Immigration Minister Reports, includes drug busts and boosted earnings

By Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer

#TurksandCaicos, March 29th, 2022 – The Airports Authority, Customs Department and Ports Authority have all equaled or exceeded expected revenue levels, said Minister of Immigration and Border Services Arlington Musgrove in the House of Assembly last Thursday morning.

Ahead of a banner weekend where 13,000 guests are expected to be hosted at the airport the minister said these Statutory Bodies are already way above revenue.

“I am happy to report that during this financial year TCIAA was able to surpass its Budgeted Revenue Projections 17 per cent; a dollar value of $4,483,771,” Musgrove said.

Customs on the other hand is already matching 2019 levels.

“Collections from trading activities one-month shy of the end of this financial year end is only 1 per cent short of revenue collected for the same period in the pre-pandemic year,” Musgrove revealed.

“The Ports Authority is on pace to achieve an operating surplus of $2,178,566 for the financial year.” He noted, saying it had outperformed expectations.

In terms of investments, Just over $12,000 was put into four different bouts of training for customs officers. These included: Forgery training; Continuous Investigative Development; Customs Control and Canine Training.

Facilitated by the UK and the Customs Department, the training exercises have enhanced officers’ skills which has led to improved detection capabilities;  nearly a quarter of a million in infractions were logged.

“The Customs administration through its enforcement efforts has realized three drug seizures, and an additional $215,341.00 in infractions.” the minister said.

Repairs to the Providenciales International Airport (PLS) and upgrades to the  Jags McCartney International Airport in Grand Turk were not detailed by the Minister but he informed the House that the refurbishment projects already earmarked, should improve the passenger experience.

“This in no way negates the need for redevelopment, but these repairs are absolutely necessary in the interim,” Minister Musgrove maintained.

Details were also scant on the two previously announced radars and three drug busts.

The Minister did say at least two of the illicit drug finds were class one narcotics, which includes heroin, marijuana and ecstasy.  Minister Musgrove  did not identify which drugs had been detected or where, in his ministerial report.

There was however an update on the country’s ports.

Bellfield Landing Dock Project  for North and Middle and the South Caicos Port Rehabilitation project are both on track for completion in July and they are on budget.

In the same vein, the minister informed parliament, the South Dock in Provo will receive a modern  port, adding that the tendering process for Phases 1 and 2 are closed with bids currently under evaluation.