First (1st) Sitting of the Third (3rd) Meeting of the Second Session of the 13th Legislature of Parliament · 24 Sep 2026
Rearrangement of Business
Mr. Speaker, I rise to second that motion.
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Health Services Authority Bill 2026
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Just for continued knowledge and clarification, this is the first time I'm seeing such a presentation on a first reading. So I'm wondering what will happen with the second reading. Will we get the same pres…
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Standing Orders of Parliament Amendment 2026
I just was thinking whether or not I should, but Mr. Speaker, I rise to second that motion.
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Standing Orders of Parliament Amendment 2026
Yes, thank you very much, Madam Deputy Speaker. I just want to also associate myself with the remarks of the Honourable Attorney General and for the continued work to modernize our Parliament here in the Turks and Caicos Islands. As many pa…
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Standing Orders of Parliament Amendment 2026
Yes, Madam Chair.
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Standing Orders of Parliament Amendment 2026
Yes, thank you very much, Madam Chair. Just following on from the member for South Caicos inquiries here, being as we will receive information by email, will information from outside Parliament come to that email? Will it be a different ema…
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Standing Orders of Parliament Amendment 2026
Yes, thank you very much.
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Standing Orders of Parliament Amendment 2026
Yes, thank you very much, Madam Chair. Thank you, Your Honour. Thank you, Your Honour. Just one recommendation. Is it possible that all the devices be loaded with the laws of the Turks and Caicos Islands, those general things, Handbook of t…
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Question on the Crown land inventory in Providenciales
Sorry, Mr. Speaker.
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Question on the Crown land inventory in Providenciales
Will that question be deferred to the next sitting.
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Question on the Crown land inventory in Providenciales
Yes, I think we have to defer it to the next sitting also so it could remain on the agenda for reply or for the information to be given. That one that he just finished.
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Question on the Crown land inventory in Providenciales
Yes.
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Question on the Crown land inventory in Providenciales
Yes, it has to be deferred to the next sitting.
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Question on the 2026 cost of living relief programme in Providenciales
Yes, thank you very much. Quick supplement, may I ask I would ask the Honourable Premier if the information is in a form where it can be laid on the table of the House, if he may be pleased to do so.
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Deferral of Parliamentary Questions
Mr. Speaker, as the Honourable Minister is not absent, but which the next questions— I think it's only one or two more questions that need to be asked and we'll be finished with question time because the Acting Minister I don't think have r…
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Question on estimated electricity billing and Pelican Energy TCI metering systems
Yes, thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, and thank you to the member from South Caicos for raising that, as a lot of people have that concern. However, What is the Role that the regulator plays? Why not take it to the regulators and voice tha…
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First (1st) Sitting of the Second (2nd) Meeting of the Second Session of the Thirteenth (13th) Legislature · 23 Sep 2026
Apology for Late Start
There were a number of events this morning.
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Mortgage Corporation Amendment Bill 2026 - Second Reading
Yes, thank you very much, Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, let me just start by saying a pleasant good day to all those throughout the length and breadth of the Turks and Caicos Islands, all those listening by radio, all those listening…
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Appointment to the Standing Orders Committee
Mr. Speaker, I rise to second that motion.
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Second (2nd) Sitting of the Twenty-Sixth (26th) Meeting of the First Session of the Thirteenth (13th) Legislature · 31 Jul 2026
Two-minute Speeches by Members
Thank you very much, Honourable Member, for your two-minute speech. The Chair recognizes the Honourable Deputy Speaker for her two-minute speech.
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Two minute speeches by members
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I rise to make my two-minute contribution. Before I do, last night I thought we would not have reached this point, that we would finish last night, so I went ahead and wished condolences to many of the bere…
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Two minute speeches by members
The former minister was happy, but now, Mr. Speaker, after two years, nothing. You did it for one pond. I was hoping that they would come up just opposite where Miss Dolly had her shed. That pond, that mud, needs to be sucked out too. The c…
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First (1st) Sitting of the Twenty - Sixth (26th) Meeting of the First Session of the Thirteenth (13th) Legislature · 30 Jul 2026
Rearrangement of Business and Supplementary Appropriation 2026/2027 Bill Procedure
Yes, Mr. Speaker, I second it. I saw on the revised estimate that I was not sure what that was about, but definitely, as is customary, money bills and supplementary bills go through all three readings. I second it.
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Integrity Commission Review Select Committee Report
I just want, very briefly, to address this. I think it is fitting that a member from the Opposition, and also the Leader of the Opposition, address this very briefly. Mr. Speaker, I suggest that, in dealing with this, we have a meeting with…
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Revised First Supplementary Appropriation Estimate 2026/2027
Mr. Speaker, I am concerned, as the Chair is not here and I do not know if the two co-opted members are inside the building. The only member of the Appropriations Committee here is myself. One may be in the building, so I am concerned if we…
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Revised First Supplementary Appropriation Estimate 2026/2027
Three members?
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Revised First Supplementary Appropriation Estimate 2026/2027
Okay.
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Revised First Supplementary Appropriation Estimate 2026/2027
Good morning, Turks and Caicos Islands. Thank you for tuning in to this new session of the Appropriations Committee. My name is Edwin Astwood, Leader of the Opposition and Member of Parliament for Grand Turk South and Salt Cay. To you, Acti…
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Supplementary Funding Request for Long-term Care
Thank you very much, Acting Chair, and good morning, PS, again. Madam PS, you said the current vote has $400,000. How many patients does that service?
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Supplementary Funding Request for Long-term Care
Mr Chair, if I may, are the additional funds for additional clients or to assist the other three clients?
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Supplementary Funding Request for Long-term Care
Thank you very much. Can you say what institutions and where they are for the 14 additional clients plus the four before? I am not asking for the names of the persons, but whether it is in Jamaica at University Hospital, at HOMS Hospital in…
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Supplementary Funding Request for Long-term Care
Yes, ma'am, but at this time do you have the numbers? How many are at Revamp? How many are at Hospital Internacional? How many are at HOMS?
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Supplementary Funding Request for Long-term Care
If you do not have it—
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Supplementary Funding Request for Long-term Care
Thank you very much. Given that the $400,000 is just about gone, are you satisfied that $1 million will carry these 18 persons, the 14 plus the four, for the remainder of the year?
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Supplementary Funding Request for Long-term Care
So we will not be back for the two patients?
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Supplementary Funding Request for Long-term Care
Thank you very much, Mr Chair. One final question from me. What is the average cost for each of these persons, and what are the highest and lowest amounts per month, if you have that information? If not, you can provide it later in the repo…
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Supplementary Funding Request for Long-term Care
Thank you very much, Madam PS. Thank you very much, Mr Chair, for allowing me those questions.
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Supplementary Funding Request for Long-term Care
Madam PS, I know you do not have your medical team here with you, but to the best of your ability, what is it about long-term care that we cannot provide here if we set it up? What does long-term care entail? Continuous oxygen, continuous m…
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Supplementary Funding Request for Long-term Care
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I have those questions coming up shortly, so I definitely will put that to them very shortly.
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Supplementary Funding Request for Long-term Care
Madam PS, this may be moving into a different ministry, but is there any funding available for family members to visit them? Our patients are lying in health facilities year after year. Is there any fund, as there is for the prison, when we…
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Supplementary Funding Request for Long-term Care
Sorry, through the Chair. I was shouting out and should not have been doing that. I was saying that, since there is a programme for prisoners, perhaps we can look at a programme for the sick and shut-in. I know you are going to say that is …
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Appropriations Committee Scrutiny of the Revised Supplementary Appropriations 2026-2027 Bill 2026
Good afternoon. My name is Edwin Astwood, Leader of the Opposition, Member of Parliament for Grand Turk South and Salt Cay.
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Appropriations Committee Scrutiny of the Revised Supplementary Appropriations 2026-2027 Bill 2026
Thank you very much, and thank you for appearing before us on such short notice. To the best of your ability, this deduction in moneys was supposed to go towards the fleet. What does that represent? How many vehicles does it represent, and …
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Appropriations Committee Scrutiny of the Revised Supplementary Appropriations 2026-2027 Bill 2026
Is all the current fleet from last year in operation? Have any of the vehicles been deemed out of commission this past year?
