TCI News
Turks and Caicos attends CFATF Plenary in Trinidad and Tobago in prepartion for its mutual evaluation
#PortofSpain, June 4, 2018 – Trinidad and Tobago – Attorney General Hon. Rhondalee Braithwaite Knowles OBE, led a team of persons representing the Turks and Caicos Islands to the 47th Plenary and Working group meetings of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force in Port of 
Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. Delegates represented the Attorney General’s Chambers, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Financial Services Commission, the Financial Intelligence Agency, the Financial Crimes Unit and the National Crime Intelligence Bureau (both branches of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force). The Hon. Attorney General holds the position of Immediate Past Chair of the regional compliance body on behalf of the Turks and Caicos Islands. The CFATF is chaired by the Hon. Basil Williams, Attorney General and Minister for Legal Affairs for Guyana.
The CFATF is the regional offshoot of the Paris based, Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the premier inter-governmental organization that sets the standards for preventing money laundering and terrorist financing. The CFATF plays a critical role in promoting regional compliance with the international Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Recommendations on anti-money laundering and combatting the financing of terrorism and weapons proliferation.
The CFATF comprises 25 countries from South and Central America and the Caribbean, with a total population of approximately 80 million persons. The CFATF is responsible for monitoring and evaluating member states in an effort to achieve compliance.
Meetings around the Plenary include a meeting of Heads of FIUs, Working Groups and other CFATF Committees dealing with governance issues such as budget, planning and human resources. Angela Brooks, Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions is co-chair of the CFATF’s Human Resources 
Committee along with Mrs. Kenisha Bacchus from the Financial Services Commission. Mrs. Bacchus was also an assessor for the mutual evaluation of Antigua and Barbuda and performed admirably in that role at the meetings. Insp. Dwayne Baker, Director of the Financial Intelligence Agency is an assessor for the upcoming Evaluation of Bermuda.
Accompanying Hon. Braithwaite Knowles at the CFATF plenary were Khalila Astwood-Tatem, Desiree Downes and Shayone Handfield-Gardiner from the Attorney General’s Chambers, Edith Cox, Dwayne Baker and William Lightbourne from the Financial Intelligence Agency, Jillian Williams and Shatelia Hall from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Kenville Charles and Paulin Nemours from the Financial Crimes Unit of the RTCIPF, Vernon Williams from the National Crime Intelligence Bureau of the RTCIPF and Kenisha Bacchus and Tamiko Smith from the Financial Services Commission.
The effectiveness of the legislative and regulatory infrastructure of the Turks and Caicos Islands’ financial services sector is being evaluated by the CFATF and the CFATF will be conducting an onsite visit to the Turks and Caicos Islands to meet with public sector and private sector stakeholders in the financial sector during the second and third week in September 2018.
Release: TCIG
Turks and Caicos, October 28, 2025 – We are closely monitoring the impact of Hurricane Melissa on Jamaica, and our thoughts and prayers are with our regional neighbours for their safety and well-being
We are now entering a critical period as Hurricane Melissa advances towards the Turks and Caicos Islands. Current projections indicate that Hurricane Melissa will begin to impact the Turks and Caicos Islands around midday tomorrow, Wednesday, 29th October.
This morning, Her Excellency the Governor and the Hon. Premier chaired a State of Preparedness Meeting. All Government agencies and critical services are mobilised. The safety and protection of every person across our Islands remains our highest priority. Our emergency response teams are prepared and the TCI Regiment is deployed across each of our Islands to support community readiness and immediate response. The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force are on active duty, with additional officers in North Caicos, Salt Cay, South Caicos and Grand Turk.
