BORDER FORCE LAUNCHES PHASE 2 OF THEIR MISSION IN LANDMARK CEREMONY
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos, 1st November 2024 – The Turks and Caicos Islands marked a historic moment on October 31st, 2024, with the full inauguration of its Border Force operations. The launch ceremony, held at the Shore Club, Providenciales, celebrated a significant milestone in the nation’s commitment to safeguarding its borders and ensuring the safety and prosperity of its people.
The launch event was a gathering of dignitaries and key stakeholders, including Governor Her Excellency Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam, Premier Hon. Charles Washington Misick, Deputy Governor Her Excellency Anya Williams, government officials, members of the House of Assembly, law enforcement partners, and dedicated Border Force staff. This united front underscored the collective commitment to bolstering the Turks and Caicos Islands’ border security. In addition to formal proceedings, attendees had the opportunity to explore exhibition booths showcasing the specialised skills and advanced technology of each Border Force division, offering a glimpse into the future of the Turks and Caicos Islands’ border security.
The Minister of Immigration and Border Services, Hon. Arlington Musgrove delivered a powerful speech, underscoring the national impact of this historic expansion. “The establishment of the TCI Border Force stands as one of our most significant accomplishments—a transformation that reflects our steadfast dedication to securing our shores and uplifting our people,” he declared. “Secure borders aren’t just about safeguarding against external threats; they’re about creating a safe environment for legitimate trade and tourism to flourish. Protecting our borders means protecting our communities and our economy.”
The Caribbean Customs Law Enforcement Council wishes to extend congratulations and best wishes to all regional Customs Administrations and the wider international Customs fraternity on the occasion of International Customs Day, being celebrated on January 26, 2024. The significance of this day and date is linked to the origins of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) and this year’s theme is dedicated to: “Customs Engaging Traditional and New Partners with Purpose”. This theme is relevant to us in the region as we transition into a treaty-based organisation, but more importantly as we embrace the significance of new trends and opportunities for improving and enhancing the role of customs administrations within the respective countries.
The 45th Conference of the Caribbean Customs Law Enforcement Council (CCLEC) was held in the Cayman Islands from June 5-9, 2023. Twenty-five member administrations and a number of strategic partners attended the conference which took place at the Westin Hotel hosted with the full support of the Director and staff of the Customs Border Control Service.
I wish to take this opportunity to extend greetings to all member administrations as we usher in the New Year. 2023 will be a pivotal year for the Caribbean Customs community as we work together to restore our position on the regional landscape particularly in law enforcement, contributing to border security, efficiency in trade matters and effective revenue protection and collection.
Congratulations to the Customs fraternity on this special day which has been designated as International Customs Day by the WCO. This year the chosen theme, “Scaling up Customs Digital Transformation by Embracing a Data Culture and Building a Data Ecosystem,” is very fitting as the pandemic has acted as a most powerful catalyst to force many countries to accept technology as a fundamental part of their business culture.
In the interest of building capacity, the CCLEC has commenced a train-the-trainer program, in collaboration with UWI Open Campus to develop the training skills of a cadre of regional officers. The main objective of the program is to equip officers with pedagogic skills to become professional trainers within their departments. They will also serve as trainers for delivering CCLEC online courses among member countries. The acquisition of skill, knowledge, and expertise provides the basis for the efficient and effective management of the operations of any organization. With limited resources to hire external experts, it is especially significant for small developing countries to develop their skills and become less reliant on external support.
In St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the La Soufriere volcano is located at the northern side on the island. After effusively erupting since December, 2020, it explosively erupted on 9th April, 2021 and continues to erupt explosively emanating clouds of ash throughout the island. It also generated pyroclastic density currents along the north western and north eastern valleys of the island. Thankfully, there has been no confirmed loss of lives. Nevertheless, it has left the island gloomy and desolate in some areas.