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Supplementary Appropriation No. 1 Bill 2026
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. That presentation by the Honourable Premier was longer than his budget speech, so I did not know we were doing that, or else I would have prepared a 10 or 12-hour speech also. That one was twice as long as …
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Revised Supplementary Appropriation Bill
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, and I thank the Honourable Premier for that. I was a little concerned and confused about it. We have heard about tourism performing above expectations, but what else performed above expectations? Work permi…
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Revised Supplementary Appropriation Bill
You do not know anything about Irma and Maria destroying all the Salt Islands? You do not know what it is for one hurricane to come at the weekend and, before people could even put up tarpaulin, the next hurricane was upon them? He was not …
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Supplementary Appropriations 2026/2027, Bill 2026
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, this was one of my concerns, because line item 03-176-34404, software, shows an increase of $132, and the explanatory note says the software was previously covered by the FCDO and was omitted d…
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Supplementary Appropriations 2026/2027, Bill 2026
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Last year, when we entered into the contract, did we do so knowing that it would be for only one year, two years, or a specified period of time? I was wondering why we did not deal with this during the budg…
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Supplementary Appropriations 2026/2027, Bill 2026
Yes, thank you very much. Perhaps you can say what happened to the revenue that was generated. I do not see the line item for the police records. Did that revenue come to TCIG? If it is the UK system, did the revenue go to the Treasury, or …
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Head of Expenditure 03, Police
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I want to move now to the police cars. This $226,373, what reduction in vehicles does it represent? How many vehicles, and were they specific to any particular island, whether a vehicle slated for Salt Cay,…
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Head of Expenditure 03, Police
That is it for me on that. Sorry.
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Head of Expenditure 03, Police
Yes, ma'am. I just want to see the exact amount for the police vehicles, but I know it was $200,000-something. $270,000. Yes, okay.
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Head of Expenditure 05, Judiciary
Madam Chair, just more of a statement. As much has been said about personnel, savings and staff, I want to say that, for the next quarter later on this year, I will see what happened with the staff, especially in the Judiciary, the Attorney…
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Head of Expenditure 14, Statutory Charges
Yes, thank you very much. When we look at the National ID Project, it says $510,000 is being taken from the project and put into the recurrent vote, I guess, under professional and consultancy for the National ID Project. Are we saying that…
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Head of Expenditure 14, Statutory Charges
Yes, thank you very much. Can the Minister say whether this will make the procurement process easier, simpler and more straightforward, or whether this is a way to circumvent the procurement process?
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Head of Expenditure 16, Office of the Deputy Premier and Ministry of Immigration and Border Services
Yes, thank you very much, Madam Chair. Looking at the first $500,000 reduction, can the Minister say why the decision was made to move it to Immigration and then to move it from Immigration, the funding for the celebrations?
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Head of Expenditure - $25,718,112.38
Through the Chair, yes, that sufficed for immigration, but why did you move it to immigration in the first place?
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Head of Expenditure - $25,718,112.38
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I do not know if I should place the question here now, but when did the committee members realise that we would need an increase of 100 per cent, an additional $500,000 for this? When did they …
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Head of Expenditure - $25,718,112.38
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, moving to the other deductions from detention and repatriation, I heard that the Minister said he feels comfortable that we can reduce the lines under these headings, 16.178.32.305 straight dow…
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Head of Expenditure 54 - Ministry of Finance, Economic Development, Investment and Trade
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. On this cost of living relief, a lot of persons were questioning the amount and the type of information that they were required to put on the online application. Persons were wondering, if the same system w…
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Head of Expenditure 54 - Ministry of Finance, Economic Development, Investment and Trade
Yes, thank you very much.
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Head of Expenditure 54 - Ministry of Finance, Economic Development, Investment and Trade
Madam Chair, thank you very much, Honourable Premier. I figured you would have got those questions also, but what persons were telling me is that NHIP and annual salary were not required before. Persons say they had to give their annual sal…
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Head of Expenditure 57 - Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture
Thank you very much. To the best of the Acting Minister's ability, can you say how many teaching positions have been recruited or are in the process of being recruited in the batch that was just mentioned? We do not want a situation, come S…
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Head of Expenditure 57 - Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I just have one further question on whether any resignations were submitted over the summer and, if so, what are we doing to minimize any resignations happening the week before school opens? Madam Chair, wh…
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Head of Expenditure 59 - Ministry of Home Affairs
Thank you very much. Very quickly, this is just for clarification. This $200,000 did not go across during the budget debate. We are saying that we left it in this ministry when the ministry split up, and now we are correcting that by puttin…
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Head of Expenditure 60 - Ministry of Physical Planning and Infrastructure Development
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. The PS gave us some information during the appropriations, but I just want to clarify this part, when they said urgent reinstatement coursework. What exactly is urgent reinstatement coursework?
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Head of Expenditure 62 - Ministry of Health and Human Services
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. To the Minister, we see the reallocation of the Senior Crown Counsel from the Contracts Management Unit to the Ministry of Health. Is this a sign that the Contracts Management Unit is being dissolved as the…
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Head of Expenditure 62 - Ministry of Health and Human Services
Thank you very much. Just one follow-up, Madam Chair. With all the talks of contracts, are there any plans to strengthen the Contract Management Unit?
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Customs Amendment Bill 2026
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I rise to make my contribution to the Customs Amendment Bill 2026. Before I do, just in case we do not get to two-minute speeches, I want to send words of condolence to the Misick family, especially Trevor,…
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Customs Amendment Bill 2026
Yes, Madam Chair. Let me state, in supporting this Bill and these amendments, that I believe I was misled. There were many aspects of what was said by the Honourable Minister that were already in place. I was thinking that these initiatives…
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Customs Amendment Bill 2026
Madam Chair, just a comment to say that the Honourable Minister could have said that and we could have been out of here a long time ago. If he had just said that, we would have been out of here a long time ago.
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First (1st) Sitting of the Twenty-Fifth (25th) Meeting of the First Session of the Thirteenth (13th) Legislature · 23 Jul 2026
Parliament of the Turks and Caicos Islands Select Committee Report on the Integrity Commission CRESS Report
Speaker, just for a point of clarification, what happens now that this report is laid? What comes into effect?
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Motion for bills to go through all three readings at this meeting
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. As the Premier stated, there was a compromise concerning Question Time and the reading of all three bills, so I agree and second this motion for the bills to go through all three readings, provided that Que…
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National Honours and Awards Amendment Bill 2026
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I rise to make my contribution to the National Honours and Awards Amendment Bill 2026. Before I do, please allow me to say good morning to our people throughout the length and breadth of the Turks and Caico…
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Destination Management Fee Amendment No. 2 Bill 2026
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I rise to make my contribution to the Destination Management Fee Amendment No. 2 Bill 2026. Before I do, when I rose earlier some additional persons came in, and I want to recognize the wife of our former m…
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Turks and Caicos Islands Destination Management Fee Amendment No. 2 Bill 2026
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, and thank you very much, Honourable Minister, for that. In your presentation, you mentioned first that IATA collects at 1%, but then you said the Airports Authority has been collecting since 2023. I am wond…
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Minerals Exploration and Exploitation Amendment Bill 2026 - Second Reading
Yes.
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Minerals Exploration and Exploitation Amendment Bill 2026 - Second Reading
Thank you very much again, Mr. Speaker. I rise to make my contribution on the Minerals Exploration and Exploitation Amendment Bill 2026. There is a well-known story in the Bible. I did not research it; it just came to my mind as I was getti…
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National Honours and Awards Amendment Bill 2026
Yes, Madam Chair, through you, I was wondering whether the expansion of the two weeks has to be in the bill or in regulations. How do we handle that? Madam Attorney General, the additional two weeks for which this will be opened up, which i…
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First (1st) Sitting of the Twenty-Fourth (24th) Meeting of the First Session of the Thirteenth (13th) Legislature · 25 Jun 2026
Suspension of Standing Order 44 and precedence of Government business; permission for Invest Turks and Caicos Islands Agency Validation Bill 2026 to go through all readings
Second.
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Permission for Real Estate Brokers and Salesmen Licensing Amendment Bill 2026 to go through all readings
Second, Mr. Speaker.
