The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF) will be enforcing the curfew given under the Turks and Caicos Islands Emergency Powers (COVID-19) Regulations 2020 which controls the movement and assembly of residents to control the spread of COVID-19.
Curfews will commence Thursday, March 26th 2020 to Friday, March 27th, 2020 from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. and on Saturday, March 28th, 2020, – April 15th, 2020, a twenty-four-hour curfew will be imposed as approved by His Excellency, Governor Nigel Dakin.
Officers will be placed at strategic locations in communities across the Country. During the curfew, vehicles will be stopped by Officers and drivers/passengers questioned. During overnight to early morning curfews, all vehicles will be stopped by Officers and drivers and passenger(s) will be checked against a list issued by the various Essential Service Agencies.
Commissioner of Police Trevor Botting said, “In an attempt to halt or slow the progress of the COVID-19 pandemic, The Governor has activated “curfews” to keep people off the streets for non-essential activity. I would like to strongly encourage all residents to obey the orders given. It is our job to enforce this regulation and we will do just that. We have adjusted our resources to meet the changes and with the assistance from our Immigration colleagues, we are confident that we will maintain control. Again, I want residents to cooperate with us as we try to break the chain of the spread of Covid-19”.
Individuals who violate the curfew are subject to questioning, an arrest or have their vehicle confiscated. Any person who assaults, obstructs, hinders or resists or uses any threatening or abusive language or aids or incites any other person to assault, obstruct, hinder or resist a Police Officer in the execution of his duty under this regulation, commits an Offence.
We wish to ask that all residents walk with their Identification Cards and Essential Service personnel to have their Company Identification cards available. We also urge that you continue to follow the guidelines as set out by the Ministry of Health.