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TCI: Minister responds to lingering frustrations at Labour and Immigration, says processes for efficiency coming with Summer

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#Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuesday May 8, 2018 – An illegal immigration clamp down is netting successes for the Turks and Caicos Ministry of Border Control and Employment, but residents who need documents to safeguard legal status say the same office is a quagmire of confusion when it comes to prompt service.

Magnetic Media put serious questions to the Minister, who is also the country’s Deputy Premier – Hon Sean Astwood – about the decades old reputation of the immigration and labour processes which seem more of a hinder, than a help.

“We do recognize the challenges in the system.  It is an inherited problem that this government obviously came into with a system that has been broken for a very long time.  The process of work permits and other documents obviously takes time in its own nature, we are looking at ways of fine tuning and making the system more efficient and part of that, as I mentioned from last year, is the border control management system, which has a work permit module where persons should be able to apply for work permits online.”

This new system within Border Control and Employment is expected to come on stream by Summer 2018; the project was touted as being able to ‘significantly increase efficiency’ when it comes to the turn around time on work permits according to the Deputy Premier and Minister responsible.

“During every phase of the process they will be able to track their application and also inquire of the ministry or department about what is going on with their documents.”

This will include, explained DP Astwood, notifications if there are missing items for the process of work permits to be completed.

The Minister was also reporting on the motives for Operation Guardian and other border control, immigration and labour initiatives which are supporting the special-ops involving Cayman and Interpol police assistance.

One key goal of the Ministry, he said, is to ensure there is dignity for the migrant, who is often being exploited by human and sex traffickers.  We asked DP Astwood about the dignity of legal residents and citizens who are subjected to grueling wait periods with just about every application at the Ministry’s One Stop Shop.

“… was the first of a series of meetings that myself and my PS are having with the Department Heads to make sure that we are doing everything within our power to look and assess our systems, our processes to see if there are ways we can make them more efficient.”  The Minister added that the Labour Commissioner and his Deputy were in attendance; some of the ideas raised would be immediately instituted and could eliminate the need for Immigration Board approvals on specific professions.

Credit card size work permits are now available, a new regime which is already experiencing annoying hiccups according to those reaching out to Magnetic Media.  Deputy Premier Astwood explained the issues facing the new-styled document.

“We are not running out of stock,” the Minister further explained, “That card was intended to be a part of the same Border Management Control System and was intended to be used when that system was introduced.  I made the decision that because of the nature and the benefits the card itself had even outside of the system that  it was proper and necessary for us to move ahead with implementing the card.  What that meant was we had to use a makeshift system in order to be able to implement and start distributing those cards. We have been having some issues with that system but we are constantly working on it to make sure we are getting cards out as quickly as possible.”

Stocks are not low but the software is creating a back-up in distribution.

Still, barring this break down, one can wait nearly 3-years for a simple birth certificate.  Citizens rarely get documents returned within the time frame given by the One Stop Shop.  And after years and years of issues and problems, the reasons given for delays – which are often expensive, frustrating setbacks – are nothing more than unacceptable excuses to the public.

Recent meetings with officials of the country have revealed a resounding, echoing agreement for a digitised set of systems to enhance public service, customer service, government networking and to build a more modern Turks and Caicos.  However from the Governor to Premier, Deputy Premier to Police Commissioner, there is no clear plan revealed on how a digital Turks and Caicos will ever come about.

During that press meeting, the Border Control Minister, Sean Astwood expressed optimism and is like administrations before him asking for the public for patience as the Ministry tries to deliver upon expedient, efficient service.

“Trust me, I appreciate what you are saying.  We are ensuring that the frontline staff communicate properly and correctly to our customers that they are provided with the correct information.  We are also working feverishly, and over the next three months, you should anticipate that we will be publishing timelines for our processes. I can promise you and public that we are working hard at this.”

 

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Invest Turks and Caicos Islands Takes Platinum Sponsor Role at Premier Hotel Investment Summit  

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Turks and Caicos, May 23, 2026 – Invest Turks and Caicos Islands took center stage at one of the region’s most influential hospitality investment gatherings this spring, serving as a Platinum Sponsor at ALIS CALA 2026 in Coral Gables, Florida.

Held April 28 to 30 at the Loews Coral Gables Hotel, the conference brought together more than 600 tourism, hotel and investment leaders from over 35 countries focused on the future of hospitality investment in the Caribbean and Latin America.

ALIS CALA — short for the Americas Lodging Investment Summit Caribbean and Latin America — is widely regarded as the region’s premier deal-driven hospitality investment conference. The platform emerged from the merger of the long-running Caribbean Hotel & Resort Investment Summit (CHRIS) and Hotel Opportunities Latin America (HOLA), creating what organizers describe as a high-level space where investors, developers, lenders, hotel brands and government leaders connect around major regional projects and opportunities.

The event is known for attracting senior decision-makers, with roughly one in three delegates holding titles such as Chairman, CEO, President, Owner or Principal.

Invest Turks and Caicos said its participation focused heavily on showcasing investment opportunities across the territory, particularly in the Family Islands.

CEO Angela Musgrove delivered a presentation highlighting development opportunities in the Turks and Caicos Islands to what the agency described as a full room of attendees and strong stakeholder interest.