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Invest Turks and Caicos Islands Agency Validation Bill 2026 - Second Reading
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I rise to make my recommendations on the Invest Turks and Caicos Islands Agency Validation Bill 2026. Before I do, let me say a pleasant good morning to all those listening by radio and all those tuning in …
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Real Estate Brokers and Salesmen Licensing Amendment Bill 2026 - Debate
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I rise to make my contributions to this Real Estate Brokers and Salesmen Licensing Amendment Bill 2026. It was much said about this bill, and there are concerns raised. Going through it, hearing it in detai…
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Debate on sectoral parity and real estate legislation
Other sectors that we passed legislation for did not benefit from this kind of cushion or allowance, Mr. Speaker. For example, with the illegal taxis, we said this sector is for Turks and Caicos Islanders only, and as of this date, anyone w…
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Invest Turks and Caicos Islands Agency Validation Bill 2026 - Second Reading
What is the legality of us going retroactive, taking actions, and now making those actions legal here today, Mr. Speaker? But other than that, I do understand. We want our country to run properly, and enacting this bill will ensure things a…
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Real Estate Brokers and Salesmen Licensing Amendment Bill 2026 - Second Reading Debate
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I rise to make my contributions to this Real Estate Brokers and Salesmen Licensing Amendment Bill 2026. There are concerns raised going through it and reading the explanatory memorandum. We do understand wh…
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Debate on sector parity and transitional provisions in legislation
Other sectors that we passed legislation for did not benefit from this kind of cushion or allowance, Mr. Speaker. For example, the taxi sector—illegal taxis—we said this sector is for Turks and Caicos Islanders only, and as of this date, an…
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Second Sitting of the 23rd Meeting of the First Session of the 13th Legislature · 2 Jun 2026
Clarification on order paper item
On this order paper, it's 15.
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Turks and Caicos Islands Tourism Authority Bill 2026 - Second Reading
Yes.
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Turks and Caicos Islands Tourism Authority Bill 2026 - Second Reading
I didn't catch that.
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Turks and Caicos Islands Tourism Authority Bill 2026 - Second Reading
Pleasant good morning to you, Mr. Speaker. Pleasant good morning to all our people throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands, especially the people of my constituency of Grand Turk South and Salt Cay, right here in the nation's capital, Mr. S…
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Debate on Turks and Caicos Islands Tourism Authority Bill 2026
Maybe it's because we are in the opposition that he doesn't have to listen to us, or maybe it's because we are not inside the industry. You all don't know what you're talking about, this is my field or my advisor's field, so we don't have t…
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Debate on Turks and Caicos Islands Tourism Authority Bill 2026
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. For those just tuning in, we are debating the Turks and Caicos Islands Tourism Authority Bill 2026, and I am responding to the Premier's address to the bill as he was the mover and self-proclaimed principal…
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Debate on Turks and Caicos Islands Tourism Authority Bill 2026
Mr. Speaker, they are government books, and rightly so, on Yellow Pages, black and yellow. This is '24-'25. I tried to use a mid-year because '24-'25 will have some from back and some going forward. I have '25, '26, and so on. In '22-'23, t…
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Debate on Turks and Caicos Islands Tourism Authority Bill 2026
The Cabinet have approved—
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Debate on Turks and Caicos Islands Tourism Authority Bill 2026
Oh, sorry, I didn't see the light.
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Debate on Turks and Caicos Islands Tourism Authority Bill 2026
Thank you very much for that, Mr. Speaker. I feel like I'm in a courtroom. As he introduced new information, new things come out. We had to wind up the old tourist board. How much did that cost? How much did we have to pay in staff terminal…
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Turks and Caicos Islands Tourism Authority Bill 2026 - Second Reading
Even from listening to persons from Experience TCI, they said even our model is now on shaky legs. That high-end exclusive destination model is now on shaky legs. This isn't me saying that—go back to the tapes, go back to the records. That …
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Turks and Caicos Islands Tourism Authority Bill 2026 - Second Reading
You are here now putting your baby to sleep. In fact, you're not putting your baby to sleep. I won't say what you're doing to your baby, because we're on the radio, but what you're doing now, having to come here and do to your baby, after b…
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Turks and Caicos Islands Tourism Authority Bill 2026 - Second Reading
Mr. Speaker, I would ask you to not agree with that because I say this is what I feel. I'm not saying that is what the Premier feels. This is what I feel that he thinks. That's what I said. This is what I feel that he thinks.
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Turks and Caicos Islands Tourism Authority Bill 2026 - Second Reading
He's never said that. But I didn't say he said that.
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Debate on Turks and Caicos Islands Tourism Authority Bill 2026
This is just how I feel. Yes, but I didn't say he said that.
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Debate on Turks and Caicos Islands Tourism Authority Bill 2026
No, I can say what I feel. I cannot say what he stated. It'll be improved, or what I think he is, but what I feel, Mr. Speaker. I cannot have a feeling in Parliament, Mr. Speaker.
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Debate on Turks and Caicos Islands Tourism Authority Bill 2026
Mr. Speaker, it is your House, but I will remove that statement from the records. And I will try to refrain from feeling and stick to the words inside the book, Mr. Speaker. But for some reason, many Turks and Caicos Islanders do not like t…
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Debate on Turks and Caicos Islands Tourism Authority Bill 2026
Mr. Speaker, this has been a failed experiment. A failed experiment by the principal architect. Principal architect, are you now ready to admit that you have failed? That your way was incorrect? And that the not-so-little black boy from Bex…
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Debate on Turks and Caicos Islands Tourism Authority Bill 2026
Okay, nobody is looking at you.
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Debate on Turks and Caicos Islands Tourism Authority Bill 2026
I believe, Mr. Speaker, you're talking about yourself and you're having your feelings. So I refrain from having feelings, and I cannot refer to myself. I'm not calling my name. The ordinance and the standing orders say I shouldn't refer to …
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Committee of the Whole - Turks and Caicos Islands Tourism Authority Bill 2026 - Part 2 - Clause 6 amendment
Aye.
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Committee of the Whole - Turks and Caicos Islands Tourism Authority Bill 2026 - Part 2
Yes, Madam Chair.
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Committee of the Whole - Turks and Caicos Islands Tourism Authority Bill 2026 - Part 2
Yes, Madam Chair.
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Committee of the Whole - Turks and Caicos Islands Tourism Authority Bill 2026 - Part 2 - Board composition
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Just looking at board of directors 11, on page 9 of the bill, Clause 11, the directors of the authority shall be appointed by the minister with approval of cabinet from amongst persons from the private sect…
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Committee of the Whole - Turks and Caicos Islands Tourism Authority Bill 2026 - Part 2 - Board composition
Yes, thank you very much, Honourable Premier. That was my concern because I was going to ask if they have a Villa and Short-Term Rentals Association or if they are encapsulated in the Hotel and Tourism Association. You answered that, becaus…
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Tourism Authority Board composition and representation
Thank you very much, Honourable Premier. That was my concern because I was going to ask if they have a Villa and Short-Term Rentals Association or if they are encapsulated in the Hotel and Tourism Association. You answered that, and that is…
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Amendment to Clause 17 - Committee composition
Yes, Madam Chair.
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Grand Turk Enhancement Fund representation
For Clause 11 or Clause 17, I was wondering if consideration would be given to the chairman of the Grand Turk Improvement Enhancement Fund, for either the committee or the board here. I was looking for that person, and I have a note. Even o…
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Tourism Authority Bill - Committee Stage - Clause 3
Madam Chair.
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Tourism Authority Bill - Committee Stage - Clause 23 Disclosure of Interests
Yes, Madam Chair. I'm looking at Clause 23, disclosure of interests. I do believe that from time to time, a number of board members will be conflicted while dealing with hotels and tourism. I'm wondering how they're going to maintain quorum…
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Tourism Authority Bill - Committee Stage - Clause 24 Pecuniary Interests
No, I just want to say thank you again, and thank you, PS, and your team for making sure that is inside there, because that was one of the concerns of maintaining that quorum and members from chambers. I overlooked this. I read it but didn'…
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Tourism Authority Bill - Committee Stage - Part 4 Employees of the Authority
Yes, Madam Chair, just concerned about the number of top positions we have up to H, the chief executive officer. In the budget for last year, the chief executive officer's basic salary was $150,000. The upper financial officer was around $1…
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Tourism Authority Bill - Committee Stage - Part 5 Financial Provisions
Just one, Madam Chair. The funding of the authority—will we expect this to eventually be a self-financing statutory body, or will we continue for it to be a subvented statutory body, being as they are collecting revenue and, by your admissi…
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Committee stage - amendments to Turks and Caicos Islands Tourism Authority Bill 2026
Madam Chair, just one for me at 55. As I alluded to in the debates, what is the expectation that we have to have this inside of the about distribution of assets of organizations by reason of dissolution. What is the reason? Why do we have t…
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Passage of Turks and Caicos Islands Tourism Authority Bill 2026
Aye.