At this time, the hurricane is moving north-northeast. The country is expected to experience tropical storm conditions, heavy rainfall and
significant storm surge. The storm surge poses a serious concern for low-lying coastal areas especially along our western and southern coastlines, which may result in coastal flooding. Based on the most current weather projections and anticipated impacts for the Turks and Caicos Islands, the National Executive have agreed the following actions:
1. Evacuation Advisories
Residents in specific low-lying and flood-prone coastal areas are likely to experience significant storm surge of 2-4 feet with accompanying rainfall. Strong advice is now place for residents in these areas to relocate to designated shelters which will be open from 4pm this afternoon. These areas include:
Middle Caicos
- Conch Bar Nearest Shelter: The Community Centre
North Caicos
- Sandy Point Nearest Shelter : Sandy Point Community Centre
- Whitby Nearest Shelter: Adelaide Oemler Primary School
- Bottle Creek Nearest Shelter: Adelaide Oemler Primary School
Providenciales
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- Chalk Sound Nearest Shelter Enid Capron Primary School
- Five Cays Nearest Shelter: Enid Capron Primary School
- Discovery Bay Nearest Shelter: All Saints Church, Leeward Highway
- Juba Sound Nearest Shelter: A. Louise Garland High School
- Long Bay Nearest Shelter: A. Louise Garland High School
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South Caicos
- Cockburn Harbour Nearest Shelter: Community Centre
- Old Airport Road Nearest Shelter: Community Centre
Should an evacuation order become necessary, it will be issued following the 6:00 PM Advisory this evening from the TCI National Weather Service.
2. Activation of Emergency Operations Centre
The National Emergency Operations Centre in Providenciales and all Islands Emergency Operations Centres will be activated at 4:00 PM today.
3. Shelters Access
Shelters across all Islands will open today at 4:00 PM to receive members of the public.
4. Shelter-in-Place
A Strong Shelter-in-Place Advisory is in place for all islands, commencing at 10:00 PM tonight. This will be in place until the all clear has been issued.
This means that from 10:00 PM tonight, all residents should be off the road, in a safe location, either at home or a designated shelter.
Please note that this position may be revised following the 6:00 PM Advisory from the TCI National Weather Service, depending on updated storm projections.
The Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority (TCIAA) has confirmed that all airports remain fully operational for today. They will advise the public about ongoing operations dependent on the weather impacts.
In times such as this, the role of commercial entities extends beyond business – it becomes a vital part of the community’s resilience. All retailers and service providers are urged to uphold their humanitarian responsibilities by maintaining fair pricing and ensuring essential goods and services remain accessible to all.
Residents and visitors are reminded to adhere strictly to all official advisories and evacuation orders as they are issued. Avoid unnecessary movement, secure your property, and ensure that you and your family are prepared with essential supplies. Stay prepared and stay safe.
Turks and Caicos, October 24, 2025 – Commissioner of Police Fitz Bailey delivered an impassioned address to male students at Clement Howell High School, calling on them to recognize their power, seize their potential, and “awaken the sleeping giants” within.
In a message that blended humility, faith, and personal experience, the Commissioner reminded the boys that the decisions they make today will shape their future.“The choices you make today determine who you become tomorrow,” he said.
Bailey, who revealed he was the first in his family to attend high school, urged the students to embrace education and discipline as tools of
transformation.“Knowledge is power. If you want to be a real man, you need to read,” he told them. “Remember your potential — if others can do it, so can you. Some of you are sleeping giants waiting to be awakened.”
He emphasized that circumstances of birth do not dictate destiny, challenging the young men to carry self-respect, faith, and moral conviction wherever they go. “Self-respect is key; respect yourself, respect others, and respect God,” he said. “The circumstances you were born into do not define who you are.”
The Commissioner also spoke about resilience, advising that true strength often lies in restraint.
“There will be challenges, and people may try to impede your development — but rise above negativity. Sometimes, strength means walking away,” he said. “Some of you are sleeping lions; it’s time to awaken that instinct and rediscover your true potential.”
In closing, Commissioner Bailey delivered a stirring challenge:
“Each morning, look in the mirror and remind yourself that you were created by God and are capable of great exploits. You are a possibility with potential. Step forward with confidence — this is your country, your islands. Be the best version of yourself.”
Following his speech, the Commissioner engaged the students in open dialogue, answering questions and listening to their perspectives on issues affecting young men in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
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