Turks and Caicos, April 5, 2017 – Providenciales – It may be considered the ‘troubling Ministry in Government’ but new Border Control and Employment Minister, Deputy Premier Sean Astwood said his team is not backing down on turning that reputation around. Minister Astwood stated that there were five top priorities under his ministry within the 100 days and that they have already engaged in all.
These priorities were “restoring the public’s trust and confidence in the Ministry of Border control and employment. Reviewing of operational policies and procedures, reviewing of current systems and implementations of new I.T systems” in addition to having “initial assessments of staff in their work environments” and last but not least to “engage private sectors to ensure the people [of Turks and Caicos] will have opportunities for jobs and career advancements”.
On Tuesday 4th April 2017, The People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) held a press conference to outline and make the public aware of their accomplishments after being in office for 100 days. The minister in his report said that he was at the recent Caricom Heads of Government meeting held in Guyana to discuss issues relating to border control, crime, human trafficking, tourism and the movement of labour throughout the region. There, he spoke to new Haitian president, Jovenel Moise who agreed that an official visit between the two nations, where illegal immigration by Haitians to the TCI is a long standing and expensive problem, is warranted.
DP Astwood recently made a trip to the Cayman Islands where he not only led a delegation that discussed immigration systems but also forged new and improved relationships between Turks and Caicos and the wider Caribbean. In his address Minister Astwood reiterated that, “change is here” and made promises that there would be an increase of immigration officers, law enforcement officers and new I.T systems put in place to eliminate prior issues and to advance technology especially where work permits are concerned.
From the labour side of his ministerial portfolio, there was the announcement of an annual National Career Recruitment Expo, which will debut in early May. Deputy Premier Astood stated that though his ministry did not promise a lot in their manifesto for the first 100 days, a lot has happened regardless.
Story by: Kay Marie Fletcher
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