News
Some Residents say, ‘not so fast’ to Immigration Law changes for Third Generation
By Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, December 5, 2022 – Since its announcement, the upcoming Immigration Bill which will give third generation Turks and Caicos Islanders the opportunity to apply for citizenship has become a polarizing topic across the country with many residents outright discouraging the Government from carrying it out.
The announcement was made by Arlington Musgrove, Minister of Immigration and Border Services in a town hall on November 21st and reactions poured in immediately.
Some residents say the first step is to stop ‘hemorrhaging’ young and talented individuals as they move on for better
Musgrove in that same town hall had pulled out stats exposing that he had dozens of open positions with no islanders to fill them, so job security wasn’t the only thing sending them overseas. E Jay Saunders, Deputy Premier and Finance Minister agreed saying, it was the developed country lifestyle that was enticing young people out.
In this vein, residents also said the Government should invest more in the family islands making them more attractive to returning residents. Also demanded? A hotel for Grand Turk, all in an effort to, as one resident put it, stop the exodus of young people.
Other residents expressed their disdain with the idea maintaining that it was not to the benefit of TCI islanders.
At the time, Premier Washington Misick had pleaded with residents about being accepting.
“We have to be comfortable in our own skins, because I hear people all the time criticize TI Bahamians— We have to make a decision in this country whether we want to expand our population by our own bloodline or whether we are going to continue to import people, give them work permits, PRCS and then give them status, while we have our own people next door only qualified to the second generation.”
The country Leader also maintains the people would have a vote on the bill.