TCI Border Force fully Activated

Garfield Ekon 

Staff Writer

Turks and Caicos, November 16, 2024 – In a move to boost national security, the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), has made its Border Force, spearheaded by the Ministry of Immigration and Border Services, with cutting-edge technologies, fully operational as of October 31, 2024.

It consists of enforcement and intelligence teams, and with massive investments, and marks a new phase in the TCI’S management of immigration, administration, and border control. 

Governor of the Islands, Her Excellency, Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam said “through collaboration with international partners, the Border Force at the Turks and Caicos Islands plays an important part of a more interconnected global security framework,” she said.

For Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Immigration and Border Control Althea Been, “the safety, integrity, and sovereignty,” of the TCI is of top priority, and “from the inception, my team and I recognized that this vision required industrious people, effective and enabling policies, and modern-day world-class systems for it to come to fruition,” she told the recent launch of operations.

Director General of the TCI Islands Border Force, Emilio Seymour who delivered the keynote address said, their “mission has never been clearer,” Seymour said in underscoring the Border Force’s dedication to safeguarding the nation while facilitating the seamless flow of legitimate trade and travel. 

 “Our border force initiative is a critical step in our mission to ensure national security, enhance public safety, and enable the seamless movement of goods and people across our borders,” Seymour stated passionately. 

Adding, citizens must have a “strong, secure, and effective”system.

He added that the landscape is changing rapidly with trade and travel increasing, and the threats to security evolving, so “embracing these advancements, we are creating a framework that will secure us well into the future, keeping us a step ahead of evolving challenges,” explained the new Director General.

Minister of Immigration and Border Services, Hon. Arlington Musgrove said the establishment of the TCI Border Force stands as one of the “most significant”accomplishments, a transformation that reflects thesteadfast dedication to securing the shores and uplifting the people of the TCI.

The establishment of the Border Force is part of the Government’s commitment to safeguard the Islands’ promoting global stability and securing the pathways of commerce and culture that define TCI’s identity.