TCI: The Deputy Premier and Minister of Border Control and Employment to Host Summit on Illegal Migration

#Providenciales, August 3, 2018 – Turks and Caicos – The Office of the Deputy Premier and Ministry of Border Control and Employment, under the leadership of the Deputy Premier and Minister, the Honourable Sean Astwood will be hosting a one-day Summit on Illegal Immigration, on Thursday 9^th August 2018 at the Shore Club in Providenciales.

The ministry recognizes the problems that exist with illegal migration in the Turks and Caicos Islands, with the increase of illegal sloops and overstays, which has become a national concern and has the potential to negatively impact the lives and businesses of all our citizens and those living among us.  In a bi-partisan approach towards cooperation on this critical matter at the highest level, the Deputy Premier will convene a meeting with past Chief Ministers and Premiers, as well as former Ministers of Immigration and Border Control to formulate an eventual agreement for strategic approaches to effectively address and combat this challenge, and agree the pathway to the eventual stemming of illegal migration in the country.

Honourable Astwood indicated that “My ministry holds the main responsibility for migration and immigration, and continues to do its utmost to fight illegal migration, and in recent months have had numerous successes”.  He further stated that “However, as a country we remain cognizant that while we continue to affect our operational mandate, there is a need for a strategic direction and sustainable program in order to curb this issue for the long term.”

The Department of Immigration, in recent months has led on numerous operations and through its Task Force Unit, continues to mount joint operations with the Police Department and other enforcement agencies, which resulted in a number of apprehensions of persons who are illegally residing and working within the country.

This high-level meeting is another in a series of engagements with public stakeholders that the Deputy Premier has undertaken since coming to office, as a collaborative approach to addressing major immigration and migration issues in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Release: TCIG