Her Excellency the Acting Governor, Anya Williams, chaired the 20th meeting of the Cabinet on Wednesday 18 September 2013 at the House of Assembly Building in Grand Turk.
All Ministers were present at the meeting.
At this meeting Cabinet discussed and agreed the following:
The Acting Governor disclosed the award of Capital Projects to successful bidders.
• The contract to source and supply vehicles to the Royal Turks & Caicos Islands Police Force was awarded to Champion Trucking.
• The contract for the design and installation of Closed Circuit Television System at the Radar Tower in Providenciales was awarded to Eagle Claw Security.
• The contract for the installation of a generator at the Green Door Hurricane Shelter in Grand Turk was awarded to R & R Company.
• The contract for the construction of the Customs Warehouse & Fence in Grand Turk was awarded to J&H Construction.
Members heard an update on the negotiations re the National Stadium from the Minister of Education, Youth, Sports, Culture & Libraries. Negotiations are ongoing between the Attorney General’s Chambers on behalf of the Government and the legal representatives for the TCI Education Foundation. The matter is expected to be resolved in due course but Cabinet agreed that the matter will be eventually debated in the House of Assembly with the aims of agreeing the way forward.
The Minister of Finance tabled a request for a revised MOU between Government and The Ambergris Cay Development. Cabinet agreed that since the Ambergris Cay Development is not in Liquidation but merely in Receivership, a new MOU would only be offered provided all arrears with Government are satisfied by the Receiver.
Members considered a paper on a model Inter-Governmental Agreement tabled by the Minister of Finance. This non-reciprocal agreement would allow Financial Institutions in the TCI to report on activity for accounts of US Citizens to the TCI Government and the Government would report this collective activity to the United States Government. Cabinet agreed that this agreement is a further step in TCI’s efforts to be compliant with International Standards in thwarting tax evaders and minimizing the risk of money laundering.
Members considered a paper on the establishment and implementation of the Infrastructure Fund which was tabled by the Minister of Government Support Services. Cabinet agreed that the proposal made by Carnival Cruise was a positive prospect for the economy of Grand Turk and agreed to the appointment of a Project Manager by Carnival Cruise who will be funded by the fund.
Members considered a paper on the Credit Union Policy tabled by the Minister of Finance. The paper recognized the need to allow the legal establishment of Credit Unions in the TCI as a means of helping to secure the financial earnings of those persons as an alternative to the Financial Banking Institutions, and to regularize those Credit Unions already operational with the country. Cabinet agreed that there is a need for Credit Unions and noted actions that would aid in moving the process forward.
Further information on the issues addressed by Cabinet will be provided by Ministers in due course.
Cabinet will hold its next meeting on Wednesday October 2, 2013.
