Cabinet Statement Wednesday 18 February
His Excellency the Governor, Peter Beckingham, chaired the meeting of the Cabinet on Wednesday 18th February 2015 in Providenciales.
All Ministers were present except Hon. Minister of Government Support Services.
At this meeting Cabinet:
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Advised HE. the Governor to approve the Children (Care and Adoption) Bill 2014, Domestic Violence Bill 2014 and the Family Law (Guardianship, Custody and Access to Children) Bill for introduction at the next sitting of the House of Assembly;
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Advised HE. the Governor to issue an order under the Employment Ordinance increasing the statutory national minimum wage rate by 25% (of $5.00 USD which is $1.25 USD) to $6.25 USD per hour effective 1st April 2015;
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Approved the Animal Health (Standards for Management of Bottlenose Dolphins) Regulations;
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Approved the appointment of Mr Alden Durham to the Board of Directors of the Turks and Caicos Islands Ports Authority. Mr. Durham will fill the membership position left vacant on the resignation of Mr. Desmond Wilson;
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Noted the recommendations of the Procurement Board on the award of the following contracts; Consultancy (Investment Promotion Expert) for the Turks and Caicos Islands Government, Business Reform Strategy and Refurbishment Works to the Morgue Building, Grand Turk;
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Approved the re-appointment of the following members to the National Honors and Awards Committee; Dr. Linda Williams (Chairman), Mrs Agnes Swann (member), Mrs Karen Missick (member), Mr Conrad Howell (member), Mr William Clare (member), Mr Llewlyn Handfield (member) and Mr Oneal Delancy (member);
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Advised HE. the Governor to approve the Domestic Financial Services Sales Tax (Amendment) Bill 2015 for introduction at the next sitting of the House of Assembly. The Bill limits the imposition of the tax to outgoing money transfers only and increases the rate of tax to 12%;
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Advised HE. the Governor to approve a Memorandum of Understanding with the Cooper Jack Development relating to the construction of a new hotel resort and residential development on Cooper Jack Bay, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands;
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Approved a letter of understanding with the Carnival Corporation outlining procedural matters for the administration of the Infrastructure Fund;
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Advised HE. the Governor to approve the supporting documents and forms developed to facilitate the administration of the Governments Investor Permanent Residence Certificate (PRC)policy.
At a teleconference meeting of Cabinet on February 9 2015 Cabinet agreed that:
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Advised the Governor to approve a Cable route survey to MONET Cabling to conduct a cable route survey within the exclusive Fishing Zone (FZ) to the TCI;
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Advised the Governor to approve a lease to Toscana for an extension of the accreted land comprising of a total of 0.68 acres; noting that terms and conditions would apply;
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Advised the Governor to approve a maintenance dredging license to Turtle Cove Marina for maintenance dredging of the entrance to the Turtle Cove marina, noting that the license was being approved in accordance with the current provisions of the Law as amended.
Ministers will provide more information on these matters in due course.
ENDS