The Deputy Premier and Minister with responsibilities for the Ministry of Border Control and Employment Hon. Sean Astwood, led a delegation to Bridgetown, Barbados for the signing of the CARICOM Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) with the United States.
On the 24th May 2017 at the Border Security Professional Exchange Conference the signing took place between the U.S Ambassador to Barbados, Her Excellency Linda Taglialetela and the Deputy Premier where the Turks and Caicos Islands became the first associated member country amongst the six Overseas Territories to sign on to APIS programme.
The Advance Passenger Information System (APIS) is an automated system established for aviation and maritime operators that have the capability of enhancing border security over the Region by supplying Law Enforcement Officers with data on passengers and crew members prior to arrival and departure from CARICOM Member States, United Kingdom, United States and Canada. This system was established by the U.S. Customs Border Protection (CBP) in May 2009.
The Ambassador during her speech explained that by “adopting APIS, will further allow countries to secure their airports and ports which leads them to enhancing their regional security”. She also went on further to state that “persons must work within the sovereign states to identify issues and discuss implementable solution.”
The Deputy Premier Hon. Sean Astwood expressed that; “The signing marked a historic occasion as the Turks and Caicos Islands embarked on a path of modernizing our border security regime through the cooperation agreement between the United States of America and the Caribbean counterparts”. He explained that; “Signing of the memorandum was a significant and important step in achieving full implementation in the APIS in the Turks and Caicos Islands and by extension improves security for our region.”
During the conference Senior Immigration Officer Latoya Mitchell gave a brief presentation of the Immigration Department and its role in securing the borders of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The delegation consisted of Deputy Premier Hon. Sean Astwood, Head of Secretariat Ms. Cynara John and Senior Immigration Officer Ms. Latoya Mitchell.
The APIS should be fully operational by September 2017.
