PRESS STATEMENT: Robert Been Jr, PDM Deputy Leader

Hello, my beautiful citizens of the Turks and Caicos Islands, 

With a heavy heart, I ask for a few minutes of your time to address a few urgent matters that concern not only our future but our safety and well-being in the present. I am speaking directly to those in power, including the Governor, who is responsible for our national security, and the Premier, whose responsibility is to represent all Turks and Caicos Islanders and the residents who legally call these islands home.

Our people of the Turks & Caicos, the livelihood of our country is under threat. Crime and border security continue to be pressing issues, and it is evident that the current strategies are simply not working. I want to make it clear that I do not place blame on the Royal Turks and Caicos Police Force or the Immigration Department—I believe that they are doing their best with the resources they have. But they need more! Much more!

Your Excellency, Governor, I urge you to step up immediately. We need more boots on the ground, and we need them now. The resources required by our police force to execute their duties must be doubled. How much longer will it take for the United Kingdom to realize that it is failing in its constitutional duties? Our safety, our peace of mind, and our very way of life are being compromised, and we cannot stand by idly while our pleas for support go unanswered.

A few questions that concern our citizens, why is it that our Caribbean sister countries step up more than the UK, why is it that the Bahamian and Miami police show more interest in our police force, why isn’t the UK war ship guarding our boarders to reduce the illegal vessels, why haven’t the United Kingdom personally invested in a proper identification system at our airports and seaports that is in sync to all departments to identify those entering our country and those that are here illegal.

Your Excellency, these are things that any dependent territory expects. These are the things that SHOULD be the agenda of the day.

Honorable Premier, I call on you and your cabinet to amend our laws to empower the police force with all the resources they need to fight crime. They should not have to worry about being reassigned to desk duties or placed on the beat for simply doing their job. We face a serious immigration and crime problem, and the entire world is watching

Hon Premier, your term is nearing its end, and what does your administration have to show for it? A few paved roads, a few government contracts, a few additional handouts to blind side our people. But NO REAL CHANGE TO IMPACT THE LIVES OF ALL. We deserve the right to live freely and not in fear for our lives.

Must I remind you; these are basic responsibilities of any government. But what about the real issues that affect our people daily? High fuel prices, high bank interest rates, the rising cost of living, unfair wages, no real growth in our local communities—the list goes on and on. These are the same problems that contribute to the growing crime rate.

This is why, once the People’s Democratic Movement is elected, the Astwood and Been administration will ensure that within our first year, we put the pressure where it should be when it comes to securing our boarder and protecting our citizens from crime. We will also establish other strategies to improve the lives of our people, such as negotiating better mortgage and loan interest rates for our people—even if it means the government has to take a cut on bank fees and taxes received. We will lower customs duties, and provide and waiver stamp duties for first-time land purchases by indigenous Turks Caicos Islanders.

My fellow citizens, the time for change is now. We cannot afford to continue down this path of neglect and failure. Together, we can build a Turks and Caicos that is stronger, safer, and more prosperous for all.

I want to extend my condolences to the families that lost their love ones in the double murder over the weekend in Grand Turk.

I Robert Been Jr vow to ensure Turks and Caicos returns to the safe and beautiful by nature that it once was.

The time is now to change this country’s course of direction.

Robert Been Jr

PDM Deputy Leader