Government
TCI Quashing Maritime Border Issues
By Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, March 6, 2023 – The TCI Government is working to settle long standing border issues with three of its closest neighbours and progress has been made in at least one case.
His Excellency Nigel Dakin, TCI Governor, who is responsible for matters of National Security told Magnetic Media, “TCI has long standing issues regarding the demarcation of our Maritime borders with three neighbors: the
Dakin said on advice of the Premier and as part of our overall national security strategy, they are seeking to resolve all three amicably.
“The boundary with The Bahamas and Haiti is not in “dispute”, the boundary with the Dominican Republic is.” he explained. A recent update from Cabinet hinted that the Bahamas had met the TCI at the negotiating table revealing that Cabinet ‘approved a technical agreement between the Government of the TCI and the Commonwealth of the Bahamas Government around negotiations demarking the maritime border between both countries and subsequent ratification.’
Dakin explained what that meant: “To settle the boundary with the Bahamas requires both Governments – through their Cabinets – to agree on a shared position. With that decided the UK, who has responsibilities in this area for international agreements, can conclude an agreement with the Government of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, on TCI’s behalf. The Cabinet statement records part of that process,” he said.
The Dominican Republic and TCI have been butting heads on this same matter for years.