SEPTEMBER 20TH, 2019 – SEPTEMBER 27TH, 2019
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VOLUME 15 - NO. 37
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PNP BLASTS FOR TIS OVER RATE INCREASE By Todeline Defralien
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eader of the O p p o s i t i o n Progressive National Party (PNP), Hon. Washington Misick says the rate increase by Fortis TCI is a “moral disaster”. “We just noticed the price of electricity is about to go up. I don’t really think there is sufficient policing over what Fortis is doing. I personally think it’s a Leader of the Opposition, moral disaster for them Hon. Washington Misick to invest that kind of money in what is probably the most luxurious building on the highway and the gardens and stuff are more luxurious than any hotel in this country,” Misick said during a press conference on Wednesday September 18th at the PNP’s headquarters on Airport Road. “With due respect to my own people who are doing well, I believe that Fortis is the highest paid company in this country and I am not saying that they shouldn’t pay people well, but we also have to remember at the end of the day that it is a regulative monopoly and we are paying for this at the end of the day. You can’t have a gold-plated organisation in terms of benefits and in terms of when everybody else is… it’s like driving a Mercedes and everybody else is driving a Japanese 241. I don’t think there is sufficient policing and I think that our regime is weak when it comes to that and I think it ought to be strengthened,” he explained. Recently, the independent expert appointed to hold an inquiry into the reasonableness of a rate increase application by Fortis TCI, has recommended the 6.8 percent increase on electricity bills which the company had requested, reliable sources told The SUN. The company, the governor and the government have been informed of the recommendation by the expert, Mr. J. Paul Morgan, but it is reportedly up to Governor Nigel Dakin to make the final decision. Misick continued: “I think that this whole issue about the price increase is a farce because the government had agreed that before and they were caught out, so they had to go down this long road to prove a point....We have to make sure that the cost of living is brought down.” On July 11th, 2018, FortisTCI filed a rate variation application under Section 34 of the Electricity Ordinance, proposing an average rate increase of 6.8%. Residential customers with an average monthly consumption of 500 kWh would see an increase of approximately $8 per month on their electricity bills. The rate variation application seeks to restore the company to a stable financial position following the impact of the 2017 hurricanes, Irma and Maria, which Fortis estimated at US$42 million.
(Front L-R) - Josephine Connolly, Akierra Missick and Rachel Taylor. (Back L-R) - Matthew Stubbs, Jamell Robinson, Samuel Been, Dameko Dean, Charles Washington Misick – Leader, E. Jay Saunders - Deputy Leader, Otis Morris, Shaun Malcolm, John Malcolm, Calvin Greene and Randy Howell.
PNP announces 15 candidates for next general elections By Todeline Defralien The Progressive National Party (PNP) has recently revealed its slate of 15 candidates to represent the party at the next general elections. The candidates who were introduced at a press conference on Wednesday September 18th at the Party’s Headquarters on Airport Road, Providenciales, are - Otis Morris (ED1 -Grand Turk North), Pedro Ariza (ED2- Grand Turk South), John Malcolm (ED3South Caicos), Arlington “Chuck” Musgrove (ED4- North and Middle Caicos), Akierra Missick (ED5Leeward and Long Bay), Matthew “Jay” Stubbs (ED6 - The Bight), Samuel Been (ED7- Cheshire Hall), Randy Howell (ED8- Blue Hills) Rachel Taylor (ED9- Five Cays) and Dameko Dean (ED10 - Wheeland). All Island (At-Large) candidates are Charles Washington
Misick – Leader, E. Jay Saunders Deputy Leader, Josephine Connolly, Jamell Robinson and Shaun Malcolm. Speaking at the conference, Leader of the Opposition Progressive National Party (PNP), Hon. Washington Misick said they are confident and ready for whenever election is called. “No we are at the point where we have identified our candidates for the 2020/2021 elections, I don’t know when the date will be called; that is in the purview of the Premier (Hon. Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson), but our duty is to ensure that when that date comes we are ready. Today is the beginning of the hardwork; we’re not going to take a victory lap just yet and the preparation continues. The next step for our candidates is to be ratified at the NGC on October
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12th. I think that it is pretty safe to say that the men and women you’re looking at today will be amongst the men and women who will be representing you in the 2020/2021 elections. ” He added: “I want you to really appreciate what they have done because when people make themselves venerable by putting their names up to represent their constituencies and the people of these islands, what they are saying is that they’re all in; come hell or high water, come victory or come defeat, we’re all in. There was a fair contest, and contrary to what you may have heard or contrary to what may have tried to be communicated and I believe that we ended up with a slate of candidates/persons in constituencies in particular that were contested.”
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