Open letter to the Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands, Her Excellency, Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam

Growing concerns about illegal migration from Haiti to the Turks and Caicos Islands and the role of the governor

Your Excellency,

Illegal migration from Haiti to the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) has been an ongoing problem for decades, but in recent years the frequency has increased exponentially. I am sure you are fully aware of the concerns this poses for our security, economy and society, and I trust you will not take it lightly.

The perilous journey via these small, overcrowded boats endangers lives and taxes our nation’s resources. As the UK representative responsible for national security, you play a crucial role in addressing these challenges and ensuring the security and stability of the TCI.

As spokesperson for a growing number of citizens who are as concerned as I am about the trajectory of our beloved country’s grim future, I am compelled to respectfully appeal to you to take greater action on this vexing issue of illegal immigration, as a matter of urgency.

THE DAMAGE OF ILLEGAL MIGRATION

I am aware of the humanitarian crisis facing the people of Haiti, and I understand the need for people to flee for a better quality of life. They risk their lives on dangerous journeys. Many face dehydration, hunger and exposure to the elements. These journeys occasionally result in fatalities, adding to the tragic human cost of the migration problem. Your Excellency, however, there is also a humanitarian crisis for the people of our country. All residents of the Turks and Caicos Islands also have the right to safety and security. While efforts are being made in your office to achieve these objectives, more needs to be done, and the evidence of this must be clear.

In addition to grappling with the fact that our country, and Providenciales in particular, seems to be overtaken by the influx of illegal migration, we are also facing additional tensions. Undocumented migrants put pressure on our healthcare, education and social services. Hospitals and clinics are facing increasing demand, and our schools have become overcrowded, impacting the quality of our services.

In addition, our government incurs significant costs associated with the detention, processing and repatriation of illegal migrants. Funds that could otherwise be spent on improving education, better equipping our enforcement services or increasing the capacity of social services must now be used to tackle this problem.

There is also the issue of illegal labor undermining local wages, further contributing to unemployment among citizens and legal residents. Undocumented migrant workers also fall prey to unscrupulous employers because they lack any form of legal protection.

Furthermore, Your Excellency, we, the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands, fear for our lives and well-being; we have major safety concerns. This problem of illegal migration contributes to an increase in criminal activities, including human trafficking, arms trafficking and drug smuggling. The lack of proper documentation and background checks for migrants poses a serious security risk, potentially allowing criminals and those with criminal intent to enter the country undetected.

As the UK representative with responsibility for National Security, you play a crucial role in tackling the challenges of illegal migration. This includes coordinating with local law enforcement agencies, the UK government and international partners to develop and implement effective strategies; However, you must ensure that a robust immigration policy is in place and that it is effectively enforced at home. This includes further improving border security, enhancing surveillance capabilities with best-in-class technology and increasing patrols to deter illegal entry.

Collaboration with Haitian authorities locally, in Haiti, and with international organizations is essential to address the root causes of migration and develop comprehensive solutions that can improve conditions in Haiti and minimize the need for exodus. Through your diplomatic efforts, you can better facilitate cooperation and support for Haiti, which in turn supports the TCI.

Your Excellency, I cannot draw your attention enough to the dangers that illegal migrants pose to the people of our country and the exposure to our people from various public health risks. The arrival of undocumented migrants can lead to the spread of infectious diseases, straining our public health system and endangering the general population.

Social tensions have already emerged between our citizens and illegal migrants due to the scarcity of resources in crucial public services in our country. This has already exacerbated attitudes of xenophobia and discrimination.

Our pristine environment has not been spared as overcrowded living conditions and unregulated activities of migrants have occurred, degrading certain areas and negatively affecting the natural beauty of our ecosystems.

I humbly propose that we put all the resources we can into cracking down on human trafficking and limiting forced entry by doing the following:

Strengthening the existing framework

Increasing and enforcing stricter human trafficking penalties against those who facilitate illegal migration, to serve as a deterrent.

Investing in modern technology such as radar systems, drones and surveillance cameras to improve the detection and interception of illegal vessels. Increase patrols at our maritime borders and work with top international agencies focused on tackling smuggling networks and prosecuting offenders.

Utilizing OPBAT, a partnership between the DEA, the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the U.S. Department of State, and law enforcement agencies from the Commonwealth of the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands. Its primary mission is to intercept the flow of illegal narcotics through the Caribbean bound for the United States and other regions. In addition, OPBAT assets often assist in prosecuting human trafficking and conducting search and rescue operations within their jurisdiction.

This existing body could potentially be expanded to increase capacity, with the aim of halting the flow of sloops to the three most vulnerable countries that are already parties to OPBAT. I think the British government, through your office, may want to consider establishing a sea wall with constant surveillance on the northern side of Haiti. This wall would serve as a great deterrent and would result in securing our porous borders.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Develop robust campaigns to raise awareness within our communities and educate them about the dangers of human trafficking and encourage reporting of suspicious activity to aid in early detection and prevention.

CONCLUSION

Your Excellency, the challenges posed by illegal migration from Haiti to the TCI require a multifaceted approach with strong leadership, international cooperation and community involvement to protect our citizens and meet our humanitarian responsibilities. You will play a central role in coordinating efforts to improve border security, crack down on human trafficking, and mitigate the effects of forced entry. During your term as Governor, we must see signs of improvement in these areas because, as the situation now stands, our existence and identity as a people of the Turks and Caicos Islands are in jeopardy.

Honestly,

Sabrina Green
A very concerned Turks and Caicos Islander