Hundreds of persons applied for Turks and Caicos Islanders Status between 2016 and 2019, but only 19 were recommended by the newly-formed Turks and Caicos Islander Status Commission.
The SUN can confirm that the commission recommended eight persons for 2016, none for 2017, ten for 2018 and one for 2019.
The successful applicants for 2016 were: Stuart Michael Haynes, Nicola Christine Haynes, Ashley Joy Greenwood, Julian Matthew Petrucci, Alison Jane Williams, Sian Elizabeth Tovell Jones, Maureen Elaine Jones and Dieringer Lee Longmire.
Those successful for 2018 were: Audrey Sylvia Hardy, Daniela McCleery, Samuel Michael McCleery, Daniel John Redmond, Doris Christine Barker, Imran Shaaban Hoza, John Edward Redmond, John Osilawala Mubenwafor, Morgan May Luker and Teresa Carol Meneley.
Sara Janet Redmond was the only successful person from the 2019 applicants.
The current members of the Turks and Caicos Islands Status Commission are Benson Harvey, chairman, Oswald Skippings, Devereaux Malcolm, Herbert Been, Dozzlie Delancy and the Attorney General or her representative.
The commissioners “considered all applications” and served notice “in accordance with section 6(3) of the Turks and Caicos Islander Status Ordinance and in accordance with section 4” of the said ordinance, they made recommendations to Governor Nigel Dakin “in terms of section 13 (1)(b) of the ordinance, as read with section 4(3) (b) of the Turks and Caicos Islander Status (Amendment) Ordinance 2021.
Up to the writing of this report, there was no information available on the applications for 2020 and 2021.
Although members of the Commission have made their recommendations, The SUN understands that the governor has the final say in who is granted Turks and Caicos Islander Status.
The applicants for Turks and Caicos Islanders Status, all of whom were published in this newspaper, included several permanent residents who have lived in Turks and Caicos Islands for many years and have made significant contributions and investments in this country.
According to the Ministry of Border Control’s website, Turks and Caicos Islander status is the highest immigration status accorded to persons who acquired the status and or bestowed the status upon application in accordance with the laws of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
“Given that Turks and Caicos Islander Status is the highest immigration status locally, only Turks and Caicos Islanders can do the following: Vote in an election; apply for and be considered for the acquisition of residential crown land; apply for and be considered for the grant of a TCI Government scholarship and apply for and be considered for the grant of a business license to operate in the restricted business license category,” the website stated.
By Hayden Boyce – Publisher & Editor-in-Chief of TCI Sun
