Turks And Caicos Mulls Immigration Issues

by Robert Lee, Tax-news.com, London

17 May 2001

The Turks and Caicos government is thought to be cracking down on work permits and so-called "Belongership", according to recent press reports. Director of Immigration, Mr Livingstone Malcolm, is said to be making moves to ensure that the people coming to the Turks & Caicos are admitted via a "principled system."

At present, working or operating a business in the Turks and Caicos requires work and business permits, which will be granted if the applicant demonstrates skills, experience, or qualifications that are scarce on the islands. Companies that offer employment opportunities to locals get priority.

There are unconfirmed reports that new rules have been established to deal with the issue of granting Belongership or Permanent Resident status to foreigners. One source stated that foreigners who are categorised as skilled or professional would no longer have permits renewed beyond the four-year period. For unskilled persons the ceiling would be three years. According to the source, the latest position is that the authorities will facilitate applications provided that an individual signs documents renouncing his or her rights to apply for Belonger status.

It is understood that the immigration authority wants to ensure that the small Turks and Caicos population is not encroached upon by a large number of "foreigners", for want of a better word, who initally gain entry to the jurisdiction by obtaining work permits. There is thought to be some disagreement between Immigration and the Governor of the Turks and Caicos over the granting of citizenship to foreigners.

Mr Malcolm told the Turks and Caicos Free Press: 'We are coming to that question as to how our population development is to be handled. It is a matter of top priority for us.'

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