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First Sitting of the 23rd Meeting of the First Session of the 13th Legislature · 1 Jun 2026
Mortgage Corporation Bill 2026
Good morning, Mr. Speaker. A pleasant good morning to all those listening by radio or on social media platforms. I rise to make my contribution to the Mortgage Corporation Bill 2026. Before I do, I want to associate myself with all the word…
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Mortgage Corporation Bill 2026
Yes, you can go to the videos; it is still there. I wanted to pull it up before this to cite the website, but I could not do it quickly enough. Three thousand homes was said on the campaign trail, Mr. Speaker. If you have to build 3,000 hom…
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Mortgage Corporation Bill - Second Reading
Twenty years, and we cannot get that wrapped up as yet, Mr. Speaker. That was supposed to be around for my generation, now that we are ready to do business and own homes, and it is nowhere. We have seen this movie before. The Honourable Mem…
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Mortgage Corporation Bill - Second Reading
If you pay $1,500 to $1,800 per month, almost half your salary is gone, and you have two children to take care of, a wife, groceries, electricity and everything else. Our people are not living their best lives. We agree that this has to com…
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Mortgage Corporation Bill - Second Reading
Yes, bull jive, I think, is parliamentary. The other word is not parliamentary. But jive is parliamentary, Mr. Speaker.
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Mortgage Corporation Bill - Second Reading
Mr. Speaker, what we are doing on this side, in the Opposition, is making sure that this bill truly touches the people who need it. We want to make sure that this bill truly reaches the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands who need the mo…
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Mortgage Corporation Bill 2026
I am finishing right now, Mr. Speaker.
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Mortgage Corporation Bill 2026
In closing, Mr. Speaker, we need to make sure that these things do not happen in our Turks and Caicos Islands. We have come a long way. Contrary to what they think, our people are not living their best lives. Exactly what they describe in h…
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National Health Insurance Program financial and administrative position
Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. To the Honourable Minister of Health and Human Services, will the Honourable Minister please inform Parliament of the financial and administrative position of the National Health Insurance Program? Will the …
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National Health Insurance Program financial and administrative position
Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. To the Honourable Minister, you mentioned a review of contribution rates. When will that commence, if it has not, and when will it end? When will we see the results of that review?
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National Health Insurance Program financial and administrative position
Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. To the Honourable Minister, you mentioned that the CEO has already been recruited. Can you please inform Parliament where the CEO was recruited from and when he or she is expected to start?
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Ministry of Health Treatment Abroad Program changes
Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. To the Honourable Minister of Health and Human Services, will the Honourable Minister be pleased to inform this Honourable Parliament of what changes or adjustments, if any, are being made to the Ministry of…
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National Health Insurance Program benefits for work permit holders and contract workers
To the Honourable Minister of Health and Human Services, recently there has been information given in the media and also during budget debates about the benefits of work permit holders and contract workers under the National Health Insuranc…
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Treatment Abroad Program Eligibility and NHIP Implications
Yes, thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. On question B, regarding the financial implications on NHIP, you mentioned that 15% to 20% of the expenditure is due to work permit holders or persons on government contract. How much in dollar value d…
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Treatment Abroad Program Eligibility and NHIP Implications
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. To the Honourable Minister, will work permit holders still be required to show proof of NHIP payment for the renewal of a work permit once these changes come into effect?
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Howard Hamilton Airport Redevelopment Project
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. To the Honourable Minister of Physical Planning and Infrastructure Development, I will ask only A and C, as B was already answered by the Minister in his last speech to the House. Will the Honourable Minist…
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Howard Hamilton Airport Redevelopment Project
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. To the Honourable Minister, the Honourable Minister mentioned that the answer for A, the reason behind the Government not advancing, was due to a policy decision. Can the Honourable Minister state whether t…
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Howard Hamilton Airport Redevelopment Project
Yes, thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. As we just finished the budget, where will the cost be realized for the proposed redevelopment now? Will it be in the Government budget, or will it be the Airport Authority seeking financing? Where wil…
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Questions Nos. 5 and 6 to the Minister of PPID
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Question number 5 and question number 6 were answered in previous forums, so I will not withdraw them from the Order Paper. As it is with questions, once they have been answered and all the information is o…
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Road Traffic Amendment Bill 2026
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise to give my contribution to the Road Traffic Amendment Bill 2026, and just want to say that I am someone who enjoys going both before and after the Honourable Minister. Yes, Mr. Speaker. …
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Road Traffic Amendment Bill 2026
So I do not know why we need this definition that only if you have five to 15 can you be charged under this ordinance. I do believe we have to clarify that, because persons will say, look here, I can only take four of you, but not five. I c…
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Road Traffic Amendment Bill 2026
Hopefully they know. But, Mr. Speaker, we know internationally and here in the Turks and Caicos Islands that most children are abused by persons the family knows. It is rarely strangers who abuse children. Most children are almost always ab…
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Road Traffic Amendment Bill 2026
Not just from licensing, but from the impounding of these vehicles. This is not going to a private person. I am not trying to take any money from private people, but I do believe it is regulated better under Government, that Government can …
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Road Traffic Amendment Bill 2026
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, the definition says, community transportation means a motor vehicle constructed and used for the carriage of not less than five passengers. Is that saying that a community cab cannot take four …
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Road Traffic Amendment Bill 2026
Yes, thank you very much. Through the Chair, just for clarification, if I have a standard sedan and I am the driver, and I can hold one person in the front and two persons in the back comfortably, I cannot register that as a community cab? …
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Road Traffic Amendment Bill 2026
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, does this section that deals with being an Islander for a licence mean that if person A has a licence and he or she wants to hire a driver who is not a Turks and Caicos Islander, that person ca…
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Road Traffic Amendment Bill 2026
Yes. Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I just want to make sure that the bill and what we are passing is very practical and really serves the communities. That is why I was asking if they are able to hire other persons, the act…
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Clause 4
Yes, Madam Chair. We are just trying to clear all the mischief and the things that may arise, because we all want to see this rolled out successfully and we do not want any loopholes coming into play. I am happy that you said that, if the i…
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Clause 5
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Clause 5 deals with casual hires. Before I get into that, the Member from the Bight said that he is going to pick up the Independent Member, so please excuse him. He wanted me to tell the Chair in case the …
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Clause 5
Follow-up question, and just for clarification. In the definition that you gave for the regular taxis, it is up to 10. Casual hire cannot go past 10. If my friends and I want to go out, and nobody wants to drive because everybody wants to p…
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Clause 5
Yes. I am thinking of many of the taxi operators who transport cruise ship passengers in Grand Turk. If they want to operate as a casual hire in the evening, and the majority of them have buses that can take up to 15 people, can they operat…
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Clause 6
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. This is the last clause for this bill that we are discussing. One of the things that came up in the debate is the age, and I do not know where else to bring it up, but since this is the last clause, I have …
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Clause 6
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I was going through it in my mind: what is the maximum age in primary school before a child reaches high school? Should it be from once you reach high school, rather than primary school children, instead of…
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Mortgage Corporation Bill 2026
Thank you very much. In the establishment of this Corporation, can the Honourable Premier say whether this will be operated as a statutory body or similar to the operation when it was in TCI Invest?
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Mortgage Corporation Bill 2026
Thank you very much. Will this statutory body be under the Ministry of Finance or the Premier's Office? Which ministry will have carriage of this statutory body?
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Mortgage Corporation Bill 2026
Thank you very much. Being that this is a statutory body under the Ministry of Finance, will it be fully subject to the Government auditing system, whereby it has to appear before the Public Accounts Committee and the Appropriations Committ…
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Mortgage Corporation Bill 2026
Through the Chair, thank you very much. With that in place, Honourable Premier, I believe there will be far more accountability than we had before with it being in this structure. I agree with that kind of structure being in place, so that …
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Mortgage Corporation Bill 2026
As this deals with financial services, what role will the Office of the Governor play in this, if any?
