Following reports this morning of unrest in the neighboring island of Middle Caicos, over perceived irregularities in the hiring of labourers in a Government-award contract for the cleaning of the roads in that island, Hon. Donhue Gardiner, Minister of Border Control and Labour released this statement.
“I am aware of the demonstration that took place in Middle Caicos today. I have today instructed my Ministry to dispatch a Senior Labor Inspector and an Assistant Director of Immigration to Middle Caicos to investigate this matter. I will also be calling on the Cabinet to review the manner in which these contracts are awarded at the next meeting of the Cabinet on Wednesday. I will further ask for a full review of the contracts that pertain to this incident, and where the hiring practices are in breach of the contract, the necessary actions will be undertaken. It is my view that contracts should only be awarded to individuals, who are prepared to exercise hiring practices, wherever possible, that would benefit the communities in which these works are to be done.”
“I am dismayed that contractors would, by their hiring practices, sideline and bypasses Turks and Caicos Islanders, and bring disrepute to a Government Program that was meant keep our Turks and Caicos roads clean and beautiful and in addition, assist the unemployed to find temporary work.”
RTC news will continue to follow this story and may have further updates later.
