By Deandrea Hamilton and Dana Malcolm 

Editorial Staff  

#TurksandCaicos, March 9, 2023 – There are ways to track the ebbs and flows of a population; a curious algorithm which estimates how many people are moving into an area and how many are moving out.  Turks and Caicos is not there yet, though recently the Governor of the territory uncorked that he is approving as many as 1,000 people a year for British Overseas Territory Citizenship; reckoning that it makes the TCI the Caribbean country with the fastest growing population.  The thing is, the growth is migrant driven; and the only thing growing when it comes to the indigenous population is the exodus of them to other, more attractive cities around the world.

The issue is a lament of the Leader of the Opposition, who is again accusing the Washington Misick-led, PNP Administration of being disconnected.

“The cost of living is at an all-time high, for many the chance of owning a home is far out of reach. They just can’t afford the extremely high prices.  Many persons have left the country, and many more are planning to leave.  We have not seen an exodus like this since the late ’60s, and early ’70s,” he claimed in a February 27th rebuttal to the State of the State Address delivered by Premier Washington Misick.

Many residents have expressed the same sentiments as they watch their children leave for places overseas and decide not to return.  Last year, E Jay Saunders, TCI Deputy Premier had explained that the country was working on building up its infrastructure to keep people at home.

Astwood also claimed that TCIG is understaffed by hundreds.

“Under this current PNP administration, we are seeing a record amount of vacancies in the Public Service – we heard 400 vacancies— we are seeing persons being sent into retirement while there is still a great need for the retention of their services,” he said.

Last year it was revealed that several government agencies were critically understaffed because, despite publications of opportunities, no one was applying.  The Government is also currently in the midst of a massive employment drive.

On two Bahamas islands during February, the Premier, joined by the Deputy Governor and Minister of Immigration made appeals for Turks and Caicos Islanders to ‘come home’ not only for the investment opportunities, but for the jobs.

The brain drain and employment issues are problems that the government hopes second and perhaps even third-generation immigration will solve in the future.  Astwood is less confident in this strategy, calling the option to enlarge the franchise by changing the policy on who can gain citizenship a ‘knee-jerk reaction and not well thought out’.

Edwin Astwood, LOO said Government’s energies and efforts ought to first be toward creating reasons for Turks and Caicos Islanders to want to return home in order to build their lives and simultaneously, their country.