Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
Edvin Martin, Police Commissioner Designate, will be in the Turks and Caicos earlier than expected; previously booked for May, his arrival is now set for April 22 and is paired with news of the departure of Chris Eyre, Interim Acting Commissioner.
Eyre was supposed to hold the fort until May allowing Martin to recover from health issues.
Eyre’s exit, announced by Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam, TCI Governor, on April 8th, comes just under two months after his arrival and leaves local Acting Commissioner Rodney Adams back in charge. The Governor did not say whether his contract had expired, he had been fired or he resigned, only indicating Eyre was no longer in the position.
Eyre was brought in by the Governor and Washington Misick, TCI Premier, after a series of killings in February 2024, relieving Adams of the acting post.
Following his appointment, his time in the Turks and Caicos was marked with two murders and a spate of armed robberies that the force couldn’t quite get under control and that seems to be continuing. On the weekend preceding the announcement of his exit, there were two car thefts and one robbery.
For some residents, Eyre’s quick exit and the criminal activity recorded during his tenure are proof that bringing in a ‘foreign’ cop had little effect on crime, and making his controversial hiring a glaring mistake. For others, the blame isn’t fair, as they say, crime is too much for one person to take on. The governor, for her part, expressed gratitude to Eyre for his leadership in the interim position.
As for the incoming Martin, once again the Governor highlighted his strong leadership and regional operational experience as a former top cop in Grenada.
“Mr Martin is eager to arrive with his family to serve the Turks and Caicos Islands and deliver on his safety and security responsibilities to all residents and visitors across our islands,” Daniel-Selvaratnam said.
The press release indicated that, over the past few months, as part of his induction, he has been engaged with the Governor, Interim Acting Commissioner Eyre, members of the Force Executive, and regional colleagues.
Martin will arrive with several priority projects demanding his attention, including border security, internal gang infighting, and armed robberies.
