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Deputy Premier and Minister of Immigration, Hon. Sean R. Astwood, sensitizes migrant communities on his Government’s aims to Regularize Immigration in the Turks and Caicos Islands

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#TurksandCaicos, August 25, 2017 – Providenciales – The Deputy Premier and Minister of Border Control and Employment, Hon. Sean R. Astwood last week spent time engaging with leaders of the larger migrant communities as a lead up to his Ministry’s crack down on the illegal population residing in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

On Tuesday August 8th, Hon. Astwood met with Consul representatives of the Philippines, Jamaica and Haiti prior to his meeting of Thursday August 10th when he brought together pastors of the Haitian Community, to discuss the current Immigration and Border Control initiatives in the TCI that were recently announced on July 26th in the House of Assembly when it last convened.

Since the Deputy Premier’s announcement of tighter controls and improved enforcement of the Immigration law, there has been much speculation and mischief-making and the purpose those meetings were to provide factual information that the representatives could disseminate to persons in their respective communities.

During the meetings which were hosted at the Office of the Premier in Providenciales, Hon. Astwood, who was also Acting Premier and Minister of Finance, Investment and Trade at the time, briefed the attendees on the aims of his ministry to regularize immigration in the Turks and Caicos Islands and further assured them that the intention of this ongoing initiative is to ensure that everyone in the country is here legally and that all laws of the country are being upheld.

The Deputy Premier noted that it is important for us as a Government and as a country to do all within our power, guided by our legal frameworks, to ensure the safety and security of all persons that live, work and visit here, and further provided information to the those present on what persons can expect after the deadline of August 14th, 2017.

Hon. Astwood informed of his approach to Immigration from a border control standpoint, with the intent to ensure that all persons living in the country have valid statuses to do so.   Towards this end, the Immigration Task Force, in conjunction with the Royal Turks & Caicos Islands Police Force would perform stop and search operations, and persons found to not be in possession of a valid TCI status will be detained and processed.   While some deportation is anticipated, the Department will be keen to look at each case on an individual basis to ensure that persons falling outside of the intended target objective are not disadvantaged by the operations, and that all others are either repatriated or charged and deported in which case they too will be added to the Immigration Stop List.

Image-8The Deputy Premier impressed upon his audience the need for persons to utilize the time given to either regularize themselves, or to leave the country voluntarily, as this would permit re-entry at a later date, through legal means once approved to do so.

When asked for his views on the success of the meetings, Hon. Astwood stated:

“I am confident that the meetings provided a platform to not only address the migrant communities concerns regarding my Ministry’s ongoing initiatives but it also gave opportunity to share this Government’s vision and expectations of the migrant population that remain amongst us with the hope that the Consuls and Pastors, as leaders within their own right, will provide clarity to persons in their communities and further encourage them to abide here following all of the laws of our country.”

Hon. Astwood also, during the meetings, reiterated the need for all persons to work together to protect the borders and people of the Turks and Caicos Islands. He stated:

“Illegal migration threatens the lives and livelihood of our people.   My Ministry and this Government will continue to work diligently to enforce the laws of this land for the protection of our people and the preservation of our Country.”

“Make no mistake, we welcome persons from all nationalities to legally enter and reside in TCI and while your main concern is your people, please know that these measures are not just towards some, but they apply to all persons and nationalities that choose to visit, work or live amongst us.”

This Immigration initiative is just the beginning of a long term goal to restore balance and order in the Turks & Caicos Islands. Many of our laws are not being adhered to and we intend to change that.”

The meetings also revealed that new policies and frameworks are on the horizon and will be introduced to the public within coming months as it relates to work permits, border enforcement and improvements in processing and other operational policies and procedures.

The deadline to regularize expired on August 15th, which was Tuesday of this week and joint law enforcement operations commenced as planned. As such, activities are deemed sensitive, reports on the outcomes will be given on a need-to-know basis, as will be determined by the participatory agencies in the exercises, and only in the interest of maintaining national security.

Press Release: TCIG

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DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM REGULATIONS INTRODUCES “RATE YOUR RIDE” SYSTEM FOR TOURISTS VISITING THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS

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FROM THE MINISTRY OF TOURISM

 

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 27th March, 2024 – Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands: The Department of Tourism Regulations is proud to unveil the “Rate Your Ride” system, a new initiative designed to enhance the vacation experience for tourists exploring our picturesque islands.

