Jamell Robinson
Article: Crime and Illegal Immigration still the Number 1 Issues in the Turks and Caicos
In other news, we are reminded that crime and illegal immigration are still the number one issues plaguing our Beautiful by Nature Turks and Caicos Islands. If there was any doubt due to the distraction of other concerns in recent weeks, the spotting and capturing of an illegal sloop within the last few days should bring those issues back into sharp focus. The details of the spotting and capturing of the illegal vessel reminds us that are strategy of catch and release is flawed and must be revisited as it’s too costly.
The US Coast Guard spotted the sloop before it entered TCI waters, alert TCI marine authorities, and we had to wait until it was close enough to tow because we do not have a vessel to accommodate the near 100 souls on board. Wouldn’t it have made sense to simply turn them back to Haiti before coming into our waters? Didn’t the US Coast Guard allegedly turn back 6 sloops that were on its way to the TCI in recent past? We must find cost effective ways to fight illegal sloop entry. I will continue to advocate for the deploying of a blockade with the assistance of our fishermen and with air support from the US Coast Guard until we get our Police Plane back. Additional, as mentioned on the Crosstalk on RTC, we need a multi-purpose 110 feet patrol vessel with holding areas and right staff compliment to enhance what we already have.
I listened to House of Assembly debate on the Supplementary Appropriation Bill and felt that we have missed an opportunity to really put significant pressure on crime. While it’s commendable that we will get an additional 20 RTCIPF Officers, we actually need at least 50 officers and the time was now to make it happen. Just fewer than one million dollars was appropriated for the Police Force to account for the 20 new officers and expected overtime. The overtime accounts for a large portion of the allocated resources due to the previously budgeted amount being almost exhausted. Imagine if an additional million dollars was taking from the 4 million contingency funds; we could easily have our 50 officers which will give the appropriate coverage throughout the TCI and not just Provo. Grand Turk and Salt Cay need officers too.
Another missed opportunity was to allocate additional funding to the Youth, Sports, and Culture Departments. We are told by our Premier and Commissioner of Police that our Youth are at the center of crime in the TCI yet we have not put additional funding to support existing sports programs or to develop new youth programs. Our youth need opportunity to be engaged in constructive activities, for the devil finds work for idle hands.
Stay Blessed TCI,
Jamell Robinson
