Multi-Agency Command Leadership Workshop

#TurksandCaicos, May 5, 2023 – Stakeholders from local National Security State Agencies with responsibility for disaster preparedness, mitigation, interception, border response, law enforcement and disaster recovery,  yesterday (May 04^th)  participated in a workshop aimed at strengthening collaborative capabilities.

Thirty-three high-level personnel from Government agencies, Law Enforcement, the Attorney General Chambers, Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies (DDME), TCI Hospitals, TCI Regiment, Border Force , Fire,  TCI Airport Authority, Immigration, Customs, members of the RTCIPF Executive and senior management were in attendance .

The Workshop entitled: “Working Together, Saving Lives, Reducing Harm”, was facilitated by the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force

Commissioner of Police Trevor Botting in delivering opening remarks said: “We can only ensure we have a safe and secure Turks and Caicos Islands if we, those that serve our communities and who are charged with the responsibility of protecting this territory, work together collaboratively in partnership and with a commitment to do so.”

Commissioner Botting noted that in the last six weeks multi agency Silver and Gold Command training was delivered, with members of the Immigration Ministry and Enforcement, Customs, Airport Security, Policing and the TCI Regiment in the sessions: “Not as one agency, but learning and developing alongside their Law Enforcement and security partners.”

Commissioner Botting said such steps form part of a collaborative journey, and : “In this way, we will emerge stronger as a collective and be better equipped to tackle the threats and challenges we face.”

The aim of the workshop was to  develop a common understanding of the principles and benefits  of an interoperability framework in multi-agency  responses to incidents and operations of any scale and also to commit to the development of joint guidance during incidents.

Also speaking at the opening yesterday (May 04^th ) was Attorney General Hon. Rhondalee Moreen Braithwaite-Knowles OBE, KC.

Hon. Braithwaite-Knowles  said: “We have confronted major and serious crime. As Chairman of the Anti-Money Laundering Committee, which is responsible for combatting the scourge of money laundering , I can tell you that no individual body can do it alone . We need to work together , collectively and collaboratively. No one department has all the resources. Criminals are in business, we have the tools to rob them of their proceeds of crime”.

Adding that criminals,  “love the fact when we work in silos,”  Hon. Braithwaite-Knowles told those in attendance:  “It is in our collective interest to work together . In the TCI,  I  want us to foster collaborative partnerships . Our (Government) role  is to support, empower and ensure you have the tools to get the job done”.

Acting Premier Hon. Erwin Jay Saunders in delivering brief remarks said every emergency requires collaborative efforts to ensure a “more secure and beautiful by nature Turks and Caicos Islands”.