in North and South Caicos and possibly for the weekly visit of banking staff to the islands to stop Islanders having to travel to Provo to do their banking. Further details will be provided when these negotiations are completed.
- Governor Todd has expressed disappointment with the lack of progress in completing the clinic on Middle Caicos – and he expects this to be finished by his next visit in three months time
- He has agreed to look at the management arrangements for doctors and nurses on these islands with a view to creating an improved rota system to allow staff sufficient time of from their demanding jobs
South Caicos – visited 14 May accompanied by Permanent Secretaries Desiree Lewis and Wesley Clerveaux
- Governor Todd officially opened the new South Caicos Community Centre which will be used for meetings, shows and social events. It is also the new hurricane shelter.
- He visited the new police station which is still under construction.
- The Governor will speak to the Commissioner of Police about local policing arrangements following concerns expressed about local crime on the Island
- Moves to create central stocks of key pharmacy drugs on the Island were also welcomed by the community representatives
Salt Cay – visited 15 May accompanied by Permanent Secretary Susan Malcolm and TCIG Director in the Governor’s Office James Astwood
- Businesses on Salt Cay reported that they had enjoyed a very good tourist season this year
- The community reported that they would like their own single political representative for Salt Cay and raised issues relating to water supply and local services.
- The Governor also visited the recently refurbished airport building
“I very much enjoy my regular visits to the four family Islands,” said Governor Todd. “I have now been to each of them at least three times in my eight months on TCI . My Permanent Secretary colleagues have found this their first such tour to be of tremendous benefit as they can see for themselves the impact that decisions taken in Grand Turk have on the ground across the islands and to engage with people about what their Ministries are doing. I know that they have taken on board what they have learned from these visits and are keen to make it part of how both they and the Government does business there in the future.
“I would like to thank everyone for the warm welcome and courtesies that were extended to me during all of my visits so far. I appreciated that there is a real appetite for the return of a locally elected administration – a common cause that unites us all.
“I will continue to work as hard as I can towards achieving the milestones which are already making TCI an fairer, better governed and more open society, and look forward to UK Minister’s decision on elections later this year.”
“I am now very much looking forward to my public meetings on Providenciales and Grand Turk next week.”
