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GRAND TURK, Turks and Caicos Islands; Thursday, November 6th, 2008 – The Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2008 was one of six Bills that were up for a second reading at the Second Sitting of the Second Session of the First House of Assembly in the nation's capital yesterday, Wednesday, November 5th.
The Bill, brought forth by the Hon. Jeffrey Hall, Minister of Works and Utilities, seeks to amend certain very important aspects from the previous Bill - as there is a need to register and license all electrical contractors in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
With the passing of this Bill Government will introduce an Electrical Commission which will comprise of ex officio members and three members appointed by the Minister whose ministry that Electricity Commission falls under. In this event, the Ministry of Works and Utilities.
Hon. Hall noted that this ordinance states that no person will be able to provide any electrical services in the Turks and Caicos unless licensed to do so. "People doing electrical work without having the required license will be committing an offense and that person can be prosecuted," said Hon. Hall. Moreover, "licenses will only be given to Belongers."
The Hon. Minister of Works went on to make mention that Provo Power Company (PPC) and Turks and Caicos Utilities (TCU) are the only electricity providers that are allowed to erect electrical poles in the TCI. To that end, persons whom have obtained a license to install electrical cables or any thing that requires the use of these poles will be granted access.
Hon. Floyd Seymour, Leader of the Peoples Democratic Movement's Opposition - is of the view that a Bill should be passed regulating PPC and TCU for the rise in cost to the people of the TCI. The Opposition believes that the people that this Bill is designed to help, are those people that this Bill will disenfranchise.
"Most electricians in this country are not qualified master electricians," said Hon. Arthur Robinson MP, Opposition Member and Member for North Backsalina, Grand Turk, stating that: "Most of them acquired knowledge in this field over the years."
"This Bill will now ask these persons to be tested for qualification on a trade that they have mastered over years of practice; and the Opposition believes that this Bill will only hurt the local electrician," opined Hon. Robinson.
The Government notes that some exemptions would be made for those persons who cannot be certified quickly enough due to lack of training. However, "Electrical work very important and, if there is a problem with a person's electricity due to the lack of qualification of the electrician, this bill will give electrician the recognition and accountability for their work," said Hon. Norman Saunders MP, Member for South Caicos – South, South Caicos.
To that end, the Electricity (Amendment) Bill 2008 will be read for a third time, at the next session, when the House of Assembly convenes.
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