#TurksandCaicos, August 18, 2017 – Providenciales – His Excellency the Governor, Dr John Freeman, and the Hon. Premier, Mrs Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson, co-chaired a meeting of the TCI National Security Council (NSC) on Monday, 14 August, at the Hon. Hilly Ewing Building in Providenciales.
In attendance as members of the NSC were the Hon. Deputy Premier, Mr Sean Astwood; the Commissioner of Police, Mr James Smith; and the Hon. Acting Attorney-General, Mr Michael Dillon. The Hon. Minister of Home Affairs, Mr Vaden Williams, attended the meeting to cover matters concerning his Ministry. The Superintendent of HM Prison, Mr Steve Barrett, also attended the meeting to up-date the NSC on the Strategic Development Plan 2017-2025 for HM Prison.
At this meeting the NSC:
- Discussed further the recommendations in the Security Needs Assessment Report for TCI sponsored by the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office following initial consideration of the report at its meeting on 28 July. The NSC discussed implementation of the recommendations and agreed to draw on the report in the context of formulating a National Security Strategy. Subject to security constraints, the NSC would provide a briefing on the report in due course;
- Discussed in detail the key security issues facing the nation identified by the Commissioner of Police in the RTCIPF Strategic Plan together with proposed mitigations to address the challenges. The NSC agreed that tackling crime and the causes of crime in TCI was a cross government responsibility which also needed to involve wider society. The NSC agreed that a Sub-Committee of the NSC should be formed to bring together relevant government departments and agencies to oversee work on the four pillars in the Strategic Plan of prevention, intervention, enforcement and rehabilitation. The Sub-Committee would report regularly to the NSC on progress;
- Received a presentation by the Superintendent of HM Prison on the Strategic Development Plan for HM Prison for the period 2017-2025. The Superintendent explained the different phases of the plan and drew attention to works that needed to be undertaken in the short-term under Phase I of the plan to improve security and living and working conditions at the prison. The NSC agreed that Public Works Department should be tasked to cost the proposed works under Phase I as a matter of priority. The NSC also noted and welcomed measures proposed in the plan to improve the rehabilitation of offenders which were in line with the government’s priorities;
- Received an up-date by the Deputy Premier on the government’s enforcement drive to deal with illegal migrants in TCI which came into effect on 14 August including on engagement with the public, community groups and the media to explain the measures being implemented;
- Received a briefing by the Deputy Premier on recent engagement with business leaders on contributory efforts with government to tackle crime in TCI.
Press Release: TCIG
