‘Disrespectful’ email stirs anger among natives

BY DELANA ISLES

Government-appointed member, Hon Jameka Williams has lent her voice to the chorus this week surrounding Turks and Caicos Islander status and that of foreigners living and working in the territory, while disrespecting its people and institutions.

TCI to open diaspora ...

CONTINUED discuss matters of shared national security interests and threats. “Thematic areas of mutual interest included: Operation Bahamas and Turks and Caicos (OPBAT) including the next OPBAT conference, scheduled for March 2023; maritime security (future ratification of jurisdictional boundaries between the TCI and Bahamas); expansion of coastal radar networks; decentralisation of Defence Force naval assets; expanding the Bahamas/TCI Ship-Rider programme; and sharing of resources, information and intelligence which will be aided by TCI’s new legal intercept provisions.”

Spurring this round of public comments, was the publication of a court filing for a judicial review of the TCI Status Commission’s refusal to grant several expatriates Islander status.

In her statements this week, Williams highlighted an email exchange purportedly written by a non-native businessman (and holder of a PRC) on September 13, 2022, in which the individual referred to government officials as ‘leftist minded idiots’ further stating in the email document that ‘It’s painful here on a good day’.

The alleged email made the rounds of social media in late 2022, and according to Williams she has been “concerned by the remarks and it has become bothersome, even more than ever, since the release of the newspaper article”.

Williams said the statements contained in the email are ‘blatantly disrespectful and an insult to the entire electorate who have exercised their right to vote for individuals they see capable of representing them”.

She opined that the statement further highlights what some expatriates think of Islanders despite the opportunities afforded to them in TCI.

She further opined: “Most of them do not assimilate themselves in our community because their only objective is to milk this country of its benefits no matter how painful of a day it is for them here.”

The government member has called on the immigration authorities and other relevant bodies to review the matter she has highlighted, in order to determine whether the letter writer should “continue to have the privilege of residing in these islands”.

Williams has also requested further reviews, this time from the government, stating: “Furthermore I am calling on our government who will have my support in amending the legislation to include other means that Belonger status can be revoked.”

She stated: “The people of the Turks and Caicos Islands have been more than welcoming to expatriates and in my view, some of them have long ago worn out the cordial welcome we have extended to them.

“While we accept that some may have the required skills and experience needed to help build our country, we expect that at minimum they would respect the people and laws of this land.”

While the issue of the grant of TCI citizenship has always been a touchy subject, last December the government revealed some proposed changes to how citizenship is granted that stirred up controversy among the nonnative populace.

The controversial statements regard the grant of citizenship to third-generation Islanders who do not reside in the territory, as a priority to growing the TCI population.

The government is seeking to manage the future of the TCI’s population by attracting the return of members of the diaspora as the first option for imported growth, and by recognising second and third-generation descendants as Turks and Caicos Islanders by right.

An amended Immigration Bill is expected to be tabled in the House of Assembly in the coming months.