Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, February 23rd, 2024– “Every individual entering these islands should be fingerprinted without exception,” says Edwin Astwood, opposition leader. It’s part of the crime plan that the PDM wants instituted to curb violence in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
“At present, we remain uncertain about who resides among us, and their history, whether they are hired mercenaries, convicted killers, criminals on the run, or gang leaders indoctrinating our youth,” he continued, “The police force must be equipped with a computerized fingerprinting system extending its use to driver’s licenses and individuals applying for work permits,” Astwood maintained.
The party leader was speaking on February 3, hours after the second double murder in as many days was committed. Two mass shootings, injuring at least seven people in total and killing two each (four in total), were carried out on February 1st and 2nd in Providenciales.
Astwood had other gripes as well regarding the current policing methods.
“We are also concerned about the ineffectiveness of the CCTV cameras that millions of our people’s money was spent on,” he said.
CCTV cameras had been installed across Providenciales and Grand Turk between 2018 and 2020 on utility poles to equip the force with the potential for higher levels of monitoring in our communities and with solving criminal activity. The police say they charged at least three men in 2023, two with robbery and one with gang membership thanks to CCTV.
Astwood stressed that every life lost was a tremendous calamity. He claimed that the failed policies of the PNP had made life more challenging and less safe.
The opposition leader maintained that the government needed to do more to fight crime. “Once again, I urge the government to take decisive action. It serves no purpose to boast about a flourishing economy when the population cannot be certain if they will live to see another day, take action.”
