Residents skeptical of new laws to target CRIME; will police gain the freedom to spy on anyone

By Deandrea Hamilton

Editor

#TurksandCaicos, October 12, 2022 – Ten policy changes to bolster law enforcement in the Turks and Caicos were approved at the Cabinet level and the raft of proposed regulations put forth by the National Security Council are aimed at ending a deadly gun rampage in the UK overseas territory; but some wonder if that is the long and short of it.

The changes had been announced by both the Governor and Premier of Turks and Caicos in early September, now, a summary of the October 5 (2022) meeting was on Thursday publicized confirming the dire reforms are pending.

The maneuver will put some fangs on the current legal capability of the Royal TCI Police and has led to 11 bills going to the Turks and Caicos Bar Council for consultation including one that introduces anti-gang legislation; firearms bills as government is now moving on a promise to institute harsher sentences for gun possession and authorities want to be able to extended, as needed, the detention time for suspects being questioned for murder or firearms offences.

Other more welcomed measures were itemized as empowering the Royal TCI Police to erect road barriers and requiring that SIM cards for cellular phones be registered to a purchaser.  If passed in parliament, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions would also have the authority to appeal verdicts; especially key in serious crimes cases. Additionally, the changes in law, if approved by the House of Assembly, will slap those who assault police, TCI regiment members, judges and court workers, and other law enforcement officers with stiffer sentences.

Still, there are members of the general public skeptical about at least some of the proposed amendments: including an adjustment which would allow a court order to stop a person’s anti-social behavior; many want authorities to distinctly define ‘anti-social behaviour’ and potentially discriminate profiling of suspects to allow the act of stop and search of individuals and vehicles.

Residents, speaking to Magnetic Media say they are also not keen on the idea of personal communications being intercepted, legally, by Police.  It is informed in the cabinet summary that this seizure of private communications to assist police in gathering intelligence will aid in criminal investigations and successfully close criminal cases.

Despite, the red flags are raised with many offering that while these amendments sound good as Turks and Caicos grapples with an out of control killing spree which they agree must be contained, there is a fear that the new laws could be manipulated to victimize and spy on law-abiding residents.

It is not the end of the road for the legislation and according to Akeirra Missick, the PNP government’s leader in the House of Assembly, the TCI Bar Council, as part of a consultation on the changes, is reviewing the bundle which includes the Interception of Communications Bill 2022 and a Telecommunications Amendment Bill 2022.