#TurksandCaicos, September 19, 2023 – The Customer Services Department, in the Ministry of Immigration and Border Services, herby reminds residents in the islands of North and Middle Caicos, and South Caicos of the availability of its services on those islands.

Persons in North and Middle Caicos applying for work permits, visas, residence permits, homeowners permits, birth certificates, marriage certificates and death certificates can submit applications at the Immigration Office in North Caicos and conveniently pay for such applications at the Government Treasury, both located at the Paul Higgs Complex, Bottle Creek, North Caicos.

Persons in South Caicos applying for work permits, visas, residence permits and homeowners permits can submit applications to the Immigration Office located in the new Government Complex near Regatta Village and at the District Commissioner’s Office for birth, marriage and death certificates. Services can be paid into the Government Treasury also located in South Caicos.

Unfortunately, applications for naturalisation and permanent residence certificates cannot be submitted on islands other than Grand Turk and Providenciales at this time.

Speaking on the availability of these services in the family islands, the Deputy Governor and Head of the Public Service, Her Excellency Anya Williams stated: “As a part of our efforts to improve service delivery across the Turks and Caicos Islands, additional recruitment and training has taken place on the islands of North, Middle and South Caicos in order to provide more on-island support to the population of those islands and to ease the burden of persons having to travel to Grand Turk or Providenciales to receive certain services.

The Ministry of Immigration and Border Services is heavily focused on the implementation of our new border management system.  This system will give persons the ability to access services from anywhere in the Turks and Caicos Islands and around the world. More updates on this will be issued periodically through press releases and stakeholder engagement.

Meanwhile, our newly appointed Director of Business Transformation is currently performing an in-depth audit of systems and processes across government, to assist in mapping out plans to make necessary changes in government ministries and departments to improve service delivery.

The transformation of service delivery across government is a key objective for the public service in this and future financial years. We recognise where there are gaps and we are working diligently to improve the way we serve the public going forward.”

Hon. Arlington Musgrove, Minister of Immigration and Border Services with responsibility for the Customer Services Department and the elected representative for Electoral District 4: North and Middle Caicos, remarked: “As a government, we have a responsibility to bring our services to the people and to ensure that doing business with the public service is easy, convenient and efficient. There should be no barrier to services for residents who do not reside in the islands of Grand Turk and Providenciales.

The majority of these services have been available in the family islands for quite some time now, but we recently refreshed our training, processes and our engagement in these islands, to ensure that we are serving the people in the most efficient manner.

I am proud of my team’s efforts to improve these services and I am reminding the people of ED 4, as well as South Caicos, that they do not need to travel to Providenciales or Grand Turk just to submit applications or pay receipts, as they can do so conveniently on their home islands.”

The Customer Services Department continues to review all of its processes and procedures in all islands, to ensure that it is meeting its mandate to the public and invites you to participate in its customer satisfaction surveys which are undertaken quarterly.

#TurksandCaicos, September 19, 2023 – The Office of the Deputy Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Avi Adams to the post of Director of the Department of Tourism Regulation (DTR) within the Ministry of Tourism, Agriculture, Fisheries, Heritage, Religious Affairs, and the Environment.

Mr. Adams is a native of Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Islands, who graduated from the H.J. Robinson High School in 2000. His tertiary education includes a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting from Bernard M. Baruch College, CUNY, New York, NY, and a Master of Business Administration from Edinburgh University, Edinburg, SC. He also holds several certifications in accounting, finance, and human resources.

Mr. Adams has a proven track record of success in various roles, including ten years as an Accountant/Financial Analyst, ten years in Human Resources and 15 years of management experience. He has also worked in the hospitality industry for the past three years. His previous roles include several at Fortis TCI, including Supervisor of Accounts Payable, Superintendent of Supply Chain Management and the Manager for Human Resources. Mr. Adams also most recently served as the Human Resources Manager at the Shore Club Resort with the Hartling Group.

Mr. Adams is community-focused and heavily involved in various community initiatives, including coaching youth sports teams and mentorship programs.

Commenting on his appointment, Mr. Adams stated:

“It is incredibly humbling to be chosen to lead the new Tourism Regulatory Department. Only with God have I come this far, and it will only be him that sustains me to continue pushing forward for the Turks and Caicos Islands Government.

