Dear Becky,
Please consider these bits of first hand information.
I still love these islands because I see what they can become and because there is still much to like and love here. Despite this, I feel I must return to the states -or possibly another island country- as I am not being given a chance to carry on and live here in peace.
I have lived and worked here [as an "outsider”] for seven years. I have always paid the proper fees and licenses and I have always intended to make this my final home. I will most probably be forced to leave soon due to the unreasonable and unfair fees charged me or anyone who tries to live and WORK here. The deteriorating conditions of government, the economy, and the attitude of the people who are also suffering as a result -and are being told it is "us outsiders" who are the cause of their problems- has given me cause for pause to carry on. I do not feel safe here anymore. I do not feel welcome here anymore. In fact, I feel sorry for those who cannot leave and must suffer through this with no way of assuring their own safety and well being.
In fact, I do not believe ANYONE who is not from here is welcome unless they are merely here as a "paying" tourist! A terrible hypocrisy is brewing into a major problem for this country. Unfortunately, too many islanders -who should really know better-, are buying into the political brainwashing by their own kind -who are now inserting themselves into key positions of power and literally running amok within the government. They are wrongly accusing those who only wish to live and let live here of problems we did not create -nor have the powers or authority to fix! In fact, they use this tactic to deflect attention away from the very fact that THEY THEMSELVES are responsible for and causing today’s undermining of their own society! Unfortunately, this tactic of intimidation and fear mongering has worked so well as to cause even the most responsible business and community leaders here to recoil and retreat and refuse to stand up and challenge -what they know is not true.
IN any case, I cannot afford to wait out what appears to be a long time struggle that might take years- or never be resolved. Perhaps someday a true visionary leader will be allowed to reform this governments structure into a more positive and accountable system. Until then, it is a very unproductive and risky place to try to establish a home as an outsider.
In my opinion, nothing else short of this will improve it.
Let me explain this further by asking you a few questions:
1.] You say you are interested in a house in Grand Turk. Will you be requiring a mortgage? If so, is this house a stick frame [wooden] building? Most banks will not touch it and most insurance companies will not insure it if it is.
2.] Is it historically designated? You will not be allowed to change it or improve it in any way if so. This includes no indoor plumbing, electric or basic living improvements no matter how necessary you may think they are.
3.] Please do not assume that just because you are in a simple quaint country you need not worry about contracts! Hire an attorney! Get everything in writing! I learned this the hard way!
4.] Also, the banks here require substantial quals in order to consider anyone from outside for a loan. Their primary interest and focus is making loans to Islanders.
5.] Will you be considering working here in order to support yourself? Alternatively, are you financially secure enough to not have to work? If you are coming here intending to work- let me tell you from first hand experience that this will be a very costly and stressful endeavor to secure and maintain!
The fact is this country and its people -on the whole [not everyone certainly- but those in power certainly] expect that if you are not financially well off- you simply cannot afford to be here. The outrageous immigration work visa fees, license fees, and the incredible cost of living expenses, which were recently quadrupled, last year -with no prior notice, further support this.
For instance, you will pay $7,000.00 per year for your right to work visa and on average $300-1,000 per year for licenses , and the addition of another $800-1400 per year for the formation of an "ordinary company" -also necessary for all expats working and owning businesses here.
6.] Please consider that nothing is raised or manufactured here as a source of income-except conch. Therefore, everything is imported. The country charges a 15%-45% customs fee [same as a tax!] and this is more than passed on for consumables. Expect that all your goods and supplies will cost on average about 2.5 to 3 times the cost in the US.
In summary, the cost of all this meets or exceeds ANY former state and federal income taxes I ever paid in the U.S. or elsewhere!
7.]By the way, something VERY important to realize -which no islander will bother to mention- you are NOT "tax free" by living here! You WILL be expected to file and pay any income over a set amount to the U.S. as long as you maintain your US citizen status.
8.] OK. So, you say "No sweat! I'll just become a Belonger" Not so fast! First, depending upon what island you move to, you must "invest” in property or business to the tune of a minimum of $75 thousand dollars per person. Your property comes with a "stamp duty" [read tax!], which varies from 3% to 12% depending upon where you buy. THEN you must pay into immigration for five years the yearly fees. [Minimum 5, ooo-10,000] THEN you "apply" for a PRC/right to work and IF you are accepted [a very big IF- and a very lengthy "process"] you will be required to pay another $50,000 thousand dollars!
SO, this will cost you well over $100k -can you afford this AND the added cost of living?
BUT WAIT! THERES MORE! THEN you are still subjected to the whims and folly of ANY immigration officer who may at ANY TIME determine to re-neg your PRC status for whatever reason they deem at the time! For instance, every time you arrive and leave the country you will be "approved" to enter. IN other words, this is not a fixed and protected naturalization process, and as has been mentioned many times it is the subject of much scrutiny by the Global community as a human rights violation.
9.] Do you understand how much more everything costs here? Are you aware that electric costs 27-32 cents a kWh? [As compared to 7 cent per kWh] in the states?
