The Cabinet of the Turks and Caicos Islands Government met yesterday. Members discussed the issue of reduced airline services to the island of South Caicos and the impact of subsidizing such services.
Cabinet agreed that the provision of regular scheduled airline services to South Caicos is vital to the islands economy and essential services. Cabinet agreed to further evaluate the value for money of providing such service through a competitive tender process since more than one airline is available and has expressed interest in providing the service.
Cabinet received a presentation from members of the European Union EDF 10 team who are in country meeting with the Ministry of Finance and various Government Ministries to plan for the allocation of the EDF 10 grant of 15 million dollars over a 3 year period which is to be utilized as budget support. Cabinet discussed several papers from ministers concerning the appointment of members to a number of statutory boards which expire on March 3st.
The listing of Boards and those members appointed will be gazetted prior to April 1st. The Permanent Secretary for Government Support Services and the Water Engineer along with the Minister for GSS presented a paper on improving water services in Grand Turk.
The recommendations made included the shipping of the already purchased RO plant in advance of the completion of the new building to house the new plant, but this was recommended against and also the installation of new water meters to implement a pre-metering system and the rreview and fate of outstanding bills by customer.
Cabinet discussed a paper concerning the provision of office space for the Premier and other Ministers and space for the Treasury Dept, Ministry of Finance and several other departments on Providenciales. The conclusions drawn were that the Premier and Ministers will not relocate into the proposed accommodation which would only accommodate the Treasury and Ministry of Finance, and in the interim a request for extension of lease of the Hon. Hilly Ewing Building will be made to NIB and this space will be occupied by the Premier and Governor. Additional space is being asssessed to relocate SIPT, and also space for housing of the other Government Ministers, AG Chambers and DPP.
Cabinet also received updates and requests from a number of developers concerning their development projects.
