Response to the Premier’s State of the State Address

By Hon. Edwin A. Astwood

As Leader of the Opposition, I address all our people of the Turks and Caicos Islands with clarity about the failures that have defined this government’s term after the first year of their second term.

Opposition Leader Hon. Edwin Astwood

Tonight, the people of our country expect their government to deliver a progress report on all completed government initiatives that would make their lives and the country better. What we got was the same State of the State Speech from the last four years, which also sounds like the same Budget Speech from the last five years.  We only heard much about legislation, policies, and negotiations being put in place, but nothing tangible, nothing being built, nothing being completed, nothing being rolled out.

Is this a good example of what a failing, underachieving government looks like?

We must have a clear vision for the future of our people and our country.

We should not be a country where few prosper while many struggle, but an Island nation where opportunity is real for every man or woman who strives for it. If our government belongs to all our people, then it must act for all the people, not just the few who can access and influence it.

This is no attempt on my part to score political points, but to champion the everyday truth: this government has failed to deliver for too many of our people and our families. The failures laid bare in this term are not abstract numbers; they are real stories of families waiting for roofs over their heads while the Mortgage Corporation remains only in paper form, real stories for workers who deserve stable jobs, real stories for patients who deserve timely care, real stories for small businesses and beach vendors who deserve a fair shot at thriving, and real stories for our residents in our family islands of Salt Cay and Middle Caicos who cant get their basic needs met.

There is a sense amongst many of our people that our future is slipping away from our own hands, as more and more of our people cannot afford to live here in the Turks & Caicos Islands. I know that this was not what the majority of our people expected to get after returning this PNP government to Power with a 16 to 2 majority (1 Independent).

What our people deserve, and what they are demanding, is simple: results you can feel in your daily life. Here is why this matters, and how we in this PDM Opposition will continue to fight for you with relentless resolve.

 Our country needs leadership to be honest about shortcomings, principled in accountability, and ambitious about delivering real and lasting improvements for every community, from Providenciales to Salt Cay. The issues outlined below show a pattern: promises made without action, rushed projects with weak oversight, and a persistent gap between rhetoric and results.

In the spirit of clarity, I’ll outline the failures, the human impact, and the concrete path we should pursue together.

1) NHIP is being put into administration

- The National Health Insurance Program (NHIP) entering administration exposes a reckless mismanagement of health funding and patient care. When health security is jeopardized, families fear the future.  The people deserve a health system where financing and operations are sustainable, transparent, and patient-centered, not a board beholden to political bubbles.

- Our path forward- call for independent stewardship, a transparent rescue plan, and a clear timeline for stabilizing finances, restoring public trust, and safeguarding essential health services.

2) Experience TCI failure

- The “Experience TCI” initiative - after closing down our country’s flagship Tourist Board, this DMO program, which promised transformation, enhancement, and opportunity, has faltered at every turn. The true cost is missed opportunities for people who trusted it and communities that hoped for growth.

-Our path forward- We have to replace rhetoric with ruthless accountability: measurable milestones, public dashboards, and consequences for missed targets. This is no time for empty promises; it’s about outcomes that lift people up.

3) The Airport redevelopment failure

- The gateway to our islands— The Howard Hamilton International Airport, a symbol of modernism and opportunity—has become a cautionary tale of spiraling costs, procurement and tendering mishaps, and endless delays. Our people deserve a delivered product with the desired efficiency, safety, and value for money.

-  Our path forward: an independent delivery and cost-monitoring mechanism, a revised, credible timetable, and safeguards that ensure the project expands capacity, improves safety, and boosts traveler experience, without empty promises or hidden subsidies, and without compromising public finances.

4) Failure to deliver on the Government Housing Project and the Mortgage Corporation:

- The promised new housing scheme remains unfulfilled, leaving families in waiting lines, rising housing costs, and a growing housing insecurity crisis occurring on both Providenciales and Grand Turk.

- Our path forward: A bold, practical plan with streamlined approvals, public-private partnerships, a priority queue for the most vulnerable, and clear eligibility criteria to ensure those most in need are served first.

5) Traffic Congestion in Providenciales: Government’s Failure to Deliver:

- Promises to ease congestion have yielded no progress; peak-hour bottlenecks worsen, and a cohesive transport strategy is still absent.

- Our people are impacted by longer commutes, higher fuel costs, stressed residents, and unmet needs of pedestrians and cyclists.

- Our path forward- Launch a National Traffic and Transport Strategy with 6-, 12-, and 18-month targets and dedicated funding, Prioritize shovel-ready projects: intersection upgrades, bypass roads, creation of a Transport Modernization Office with quarterly public performance updates, safe pedestrian/cyclist networks, Strengthen maintenance and rapid-response teams to prevent costly failures – to achieve tangible reductions in congestion, safer streets, and a transport system that supports all island life.

6) Failure to deliver on road infrastructure upgrades throughout our communities:

- Roads aren’t just asphalt and lines; they are lifelines for safety, commerce, and school runs. The current neglect hurts families, workers, and commuters every single day.

- Our path forward- enact a proven, transparent program: prioritized projects, a rigorous maintenance schedule, and accountability for delivery. This is about safer streets, quicker commutes, and economic vitality.

