Fitz Bailey’s appointment as TCI’s police chief signals regional crime-fighting commitment
Published:Saturday | April 12, 2025 | 12:08 AMLivern Barrett/Senior Staff Reporter
Retired Jamaican police official Fitz Bailey says his appointment as police chief for the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) should be seen as part of a broader mission to enhance public safety and security throughout the Caribbean region.
On Thursday, the Governor’s Office released a statement announcing Bailey’s appointment, which will be for three years.
Jamaica’s former deputy commissioner of police joined the Royal Turks and Caicos Island Police Force (RTCIPF) in October last year as deputy commissioner before being appointed acting commissioner on November 21.
Bailey retired from the Jamaican police force last September after a 40-year career that spanned several critical units, including the Criminal Investigation Branch and the Counter Terrorism and Organised Crime Division.
He told The Gleaner yesterday that his appointment as TCI’s police commissioner is a win for the region.
“If the Turks and Caicos (Islands) is safer, then the entire region is safer,” he said.
Bailey said he was honoured and humbled by the appointment, noting that his experience in the Jamaican police force has prepared him for his new role.
Further, he said it is another indication that Jamaicans continue to make their mark across the Caribbean and on the world stage.
Bailey thanked the people of the TCI for the confidence they have reposed in him, and promised to help build a safer nation and develop a police force that is professional and can be compared to any other in the region or globally.
“I will continue to maintain the standard that I am accustomed to in Jamaica and to ensure that the Jamaican flag continues to fly high,” he said.