RTC Director

Baby boy death sparks questions about NHIP coverage

THE DEATH of an infant boy on Sunday (June 4), born a few months premature, has attracted the attention of the Premier and the National Health Insurance Board after an online furore broke out about health coverage.

The baby, who is the son of two popular local personalities, passed away due to complications with his birth that could not have been attended to at the TCI Hospital, this publication has learned.

Konnor Smith was set to be airlifted overseas for treatment, but passed away before the arrangements were finalised.

Media reports, and some social media interactions, threw the blame on the National Health Insurance Plan (NHIP), with a number of accusations being bandied about favouritism and preferential treatment.

It is alleged that the Smith family wanted the baby to be airlifted to a country that is not covered under the NHIP, and that this caused a number of delays as efforts were being made to work out an appropriate arrangement.

Premier Sharlene Cartwright Robinson, took to the airwaves shortly after the online dispute erupted, first to clarify her Government's position as well as to address what she called rumours in relation to the incident.

During an appearance on the Expressions Radio show this past week, she sent out condolences to the bereaved family, and called on residents to desist from spreading inaccurate information.

She stated: "There are policies that are in place as it regards to NHIP and it is so important that no one plays politics with the lives, especially, of children.

"Despite the rumours, I want to say that as the Minister of Finance thank you to the Minister of Health who had responsibility for this matter earlier."

She added that she will become involved in the issue later on from a financial standpoint.

Directly addressing the rumours, the Premier said that the WhatsApp message that has been circulating accusing two members of Cabinet of seeking preferential treatment in the matter is wholly inaccurate.

She stated that while the members are related to the family, neither of the Cabinet members called her to ask for any preferential treatment.

InterHealth Canada then also distanced itself from any wrongdoing in the child's death.

The hospital statement read: "The Turks and Caicos Islands Hospital is committed to excellence in service in accordance with evidenced based guidelines.

"Our heartfelt condolences is extended to the family on what is a challenging time.

"We are unable to provide further information due to respect for the parents and family and in accordance with patient confidentiality policies."

NHIP then chimed in with their expression of condolences at the death of baby Smith, stating they are "aware that there has been a lot of misinformation, innuendo and fallacies in the public domain about the level of assistance that was offered to the family regarding the care of baby Smith".

The organisation added that they acted collaboratively with TCI Hospital, the Ministry of Health and the parents of Konnor Smith within the established policies and norms of the Treatment Abroad Programme.

"We continue to uphold the highest standards of ethical practice which precludes us from publicly discussing or disclosing confidential information about the assistance offered or provided to our beneficiaries.

"We wish to reassure the public of our commitment to managing the Treatment Abroad Programme within the existing policies and procedures that have been established for the benefit of all our beneficiaries."

by RTC Director

Deputy Police Commissioner introduces police code of ethics

NEW Deputy Police Commissioner, Trevor Botting, has introduced a code of ethics intended to guide police on the many aspects of their profession.

The document is available to the members of the public online and discusses the integrity of officers, leadership skills and abilities, respect, selflessness and honesty.

Deputy Commissioner Botting said that being part of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF) carries great responsibility in ensuring the safety and security of the Islands and its communities.

He added that all police officers work to the highest possible standards, as they provide a service to those who live, work and visit the Turks and Caicos Islands.

"The introduction of the code of ethics does not mean to say that the police service has not been acting ethically, but what it does is it pulls a set of standards of professional behaviour into one document.

"It is a code, but it's guidance for officers. If you look into the code, which I am sure you have read, you will see that it gives examples of behaviours which are expected and ones that will be considered against the code," he said.

The Deputy Commissioner also made it clear that these rules are not only aimed at one part of the organisation but to everyone, including the leaders.

He said: "This is not one problem that we have in one part of the organisation; we are all accountable.

"It is important we made it public because I have a responsibility for managing on behalf of the Commissioner, the standard and the behaviour of the integrity of the force.

"This gives my officers a real baseline of how they should behave. It has become a document which is bespoke for the police service which I think is important because I think that then resonates with officers and puts some context into their job."

Residents are encouraged to have a thorough read through the code of ethics document.

It is available to the public online at www.tcipolice.tc/code-of-ethics

by RTC Director

TCIG APPOINTS NEW DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF REVENUE

The Turks and Caicos Government is proud to announce the appointment of Ms. Keshia Handfield to the post of Deputy Commissioner of Revenue within the Ministry of Finance Revenue Department.

Ms. Handfield holds both a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting and Master's Degree in International Business from Nova Southeastern University in Davie, Florida where she graduated in 2011.

Commencing her employment with the Turks and Caicos Government in July 2012, Ms. Handfield previously served as a Human Resource Officer within the Office of the Deputy Governor before being appointed to the role of Tax Officer within the Revenue Department in December 2012 and later promoted to Senior Tax Officer in March 2015.  In February 2017, Ms. Handfield was appointed to serve as an Acting Assistant Commissioner of Revenue.

