#TurksandCaicos, September 2, 2023 – The recruitment campaign to find the next Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has been launched today, Her Excellency the Governor, Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam has announced.
The current Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr. Eugene Otuonye, K.C, has formally advised Her Excellency the Governor that he will demit office, to retire at the end of his current contract in January 2024, having served a five-year term. Mr. Eugene Otuonye, K.C was appointed Director of Public Prosecutions in January 2019.
Over the last 24 years, he has held several key posts in the Turks and Caicos Islands, including serving as the Deputy Attorney General, the first Director of the Integrity Commission and Chairman of the Public Service Commission. Within this period, he also served as the Attorney General of Montserrat.
In announcing his retirement, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr. Eugene Otuonye, K.C said:
‘Serving the Turks and Caicos Islands and its people over these years in the various challenging and sensitive capacities in which I did, has been such a rare privilege, honour and grace extended to me. For this, I give God all the glory!
As I bow out, I do so with the deepest sense of humility for the rewarding experience and great learning in public service. I retire with a profound gratitude to a gracious Turks and Caicos Islands and its people for their confidence in me over these years. To my colleagues and professional families at ODPP and the various public offices (where I previously served) and to our stakeholder partners in criminal justice, for their unwavering support and solidarity, thank you so much. A luta continua.
The prayers of the saints, friends and well-wishers availed me much; I am indeed grateful. And finally, to my family members for their long-suffering and fortitude, while I grappled with the exerting demands of public offices, I owe them an eternal debt of gratitude.’
In announcing the recruitment campaign for the next Director of Public Prosecutions, Her Excellency the Governor, Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam said:
‘The Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr. Eugene Otuonye, K.C has served the Turks and Caicos Islands with distinction, having held a number of significant positions of public office. I would like to place on record my sincere thanks and recognition of his committed public service over the course of his 24-year career in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Most recently, as the Director of Public Prosecutions, he has demonstrated strong leadership and worked diligently to transform the approach of his office and engagement with criminal justice stakeholders to improve victim support and the delivery of criminal justice outcomes.
In recruiting the next Director of Public Prosecutions, I will be looking for a similarly accomplished individual, with excellent legal judgement, strong leadership and commitment to engage with others to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of our criminal justice system.’
The job advert providing full details of the role and how to apply can be found on the vacancies page of the Turks and Caicos Islands Government website: https://www.gov.tc/government-vacancies