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Nigel Dakin

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Nigel Dakin
CMG
15th Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands
In office
15 July 2019 – 29 March 2023
MonarchsElizabeth II
Charles III
PremierSharlene Cartwright-Robinson
Washington Misick
DeputyAnya Williams
Preceded byJohn Freeman
Succeeded byAnya Williams (acting)
Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam[1]
Personal details
Born (1964-02-28) 28 February 1964 (age 60)[2]
United Kingdom
SpouseAmanda Dakin
Residence(s)Waterloo, Grand Turk
Alma materUniversity of Birmingham (BA)
Kingston University (MBA)

Nigel John Dakin CMG (born 28 February 1964 [2] was a British diplomat and soldier who served as Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands between 15 July 2019 and 29 March 2023.[3][4]

Early life and education

Dakin was born on 28 February 1964 [2] in Birmingham, England,[citation needed] and is the son of John Frederick Dakin[5] and Dorothy Alice Dakin (née Scott).[6] He grew up in Bournville and was educated at the King Edward VI Five Ways School, a state grammar school in Birmingham, England.

Having secured, while at school, an Army Scholarship, Dakin entered the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 1982 and was commissioned into the British Army in 1983. Following service as an Infantry Platoon Commander in Northern Ireland he studied, again on a military scholarship, at the University of Birmingham between 1984 and 1987, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. He would later receive a Masters in Business Administration from Kingston University in 1995.[7]

Career

Following university, Dakin returned to the Army, serving in West Germany and Northern Ireland.[8] In 1993 he was mentioned in dispatches for gallantry while serving with the Intelligence Corps in Northern Ireland[9] and between 1994 and 1996 served as a Staff Officer in the Ministry of Defence advising the Defence Secretary (Michael Portillo) and Chief of the Defence Staff (Field Marshall Peter Inge) on matters relating to the Irish Peace Process.[8]

In 1996, Dakin accepted a position within the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). He first lead staff groups involved in Russia and later on Counter Terrorism and, promoted to Director, he served on the executive board where he oversaw organisational transformation. Concurrently, he was invited by the then Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Nick Carter, to serve as the civilian Non-Executive Director on both the Army No. 1 Board and the Army Higher Honours Committee, a position he retained until 2019.[7]

While overseas Dakin served as First Secretary (Political) in Nigeria (1998–99) and India (1999-2001) and then as the Political Counsellor in Pakistan (2007-2010) and Afghanistan (2012-2013). He served twice in the British Embassy in Washington DC: first from 2005 to 2007 working with the US Administration of George W. Bush on Iraq, Afghanistan and Counter Terrorism and again between 2016 and 2019 as the Senior National Security Official to the UK Ambassador to the United States.[8]

Governor of the Turks and Caicos

Dakin signing the book of condolence for Queen Elizabeth II at Lancaster House on 17 September 2022

In May 2019, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office announced that Dakin would succeed outgoing Governor John Freeman as Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands.[10] As such, Dakin was the representative of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and acted as the de facto Head of State responsible for appointing the Head of Government, and senior political positions in the territory.[10] Dakin was also responsible for chairing Cabinet and ensuring the good governance of the territory. The Constitution also reserved to the Governor responsibility for defence, external affairs, the regulation of international financial services and internal security, including the police force.[11]

Dakin's Governorship included: the COVID-19 pandemic, when he held emergency powers;[12] the challenges of mass irregular migration caused by a serious deterioration in the security situation in neighbouring Haiti;[13] a concurrent rise in gang related murder temporarily suppressed following the deployment of armed officers requested from The Bahamas and a package of UK support;[14] an election and resulting change of government during the pandemic;[15] a Royal Visit[16] and the impact of Hurricane Fiona.[17]

Dakin commissioned and oversaw the development of the Turks and Caicos Islands Regiment;[18] the establishment of a National Security Secretariat and accompanying Strategy[19] and the deepening of relationships with the USA and The Bahamas to deliver the inaugural North Caribbean Security Summit and the resulting uplift in regional security co-operation.[20] The decision to combine Immigration and Customs Officers to form a new Border Force was taken.[21] With UK support, the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force established a 'Guns, Gangs and Drugs' Team to tackle serious organised crime[22] and legislation was passed to provide the Police with a technical intelligence collection capability.[23]

