With early rumors flying around on Friday afternoon about the Commissioner & Deputy being sacked by HE Governor Gordon Wetherill, those were quickly dispelled by the Governor in a press release issued on Friday.
With the Commissioner of Police, Deputy Commissioner and one Assistant Commissioner all due to retire or start using up their accrued leave prior to retirement over the next few months, and another Assistant Commissioner nearing the end of his contract, discussions with the Canadian Government on assistance for the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands PoliceForce (RTCIPF) have increasingly focussed on filling crucial leadership positions in the Force.
This will provide the continuity of leadership necessary for reforms of the Force to be taken forward. It will also provide the time necessary for Officers of the RTCIPF to gain the further experience and training they need to succeed to command positions.
I am therefore pleased to announce that, during my visit to Ottawa last week, we reached agreement that two senior Canadian police experts will fill the posts of Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of Police for a period of two years from March 2011 to coincide with when the current Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner go on pre-retirement leave.
I am very grateful to Canada’s Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT)and its Anti-crime Capacity Building Programme for this generous offer which will ensure a managed succession for two of the most important posts responsible for the safety and security of the Turks and Caicos Islands and all who live here.
At the same time I would like to take this opportunity to thank Commissioner Edward Hall and Deputy Commissioner Hubert Hughes for their years of distinguished service to the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force. I look forward to a smooth transition and to announcing details of the new Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner in due course.
