RTC Director

UK FACES TROUBLE IN PARADISE

The British Government has a major battle on its hands over the proposed implementation of VAT in The Turks and Caicos islands.

This follows the formation of The Turks and Caicos Independent Business Council (TCIBC) by a broad group of concerned individuals from all sectors of the economy and business community throughout the TCI.

A spokesman said: “We have a common purpose in that we are all unified in our opposition to the introduction of VAT in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

“We send a clear warning to Chancellor George Osborne that we represent the interests of all the leading businesses in the country and indeed it can be said that our views are representative of virtually every business concern.

“We are deeply concerned about the expected negative effects of the hasty introduction of VAT into the island’s tax structure.  As business professionals we do not have a problem with taxation and recognize the need to fund government.

However we do have a major problem with this particular type of tax and its inappropriate nature for these specific islands and our unique economy at this time and at this specific point in its young development.  We believe that the recent gains in economic sustainability will be lost with the imposition of this "boiler plate", cookie cutter, tax system.

“This new VAT tax is not driven by a "grass roots" initiative, but is a politically driven tax imposed upon us by distant bureaucrats based in Europe without effective due process and regard to our specific economy and its future development. One size does not fit all.

“It is our intention to continue the debate on VAT through wider public education and dissemination of information and to oppose and resist its introduction through whatever legal mechanisms are open to us.  This will include public consultations and education through the press, TV and radio.

“This task has already begun with over 3000 people having already signed a petition opposing VAT. Many more are joining us daily.

“This is not a done deal as many think. No government or administration can impose any policy upon a community if that community refuses to accept the policy.

TCIBC’s newly appointed Chairman, Clive Stanbrook, the prominent businessman and Queen’s Counsel, said, “We are sending a clear message to the British Government.  It is the view of virtually the entire business community in the Turks and Caicos that a VAT tax is inappropriate, costly, cumbersome and unnecessary at this stage in the development of these Islands. In  the short term it is clear that the existing taxation systems can be relied upon to raise such extra revenue as may be needed. "

MH

by RTC Director

ELECTORAL BOUNDARY COMMISSION MEMBERS REVEALED

The three strong team that makes up the TCI Electoral Boundaries Commission (EBC) were revealed by His Excellency Governor Ric Todd at a news conference at the National Environmental Centre in Providenciales today, Tuesday, 26 June 2012.

Supreme Court Judge Margaret Ramsay-Hale, Tropical Shipping's Carl Simmons and Misick and Stanbrook's Tremmaine Swann-Harvey will make up the independent commission which will officially begin its work week commencing 9 July 2012.

The Commission will consider and recommend ten new constituencies to Governor by the end of July. These should have broadly similar levels of registered voters, as outlined in the new TCI Consultation. In addition there will be the five 'at large' TCI wide Assembly Members as well as the four positions granted by the Governor himself.

"This is another important step on the road to the elections," said Governor Ric Todd. "It is up to this independent commission just how it intend to carry out its work, but it is clearly hugely significant to the voters of the TCI in ensuring that each and every vote carries the same weight across the country.

“The members of the Commission bring significant personal qualities and professional competencies to this task and I look forward to receiving their report and recommendations in due course. They have been appointed by me in line with the Constitution.

“I was surprised to hear at today’s media briefing that Dr Rufus Ewing claims that he did not know of my offer to both the PDM and PNP to agree on a single joint nomination to the EBC which I would have made on their behalf.

“I first raised this with the parties in my letters of 7 Feb, 10 May and 14 June. In addition, I spoke about this opportunity to both party leaders at the JAGS McCartney commemoration and again at my separate meetings with them only last week. I believe that this provided more than adequate time for such a nomination to be given.”

by RTC Director

Battle of the Bands Winners Announced

Islandcom’s Battle of the Bands competition was the event of the summer! The Turtle Cove Marina overflowed with people to the free concert event. Unlike music fest of the past the Islandcom Battle of the bands was a free event with all local bands. It was quite a show! Six bands performed that night for the top 3 spots. At stake was $4,000.00 for 1^st place, $2,000.00 for 2^nd place, and $1000.00 for third. The bands on the roster for the night were Roots, QBand Links, Justified, V6, Lee and the Force, and Rasta Generation. Each band was equally talented and gave great performances. They delivered their own style of music and performed lots of crowd favourites.

