High Level, Bi-Partisan Talks about a TCI Police Services Commission

Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer 

#TurksandCaicos, October 23, 2023 – The Turks and Caicos Islands Government is attempting to create a new oversight body for the Police Force; it would be called the Police Services Commission.

The bid for the independent regulatory body is included in a Constitutional proposal which senior British officers would have been exposed to during high-level meetings with a bi-partisan group from October 16-19; the discussion was held in Grand Turk.

On the table, a push for a six-member commission, including the Governor who will sit as chair, and five other experienced professionals.

The six members will be responsible for hiring and firing senior members of the Force and will have the power to appoint the Police Commissioner. They will also serve as agents of disciplinary control against officers though their decisions will need to be vetted by the National Security Council.

Currently, the Royal TCIPF is not under government control despite being funded by TCIG.  Instead the Force answers to the Governor. It has been a recurring complaint from politicians and locals alike.

Edwin Astwood, Opposition Leader had described the oversight body as a significant need and promised to make it a reality. He wanted “A Police Commission that oversees the police force instead of them just directly reporting to the Governor,” he said earlier this year.

Astwood said his ideal Commission would be made up of past Commissioners, Inspectors, Justices of the Peace and more.

If this facet of the reworked constitution passes it will mean of the six members, two will be nominated by the Premier and one by the Leader of the Opposition. The other two members will be appointed by the Governor in consultation with the Premier and Leader of the Opposition.