Independent Writer

Turks and Caicos, April 23, 2023 

I would like to raise several concerns that many members of the public have noticed regarding activities within the Immigration and Labour Departments. These issues continue to surface, yet no one seems willing or able to address them openly.

There are important questions that deserve clear answers:

1. Are there rules and guidelines that govern employees of the Immigration and Labour Departments regarding conflicts of interest?
   The public needs to know what policies exist to prevent employees from using their positions for personal or financial gain.

2. Can an Immigration or Labour Department employee legally own or operate a company that processes work permits?
   If so, what safeguards are in place to ensure fairness and prevent abuse?

3. What happens when paperwork from an employee’s private company appears on their own desk for review or approval?
   This is a direct conflict of interest. How is this handled, and who ensures the process remains transparent?

4. Who is responsible for policing these conflicts of interest?
   When government workers operate private businesses that submit documents to the same department they work in, who is monitoring this behaviour?

5. Should the Integrity Commission or compliance units be vetting not only Heads of Department but all staff members in sensitive areas?
   Oversight should not stop at the top. Every employee with access to sensitive information or decision‑making authority should be held to the same standard.

6. Is it okay for former Immigration employees allowed to walk into the department as if they still have authority—processing work permits, demanding special treatment, and behaving as though they still hold the keys?
   Once someone leaves government employment, the privileges of that office should end.

These concerns represent only a small portion of what the public is seeing. We are expected to follow the rules, yet some individuals continue to bend or break them for personal benefit. Without accountability, there can be no order in our government departments.

Our island is small. People see what is happening, but too many remain silent. It is time to bring these issues to light so that real change can take place.

April 7, 2026 – For nearly a decade, one figure has loomed large over politics in the Western Hemisphere: Donald Trump. Whether admired by supporters or criticized by opponents, his unapologetic political style has reshaped political conversations not only in the United States but across much of the world.

His return to the Oval Office on January 20, 2025, after defeating incumbent Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election signaled more than a domestic political shift. It marked the beginning of a renewed U.S. focus on the Western Hemisphere. Recent developments, including a high-profile raid carried out by U.S. special forces that reportedly led to the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, suggest that the Caribbean and Latin America may once again play a more prominent role in American foreign policy.

Another sign of this renewed regional focus was the recent gathering in Florida known as the Shield of the Americas Summit. The meeting brought together leaders from across the hemisphere to discuss security cooperation, migration, and organized crime. However, the absence of prominent figures such as Claudia Sheinbaum and Mia Mottley raised questions about a growing ideological divide in the region.

In many ways, the summit reflected a broader shift. Across parts of the Americas, governments that favor stronger borders, tougher crime policies, and a more assertive national posture appear to be gaining influence. In other words, the language of right-wing populism is becoming increasingly visible in regional politics.

At first glance, many people in the Turks and Caicos Islands might assume these developments have little to do with us. It is easy to view such political changes as issues for the region’s larger powers. But history suggests that would be a mistake.

When the United States shifts its foreign policy priorities, the effects are often felt throughout the Caribbean. The region has seen this before, whether through economic measures, security initiatives, or diplomatic pressure applied to neighboring states such as Cuba.

The reality is that small island territories like ours do not exist in isolation. Our economy depends heavily on tourism, international investment, and regional stability. Migration policy and border management are also closely connected to broader Caribbean and American systems. When political winds shift in Washington, they eventually reach our shores.

The growing influence of right-wing populist politics across the hemisphere also raises an important question: could similar political themes begin to shape public debate here at home?

Populism often gains traction in contexts where there is a demand for policies that support people who feel they lack a strong voice in national decision-making. Across the Caribbean, these conversations are becoming more common. Issues such as immigration, the cost of living, and government accountability are increasingly central to political discussions.

This does not necessarily mean that the Turks and Caicos Islands are on the verge of a dramatic political shift. Our political culture has traditionally been more pragmatic than ideological. However, global political trends have a way of influencing local politics over time. Campaign strategies, policy debates, and even leadership styles often reflect what voters see unfolding internationally.

