Psalm 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin my speech by reciting a quote.
“The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his simply by altering his attitude of mind” William James.
Mr. Speaker, it is indeed an honor and a privilege to be here today and to be given the opportunity to address this honorable house, and the general public, on the good work that the Ministry of Home Affairs has done, and will continue to do after the passage of this budget.
Mr. Speaker, let me take this time to bring greetings to the great people of ED1, Grand Turk North who have elected me to represent them.
I will continue to be a Servant Leader, to move things forward that is in the best interest of the people and our Country.
Mr. Speaker, I would also like to take this opportunity to single out my Management Team which is led by my Permanent Secretary, James Astwood, and Deputy Permanent Secretaries, Fredrico Johnson and Teann Thomas. Mr. Speaker I would also like to take this time to thank my HODs, and staff for their hard work and dedication over the past year, and I pray that you all continue the great work as we move this Ministry forward.
Mr. Speaker, for those listening via radio and streaming online I would like to make mention the breakdown of my Ministry which consists of seventeen (17) cost centers totaling some two hundred and seventy (279) positions and one (1) statutory body, with nine (9) positions.
The Ministry includes:
• PolicyPlanningandAdministrativeSupport(Ministry) • Customer&GovernmentInformationServices
• WaterUndertaking
• PostalService
• DepartmentofMotorVehicles
• Fire&RescueServices
• SocialDevelopment&WelfareDepartment
• GenderAffairs
• RegistrarGeneral’sDepartment
• CitizenshipandNaturalizationDepartment
• DistrictCommissioner’sOffice–NorthCaicos
• DistrictCommissioner’sOffice–MiddleCaicos
• DistrictCommissioner’sOffice–SouthCaicos
• DistrictCommissioner’sOffice–SaltCay
• DepartmentofRehabilitationandCommunityServices • Energy&UtilitiesDepartment
• DepartmentofCorrectionalServices;and
• TelecommunicationsCommission
Mr. Speaker, I am very proud today to talk about the Ministry’s budget for the financial year 2023/24 as there are a lot of key initiatives we will be rolling out this year.
Mr. Speaker, a budget is not just a collection of numbers, but an expression of our values and aspirations, so that is what I will focus on today.
With that being said Mr. Speaker, this upcoming year, my Ministry’s general focus will be on the move toward bettering the customer experience and improving customer satisfaction. We will do this by improving policies, creating standard operating procedures, and increasing training for our front-line staff.
Mr. Speaker, this Ministry cannot be taken lightly and we will continue to strive to give the public the level of service it deserves daily.
Mr. Speaker, on the operational side of the budget, the Ministry was successful in completing the majority of its programs strategies and operational mandates. This year, there will be a focus on legislative changes to various Ordinances.
Mr. Speaker, in the budget estimates before this honorable House today, we will be considering the following for my Ministry:
• OperatingExpenditureof$26.2million • RevenueEstimatesof$12.2million
MR. SPEAKER, LET ME NOW BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION THE BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS AND THE YEAR AHEAD
Mr. Speaker, within the Policy Planning and Administrative Support, we have allocated another $35,000.00 for the continued advancement of local government which we will be moving to the public consultancy phase and the advancement of draft legislations within this year.
Mr. Speaker, this is very beneficial to improving the overall quality of life, and the aesthetics of our communities in the family islands and will contribute to their economic development. Mr. Speaker, this initiative will give Islands a higher level of autonomy and will afford the residents a greater role in determining their destiny and the development of their communities.
Mr. Speaker, also included in the Ministry’s budget is $65,000.00 in our Community Enhancement Program. This will enable our team to assist communities through the creation of jobs with small works projects. “We grow because we struggle, we learn and overcome.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to report that the Water Undertaking Department is advancing various projects under its remit. We continue to advance our vision of consistent and high-quality water services with reduced periods of downtime to the Islands of South Caicos, Salt Cay, and Grand Turk.
Mr. Speaker, as we speak, the contractor is advancing the contract for the installation of the new piping system to connect the RO Plant to the 1-million-gallon storage facility across the road from this honorable house. At the same time, the new booster pump house at the 1-million-gallon-storage facility has also been completed.
Mr. Speaker, I am also pleased to announce that the contracts for the additional 1-million-gallon Salt Water Reverse Osmosis Plant and the additional 1-million-gallon storage facility have been signed and the initial stages have begun.
So, Mr. Speaker, Grand Turk will be in an even better place in the near future.
