TCI Police Graduates Return Home After Four Month Training

Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer 

#TurksandCaicos, June 29, 2023 – After an historic passing out ceremony held to the highest ranking officials of both the Turks and Caicos and The Bahamas in Rawson Square, Nassau, 18 members of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF) returned home on Sunday June 25, to a warm celebration at the Providenciales International Airport in Providenciales.

Government had invited the media and the public to attend the arrival of the new graduates of the Royal Bahamas Police Force Training College for a welcome home event; the atmosphere was joyous as they disembarked the flight.

The recruits arrived in RTCIPF branded jerseys and were embraced by family members loaded down with balloons. One recruit was even met by what appeared to be his daughter, dressed in a police officers uniform, hat and all; an adorable tribute.

The We Funk, Junkanoo group set the sound for the moment which was supported by Anya Williams; Acting Governor; Washington Misick, Premier and Trevor Botting, Commissioner of Police.

“I met you all before you went away and I had very high expectations but let me tell you’ve exceeded them,” Botting said, “I’m very proud to call you colleagues.”

The 18 men and women spent the past four months in Nassau where they were expected to be exposed to 22 weeks of training and lectures encompassing, the Laws of the Turks and Caicos Islands, Criminal Investigations, Patrol Procedures, Self-defense, Traffic Control, Firearms, Physicals, Precision Drills, and Driving Skills.

Commissioner Botting maintained that his Class of 2023 was returning at ‘just the right time’.  Turks and Caicos during the month of June, struggled with a rise in murders.

“You’re gonna have some time off, it might just be a day, I’ll see you Tuesday,” he joked.

The Turks and Caicos’ recruits graduated alongside 229 of their Bahamian comrades the Thursday prior, one of the largest graduating classes ever.

Attending the Graduation ceremony and Passing Out Parade from the Turks and Caicos were relatives; Washington Misick, TCI Premier and Anya Williams, Acting Governor.