TCI mirrors CI job troubles
Dr Rufus Ewing, Premier of the Turks & Caicos Islands
(CNS): The premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands has called on employers in those islands to give local people jobs. In what appears to be a similar situation to Cayman, Rufus Ewing said the economic growth that the country is now experiencing is not trickling down to the average Turks and Caicos Islander. Just like Cayman, TCI is suffering high levels of underemployment with qualified, willing and capable locals without jobs or in positions falling short of their expertise.
In a statement released Thursday Ewing called on the growing tourism hospitality sector to give Turks and Caicos Islanders opportunities for meaningful employment.
“I am also calling on the immigration and labour departments to continue stepping up their efforts and enforce policies that will ensure that Turks and Caicos Islanders are given first priority and fair opportunities for employment in our vibrant labour market,” he said, suggesting a mirror of the kind of problems Cayman is also seeing.
In a speech that could have been delivered by a politician in the Cayman Islands, the TCI leader added that while some employers were doing the right thing by employing and training locals, there was still more to be done, as he pointed to the need for TCI workers to “receive fair opportunities for promotions and fair compensation, comparative to that which any foreign worker would have” in the same jobs.
He said the efforts of some establishments left much to be desired.
“I am therefore putting those operators on notice,” Ewing stated. “This practice of overlooking my people stops here and it will no longer be business as usual. Moving forward, I will expect your efforts to employ, train, retain, promote and pay Turks and Caicos Islanders to be genuine, earnest, strategic and meaningful, and this expectation applies to all businesses, public, private and statutory.”
With TCI enjoying significant growth, especially in its tourism sector, the premier said the economic growth and development the people had to be the beneficiaries of their own country’s success.
Category: Caribbean, World News
To Panwix:- Plz don’t let the door hit you on the way out!! PLZ GO!! Cayman was ONCE like TCI and it broke my heart when I visited that one of the expat developers we had here who developed a major section of 7mile beach was now over there building like he did here! And I can bet you one dollar that just like here they won’t have ONE TC Islander who can say he or she got a scholarship from the profit that company made! Its the same here……y’all come here make millions; build luxury homes; and say how good y’all will be as an investor but don’t give ONE Vo-Tech or Hospitality scholarship!!!! Unna always got unna eyes wide open looking for the next unblemished island so unna can go there and tell the Islanders how great y’all business will be for the island; how much better off the Islanders will be selling their PRIME real estate for pittance and then unna put up boundary lines and drive ’em off the beach just like y’all try to do right here!! It’s your kind that TCI and Cayman DON’T need! It is you and those who think and behave like you that are some of the reasons why Caymanians have difficulty in obtaining employment when they’re well educated and employable and then make it difficult when y’all do hire them for them to leave your employment for greener pastures!. Just remember this though BoBo:- Today my day and tomorrow is yours!! Good luck on your next sojourn…..hope them TC Islanders treat you the way you should be treated!! GO BoBo we won’t miss yah here! BTW our Premier would do well to emulate Mr Ewing!! Maybe if he emulates him he would save his PPM party come 2017. BUT that’s IF he DOES what Ewing planning on TCI……Happy trails to you Panwix….Happy trails…..
I only hire Caymanians, and I have an amazing staff of hard working, well educated persons. Sadly, there so many Caymanians who apply whom are, frankly, undesirable as employees. Many businesses do our part, but employees half to meet us, at minimum, half way.
Be presentable, punctual, polite, study hard, especially maths, use proper grammar, do not talk on your cell phone at work, do not have children you cannot afford to raise, and do not do drugs. Simple. You will go far.
Our government could learn a thing or two. Way to go mr. Tci premier!!! You may not be liked by the expats but at least you put country and your people first above all and that is what makes a great nation verses greedy politicians!!!
Looks like their biggest issue is having Ellio as Premier.
I say the tci should copy caymans laws for finance, get dart to build a city and offer cheap permits. I would take my business over there in a second. The islands have so much potential and the water and marine life is heads above cayman. Not to mention the beaches.
I applaud the Premier of Turks & Caicos for making strong statements and being so direct. This NO-NONSENSE approah will no doubt be welcomed by the locals as a breath of fresh air. I pray that this will also encourage the locals not to give up but instead, continue to be persistant in job seeking (you will soon be employed) as well as those trying to excel in the areas of expertise they desire – push forward – you will achieve your goals!
but the ci government is one of the highest holders of work permits