§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had with the US Coast Guard regarding the exodus of Haitian immigrants to the Turks and Caicos. [107284]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) Government and the FCO Overseas Territories Law Enforcement Adviser, based in Miami, are in regular contact with the US Coast Guard on policy and operational matters, including the extension of measures to combat illegal migration. The US Coast Guard on the Bahamas Island of Gt. Inagua coordinates drug interdiction operations under a tripartite agreement between the USA, TCI and the Bahamas, dating from 1990. This can include operations against vessels carrying illegal migrants. TCI law enforcement personnel participate in these operations.
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§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had with the Government of Haiti regarding Haitian immigrants in the Turks and Caicos. [107276]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienWe have been in discussions with the Haitian authorities for some time about Haitian immigrants to the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI). On 24 March, our ambassador to Haiti held discussions on this subject with the Haitian Foreign Minister in Port-au-Prince at which it was provisionally agreed that a Haitian Government delegation would visit the TCI later this month to continue the dialogue with the TCI authorities.
§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what guidance his Department gives to the Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands regarding the criteria for awarding citizenship. [107279]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe criteria for British Overseas Territories Citizenship are detailed in the British Nationality Act 1981. The Home Office, which has lead responsibility for British nationality matters, has issued detailed guidance, which was transmitted in the form of an instruction manual to the Governors of the British Overseas Territories.
§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what figures his Department holds for the number of Haitians who have been awarded citizenship in the Turks and Caicos Islands for each year since 1992. [107280]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienRegrettably, we do not hold the statistics requested. The following statistics in relation to British Overseas Territories Citizenship have been provided by the Governor's Office, but they are total figures and do not include details by nationality;
Registrations Naturalisations 2000 (August to December) 0 9 2001 50 35 2002 35 42 2003 (January to March) 2 9
§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had with the government of the Turks and Caicos about illegal Haitian immigrants. [107285]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienWe are in regular contact with Ministers and Officials of the Turks and Caicos Islands Government (TCIG) on this issue. My noble Friend Baroness Amos last raised the issue with the Chief Minister on 3 March.
§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department has had with the government of the Turks and Caicos islands regarding the human rights of(a) Haitian immigrants and (b) naturalised Haitians. [107287]
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§ Mr. Mike O'BrienWe are in regular contact with Ministers and Officials of the Turks and Caicos Islands Government (TCIG) on these issues. My noble Friend Baroness Amos last raised the issues with the Chief Minister on 3 March.
§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment his Department has made of the internal security situation in the Turks and Caicos Islands. [107996]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe Governor delegates responsibility for day to day operations to Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) Government Ministries and law enforcement agencies. The FCO Overseas Territories Law Enforcement Adviser, based in Miami, and the regional Defence Adviser, based in Jamaica, also visit the TCI regularly and submit independent assessment reports on the internal security situation. The last visit by both was in February. The assessment process is continuous.