“Wholesale Structural Change” promoted by TCI Governor in face of overwhelming Crime

Garfield Ekon

Staff Writer

Turks and Caicos, October 7, 2024 – Considering the crime wave that is gripping the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), Governor of the territory, Her Excellency Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam says the authority’s responses are both internal and control of the borders.

Stressing that what the islands are facing is complex, she said it is an “evolving threat,” and while there are no easy solutions, and the Government is not seeking to throwaway resources or to have “quick service” to drive a change.

“Since I took up post I have worked closely with the Premier and the National Security Council to ensure that we are looking at this and gripping this holistically. We are looking at structural change within our law enforcement agencies to drive a more strategic focus in our operations,” she said.

The Governor who was addressing a press conference at the Office of the Premier, on September 17, said they are looking at “proper wholesale structural change” within the law enforcement agencies, to drive a more strategic focus in operations.

“I have also looked to build and leverage our international partnerships, as we build our own capability and capacity. We need those support, and our international partnerships have certainly driven that value that we needed to support our response,” she said.

She said the authorities are driving greater maritime agency operations, and it is delivering results, and “we are seeing results,” as many arrests have been made, with renewed relationship in “driving justice outcomes with the office of the public prosecution,” the Governor said.

Tackling crimes, rests highly on information from the public, she argued, and they are working “very hard” to develop intelligence capability for the denting of criminal network, as criminals rely on exploiting vulnerability in “our communities,” as information is held in those communities.

“It is key to build your trust and confidence, that you feel safe to come forward. There absolutely no complacency, and we seek your trust and confidence,” she said while offering compassion to people who have lost loved ones due to violent crimes.

“I understand that there is fear and anger, and anxiety over safety and security of our neighbourhoods. Across the region, there has been a significant increase in serious crimes,” and the geography of the TCI, “makes it even more acute,” she said.

Governor Daniel-Selvaratnam underscored that if members of the public see those who are compromised, and if there is information there that could be of critical assistance to the police operations, and to creating safer communities, they should give that information