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National Security Row as Oswald Skippings takes on Trevor Botting

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Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer 

#TurksandCaicosIslands, October 9, 2023 – Trevor Botting, Turks and Caicos Islands outgoing Police Commissioner found himself at the start of the week, rejecting claims that his leadership has ‘damaged’ the Police Force. He penned a lengthy response to what he describes as ‘factually incorrect’ statement from Oswald Skippings, former Chief Minister of the Turks and Caicos.

“It is unfortunate that Mr Skippings did not take the time to establish the facts before publication, but I am happy to put the record straight,” said Botting in his own release.

The response came on Monday October 2. It was aiming to rebuff assertions by the outspoken Skippings, who said the Marine Branch, Airwing and police sub-stations in Blue Hills, Salt Cay, Middle Caicos and Five Cays were shut down by Botting.

Skipping in the piece, featured in the Turks and Caicos Weekly News, called for the re-establishment of the institutions that were “deliberately dismantled by the Governor and Commissioner of Police and allowed by the elected government without a public outcry or any form of parliamentary or other opposition.”

But Botting, who is also the former TCI Deputy Commissioner of Police position laid most of the responsibility for these actions at the feet of his predecessor including the purchase of an aircraft unfit for use in the Turks and Caicos, and the closure of the Five Cays, Salt Cay and Middle Caicos stations.

“With respect to the RTCIPF Airwing, when I assumed the role of Commissioner, I undertook a review of the regulatory structure of the RTCIPF Airwing and found that it did not comply with local and international regulations and further funding was required to modernise the structure and bring the Unit in line with international and national requirements. The funding has taken time to be put in place, along with the recruitment of additional staff to meet the requirements and work is underway now, with the TCI CAA regulator, to apply for the Air Operators Certificate. Whilst Mr Skippings suggests that I tried to ‘frustrate and fire’ staff from the RTCIPF Airwing, this is simply not the case, and the staff that were in place when I took over as the Commissioner, remain in place today. Indeed, the objective was to add additional staff which has been done. We are now in a strong position to obtain our Air Operators Certificate.”

He also highlighted what he had done, including the closure of the Blue Hills police station that he says barely anyone visited; the hiring and training of Turks and Caicos Islanders at senior levels in the force; resale of said unfit aircraft; upgrading of Air Wing staff; and restoration of police presence to Salt Cay. The commissioner also mentioned longtime projects that were still dragging on, including the restoration of the Grand Turk Marine Branch.

“Rather than the Police Force being damaged by me as their Commissioner, it is firmly my view that the Force is in good shape to meet the demands placed on it,” Botting said in response to the scathing review by Skippings.

There was one thing that the two saw eye to eye on, a necessary increase in officers.

“I do agree with Mr. Skippings that the Force needs to continue to grow to meet the shifting and ever-more complex demands of Policing. As an aside, I would also fully support the increase in the capacity of our colleagues in Immigration,” Botting maintained.

Caribbean News

Power Play: Beaches TCI Supervisor Named Top Scorer in Caribbean Cricket Championship

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TCI Cricket team

Members of the BTC team who represented the TCI on its recent cricket tour

PROVIDENCIALES, Turks & Caicos Islands: Beaches Turks and Caicos (BTC) is celebrating a proud moment after Maintenance and Engineering Supervisor, Jerome Daley, emerged as top scorer in the 10th Central American and Caribbean Cricket Championship, recently held in Panama. Daley represented the Turks and Caicos Islands Cricket (TCIC) team in its debut appearance at the regional tournament, which featured teams from Mexico, Costa Rica and Panama.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            The TCIC team, composed of standout players from the recently concluded Turks and Caicos Islands Cricket Association (TCICA) T20 League, brought together a dynamic mix of youth, experience and professionals from both the private and public sectors.

BTC’s Elite Butler and TCIC team Captain, Sidue Hunter, reflected on the experience, “being called on to lead this team was a challenge I felt prepared for. The unity and camaraderie made a big difference. This team sets a solid foundation for the future of TCI cricket.”

While the team did not take home the championship title, Daley’s individual performance stood out. He led the tournament in runs and credited his teammates for their support.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            “Playing in unfamiliar conditions is always tough,” Daley admitted. “The pitches weren’t quite like what we’re used to at home but I trusted my game. With encouragement from my teammates, I was able to adjust and stay consistent.”                                                                                                                                                                                        BTC Managing Director James McAnally praised the team’s contribution to both sports and national development, “we are proud to support our team members who represented not just the resort but the Turks and Caicos Islands on a regional stage. This is what true corporate citizenship looks like—empowering people through teamwork, sports and community spirit.”

TCI Cricket Team captain Sidue Hunter (left) and Jerome Daley

McAnally also acknowledged the impressive BTC representation within the team:

  • Jerome Daley – top scorer, maintenance and engineering supervisor
  • Sidue Hunter – captain, elite butler
  • Maxine Salmon – scorer, kids camp department
  • Earl Henry – evening duty manager
  • Anthony “Moses” McKnight – elite butler

Vice President of TCICA, Ancell Williams, described the championship as a pivotal learning experience and outlined the organization’s ambitious vision, “we aim to integrate more youth into our national teams over the next two seasons. Long-term, we hope to field U15 and U19 teams in the West Indies youth championships. It’s a bold dream, but youth development is our future.”

This inaugural appearance at the championship signals a promising future for cricket in the Turks and Caicos Islands, with a growing commitment to nurturing talent from the grassroots to the regional stage.

