TCI News
TCI National Security Council Meeting
#Providenciales, July 20, 2018 – Turks and Caicos – 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, 16 July 2018, at the Hon. Hilly Ewing Building in Providenciales.
In attendance as members of the NSC were Her Excellency the Deputy Governor and the Commissioner of Police. The Hon. Minister of Home Affairs, Transportation and Communication attended the meeting to cover matters concerning his Ministry. The new Superintendent of HM Prison also attended the meeting to brief the NSC on his first impressions of HM Prison since taking up his appointment in May. The Hon. Attorney-General joined the meeting by teleconference.
At this meeting the NSC:
- Received up-dates from the Commissioner of Police on:
– The latest crime statistics for the period April-June 2018 which showed that overall crime figures for the first quarter of the year were at broadly the same levels as the same period in 2017;
– Major projects coming on stream including a new 911 system which would be operated from a new 911 Centre as well as the digitisation of police radios on Providenciales to provide better communication coverage. The RTCIPF plan to roll out digitisation more widely to improve communication across the other islands;
– New equipment being deployed by RTCIPF officers and the armed response and tactical teams;
– The introduction of breathalyser testing in TCI from 1 July 2018 including initial findings and results;
– A new child safeguarding facility which would be shared with the Departments for Social Development and Education to improve cross-government efforts to protect children. The Commissioner also reported on the work that the RTCIPF had done on child safeguarding with the National Crime Agency from the UK and on a bid for additional funding from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF);
– Co-operation between the RTCIPF and the Miami Beach Police including on training, equipment supplies and DNA profiling;
– Plans to address a recent spike in the number of reported gun crimes including improved investigative techniques by the RTCIPF and working with Crime Stoppers and the public to report information on illegal weapons. The Hon. Premier called for a new approach to working with youth to get guns off the streets.
- Received a report from the Superintendent of HM Prison on his initial impressions of conditions at the prison since taking up his appointment in May. The Superintendent outlined the myriad challenges facing the prison. The Hon. Minister for Home Affairs reported that he had recently visited the prison and that his Ministry would be addressing the problems including working with the private sector to introduce measures to support the work of the prison staff and improve security. His Excellency the Governor expressed his thanks to all those working at the prison in difficult circumstances.
- The Hon. Premier reported that the TCI Government would commence talks soon with the Government of the Bahamas on possible co-operation to tackle the problem of illegal sloops from Haiti. The Hon. Premier also reported that she had received the report of the UK Border
Force delegation who had been in TCI recently to carry out an assessment of TCI’s needs to combat illegal migration. The recommendations in the report were currently under consideration but were broadly in line with existing TCIG’s thinking and several were already being implemented.
- Received an up-date from the Hon. Premier on the political situation and unrest in Haiti which the Hon. Deputy Premier was monitoring and assessing the possible implications for TCI.
- Was informed by Her Excellency the Deputy Governor of reports of incidents of illegal poaching in Bahamian waters and on the implications of similar activity occurring in TCI and the need for a cross-government response to deal with illegal poaching.
Release: TCIG
Turks and Caicos, October 14, 2025 – Overcrowding at Her Majesty’s Prison (HMP) Grand Turk has reached crisis levels, taking center stage at the most recent meeting of the National Security Council (NSC).
The session, co-chaired by Governor Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam and Premier Charles Washington Misick, heard a sobering report from the Ministry of Public Safety and Utilities on the worsening conditions at the country’s only correctional facility.
Officials revealed that HMP Grand Turk currently houses around 131 inmates in a facility built to accommodate just 104, representing an estimated 30 percent overcapacity. Structural damage from previous hurricanes and years of wear have further reduced usable space, compounding safety and management challenges.
The Chief Magistrate’s Court and the Director of Public Prosecutions’ Office have repeatedly warned that the prison’s overcrowding could undermine rehabilitation and security efforts — and now, the NSC has declared modernization of correctional infrastructure a national priority.
The Council approved immediate-term relief measures and agreed to a comprehensive review of the prison estate, aimed at
identifying targeted infrastructure investments to meet the demands of a growing inmate population.
The NSC meeting, held on September 25, 2025, brought together the highest-level officials in the Turks and Caicos Islands’ security apparatus, including the Deputy Premier, Attorney General, Commissioner of Police, National Security Advisor, Commanding Officer of the Regiment, Director General of Border Force, and NSS Threat Lead. Also in attendance were the Hon. Minister and Permanent Secretary of Public Safety and Utilities, alongside the Superintendent of the Department of Correctional Services, who presented the update on the prison’s capacity challenges and operational concerns.
Multi-Agency Coordination and Maritime Security
Beyond the correctional system, members were also briefed by the Unified Command on ongoing multi-agency security operations, including efforts to strengthen cooperation among law enforcement and border protection entities.
Discussions also turned to the legal framework underpinning joint operations, with members emphasizing the need for coherent inter-agency coordination in tackling transnational threats, particularly those related to illicit migration and maritime crime.
The Commanding Officer of the Turks and Caicos Regiment presented plans for a new maritime operational base and docking facility, envisioned as a command-and-control center that would bolster the country’s ability to respond to maritime incidents, search-and-rescue operations, and natural disasters.
Liquor Licensing Reforms and Regional Summit
The Permanent Secretary for National Security briefed the Council on the review of the current liquor licensing regime, with recommendations for a full restructuring and digital redesign of the licensing process to enhance oversight and efficiency. The Council supported continued reform work on the system.
In a forward-looking development, the NSC also endorsed plans for the Northern Caribbean Security Summit, to be hosted in Turks and Caicos under the theme “Dismantling Illicit Maritime Activities Through Enhanced Cooperation.” The summit aims to convene regional and international partners to deepen collaboration in addressing shared maritime security challenges, from smuggling to illegal migration and environmental crimes.
Security at a Crossroads
Governor Daniel-Selvaratnam and Premier Misick jointly reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the country’s national security infrastructure and coordination mechanisms, describing the discussions as “critical to maintaining the safety, stability, and sovereignty of the Turks and Caicos Islands.”
With the prison operating well beyond its intended capacity, and a surge in complex maritime and border challenges, the NSC’s focus on modernization and reform signals an urgent recalibration of priorities.
As the Turks and Caicos Islands position themselves as a leader in regional cooperation on security, one message from the Council was clear: the nation must invest now — in its institutions, its infrastructure, and its resilience — to sustain safety and justice in the years ahead.
Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.
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