Ed Forbes

Turks and Caicos, September 3, 2026 – The Turks and Caicos Islands Regiment may be one of the most underutilized national assets in our fight against some of the social problems facing the Territory.

Established in 2020 with the support of then-Governor Nigel Dakin and the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence, the Regiment was created to strengthen national security while providing capabilities in disaster relief, humanitarian assistance and border protection.

But its role could potentially extend beyond traditional military responsibilities.

The qualities required of Regiment members—discipline, responsibility, teamwork, resilience and a sense of purpose—are also qualities that many troubled young people and individuals preparing to return to society after incarceration desperately need.

So perhaps it is time to ask: Could the TCI Regiment become part of our strategy for rehabilitation and reintegration?

We cannot arrest our way out of rising concerns about youth delinquency, gang recruitment and violent crime. Young people without employment, structure, opportunity or a sense of belonging can become vulnerable to gangs offering money, identity and acceptance.

For a young person who commits a relatively minor, non-violent offence, should incarceration always be the answer? Where legally appropriate and following proper risk assessment, could accountability sometimes be combined with an opportunity to change direction

That is where the Regiment could potentially play a role.

This should not mean turning the Regiment into a prison or creating a military “boot camp for bad kids.” Military-style boot camps alone have not been shown to reliably reduce reoffending. Discipline works best when combined with education, counselling, vocational training, mentoring and employment opportunities.

Rehabilitation Before Release:

The TCI already has the beginnings of a framework that could support such an initiative.

In February 2026, the Government announced the completion of its Parole Board Modernisation Project, designed to strengthen parole decision-making while supporting rehabilitation and successful reintegration into the community.

Rather than creating another standalone programme, Government could explore incorporating a Regiment-supported service component into the existing parole and rehabilitation system.

Imagine an inmate approaching the end of a sentence who has demonstrated good behaviour and is assessed as suitable for supervised reintegration.

Instead of simply opening the prison gate and expecting that person to succeed, preparation could begin months before release.

A structured programme could include physical training, discipline, leadership development, community service, vocational training and mentoring. Participants could assist with approved community projects, environmental restoration and disaster-preparedness activities while developing practical skills and a responsible daily routine.

The programme could continue for six to twelve months after release, with regular check-ins, employment assistance and clearly defined responsibilities.

The Regiment would not replace corrections, probation, counselling or other professionals. It would add another ingredient: service and accountability.

A Second Chance—With Responsibility

This is not about being soft on crime. It is about being smarter about rehabilitation.

Participants would have to show up, follow rules, complete training and demonstrate that they are prepared to accept responsibility for their future. Successful completion could become part of demonstrating readiness for full reintegration.

Employment would also be critical. Local businesses could provide apprenticeships, internships and second-chance employment.

Because rehabilitation without employment is incomplete.

The same philosophy could potentially apply to troubled youth. The Government is preparing to open a Juvenile Rehabilitation Facility for Boys later this year, with a focus on accountability, education, personal growth, family engagement and reintegration.

The Regiment should not replace the professionals responsible for juvenile rehabilitation, but its expertise in discipline, leadership, teamwork and service could become one component of a broader model.

Protecting the Future:

The objective should be simple: Stop creating tomorrow’s prisoners today.

If we can reach a teenager before gang recruitment becomes a way of life, we should.

If we can hold a young offender accountable without placing them in an environment that increases the likelihood of further offending, we should consider it.

And if someone has served their sentence, we should give them more than a release date and some cash. We should give them a plan, which could help reduce recidivism.

That plan could include housing, employment, education, counseling, family support, mentoring—and, where appropriate, structured service supported by the TCI Regiment.

The Turks and Caicos Islands is small enough that government agencies, the Regiment, schools, employers, courts, probation services and community organizations can work together.

The Regiment was created to protect the Turks and Caicos Islands. Protecting these islands should mean more than protecting our borders.

It should also mean protecting our communities, protecting vulnerable young people from gang recruitment and helping former offenders become productive members of society.

A prison sentence should not be our only answer to youthful mistakes, and the prison gate should not mark the end of rehabilitation. We must think much bigger.

The TCI Regiment has truly demonstrated its value in national defence, border protection and disaster response.
Perhaps it is time to explore whether its greatest contribution could extend even further:

Keep the service, but expand the mission, while helping to defend the future of the people it was created to serve.

