Her Excellency Governor Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam has publicly backed Commissioner of Police Fitz Bailey and the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF) reforms following unverified online attacks. She warned that harassment against officers and attempts to undermine leadership must not derail the 42% reduction in major crime reported over the past year.
The Governor’s statement addresses articles published under a pseudonym that criticized the RTCIPF’s management. While acknowledging concerns regarding career advancement for local officers, she emphasized that institutional accountability is essential for progress. Governor Daniel-Selvaratnam noted that operational reforms, including training and specialist recruitment, have yielded tangible results, with murders declining by 88% during the same period. She firmly condemned the intimidation of personnel, stating that attacks on officers carrying out their duties have no place in public service.
Looking ahead, the Governor and the National Security Council remain committed to strengthening police capabilities while building a pipeline for local leadership. She stressed that while the force must address internal concerns about opportunities for local staff, this objective cannot be compromised by resistance to necessary changes. The Governor concluded that meaningful reform requires a shared sense of purpose, asserting that succession planning must be pursued alongside operational reforms designed to strengthen policing and public safety.