In a statement following the conference, Invest Turks and Caicos said discussions centered on tourism expansion, sustainable development and long-term investment partnerships designed to position the Turks and Caicos Islands as a leading investment destination in the region.

The agency added that it looks forward to continuing conversations started at ALIS CALA and building new partnerships with investors, developers and strategic stakeholders interested in growth opportunities throughout the islands.

The conference itself focused heavily on capital access, hotel development pipelines, mixed-use tourism projects and investment confidence throughout the Caribbean basin — sectors where Turks and Caicos continues to attract increasing international attention.

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Multi-Agency Enforcement Action Conducted in Lower Bight

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Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands — The Informal Settlements Unit (ISU), in coordination with the Planning Department and key partner agencies, conducted a multi-agency enforcement exercise on Thursday, May 7, 2026, in the Lower Bight area in Providenciales. The exercise resulted in the complete removal of a total of eight (8) unauthorized structures and all associated debris from a privately-owned parcel of land.

The operation was led by the Planning Department, with coordination by the ISU and support from the TCI Border Force, the Crown Land Unit, and Pelican Energy.  Security for the exercise was provided by the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force. All agencies worked collaboratively to ensure the exercise was carried out in a safe, orderly, and controlled manner.

The enforcement action followed a structured and lawful process in accordance with the Physical Planning regulatory framework of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Section 45 Enforcement Notices were first issued on the affected parcel in December 2024, identifying unauthorized structures erected without the requisite approvals. This was followed by the issuance of Warning Notices on April 16, 2026, which advised occupants that they were in breach of planning and land use regulations and provided notice that demolition activities would proceed following the prescribed compliance period. Despite these notices and the time afforded for compliance, the unauthorized structures remained in place.

This exercise represents part of an ongoing commitment to ensuring that development within the Turks and Caicos Islands is lawful, safe, and aligned with national standards.

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Beaches Turks and Caicos and Sandals Foundation Champion Early Childhood Literacy with Star-Studded Reading Road Trip

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PROVIDENCIALES, Turks & Caicos Islands: The grand opening of the Treasure Beach Village at Beaches Turks and Caicos brought more than just high-energy celebrations to the shores of Providenciales as the Sandals Foundation led a star-studded Reading Road Trip at four local primary schools.

Dozens of celebrities, global media representatives, resort guests, and hospitality executives took a purposeful break from the weekend’s festivities to connect directly with the island’s youngest learners. The initiative transformed standard kindergarten classrooms at Enid Capron Primary, Thema Lightbourne Primary, Ianthe Pratt Primary and Oseta Jolly Primary into dynamic literacy hubs as visitors including American Actor and Playwright Jesse Eisebberg, and Real Housewives of New York City and author Kelly Bensimon read books and engaged in fun literacy games and activities.

The carefully designed activities aimed to strengthen students’ foundational reading comprehension skills and saw visitors actively animating characters, reading aloud, playing interactive literacy games, doing phonetic exercises and collaborative arts and crafts.

For local educators, the initiative represented a valuable opportunity to broaden students’ horizons. Through meaningful interaction with media representatives, students learned firsthand about exciting careers in writing, photography, and broadcasting.

Nelene Swann, Vice Principal of Enid Capron Primary, highlighted the profound impact of the unique global connection. “The experience for the children was good as they interacted and shared in a cultural blend while learning about new cultures and different career options,” Swann shared.

For American actor and playwright Jesse Eisenberg, who spent his afternoon volunteering at Oseta Jolly Primary School, his visit coincided with a special occasion on the school’s calendar, creating an even more memorable atmosphere for the youngsters.

“Our school was celebrating Boys Day which allowed [Eisenberg] to share in the experience and even provide great mentorship advice. Lessons such as the importance of consistency were well received by students in this developmental phase,” says Handsfield.

The Sandals Foundation has long championed early childhood education as a fundamental pillar of its philanthropic mission across the region.

Heidi Clarke, Executive Director of the Sandals Foundation, expressed her pride in the weekend’s grand opening educational outreach noting, “The Reading Road Trips provided a one-of-a-kind experience to guests and students as they shared in the power of play, imagination and life – all through the wonders of books. At the heart of our mission is to facilitate the creation of fun and dynamic learning environments that inspire students. We are proud to be a partner in TCI’s education tapestry and will continue to support initiatives that enable students’ holistic development.”

While the grand opening festivities brought a special influx of international participants to the classrooms, the commitment to local schools remains a consistent, year-round priority for the local resort staff. Employees regularly dedicate their personal time to mentor, tutor, and read with primary school students, fostering an incredibly strong bond between the hospitality sector and the local education system.

General Manager Deryk Meany emphasized the immense joy these initiatives bring to his dedicated staff. “This was a blast for the resort team members. The heart of the hospitality industry extends far beyond the resort’s doors and through the Reading Road Trip and other team member volunteer initiatives, we are proud to share our time, resources and expertise to the school community.”

Even as the official grand opening celebrations conclude, the positive impact of these classroom interactions will continue to resonate deeply throughout the Providenciales community and the world – example of a powerful model for community-integrated tourism.

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