By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

AS ONE of the fastest growing economies in the Caribbean, Turks and Caicos Islands Premier Charles Washington Misick says there is still a lot they can learn from The Bahamas through further assistance in training.

“We are still a very young country, there is a lot we can learn from The Bahamas,” he said during his official visit to Freeport on the weekend.

“We have been talking of looking at how we can benefit from training from the Protocol Office in Nassau, communications, and how the police officers are trained in Grand Bahama and Nassau.”

Mr Misick noted that The Bahamas is assisting them with some training. The assistance of Bahamian Police in TCI has already helped to address a crime spike on that island, he recalled.

“When I made the call to Prime Minister Brave, we were experiencing an unprecedented spike in crime, something that is quite alien to us. He did not hesitate, and we are grateful for the assistance because it has done a tremendous amount of good for us. The island is once again experiencing some degree of peace,” he said.

Mr Misick indicated that they are also collaborating on sharing database and other information with TCI and the Bahamas security and police force to prevent the ease of fugitives hiding out in both countries.

“Those are issues we are collaborating on as we speak because in the last case an individual, I understand, had been wanted here for something. I know of situations where people have skipped bail and come to The Bahamas as well. So, these are areas we can collaborate on as we move towards fixing the security gaps that we have.”

Mr Misick believes that ties between the sister nations will become stronger through continued ongoing collaborations and training assistance.

“I think as I see the future for TCI and The Bahamas, I can see where that relationship will become stronger and stronger, and the flow of talented skills will be facilitated because our friendship agreement we hope to enter into,” he added.

Mr Misick noted that they are planning to establish a physical presence in The Bahamas by opening Diaspora Offices in GB and New Providence sometime this year.

“My budget/fiscal year runs from April 1 to March 31, and we are in the process of preparing our budget for the next fiscal year. So, it will be something after the beginning of April before we can actually provide the funding to set that up,” he said.

Mr Misick also noted that there had been interest expressed by Foreign Affairs Minister Fred Mitchell about opening a Consulate Office in TCI.

“To be honest, some time ago I had a conversation with Minister (of Foreign Affairs) Fred Mitchell who indicated they may want to set up a Consulate office in TC as well. That will help to cement the relationship and facilitate the exchange,” he said.

He noted that TI Bahamians who are status holders can return home.

The Premier reported that the hospitality sector is growing, and significant numbers of TI Bahamians and Bahamians are already working in the sector.

“Two years ago, Beaches came down and recruited 46 people. And there is a constant flow of TI Bahamians and Bahamians that have come to TCI who are operating at all levels in the hospitality sector from middle management all the way down to the waiter and waitresses,” he said.

“That movement is happening already. But as the economy expands, there is a need for more and more people to come and we want to give our own bloodlines the first (chance) on job opportunities. But not only jobs, investments and small businesses,” he said.