Rasta Generation opened the show with smooth reggae music. They delighted the crowd with a favourite Bob Marley tune everyone sang to. Next up on the stage was Grand Turk’s Roots. They got the crowd going with popular soca songs from back in the days as well as new ones. The third band of the night Justified, delight the crowd with their mellow music. Their set included a song of their own. Fourth group to play was rake and scrape band, V6 also out of Grand Turk. They rocked the crowd with a tribute song to JAGS McCartney that had everyone on their feet. Lee and the Force were a special treat as always; performed a tribute song to Whitney Houston. Q Band Links wowed the crowd with their rendition of Party Rock by LMFAO along with other hit songs.

The winners of the night were determined by a point system that combined scoring from the judges and the number of text message votes from the crowd. The three judges for the night were Joan Astwood, Goddfrey Been, and Ramez Hakoura. The judges scored each band after their individual performances. After all the bands performed the crowd was given 2 minutes to send in their text to the band of their choice. After the numbers were calculated the top three were clearly established. In third place winning $1000.00 was duo Justified. In second place, winning $2000.00 and 6 months of Islandcom service was Qband Links. Taking home the grand prize of $4,000.00, a year of service from Islandcom and Samsung Galaxy S phones was rake and scrape band V6.

Chandra Craigg, of the Islandcom Marketing team talks about the event turn out. “Lee Ingham and I have put a lot into this event and are very happy with everything coming together as planned. We owe a large thanks to many entities on island. The Wine Cellar, of course, as our cosponsors of the event contributed quite a lot to its success. We also couldn’t have done it without the help of Dion Pratt and the Sky Juice Team. They really had us covered! Special thanks also goes out to our host David Bowen for keeping the crowd entertained and informed. Thanks also goes out to the judges for their fair voting. Security company CSS were excellent. They provided us with sea patrol, land patrol, as well as guard dog patrol. Other companies we owe thanks to are Crazy George and the Turtle Cove Marina, TCI Waste, Blue Loos, the TCI Sports Commission, Q’Deano Productions, William John, Silver Blue Productions, EMS, photographer Delphine Hartshorn, our wonderful DJ’s- Liqua Fox and Techno Sounds, and of course the bands.”

by RTC Director

VAT WHITE PAPER UPDATE

The VAT White Paper will be published on 2 Jul 2012. This follows on from the eight week Consultation period officially ended on Tuesday June 19, 2012.

The VAT White Paper will include finalized decisions on all those issues which were listed for consultation in the Green Paper:

·         The VAT rate

·         VAT registration threshold

·         VAT exempted and zero rated imports and supplies

·         VAT refunds

·         VAT accounting records

·         VAT returns and simplified issues

·         VAT sector considerations

·         VAT social and economic impact

·         VAT transitional issues

The proposed Legislation will mirror those crucial decisions of the White Paper. It will first be released as a draft to Advisory Council and Consultative Forum members on 2 July and passed into Law on 13 July 2012, albeit it will not come into force until VAT Implementation date, April 1st 2013.

The VAT Implementation Team will then begin its public education campaign after it passes into law, including advisory visits will be conducted with proposed registered businesses, to provide extensive education, technical assistance as needed and advise them of their obligations under the proposed legislation..

The Consultation involved a total of fourteen public meetings, and sixteen focus groups meetings across the islands. During this time the VAT Implementation team was also engaged in answering and addressing questions and concerns in relation to the issues for consultation, via email and through the publication of a series of questions and answers.

Position papers from various sectors were received, discussed with those concerned and contents noted for appropriate treatment in the VAT Ordinance and Regulations.

by RTC Director

DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE SERVICES LEAVES POLICE

RTCI Police Service’s Director of Corporate Services is leaving the post.

Peter Davis, has resigned the post due to family reasons.

The 54-year-old former business manager for the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service is returning to the UK.

Mr Davis joined the RTCI Police at the beginning of April, bringing with him a wealth of experience to the role and departs just three months into a two-year contract.

Prior to his tenure in the Cayman Islands, he served as a Detective Superintendent and Senior Investigating Officer for homicides and major crime in the Royal St Lucia Police Force.

An ex-British Criminal Investigations Division Detective Chief Inspector and Senior Investigating Officer, he has also worked for the UK Department for Business and holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration.

RTCI Police Commissioner, Colin Farquhar, said: “We were delighted to have secured the services of Peter Davis following an extensive recruitment process and so it is with regret that we are losing him so soon.

“But obviously we fully understand and respect his decision and wish him all the best in his future endeavours.

“Peter made a big difference in a very short space of time and has implemented some crucial cost-cutting measures within the Police Service that were badly needed.

“We thank him for his efforts and wish him and his family all the very best in the future.”

Commissioner Farquhar revealed that a recruitment drive will be underway ‘very soon’ to find a replacement for Mr Davis.

by RTC Director