TCI: “Endangered Species” must be protected as Islander Commission rebooted with Amendments to the law

#TurksandCaicos, June 14, 2021 – He called for the protection of the most precious and endangered species in the TCI; that species to the Hon Shaun Malcolm is none other than the Turks and Caicos Islander; when he made his contribution on the Islander Commission which was debated in the House of Assembly Tuesday. 

“Mr. Speaker, perhaps the delay in processing those applications could be the divine intervention,; it could be  the opportunity to ensure that we the people of this country having experienced and continue to experience the financial hardships in this wealthy country, that we have reached that level of maturity when we can review the actions of others and assess whether they are to our benefit or otherwise.”

The Islander Commission has the power to grant Turks and Caicos Islands Citizenship to qualified applicants.  Malcolm said it is his hope that “those who have been entrusted with this awesome responsibility will use the power of discernment, the love of country and the legacy for future generations of Turks and Caicos Islanders to guide and direct them.”

Malcolm, in his presentation informed there are 180 applications waiting to be processed, stretching back to 2016 hence one of the key reasons for the amendments which were made to the law on Tuesday.  It allows the backlog to be reviewed and cleared and it allows the newly established commission to take their time, be thorough in order to soberly consider individuals who would be applying to become full citizens of the Turks and Caicos. 

“Maintaining balance is a critical factor to the future of this country. Without it, we run the risk of tripping and obliteration. Mr. Speaker, while the cause of the collapse of the Champlain Towers in Florida has not yet been determined, what is known is that something created an imbalance in the structure and it collapsed. This Mr. Speaker is about protecting us. This Mr. Speaker is about using the legislative wheels to crush the efforts to dilute the only thing we have left, our power and authority in this Honorable House. It is about using the last vestige of authority we have  to stop the exploitation and the conquering of ‘The Last Frontier’,” said Hon Shaun Malcolm, At Large member of parliament.

An emotive issue is the granting of ‘Belonger’ status to foreigners and Malcolm, when he addressed the House reflected on the legacy of this often controversial subject.  He promised that he suffers no phobias but pointed to the potential for an imbalance, which could bring the Turks and Caicos down. 

“We have witnessed the exponential growth of this country, in terms of our population and our economy. We have through various studies found out who the real beneficiaries are of this country’s wealth. No doubt Mr. Speaker, this is perhaps the influencer for this Government’s pledge to move our people from poverty to prosperity. 

 Mr. Speaker, we battle what some see as inevitable. While I have no illusion about the importance of people to the economic survival of this country, I have a deep regard for the preservation of the last vestige of our heritage and our survival as indigenous Turks and Caicos Islanders. Let me hasten to add Mr. Speaker, before my words are misconstrued. I have no PHOBIA…Xeno, homo, or otherwise.

Mr. Speaker we are an endangered species and you know what happens when this occurs. It creates imbalance.”

In early June, Governor Nigel Dakin advised of the composition of the Islander Commission; the chair of the body jointly selected by the two political party leaders.  Benson Harvey got the nod and other members of the Committee are the Oswald Skippings, Derevaux Malcolm, Herbert Been and Carl Simmons. The Attorney General is an ex-officio member.