Mr. Speaker, I don’t know if all of my other Hon. Colleagues are happy, but for me, I am more than excited.
Mr. Speaker, the Customer, and Government Information Services will be advancing a publishing policy that will aim to highlight the gaps and missed opportunities, as it relates to the utilization of modern equipment, marketing & promotion plans, for the current, and hopefully the extended client base.
Mr. Speaker, currently the department is looking into opening a second location in the Providenciales market which will give it a better opportunity to increase revenue generation while servicing those clients that may not have direct access to its services
currently. Mr. Speaker, with that being said, we have added an Assistant Government Printer to manage that Unit, once the office is opened.
Mr. Speaker, let me now turn your attention to the Turks and Caicos Islands Postal Services. We continue to look for more creative ways to stay relevant and to provide better and expedited services to customers and the public at large.
Mr. Speaker, the Postal Services intends to set up residential mailboxes in several communities on Providenciales in areas where homes have 911 numbers. The mailbox numbers will match the house numbers. Instead of the public attending the Postal Office to collect mail the Postal Services will bring the mail to the public. This is a different concept from community mailboxes and when implemented will be a first in the Caribbean.
Mr. Speaker, the Postal Services intends to join the United States Postal Services small business courier services web initiative. Under this initiative, small businesses in the Turks and Caicos Islands could register on the Postal Services website offering local products to customers internationally. The Postal Office will provide the courier services through the United States Postal Services and other regional and international Postal networks for priority delivery to the good’s destination within two business days.
Mr. Speaker, over the last year, we have also re-opened the post office sub-branch on the islands of South Caicos and North Caicos. There are other initiates in the planning stages which will be made public in due course.
Mr. Speaker, in the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), during the year we have implemented the new license plate, we have implemented the new tint legislation, and we now have the new DMV database system in place.
This, Mr. Speaker, the new database system will allow customers to be able to apply for new and renewed licenses online which will dramatically reduce the wait time that we are currently experiencing.
Additionally, Mr. Speaker, the DMV will soon commence full amendments to the Road Traffic and Motor Vehicles Ordinances. (Import Vehicle Permit to highlight one). Mr. Speaker, this is a big undertaking, and it will see changes in legislation such as the implementation of traffic lights at strategic locations on the Leeward Highway, amendments to the import permit criteria, the process for applying for a Public Service Vehicle license, and the introduction of new decals. So, Mr. Speaker, look out for great things from the DMV this year!
Mr. Speaker, the Department of Fire & Rescue has seen significant changes over the past year. With the recruitment of a new Fire Chief and the donation of a Fire Truck from the City of Miami, we are striving to improve the Domestic Fire Services throughout the TCI.
Mr. Speaker, this year the volunteer Fire Services Program will come on stream, as well as additional training for the fire officer to keep them current with modern processes. Mr. Speaker Talks are ongoing for another Fire Truck Donation this time from the City of Miami Dade Fire Rescue for the Islands of North and Middle Caicos.
Mr. Speaker, with the recruitment of the new Commissioner of the Energy and Utilities Department (EUD) we are quickly advancing amendments to the Electricity Ordinance and subsequent regulatory framework to include provisions for renewable energy.
Mr. Speaker, we also move towards the implementation of a Multi-Sectoral Utilities Regulatory Agency. The work will include the development of the policy and legal frameworks for the drafting of the Utilities Regulatory Agency Bill, as well as the recruitment of core management staff to advance the initial actions by way of a phased approach.
Mr. Speaker, the Energy and Utilities Department has received international funds through the EDF 11th Resilience, Sustainable Energy, and Marine Biodiversity, for a project entitled “Transitioning towards Green Energy in the Turks and Caicos”. Mr. Speaker, the budget for this project is approximately 1.4
million pounds, which will see the installation of solar street lights and solar panels on various Government buildings. The contract for the solar PV Installations is now out and accepting bids.
Mr. Speaker, the Social Development & Welfare Department will be embarking on various programs this upcoming year to raise awareness of the Dept. of Social Development services and programs through advertising via Radio shows, PSAs, Social Media, Presentations, pamphlets, brochures, etc.).
Mr. Speaker, we will also identify and train young persons in the schools to become Child Safeguarding Champions on the school grounds. These CSC will share information where the peers can come to them and share incidents, and get information on Child Safeguarding through a two-day workshop. (The workshop will cover the types of abuse, what is safeguarding, scenarios, confidentiality, reporting process, etc.)
