The post budget round of Town Hall Meetings continued with the latest stop in Salt Cay.
The Premier, Hon. Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson and Ministers gathered at the Salt Shed in Salt Cay on June 3rd 2019 to speak to and hear from residents. Over 40 residents were in attendance at the meeting including students from the Mary Robinson Primary School along with their teacher.
$6 mil was budgeted for investment in Salt Cay in Budget 2019/20.
Residents were updated on some National issues before being informed of the achievements and plans. Among the achievements mentioned:
– Repairs to the Mary Robinson Primary have been budgeted for in the amount of some $300 thousand. The project was tendered and a contract has been awarded. Repairs are expected to start in July 2019 and should be completed by January 2020.
– Contract awarded to CBMS to upgrade and improve Salt Cay’s sea defense (sea wall). Works are expected to commence in the coming weeks
– Runway and aerodrome repairs budgeted at 4.5 million at Salt Cay Airport. The contract has been awarded to Herzog and those works will be starting in the coming weeks
– Salt Cay Club House and the Methodist Church have been identified as Shelters for the 2019 Atlantic Hurricane Season which started 1 June. Funds were allocated for repairs to those shelters and has move to the contract stage of the procurement process
– Ongoing are the repairs to the District Commissioner’s Office, those works are expected to completed later this year
– Funds have been budgeted for repairs to the town Tank and Salt Shed of some $100 thousand. Those tenders to be posted shortly.
It was also noted during the meeting that there has been interest expressed by a few international investors in developing Salt Cay.
Premier Robinson told residents that before any contract is signed TCIG will meet with residents to hear their thoughts and to discuss how they would like to see Salt Cay develop.
Other noteworthy achievements and plans: –
– MSME programme was recently expanded to benefit the sister islands (Grand Turk, Salt Cay, South, Middle and North Caicos). Amendments made allows for persons to apply for grants through the programme for Tourism related businesses. It was committed that Invest Tc would be coming to the Island soon to educate and answer questions about the programme
– Salt Cay like other sister islands has been added to the list to receive an incinerator and site attendant for the landfill site
– Plans to erect a donkey sanctuary are in the works for Salt Cay that will serve as a tourist attraction and habitat/ housing for the roaming donkeys. Officials will in the coming weeks carryout a donkey population assessment
During the meeting it was expressed that with the incoming development to the island, residents would like to see more paved roads.
The Premier and Minister of Finance noted the concern raised and said it will be looked at under Budget 2020/21.
