RTC Director

Scotia Bank to close two primary offices in the TCI

It started out as a rumour, but was later realised to be factual! Shocking news reaching RTC News that one of the oldest banking institutions will be closing two of its prime offices in Leeward and in the Capital Grand Turk.

The news was not welcoming, particularly for residents in the capital! Since the release, Premier Robinson has issued a statement to RTC News:

'Today, the Deputy Premier, Hon Sean Astwood and I met with the Managing Director and the Regional Compliance Head to discuss the Bank's upcoming initiatives. We were informed that the Bank intends to consolidate its operations into one Center which is located on Leeward Highway. This meant that the Branches at Grand Turk and in Grace Bay will be consolidated to this location. On receiving this News, I contacted the Leader of the Opposition who was given the opportunity to also speak with the Bank's Representatives at the same time.

We were informed that this is a continuation of what has already happened in the Bahamas and now Cayman Islands, BVI and the Turks and Caicos Islands and was the Bank's direction to direct its customers more to use the heavily invested technological systems while allowing staff to focus on strategic goals.

We outlined our concerns to the Bank for its staff, its customers in light of the recovery and challenging internet services, the message being sent to the general public of these Islands and the Nation's Capital specifically. We also requested of the Bank that its representatives meet with the public of Grand Turk and allow them to share its concerns and to advise on how the services will continue. This request has gone forward for consideration.

We do understand that this is a corporate decision and are grateful that the dates were staggered. We are aware of the staff challenges and the fact that the decision has been made from the highest office in Canada. However we believe that this is a rather unfortunate decision that could not come at a worse time.

I am aware that the Bank would have also today met with the Acting Governor and the Labour Commissioner today. We will continue our discussions with the Bank and critical stakeholders on this issue to see how we are able to avert this, failing which, how we might assist with minimizing the impact of this closure on the communities in Grand Turk.'

An unofficial correspondence was sent to RTC News late Thursday evening of the banks decision by a resident of Grand Turk.

by RTC Director

REMARKS DELIVERED BY THE HON PREMIER, On the Opening of the 4th Annual Conference of the Commonwealth Caribbean Association of Integrity Commissions and Anti-Corruption Bodies (CCAICACB)

Today I am indeed honored to stand here on this historic occasion to greet each of you in your respective places and in support of critical work for a noble Institution. Whilst this is only the 4th Annual Meeting of gatherings in this type forum, I commend this Body for its formation, the great strides being made across the region and then I wish to assure you of my support and my Government's support.

I must congratulate our very own Director of TCI's Integrity Commission Mr Eugene Otonye on his election as Chair and on our hosting this year's gathering. Along with the reputation and work of TCI's Integrity Commission, the high compliance rates for filings for person in public life, this statement of hosting this Conference in our country sends the best messageat the right time: One that says we welcome standards, we support standards and will enforce standards for the good of our country. We have in our short time, have been able to become established leaders in the critical work of ensuring integrity in public life and have been an example for others to pattern and in fact are doing just that. We are proud of this body of work and we want the region and the world to know that we are taking a stance to ensure that we enjoy and practice the highest practices of integrity in public life and that corruption fizzles.
Whilst our work in this area is recognized and whilst regional governments continues to see the important work, much is left to be done locally and regionally in terms of education. This Conference's Theme, ""Counting the Real Cost of Corruption – Engaging Everyone in the Fight" though inspirational is our greatest challenge that requires our greatest effort otherwise the goal/objectives of our Agencies or this regional body willnot being realized.
It requires the connecting of dots that shows how it affects you as a country and even as an individual. It requires individual, civic organization notably the Church, local governmental, regional and global partners.

My Government has already demonstrated in a tangible way our support in the fight against corruption through the passage of the Bribery Ordinance very early in our Administration. We have accepted that corruption cost more than we can afford or are willing to pay. We have accepted and believe that the Government is critical in this fight and must lead the way. We have seen how corruption cost financially as well as reputationally and as the guardians and stewards of our country's name and resources, we are resolute in our stance. It is important that we educate even the smallest child on the importance of integrity and make connections in the simplest form as to how it adversely affects systems, governments and countries. We recognize that because of corruption, we can be made to pay more than value for goods and services thereby robbing critical areas of much needed resources; it of course can attract unsavory characters while discouraging the entry of good wholesome investors; it can cost in loss of critical experience and manpower when persons are recruited corruptly and certainly it can cost us in reputation all around. These are but a few but hard connections that must be taught. When this message is captured in a package for all audiences, then and only then will be able to celebrate the achievement of this theme and we must note that this is a continuous goal to be reached.
I note your distinguished Panel of Presenters and know that you will have a productive few days. It is my hope that literature will continue to be forthcoming and that awareness campaigns will only increase.

