Turks and Caicos Post-Cabinet Update
His Excellency the Governor chaired the meeting of the Cabinet on Wednesday 2 July 2014 at the Hilly Ewing Building on Providenciales.
Members of Cabinet meet in Providenciales
All Ministers were present except Hon. Porsha Stubbs-Smith and Hon. Don Hue Gardiner.
At this meeting Cabinet:
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Received a presentation from the Complaints Commissioner setting out the role and function of her office. Cabinet welcomed the presentation and the helpful insight this provided on the Commissioners role and the relationship with other constitutional bodies charged with good governance;
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Advised HE.the Governor to approve amendments to the National Health Insurance (Amnesty) Bill, 2014 and the National Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill, 2014. The matter will proceed to the House of Assembly. The amendments proposed are as follows:
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The introduction of an Amnesty Period of ninety (90) days to allow subscribers to the National Health Insurance Plan to be exempted from the payment of additional charges which have accumulated as a result of failing to pay contributions on the day that contributions were due, provided that all outstanding contributions due at the beginning of the Amnesty Period are paid in full whether in a lump sum payment or by way of a payment plan;
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The amendment of section 37 of the National Health Insurance Ordinance to make provision for a new rate at which the additional charge will be levied on outstanding contributions. At present the rate is ten per cent of the outstanding contributions for each month or part thereof during which the contribution remains unpaid; the amendment seeks to lower the rate to three per cent. Such new rate s not intended to have retroactive effect;
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Approved the appointment of Nurse Jackurlyn Sutton to the Joint Service Review Board in accordance with Schedule 6, Section 11, part 1 of the Hospitals Project Agreement;
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Advised HE. the Governor to approve amendments to the Business License Regulations and the Business License Fees Schedule (including some professional services) and amendments to the Reserved and Restricted Categories. The revised fee schedule will be effective 1st July 2014;
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Considered amendments to the Companies (Amendment) (No.2) Bill 2014, and the Non-Profit Organisations (Amendment) Regulations. The amendments provide for revisions to the requirement for the auditing and registration of Non-Profit Organisations. Cabinet requested that further consideration be given to the representations of key stakeholders and that the matter be considered further at their next meeting. It was agreed to extend the time for a registered NPO to elect to continue as a non-profit company under the Companies Ordinance to the 31st August 2014 and extend the time for an existing NPO to register with the NPO Supervisor to 31st August 2014 so that no enforcement action should be taken against such an organisation if the organisation registers on or before that day;
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Considered a report from the Minister of Government Support Services setting out proposals for around twenty infrastructure projects in Grand Turk to be funded by the Infrastructure Improvement Account. Cabinet prioritised six projects for consideration by Carnival;
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Advised HE. the Governor to approve amendments to the Customs (Charge on Insurance and Freight) Ordinance (Legal Notice of 2013) to vary the rate of the Freight and Insurance Tax from the current 15% to 7.5% effective 1st August 2014. The matter will proceed to the House of Assembly;
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Noted the Premier will be absent from 6 July to 10 July, with Hon. Amanda Missick being Acting Premier.
Further information on these matters will be provided by Ministers in due course.
ENDS