Deandrea Hamilton and Dana Malcolm
Editorial Staff
#TurksandCaicosIslands, December 12, 2023 – He has not even begun working, but with the announcement of who is set to take over at the helm of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police and the ease of access to information on just about any public figure, we can report that there is mounting concern about the Governor’s selection, Edvin Martin
On Monday, in a Facebook post, the Turks and Caicos Islands learned that a retired police commissioner from Grenada was the man awarded what some might describe as an onerous scope of work as the new Police Commissioner for the TCI. Her Excellency Dileeni Daniel-Selveratnam, Governor of the Islands, announced who would carry on following the end of the tenure of Trevor Botting in a season when crime is more heinous and higher than it’s ever been.
The leading concern expressed to Magnetic Media was the unbridled disappointment that a Turks & Caicos Islander was once again passed over for the job.
“What a shame we are still in a position where our own can’t rise to this level through succession planning,” said one man.
Another said, “Choose a reject over our own!”
Following that, residents had a lot to say about the less-than-admirable news reports that exposed the raised level of crime in Grenada.
One opined, “We went from bad to worse.”
The new commissioner, Edvin Martin, served on the Grenada Police Force for 37 years. His final five years were as its commissioner.
In his final twelve months of service in Grenada, while crime overall rose only slightly, homicides skyrocketed by over 500 percent according to Dickon Mitchell, Prime Minister of Grenada.
“Last year, for the same period, we would have had three homicides. This year, we are indeed at an alarming number of 14 homicides. As I’ve said, one homicide is one homicide too many,” he told the media in July 2023.
Blamed for the rising murders by both Prime Minister Mitchell and Martin was poor conflict resolution skills among residents.
Turks and Caicos Islanders are sharing their findings on social media, admittedly perturbed by Daniel-Severatnam’s decision to bring in a chief of police who was riding retirement age and who had expressed a “deliberate” decision to leave the GPF.
Another person commenting said, “Nothing new… We always bring retirees for positions here. I’m not against foreigners, but I have several questions.
1. How is this fair to the local population who are forced to retire at 60?
2. We’ve been doing this for several decades in our public services. What value has this added to the public service and what does this say about our succession planning? Does it even exist?
3. What tangible capacities and capabilities has these numerous individuals built or left with us?
4. Lastly, what message are we sending to our own people?”
Prior to Martin’s departure, he had reportedly spent weeks away from work because of ill health according to news agencies in Grenada. It was widely reported that his decision to leave was personal and he was not forced out.
“After consultation with my family it is my own deliberate decision to retire at this point in time and that there are no other influencing factors to cause or promote that decision,” Martin had said.
“I have heard the discussions in the public, I just want to make it absolutely clear it is my own deliberate decision in consultation with my family at this point in time.”
Yet, Martin went on to take up a post as Manager of The CARICOM Crime Gun Intelligence Unit (CGIU) in November, spending less than a month in the post before confirming his employment with the Turks and Caicos which will begin in 2024.
Another citizen weighed in on how easy it was to see what the TCI was getting in the Commissioner this go round; their reaction was confusion over the choice given so many perceived misses since 2014, which started the string of hiring of foreign police chiefs.
“With access to info via social media why didn’t TCIG capture this on the new COP?”
Despite concerns, Martin, informs the governor’s statement, brings significant experience to his role as the TCIs new top cop. He holds a Bachelor’s of Science Degree with honours in Business Administration and a Master’s of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice. He is also a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI and has over 37 years in policing experience.
The new Police Commissioner for the Royal Turks & Caicos Police Force takes office in February.
