The Turks and Caicos Islands Government held a signing ceremony on Tuesday, May 23, 2023, to officially reinstate its Joint Law Enforcement Group (J-LEG).
The re-establishment of the Joint Law Enforcement Group “J-LEG” led by the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF) is critical in coordinating and strengthening an effective multiagency working partnership between key law enforcement agencies, partners, and stakeholders across the Turks and Caicos Islands, regionally and internationally. This is supported by mandates issued by the Turks and Caicos Islands National Security Council (NSC).
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed on Tuesday, May 23, 2023, signifies the re-establishment of the J-LEG as the oversight body in support of a Multi-Agency Operational Compliance Taskforce (MOCT) to take active steps to enforce existing TCI laws relative to participating agencies for the deployment of resources inland and the protection of the borders of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Commenting on the Re-Establishment of J-LEG Acting Governor Anya Williams stated:
“As we work to ensure the continued safeguarding and protection of the Turks and Caicos Islands, the re-establishment of the Turks and Caicos Islands Joint Law Enforcement Group (J-LEG) is critical as it brings together essential government agencies to coordinate their resources in an efficient manner to address security concerns in land and at our borders in a more structured manner.
Working alongside the National Security Council, the aim and objective of J-LEG will be to develop strategies to: detect, prevent, interdict, disrupt, dismantle, and to deter criminal activities through coordinated intelligence-led operations with partner agencies, which is critical in addressing our national security concerns.
We express our profound gratitude to the 17 law enforcement agencies for the continued work of their teams and look forward to working with them to ensure their future success.”
Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands the Honourable Charles Washington Misick in commenting: “I am extremely grateful to law enforcement for all of their hard work and noteworthy achievements in recent times. Their dedication speaks to what can be accomplished with a joined-up approach taken to address the challenges of irregular migration and other infractions of the TCI’s border. The increased criminal acts require us to work together and my Government puts its full support toward this initiative.”
Acting Commissioner of Police Rodney Adams stated:
“The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands is pleased to serve as the lead agency in coordinating the work of the Turks Caicos Islands Joint Law Enforcement Group.
As crime is everyone’s business the relaunch of this group is critical in helping the RTCIPF to bring about safe communities across the TCI by reducing criminal activities and the fear of crime by creating more safer spaces for the inhabitants of these islands.”
