The following is a joint statement on national security from Governor Her Excellency Dileeni Daniel Selvaratnam and Premier Hon. Washington Misick in the wake of Haiti racing towards civil war, and the ramification for the TCI:
Last Monday, the National Security Council declared a National Emergency in response to the deterioration of Haiti and consequential impact for the security of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
A multi-agency Strategic Coordinating Group (SCG), chaired by the Acting Commissioner Chris Eyre, has been stood up over the last week to ensure the clear coordination of a cohesive national security operational strategy to secure our borders, defend life and protect property.
Since its formation, the SCG has met regularly to ensure all is being done by our enforcement agencies to protect our communities to maintain the integrity of TCI’s international borders and tackle illegal migration, coordinate the lawful interdiction and detention of illegal migrants; and ensure co-ordination across all public bodies to optimise our effect within the response to the National Security Situation.
Operational Response
In the last seven days, the SCG has strengthened its multi-national partnership with intelligence and security agencies across the region, which is allowing them to identify potential illegal movements and understand the threat and risks posed by the deteriorating situation in Haiti.
The SCG has enhanced its air surveillance partnerships to monitor the seas between the TCI and Haiti and developed a coordinated maritime intervention capability to track and intervene vessels, wherever possible, before they reach our shores. This has involved maritime police officers being deployed at sea to track and intervene with vessels at the earliest opportunity.
Interventions at sea have led to the detention of more than 200 migrants with others detained on shore within the last week. The Border Force continues to process those arrested for return to Haiti as soon as the conditions allow.
On land, the SCG has coordinated the work of our coastal radar, our TCI Regiment, the Border Force and the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF) to detect illegal migrants who have evaded the maritime net and disrupt those criminals who are facilitating the illegal movements to our shores.
UK Assistance
Last month, the UK dispatched firearms officers and additional officers to complement those already deployed from the UK to the RTCIPF Serious Crime Squad.
Her Excellency the Governor and the Hon. Premier are in close liaison with the UK Government, who are engaged in the serious nature of what we face and the significance of the implications to the security, safety and stability of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
In addressing this National Emergency, Her Excellency the Governor and the Hon. Premier are bringing critical focus of the required operational assistance from the UK Government. This includes support to enhance our maritime interdiction and aerial surveillance capability; bolster our operational enforcement and land based capability; and strengthen our intelligence and operational planning.
Her Excellency the Governor and the Hon. Premier commend the brave and diligent officers of all the agencies who have been deployed at sea, on land and in the air for long periods and who have, with significant success, captured those they were charged to detain. The Acting Commissioner, Chris Eyre will provide a public debrief after each meeting of the SCG to ensure the public remain apprised of the multi-agency law enforcement efforts.