It is FREEZING in the Turks and Caicos Islands

By Dana Malcolm & Deandrea Hamilton

#TurksandCaicos, February 23, 2022 – There have been three significant blizzards ever since the Progressive National Party took office on February 19, 2021; and it is not haphazard, the freezes are a part of a strategy.

“The government notes the need to enhance the migrant worker program to meet the demands of the market however, there must be a priority placed on the development of its people.”

The PNP Administration defends the moratoriums which have been placed on specific work permits, temporary work permits and more recently, there is a freeze on new applications for Turks and Caicos Islands status.”

The PNP Administration has continuously created legislation to ensure that indigenous islanders benefit from the lucrative job and commercial market being forge amidst a banner year for tourism, investment and real estate sales.

This includes a moratorium implemented last April, which placed a stop on all first time work permits for one year. The moratorium which should have ended in April was waived in December of last year.

Still several announcements in line with this effort to employ indigenous residents were made in the last few weeks including a new moratorium which has been placed on temporary work permits.

Cabinet in its most recent meeting approved the moratorium on the categories of domestic workers, barmaids, laborers, barbers and cosmetologists which includes nail techs and beauticians.

These are usually sourced from regional countries; workers come in droves and attract smaller wages and often demonstrate more willingness to get to work.

The PNP Government is obviously working to change that trend and to get islanders in vacant positions across the board.

It is however leading to tremendous frustration for those trying to fill positions as we rapidly return to pre-pandemic activity in the commercial sector.  To meet the demand, the Turks and Caicos Islands Government announced the moratorium coincides with the development of a National Workforce Development Strategy and Employment policy.

The moratorium also coincides with the temporary work program headed by the Ministry of Physical Planning and Infrastructure Development. About that program Minister of PPID Akeirra Misick said “The purpose of the program Will be to provide a means of assessing and engaging meaningful employment for all of those who are interested in such…This Program is another avenue to provide opportunity to those who are seeking employment during this time.”

Noble initiatives, however, will they be able to keep up with this fast growing economy.  Government processes like securing police records and birth certificates are lengthy and have led to extreme back logs.

Still, the PNP Government is going to try.

In a release on Tuesday regarding the newest work permit moratorium the government said, “The government is confident that this moratorium will allow for a proper assessment of the market needs, which will, in turn, lead to the development, implementation, and sustainability of a sound National Development Plan and Employment Policy.”

On Monday it was announced that the Turks and Caicos Islander Status Commission will not be accepting any new applications for Islander status for the remainder of 2022.

In a statement the TCIG reminded potential status seekers that because of the backlog of applications currently being dealt with, “no person but the spouses of islanders will be able to apply for Islander status.”