Liberty Says It Can Assist TCI With Border Security
Liberty Caribbean says it has the technology and expertise to help the Turks and Caicos Islands modernise border security as part of a wider transition toward digitally enabled public services.
Carol Robertson, Liberty Caribbean representative telecommunications provider, made the announcement during the launch of Liberty Business in the Turks and Caicos Islands on Thursday, September 17, at Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort and Spa.
Presenting the company’s vision for a “digital-first” TCI, Robertson said Liberty could support the digitisation of border-control operations from start to finish.
“We have the partnerships, and we are able to help you digitise your border control,” Robertson said. “We also put in the processes, the software, the tools, the scanners, the biometrics. We’ll do it end-to-end.”
Robertson did not announce a contract or formal agreement with the TCI Government. Instead, she identified smart-border technology as one of several areas in which Liberty could serve as a technology and innovation partner.
She said a modern border system could combine secure connectivity with software, biometric tools, scanners and data-processing capabilities. Information collected through such a system could help authorities better understand arrivals and departures and make faster, more informed decisions.
Border security is particularly important to the Turks and Caicos Islands, which continues to face challenges involving irregular migration and maritime arrivals. At the same time, the territory must process large numbers of visitors efficiently while protecting its reputation as a leading tourism destination.
Robertson said Liberty’s proposed approach could support both stronger border controls and a more seamless visitor experience, beginning when travellers arrive in the territory and continuing until their departure.
The proposal formed part of Liberty’s broader vision for a connected TCI in which technology operates largely in the background while improving public safety, government services and everyday life.
“The future for TCI isn’t about more screens. It’s not about more systems or more complexity. It should be about less friction,” Robertson said. “Technology should quietly remove barriers and make everyday experiences simpler, faster and better.”
She said Liberty’s services could bring together secure networks, data centres, Internet of Things platforms and analytical applications. The company could also assist with strategy, implementation and preparing employees to use new systems effectively.
Robertson stressed that cybersecurity would have to underpin any digital-transformation programme.
“We don’t do anything anymore without making sure it’s secure,” she said, explaining that secure connectivity must come before additional digital services are placed on a network.
The presentation also outlined possible uses of cameras, sensors and automated alerts to strengthen public safety. Robertson said smart surveillance systems could be programmed to identify unusual behaviour or specific objects and alert authorities without requiring personnel to monitor screens continuously.
Other applications discussed included smart poles equipped with Wi-Fi and emergency features, traffic management, digital healthcare records, fleet monitoring, environmental sensors and systems for reducing energy consumption in public and commercial buildings.
Robertson said the goal should be to move government and businesses away from reacting after an incident or service failure and toward anticipating problems through real-time information.
“Instead of reacting to congestion, we predict it. Instead of reacting to failures, we identify issues before they occur,” she said.
Liberty, through its telecommunications arm , Cable and Wireless, has operated in the region for more than a century and has continued investing in telecommunications infrastructure and network resilience. Robertson said the company now wants to build on that foundation by helping governments connect digital systems and make greater use of the information they generate.
She encouraged TCI leaders to focus first on the outcomes they want for residents and visitors, rather than on individual technologies.
“Focus on your outcomes,” Robertson said. “We’ll help you work out how to get there.”
Comments