Provo public meeting attendees with vociferous ‘no’ on Immigration bills

Providenciales, 25 Aug 2015 – A resounding “no” to the proposed Immigration Bill 2015 and the Turks and Caicos Islander Status Bill 2015 as residents of Provo expressed their rejection of the two bills which they say will ultimately marginalize Turks and Caicos Islanders.

Residents telling the Minister of Immigration Hon. Don Hue Gardiner, that the bill creates “too many loopholes” for individuals to obtain TCI status.

Views like: “The bill does not empower Turks and Caicos Islanders” were widely shared last night in the first of a series of town hall meetings slated nationwide.

One attendee boldly stated that “the government seems to have an obligation to people who are not Turks and Caicos Islanders. While the new bill could introduce legislation for the automatic grant of status to children born outside of the country to a Turks and Caicos Island parent; residents took particular exception to portions of the bill which would provide status to children of PRC holders, children who graduate from a Turks and Caicos high school, and freelance work permits. Here are some comments.

“I don’t think any child born to parents who do not have status here in the islands should qualify for status; that is wrong!”

“So until we enforce the laws we put on our books and borders are controlled we gonna continue here making bill after bill, law after law and then we gonna continue with the same problem. Our borders are too open. We need to put people who are serious about controlling this country and who have a heart for the country in Immigration law office.”

Monday’s meeting likely sets the tone for future public discussions on the touchy immigration issues which continue tonight in Grand Turk at the HJ Robinson High School auditorium at 6pm.