UK News Report on Police Force attracts comment from TCI Governor 

Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer

#TurksandCaicos, November 10, 2023 – The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police have reportedly been found wanting in their response to recent flare-ups of violence by the UK Foreign Office, now Governor Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam is commenting on the report which highlighted serious failures.

“A key focus of my recruitment of [the commissioner’s] successor will be the reinforcement of policing standards and a strong ethical framework of conduct and performance for the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force,” said Selvaratnam in response to news of the reported investigation, shared by The Guardian. It described the local police as ‘overwhelmed’ by the crime crises, having poor record-keeping and a ramshackle management structure.

Highlighting the upcoming retirement of  Trevor Botting, Police Commissioner she said  “As governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands, I am committed to tackling allegations of corruption or poor practice head-on,”

Botting’s tenure expires in November and his contract will not be renewed.

The Governor advertised the post in late summer but has not provided any updates on the employment process.

Neither Daniel-Selvaratnam nor the Guardian delved into what any allegations of corruption entailed.

Daniel-Selvaratnam who only took over in June inherited these problems as she is head of National Security, in charge of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police and the TCI Regiment.  She acknowledged that the islands were facing “serious threats from transnational crime and irregular migration” and said in the three and a half months since she had held the reins that she had sought better collaboration between law enforcement agencies and greater external support since her appointment.

There have been several high-level UK meetings with the Minister with responsibility for the Overseas Territories and Ministry of Defence since her appointment.