Ladies and gentlemen, members of the press.
Security is not a by-product of development. It is the precondition for it. A nation
cannot attract investment, grow its economy, educate its children or welcome the
world while its streets belong to gunmen. That principle has guided every decision
I have taken since assuming command of this Force.
During 2024–2025, criminal activity undermined economic progress, weakened
business confidence, and created an atmosphere of uncertainty among citizens,
businesses, and investors. The proliferation of crime and violence left many fearful
for their safety, their livelihoods, and the security of their investments.
Across Latin America and the Caribbean, the economic cost of crime and violence
has been estimated at more than US$261 billion. IMAGINE THE
TRANSFORMATIVE impact such an enormous sum of money could have if
redirected towards national development, modern infrastructure, improved
healthcare, quality education, job creation, and stronger communities. For a small
island economy that depends on its reputation as a safe destination, unchecked
violence is an imminent threat.
The reality is that crime does not merely threaten lives and public safety; it diverts
resources from development, discourages investment, and robs societies of
opportunities for growth and prosperity. Every dollar lost to crime is a dollar
that could have been invested in building a safer, stronger, and more
prosperous future for our people.
Between 2023 and 2026, I stand as the fourth Commissioner of Police fact that
speaks volumes about the magnitude of the task, the weight of the responsibility,
and the immense expectations entrusted to anyone who assumes this office. The
role of Commissioner is not merely a position of authority; it is a solemn
responsibility that demands unwavering leadership, sound judgment, resilience,
and an enduring commitment to the safety and security of our people.
On the 7 th of October 2024, I joined the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police
Force as Deputy Commissioner. I arrived in a country under siege. Gangs and
gunmen roamed these Islands with high-powered weapons, robbing and killing
with impunity. Six weeks later, on the 21 st of November, Commissioner Edwin
Martin resigned, and I was asked to lead the Force.
By the end of that year, the Turks and Caicos Islands, Beautiful by Nature, had
recorded 48 murders and become the most murderous country per capita in Latin
America and the Caribbean. Communities lived in fear. Parts of these Islands had
become no-go zones for residents, for visitors and, unacceptably, even for the
police.
We responded, not with rhetoric, but with planning, strategy and discipline. The
results are a matter of record:
In 2025, murders fell from 48 to 27, a reduction of 43.8%.
So far this year, we have recorded 3 murders, an 88% reduction on the
same period last year.
Major crimes overall are down by 42%.
Ladies and gentlemen, this is no small feat, these are not mere statistics. Behind
every number is a life preserved, a family spared grief, a difficult decision and a
community given back its peace.
Sir Robert Peel, the father of modern policing, taught that the test of police
efficiency is the absence of crime and disorder, not the visible evidence of police
action in dealing with them. By that measure, these Islands are safer today than
they have been in years.
The children of the Turks and Caicos Islands deserve to grow, to play and to learn
in safety. Every citizen deserves to move across these Islands without fear. Every
visitor deserves to enjoy our shores without intimidation. That is the standard.
NOTHING LESS.
This was not achieved in isolation. It was achieved by the hardworking men and
women of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force, above all those on the
front line, who put their lives at risk every single day to protect these Islands. I
salute them.
Let me be clear. My mission here is to protect these Islands from criminals whose
sole purpose is to rob, to steal, to kill and to destroy. Under my command, this
Force will use every lawful means at its disposal to stop them.
The threat has evolved. Transnational organized crime is sophisticated, well-
financed and adaptive. To defeat it, we must be more sophisticated, better trained
and more agile. I MAKE NO APOLOGY FOR CONFRONTING THESE
MONSTERS.
When I speak about transformation, I do not want anyone to mistake it for unfair
comparison or criticism of what already exists. Some of the best products we see
today did not become great overnight. They went through stages of development,
refinement, improvement, and transformation to become what they are today.
The Police Force is no different. Transformation is not an admission that what we
have is not good; it is a declaration that what we have can be better and that we
have both the responsibility and the ability to make it better.
The goal is not to diminish what has been accomplished, but to build upon it and
prepare our Force to meet the demands of today and the challenges of tomorrow.
