TCI celebrates International Anti-Corruption Day 2017 on the theme: “Uniting Against Corruption”

The International Anti-Corruption Day was celebrated globally on Saturday, 9th December 2017. It is a day set aside by the United Nations to raise awareness and sensitize everybody about the destructive impact of corruption on the society.

Corruption undermines democratic institutions and the rule of law. It is a key barrier to effective economic development. It creates and deepens poverty, inequality and social instability. It is a cankerworm that corrodes the very foundations of any society. No nation, big or small, rich or poor is immune to corruption.

The Turks and Caicos Islands Integrity Commission (the Commission) joins the international community in this celebration on the Theme “Uniting Against Corruption”. The Commission, drawing from local, regional and international experiences and best practices, firmly believes, that to effectively combat and prevent corruption, will require the united and collaborative efforts of all - the public and private sector institutions and persons, all persons in public life (including House of Assembly Members, Ministers of Government and Public Officers), Corporate and Business entities, Civil and Religious Societies and the Media. In this regard, the Commission is encouraged to note with gratitude, that these collaborative efforts have enabled Turks and Caicos Islands to score a number of regional ‘firsts’ in anti-corruption and good governance initiatives.

These include the robust regulation of political financing over the last two general elections; the formulation, publication and enforcement of a comprehensive Code of Conduct for Persons in Public life; the more than 90% compliance rate by public officials who are required to file declarations with the Commission; the best-practice public procurement and public finance management regimes; the public and live broadcasts of the proceedings of the House of Assembly and its accountability committees and the recent enactment of the Bribery Ordinance. Consequently, the TCI has not only earned a leadership role in the Commonwealth Caribbean anti-corruption efforts, but serves as one of the regional reference points for anti-corruption and good governance best practices.  

Moreover, the Commission acknowledges the critical role the youth and young persons are playing and will continue to play in sustaining the fight against corruption. The Commission, through its Public Education Unit, has therefore closely engaged these leaders of tomorrow over the last two years in the promotion of integrity through annual Inter-High School Integrity debates; the Community College speak-off events; primary and secondary schools’ poster, song and essay competitions. Since last week, the Commission has been visiting the relevant schools to deliver to their students, trophies, certificates and cash awards for their excellent performances in these competitions and in appreciation of their participation.

Director of TCI Integrity Commission, Eugene Otuonye, Q.C. commented: “ The milestones achieved by the TCI in its anti-corruption and good governance efforts are not only remarkable but inspiring.  Nevertheless, the Commission recognizes that there is still a long way to go and much more work to be done over time. But by uniting against corruption, by saying NO to corruption and by REPORTING corruption, we will be well on our way to a TCI with a zero-tolerance for corruption.”

by RTC Director

TURKS AND CAICOS POST CABINET MEETING STATEMENT-Dec8th,2017

His Excellency the Governor, Dr John Freeman, chaired the meeting of the Cabinet on Friday, 8 December 2017, at the N J S Francis Building on Grand Turk.
 

All Ministers were present except the Hon. Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Planning.

At this meeting Cabinet:

·         Advised His Excellency the Governor to approve the draft Companies  Ordinance (Amendment of Schedules) (No.2) Order 2017 for forwarding to the House of Assembly for approval;

·         Advised His Excellency the Governor to approve amendments to Section 8 of the Customs (Times of Attendance of Officers and Officers' Fees) Regulations to reflect the full recovery of costs of customs officers working at TCI customs sheds;

·         Noted the legislative agenda for the period December 2017 – June 2018;

·         Advised His Excellency the Governor to approve the government's climate change policy statement;

·         Received an information paper prepared by the Director of Ports on a variation in tariff in the stevedoring contract which entered into force on 1 April 2008;

·         Approved a MSME concession order to the company Ocean Breeze Laboratories to purchase equipment for its janitorial products business in Providenciales;

 
·         Approved a MSME concession order to the company Been's Welding to purchase equipment for the re-establishment of a welding and fabrication business in Providenciales;

·         Approved a MSME concession order to the company Flamingo's Nest to purchase equipment for the establishment of a vacation rental in North Caicos subject to a re-inspection being carried by the Tourist Board and the property meeting the required standard;

·         Approved in principle the amended draft Agriculture Policy Paper governing agricultural development in TCI subject to an implementation plan being developed and approved;

·         Advised His Excellency the Governor to approve the drafting of the Tobacco Control (Amendment) Bill 2017 for forwarding in due course to the House of Assembly for approval;

·         Approved in principle the National School Nutrition and Physical Fitness Policy Paper and the National School Nutrition Guidelines for TCI subject to an implementation plan being developed and approved;

·         Advised His Excellency the Governor to approve the appointment of Mr Eric Lightbourne as a member of the Prison Visiting Committee in accordance with Section 44 of the Prisons Ordinance;

·         Advised His Excellency the Governor to approve the appointment of Mrs Carmella Bain as a member of the Radio Turks and Caicos Board of Governors in accordance with Section 3(1) of the Radio Turks and Caicos Ordinance;

·         Advised His Excellency the Governor to approve the re-appointment of Mrs Beatrice Fulford as a member of the Labour Tribunal for a period of 2 years with effect from 8 December 2017;

·         Approved a proposal for the construction of a new library facility for the H J Robinson High School on Grand Turk to be sponsored and funded by Mr Franklyn Misick;

·         Advised His Excellency the Governor to approve the Fisheries Protection (Amendment) Regulations 2017 Regulations relating to the quota for the export of conch;

·         Approved an amendment to the Tourist Accommodations Ordinance 1979 to align Section 2 (a) of the Ordinance with Section 3(1) of the Tourism Tax Ordinance;

·         Advised His Excellency the Governor to grant an exemption from Section 12 (1) of the Immigration Ordinance to permit the entry into TCI of teams from Nokia and Ericsson Corporations to assist with the restoration of FLOW's inter-island microwave link between Providenciales and Grand Turk which was damaged following the passage of hurricanes Irma and Maria;

·         Received an up-date from the Hon. Premier on applications received for outstanding payments for services provided after the hurricanes to be met from the contingency fund;

·         Received a briefing from the Hon. Premier on her attendance at the Joint Ministerial Council in London;

by RTC Director