A white paper summarizing proposed new and amended pieces of legislation to guide the future governance of the Turks and Caicos Islands was launched for public review on Monday 20th February 2012.
The White Paper has been approved by the Governor and has been presented to the Advisory Council and the Consultative Forum. It was prepared by the EU funded Legislative Review project team headed by Professor Rose-Marie Antoine which has spent several months with senior government professionals, its advisors, and special interest groups on a wide range of areas, touching all government ministries. The White Paper gives the public an insight into the policy issues involved, analysis of the issues and possible legislative direction being taken and a basis for consultation on these new laws.
The project is expected to address identified deficiencies and gaps in laws which are key to the governance process in the TCI, and develop more efficient and transparent modes of operation for the public sector.
This EU funded Project, and similar exercises being undertaken by the Attorney General’s Chambers through its own resources and through UK funded drafters, will help the Turks and Caicos Islands meet one of the key milestones for a return to elected government, that is, the introduction of new Ordinances and amended legislation to address deficiencies in the existing legislative framework. The review and reform exercise should result in new laws which are compatible with the new Constitution and with regional and international treaty obligations.
The Territorial Authorizing Officer for the EU funded Project is the Turks and Caicos Islands, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Chairman of the Project Working Group, Mr. Delton Jones, in welcoming the launch of the White Paper said:
“The Project is an important input to ongoing efforts to elevate public sector management through the institution of a series of political, economic and social development projects aimed at helping to restore the economic viability and good governance of the TCI.
The EU Project is thus one component of a wider initiative of stabilization and development towards a path of greater financial viability and sustainability being undertaken by the TCI Government. We are very thankful to the EU for providing the funding to enable the TCI to engage the services of the very experienced team of consultants to work along with the Working Group to undertake this very important legal review/reform project. I hope the populace would embrace the opportunity to make an input into the final laws through the consultative progress that is integral to the project.”
The key areas targeted for review and reform are:
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Regulation of Healthcare Facilities and Health Professionals
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Trafficking in Persons
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Regulation of Crown Land
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Integrity in Public Life
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Creation of a Fractional Ownership Scheme
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Improvements to the Land Registry
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Juvenile Justice, the Rights of the Child and Adoption
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Family Law and Domestic Violence law
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Public Service Reform
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Environment, including Public Health, Agriculture, Aquaculture and Waste Management
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Immigration
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Labour and Industrial Relations
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Upgrade of the International Financial Sector
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Companies, Commercial Entities and Investment
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Oversight to Implementation of Value Added Tax (VAT)
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Education
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Stamp Duty
The White Paper can be downloaded from the government website
