Cockburn Town, Grand Turk: On Sunday 25^th July 2021 around 8:30 p.m. the Immigration Department was informed of possible illegal vessel landings. This triggered a standby notice for the Department Enforcement Unit.

The Unit was later informed by 911 operator that a vessel had landed in the North West Point Areas of Providenciales and that migrants were seen walking the beach and nearby road.

Nine Officer responded for debriefing and dispatch to the named area. The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police also responded to 911.

After several hours of inspection in the area, one male person was apprehended from the vessel. Further checks were conducted in the areas on the morning of July 26, 2021.

This recent landing takes the total number of successful landing for this Financial Year 2021/22 to 4 which is identical to that of the same period last year. In addition, the spending for the period remains a concern as the number of persons repatriated from vessel landing for the first four months of this Fiscal Year total 724 or 59 percent of the total for last year that was 1230 persons.

US$2,446,420.00 has been appropriated for Repatriation and Expenses in the 2021/22 Budget. As at July 27, 2021, US$952,909.34 has been spent. Spending include airfares, rations, security etc.

The Ministry and Department continue to solicit the support of the public is being urged to provide the Police or Immigration Officials with tips, or any information related to this or any other illegal landing or persons residing and or working illegally.

We also encourage the public to submit information or tips anonymously in English, French or Spanish either to www.crimestoppers.tc or on Facebook as a fan of Crime Stoppers Turks & Caicos. Crime Stoppers tips are received in the USA on 1-800-84477.

Ministry of Home Affairs, Transportation, Broadcasting, Energy and Utilities and Telecommunications Commission, in collaboration with the department of Citizenship & Naturalization, are hereby inviting the following members of the general public to visit or contact the Customer Service Center in Grand Turk and Providenciales, at the numbers provided, as it relates to the National TCI Status Card.

The telephone numbers are:

(649) 338 2982 - Grand Turk

(649) 338 4121 – Providenciales

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 NATIONAL TCI STATUS CARDS READY FOR COLLECTION

Thank you in advance for your understanding and cooperation.

Ministry of Home Affairs, Transportation, Broadcasting, Energy and Utilities and Telecommunications Commission, in collaboration with the department of Citizenship & Naturalization, are hereby inviting the following members of the general public to visit or contact the Customer Service Center in Grand Turk and Providenciales, at the numbers provided, as it relates to the National TCI Status Card.

The telephone numbers are:

(649) 338 2982 - Grand Turk

(649) 338 4121 – Providenciales

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

NATIONAL TCI STATUS CARDS READY FOR COLLECTION

Thank you in advance for your understanding and cooperation.

Cockburn Town, Grand Turk: The Cabinet of the Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands at its meeting held on Wednesday, July 21, 2021, advised that it approved the suspension for the issuance of new Visas to Haitian Nationals originating from Haiti effective July 23, 2021 until October 31, 2021.

This measure has been taken as a result of a drastic increase in submission of fraudulent documents by persons seeking to enter the Islands, following the dramatic events, which transpired in Haiti a few weeks ago.

The public is hereby informed that effective Friday July 23, 2021, No Visa Applications will be accepted for processing by the Customer Service Department on both Grand Turk and Providenciales.

The public is reminded that in accordance with section 104 of the Immigration Ordinance CAP 5.01, it is an offence to knowingly make a false or misleading statement or knowingly furnish false or misleading information.

A person who commits an offence under Section 104 is liable on summary conviction to a fine of S20, 000.00 or imprisonment for term of four (4) year, or both.

In relation to submission of false information regarding the TCI Assured Travel Authorisation, an offence is committed under Public and Environmental Health (COVID-19) (Arriving Passengers Health Clearance) (Amendment) Regulations 2020, and a person is liable on summary conviction to a fine of $5,000.00 or to a term of imprisonment of three months, or to both.

Furthermore, in accordance with Public and Environmental Health (COVID-19) (Arriving Passengers Health Clearance) (Amendment) (No. 5) Regulations 2020, any person who contravene the same shall be placed on the Immigration Stop List for a period of six months.

The Government anticipates the full cooperation of all stakeholders including the airlines.

The Ministry of Immigration and Border Services is cognizant of the various incidents of unruly conduct, breeches of restricted zones, obstruction of authorized personnel and overall non-compliance of protocols that occurred at our international airports within recent days. Two of which occurred at the Providenciales International Airport and the other at the JAGS International Airport, Grand Turk. During all of these incidents Officers of the RTC Police Department were called for assistance.

While all incidents, are currently under active investigations, hand-in-hand, with all of our law enforcement agencies, Hon Arlington Musgrove, Minister responsible for Air and Sea Ports, in commenting stated: "we take the National Security of our country very serious and will take all steps necessary, to ensure that it is not compromised.  So be assured that these matters will be thoroughly investigated, and all concerned will be dealt with accordingly.

The safety of our residents and visitors alike is of paramount importance to my government and myself, so this sort of behaviour has no place in our society."

Investigations into these matters, which seem to be isolated, are ongoing and the public will be informed as they progress.

