His Excellency the Governor, Peter Beckingham, chaired the meeting of the Cabinet on Wednesday 19 November 2014 at the NJS Francis Building on Grand Turk.
All Ministers were present at this cabinet meeting.
· Agreed it was minded to increase the national minimum wage by by 25% from USD 5.00 to USD 6.25 per hour, effective 1 April, 2015. Cabinet invites views on this proposal to be submitted to tciminimumwagereview2014@gov.tc by 31 December, 2014.
· Noted the recommendation of the Procurement Board on the award of a contract for the design, supply, installation and commissioning of one 14,500 gallons per day salt water reverse osmosis plant for water undertaking on Salt Cay;
· Approved the naming of the following completed and to-be-completed Government buildings after individuals who have made significant contributions to the Turks and Caicos Islands within their profession or field of work: the new Grand Turk Customs Warehouse – The Alexander L Adams Customs Warehouse; the new Salt Cay clinic – The Evelyn G W Simmons Health Care Clinic; the new Middle Caicos clinic – The Alsada Hall Malcolm Health Care Clinic; the new Grand Turk water plant – the Hon. Louis Astwood Waterworks; the South Caicos Clinic – Nurse Madeline Mills Clinic; the South Caicos Community Clinic – Bertram Malcolm Community Clinic; the South Caicos Airport – James Bassette Airport; the Middle Caicos Causeway – Missick Williams Causeway.
· Approved the membership of Ms Charlene Higgs to the Service Review Board as required under the Hospitals Project Agreement Schedule 6, Section II, part 1;
· Agreed to develop and issue a tender for the removal of scrap metal, old vehicles and tyres from the Turks and Caicos Islands;
· Noted that there should be stricter enforcement of business and food licensing as well as abandoned vehicle removal provisions in Providenciales and Grand Turk. Cabinet undertook to contact the relevant government departments to emphasise this point;
· Agreed to explore the policy options available to reduce the amount of plastic consumable waste (including plastic bags and styrofoam containers) in the Islands;
· Agreed to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Rotaract International Youth Organisation for the upkeep and maintenance of the NJS Francis park and the use of the building located on the park as part of their Youth Service Programme;
· Approved the 2015/6 – 2018/19 Fiscal and Strategic Policy Statement for submission to the Foreign Office prior to its passage to the House of Assembly as required by the Public Financial Management Ordinance 2012;
· Agreed to revise the Magistrates’ Courts Ordinance as it relates to the appointment of Justices of the Peace and to draft a Bill for a new Notary Public Ordinance. Cabinet also approved a moratorium, effective immediately, on the appointment of new Justice of the Peace and Notary Public appointments until the revisions have been enacted in law;
· Noted, as per the reporting requirement under Section21 (12) of the Public Procurement Ordinance 2012, that no waivers were granted for the period July to September 2014.
Ministers will provide further information on these matters in due course.
