Providenciales, TCI, July 22, 2016 – Laws in the Turks and Caicos need to be swiftly amended if we are going to see more crimes solved. For the second time in a week, there has been key reference made to the limitations in TCI Law which seems to inhibit Police; the old standards now in place are hurting investigations and helping criminals get away with murder and more.
A media statement by the Commissioner of Police, James Smith yesterday listed where there are weaknesses. I quote him now: “Keeping our borders secure is crucial, biometric information and the ability to easily take DNA samples will enhance our capabilities to solve crime and identify perpetrators, updated criminal evidence legislation, a change to the way we manage our roads, vehicles and driving licenses, along with a number of other legislative improvements that I have already discussed with government, should combine to significantly improve safety and security,” said James Smith, Police Commissioner.
A week ago today, the Premier, Rufus Ewing addressed the same issue, and expressed that his government will make the changes in law once informed of what those changes need to be. “The police commissioner also mentioned this morning that we need some amendments to our laws, I said well if we need amendments to our laws to enable things like DNA and DNA sampling or enlarged scale of DNA sampling then tell us what amendments we need.”
But when Magnetic Media checked the media release from the June 30th National Security Council meeting it exposes that not only was there a presentation of laws that need desperate improvement, but that the Premier, Dr. Rufus Ewing was there, the Border Control Minister, Donhue Gardiner was there, that the Police Commissioner and his Deputy were there; that the Governor Peter Beckingham and his Deputy Governor was there and the Attorney General also made the roll call. Everyone who could swiftly affect change in the laws of the land, was present and accounted for and the only question is now whether or not they will move expeditiously in order for the Turks and Caicos to see an end to reports where as much as 75% of crime goes unsolved.
