Gaping holes in Government, residents say TCIG must pay more to get more

By Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer

#TurksandCaicos, November 24, 2022 – Minister of Immigration Arlington Musgrove has exposed gaping holes in the public service as the Government competes against the private sector and other countries to get islanders to fill positions.

The Minister who is also responsible for sea ports, airports and the Customs Department was responding to a parent who shared remarks at the government-hosted public meeting on Monday in Providenciales.  The mother explained that her now adult children did not want to stay in or return to the Turks and Caicos.

“What are you doing in terms of citizen retention—” she asked “ I am a mother of four, three of them have already gone through college, I have one in university, none of them have an interest in staying here and that is something that is rather disheartening to me because I love my home. But I understand their plight, and not one of you here can sit here and honestly tell me that you do not notice that our people are fed up.”

Minister Musgrove however denied that a lack of jobs was the only reason citizens were migrating explaining that “I do think it’s because of the exposure, it’s not that they can’t find jobs here. We have the biggest problem right now in recruiting people for the government. We have over 90 jobs available.”

He went on to detail the openings which included:

• 15 – 25 unfilled spots in the Airports Authority
•  5 – 10 unfilled positions at the Ports
• Unspecified amount of openings in Civil Aviation, Customs and Immigration
• Spots for radio technicians and air traffic controllers

“I’ve been advertising civil aviation mainly because I’ve been telling them I want Turks Islanders. I’ve been advertising for months,” he said “in Immigration (Department) I’m still looking for a task force, I’m still looking for Airport Staff.  I have no customs officers. I have two customs officers in Grand Turk.

I’m running on fumes in Grand Turk. Christmas is coming and I have two customs officers— I can’t find anybody,” he explained. “They apply and as soon as we call them they’ve already got a job in the private sector.”

“Would you believe we have five air traffic controllers in this country because we can’t find nobody.”

It not only points to the opportunities but the deficits in the government and quasi-government sectors of public administration.  The Immigration and Border Services minster shared that despite a countrywide drive to increase the amount of air traffic controllers only one Turks and Caicos islander expressed any interest.

The attendees of the public meeting were emboldened by his admissions and offered, firmly that salaries in government must be more competitive if there is to be any draw to the jobs available in the public sector.

Musgrove expressed hope that at least in the aviation industry there would be more competitive salaries soon. “I hope that after the salary review the government sector will be more attractive.” He said.

In the face of all the openings residents questioned how appealing the salaries were and encouraged the government to sweeten the pot by offering equally enticing employee packages to locals as is done for individuals who come in from abroad.