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“Wrong and Ill-Advised”, TCI Minister vows Repatriations will continue despite UN plea

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By Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer 

 

 

#TurksandCaicos, May 10, 2023 – “I sympathise with the Haitian people but we are a small nation and we are being overrun as we speak, so I will continue to repatriate and to deport Haitians that are in my country illegally.”

That was the determined stance from Arlington ‘Chuck’ Musgrove, the Turks and Caicos’ Minister of Immigration in the face of yet another call from a United Nations Committee, for countries in the Americas to “suspend forced returns and adopt measures to protect Haitians on the move”

The call was made by experts at the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) on April 28th, after 36,000 were deported from June to March, mostly from the Dominican Republic. They expressed fear at increasing reports of increasing xenophobia against Haitians as well. It is at least the second such plea from the UN in the past year.

The UN Committee did not specify what countries they were referring to. While the US state of Florida is also particularly susceptible to the influx of illegal migrants from the impoverished country, the closest and undoubtedly worst affected countries are The Dominican Republic, the Turks and Caicos Islands and The Bahamas.

What the UN would like to see are countries assessing the irregular migrants, case by case.  Each individual would then be able to be linked – if applicable – to protection needs in accordance with international refugee and human rights law. For TCI this would mean feeding, housing, and clothing more than 1600 migrants while the Government tried to determine their cases.

At this time, without this new request for slower processing before repatriation, it is costing the Turks and Caicos $2,200 per migrant for shelter and security.

“We spent over 3 million dollars repatriating Haitians to Haiti on these illegal sloops and these voyages are killing the people themselves,” Musgrove said of the cost to the TCI.

The bill for 2022/23 has already passed $5 million. “We cannot do more, I refuse to hear something like that from the UN,” he contended.

In fact, the bill, according to Althea Been, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry,  is $6.3 million; she was reporting on May 3 to the Appropriations’ Committee of the House of Assembly.

Increasingly, bloody wars between criminal gangs, an undermanned and outgunned police force and crumbling democratic systems, have worsened the humanitarian crises in the country, which sits north of the TCI; about 30 minutes away by flight.

Dozens of people are killed weekly in Haiti and the UN says almost half its residents are at risk of starvation as larger wealthier countries hem and haw about how much aid they are willing to send.

As reported by Magnetic Media previously “The entire state of Florida is 170,312 kilometres squared, about 12 times the size of the Bahamas which sits at 13,880 km².  The Bahamas in turn is just about 14 times larger than the Turks and Caicos.”

At least a hundred Haitians arrive on each fast boat, the latest intercepted on April 25th was carrying 240.

In fact, if the Turks and Caicos had not deported the migrants who arrived in the country in only three weeks this January, the population would have grown 0.55 percent. Former Governor Nigel Dakin said: “This is, pro-rata, the equivalent of 360,000 crossing the English Channel, or 1.6 million attempting to cross the US’s southern border, over nine days.”

Musgrove described the calls as ‘ill advised’: “Until the UN can really come together and ask those countries who can afford it like the US and France– for help with Haiti, then they cannot ask small countries like the Turks and Caicos and The Bahamas to stop repatriating Haitians. That is wrong and ill-advised from the UN.”

Government

The Department of Gender Affairs, within the Ministry of Home Affairs, Pinned House of Assembly (HOA) Members for Domestic Violence Awareness Month

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PRESS RELEASE 

From The Department of Gender Affairs

 

Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Islands October 29th 2024 – In a powerful display of solidarity, the Turks and Caicos Islands Government rallied behind Domestic Violence Awareness Month with a pinning of members of the House of Assembly. This symbolic act, where the leaders were pinned with an awareness badge, signifies their public commitment to the cause. The event, held on October 11th , 2024, was organized by the Department of Gender Affairs and led by Mrs. Carolyn Dickenson, Director of Gender Affairs, under the theme “Stop the Pain, Break the Chain: Silence Hides Violence.”

Premier Hon. Charles Washington Misick and several other esteemed members of the House of Assembly participated in the ceremony, demonstrating the government’s unwavering commitment to combating domestic violence. By wearing the awareness pins, these leaders visibly pledged their support for victims/survivors and their families, as well as their dedication to breaking the cycle of abuse.

Mrs. Dickenson expressed her elation at the overwhelming support shown by the members. “Their participation sends a powerful message that our government will not tolerate domestic violence in any form,” she stated. “It emphasizes that we all have a role to play in ending the silence that hides this devastating issue too often.”

Domestic Violence Awareness Month is an annual observance in the Turks and Caicos Islands aimed at raising awareness of the pervasive problem of domestic abuse and providing support to those affected. The theme “Stop the Pain, Break the Chain” is a call to action, emphasizing the need to break the silence surrounding domestic violence and create a chain of support for victims. It encourages everyone to speak out against domestic violence and support those who are affected.