Mr. Speaker, the Department of Corrections (DoC) has grown significantly to become a Department that has undergone significant cultural and organizational changes. Mr. Speaker, the DCR has also made great strides in its capital works over the past year. Projects such as the construction of the yellow wing, and the blue/green wing refurbishment and nearly completed. Mr. Speaker, the DCR also benefitted from other upgrades such as the refurbishment of the old kitchen into additional inmate quarters.
Mr. Speaker, the farm is reaping a lot of produce, and the revenue generated from this shows that with continuous improvement, the Prison farm can be self-sustainable and can be an even greater revenue-generating unit for the TCIG.
Mr. Speaker, I hasten to say that we are in talks with Carnival about using the Prison farm as a Tour stop, this in itself speaks to the great work the new Superintendent and Team are doing at the Prisons.
Mr. Speaker, great things are happening within the DCR, and I must applaud the Management Team at the DCR. Hats off to them and continue the great work.
Mr. Speaker, they say a person needs just three things to be happy in this world: Someone to love, something to do, and something to hope for. This is part of these three.
Mr. Speaker, Rehabilitation plays a major part in the transition of inmates out the Prison. Mr. Speaker, this year we have separated the rehabilitation aspect into its own cost Centers. The new unit the Department of Rehabilitation and Community Services will focus heavily on delivering rehabilitation initiatives and interventions both in the Prison and through probation. Mr. Speaker, this department will help navigate individuals through the pathways inside prison, to link with our community probation officers.
Mr. Speaker, the Rehabilitation Unit will also work towards creating offender management and at-risk juvenile strategies through the effective implementation of evidence-based rehabilitative programs that are aimed at reducing reoffending and preventing juveniles from entering the criminal justice system altogether.
Mr. Speaker, the Registrar General’s Office has begun to improve the delivery of service and formalization processes through the development of standard operating procedures to increase customer awareness and improve customer satisfaction.
Mr. Speaker, we realized that there were still some gaps with the recent bedside registration policy and have decided to go back to the drawing board to fix these issues which have caused a delay. Mr. Speaker, this still will not hinder us from rolling out our policy that governs Bedside registration by quarter 3 of this financial year.
Mr. Speaker the overall goal for this year is to lessen the wait time it takes to get persons their documents in a more efficient time and I pause to thank the team and the new Registrar General for the work that they are doing to improve service delivery.
Mr. Speaker, our Gender Affairs Department continues to work to ensure that the mandate of the department is visible and in alignment with the Government and that of the international convention of which TCIG is a part.
With that being said, Mr. Speaker the Department of Gender Affairs though small has continued to propel its department mandate despite the challenges, we have been successful in several areas in achieving our social and economic objectives including the continued development and implementation of the National Gender Equality Policy/Framework.
Mr. Speaker, we will also establish the Partnership for Peace program in collaboration with UN Women to engage men and boys. As well as establishing a comprehensive Gender campaign strategy to raise awareness of the Gender Equality policy, digital innovation, and technology toward gender equality and Sustainable Development Goals
Mr. Speaker, the Citizenship & Naturalization Department’s performance strategies concentrate on e-governance and addressing process flows deficiencies to better improve customer satisfaction. The main goal is to continue to reduce the turnaround time for Status Cards, Passports, Permanent Residence Certificates, Naturalization, and Registration.
Mr. Speaker, the department is also developing public awareness materials on the various products offered to aid in the main goal of customer service improvement.
Mr. Speaker, last but not least, we are in the process of revising the Turks and Caicos Islander Status Ordinance to improve the processes and procedures of becoming a Turks and Caicos Islander. Mr. Speaker, the only use of knowledge of the past is to equip us for the present!
Mr. Speaker, connectivity throughout the Islands has been, and still is an issue, but through the Telecommunications Commission we will continue efforts to enhance sector performance, to build a vibrant telecommunication industry. Mr. Speaker, we will continue to advance the consultancy for the implementation of the National Fiber Optic Ring. And to ensure most of all that our Nation’s Capital has the best Internet Connectivity possible.
Mr. Speaker, I will end with this quote “If serving is below you, Leadership is beyond you”, therefore, Mr. Speaker, I am here to serve the people of my constituency and the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands. I must also give credit to my team at the Ministry of Home Affairs. They have risen to the challenge and remain dedicated to the work that we face as a Ministry, and further, they are genuinely committed to making a difference in the lives of the people we serve. So to my team, I say, thank you and continue the great work!
To God be the glory, great things He hath done, and Will continue to do for His people of these beautiful Turks and Caicos Islands.