I am thankful for everyone who has contributed to this new beginning. I am excited to take on this new challenge with the Ministry of Tourism to ensure that the Turks and Caicos Islands remain a premier tourist destination. I am confident that my skills and experience will positively impact our work.”

Deputy Governor and Head of the Public Service, Her Excellency Anya Williams, in extending congratulatory remarks to Mr. Adams, stated:

I am pleased to officially announce and congratulate Mr. Avi Adams on his appointment as Director of the Department of Tourism Regulation (DTR) within the Ministry of Tourism, Agriculture, Fisheries, Heritage, Religious Affairs, and the Environment.

The Department of Tourism Regulations (DTR) has been formally established under the Ministry of Tourism to absorb the functions of the Turks and Caicos Islands Tourist Board Quality Assurance Unit and TIDES Training Unit. The DTR’s mission is to develop and promote a regulatory environment conducive to a dynamic, competitive, and sustainable tourism sector in TCI.

As Director, Mr. Adams is tasked with the DTR’s oversight, coordination, and leadership, which will be responsible for regulating our leading industry. Mr. Adams will also play an integral part in legislative and policy reform that will help shape the success of our tourism product.

Mr. Adams comes to us from the private sector with a vast amount of administrative and leadership experience that will add invaluable support to efforts being made by the Ministry of Tourism, Agriculture, Fisheries, Heritage, Religious Affairs and the Environment.

This appointment is a pivotal step for the Turks and Caicos Islands as it moves into its new tourism management and regulatory structure.

Congratulations on your new appointment, Mr. Adams and welcome to the Turks and Caicos Islands Public Service!”

#TurksandCaicos, September 19, 2023 – The Office of the Deputy Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Sasha Arthur to the post of Regulations Development Specialist in the newly established Department of Tourism Regulations (DTR) in the Ministry of Tourism, Environment, Fisheries and Marine Affairs, Culture, Agriculture and Religious Affairs.

Ms. Arthur, who grew up on the beautiful island of Providenciales, relocated to the United Kingdom for seven years, only to return to the islands in November 2022.

She holds a Bachelors Degree in Law (2021) from the University of Law Manchester and a Masters’s Degree in Law and a Bar Course Qualification from the Manchester Metropolitan University. Ms. Arthur was called to the Bar of England and Wales in October 2022 and later called to the Bar of Turks and Caicos Islands in April 2023.

Following her return from the United Kingdom, Ms. Arthur was employed as a Trainee Attorney at F Chambers Attorneys at Law, where she later transitioned into Associate Attorney in April 2023 after being called to the Turks and Caicos Bar. Ms. Arthur’s main areas of practice were Civil and Criminal Litigation and Immigration and Employment matters.

Commenting on her appointment, Ms. Arthur stated:

“I am both grateful and honoured to serve these beautiful Turks and Caicos Islands as a Regulations Development Specialist.

I am eager and excited to bring my knowledge and experience into this role to assist in the safeguarding of our Tourism industry.

As I embark on this new journey, I aim to make my country proud by doing my best. I look forward to giving back to the country that raised me into the individual I am today.

Thank you, Turks and Caicos, for this wonderful opportunity!”

Deputy Governor and Head of the Public Service, Her Excellency Anya Williams, in extending congratulatory remarks to Ms. Arthur, stated:

“It gives me great pleasure to congratulate Ms. Sasha Arthur on her appointment as the Regulations Development Specialist in the new Department of Tourism Regulations (DTR).

As the new Regulations Development Specialist, Ms. Arthur will be responsible for developing tourism regulations in the Turks and Caicos Islands in line with the constantly evolving needs of the tourism ecosystem in TCI and global and regional tourism trends.

She will be responsible for recommending changes in tourism laws and ordinances to the Minister of Tourism based on the requests of the country’s tourism business representatives. She will be responsible for expanding the Ministry of Tourism’s international relations by identifying and analyzing international ordinances (best practices/case studies) that could support the development and sustainability of the tourism industry in the TCI.

Ms. Arthur’s legal qualifications will be an asset to the DTR and will significantly assist in the execution of this new role.

It is always a privilege to welcome new starters to the Turks and Caicos Islands Public Service, where I hope she will enjoy a rewarding public service career.

I wish Ms. Arthur and the other staff in the newly established Department of Tourism Regulations (DTR) well as they work to ensure the preservation and regulation of our prized tourism industry in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Congratulations, Ms. Arthur, and welcome to the Turks and Caicos Islands Public Service!”