By Special contributor
PROVIDENCIALES, TCI – The Progressive National Party (PNP) government gives non-voters over $6 million as the Royal TCI Police was called to maintain calm at the Turks and Caicos Government Treasury.
A chaotic scene erupted as the police were called to maintain order at the treasury located downtown in Providenciales on Wednesday, December 4 as scores of non-voters showed up to collect a cost-of-living adjustment cheque. The cheque payments of $1,000.00 each are a result of a harsh year of rising inflation in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) that has seen prices increase on all items taking a bite out of the income of workers in the country.
The TCI government is giving away $15 million in an exercise intended to soothe the pain caused by the high cost of living currently experienced by the country. Acknowledging that it has not been the best of year for persons living in the TCI, premier Washington Misick announced the payments in parliament in November.
The exercise has caused a political uproar amongst the population with PNP supporters touting the move as a shot in the arm given by premier Misick which the PNP badly needs heading into the general elections. Meanwhile, the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) supporters have questioned the generosity as only timed to curry favour with voters ahead of an anticipated general election.
However, the payments may backfire on the premier as Turks and Caicos Islanders or Belongers, as they are called, have cried foul saying the money should be made available only to them as they are the ones that have to permanently endure the conditions.
Tensions were high as the first batch of cheques were available for collection. The lines started to form and voters quickly realized that cheques were being paid to foreigners who have not attained Turks and Caicos Islander status and cannot vote.
“The last election campaign saw the PNP complain that the PDM government distributed cheques to non-Turks and Caicos Islanders, but the PNP is now doing the same thing,” said one disgruntled islander, “what is wrong with this PNP government.”
Currently, there are less than 10,000 voters who are eligible for the inflation adjustment payment but more than 15,000 applications have been received, outstripping the locals by 6,000.
The government has given the applicants until December 20 to collect these payments or lose the money according to a TCIG press release. Opposition leader Edwin Astwood has called for a review of the TCIG finances every three months and for making payments in a more timely manner during the course of the year, to ease the burdens of voters only.
Elections are due in 2025 and the country is waiting for an early call of elections from premier Misick who has started his re-election campaign.
The last poll was held on February 19, 2021. Parliament has to be dissolved on or before March 5, 2025. Elections can be held as late as June 2025. However, many political pundits in the TCI are anticipating an early February date for elections.