Perhaps the more important point is that the Caribbean may be entering a period of increased geopolitical attention. Security cooperation, migration enforcement, and economic partnerships are likely to become more prominent in the years ahead. The discussions at the Shield of the Americas meeting suggest that Washington is once again looking south—and the Caribbean sits squarely within that strategic space.

For the Turks and Caicos Islands, this could bring both opportunities and challenges. Stronger regional cooperation could help address crime and strengthen economic ties. At the same time, it may also bring new political pressures and expectations.

Ultimately, the rise of right-wing populism in the Americas is not just about ideology. It reflects a broader shift in how leaders talk about power, security, and national interest. Whether one supports or opposes these ideas, they are increasingly shaping political conversations across the hemisphere.

And if history offers any lesson for small countries and territories, it is this: global political trends rarely remain distant for long.

What’s on my mind is a Turks and Caicos that deserves to be celebrated, not reshaped into something unrecognizable.

Yes, Providenciales has grown. It has welcomed businesses, ideas, and people from all over the world, and in many ways it reflects the beauty of a melting pot. But growth should not mean erasure. Progress should not require us to trade away the very soul of who we are.

There is a moment we are standing in right now that calls for intention. Stop. Pause. Preserve. Think ahead for the generations to come. All is not lost, but it can be, if we do not choose wisely.

Each Islander is unique to the island they are from. Even our dialogue carries the imprint of where we come from. Our accents, expressions, rhythms, and ways of telling stories quietly reveal our home islands. That is our power. That is our beauty. The true richness of Turks and Caicos lives in its people as much as in its landscapes. Exploring and preserving our islands must also mean exploring and preserving their inhabitants, their knowledge, their traditions, and their ways of life. We are not here to invent something foreign. We are here to shape and mold what we have already been given. God has already provided the blueprint. We only need to slow down long enough to see what is right in front of us.

No one knows your country or your product better than you who have lived it. Why try to be something we are not? Each time we attempt to imitate another place, we lose a piece of our own lifestyle. A lived experience is what gives us the authority to shape our present and our future.

I envision the marketing and development of our family islands not as replicas of somewhere else, but as island treasures. Places where businesses rise from culturally focused initiatives, designed first with residents in mind, and where visitors are welcomed into an authentic haven that reflects what Turks and Caicos truly represents.

North Caicos as a living sanctuary. Lush, green, and respected. A place for nature trails, wildlife exploration, farming traditions, and environmental exhibitions, where development works with the land, not against it.

Middle Caicos safeguarded for its history and natural wonders. Its caves protected not only as attractions, but as classrooms. Its flamingos preserved as symbols of the fragile beauty we are responsible for protecting.

South Caicos honored as the salt and fishing capital. The rhythm of boats, salt ponds, and sea life forming the heart of its identity. A working island where maritime culture and sustainable fishing are supported, celebrated, and passed down.

Grand Turk restored and respected as a cultural and historical anchor. Front Street with its light and British flare revived with intention. The return of a strong public library and cultural spaces for those who adore history, storytelling, and research.

Salt Cay protected in its quiet uniqueness. A picturesque island lifestyle centered on stillness, craftsmanship, heritage, and community.

The heart of this vision is not tourism alone. It is our people.

Celebrate our island cultures. Create small businesses that allow islanders to thrive with dignity, love, and respect. Build economies that sustain us without displacing us. Let development work in service of community, not the other way around.

Teach our youth the trades, the arts, the skills, and the stories while our elders are still here to pass them on. Boat building, straw work, farming, fishing, cooking, music, storytelling, herbal knowledge, construction, and design. These are not relics. They are foundations.

From this, innovation is born. When young people are rooted, they can modernize tradition without losing it. They can bridge yesterday and today. They can create futures that honor the past instead of replacing it.

We do not need to become a concrete jungle to be successful. We do not need to mirror other places to be worthy. We do not need to sacrifice our identity to attract the world.

What we need is the courage to protect what is left, the wisdom to shape what is coming, and the commitment to ensure that being a Turks and Caicos Islander is not just a title, but a living experience our people can still feel, recognize, and pass on.

From Alicia Swann

Turks and Caicos Islander