Romans 12:2 reminds us:“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye
transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good,
and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
This scripture speaks to the very heart of transformation. True transformation
begins in the mind before it becomes visible in our actions. We cannot expect
different results while holding on to the same mindsets, attitudes, and practices that
limit our potential. To transform our organization, we must first be willing to
transform how we think, how we lead, how we serve, and how we hold ourselves
accountable.
That is why I have embarked on a mission to train and develop our officers.
Training is not simply about acquiring knowledge or learning new procedures; it is
about renewing mindsets, building confidence, sharpening professional judgment,
strengthening discipline, and equipping our officers to serve with greater
competence, integrity, and compassion.
My mission is not to tear down what we have built, but to build upon it. Not to
criticize our officers, but to empower them. Not to suggest that we have failed,
but to ensure that we continue to grow.
Because transformation is not about proving that yesterday was wrong; it is about
making tomorrow better.
We must be willing to change in order to improve, willing to learn in order to
lead, and willing to transform in order to serve better. The future of our
Police Force depends not only on what we do, but on how we think. And that
transformation begins with us.
Every officer in this Force will be equipped with the training and skills to prevail
when confronted by violent criminals. And my instruction to them has never
changed!! OPERATE within the framework of the law. Our authority rests on
legitimacy, and our legitimacy rests on the rule of law. The moment we abandon
the law to fight the lawless, we become indistinguishable from them.
We must also understand the nature of the enemy. Organised crime is, at its core,
an enterprise. It is driven by profit, and like any business under threat, it will fight
to protect its market. Those who profit from it will not surrender their gains
quietly. When they cannot defeat the police on the streets, they will try to defeat us
by other means. They will engage proxies to do their bidding: to spread
misinformation, disinformation, to manufacture controversy and spread false
narrative, to create distraction and to breed disunity, within this Force and between
the police and the public we serve. Their strategy is simple. A divided response is
a weak response, and a distracted police force is an ineffective one.
WE WILL NOT TAKE THE BAIT! WE WILL REMAIN FOCUSED, united
and resolute. Sir Robert Peel also reminded us that the police are the public and
the public are the police. So I call on every citizen of these Islands to stand with us,
because the criminal’s greatest ally is a divided community, and his greatest enemy
is a united one.
But reducing crime is only half the mission. A police force built for yesterday
cannot meet the challenges of tomorrow, and lasting reductions in crime demand
lasting institutions. That is why we are transforming the Force itself on three
pillars: leadership, capability and integrity.
On leadership, we have strengthened the command of this Force with key
appointments: an Assistant Commissioner of Police with responsibility for training
and recruitment; a The Chief Operating Officer who oversees procurement and
financial management, ensuring the effective, efficient, and accountable use of
resources and a Deputy Commissioner of Police with responsibility for discipline
and standards, charged with safeguarding the integrity of this Force by dealing
with complaints against its members, whether criminal or administrative.
On capability, our officers are undergoing management, Investigative, tactical and
marine training. This is a deliberate approach to succession planning, identifying,
nurturing, and developing the next generation of leaders who will carry this work
forward. Through this programme, we will proactively identify individuals with
leadership potential, harness their talents, strengthen their capabilities, and equip
them with the knowledge, skills, and experience necessary to assume greater
responsibilities. Our objective is to build a sustainable pipeline of capable,
confident, and committed leaders who are prepared to carry the mantle of
leadership, preserve institutional knowledge, and ensure continuity, excellence,
and progress within the organization.
On integrity, reform must begin at home. Shortly after assuming command, I was
briefed on an audit of the Force’s financial operations over a period of time.
Elements of that audit are now the subject of a criminal investigation, and two
investigators have been engaged to pursue it. One person has been placed on
administrative leave, and several lines of enquiry are being pursued. Because this
matter is ongoing, and because everyone involved is entitled to due process, I will
say no more about it today, save this: no one is above the law, including those who
wear the uniform.
We cannot expect trust and confidence from the public if we do not demand
integrity from ourselves. To be efficient and effective, a police force must first be
accountable, and we will put our own house in order.
Ladies and gentlemen, in under two years, we have moved these Islands from crisis
towards recovery. But recovery is not victory, and our work is not done. WE
WILL NOT RELENT. WE WILL NOT RETREAT. AND WE WILL NOT
ALLOW THESE ISLANDS TO BE TAKEN BACK.
Thank you.