The Turks and Caicos Islands Government urges all residents to join this important awareness campaign. Together, the community can play a crucial role in stopping the pain of domestic violence and breaking the chain of abuse for generations to come.

If you do not have a pin, we encourage you to collect one from the Department of Gender Affairs. Your participation is crucial in our collective efforts to end domestic violence.

For more information on Domestic Violence Awareness Month and resources for those affected by domestic abuse, please contact the Department of Gender Affairs via telephone at 649-338-2681 (Grand Turk), 649-338-2686 (Providenciales). You can also contact the Department via email at genderaffairs@gov.tc. Continue to look out for its various activities on facebook.com/genderaffairstci or Instagram: @genderaffairstci.

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Government

Shakiah Lewis Appointed Dean of CARICOM Youth Ambassadors

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PRESS RELEASE

 

FROM THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

YOUTH, SPORTS, AND CULTURE

 

 

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 25th October 2024 – The Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture, through the Department of Youth Affairs is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Shakiah Lewis as Dean of the CARICOM Youth Ambassadors Program (CYAP) for the entire CARICOM region.

A dedicated educator and passionate youth advocate, Ms. Lewis, brings extensive experience in regional integration, leadership, and community involvement. She is a member of the TCI National Youth Parliament, TCI Community College Alumni Association, CSA Young Workers Leader, AOL Foundation advocate, and Rotaract Club of Grand Turk Director.

As Dean, Ms. Lewis will promote youth advocacy and leadership development, deepening youth participation in regional integration and development. Her one-year term will focus on championing youth-related issues such as education, employment, health, and social inclusion.

Hon. Rachel Taylor, Minister of Education, Youth, Sports & Culture stated, “I congratulate Ms. Shakiah Lewis on her well-deserved appointment as Dean of the CARICOM Youth Ambassadors Program. Her dedication and leadership as a TCI Youth Ambassador, coupled with her impressive civic portfolio have, prepared her well for this regional role. We are proud to have her represent our country and empower young leaders across the Caribbean.”

The Turks and Caicos Islands Government congratulates Ms. Lewis on this achievement and wishes her success in her new role.

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KAYANNA GIBSON APPOINTED AS COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER

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PRESS RELEASE

 

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY GOVERNOR 

AND HEAD OF THE PUBLIC SERVICE

 

 

 

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 25th October 2024 – The Office of the Deputy Governor is excited to announce the appointment of Kayanna Gibson as Communications Officer within the Office of the Premier and Public Policy.

Ms. Gibson holds a Bachelor of Science in Digital Media & Communication and a Master of Science in Project Management from Manchester Metropolitan University.

In her previous role as an Account Executive at Havas Lynx Global Health Care Communications Agency in Manchester, UK, Ms. Gibson managed client accounts within the HIV/AIDS therapy sector. Her responsibilities included reporting, spreadsheet manipulation, and project portfolio and stakeholder management. As a participant in the Rise Programme at Agent Academy, she engaged in strategic analyses such as marketing mix, personas, and PESTEL/SWOT analysis. She also contributed to content creation and designed empathy maps to inform UX/UI design through design thinking methodologies.

Additionally, she completed a marketing and production placement at Sharp Futures Inc., where she gained experience in marketing finance logistics, social media marketing, and web development. She was responsible for creating and pitching marketing presentations.

Ms. Gibson is a co-author of the journal article “Digital Storytelling: A Relational Pedagogic Approach to Rebuilding Hybrid Places for Creativity, Equity, and Community Building in a Crisis.” She volunteers with the Rotaract Club Providenciales and is a member of the Association of Project Management. She previously served as Junior Minister of Tourism from 2015 to 2016 under the Ministry of Tourism in the Turks and Caicos Islands. She was the CTO Youth Congress representative in 2016 in Georgetown, Barbados.

Ms. Gibson shared her enthusiasm for the new role, stating, “I am determined to excel in my role as Communications Officer as I make a meaningful contribution to the Communications Directorate, and by extension, to the Turks and Caicos Islands. I am deeply grateful to God for this opportunity and am honoured to join the Public Service and take with me the words from 2 Timothy 1:7: For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. I extend my heartfelt thanks to my family and country for their unwavering belief in me. It is through their support that I have remained motivated to achieve this long-term goal.”

On the appointment, the Deputy Governor and Head of the Public Service, H.E. Anya Williams, remarked, “We are happy to welcome Ms. Kayanna Gibson to the Turks and Caicos Islands Public Service as a Communications Officer. Her unique blend of skills and experience will be invaluable in enhancing our communication strategies as her background in digital media and marketing aligns perfectly with the communication goals of the Turks and Caicos Islands Government. We are confident in her ability to significantly impact this role, and we look forward to the innovative ideas she will bring.

Congratulations, Ms. Gibson, on your new role and welcome to the Turks and Caicos Islands Public Service.”

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