Ms. Handfield since her tenure in the Revenue Department has gained extensive experience in Audit and Investigation Unit and has participated in numerous TCIG funded training programs including:

•            Institute for Internal Auditors (IIA) Training in Atlanta Georgia in March 2014

•            CARTAC Audit Training in September 2014

•            CARTAC Customs Post Clearance Audit Training in January 2015

•            Professional Attachment to Inland Revenue Jamaica in March 2016

Commenting on her appointment Ms. Handfield stated the following:  "During my tenure in the Revenue Department I have had the opportunity to greatly contribute to helping the department meet its revenue targets and have had the opportunity to supervise a dynamic team that shares the same goals as I do. I am excited to take on this new role as it has always been my personal goal to excel within the Ministry of Finance and to assist in working towards making the Revenue Department one of the most efficient agencies within TCIG.  I am certain that the department can progress and attain this goal through our continued stewardship and the hard work and dedication of our well-motivated team."

Deputy Governor Anya Williams extended her congratulations and best wishes to Ms. Handfield and stated that: "The Revenue Department is one of governments most vital departments as it plays a key role in the collection, monitoring and enforcement of TCIG's revenues.  As the Deputy Commissioner of Revenue, Ms. Handfield will be responsible for assisting in the development of systems and procedures to ensure the effective and efficient functioning of the Revenue Department.

"She will be responsible for leading on the development and monitoring of the department's budgets and financial projections which include the direct monitoring of Accommodation Tax which is TCIG's 2nd largest revenue earner and also Business Licensing which falls under the remit of the Revenue Department.  I take the opportunity to congratulate Keisha on her new appointment and to wish her all the best.  She has certainly proven her abilities over the last 5 years since joining our HR team in 2012.  We were certainly saddened to lose her to the Ministry of Finance, but she always noted that Finance was her passion, that it was her desire to excel in that area and she has certainly done just that!"  

by RTC Director

Former Clement Howell student becomes senator in the Bahamas

A FORMER Clement Howell High School pupil has been appointed as one of four opposition senators in the Bahamas.

Attorney at law JoBeth Coleby Davis along with three other senators received their instruments of appointment during a swearing-in ceremony at Government House, Nassau, on May 23.

Speaking at the ceremony, Opposition Leader Philip Brave Davis said the Progressive Liberal Party will cooperate and support the newly elected Government of the Bahamas "generously and in good faith".

"We are after all instruments of nation building not agents of national disunity or unnecessary conflict."

The new senators are Fred Mitchell, former Foreign Affairs and Immigration Minister, who will serve as Leader of the Opposition in the Senate; Dr Michael Darville, former Minister of Grand Bahama, will act as the voice for Grand Bahama; Clay Sweeting, businessman and former PLP election hopeful from Spanish Wells, will serve as a voice for the people from the family islands; and attorney JoBeth Coleby Davis, who represents a new voice in politics but comes from a family who have served their country in the political arena.

In his bio, Coleby Davis ascended to the upper echelons of government, came from humble beginnings being born in Freeport, Grand Bahama, on July 17, 1984, to Wayde T Coleby and Irma L Coleby nee Bootle.

She attended Walter Parker Primary School up to the sixth grade. After that her family relocated to the United States, where she attended middle school and high school.

However, relocation had it so that JoBeth would complete and receive her high school diplomacy from Clement Howell High School in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

She gained her dual Bachelor of Law degree with Business Management at Keele University, UK in 2009 and completed her bar vocational course at Nottingham Trent University in 2010.

She holds an LLM in Energy Law and Policy from the University of Dundee in Scotland.

Coleby Davis has been called to the Bar of England and Wales, and the Bahamas Bar.

She completed her associates degree in Law and Criminal Justice at the College of the Bahamas.

According to a press release, Coleby Davis has in the past worked for the Bank of Nova Scotia as a contracted compliance officer for five years while attending law school.

She worked alongside bank lawyers and the Financial Services Commission (FSC) to ensure organisations were efficiently and effectively adhering to laws and regulations.

She was responsible for commercial customers of the bank, carrying out due diligence, risk management and inspections of their operations for compliance with the financial policy of the FSC.

Coleby Davis has extensive knowledge of the legal system in the Bahamas, including the Petroleum Act and Petroleum Regulations, which she has relied heavily on in executing her duties.

At present, she serves as in house legal counsel at Bahamas Petroleum Company.

She is responsible for compliance and risk management of Bahamas Petroleum Company licences, government relations and works closely with the management team to advice on legal and commercial risks associated with day to day business operations.

She also served on the board of 'Real Property Tax Appeal Tribunal' during 2012 to 2017, where she was able to learn and contribute to the amnesty program and assisting with re-evaluation of various properties that were victims to the decline in the real estate market.

