Police Need more Money to Build Stations for Community Presence

 By Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer

#TurksandCaicos, May 16, 2022 – ‘Give the police more money’ says Harold Charles, Governors Appointed Member in the House of Assembly.

Charles, speaking at the recent Budget Debates, and addressing immigration, education and security put forward the question: “Are we doing enough in this area [policing]  which is critical to protecting our vital tourism industry and the safety of our residents?”

Charles maintained that residents and visitors deserved to feel safe in the islands. He acknowledged the $3 million allocated for equipment and technology for the Force this financial year and noted in particular the $400,000 allocated for mobile police stations but said,  “I recommend more funds to be allocated to the police service in the area of building sub-police stations in larger communities. I envision that a suitable complex could be built in various communities that would be outfitted with not only a sub police station, but a community centre, a community park.”

Charles said the centre could house Constituency offices as well and these ‘sub’ stations would complement larger police stations.

While commending the mobile police station initiative he maintained there was a need for ‘greater physical presence of the police officers in communities.’

He also maintained that the Ministry of Education needed more money as well but commended the decision to turn the Louise Garland Thomas and Clement Howell school into full high schools.

Charles also touched on immigration; maintaining that dangerous practice of human smuggling needed to be stopped immediately . The Governor’s Appointed Member, also said it was “absolutely critical that Turks and Caicos Islanders be considered for job opportunities first in their own country.”

He proposed a system where every expatriate workers in a managerial positions should be shadowed by Turks and Caicos Islanders as part of a job succession plan.