Government
More Constituencies, Oversight Body for TCI Police Force says Astwood, LOO
By Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, July 31, 2023 – An oversight body for the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force RTCIPF is just one of the big ticket items that opposition leader Edwin Astwood says he is fighting to get into the new constitution. Here’s what he wants:
“A Police Commission that oversees the police force instead of them just directly reporting to the governor,” he said.
Astwood made the remarks at a press briefing on National issues held on July 13th.
The push for an oversight body comes as the Turks and Caicos experienced two years of incredibly high crime, filled with gruesome murders.
Astwood’s Commission would be made up of past Commissioners, Inspectors, Justices of the Peace, and more to look over the functioning and operations of the Royal TCI Police Force.
Currently, as per the constitution, the Police Force answers directly to the Governor of the Turks and Caicos while financed by the public purse and government allocations, it is part of national security, which falls within the remit of the UK-appointed governor.
It’s an arrangement that has caused friction between the members of the House of Assembly, Residents, Governors,
“Members in this House that are elected by the people to represent the interests of the people in a time like this, when you have a very crucial situation which needs to be addressed by this house— are restricted, this is far from a democracy.”
As for those appointed member posts in the House of Assembly, it’s something that the PDM is going after in the new constitution as well.
“We should do away with all appointed members to the House of Assembly, ” Astwood said firmly.
Astwood maintained that he had the full support of Garland, himself an appointed member, and said it’s time for all islands to have their elected representatives back which would either expand or maintain how many political members sit in parliament.
“That will make four seats available in four districts and we are recommending that we give Salt Cay and Middle Caicos back their electoral districts.”
Astwood stressed that even with their small size, they had cultural differences from their neighbouring islands and deserved better representation. He also indicated that he would support splitting some large constituencies if the public indicated that was what they wanted.
If Astwood and the PDM get their way, the Royal TCI Police would have to answer to a government body, a 180 turn from the current legislation that the opposition says will lead to more accountability. It will also mean that every member of the House would be elected, cancelling the posts of: Government Appointed Member, which is one seat; Opposition Appointed Member, which is one seat and Governor’s Appointed Members, which has an allocation of two seats in the legislature.