Government
Cabinet Approval, Radar to be constructed
By Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, March 6, 2023 – Two years and dozens of interceptions after they were initially announced at least one of the radar stations in the TCI has been approved for construction by Cabinet. Minutes from a January 25 meeting of Members of the Turks and Caicos Cabinet revealed the government gave the Royal Turks and Caicos Police Force (RTCIPF) the nod to construct the long awaited station on a portion of land in North West & Central,
The two radars were initially slated for North West Point and Long Bay in Provo. Arlington Musgrove, Minister of Immigration and Border Services had indicated in November 2021 that the land was being cleared for the radars and civil work had begun. An end date of March 2022 was given for completion; it’s not stated the reason the process had slowed so significantly.
The current radar stations located on a peninsula in the Five Cays community is often credited for the swift detection of fast boats with illegal migrants, as well as detection of stolen vessels. Providenciales in particular is plagued with attempts to breach its borders regularly; the Governor having cited the plethora of job availability as a pull factor for irregular migrants.
At least 771 illegal migrants have been intercepted in TCI waters in only the first two months of 2023.