Statutory Instruments
Caribbean And North Atlantic Territories
Made
8th March 2017
Laid before Parliament
10th March 2017
Coming into force
1st April 2017
At the Court at Buckingham Palace, the 8th day of March 2017
Present,
The Queen's Most Excellent Majesty in Council
Her Majesty, in exercise of the powers conferred on Her by sections 5 and 7 of the West Indies Act 1962(1), and of all other powers enabling Her to do so, is pleased, by and with the advice of Her Privy Council, to order as follows:
1.-(1) This Order may be cited as the Turks and Caicos Islands (Finance) Order 2017.
(2) This Order comes into force on 1st April 2017.
(3) This Order extends to the Turks and Caicos Islands.
2.-(1) In this Order-
"the Constitution" means the Constitution set out in Schedule 2 to the Turks and Caicos Islands Constitution Order 2011(2); and
"the Ordinance" means the Chief Financial Officer Ordinance 2012(3).
(2) All other expressions used in this Order have the same meaning as set out in the Constitution.
3.-(1) The office of the Chief Financial Officer is abolished and-
(a)section 7 of the Turks and Caicos Islands Constitution Order 2011 is revoked; and
(b)the Ordinance is repealed.
(2) Paragraph (1) does not affect the validity of any things done, or omitted to be done, by the Chief Financial Officer during the existence of that office.
4.-(1) This article applies where the Governor considers that there has been a failure to appropriate and provide reasonable funding for a matter listed in paragraph (2) (in this article, an "unfunded matter").
(2) The matters referred to in paragraph (1) are-
(a)ensuring the effective conduct of the business of the Government with respect to-
(i)defence;
(ii)external affairs;
(iii)the regulation of international financial services;
(iv)internal security, including the Police Force; or
(v)the appointment of any person to any public office, the suspension, termination of appointment, dismissal or retirement of any public officer, the taking of any disciplinary action in respect of such an officer, the application to any public officer of the terms or conditions of employment of the public service and the organisation of the public service;
(b)upholding the rule of law and judicial independence;
(c)securing compliance with an international obligation;
(d)ensuring compliance with any Statement of Governance Principles for the time being in effect;
(e)ensuring the effective operation of committees of the House of Assembly, the courts, the Attorney General's Chambers, and each institution protecting good governance; and
(f)giving effect to the recommendations contained in a report of the Electoral District Boundary Commission.
(3) The Governor may cause to be prepared a Supplementary Appropriation Bill to provide for the issue from the Consolidated Fund of any sums necessary to meet the expenditure for, and for the appropriation of those sums required for, an unfunded matter.
(4) If it appears to the Governor that the Cabinet is unwilling to support the introduction into the House of Assembly of a Supplementary Appropriation Bill prepared under paragraph (3), or that the House is unlikely to pass a Supplementary Appropriation Bill if introduced, the Governor may, with the prior approval of a Secretary of State, cause that Bill to be published in the Gazette and may (notwithstanding that the Bill has not been passed by the House) assent to it on behalf of Her Majesty.
(5) Where expenditure has been authorised for an unfunded matter by an Appropriation Ordinance or a Supplementary Appropriation Ordinance, whether prepared under paragraph (3) or not, money may be withdrawn from the Consolidated Fund to meet that specified expenditure upon the authority of a warrant signed by the Governor and addressed to the Accountant General, and the Accountant General shall ensure the release of that money for the purposes specified in the Ordinance.
(6) The Governor may suspend, withdraw, limit or place conditions on any warrant issued under paragraph (5) if the Governor is satisfied that such action is required by reason of a financial exigency or is otherwise in the public interest.
(7) The Governor may stop any action or reverse any decision taken by any Minister, public officer, or statutory body, to the extent that the Governor considers it necessary to ensure the provision of reasonable funding for an unfunded matter.
(8) The Governor, or a person authorised to act on his or her behalf for the purpose of this paragraph, has the power to require, from any Minister, public office or public officer, or statutory body the provision of information relating to the finances of the Government.
(9) The Governor, or a person authorised to act on his or her behalf for the purpose of this paragraph, may call meetings and attend any meetings of the public service or a statutory body to discuss matters relating to the finances of the Government, if in the judgement of the Governor (or the person authorised to act on his or her behalf) the purpose of the meeting renders their presence advisable.
5.-(1) The Governor may appoint a Financial Adviser (the "Financial Adviser"), to provide assistance to the Governor in the exercise of his or her powers relating to the finances of the Government.
(2) The Minister of Finance must ensure that appropriate facilities are made available to the Financial Adviser in order to enable the Financial Adviser to work within the Ministry of Finance, Investment and Trade.
(3) The power to remove or exercise disciplinary control over the Financial Adviser is vested in the Governor.
6. In the exercise of any power conferred on the Governor by this Order, the Governor is to act in his or her discretion.
7.-(1) In the case of any inconsistency between the provisions of this Order and of any other applicable law in the Turks and Caicos Islands the provisions of this Order prevail.
(2) In this article, "applicable law" means laws and instruments (other than Acts of Parliament of the United Kingdom), including the Constitution, having effect as part of the law of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Richard Tilbrook
Clerk of the Privy Council
(This note is not part of the Order)
This Order abolishes the office of the Chief Financial Officer in the Turks and Caicos Islands and repeals the Turks and Caicos Islands Chief Financial Officer Ordinance (T.C.I. Ordinance No. 17 of 2012, Chapter 19.15) and revokes section 7 of the Turks and Caicos Islands Constitution Order 2011 (S.I. 2011/1681). This Order also makes provision for the Governor to ensure that sufficient funding is provided for the administration of certain important aspects of the business of the Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands, including defence, external affairs, the regulation of international financial services, internal security, including the Police Force, the public service and the rule of law. In order to support the Governor in the exercise of his or her powers relating to the finances of the Turks and Caicos Islands Government, the Order makes provision for the appointment of a Financial Adviser and provides the Governor with powers to require the provision of information or to attend meetings.