Director of Tourism Ralph Higgs supports Canada/T&C integration
From T&C Sun
The deep trade and investment linkages that at least one Canadian Member of Parliament is trying to establish between the Turks and Caicos Islands and Canada have found a friend in a prominent member of the TCI community.
Ralph Higgs, who is also the Director of Tourism was the leader TCI ‘s first delegation to Canada in 1987, to establish closer trade and investment relations with that industrialized country, but since then, it appeared as if successive political movers and shakers have ostensibly been steering clear of that collaboration.
Recently, Conservative Canadian Member of Parliament Peter Goldring, raised the issue after Premier Hon. Rufus Ewing visited that country on government business in June. But some locals have been skeptical of the link that Goldring and other Canadians have been vouching for, forcing the MP to set the record straight in an interview with The SUN.
Higgs, who revealed the idea of the Turks and Caicos Islands establishing a deep trade and investment relations with Canada has been around for more than a hundred years, said that such association would be a good thing for the Turks and Caicos, since it could open tremendous doorways to the wider world.
“I picture, and there have been discussions that I am of aware of about using the Turks and Caicos as a free trade zone. In fact, South Caicos was mentioned on multiple occasions. Canadian goods and services coming into the region will be held here and dispensed from here. For example, ships going from South America to North America pass by here every day.
“If we had a hub here, we could benefit. Currently it took three or four days at sea (for ships journeying between South America and North America). You can construct a big containerized port. If you are coming from Brazil, for example, anywhere in North America – New York – You come here, you leave your cargo here, you go back South America. It cuts that down by probably three or four days at sea,” Higgs argued.
He said the Turks and Caicos, of forged an alliance with Canada, could become the gateway to Canadian investment in the region.
“There would be Canadian goods and services going into the region. Cuba is set to open any day. We have a Haitian population at our doorsteps that is seeking investment every day. I think this can be an investment for Canadian goods and services going into the region,” he said.
Higgs added: “Additionally, I have pictured, and there has been discussions about this, having a Canadian military force based in the region. This could be the hub. Our men and women who want to pursue a life in the military, they can do that with these kinds of relationships. It provides border protection, and the possibilities are endless.
“I am suddenly reminded of the Dutch and its relationship with its territories; the French and its relationship to its territories. The Americans have relationship with the USVI, Puerto, Guam, and so on. So these things exist. We just need to wake up, and our politicians need to be more proactive, and the status quo is not going to get us where we need to be. We need to think outside the box, and this is thinking outside the box,” Higgs said.
He said that the world has changed tremendously; the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands should begin to adopt a more global thinking about forging mutually beneficial relationships with other nations, especially industrialized ones.
“I have spent the last 30 years pursuing this, keeping it (talks of establishing a mutually beneficial relationship between TCI and Canada) alive quietly. I think there is tremendous amount of wisdom in it. I think it is precisely what we need to turn the corner as a country in terms of our development and declaring ourselves ultimately for nationhood.
“I think it is something that we must explore. Must not keep blinders on; we must look at the broader picture. The world now revolves around multilateral and bilateral relationships,” Higgs said.
PHOTO: Turks and Caicos Islands Director of Tourism, Ralph Higgs
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