Water is so scarce it is rationed on islands where no public water service exists. We outsiders must provide back ups for ourselves as we are on the BOTTOM of the allocation list for water!
IN a nutshell:
I moved here because I fell in love with the islands -and like you, I naively thought it would be a far less stressful and friendlier place to live and work. I was seduced by misleading adverts put forth by government agencies [such as TCINVEST] and tourist board propaganda, [MEANINGLESS CRAP!] -which proved to be outdated, or just plain false. Also, I had visited and met with and really liked the island people overall. Most of whom are hardworking simple folk, who are open, honest and believe in a live and let live philosophy. Unfortunately, this does not seem to be shared by those who control the government here, nor is it espoused by a rampant few mal-contents who terrorize their OWN folks into fearful silence with their nasty "tuff gangsta" and anti-American bigoted ways. Some of tem have even managed to re-install themselves into high-powered government positions recently- and public ally tout their anti-white racism!
They aren't many- but they are everywhere on these islands and unfortunately-give the entire country a shameful -and rather frightening reputation.
So, what kind of future can anyone have here?
The sad fact is, there are so few families here that these rabble-rousers carry on unchecked- usually because they are being protected by the power of someone, they know or are related to in government.
NOBODY can touch them! They know it and the islanders who are hurt by them know it. So, when an "outsider" with no civil rights in this country speaks out- what happens? Maybe nothing- or maybe something in retaliation? Both have occurred-in very public instances. Everyone hangs their head in shame -or looks the other way, but nothing is done to bring justice or accountability into it!
I have lived in many foreign ports throughout the Caribbean, and of course, there are varying degrees of problems and challenges everywhere- this is certainly true.
But I have NEVER seen such a rapid deterioration of a people's attitudes and economy and the rapid growth of a horrible sense of resentment and disrespect for all others -as I have here in the past seven years!
The tragedy is not the "outsiders" versus the "islanders" -as some would have you believe. It is simply that a people who are TOLD by their own government [and their OWN people] that this is the problem have not woken up to the sad fact yet, that THEY ARE BEING DUPED! By continuing to NOT allow ALL of us who choose to live and WORK here- a fair say and an active role in the future of this country. They deny themselves of all we who came here to "Belong" can offer! This is cutting off your nose to spite your face! How can I help you when you resist including me? How can I share my wisdom with you when you constantly deny me that right? How can I be a positive force and accountable to a Government and a Society -who refuse to be a positive force and accountable to me?
You know who said this very same thing not long ago? A famous human rights leader by the name of Martin Luther King. AN AMERICAN! One wonders of the Islanders today would be so rude and resentful as to ignore his vision if he spoke as an American on T&C soil -simply for that reason?
Too many slackers who don’t want to work have the loudest voices. Too many who DO want to work and stay are simply pushed aside and told to leave -because they "do not Belong here!" Boy! That sounds like pure and evil racism to me!
I believe in the old adage that if you are not part of the solution then you are part of the problem. I have lived by that golden rule LONG before I came here. I was successful and well loved and respected in every port. I did the very same thing here with no help from anyone. It was a labor that bore very small fruits but I was satisfied with that!
I provided much needed services and added income to a tiny island's economy by creating businesses AND attracting tourism -and I volunteered my services as a teacher and helper throughout the community whenever asked. Where-ever possible, I supported the local labor force and cottage industries with my business and referrals. I must note that these enterprises and services were NEVER provided or offered by any islander before or since.
Yet, Today I find that I am not ALLOWED to SURVIVE-much less live by this very sensible and vital rule because in this country- I AM NOT ALLOWED EVER to become a "part of the solution" -because too many islanders think that this equates with "If you don't like it then, just shut-up and leave us your money!"
I am not wealthy in money, I am wealthy in ideas and creativity and resourcefulness. I don't blame others for my hard times. I know how to make something out of virtually nothing. These are GOD GIVEN GIFTS that I will carry with me -and happily, share- everywhere I go.
Yet, these gifts are ignored and resented by these people and the T&C government today! Moreover, it is a sorry and terrible shame that they cannot see the forest for the trees!
Becky I am so sorry to have to alert you to all these pitfalls. Nevertheless, you must honestly ask yourself if you really know and understand what you will need to survive here. It is so terribly frustrating to know and see what a wonderful and potentially incredible place these islands could become! Unfortunately, if you -like I- come here thinking that your dreams and ideas to improve and make it better will be welcomed- I must sadly report that from what I have witnessed- not just for myself but from so many others who came before me- it isn’t true !
This country is FAR from realizing its potential and one of its biggest obstacles is its own PRIDE and reluctance to welcome new blood! Each island is guilty of being so prideful and close-minded they don’t even recognize other islanders from other islands! It’s crazy and dysfunctional and it only hurts themselves. However, what are we- as outsiders with no input allowed- supposed to do?
I will carry on somehow- somewhere if not here, because I am a survivor. I am deeply disappointed by the situation here. It dis-allows so much that was succeeding on its own.