Not trolling, but we can tell you what TCI’s incoming Governor has been up to!

By Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer 

#TurksandCaicos, March 13, 2023 – In just over three months, the Turks and Caicos will welcome Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam as its first female Governor. On February 9th, she spoke to King Charles ahead of taking up her post in the country.

Currently serving as the Governor of Anguilla, Selvaratnam, seemingly an avid communicator, shares almost daily updates via Facebook, opening the door to resident engagement and consistent media updates.

In terms of legislation, her office recently signed a new Memorandum of Understanding with an EU funded company to increase Anguilla’s capabilities in tackling illegal maritime trafficking, an issue also faced in Turks and Caicos. 

Selvaratnam also shared the content of a National Risk Assessment for Anguilla regarding anti-money laundering and the counter-financing of terrorism in the small island nation.

Based on the updates provided by the Governor, she has dealt with telecommunications issues, and environmental protection, which supported Anguilla joining the Blue Belt program, the second Caribbean country to do so after Turks and Caicos. 

Her Excellency is also heavily involved in an airport redevelopment for the country, where tourism is making a crawl to get back to pre-pandemic levels, which are still down around 50 per cent of 2019 arrivals, which stood at over 18,000.

Still, Governor Selvaratnam’s experience in these projects will serve her well as she moves onto the TCI this year, as there are strong similarities in the goals of the two Caribbean-located OTs.

Regarding her community involvement, Her Excellency is seen supporting blood drives, and during Police Week in Anguilla, she joined members of the Force on patrols and in response to community calls.

Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam will succeed Nigel Dakin, who has served as Governor to the Turks and Caicos Islands for the past four years; he will leave the islands in March.