The “Rate Your Ride” system empowers tourists to provide valuable feedback on the quality of transportation services they receive while visiting the Turks and Caicos Islands. Through an easy-to-use online form, tourists can rate factors such as cleanliness, comfort, safety, and professionalism of drivers, helping us to assure the highest quality of service standards across all modes of transportation.

By participating in the “Rate Your Ride” system, tourists play a crucial role in shaping the future of transportation services in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Their feedback will enable us to identify areas for improvement and ensure that every visitor enjoys safe, comfortable, and convenient travel throughout their stay in the Turks and Caicos.

The code will also be publicly accessible through the cooperation of volunteer drivers who will make the rating code available in their vehicles. Flyers and stickers displaying the code will be distributed at hotels, resorts and airports. The mandated display of these codes is expected to align with the rollout of our tourism regulations in 2025.

For more information about the “Rate Your Ride” system and other initiatives by the Department of Tourism Regulations, please visit gov.tc/tourismregulations/or contact us via telephone at 946-4970 and email at tourismregulations@gov.tc.

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THE DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIOURAL HEALTH SERVICES CONDEMNS RECORDING OF PERSONS WHO ARE IN CRISIS

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FROM THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

 

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 27th March 2024– The Department of Behavioral Health Services is appealing to the general public to refrain from recording and circulating videos of persons who may appear to be experiencing a mental health crisis. Anyone can experience a mental health crisis at some point in their life. According to the World Health Organization, 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem in any given year. Persons may struggle with very common conditions such as Anxiety and Depression or be diagnosed with more serious conditions like Bipolar Disorder or Psychosis.

“There are a lot of misunderstandings about various mental health conditions and how they may manifest. In addition, there are a number of negative perceptions and misconceptions that society exhibits towards people with mental health problems. However, just as we would show care and concern for someone diagnosed with Cancer, or any other physical illness, in the same way, we need to be as caring and helpful to persons with mental illnesses”– stated Director of the Department of Behavioral Health Services, Dr. Alicia Malcolm.

The Department is urging the public to call the following numbers if you see someone who appears to be experiencing a mental health crisis:

338-5473/338-3616: Providenciales, North or Middle Caicos

338-3614/338-3612: Grand Turk, South Caicos, Salt Cay

338-6301: Nights and Weekends

If someone is putting themselves or someone else in immediate, serious risk of harm, call 911.

The Department of Behavioral Health services is here to help and provides the following services which are free and confidential:

Location of above services:

o             Sam Harvey Building, Down Town, Providenciales,

o             Primary Health Care Department, Cheshire Hall Medical Center, Providenciales 

o             Department of Behavioural Health, Duncombe Alley, Grand Turk

 

Let’s all do our part in creating a community where people with mental health problems feel respected, supported and cared for. 

For additional information, please visit the Ministry of Health’s Facebook page on https://www.facebook.com/tciministryofhealth/ or the Department of Behavioral Health Services Faceebook on https://www.facebook.com/TCIDBHS/.

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Breaking Ground: TCI Could Lead in Regional Communication Standards

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Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom, 27th March 2024: The PR, marketing, and communications sector is poised for potential growth and could lead the Caribbean region in terms of industry standards says Damian Wilson. Wilson’s suggestion comes after the release of a new research report into the current trends and future direction of the sector as a possible emerging industry in the Turks & Caicos Islands (TCI).

Wilson is the report’s author, which conveys the findings of research which he initiated. “One of the key research results is the considerable optimism by industry practitioners and government alike, with persons seeing growth potential. I believe that we can become regional leaders in this field. I believe that one of the initiatives that could be used to do this is by establishing a ‘TCI Centre of Communications Excellence’ within the TCI Community College. Such an institute would be dedicated to communication and media innovation with a particular focus on digital communications and ICT,” says Wilson.

He further explained, “I believe that the PR, marketing, and communications sector, like much of the country, is at a crossroads and could have an even greater impact on our socio-economic fabric. Some may have concerns about our small size, but I believe this makes us far more agile than our neighbours. All in all, any potential growth must be underpinned by new investments, professional development, and a strategy to integrate the sector into the broader economy.”

Wilson also said that he sees his research as a first step in understanding our own industry sectors in the TCI and would love to see more profound research and analysis conducted. He’s hoping that the report will spark discussion along those lines. The report is entitled ‘Current Trends and Future Direction: A Preliminary Report on the PR, Marketing, and Communications Sector in the Turks & Caicos Islands’. Anyone wanting a copy of the report can contact Damian Wilson via his email, damian.wilson.pr@gmail.com.

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