I welcome those who have travelled to this Conference to our beautiful country: I wish for you a wonderful experience among one time internationally acclaimed Best Island and multiple awards for World's Best Beach. Congratulations you are on a piece of that exclusive pie. I especially welcome my former Lecturer Dr Trevor Munroe, I am one of thousands who have passed through his hands at Mona Campus UWI and am certainly better and sometimes a little more radical for it.
I say to you as I close, Be steadfast in your work and do not stop for you are doing a great work and these Islands of the Sea will be better for it.

by RTC Director

NO BLACKLISTING FOR TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS

Turks and Caicos Islands is a small developing country with its many challenges but have to meet all the international transparency and compliancy standards in the area of international taxation and reporting in the same manner applicable to developed jurisdictions. Good governance, fiscal stability, tax transparency and effective legislations are matters of significant importance to assessing compliance with the global financial systems.

The European Union is one of the many organizations on an annual basis publishing a list of Non-cooperative jurisdictions (Blacklist) that fails to meet their tax transparency rules and standards. Turks and Caicos Islands was one of the 8 jurisdictions placed on a gray list, partly as a result of the 2017 storms. The Hon. Premier along with several senior Government Officials with private sector partnership engaged the EU Code of Conduct Group in February 2018 in Brussels to start the dialogue and conversation of matters of mutual interest. The dialogue with the EU Code of Conduct Group responsible for the compilation of the Non-cooperate list continued with the Ministry of Finance, Exchange of Information Unit, Attorney General Chambers, Financial Services Commission and Private Sector Representative and led to a Commitment Letter to examine the impact of proposed changes to TCI business models, particularly in the Financial Services sector.

Turks and Caicos Islands Government was able to demonstrate to the EU Code of Conduct Group significant legal and operational reforms implemented in the area of tax transparency and reporting. The three main criteria identified by the Code of Conduct Group: Tax Transparency, Fair Taxation and Anti-BEPS measures saw TCI as participatory and compliant.

The Chair of the Code of Conduct Group communicated with the Hon. Premier by email on June 7th, 2018 indicating that Turks and Caicos Islands will not be included in the 2018 List of Non-cooperative Jurisdictions.

As Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands, I want to thank and recognized the hard work of the Ministry of Finance, Exchange of Information Unit, Attorney General Chambers, Financial Services Commission and the Private Sector who partner with us to achieve this successful outcome. This is just the beginning and there is much more to come by way of monitoring, therefore you continued cooperation is welcome and appreciated.

by RTC Director

TCI Hospital announce winners of 'The Diamond Challenge'

Eight teams of health care professionals showcased their best quality initiatives in a unique competition held on Wednesday May 30th inside the main foyer at Cheshire Hall Medical Centre for a prize pool of US$3,000 sponsored by InterHealth Canada Corporate, the private health care management company.

'The Diamond Challenge' spanned five months of team preparation, and last week's finale featured a poster and oral presentation by each team leader before a panel of external judges. Each initiative submitted must have been implemented between the years 2015 – 2018 and reflect measurable impact or evidence of improvement in the practice environment. The judges were Dr. Hamlet Nation - Acting Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Board, Mrs. Ruth Forbes – Senior Vice President of Fortis TCI and Dr. Marcella Malcolm of Carolina Private Clinic.

The Best Quality Improvement Initiative for building a Culture of Safety recorded a tie between the Baby Friendly Initiative and the Competency Mandatory Training Initiative. The first initiative was led by Dr. Dawn Perry – Head of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Mikette Been – Chief of Clinical Services. The latter Initiative was led by Jacqueline Moe-Cox and Lurline Barnett of the Hospital's Education Department.

The top award for the categories of Best Quality Improvement Initiative towards Safe Medication Practices and Best Overall Quality Improvement Initiative, were captured by the Medication Reconciliation Project, which secured a double win. The project comprised of Dr. Sani Amatti – Head of Pediatrics, Dr. Ravindra Gajendragadkar – General Internist, Detorrie Tennant – Hospital Information Systems Manager and Tony Wilton – Pharmacy Manager.

The title of the overall competition was derived from the hospital's quest to receive diamond status once again. Turks and Caicos Islands Hospital will undergo a third accreditation assessment next week June 11th – 15th 2018. A full-site survey is carried out every three years by independent overseas assessors. The acute-secondary health care facility has been accredited at the Diamond level since March 2012, which is the highest level achievable under the ACI Qmentum International Accreditation Program. Accreditation is an independent assessment of a health care organization's performance against internationally recognized standards of best practice.

TCI Hospital Chief Executive Officer, Gaston Levac commented on the internal competition. Levac said: "The excellent work presented by Diamond Challenge team members is a reflection of the quality work delivered by all hospital personnel. It bodes well for the TCI Hospital receiving an unprecedented third straight Diamond Accreditation award. To obtain a Diamond Award from Accreditation Canada International demonstrates that the hospital is in compliance with the world's most rigorous standards of care, service and performance."

by RTC Director