Government
Biometrics for visitors and more passed cabinet, minister explains
By Dana Malcolm
Staff writer
#TurksandCaicos, March 31, 2023 – Protecting the TCI Immigration system from abuse, a key factor driving the digitization of our borders and a business case is already being created to facilitate it, says Arlington Musgrove, Minister of Immigration and Border Services.
Describing the process as transformational, the minister explained it would be done in phases; it’s already laid out at Cabinet.
“The scale of our ambition is significant and is in three parts – an end-to-end border management system with an online customer portal, the introduction of biometrics for all non-citizens and automation technology-likely to be
Minister Musgrove explained why it was so important to have these capabilities installed in the country, which has had recurring issues with illegal migration, both by sea, and by air from residents overstaying work permits to simply arriving for vacation and not going back home.
“Locking non- citizens into a biometric identity will make our system more robust; biometrics will help us quickly identify persons who have broken the immigration rules – persons who have entered unlawfully for example – and prevent them from simply changing their identity to gain legal status. Digital borders also include a pre- entry portal, which will allow us to screen prospective travellers before they even arrive.”
The Immigration Ministry began this work under the former Government Administration, through consultation and support from the UK Government and local stakeholders including DETI. Now, following a detailed ‘discovery’ process to identify the technical requirements and approximate budget for the project, Musgrove said he and his team are hoping to be ready to move forward with procurement when the 2023-2024 National Budget is tabled.