COVID 19 Pandemic Phased Reopening of Key Government Departments
 
In line with Phase 1B of the Turks and Caicos Islands Phased Reopening Program and in accordance with Regulation 6(1) of the Emergency Powers (COVID 19)(No.4)(Amendment) Regulations 2020, Deputy Governor and Head of the Public Service Her Excellency Anya Williams wishes to announce the Public Service COVID 19 Phased Reopening Program.
 
In order to provide critical services to the general public, kindly note that the following government departments will reopen on Monday May 11, 2020:
 
Ministry of Finance, Trade and Investment
 
1.       Accountant General’s Department (Treasury)
2.       Revenue Control Unit
3.       Customs Department
4.        Central Information and Technology Unit
 
Immigration, Citizenship, Labour and Employment Services
 
1.       Immigration Department
2.       Employment Services Unit
3.       Registration and Citizenship Unit
4.       Customer Service Centre
5.       Coastal Radar Unit
 
Home Affairs, Public Utilities and Transportation
 
1.       Road Safety Department
2.       Water Undertaking
3.       Her Majesty’s Prison Service
4.       Domestic Fire Service
5.       Radio Turks and Caicos
6.       Central Purchasing Unit
7.        Postal Services
 
Office of the Deputy Premier, Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing, Planning and Development
 
1.       Public Works Department
2.       Physical Planning Department
3.       Estate Management Unit
4.       Project Management Division
5.       Maintenance Division
6.       Mechanical Division
 
Ministry of Tourism and Environment
 
1.       Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies
2.       Department of Environment and Coastal Resources
3.       Maritime Department
 
Ministry of Health and Human Services
 
1.       Heath Promotion and Advocacy Unit
2.       National Public Health Laboratory
3.       Primary Health Care Unit
4.       Environmental Health Department
5.       National Epidemiology and Research Unit
 
Ministry of Education, Youth, Culture, Library Services
 
1.       Social Development Department
2.       Tertiary and Further Education Unit
3.       Education Department
 
Office of the Premier, Local Government and Community Affairs
 
1.       District Commissioners’ Offices
 
Office of the Deputy Governor
 
1.       Contract and Performance Management Unit
2.       Human Resource Management Directorate
 
Attorney Generals Chambers
 
1.       Land Registry
2.       Crown Land Unit
3`.       Attorney General Chambers
 
Phased Reopening of Key Public Bodies
Following consultation with the heads of the following public bodies, the following key public bodies will reopen on 11th May 2020 -
 
Independent Public Bodies
 
1.       The Judiciary
2.       The Labour Tribunal
3.       The Elections Office
 
Statutory/Arm’s Length Bodies
 
1.       National Insurance Board
2.       National Health Insurance Board
3.       Financial Services Commission
4.       Human Rights Commission
5.       Integrity Commission
 
Directives
1) A limited number of staff will report to work from 9am-2pm from Monday through Friday each week, on a rotational basis in order to provide critical services to the general public.
 
2) Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Department must ensure that adequate provisions for physical distancing are in place for all employees inclusive of adequate hand washing and hand sanitizing facilities for employees and customers, and reduction in numbers of persons within offices.
 
3) Every person in an office must distance themselves from other persons at a minimum of six feet (6ft.) from any other person.
 
4) Based on available space and social and physical distancing restrictions, a limited number of customers are allowed access to government buildings at a time.
 
5)Any person working in and any member of the public seeking to access government buildings are required to wear a mask/facial covering.
 
6) Where possible, members of the public are asked to continue to use online services including payment services that have recently been put in place.
 
7) Where necessary, appointment systems should be launched to reduce queues and possible overcrowding issues and to ensure quality service delivery in a safe environment.
 
Separate announcements will be made by individual ministries and departments regarding their product offerings and planned operations during this period.
 
END