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Mortgage Corporation Bill 2026
Madam Chair, as we are still dealing with the formation of the board, Honourable Premier, when do you foresee the positions required within this statutory body being made available to the general public, so that persons can know whether the…
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Mortgage Corporation Bill 2026
Thank you very much. Through the Chair, Honourable Premier, can you state the estimated operational cost of the Mortgage Corporation?
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Mortgage Corporation Bill 2026
Madam Chair, that is where I wanted to get to: to see whether the $20 million given to the Mortgage Corporation will be used entirely for loans or for operational costs, as the Premier alluded to. If so, will we be approving appropriated fu…
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Mortgage Corporation Bill
Yes, Madam Chair. With respect to the qualifications of board members, I just want to ensure that, for instance, a health professional who wants to run a financial institution might be told that finance is not really his lane, and to make s…
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Mortgage Corporation Bill
Thank you very much. Through the Chair, Honourable Premier, can you point me to that page again?
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Mortgage Corporation Bill
Through the Chair, it says that a person appointed as a member of the board shall have seven or more years of experience, expertise and knowledge in at least one of the following areas, and the areas are listed. However, I wanted to clarify…
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Mortgage Corporation Bill
Yes. I was looking at clause 18, the functions of the board. Will the board be responsible for approving the hiring of any staff? I see plans and the budget of the Corporation submitted to the ministry, but will the board approve any hiring…
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Mortgage Corporation Bill
Like the Airports Authority board and other boards that look at the hiring of staff.
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Mortgage Corporation Bill
Thank you very much, through the Chair. The functioning of the board, that part of its functions, you said, will be in regulations. I was looking at the functions of the board and, as you said, the CEO is appointed by Cabinet and everyone e…
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Mortgage Corporation Bill
Thank you very much. Madam Chair, can the Premier direct me to the term limits for the board? I see vacancy of the board and resignation and removal, but I am looking for the term limits for the board. Is that clause 16?
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Mortgage Corporation Bill
Yes. Through the Chair, when it says eligible for reappointment, is that for the next three years? If you have exceeded your three years and it says you shall be eligible for reappointment, is that an additional year or an additional three …
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Mortgage Corporation Bill
Thank you very much. Through the Chair, that is the clarification I wanted, because it just says that the person may be reappointed. I was wondering what that reappointment is. On many other boards it may be reappointment for an additional …
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Mortgage Corporation Bill
I am just about done with this section. For clarity, after the original three years, a member could be reappointed for multiple three-year periods if a Government so desires? Multiple three-year periods? Okay. I am sorry. Does that also app…
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Committee Stage of the Bill
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. The board has seven members. However, there are five committees, and each of these committees needs to have not less than three members from the board. What is the maximum number of members these committees…
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Committee Stage of the Bill
Thank you very much. Through the Chair, Honourable Premier, that is the point exactly, because in our Standing Orders of the House it is specified that committees can bring in persons from outside. Here, there is no specification that the c…
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Committee Stage of the Bill
Thank you very much. Is that also for, I think, when we reach remuneration of the committees, those members who may come in? I will wait until we reach remuneration to bring that up, Madam Chair.
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Committee Stage of the Bill
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I was looking at clause 40, remuneration and allowance. It says a member of the board or a person invited to attend meetings who is not a public officer shall be paid the remuneration allowance and travel e…
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Committee Stage of the Bill
Thank you very much. Just some clarification on clause 43, immunity from liability for board members. A member of the board is not personally liable in any action or proceedings for or in respect of any act or matter done or omitted to be d…
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Committee Stage of the Bill
Madam Chair, let us say, for example, if the board approves a loan that is outside the ordinary, and it is later found that they should not have approved any loan at that level for housing. If the regular loan is $300,000 and they approve a…
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Mortgage Corporation Bill - Committee Stage
Just one final question on this part. Does the immunity from liability exist for the regular day-to-day staff, the CEO and the accountants? If they have done things in good faith, do they have the same protections under the law? The immunit…
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Mortgage Corporation Bill - Committee Stage
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. At first, when we were discussing this in the debate, I was under the impression that a CEO would be appointed. However, this section talks about a managing director appointed by the board. I am confused. W…
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Mortgage Corporation Bill - Committee Stage
Can the Premier clarify: is the managing director appointed by the board or is the CEO appointed by Cabinet?
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Mortgage Corporation Bill - Committee Stage
Thank you very much. Through the Chair, was the amendment made that the managing director will be appointed by the board or by Cabinet? Clause 46 says that the board may appoint a managing director of the corporation, so it says the board a…
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Mortgage Corporation Bill - Committee Stage
Clause 51, appointment of the staff of the corporation, states that the managing director shall, subject to the provisions of this Act, regulations or policy guidelines which may be made from time to time by the board, appoint the officers …
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Mortgage Corporation Bill - Committee Stage
Yes, through the Chair.
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Mortgage Corporation Bill - Committee Stage
The reason I raised that is that any managing director, he or she, may feel that they have the God-given power to hire and fire and say, look, the legislation says the managing director can hire and fire as he or she sees fit. I am wonderin…
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Mortgage Corporation Bill - Committee Stage
Part 7 talks about transfer of property. Has a location, potential office block, offices or office units been identified for the Mortgage Corporation as yet?
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Mortgage Corporation Bill - Committee Stage
Madam Chair, can I get some clarification on Clause 63, loans to the corporation from the consolidated fund? At the request of the corporation, the minister may submit to Parliament for approval to lend moneys to the corporation from the co…
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Mortgage Corporation Bill - Committee Stage
Yes, Madam Chair. The reason I say it is because I have never seen Parliament, in my time, lend money to a statutory body. I know we appropriate money for them, but to lend to them and give them suitable terms, I have not seen that. The nex…
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Mortgage Corporation Bill - Committee Stage
One last one on this section, Madam Chair. Reserve fund, 71: the corporation shall establish a reserve fund into which it shall pay monies from the corporation's surplus at the prescribed rate. It says how the corporation shall use this mon…
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Mortgage Corporation Bill - Committee Stage
Through the Chair to the Premier, since Government cannot request that they remit any money, can a Government access any borrowing from them? For example, if the Government says that we want to build 15 very low-cost homes for vulnerable po…
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Mortgage Corporation Bill - Committee Stage
any one of the ministries, such as one that deals with the most vulnerable among us?
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Mortgage Corporation Bill - Committee Stage
Through the Chair, there will be no allowance for any special programme to say that we want you to assist at least 15 persons in this category with loans? There will be no input from the Government like that?
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Mortgage Corporation Bill - Committee Stage
Yes, Madam Chair. I am not sure if I should ask this under this section or the following one, but I wanted to ask, and we can defer it if it is under the next section. Honourable Premier, will the Mortgage Corporation fund the construction …
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Mortgage Corporation Bill - Committee Stage
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Part 8, section 78(1) states that the Corporation shall make loans to persons on terms and rates to be determined by the Corporation. It goes back to what the Honourable Member for The Bight was asking in h…
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Mortgage Corporation Bill - Committee Stage
One question on this.
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Mortgage Corporation Bill - Committee Stage
Through the Chair to the Honourable Premier, are there any provisions for someone who gets a loan from outside this system and wants to purchase a unit that the Government has put up through its system, with the reduction and the materials …
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Committee Stage of the Bill
Madam Chair, to the Premier, just for clarity, the regular functioning of the FSC as a regulatory body, these actions and functions are not able to be carried out unless they are appointed as the prudential supervisor? They are regular acti…
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Committee Stage of the Bill
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. To the Premier, I just have one on this section. It is at 104, insolvency and winding up. Clause 104 says an Act relating to insolvency or winding up of a company shall not apply to the corporation. So they…
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Mortgage Corporation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage
Yes, Madam Chair.
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Mortgage Corporation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. In this section, it calls for the establishment of a complaints board and sets out the different areas. I am concerned about the number of committees and boards under this institution. In terms of complaint…
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Mortgage Corporation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage
Yes, through the Chair.
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Mortgage Corporation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I believe, as the Premier stated, it is more about market conduct complaints, not the others. I am just wondering if those avenues are also available for complaints. I see the composition of the complaints …
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Mortgage Corporation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage
I fully understand.