7) Port Dredging Failure in Providenciales:

- Dredging is not a luxury; it’s a catalyst for opportunity—crucial for trade, tourism, and local livelihoods. Our port must meet the needs of a modern economy.

- The port cannot handle larger vessels, hindering trade and cruise growth.

- Our path forward: A credible, costed plan with milestones and independent oversight to unlock bigger ships and more job opportunities.

8) Failure to provide proper facilities for beach vendors

- Beach vendors are an integral part of coastal livelihoods and the tourism experience. This sector still lacks adequate facilities, sanitation, and regulation.

- Our path forward- We must deliver licensed, well-planned vendor zones, improved facilities, and environmental protections. This is about thriving small local businesses and our young entrepreneurs, and about preserving the warmth of our shores.

9) Failure to meet Tendering and Procurement targets

- Consistent underachievement in procurement undermines efficiency, inflates costs, and reduces confidence in public projects.

- Our path forward- We have to advocate for binding procurement targets, transparent bid processes, and independent monitoring to ensure value for money and timely delivery.

10) Failure to meet budget targets

- Fiscal mismanagement erodes faith in government and stalls progress. Missed budgets mean halted projects, delayed services, and higher costs down the line.

- Our path forward: disciplined budgeting, honest revenue forecasting, quarterly public reporting, and real consequences for mismanagement. We will restore trust by showing the books, not hiding them.

Beyond these ten points, let me speak to the broader, urgent themes that must guide us forward.

- State-of-Readiness and Clear Direction: Policies must be anchored in achievable, measurable targets with published roadmaps and milestones. Vague promises are not enough; the people deserve concrete plans and regular progress reports.

- Accountability: When projects fail or budgets miss targets, there must be accountability. This includes independent oversight, timely audits, and consequences for mismanagement.

- Procurement Reform: Procurement must be competitive, transparent, and timely. We need binding targets, published evaluation criteria, and deterrents against overruns and kickbacks.

- Hiring and Recruitment: Talent, capability, and integrity must guide government staffing. We need merit-based recruitment, professional development, and conflict-of-interest safeguards.

- Project Management and Modernization: Projects require rigorous project management disciplines, clear governance structures, risk management, and staged delivery to avoid cancellations and cost escalations.

- Health Care and the Treatment Abroad Debate: We must ensure access to high-quality, locally delivered health care. When treatment abroad is necessary, it must be clinical, cost-effective, and patient-centered, with a plan to build capacity domestically to reduce dependence on external care.

- Development of Family Islands: Investment must extend beyond Providenciales, with infrastructure, hotel and guest accommodations, health, accessibility, and connectivity that reduce geographic disparities and support local economies.

-Subsidized flights into the Family Islands: The government must properly regulate and ensure suitable flight times that meet both the residents' and visitors' travel needs, particularly for the Islands of Salt Cay and South Caicos.

- Infrastructure and Transportation: New roads, improved public transport planning, and a comprehensive strategic plan for transportation are essential to reduce congestion and unlock economic activity.

- Cruise and Tourism Product: We must modernize and expand the cruise experience and port facilities, ensuring sustainable growth that benefits local communities and businesses.

- Housing and Informal Settlements: Address informal housing with dignity and efficiency, combining formal housing solutions with supportive services for vulnerable populations.

- Taxis and Transportation Plan: Formalize an integrated transport strategy that improves reliability, safety, and affordability for residents and visitors alike.

So, what is the concrete path forward when a government works for all our people and not just a few?

- An independent Commission to review NHIP, Airport redevelopment, Port Dredging, Housing, Procurement, and other major projects, with findings and timelines made public.

- A fiscal framework of quarterly public updates, binding Tendering and procurement targets, and real consequences for overruns.

- A Family Islands Development Plan with targeted investments and local governance input.

- A Health Care Modernization Roadmap to strengthen local capacity and define any necessary external treatment with clear criteria and cost-effectiveness.

- A National Housing Action Plan to accelerate projects, shorten approvals, and incentivize private-sector participation.

- A reboot of the Tourism and Cruise Strategy to upgrade infrastructure and ensure communities capture the benefits of growth.

To our people of the Turks and Caicos Islands, we are in this together. Your daily life, your home, your road to work, your child’s health, and your business’s ability to grow matter more than political theater. We must unite in building a Turks and Caicos Islands where opportunity is a right for every island, every family, every worker, and every one of our business owners who make our shores vibrant.

Our country must demand leadership to be transparent, accountable, and committed to delivering tangible improvements in everyday life. We need the government to:

- Sets clear, measurable targets and reports progress openly.

- Exercises fiscal discipline and procurement integrity.

- Builds the infrastructure, health, housing, and transportation that support every island and every family.

- Ensures opportunities are shared broadly, not concentrated in a few projects or pockets.

We stand ready to work with all communities, businesses, and civil society to reset our trajectory: to fix what has been broken, to finish what has started, and to build a Turks and Caicos Islands that lives up to its promise for now and for future generations.

The time is now. Let us rise with courage, clarity, and a dedicated commitment to deliver the change our people deserve. Thank you.