PDM galvanizing, Calls PNP Gov’t out on No Work

By Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer

#TurksandCaicos, April 22, 2022 – ‘An abysmal failure’ is how the Opposition is describing the government’s communication skills. The PDM was united in its displeasure about how certain aspects of governance including policing have been handled; in a recent press conference they bared it all.

The PDMs leader, Edwin Astwood and deputy leader Robert Been were joined in the press conference by MP Alvin Garland, Karen Malcolm, former Minister of Education and Ezra Taylor, National Party Chairman.

Chairman Ezra Taylor denounced the mounting violence in the TCI  in recent weeks and what he described as the governments ‘absenteeism.’

“In the past weeks this absentee approach to crime can only be equated to an abysmal failure by the government; the silence of the Premier, his Cabinet and District Representatives is unacceptable.”

Elected member Alvin Garland on the other hand called directly on the police commissioner to step down.

“While our people have watched our Police Force deteriorate over the past 16 years at the hands of foreign Police Commissioners we in the Opposition believe it’s time to hand over the  ranks of our police force to a Turks and Caicos Island Police Commissioner. The morale of our police force is as an all-time low. Serious violent crimes continue to take place with impunity without being resolved. Our people are living in fear because they have no confidence that the police can come to the rescue in their time of need.”

Garland noted that local police know the lay of the land and know the people of the Turks and Caicos.  He insisted that there were qualified and experienced senior officers who could fill the post.

The Chairman, Ezra Taylor, laid out several short and medium term initiatives which he charged the PNP led government to give ‘serious consideration.’

“Reopening the Blue Hills and Five Cays substations to improve police presence and improve response time as well as increased police presence within these communities.

Money (shortage) should be no excuse for these communities and the people that live there; their lives are at stake.”

He continued “allocate funding for a reward system that will increase the likelihood for a collection of information that will lead to apprehension and intelligence gathering.

Improve street lights in communities throughout the Turks and Caicos primarily in tourist hotspots, introduce a multi-agency task force focusing on firearms, ammunition and narcotics detection at our ports of entry.”

Other recommendations by Taylor included the reintroduction of the Tourism policing unit and expediting the purchasing of new vehicles for the police.

• Education

The PDM also accused the Government of not doing enough to secure work for Islanders even as the country enjoys an economic boom.

Garland claimed the government was interfering with processes put in place to help Islanders secure work.

“Licensed TC Islander electricians are sitting at home and able to get electrical contracts while foreigners with work permits continue to work within this field making huge profits and this is a direct result of the unnecessary interference by the government.” Garland said.

“I am reliably informed that instead of working with the Association, the current administration is working against the Association. I therefore call on the Government to stop interfering and allow the Association to manage the affairs of the industry.”

He also mentioned construction workers, lawyers and real estate brokers especially were being marginalized in their own country by foreigners with the same skill and were not benefiting from the economic uptick in these industries.

Opposition leader, Edwin Astwood questioned why millions of dollars slated for use in the COVID works program was transferred to purchasing property instead of being used for the original purpose or crime fighting.

The Opposition Leader noted that $7,850,000 was re-allocated to the purchase of five properties.

“Instead why didn’t some of this if not all of it go to their allocations for dealing with crime fighting and strengthening law enforcement?”

Astwood asked, “What makes it worse? Is that $496,564.32 was taken from the Police Department for these land purchases another $1,090,614.68 was removed from the Judiciary Department and $951,741 was taken from the Ministry of Education.”

He noted that over $5 million was reallocated from the COVID works program which he said was supposed to be used for the people.

The Covid works program is announced as to be continued in the new financial year under a different banner as we move away from pandemic state.

Still The PDM members lambasted the PNP on their silence in regards to urgent issues, saying it was tantamount to a violation of the Citizens’ contract; which is the Progressive National Party’s election manifesto.