Her main platform and interests are ensuring the present government continues the work to modernise the Bahamian economy, more specifically energy conservation and sustainability.

She completed her dissertation as the final stage in her bid for an LLM, and her topic was 'Promoting sustainable development in the Bahamas: Overcoming the barriers and creating renewable energy in a safe and affordable way'.

In addition, Coleby Davis is a part of the millennial era, where she like many others holds the leadership of the Bahamas accountable to ensuring the Bahamian economy, legislation, and implementation thereof meets the modernisation standards that have been set by the international community.

Coleby Davis is the granddaughter of the late Granville Coleby who during his life served the Progressive Liberal Party as a stalwart councillor up to his passing.

In addition, the late Edwin Coleby who also served as a senator under the PLP administration is also her grand-uncle.

Recently she married Donavon A Davis Jr, a system engineer and also the grandson of Lionel Davis who served as MP for Fox Hill.

by RTC Director

Bipartisan support for hotel, restaurant and tourism tax bill

AN AMENDMENT to the Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Tax Ordinance to require restaurants to remit the taxes they derive from the deposits made on cancelled bookings and to keep proper records has been passed in the House of Assembly.

Premier Sharlene Cartwright Robinson read the amended bill in the House on Tuesday (May 30) calling for the full support of the Assembly.

In short, the amended bill seeks to correct "mischief" by imposing certain duties on the part of proprietors causing them to keep records and dealing out penalties for non-compliance, the Premier said.

She further explained the amendment - It seeks to amend the Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Taxation Ordinance to provide for the imposition of a duty on proprietors to keep a record of deposits and receipts for reservation and services and of the cancellations of those reservations.

It also seeks to amend the prohibition of proprietors collecting tax on any deposit paid and for which the reservation was cancelled and the amount forfeited by the proprietor in respect of the cancellation.

It also amends the imposition of a duty on proprietors to remit to the Permanent Secretary of Finance the tax that the proprietor collects on deposits paid, the creation of an offence and penalties for the collection of any tax on deposits paid and for any failure to remit any such taxes collected by the proprietor to the PS Finance.

It also imposes a duty on proprietors that own premises that are used for the purpose of habitually meals for rewards to keep proper books and records.

Also, it paves the way for the imposition of a duty on proprietors that own premises that are used for the purpose of habitually providing meals for reward to permit to the PS Finance to inspect these books, records as well as other documents in respect of designating a restaurant.

And finally, the amendment allows for the creation of an offence and for penalties for obstructing the Permanent Secretary Finance from entering premises that are used for the purposes of habitually providing meals for rewards to inspect any books, records and other documents.

"I believe the mischief jumps out at us as to why we need to bring this amendment and I believe that it should receive full support in the House," the Premier said.

Governor's appointed member, John Phillips, in supporting the bill stated that he understands the need to curb some shady practices.

However, he questioned whether local restaurants that do not cater to tourism to any significant amount, would also be required to keep similar records and be subject to inspections on the basis that they may be receiving a substantial income from tourism and therefore should be remitting taxes.

He stated that if these establishments are required to keep such records, some of the smaller local restaurants may have difficulty complying.

The amendment bill was given full support by members of the House and subsequently passed.

Commenting later in the Assembly on the support thrown behind the amendment, was Minister of Tourism, Ralph Higgs.

Higgs said: "It shows that when the political parties decide to work together we can achieve great things for our people.

"I can assure you that my Government is committed to bringing forward in a proactive way, bills that would improve the lives of our people and we ask our friends from the other side to let's continue this spirit of cooperation and this spirit of bipartisanship to do the work of the people."

In short, the bill requires proprietors to keep records, the length of time those records should be kept which is 24 months, and it gives the power to the permanent secretary to enter premises to have the books produced at a certain time.

There is also a penalty for failure to comply.

by RTC Director

Doug Parnell tells Kew Town bars to quieten down or face Government action

Operators of bars and restaurants in Kew Town, Providenciales, are being called on to cut down on or entirely cut out loud music and partying on Sundays.

And if the advice is not heeded action will be taken by the Government to ensure that the day remains sacred.

That was the warning issued to owners and operators of establishments in the area, by elected member for the Cheshire Hall and Richmond Hill constituency, Doug Parnell, during an address in the House of Assembly on Wednesday (May 31).

Parnell brought the issue, which has been an ongoing one for quite some time now, to the fore as he said he has received several complaints about the weekly disturbance from distressed families who would like to peacefully observe their Sabbath.

"This affects the families who are living in Kew Town, where you have the owners of restaurants and bars on a Sunday especially after church, would begin to play very loud music and dance and carouse.

"While I know that businesses and persons have a right, on a Sunday I would ask the proprietors of these establishments – I am not going to call anybody out but I think you know who you are – to please respect our Sabbath and our culture," the member implored.

