The Tribune

By LEANDRA ROLLE

Tribune Staff Reporter

lrolle@tribunemedia.net

NIGEL Dakin, Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands, has expressed gratitude to the Bahamas government for lending support to assist in their fight against crime, saying the nation’s officers are already making a difference on the grounds there.

“The day after the Bahamian officers arrived, they were operational,” he said during his address to TCI on Tuesday.

“All I need to say now is they’ve already made a difference. Some are directly inducted into our tactical firearms unit, making one large joint team. Some are deployed as response units. Their dogs, able to attack or to search, were active at the airport yesterday, supporting our customs officers search for guns and drugs.”

“I, the Premier and Commissioner, and the people of the TCI, are extremely grateful for what can only be described as very generous support from our steadfast neighbour. Bahamas, you have been your brother’s keeper.”

Mr Dakin made the remarks while giving an update on local and international response to tackle the rise in gang related violence on TCI, adding the situation there had been “significantly more stable” in recent days.

He thanked The Bahamas and the US for assisting with policing operations.

According to police officials, about 20 Bahamian officers were sent to TCI last week as a part of a joint national security operation.

National Security Minister Wayne Munroe has said the government of Turks and Caicos remains a critical partner in ensuring the safety and well being of Bahamians and assured the operation was in the best interests of the country.

He has also hit out at backlash to the announcement with some observers asking why the government would send police officers abroad while The Bahamas is grappling with a rise in murders and other violent crimes.

In a press statement released on Monday, the Free National Movement raised similar concerns and also called on the government to explain its rationale over the move.

“We have for national security reasons not been explicit and I see the leader of the opposition doesn’t seem to understand and if I tell you all what the officers are there to do, we are also telling the criminals what the officers are there to do,” Mr Munroe responded on Tuesday.

“So, I don’t grasp how they did national security, but how we do national security is we do not arm our enemy with information so the Bahamian people could be assured that it is the Bahamian national security interests that is being addressed by our officers in the Turks and Caicos.

“All we need to do is look at Haiti. Haiti is a failed state in terms of their police apparatus collapsing and if anyone thinks that doesn’t impact The Bahamas, then they don’t have a sufficiently broad view of our national security interests.”