The merger of the Immigration and Customs Departments into a joint border control agency could take years to implement.
So says the Premier of the Cayman Islands Alden McLaughlin. While the new agency to help modernise the island’s border security will be established on January 1, 2019, the Premier acknowledged there was much work to be done before the new comprehensive border control system could be fully implemented. Prior to implementation, a significant amount of training and cross-training will have to take place, including the introduction of new technology. It is anticipated that eventually customs and immigration officers will perform dual duties.
The Customs and Border Control Bill (the “Bill”) the ultimate aim of which is to create a single checkpoint at the border for the majority of passengers and goods entering and leaving the Cayman Islands while establishing more robust, secondary checks for high-risk passengers and goods was tabled in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday. The Bill is part of a package of legislation that is being brought into force during this legislative session with the aim of reconfiguring how the Cayman Islands deals with border control, workforce management and immigration issues.
It is expected that the merger will be a multi-year project and the territory has received much support from the US and the UK both of which countries have made a similar transitions to their respective own border control agencies.
