GRAND TURK, Turks and Caicos Islands; Tuesday, May 19th, 2009 - During the recent sitting of the House of Assembly, the Minister for Home Affairs and Human Services, Hon Karen Delancy stated that while she presented the Private Investigators and Security Guards Bill, it is a pity that time would not permit her to present four other important bills including the OECS Domestic Violence and Family Law Reform Project of which the Turks & Caicos became their project. These bills, she said, should have been presented in tandem.
Hon. Delancy strongly avowed that perpetrators needed to know that they could no longer take advantage of the helplessness of women and children, because they are viewed as unprotected and weak. She added that the perpetrators need to also be aware that legislation will stop violence, it will stop child abuse and abuse in all its forms.
The Private Investigators and Security Guards Bill 2009 she said was placed before the House of Assembly for the comfort and protection of our people.
"The Bill gives us the opportunity to ensure that persons holding themselves out to be security guards are indeed qualified, can be held to a standard and is capable of providing a real measure of security," she continued.
"The Bill by requiring criteria both for operations and personnel ensures us the controls needed to maintain standards in line with how we sell our islands."
Minister Delancy said that from media reports one can see that recently some ugly crimes have been reported in our island recently and as a result, more and more persons are looking to hire investigators and security guards. This bill coming forth at this time, she said, allows us to avoid the rapid increase and spread of fly-by-night Investigators and Security operations we could see otherwise.
She went on to note that the Bill also provides protection for our people in cases where a legal security firm maybe violating the Human Rights of our people adding that it makes provisions for prosecution of those who are legal but violate the laws.
"Mr. Speaker, we are a progressive nation," said Hon. Delancy, "we sell ourselves as a high-end-destination. We provide wealth building and asset management services. We must be able to protect our visitors, properties, wealth and various assets. This bill, Mr. Speaker will give us that level of industry control necessary to maintain our reputation as a jurisdiction where persons and property can be secured.”
"Simply put Mr. Speaker, this legislation has the people's interest at heart. It is good for all our people," added the Home Affairs Minister.
She closed by then committing the bill to the Committee of the whole Assembly where it is presently awaiting approval.
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