Jamaica’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security and Peace, Dr. Horace Chang, visited the Turks and Caicos Islands to formalize a security partnership. He pledged to provide policing expertise and training to help the territory combat violent crime, arriving on Wednesday.
Dr. Chang, accompanied by Jamaica’s Commissioner of Police Kevin Blake, met with Governor Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam and Premier Charles Washington Misick. The delegation attended the commissioning of two new Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force marine patrol vessels, *Sea Guardian II* and *Sea Protector II*. Dr. Chang noted that Jamaica’s experience confronting crime allows it to offer proven training, stating, “Where we can work with each other, we should do so.” The visit highlighted that several experienced Jamaican officers are already serving within the local force, including Commissioner of Police Fitz Bailey.
Jamaica intends to assist the territory in developing the institutional capacity required to build a sustainable police force. While Jamaica cannot deploy significant marine personnel, Dr. Chang confirmed it will provide training to strengthen the local marine squad. He emphasized that security is fundamental to protecting the economic and social progress of the Turks and Caicos Islands, warning that violence could undermine these national gains.