Caribbean News
TCI Gov’t mobilises Border Force after Haitian Gangs free 4,000 Prisoners
Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicosIslands, March 8, 2024 – As Haitian police strain under what can only be described as anarchy from gang members after an attack on its prisons and the subsequent release of 4,000 prisoners, the Turks and Caicos’ security personnel are preparing a plan to protect the country’s borders which lie 190 miles from the besieged nation.
On Sunday morning Arlington Musgrove, Minister of Immigration and Border Services and his team were already at work.
“We’re aware and we have convened a meeting this morning to come up with some plans,” said Musgrove.
Those plans were in response to the Saturday night attack on the French-speaking country’s largest prison in Port-au-Prince which saw police officers battling against a wave of criminals determined to free gang members from the facility.
TCI Officials are preparing to face whatever that means for their borders which have been victim time and again to the boats carrying hundreds of illegal migrants at a time.
“My top people are in meetings right now. Once that plan from the NSS and NSC is compiled they will give it to me and my Permanent Secretary and we’ll go over it and then turn it over to the Premier and Acting Governor.”
That plan was to be finished by 1 pm Sunday for review.
The release of those 4,000 criminals could have ripple effects for the entirety of the Caribbean, strengthening the criminal element in Haiti and further weakening police control. The increase in criminal activity of late has exacerbated the already terrible migrant crisis, enriching people smugglers who also bring guns and drugs in their treks across the Caribbean.
The dangerous breakout happens as Kenya, the US and the Caribbean languish, waiting for a leader for the multinational force to push into Haiti.
That force was created and approved to stand against the possibility of issues like this very outbreak.
In August 2023 Barbara Feinstein, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Caribbean Affairs and Haiti, had spoken in a press conference explaining how the multi-national force would operate, once it gets into Haiti. While a report was needed to draw up specific plans the force was to:
“Jumpstart the process of improving security in Haiti by sending thousands of additional personnel to secure critical infrastructure sites and thereby allow the Haitian national police to increase their focus on battling gangs.”
With this support securing key areas the Haitian National Police should have been able to push into gang-infested areas and restore order, at least that was the plan.
Back then the gangs were only taking control of oil and other important infrastructure. Internal judicial ruling had blocked the Kenyan government which had committed to lead the strike from deployment in late 2023.
In defiance of the ruling, the government says it is planning to send forces anyway but they have not yet materialized. The outbreak happened as Ariel Henry, Haitian Prime Minister was in Kenya trying to secure those very forces.
With the gates literally thrown open the TCI is shoring up its own defenses.
“We have beefed up our border presence and we have our radar people on alert. Also, we’ll have an air wing spot checking,” Musgrove reassured.
Residents are already scared of the possible repercussions to the Turks and Caicos, some say it’s time for the TCI government to demand more from the British to make sure residents are protected.
KINGSTON, April 29 (JIS):
Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator the Hon. Matthew Samuda, says the outcome of discussions arising from the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) will assist in guiding the Government’s planning for climate change.
This, he points out, is important for climate mitigation as well as building Jamaica’s resilience.
“We look forward to the discussions that will, no doubt, take place. We look forward to the basis of planning for the Government to streamline its investments to ensure you have the tools that you need to better advise us, that the WRA (Water Resources Authority) has the tools to digitise its monitoring network, and that all of the agencies that touch our planning mechanisms have the tools. But we need to know what we are facing, and we’re guided by your expertise,” Minister Samuda said.
He was addressing the opening ceremony for the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in New Kingston on Monday (April 29).
Senator Samuda said given the fact that the climate has changed and continues to do so, investments in and collaborations on building Jamaica’s predictive and scientific capacity must be prioritised.
“Ultimately, we need to be able to assess our current climatic realities if we are to better plan, if we’re to insist and ensure that our infrastructure meets the needs that we need it to. I’m very happy that this event is happening… because this is a critical issue.
“Jamaica, last year, faced its worst and most severe drought… and this year, we’re already seeing the impacts of not quite as severe a drought but, certainly, a drought with severe impacts, especially in the western part of the country,” he said.
Principal Director, Meteorological Service of Jamaica, Evan Thompson, explained that the forum aims to, among other things, establish a collaboration platform for climate services providers and users to understand risks and opportunities of past, present and future climate developments, as well as improve inter-agency coordination of policies, plans and programmes.
Among the other presenters were Ambassador, European Union to Jamaica, Her Excellency Marianne Van Steen; Chief Scientist/Climatologist, Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology, Adrian Trotman; and Head, Regional Climate Prediction Services, World Meteorological Organization, Wilfran Moufouma-Okia.
The Meteorological Service of Jamaica hosted the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) in partnership with the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology and the World Meteorological Organization.
The National Stakeholder Consultation is a governance mechanism that guides how different sectors or actors work together to create products that contribute to adaptation and resilience-building. It seeks to create a road map for the development and implementation of climate services to inform decision-making.
NCF-1 aims to bridge the gap between climate providers and users. It increases the use of science-based information in decision-making and operations with the aim of generating and delivering co-produced and co-designed products and services.
CONTACT: CHRIS PATTERSON
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