Fitz Bailey to act as police commissioner in Turks and Caicos Islands

Retired Jamaican crime chief Fitz Bailey has been appointed to act as the Commissioner of Police in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Bailey's appointment was announced today in a statement released by the Office of the TCI Governor and takes effect tomorrow.

It came after the Governor accepted the resignation of Edvin Martin, the outgoing police commissioner.

“The circumstances are unavoidable due to a personal matter that requires Mr Martin's urgent attention,” the statement said.

The Governor's office said Bailey will act as police chief “on an interim basis" while the recruitment process takes place to identify a new commissioner.

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“I am confident Mr Bailey is well placed to lead the force drawing on his wealth of complex crime (fighting) experience and strategic leadership,” the Governor said while praising the leadership and “steadfast dedication” of the outgoing police chief.

Bailey retired by the Jamaican police force in September after a 40-year career during which he led a number of critical police formations, including the Criminal Investigation Branch.

A month after his retirement, he accepted an offer from authorities in the TCI to serve as deputy commissioner of police for an initial three-month period.