The Governor’s Office and RCIPS have confirmed details of a joint operation with the UK and TCI Police this week to help protect the Turks and Caicos Islands from a serious upsurge in illegal migrants arriving on the islands from Haiti.
Following a request from the Government of TCI a joint operation was planned and executed by the RCIPS, Governor’s Office, the FCO and the MOD to provide immediate assistance to the islands. The RFA Mounts Bay was urgently despatched to the area along with the RCIPS helicopter. The two units rendezvoused on Monday and the aircraft has been in TCI all week providing aerial reconnaissance to the Mounts Bay and TCI police. The RCIPS helicopter was instrumental in operations to capture a large number of illegal migrants and the deterrent effect of the units that were deployed marked a dramatic decline in new arrivals. The helicopter returned to the Cayman Islands today after urgent repairs to TCI’s coastal radar were completed, again allowing the territory early warning of inbound migrant sloops.
The operation was fully funded by the UK Government and details of the RCIPS involvement were kept confidential until now for operational security reasons. The Acting Governor and Premier were consulted in advance of the deployment and provided their full support to the TCI government.
Head of the Governor’s Office Matthew Forbes commented “The threat posed to the Turks and Caicos Islands was serious and a fast response was critical. The RCIPS Air Operations Unit is regarded in the region as highly professional and capable and the support that they and the RFA Mounts Bay provided to TCI enabled the situation to remain under control. I should like to pay tribute to the Unit for the way in which they responded so quickly and readily to help a fellow territory”.
Steve Fitzgerald, Unit Executive Officer at the Air Operations Unit said, “I am pleased that we were able to help bring the situation under control until the TCI radar was repaired. The crew are experienced operating in the territory following their deployment there after Hurricane Irma last year. We always receive a very warm welcome”.
Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands, Dr John Freeman CMG thanked the Cayman Islands for its assistance, “We extend our sincerest thanks to the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) for the deployment of their helicopter and crew to the Turks and Caicos Islands following a recent upsurge in illegal migrant activities. In conjunction with the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF), the Ministry of Border Control and the RFA Mounts Bay, the RCIPS Helicopter Service was used to carry out a number of successful surveillance and other operations while in the Turks and Caicos Islands”.
TCI Commissioner of Police, James Smith commenting on the deployment said “ the presence of the Cayman Islands helicopter and teams has been of incredible value to my officers and to the security of the nation. The crews worked extended hours providing invaluable aerial cover and surveillance at sea and on land facilitating successful operations in challenging conditions. I am very grateful to the Commissioner of Police of the RCIPS, the Cayman government but especially the crews and engineer for the service they provided. They are a great credit to the Service and Cayman Islands."