Caribbean Review: Why Turks and Caicos has chosen an “Islanders First” Labor Policy
FrankRamspott
In the Caribbean, island states whose economies largely depend on industries like tourism are often vulnerable to factors beyond their control. Depending on the cruiseliners, airliners and other industries to inject economic success has contributed to a destabilizing trend that also has a polarizing effect on the politics of Caribbean nations. This has contributed to a tendency for politicians to adopt a rhetoric laden with populist undertones, fitting a global movement as seen in the United States and El Salvador. Frustrated by the lack of services, companies, and educational institutions prioritizing locals over those from outside the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), members of the TCI Parliament have expressed strong opposition to these trends. This has produced a willingness to prioritize the employment and success of Belongers rather than outside investment. Yet the question remains whether an, “islanders first” policy direction serves to be more of a hindrance or a benefit.
In March, Deputy Premier and Minister of Immigration and Border Services, Jamell Robinson, MP, pronounced the injustice saying to Islanders, “We remain unrelenting in our quest to put you, our people first.” In his ministerial speech that day on March 12, Robinson laid out his plan both as a warning to companies and other opportunity-creating institutions to begin prioritizing native Islanders in their recruitment and also as a signal of a shift in government labor priorities. He praised government initiatives and departments like Grand Turk Enhancement and Sustainability Agency (GTESA) for their work in implementing thirteen new projects for the Grand Turk Island but also threatened foreigners who have immigrated to Turks and Caicos for business reminding them that their residency is a “privilege”. He also bookmarked his comments on the new islanders first policy with the announcement of his priorities for the Ministry of Immigration and Border Security; Efficiency, Eliminating exploitation, Excellence, and Ensuring fairness.
The recent elections in the Turks and Caicos Islands that occurred in February saw the Progressive National Party (PNP) take sixteen of nineteen seats up for election as announced on the main island of Providenciales. Led by the Honorable Premier Washington Misick, the PNP centered the election on crime, cost of living and housing issues which have increasingly become central issues in Turks and Caicos politics especially after 2024 saw a significant increase in crime with an alarming homicide rate of 103.1 with 90% of homicides being related to gang violence. Considering the polarizing political environment, MP Robinson’s approach to crack down on companies and corporations associated with foreign hiring seems to push back on the status quo that the PNP has overseen since 2021.
Robinson’s predecessor, Hon. Arlington Musgrove, MP, acknowledged the problem of brain drain on the Turks and Caicos Islands yet failed to provide a comprehensive solution to counter such a damaging trend. In a town hall in 2022 attended by Musgrove, a concerned constituent experienced first-hand the impact of brain drain as all four of her children who had gone to university have no plans of ever returning to live in the Turks and Caicos. In response, Musgrove reiterated that for government jobs, Turks and Caicos would be prioritizing native islanders and not foreigners even if the positions remained vacant. Musgrove did not provide any details on government incentives for the private sector to hire native islanders or if the current government offered competitive wages.
Brain Drain is the emigration of highly educated and highly skilled workers from a country most often due to the lack of opportunities available within that country. While the current Parliament experiments with new policies in order to both attract more well-paying jobs to the island and incentivise companies to hire locally, the cost of living crisis in Turks and Caicos has contributed to exorbitant prices that the next generation of Islanders currently faces. For example the average cost of a liter of fuel on the islands is $1.71 whereas in Jamaica the average cost of a liter of fuel is $0.98. While systemic problems like having an import-dependent economy are innate and existential to the survival of the Turks and Caicos, other factors such as low wages and import duties are subject to government direction. Disruptions in the global economy due to inflation caused the Consumer Price Index in the Turks and Caicos to rise 5.5% from 2023 to 2024 yet the government has been slow to react to changing global trends.
In February, Parliament announced the fourth launch of the National Internship and Apprenticeship Program (NIAP), encouraging tertiary students across the island to apply both for professional development and to also supplement their “islanders first” policy agenda. According to a Facebook post announcing its launch, the government account stresses that, “[The program] continues to bridge the gap between formal education and gainful work experience…” The program has already helped place over 230 students into various industries across the island yet it might not be enough to counter the immense brain drain trends that have overtaken the islands, which have denigrated the pool of human capital.
According to the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), the Caribbean region is denoted as a region of emigrants with 9.84 million nationals living abroad as of 2020. Many nations such as Jamaica, Cuba and Haiti had 1 to 1.7 million foreign nationals each. While the Turks and Caicos benefits from a relatively high amount of remittances with the last tally being totaled at $10.4 million in 2020, the economic impact is not nearly enough to sustain a decent standard of living in the Turks and Caicos. In reaction to such trends, the “islanders first” effort has been unleashed to boost local employment and economic revitalization.
As is the case with many Caribbean nations, brain drain is a detrimental force that threatens the success of their nations’ existence and the appeal to their local human capital. While the Honorable MP Robinson’s approach of an “islanders first” policy regarding labor might be convincing in its coercive stature towards companies abusing the favorable visa policies usually associated with nations like Turks and Caicos, a balancing act must ensue. While it is beneficial and a top priority for the TCI government to improve local hiring numbers it is also the case that in order to grow macroeconomically, the government must expand abroad and improve its human capital. The government has made well-intentioned efforts like the NIAP program to build human capital to sustain a vibrant economy yet, Caribbean nations innately must invigorate local populations to participate while also inviting in foreigners to expand their power.