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NFL Experience Comes to TCI: Faion Hicks to Lead Youth Football Camp

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Faion Hicks while playing for the Denver Broncos

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Tuesday, 17 June 2025: The Turks and Caicos Islands Sports Commission is proud to partner with the Faion Hicks Foundation to present the 1st Annual Faion Hicks Football Camp, taking place Wednesday, 9 July 2025 at the TCIFA National Academy. This camp is also in collaboration with the TCI Football Federation and Experience Turks and Caicos.

This one-day camp brings an incredible opportunity for youth across the islands to learn the game of American football directly from a professional football player who has competed in the NFL with Turks and Caicos roots.

About Faion Hicks

Faion Hicks is a professional American football player who played for the Denver Broncos after being selected in the 7th round of the 2022 NFL Draft. A standout collegiate athlete at the University of Wisconsin, Hicks was known for his speed, football IQ, and leadership on and off the field. His professional experience, combined with a passion for mentoring youth, has inspired his foundation’s mission to empower young people through sport, education, and character development.

This youth American football camp is a major step in introducing the sport a nd sharing the values of discipline, focus, and perseverance that American football teaches in the Turks and Caicos.

Camp Details

  • Date: Wednesday, 9 July 2025
  • Time: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
  • Location: TCIFA National Academy, Providenciales
  • Ages: 8–16 years old
  • Cost: Free

Participants will experience a day of drills, gameplay instruction, team-building activities, and motivational talks led by Faion Hicks and supporting coaches.

On this camp, Hicks shares, “Bringing my first football camp to Turks and Caicos means everything to me. This island isn’t just a destination — it’s part of who I am. As the first NFL player with roots in the Turks and Caicos Islands, I feel a deep responsibility to give back and invest in the youth here. Through the Faion Hicks Foundation, I’m committed to helping the next generation reach their full potential — not just as athletes, but as leaders, teammates, and role models. July 9th is just the beginning.”

Registration Now Open

Youth athletes interested in joining this historic event can register online at: https://tinyurl.com/2v5bwa8u. Spaces are limited and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

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The Turks and Caicos Islands Participates in the 60th Plenary and Working Group Meetings of The Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF)

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PRESS RELEASE

FROM THE ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING COMMITTEE

 

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Monday, 16th June 2025: The Hon. Rhondalee Braithwaite Knowles OBE KC, Attorney General and Chair of the Turks and Caicos Islands’ Anti-Money Laundering Committee (AMLC), led a delegation of legal, law enforcement, and financial regulators to the CFATF Plenary and Working Group meetings held in Trinidad from 25th to 30th May 2025. The delegation included officers from the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF) and the Border Force as well as staff of the Turks and Caicos Islands Financial Services Commission (TCI FSC), the Gaming Control Commission (GCC), the Financial Intelligence Agency (FIA), the Attorney General’s Chambers, and the AMLC Secretariat.

The Turks and Caicos Islands, in compliance with the international Anti-Money Laundering / Counter Financing of Terrorism and Counter Proliferation Financing (AML/CFT/CPF) Standards set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), is a member of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF), which is the FATF Style Regional Body for the Caribbean. The CFATF comprises 24 member countries[1] and is an inter-governmental body that coordinates the assessment of all member countries’ compliance with the FATF 40 Recommendations. The FATF Recommendations provide a comprehensive framework of measures to help countries tackle illicit financial flows. These include a robust framework of laws, regulations, and operational measures to ensure national authorities can take effective action to detect and disrupt financial flows that fuel crime and terrorism and punish those responsible for illegal activity[2].

The 60th CFATF Plenary adopted the Reports of the assessment of the frameworks in Curacao and Sint Maarten during these meetings, with the active participation of TCI stakeholders making interventions on aspects of those discussions based on their knowledge of the standards and professional experience. The Turks and Caicos Islands is a member of the Steering Group, which is the governing body of the CFATF. The Turks and Caicos Islands was last assessed against the FATF 40 Recommendations in 2018 and with the Report published in 2020. The Turks and Caicos Islands is preparing for its next round of assessment, which would examine, inter alia, the effectiveness of TCI’s legislative and institutional framework to counter money laundering, terrorism financing, and the proliferation of financing of weapons of mass destruction.

Officials from the Turks and Caicos Islands are also current members of two project teams, which are undertaking work to assess the risks associated with motor vehicle dealers and other high-value dealers, as well as the risks of terrorism financing within the Caribbean region. Mrs. Gessie Herilien of the TCI FSC was presented with a certificate of appreciation for her participation in a project exploring “Money Laundering Vulnerabilities in the Financial Arrangements of Non-Traditional Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Persons (DNFBPs)”. Ag. Supt. William Lightbourne of the RTCIPF is participating in a separate regional CFATF project assessing Regional Terrorist Financing Risks, which is being supported by the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The Hon. Rhondalee Braithwaite Knowles OBE KC, Chair of the AMLC said, “the active participation and engagement of key stakeholder agencies and departments from the Turks and Caicos Islands officials in regional initiatives like the CFATF is in line with the Government’s high-level commitment to ensure that our financial systems are being reviewed and updated in line with international standards.  These activities help to keep officials aware of current trends and actions being undertaken by other countries to protect their systems from the scourges of illicit finance.  I was very pleased with the growing level of expertise and resulting actions being taken by officials to develop their knowledge, awareness, and implementation of best practice in the discharge of their duties within the Turks and Caicos Islands.”

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