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Mortgage Corporation Bill 2026 - Committee Stage
Just one last one from me. I am looking at Clause 112, immunity for staff of the corporation. I asked about this earlier. I see that employees are immune from anything done, considered to be done, in good faith. I am not being mischievous, …
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First (1st) Sitting of the Twentieth (20th ) Meeting of the First (1st ) Session of the Thirteenth (13th) Legislature · 2 Apr 2026
Two minute speeches by members
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, let me first say a pleasant good morning to all those listening in radio land and on social media. A pleasant good morning to all friends, family, supporters, well-wishers and all the residents…
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FIRST (1ST) SITTING OF THE NINETEENTH (19TH) MEETING OF THE FIRST SESSION OF THE THIRTEENTH (13TH) LEGISLATURE · 23 Mar 2026
Appropriations Committee Report on the Third Supplementary Appropriation Estimates 2025/2026
Honourable Members, the motion has been moved by the Honourable Chair of the Appropriations Committee and seconded by the Honourable Member for Blue Hills, that the report of the Appropriations Committee on the Third Supplementary Appropria…
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Supplementary Appropriation Estimate of Revenue and Expenditure for the Fiscal Year 2025/2026, Bill No. 2 of 2026
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Before I rise to make my contribution to the Supplementary Appropriation 2025/2026, No. 2 Bill 2026, let me first say a pleasant good afternoon to all those throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands, particul…
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Supplementary Appropriations 2025-2026 (No. 2) Bill 2026 - Committee of Supply
Yes, Madam Chair.
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Supplementary Appropriations 2025-2026 (No. 2) Bill 2026 - Committee of Supply
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I would submit to you that during the appropriations, because of perceivable conflicts, I could not ask the accounting officer for the Attorney General so many questions, so I refrained from asking direct q…
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Supplementary Appropriations 2025-2026 (No. 2) Bill 2026 - Committee of Supply
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I wanted clarification on something that maybe can help the Honourable Minister of Health and also other ministries and departments. Some of the people, one of the persons who had declined, you said after s…
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Supplementary Appropriations 2025-2026 (No. 2) Bill 2026 - Committee of Supply
Yes, Madam Chair.
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Supplementary Appropriations 2025-2026 (No. 2) Bill 2026 - Committee of Supply
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Through you, Madam Chair, I want to look at—
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Appropriation Bill 2025-2026 - Committee Stage
Yes, thank you very much. Through the Chair, with the statutory charges, the line item for land acquisition, can the Honourable Premier tell us as much as possible about the land or properties that are being acquired on behalf of the people…
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Head of Expenditure 16, Office of the Deputy Premier and Ministry of Immigration and Border Services
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. One of my concerns, and I want to place it to the Minister, is that there are 27 vacancies and a large number of persons on administrative leave, excluding the 27 vacancies. Honourable Minister, what is goi…
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Head of Expenditure 16, Office of the Deputy Premier and Ministry of Immigration and Border Services
Yes. Through the Chair, can the Honourable Minister say how many persons are on administrative leave and from which departments?
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Head of Expenditure 16, Office of the Deputy Premier and Ministry of Immigration and Border Services
Through the Chair, can the Honourable Minister say how many persons are on administrative leave and from which departments or units?
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Head of Expenditure 16, Office of the Deputy Premier and Ministry of Immigration and Border Services
Yes, Madam Chair. During the appropriations, we saw a figure of $120,000 in relation to the CARICOM full membership initiative, which was really surprising to me. I was wondering whether wide consultation on the CARICOM full membership init…
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Head of Expenditure 16, Office of the Deputy Premier and Ministry of Immigration and Border Services
Yes, Madam Chair. My concern is whether there has been wide consultation, because I know my feelings were not checked on full membership of CARICOM. I am just one person, but I am wondering whether full membership is what Turks and Caicos I…
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CARICOM Full Membership
Yes, I thank you very much, Madam Chair. One last clarification: in essence, if the feedback from the consultation is that the people do not want full membership, will the Government change course, or will the Government intend to change co…
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Head of Expenditure 54, Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Trade
Yes, sorry, Madam Chair, I lost where I was. I was trying to find the figure on consultancy, and I was wondering why those critical consultants or consultancies did not take place in this financial year. I could not find the figure fast eno…
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Head of Expenditure 54, Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Trade
Yes, sorry about that. I think it is for the Premier's Office. I will bring it back to the Honourable Premier when we reach the Premier's Office.
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Head of Expenditure 56, Office of the Deputy Governor
Yes, ma'am.
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Head of Expenditure 56, Office of the Deputy Governor
Yes, ma'am. Through the Chair, Madam Chair, as we all know, the Attorney General does not work for, and is not a representative directly of, the Deputy Governor's Office. However, I will ask her to answer the questions as best she can. Mada…
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Appropriation (2025-2026) (No. 2) Bill 2026 - Committee Stage
Yes, ma'am. I was just looking at the staffing. How do we account for the Governor's Office and the Deputy Governor's Office having vacancies, they being the offices that spearhead human resources? How do we account for vacancies in their d…
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Appropriation (2025-2026) (No. 2) Bill 2026 - Committee Stage
Madam Chair, she is right. Most of the vacancies are probably from persons resigning or moving on, so that was not reflected in these numbers, which the Honourable Attorney General can answer. Being as she does not work directly in those of…
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Appropriation (2025-2026) (No. 2) Bill 2026 - Committee Stage
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. As before, during the Appropriations Committee, the accounting officer was a relative of mine, so I refrained from asking certain questions, but I can pose them directly to the Minister now. Honourable Mini…
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Appropriation (2025-2026) (No. 2) Bill 2026 - Committee Stage
A further question for the Honourable Minister: how many vacancies currently exist within the high schools and within the primary schools? You do not have to give me the schools; you can just say the number at the high school level and the …
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Appropriation (2025-2026) (No. 2) Bill 2026 - Committee Stage
Yes, Madam Chair, one final one for me on education. The figures here, as was alluded to even in your presentation, show that sometimes schools are left hanging in September when teachers abruptly resign just when school opens. Is this bein…
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Appropriation (2025-2026) (No. 2) Bill 2026 - Committee Stage
One follow-up to that, Madam Chair. Honourable Minister, has any thought been given to expanding your budget for substitute teachers, where you can get professionals to come in? If the office procedures teacher opts out, you can have a prof…
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Head of Expenditure: Ministry of Health
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I just made it safe by the bell, or the buzz, if you do not want that term. Honourable Minister, is the money for NHIP for new, old or upcoming bills and payments?
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Head of Expenditure: Ministry of Health
Madam Chair, I have a number of questions for the Honourable Minister during question time, so much of what I have to ask will come up during that time. I will refrain at this time.
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Head of Expenditure 64, Office of the Premier and Public Policy
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Honourable Premier, with regard to the deduction from the Office of the Premier of some $3,329,506, what does that deduction total? What line items are in that deduction? I then have a supplementary.
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Head of Expenditure 64, Office of the Premier and Public Policy
Yes.
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Head of Expenditure 64, Office of the Premier and Public Policy
Madam Chair, through the Chair to the Honourable Premier, the National Delivery Unit is now being repealed and replaced. What is the reason for the National Delivery Unit being replaced by a different entity?
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Head of Expenditure 64, Office of the Premier and Public Policy
Yes, follow-up, Madam Chair.
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Head of Expenditure 64, Office of the Premier and Public Policy
Yes, a supplementary to that question, Madam Chair. Can the Honourable Premier say what projects that unit, previously named the National Delivery Unit, brought to fruition for TCIG?
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Head of Expenditure - $4,077,627.45
Thank you very much, Honourable Premier, for that. Honourable Premier, turning your attention to the $600,000 that was slated for special advisers and is now being taken back, I am concerned about it. I am hoping that we see that reappropri…
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Head of Expenditure 69, Ministry of Innovation, Technology and Energy
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Through the Chair, can the Honourable Minister say, for line item 093, Innovation, Communication and E-Governance, what led to the $379,046.96 not being utilised this financial year?
