Response to Premier’s National Address 26.09.22

#TurksandCaicos, September 27, 2022 – As I address you today, and after listening to, and watching the Hon. Premier’s National Address, I am feeling no safer or more assured than I was earlier this week. My heart is aching to see what is taking place in our beloved country, and it bleeds for the many men, and woman, we have lost as a nation. Many of whom were productive and contributed to the development of our nation. The attack on our men is condemned in the highest order and must be addressed with the fierce urgency of now.

The hon. Premier gave a good reading presentation of things to come, but we need action like yesterday. While good, the country and our people can not wait three months for reinforcements to come, or for laws to be amended in the House of Assembly. The “Bad Guys” are not going on vacation until December, or until the reinforcements reach. They are out every day looking to gun down their targets.

We needed solutions for tonight, and the immediate days to come. We cannot risk more of our people dying. We the public do not need the tactical details, bet we need to be assured that new forms of actions and new strategies are being executed immediately.

Regarding those who are responsible for law and order:

The buck stops with H.E the Governor, who is given this responsibility under our failing constitution, the Hon. Premier, and the Commissioner of Police. We sat, heard, and watched H. E the Governor, and the Hon. Premier go to bat to defend and save the Commissioner of Police and continue to throw in the people’s faces, that the Commissioner of Police has their full confidence.

We have also heard recently that same tune being adopted by the other elected leader of our country who seems to forget that their 14 Members of Parliament team were elected to stand up for the people of this country, regardless that standing up includes calling out to the Governor and the Commissioner of Police when the public is of the opinion that they are not performing well in their constitutional capacity.

This is not a personal attack on any of the gentlemen (Governor, Premier, Commissioner) it is an attack on their performance. I am merely representing the views of many of our citizens throughout the TCI. All one has to do is talk to random people, and 3 out of every 4 would state the same.

With the constant public sentiments being expressed by the Governor and the Premier about their utmost confidence in the commissioner of Police, it is no wonder why COP Botting can tell the people of our country, that firing him will not stop the crime, and will not change anything. I was very much taken aback by hearing this. The arrogance of this statement almost seems as if he is insinuating that there is no new nor better idea, strategy, method, or leadership style that any other Commissioner could bring to the job.

Evidence would show that from the time representation was made to the British Government to dismiss our last local Commissioner Edward Hall under the pretense of retirement, our country has been going on a downward spiral under foreign Police Commissioners at the helm. This is a clear indication that the foreign Commissioner is not the answer to our problems.

If the heads are not producing results, then remove the head and start fresh. That is how it is in my world, if one does not perform you, the people will remove you- democracy at its best. I will continue to voice the people’s displease with the performance of the Governor, Premier, and Commissioner of Police when it comes to fighting crime.

Before tonight, ears have not heard nor eyes have not seen any action from the country’s PNP Government, save and except a few mealy mouth press releases that are devoid of any immediate solutions. Where are the elected members for these “hotspot” constituencies?

It has also been brought to my attention that there have been PNP MPs postings, in a very juvenile manner, as if they are playing the game of jeopardy asking Alex silly questions about what is lockdown and 500 soldiers. The crime wave is serious business and must be approached with the seriousness it demands.

As Opposition Leader, my team and I don’t play this kind of silly childing games with the lives of the People of our country, and neither do we recommend these kinds of games being played with the livelihood of our people-

To slam our country in lockdown or a state of emergency will signal to the outer world that they should not come to TCI and spend their Tourism dollars with us this season. This is a harmful suggestion that does not mirror a realistic solution to address the crime. This would further hurt already hurting families who are struggling with the current cost of living.

A PDM government, under my leadership, would respond as follows (and is recommended):

1. Immediate stationing of Police Tactical Teams with contracted assistance in the hot spot areas of Providenciales.
2. Conduct immediate tactical and covert operations in hot spot areas (not to be specified here)- which should have happened directly after the first homicide.
3. Dispense with the Helicopter which has only acted as an alarm to notify the criminals of areas of operations, incorporate more unmarked vehicles in operations, and have police presence regularly in our communities, protecting our citizens.
4. Implement the use of cellphone jammers for that window of time when and where tactical operations are in motion.
5. Implement a Shot-spotter system that can provide immediate alarms and data of the exact location where gunshots were fired to the tactical team already stationed in the hotspots.
6. Establish an internal affairs unit, and commence seizing the cell phones of police officers suspected of leaking information immediately -the general public feels that there is no confidentiality in the police force and the leaking of information has to be stamped out.
7. Provide immediate financing to upgrade the weaponry and body armor of the RTCIPF.

Additional Long-term actions (Human Resources);

8. Provide for an increase in Police salaries by 40% and in certain instances in line with modern police forces around the world.
9. Mass recruit of Turks and Caicos Islanders into the force, and Implement a Fast-Track leadership program for Police Officers whereby they are exchange programs with the regional and international police forces, to gain the required knowledge, skills, and experience, and allow local TCI officers to interview for the job of Commissioner of Police.
10. Putting in place a coastguard unit with 24-hour patrolling- for intercepting both weapons and human smuggling.

My fellow Turks and Caicos Islanders, if we can implement these 10 points immediately, I can assure you that it will decrease violent crime, and will bring TCI back to the peaceful country we all know and love.

“The Leaders in the good times must be the leaders in the bad times, the leaders of the day have to be the leaders of the night.”