Deandrea Hamilton | Editor

PROVIDENCIALES, TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS — The Turks and Caicos Islands Government is embracing satellite technology while reaffirming that neither Flow and Digicel nor plans for national fibre-optic infrastructure will be abandoned as the country enters a new era of telecommunications.

The position was underscored during the August 27 licensing of Starlink Caribbean LLC, completing a process that Kenva Williams, Director General of the TCI Telecommunications Commission, said took two years.

Minister responsible for Telecommunications Shaun Malcolm stressed that Starlink is intended to complement the telecommunications infrastructure already built across the islands, with Government remaining committed to supporting existing providers as technology evolves.

That commitment was echoed emphatically by Williams, who acknowledged concerns among the country’s established telecommunications companies about the arrival of the global satellite provider.

“The stakeholders are concerned, of course — Flow and Digicel — but I would say, as a regulator, you’re not going to fail, not on our watch. We’re going to ensure that policies are in place to keep the terrestrial services alive,” Williams said.

He explained that the established providers remain essential because of the infrastructure and mobile networks they operate.

“They are the ones who have infrastructure. They are the ones who provide the mobile services. We have to implement policies to ensure that they are well and alive while Starlink is here.”

Starlink’s entry was also strongly supported by consumers. Williams revealed that during consultation, 80 per cent of respondents indicated they wanted the satellite internet service.

The Commission nevertheless spent two years establishing an appropriate regulatory framework, consulting existing operators and stakeholders and addressing licensing, spectrum and competitive concerns before approving Starlink.

Government is also maintaining its longer-term ambition of a national fibre network, despite the considerable expense involved. Williams used the licensing ceremony to publicly urge Government to continue pursuing the project.

“Please do not lose the dream of the national fibre. That is needed. It is a must,” he said, with Malcolm reaffirming Government’s commitment to the development.

The approach positions satellite, terrestrial and fibre technologies as complementary pieces of TCI’s future telecommunications network rather than competitors from which only one can survive.

Starlink offers an immediate advantage for the country’s geography, particularly sparsely populated islands where laying extensive terrestrial infrastructure can be difficult and expensive. TCI now joins more than 20 Caribbean countries and territories where Starlink is available, expanding broadband options for homes and businesses.

The service also provides another layer of communications resilience during hurricanes and other emergencies when conventional infrastructure may be damaged or inaccessible.

Starlink will operate independently from Flow and Digicel for its regular satellite internet service, although future Direct to Cellular services will involve partnerships with the two mobile providers, according to Williams.

One significant difference will remain between the new entrant and TCI’s established telecommunications companies: Starlink will not maintain a physical office in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Williams confirmed that its operations and customer interactions will instead be conducted online.

Ask a young person what they would change about their community and the answer can be surprisingly revealing. They notice the places that feel safe and those that do not. They know where they can gather play or socialise, and where opportunities are lacking. They see the consequences of decisions made by adults, even when they may not yet understand the policies and systems behind them.

That perspective matters. The communities being planned and developed today are the places in which today’s children and teenagers will eventually build careers, raise families and make decisions of their own. Giving them an early understanding of how communities develop, why rules governing land and development exist, and how individual choices affect the wider society helps prepare them to participate thoughtfully in that future.

There is also value in giving young people a voice in the present. Youth engagement creates opportunities for them to ask questions, challenge assumptions and consider problems from perspectives that may differ from those of policymakers and professionals. Just as importantly, it encourages a sense of ownership. A young person who understands why responsible development matters is better placed to appreciate the connection between the choices made today and the kind of community they will inherit tomorrow.

This thinking is at the heart of the Informal Settlements Unit’s Youth Outreach Programme. Through engagement with young people across the Turks and Caicos Islands, the programme introduces students to issues surrounding informal settlements, sustainable development and community responsibility in ways designed to encourage curiosity and participation. It also provides opportunities for young people to bring their own ideas and creativity to the conversation.

The next instalment of the Youth Outreach Programme will continue that work during the coming school year, with school visits and exciting competitions aimed at engaging students across different age groups and giving them opportunities to learn, participate and express their ideas. The ISU will be collaborating with the Ministry of Education on the National Primary Schools Spelling Bee as well as a National Secondary Schools Debate Competition, both in May of 2027.

The return on this sort of investment may not be immediate. Attitudes towards community, responsibility and citizenship develop over time, shaped by what young people see, what they are taught and the opportunities they are given to participate. If we want tomorrow’s communities to be thoughtfully planned, responsibly developed and cared for by the people who live in them, there is good reason to begin that conversation with the generation that will inherit them.