Ministry of Home Affairs, Transportation, Broadcasting, Energy and Utilities and Telecommunications Commission, in collaboration with the department of Citizenship & Naturalization, are hereby inviting the following members of the general public to visit or contact the Customer Service Center in Grand Turk and Providenciales, at the numbers provided, as it relates to the National TCI Status Card.

The telephone numbers are:

(649) 338 2982 - Grand Turk

(649) 338 4121 – Providenciales

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

NATIONAL TCI STATUS CARDS READY FOR COLLECTION

Thank you in advance for your understanding and cooperation.

Ministry of Home Affairs, Transportation, Broadcasting, Energy and Utilities and Telecommunications Commission, in collaboration with the department of Citizenship & Naturalization, are hereby inviting the following members of the general public to visit or contact the Customer Service Center in Grand Turk and Providenciales, at the numbers provided, as it relates to the National TCI Status Card.

The telephone numbers are:

(649) 338 2982 - Grand Turk

(649) 338 4121 – Providenciales

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

NATIONAL TCI STATUS CARDS READY FOR COLLECTION

Thank you in advance for your understanding and cooperation.

The Ministry of Immigration and Immigration Department is pleased to report the interception of an illegal migrant vessel on Friday, 25 June 2021, within the waters of the Turks and Caicos Islands and within the vicinity south of west habour bluff , Providenciales.   

The vessel, with forty-four (44) persons aboard, comprising thirty-six (36) males and eight (8) females, was detected by the Border Force Unit and the information was passed to the Marine Unit of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force, who intercepted the vessel. The vessel was subsequently brought into the South Dock, Providenciales and met by personnel from the Immigration Department and were subsequently taken to the Detention Center for further health checks and to conduct the necessary processing.

On Saturday, 26^th June 2021, forty-two (42) of these persons were repatriated to Haiti with two (2) held back to assist the Enforcement Unit of the Immigration Department with further investigations.

Hon Arlington Musgrove in commenting stated, “I wish to thank all officials who assisted in another successful apprehension of an illegal vessel and to remind all that joint enforcement activities has increased and illegal migrant trying to enter Turks and Caicos will be caught.”

The public is remained that a person who is found to be in contravention of the Immigration Ordinance and commits an offence of harbouring is liable on summary conviction to a fine of $20,000.00 or to imprisonment for a term of four years, or to both.

The public is also being urged to provide the Police or Immigration Officials with tips, or any information related to this or any other illegal landing or persons residing and or working illegally.

We encourage the public to submit information or tips anonymously in English, French or Spanish either to www.crimestoppers.tc or on Facebook as a fan of Crime Stoppers Turks & Caicos. Crime Stoppers tips are received in the USA on 1-800-84477.

On 27th May 2021, Immigration Enforcement Unit officers conducted an operation on a construction site in the Turtle Tail area where they arrested Dominican nationals Juan Quezada De La Rosa and Louis Diaz Jimenez after they failed to show proof of status in the Islands. An investigation conducted by the Immigration Department identified Seferina Cooper as Mr. Rosa’s employer. Ms. Cooper was charged with Employing a Prohibited Person while Mr. Rosa and Mr. Jiminez were charged for Remaining in the Islands Beyond the Permitted Time and Unlawfully Engaging in Gainful Occupation.

On Tuesday, 8th June 2021, the accused appeared in the Magistrate’s Court to answer to the charges, where Ms. Cooper plead guilty and was fined $4500. Mr. Jiminez plead guilty to both charges and was fined $1800, while Mr. Rosa plead guilty to both charges and was sentenced to 100 days imprisonment.

The Immigration Department would like to remind the public that under the Immigration Ordinance, it is an offence to work in the islands without proper authorization, and it is an offence to employ persons who don’t have proper authorization to work in the islands. Both offences are punishable by a fine of up to $10,000 and/or two (2) years imprisonment.

Honourable Arlington Musgrove, Minster of Immigration and Border Services, accompanied by Honourable Otis Morris, Minister of Home Affairs, Energy and Utilities and Transportation, All Island Elected Member of Parliament - Honourable Shaun Malcolm, Desmond Wilson, Permanent Secretary within the Ministry, Mr. Floyd Ingham, Acting Chief Executive Officer, CEO of the Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority, TCIAA and Mr. Emmanuel Rigby, Acting Chief Operations Officer, COO, visited South Caicos on Tuesday, 4^th May 2021.

Upon arrival at South Caicos Airport, the team were met by the Mrs. Yvette Cox, District Commissioner and Honourable John Malcolm, Member of Parliament for South Caicos.

The team toured the current construction works for the new terminal, the new fire hall and maintenance site, as well as identified a new location for a temporary terminal, to be erected for use by the traveling public.

Honourable Musgrove in his comments stated, “while I am pleased to be in South Caicos, I am not pleased with the progression of this multimillion-dollar project and as such, we need to take the necessary steps to ensure that we obtain value for money.”

Honourable Musgrove added, “it is very disappointing that a temporary structure was not erected to accommodate the traveling public to and from South Caicos. This is unacceptable and will be rectified immediately.”

Prior to their departure, the team visited their staff at Customs and Immigration departments on South Caicos.