Recently strengthened security measures in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TIC), due to violent unrest in Haiti, allowed the interception of a boat carrying more than 300 Haitians in an irregular migratory situation, some of whom were criminals escaped from Haitian prisons, declared Acting Police Commissioner Christopher Eyre.

He specified that the authorities were carrying out detections and that the Immigration Service was carrying out checks on each detained person, in order to determine those who present a "risk" for the TCI, in particular those who have committed crimes in Haiti.

At the direction of the Prime Minister, he announced that a strategic coordination group which he is leading has been established which includes representatives from the Turks and Caicos Police Force, the Prime Minister's Office, the Governor's Office, the Ministry of Environment and Coastal Resources (DECR), the TCI Regiment, the Immigration and Borders Service, the Public Ministry, the National Security Secretariat and the Ministry of Health.

He added that "sensitive information" is communicated between partners 24 hours a day to "ensure that we effectively address threats" that the destabilization of Haiti "could present to our communities," he said.

He said the islands had ground elements of the Turks and Caicos Regiment, as well as police and immigration teams patrolling the coast, to deter illegal immigration...

S/ iciHaiti