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Private Member's Motion No. 2 of 2026 - Amendment of the Companies Act 2017 to Provide Relief in Respect of Companies Dissolved Over 20 Years
Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. I rise to present this motion entitled Motion for the Amendment of the Companies Act 2017 to provide relief in respect of companies dissolved over 20 years. Whereas the Companies Act was enacted on 7 Novembe…
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Motion for the Amendment of the Companies Act 2017 to Provide Relief in Respect of Companies Dissolved Over 20 Years
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. This is something that many families in the Turks and Caicos Islands are now faced with, where their relative, their father, mother, grandmother or others may have had a company and had their generational l…
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Deferral of Parliamentary Questions
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe it is for me to ask that those questions be deferred to the next sitting. Taking into account the Minister's situation, I move that my questions, including the one fo…
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Deferral of Parliamentary Questions
Yes, because it ties in with what I am asking the Honourable Minister.
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Deferral of Parliamentary Questions
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
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FIRST (1ST) SITTING OF THE EIGHTEENTH (18TH) MEETING OF THE FIRST SESSION OF THE THIRTEENTH (13TH) LEGISLATURE · 13 Mar 2026
Draft Fiscal and Strategic Policy Statement 2026-2027 to 2029-2030
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. I do not rise on a point of order, but I wish to make a request of the Premier, if he is willing. He does not have to do it; there is nothing in the House rules. However, if he is willing to give Members a …
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House of Assembly Speaker and Other Members' Salaries and Allowances Amendment Bill 2026
Second.
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House of Assembly Speaker and Other Members' Salaries and Allowances Amendment Bill 2026
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, normally, if there is any conflict of interest, we want that debated, so I just want Members to know that, while I normally arise first and speak to Bills, this one deals particularly with tran…
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Destination Management Fee Amendment Bill 2026
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. As I rise to make my contribution to the Destination Management Fee Amendment Bill, let me say a pleasant good morning to all the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands, particularly my constituency of Gran…
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Destination Management Fee Amendment Bill 2026
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. On this section, to the Minister: what about planes that make emergency stops here in the Turks and Caicos Islands for more than four hours or have to overnight? Has that been considered? Will they be taxed? …
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Destination Management Fee Amendment Bill 2026
Yes, it is section 5. So that is covered in the principal Act, that they are exempted from paying those fees regardless of how long, even if it is over three hours that they have to sit at the airport.
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Two minute speeches by members
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. As I had already wished happy birthdays and condolences to those persons celebrating and mourning throughout the country, I want to deal with an issue that is emerging here in Grand Turk. Recently, we have …
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Ministerial Statement by the Minister of Immigration and Border Services
Mr. Speaker, what the minister is doing is important, so I want you to look at the quorum to ensure that, if members are outside, we do not go below quorum.
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Ministerial Statement by the Minister of Immigration and Border Services
To ensure that the Honourable Minister can continue with his speech.
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Government Business
Mr. Speaker, before the Minister continues, I want to thank him for reporting to the House on a trip that he made and its benefit to the Turks and Caicos Islands. This was not planned. I am not knocking any ministers, but I think that shoul…
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First (1st) Sitting of the Seventeenth (17th) Meeting of the First Session of the Thirteenth (13th) Legislature · 19 Feb 2026
Motion for appointment of select committee to review the Employment Act
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. Sorry, Mr. Speaker. Pleasant good afternoon to all those listening by radio or live streaming, to the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands, especially my constituency of Grand Turk South & Salt Cay and the …
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Motion for appointment of select committee to review the Employment Act
Mr. Speaker, this motion for a select committee to review the Employment Act is well needed. As the Deputy Premier said, it has been in place for over 20 years. Since COVID-19, we have had to change how we look at employment and work. COVID…
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Motion for appointment of select committee to review the Employment Act
The Honourable Deputy Premier has brought a good motion for our people, and it will have bipartisan support because it benefits everyone who lives and works in the Turks and Caicos Islands. I urge all members to cooperate with the Deputy Pr…
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Appointment of Select Committee to review Employment Act
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Honourable Deputy Premier, through the Chair, I recommend the Honourable Member from The Bight as one of the members of this committee. Thank you very much.
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Two-minute speeches: greetings, anniversaries, and condolences
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Honourable Minister of Education, it wasn't you this time with the ministerial speech. However, we appreciate the information, Honourable Deputy Premier. It was needed, but just the wrong setting. We apprec…
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Condolences, congratulations, and illegal development in Grand Turk
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Honourable Minister of Education, it wasn't you this time with the ministerial speech. However, we appreciate the information, Honourable Deputy Premier. It was needed information, but just the wrong settin…
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Illegal development and informal settlements in Grand Turk
We see as people go and dump things into the dump, materials, old materials, we see materials coming out. Anybody passing on that road will see things coming out in trucks, trucks going in to dump something, trucks taking out other things. …
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First (1st) Sitting of the Sixteenth (16th) Meeting of the First Session of the Thirteenth (13th) Legislature · 14 Jan 2026
Appropriations Committee - Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports, and Culture
Yes, good morning, PS. As you know, my name is Edwin Astwood, Leader of the Opposition.
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Appropriations Committee - Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports, and Culture
Yes, sorry, Madam Chair. Yes, Madam Chair, just for the record and to avoid all appearance of collusion or conflict, I will refrain from posing any direct questions to the PS of Education, as he is a sibling of mine.
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Supplementary Appropriation for Sports Commission
Thank you, Madam Chair, members of the Appropriations Committee.
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Ministry of Health and Human Services Presentation
Good morning.
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Ministry of Health and Human Services Presentation
Good morning, Madam PS of Health. My name is Edwin Astwood, Leader of the Opposition.
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Supplementary Appropriation for National Health Insurance Board and InterHealth Canada
Just one thing, Madam Chair. What didn't come up yesterday, I just want clarification on the salary increases for InterHealth Canada. How is that process done, considering any increase TCIG has to pay for? Is TCIG involved in the levels of …
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Supplementary Appropriation for National Health Insurance Board and InterHealth Canada
Just one quick follow-up. Did TCIG also pay the consultant hired for the salary review?
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Supplementary Appropriations 2025-2026 Bill - Motion for Three Readings
Mr. Speaker, I rise to second that in accordance with our well-established customs here.
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Supplementary Appropriations 2025-2026 Bill - Second Reading Debate
Thank you very much, Honourable Speaker. Good afternoon to all those listening by radio or tuning in on the internet, to my colleagues here, and to those in the gallery. Before I make my contributions to the supplementary bill, I want to gi…
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Supplementary Appropriation Bill debate
Thank you very much, Honourable Speaker. Good afternoon to all listening by radio, online, my colleagues here, and those in the gallery. Special good afternoon to my constituency of Grand Turk South and Salt Cay, and the wider Turks and Cai…
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Supplementary Appropriation Bill debate
Thank you, Honourable Deputy, for clarifying Grand Turk South and Salt Cay. We are here to serve our people and get what is best for them. There is no need to act against our own interests. If things do not change, we have the right to crit…
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Supplementary Appropriation Bill debate
My parents are aging here, my children are growing up here. We will have plenty of opportunities to disagree, but now is about serving our people. In committee, we made recommendations. We had to appropriate more funds for NHIP, but that is…
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Supplementary Appropriation Bill debate
We are concerned about staffing in Immigration and Border Control and hope the Minister will address it to resolve the backlog. Many were happy to see increased street cleaning funding, but it is scattered across three or four ministries. W…
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Supplementary Budget and Social Services Concerns
We are concerned about the level of staffing inside Immigration and Border Control and hope the Honourable Minister will address this backlog immediately. Many of us were pleased to see the amount of street cleaning in this budget, but it i…
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Supplementary Budget and Social Services Concerns
The Honourable Member from the Bight and I want help to get to our people. We have identified our red flags, and if these issues are not addressed, we will return. For now, it is about the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands. I will supp…
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Project Management and Timeliness of Government Projects
The Honourable Member and I can come here and say the government didn't do this project or that project, but it doesn't benefit any of us as Turks and Caicos Islanders. We want to see these projects get done, and I know it was an issue even…
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Healthcare Staff Salary Comparisons
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I'll start with what we did this morning with Inter Health Canada. Can the minister say whether in comparison a doctor, nurse, lab staff, and mental health staff make the same, more, or less than those in T…
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NHIP Salary Grade Review Survey
Can the Honourable Minister say if he was able to ascertain whether or not TCIG had to pay for the salary grade review survey?
