Why are we offering them the same benefits?

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Introduction

In February 2022, I wrote an article entitled “There are certain privileges and benefits that should be reserved for Turks and Caicos Islanders.” There is a need to address this again because I am concern because each time the Government provides an initiative to a Turks and Caicos Islander, that same initiative also applies to British Overseas Territories Citizens (BOTCs).

I am not xenophobic, but I am very patriotic, and I believe that as a citizen of the Turks and Caicos Islands, we should not be on the same par as BOTC. In the United Kingdom, a BOTC does not have the same rights as a British citizen so why did our elected officials in cabinet allow someone to convince them to put BOTCs on the same par as Turks and Caicos Islanders.

We must be very careful that we are not setting a precedence that can be used by BOTCs in legal proceedings.

How to become a BOTC?

An individual is granted a BOTC status through the British Nationality Act of 1981. Section 15 subsection 4 states “A person born in a dependent territory after commencement who is not a British Dependent Territories citizen by virtue of subsection (1) or (2) shall be entitled, on an application for his registration as a British Dependent Territories citizen made at any time after he has attained the age of ten years, to be registered as such a citizen if, as regards each of the first ten years of that person’s life, the number of days on which he was absent from that territory in that year does not exceed 90.”

A BOTC can become a Turks and Caicos Islander

Section 4, subsection 3 allows a BOTCs to obtain Turks and Caicos Islander Status through grant if they either have a permanent residence certificate for at least five years or have been a legal resident in the island for a period of ten years. Because a BOTC can become a Turks and Caicos Islander then we should wait until they get that status to give them the same benefits.

Some benefits that BOTC are getting

A BOTC holder has the right to get a BOTC passport. A BOTC also has the right to live and work in the Turks and Caicos Islands free of immigration control. However, our government has taken this to another level by providing BOTC with more benefits.

• Tuition is free at the Community College for BOTCs.
• The three stimuli that the Government provided for Turks and Caicos Islanders also were for BOTCs.
• The new financial assistance programme for the elderly is not only for Turks and Caicos Islanders but also for BOTCs.

Some benefits they are not getting yet

There are some benefits that BOTC are not getting yet, and I said before we must be very careful that they do not get his because we are already treating them like they are citizens of Turks and Caicos.

• They cannot vote
• They cannot get crown land
• They are not entitled to get a business licence under the reserved category. However, it is alleged that once they present their BOTC passport, somehow, they get the business licence. I hope this is not true because this reserved category is for Turks and Caicos Islanders only.
• A BOTC does not have the right to abode or work in United Kingdom.

Number of BOTCs in TCI

It was very challenging to obtain the accurate number of British Overseas Territories Citizens that are registered in TCI. However, we do know that when the last stimulus was given, 4,344 BOTCs received it. Each year the number of BOTCs continues to grow.

Number of TCIslanders in TCI

The Statistics Department is currently carrying out the census, however based on the 2012 census, the population was 31,458. Of the 31,458 population, 38.9% or 12,237 was Turks and Caicos Islander. It is estimated though that the current population is 47,720 so if we applied 38.9%, we could assume that the number of Turks and Caicos Islanders is around 18,563. However, I doubt that is the case because the growth rate among TCIslanders is not high.

BOTCs should not be on par with TC Islanders

Getting a BOTC status is something that we cannot control due to the British Nationality Act, however as a country we can control the benefits that they receive.

There are certain privileges and benefits that should be reserved for Turks and Caicos Islanders only.

Conclusion

I appreciate the fact that our country is growing, and we need people, and so people will come and live here. Some of them will eventually be able to obtain BOTC and some will be able to get PRC. It does not mean they should be entitled to the same benefits. Furthermore, these benefits are not given to Permanent Residents so why should we give them to BOTCs. No wonder some individuals question what the point or the benefit of being a Turks and Caicos Islander.

It is time we make sure there is an incentive or a clear distinction or difference in having a Turks and Caicos Islander Status.