His Excellency the Governor, Peter Beckingham, presided over the 8th meeting of the TCI Cabinet last Thursday 12th March 2015 at the House of Assembly Building on Grand Turk, with a full member compliment.
At this meeting Cabinet:-
Advised H.E. the Governor to extend the lobster season for a further two weeks until the 31st March 2015. During the extended period fishermen should report any sightings of spawning or egg bearing lobsters. The report should indicate the number of locations where the spawning lobsters were observed. Any egg-bearing lobsters that will be caught should be returned immediately to the sea. The current size limit will stand as it is. No lobster less than 3.25 inches in length should be caught. The length of 3.25 inches measured from the front of the groove between the horns directly above the eyes along the middle of the back to the rear of the carapace or back shell or when the tail has been separated, a tail weight of 5 ounces whether processed or not.
• Received an update from the Minister of Finance regarding the development of a Memorandum of Understanding for the Cooper Jack Development Project. The project relates to the construction of Viceroy Turks and Caicos, a new hotel resort and residential development on Cooper Jack Bay, Providenciales;
• Received an update from the Minister of Finance and the consultants assisting with the implementation of a Business Transformation Strategy. The strategy is designed to streamline systems and processes to enable faster turnaround of business licenses and work permits with the overall objective being to make doing business in TCI more efficient and effective. Implementation of the strategy will attract funding from the 10th European Development Fund;
• Advised H.E. the Governor to approve the appointment of the following persons to the Turks and Caicos Islands Tourist Board for a period of one year effective 1st April 2015 – 31st March 2016; Don Gardiner (Chairman), Crystal Greene (Deputy Chairman), Wayne Garland, Brenda Lightbourne, Lloyd Stubbs, Jayne Hutchinson, Lasheko Seymour, Bianca Harvey-Garland, Permanent Secretary (Ex-Officio) and the TCHTA representative. The appointments are made in accordance with part III of the Tourism Ordinance;
• Cabinet noted the awarding of several contracts, with a total value of $5 million dollars, based on recommendations of the Procurement Board. These include Ball Park Lighting in Providenciales; Shutter Installation All Saints Missionary Church Providenciales; Consultancy for Preparation of Technical Documentation for a Domestic Fire Station Providenciales; Provision of Furniture and Equipment HJ Robinson High School; Reconstruction of Causeway North and Middle Caicos (Phase 2), Design and Construction of a new Wellness Centre Grand Turk, Consultancy for the Preparation of Design and Technical Tender Documentation for the Reconstruction and Upgrading of the Belle-field Landing Road in North Caicos; Pre-Paid Water Metering System for Grand Turk; Road Development Programme in Kew Town Providenciales; Roof Replacement for the Police Station and Barracks South Caicos; Provision of Furniture and Equipment at the Salt Cay Primary Healthcare Clinic; Supply of a 15 Seater Passenger Van for the Marjorie Basden High School in South Caicos; Supply of a Full-Size SUV for the Attorney Generals Chambers; Upgrade of the Gaming Field for the Raymond Gardiner High School in North Caicos; Provision of Furniture and Equipment for Public Schools and Furniture and Equipment for the splitting of the Clement Howell High School Providenciales;
Again, these matters will be further elaborated on at the Post Cabinet Media Brief that is scheduled for Friday March 20th following the next regular meeting of Cabinet which is scheduled to be held on Wednesday March 18, 2015 in Providenciales.