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Projections for Treatment Abroad Expenditure
The last one for me is on the treatment abroad. We asked a lot about that in committee, but we're wondering what are the projections for the treatment abroad figure in this financial year going forward? They don't have to be exact, but what…
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Committee of Supply - Head 63 Parliament
Yes, in discussions today, it was brought up: what are we looking at for the celebrations coming up for the 5th year? We also thought that we probably should have got some things moving from even the supplementary. So if we don't have anyth…
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Committee of Supply - Head 63 Parliament
And thank you very much, Honourable Member from South Caicos and Member from the Bight for those discussions.
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Committee of Supply - Head 64 Office of the Premier and Public Policy
Sorry, sorry.
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Committee of Supply - Head 64 Office of the Premier and Public Policy - Special Advisors
Thank you very much. I was trying to find my reference point, Madam Chair, on 3.08-8 inside the budget book. We see the Office of the Premier and Public Policy, Strategic Policy and Planning, $500,000 for the cost of special advisors from J…
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Committee of Supply - Head 64 Office of the Premier and Public Policy - Special Advisors
For the Chair.
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Committee of Supply - Head 64 Office of the Premier and Public Policy - Special Advisors
Thank you, Madam Chair. During the constitutional talks, I fully supported and lobbied for elected governments to have the ability to bring on special advisors. Every government throughout the Caribbean has that. Only in Turks and Caicos wa…
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Committee of Supply - Head 66 Ministry of Public Safety and Utilities
Yes.
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Committee of Supply - Head 66 Ministry of Public Safety and Utilities - Rate Review
Thank you very much. Can the Honourable Minister say, the rate review now with Pelican Resign monies being taken away from doing that? What is going on with the rate review? Is that progressing? Has it finished?
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Pelican/Fortis rate review funds
Yes, I'll wait on the minister, until he finished taking his, briefings. Just concerning the Pelican previous Fortis rate review, I'm seeing $20,000 is being taken from that. Is that completed, ongoing, or deferred? Or other.
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Pelican/Fortis rate review funds
Yes, just a follow-up, Madam Chair, just clarification. So for the benefit of the general public, currently there's no rate review taking place. It depends on whether or not Pelican wants to pursue that avenue?
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Motion to reallocate $250,000 from micro projects to policy planning and admin support
Yes.
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Impact of reallocation on RTC and studio upgrades
Thank you very much, Honourable Minister. Since you're taking money from micro projects, how does that impact what you said about RTC and the studios and the upgrades to the studios and the videos and everything? How does that impact TC?
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Impact of reallocation on RTC and studio upgrades
Just a follow-up, Madam Chair.
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RTC staffing increase
Yes. So will we see the increase in staff coming forward in the next financial year?
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Committee reports completion of scrutiny on Supplementary Appropriation Bill
Honourable Speaker, the committee has completed its scrutiny on the Supplementary Appropriations 2025-2026, Bill 2026. We have gone through with amendments and now turn this proceedings over to you.
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First (1st) Sitting of the Fifteenth (15th) Meeting of the First Session of the Thirteenth (13th) Legislature · 8 Jan 2026
Business Licensing Amendment Bill 2025 - Committee Preparation
Yes, Mr. Speaker, thank you very much and good morning to all. As it is that, besides cabinet members, most of us, this will be the first time we're seeing this document. Is it possible for other members to get just 15 minutes so we can dis…
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Business License Amendment Bill 2025 - Committee Stage, Clause 3 Amendments
Madam Chair, just for clarification, because I have the amendments before me dated the 8th of January, and I'm looking at the June amendments, but I'm trying to relate that to the original bill. Which part in the original bill do these amen…
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Business License Amendment Bill 2025 - Committee Stage, Clause 3 Amendments
Section 2, not clause 2.
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Business License Amendment Bill 2025 - Committee Stage, Clause 3 Amendments
Yes, just again, what is the heading in Section 2? What is the heading under Interpretation?
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Business License Amendment Bill 2025 - Committee Stage, Clause 3 Amendments
Thank you very much. I was looking at the original bill and I didn't see definitions, I see interpretations. So I was wondering if we just using the word definitions, but it's under interpretation. Thank you very much. I'm there.
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Business License Amendment Bill 2025 - Committee Stage, Clause 5
Madam Chair, this is Clause 5, number 2, where it says no licensee shall carry on a business or a separate or distinct undertaking without obtaining a licence in accordance with subsection 1. Can you clarify what that is saying?
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Bill Committee Stage - Clause 5 Amendment
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. I follow. Yes.
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Bill Committee Stage - Clause 5 Amendment
No, I had to open up all three bills at one time, so I see what the Premier is saying and how it follows. Thank you very much.
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Bill Committee Stage - Clause 6 Amendment
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Just an observation in Clause 6: it speaks heavily to the Permanent Secretary of Finance issuing business licenses. Is there any committee or board, or is it just that person acting solo? Do all the applica…
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Bill Committee Stage - Clause 7 Amendment
So everything on the amendments here will be part of the original paragraph, Clause 7?
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Bill Committee Stage - Clause 7 Amendment
So 6B—okay. I do agree, Honourable Premier, about exceptional circumstances coming to Cabinet for full discussion, investigation, and input of Cabinet members. That is a good thing to have in the bill. As you have outlined, there are circum…
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Bill Committee Stage - Clause 7 Amendment
Restricted category, yes.
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Business Licensing Amendment Bill - Committee Stage - Enforcement provisions
Madam Chair, we've been focusing so much on the amendments, we are forgetting to ask questions about what is actually inside the bill. This part on enforcement deals a lot with enforcement. Our people are always saying that we have laws, bu…
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Business Licensing Amendment Bill - Committee Stage - Enforcement provisions
Honourable Premier, just dealing with enforcement in this section, what are we doing to ensure that we can achieve what is inside of the bill? Because all this is very ambitious. But can we achieve it?
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Committee Stage - Business Licensing Act Amendments (Sections 19A-19H)
Honourable Premier, just before you summarize, through the Chair, just one question before you summarize. 19F2D. Disqualify any person from holding or applying for a business license for a period of 3 months. So when I look at these other p…
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Committee Stage - Business Licensing Act Amendments (Sections 19A-19H)
See 19F2D.
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Committee Stage - Business Licensing Act Amendments (Sections 19A-19H)
So what will it be for 3 months? Because 3 months look kind of low to me for the severity of the act, of the offense. So what if I'm just fronting a little bit, half? I mean, not fronting as much, why 3 months? That's what I want to know. W…
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Committee Stage - Business Licensing Act Amendments (Sections 19A-19H)
Yes, through the Chair.
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Committee Stage - Business Licensing Act Amendments (Sections 19A-19H)
Thank you very much, Madam Chair. It is just that I'm trying to wonder if there are levels to front-end, why there's an option for just 3 months. So if you say person A only receive $1,000, or person A only have 49% or person A really didn'…
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Business Licensing Ordinance - penalties and small business compliance
Yes, through the Chair. Madam Chair.
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Business Licensing Ordinance - definition and regulation of fronting
Yes, I thank you very much. I want to thank the Honourable Member of Leeward and Long Bay and the Deputy Premier for trying to clear it up, and the Premier. I have an understanding now, but I was wondering if there were truly levels to fron…
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Business Licensing Ordinance - definition and regulation of fronting
Yes, that's fronting. What level they'll be headed. Thank you very much.
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Business Licensing Bill - Clause 12 contributions
Yes, ma'am.
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Business Licensing Bill - Clause 12 contributions
Looking at the Act, Section 23 says the governor may, by publishing in the Gazette, exempt any class or classes of business activities from requiring— oh, we haven't reached there? Okay, sorry, I'll wait.
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Clause 15 - savings and transitional provisions
Yes. Thank you very much, Madam Chair. This section allows, for instance, if I have a 50/50 partnership with someone from outside, I have one year to adjust the arrangement to comply with the new ordinance. My company will have one year to …
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Clause 16 - transitional provisions
Madam Chair. Just to follow up, if someone has a 50/50 arrangement for a business and decides it's cheaper to pay the doubled license fee every year and continue the arrangement indefinitely, is that what the provision allows?
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Clause 16 - transitional provisions
Just one further clarification. If my business license is $500 in year 1, in year 2 I pay $1,000. What happens in year 3? Do I pay $2,000 or still $1,000? Is it always 100% of the original fee, or does it keep doubling?
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No matching contributions.