More talks have been held with TCI and Haitian officials to see how best both countries can better work together to tackle the issue of illegal sloops leaving Haiti, headed for the TCI.
His Excellency Governor Todd met jointly with Turks and Caicos’ Immigration Minister Don Hue Gardiner, permanent secretary Clara Gardiner and the TCI-based Haitian Consul General, Karlo Pellissier, last Thursday, 18 April 2013.
Here’s Chris Jarrettwith details of that meeting.
Chris Jarrett:- At Thursday’s meeting, it was agreed:
1. That the Haitian government would send an expert delegation to discuss with TCI officials how to build cooperation, focused on deterring illegal immigration and prosecuting the traffickers;
2. That Governor’s Office will investigate having the Royal Navy warship stationed in the Caribbean to provide hurricane relief and to interdict drugs and people trafficking, contribute more to maritime patrolling more between TCI and Haiti.
The officials further agreed that
3. Both countries would stress in public information campaigns, that any illegal immigrants making such a journey, are taking a serious risk of death; they will almost certainly be caught and deported; and if they do get into TCI they will not find work.
Todd had earlier visited the TCI immigration detention centre in Five Cays where he met director of immigration Larry Mills and detention facility manager Peter Parker. He personally thanked them and their colleagues for all of their hard work in difficult conditions and efforts to successfully process and repatriate nearly 300 illegal immigrants from three Haitian sloops over the past two weeks.
“Preventing illegal immigration is everyone’s business. While positive steps have been taken such as the new coastal radar stations, clearly too many people are trying to make the dangerous 90-mile sea journey to TCI, said Governor Todd.
“While it is true that many of them have been lied to about the possibilities of finding work and a new life here and indeed many think that they are being taken to Miami, we must also face up to the fact that some people in TCI are prepared to employ illegal immigrants. Employing illegal immigrants is illegal and wrong. We are determined to enforce the law, but we must work to make this as socially unacceptable as drunk driving. When an illegal person is employed it denies a legal resident the chance of a job and deprives the government of work permit income,” Governor Todd added.
This is Chris Jarrettfor RTC News.