As the Monarch's representative, Dakin proclaimed the accession, in Grand Turk, of His Majesty King Charles III,[24] and attended the funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II[25] He left post on 29 March 2023.[26]

Honours

Dakin was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 2020 Birthday Honours for services to British foreign policy.[27]

Personal life

He married Amanda Dakin (née Johnson) in 1987, in her home country of Barbados. They have two children; Charlotte (known as Charlie) and Fraser.[28]

References

  1. ^ "Change of Governor of Turks and Caicos Islands: Ms Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam". GOV.UK. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  2. ^ a b c https://www.ukwhoswho.com/search?q=Dakin%2C+Nigel+John%2C+%28born+28+Feb.+1964%29%2C+HM+Diplomatic+Service%3B+Governor+of+the+Turks+and+Caicos+Islands%2C+2019–23
  3. ^ "Governor Dakin's inaugural speech: 15 July 2019". GOV.UK. 15 July 2019. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  4. ^ "Nigel Dakin sworn-in as the 15th Governor of the TCI The UK representative vows to 'preserve and improve' the nation". Turks & Caicos Weekly News. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  5. ^ https://funeral-notices.co.uk/notice/dakin/4925844
  6. ^ https://funeral-notices.co.uk/notice/dakin/4759470
  7. ^ a b Dakin, Nigel. "Nigel Dakin". linkedin.com. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
  8. ^ a b c "Governor of the Turks & Caicos Islands". GOV.UK. UK Government. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
  9. ^ "Supplement to the London Gazette" (PDF). thegazette.co.uk. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
  10. ^ a b "Foreign and Commonwealth office announces new governor designate for Turks and Caicos Islands". GOV.UK. 16 May 2019. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
  11. ^ "Governor's Office, Turks and Caicos Islands". GOV.UK. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
  12. ^ https://suntci.com/tci-under-state-of-emergency-p5049-129.htm
  13. ^ https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/05/turks-and-caicos-haitian-migrants-immigration
  14. ^ https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/turks-and-caicos-governors-update-on-national-response-to-gang-related-violence
  15. ^ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_Turks_and_Caicos_Islands_general_election
  16. ^ https://www.royal.uk/news-and-activity/2023-02-27/the-earl-and-countess-of-wessex-visit-the-cayman-islands-the-turks-and
  17. ^ https://tcweeklynews.com/governor-and-premier-visit-grand-turk-following-the-passage-of-hurricane-fi-p12736-127.htm
  18. ^ https://tcweeklynews.com/tci-to-build-its-own-military-regiment-p10218-127.htm
  19. ^ https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/governor-dakins-speech-at-tci-national-security-strategy-launch-22-january-2020
  20. ^ https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/3331340/us-government-hosts-inaugural-northern-caribbean-security-summit/
  21. ^ https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/address-given-by-his-excellency-governor-nigel-dakin-cmg-on-border-security-and-the-opbat-alliance
  22. ^ https://tcweeklynews.com/gun-amnesty-among-strategies-to-deal-with-recent-murders-rtcipf-to-form-a-p12707-127.htm
  23. ^ https://tcweeklynews.com/law-enforcement-can-legally-intercept-communications-in-the-tci-p12813-127.htm
  24. ^ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proclamation_of_accession_of_Charles_III#:~:text=The%20proclamation%20in%20the%20Turks,out%20by%20Governor%20Nigel%20Dakin.
  25. ^ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_guests_at_the_state_funeral_of_Elizabeth_II.
  26. ^ https://magneticmediatv.com/2023/03/four-years-of-governor-nigel-dakin-highlights-of-the-tenure/
  27. ^ "No. 63135". The London Gazette (Supplement). 10 October 2020. p. B4.
  28. ^ "The British Governor's wife with the Caribbean roots". Turks & Caicos Weekly News. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
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