He added that Sunday is a day that is held very sacred in the Turks and Caicos Islands and respect ought to be shown.

"I would call on you to please either eliminate this or greatly reduce the loud, boisterous noises that are coming from these bars.

"It would best if you do it now before you invite a Government action," Parnell warned, further appealing to operators to comply as quickly as possible.

Kew Town, located near Downtown Providenciales, is home to several small to medium size bars, discotheques and places where people congregate to socialise, particularly on the weekends.

This practice has led to numerous complaints over the years by residents about the constant loud music being played and other activities being carried out in the community at times when homeowners and their families are trying to rest.

While there are already breach of the peace laws in place, hardly any action is taken to enforce these laws in relation to the community disturbances on a Sunday.

However, Parnell's warning to operators could see actions being taken to ensure that the constant noises nuisance is cut out entirely and/or penalties being levied on the offenders.

by RTC Director

LANDS DIVISION ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT OF NEW DIRECTOR OF SURVEY & MAPPING DEPARTMENT

The Attorney General's Chambers would like to announce that with effect from Monday, June 5, 2017, Mr. Cyprian Smith, will assume the post of Director of the Survey & Mapping Department.  After a tireless search locally and in the Caribbean, Mr. Smith was chosen from among 5 candidates from across the Region.  Mr. Smith's selection was unanimously endorsed by the interviewing panel, supported by the Public Service Commission and has been formally appointed by the Deputy Governor.

Mr. Smith is a 2008 graduate from the University of Technology Jamaica, from which he obtained a Bachelor's (BSC) degree in Surveying and Geographic Information Sciences.  He also holds a Master in Business Administration (MBA), with specialization in Project Management from the University of Wales, United Kingdom.

Mr. Smith began his Land Surveying career two (2) years upon his enlistment to the Jamaica Defense Force (JDF) and  achieved the award for top performing student in the Land Surveying Technician's course at the University of Technology, for both years of the course.

He later pursued undergraduate studies in Surveying and Geographic Information. Upon completion of his Bachelor's degree, Mr. Smith was appointed JDF's Chief Land Surveyor, and he served in this capacity for approximately 7 years. During his tenure, he introduced new policies, procedures and operating systems and encouraged the implementation of new technology to improve the operational standards of the land surveying arm within the military. He also led the JDF's introduction of GIS in mapping and analyzing crime data. His appointment also saw him administering crown lands occupied by the military and lecturing various courses at the diploma level at the JDF Technical Training Institute (TTI).

Mr. Smith subsequently worked as a Project Manager for one of the leading land development companies in Jamaica, where he had overarching responsibility for the residential and commercial land development projects undertaken by the company.

Mr. Smith has a wealth of knowledge and experience in the field of surveying and land administration.  The task of Director, though challenging, is openly accepted by Mr. Smith. He is most grateful and excited to be afforded the opportunity to lead the Turks & Caicos Government's Survey & Mapping Department.   

As Director, Mr. Smith has statutory responsibilities that include authentication of all legal plans, mainly comprised of Fixed Boundary surveys and General Boundary surveys and the maintenance of GPS coverage of the islands and the control network which is vital to the cadastre.   The coordination of the Departments survey services, including legal surveys, road surveys, control surveys, topographical surveys also fall under his remit.  He will have responsibility for the maintenance and up-date of all spatial data, including the National Cadastral Framework, in both digital and graphical format. He will oversee the Survey and Mapping units of the Department and will interact on a daily basis with the Land Registry and the Crown Land Unit. In addition, he will have contact with other government departments including Public Works and Estate Management Departments, the Department of Physical Planning, Agriculture and others.

Commissioner of Lands, Mrs. Tatum Clerveaux, noted that; "Mr. Smith comes with outstanding credentials. He brings a reputation for effective management and team-building, and a first-class academic background, with complementary experience in the military and private sectors.  I am therefore confident that he will be a catalyst who, with the support of his team, will help steer the Survey & Mapping Department into a new phase of professional excellence."

by RTC Director

Another Sloop intercepted in Provo

The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Marine Branch officers reported to RTC News that they intercepted an illegal Haitian Sloop at 12:01pm, six miles off South Dock, Providenciales.

The 30ft blue, white and red sloop bearing the name “Philo Byen Se Mal” supported by a 20 Horse Power Johnson Engine had onboard fifty-eight (58) males and seven (7) females from Haiti. Upon arrival at the South Dock, they were handed over to Immigration Officials and escorted to the Detention Centre for processing and detention.

A search for illegal drugs and firearms were conducted on the sloop, but nothing was found.

The communities of the Turks and Caicos Islands are encouraged to contact law enforcement with any information concerning the whereabouts of any illegal migrants or on pending sloop arrivals.

by RTC Director