Dakin’s final National Security Meeting; held Friday March 24

#TurksandCaicos, April 6, 2023 – His Excellency the Governor, Nigel Dakin, and the Hon. Premier Charles Washington Misick, co-chaired a meeting of the Turks and Caicos Islands National Security Council (NSC) on Friday 24 March 2023 at the Premier’s Office, Providenciales.

Also in attendance were, HE Deputy Governor; the Hon. Deputy Premier; the Hon. Attorney General; the National Security Secretariat (NSS) Permanent Secretary; NSS Deputy Permanent Secretary and the National Security Threats Lead and the Deputy Commissioner of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF) represented the Commissioner who was out of the country. Apologies were received from the Hon. Minister of Immigration.

Members:

1. Were briefed by the Helena Kennedy Centre (HKC) for International Justice, Sheffield Hallam University on their findings of the root causes and drivers of serious crime. HKC supported by the Statistics Department ran surveys across TCI to understand public perceptions, challenges and opportunities. These key findings will inform future TCIG policy planning.
2. Were briefed by the Governor and the Ministry of Immigration on the Northern Caribbean Security Summit 2023 (OPBAT) held in Miami. The conference helped re-energise the relationship between the US, Bahamas and TCI on OPBAT, a gap analysis to help enhance TCI’s border security capabilities, intelligence sharing between partner agencies and efforts to tackle criminal people trafficking networks.
3. Updated by the Deputy Commissioner on the following:
   1. State of crime across TCI; officers are engaged on three homicides committed so far in 2023 and the tactical team continues operations to clamp down on illegal firearms. The RTCIPF is increasing patrols to affected areas.
   2. Update on the recruitment of Tactical and Maritime officers;
   3. Deployment of a RTCIPF officer in Salt Cay (expected in post by the end of March 2023).

• Were briefed by the Department for Disaster Management and Emergency on plans for the Providenciales site accommodation, future centralised budget, NSS responsibilities for establishing the NEOC and call out procedures at time of crisis.
• Were briefed by the NSS is finalising shut down regulations during times of emergencies.
• Credited the Governor for his leadership and commitment to the TCI’s national security and his drive to establish the NSS and NSC.

Follow up questions are welcomed and can be directed to nss.gov.tc

Caption:  National Security Leaders:  His Excellency, Nigel Dakin, former TCI Governor and Hon C. Wasington Misick, Turks & Caicos Islands Premier engrossed in discussion at Coral Harbour Base of the Royal Bahamas Defence Force in December 2022.