News

Significant changes announced for Policing in the TCI; Crime up 6% for 2015

Published

10 years ago

July 1, 2015

Providenciales, 30 Jun 2015 – In two weeks a new unit within the TCI Police will be up and running and it is forecast to greatly enhance efficiency and improve Police tactics according to Police Commissioner James Smith. The unit is to be called the Specialist Operations Command.

“It will be the responsibility of this Command to manage our air, maritime and tactical teams to ensure that we maximize our deployment and it will be driven by intelligence from officers and communities and it will capture prolific and vibrant offenders. The officer in charge will make use of the best available tactics, supported by appropriate training and accreditation for UK overseas territories standards; I anticipate that this Command will be functional within two weeks.”

Smith had an anticipated date today with the media core and spent quality time sharing that he and senior officers have now met with the Premier, the Opposition Leader and Cabinet about issues in dealing with crime, equipment and human resources.

A change in deployment of officers, the closure of some of the lesser used and more unsuitable police stations around the country and recent investment in training are all tailored to deal with the nine crimes per day on average in the Turks and Caicos.

Deputy Commissioner Rodney Adams confirmed that crime is up slightly; by 6% for the first five months of 2015 and that means 75 more crimes have been committed. These 2015 crimes are also of a more heinous nature.
We were given update that it will still be as much as 10 to 14 more days before the Florida forensics lab is able to release information on the remains found in Grand Turk; no one is being held or questioned as a suspect in that investigation.

Media learned that the suspect husband who allegedly set his wife on fire in Dock Yard in late May is still at large and is still believed to be in Provo.

The ScotiaBank security officer shooting case from May 2015 is preparing to go to court and no one is being held for the murder of 24 year old Robert Martinez, which happened on Father’s Day on Bible Street in Blue Hills. When challenged on the lack of information sometimes getting to the general public, Commissioner Smith aimed to quell feelings that they are an uncaring Force and admitted they are working on a better public relations approach.

“Sometimes when we are dealing with a crime scene, we find photographers trying to get into the heart of the crime scene which may still have images that we might not wish to be broadcast for a whole variety of reason…. What I am saying here Deandrea, is I am not sure what the breakdown is and why information is not getting enough information because if we don’t give you the right information at the right time you will probably go and find it by means that is not reliable… we will look at how we can better manage the flow of information.”

Related Topics:crime james smith police rodney adams

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Crime

Former Police Officer Opens up to Eagle Legal about Frightening Kidnapping and Robbery at Gunpoint; alarmed at TCI Police silence

Published

2 days ago

April 19, 2025

Deandrea Hamilton

Wilkie Arthur

Eagle Legal News

Tuesday, April 15, 2025 – Turks and Caicos Islands – In the early hours of Wednesday, April 9, 2025, a former police officer in the Turks and Caicos Islands was the victim of a terrifying robbery and kidnapping in the Dock Yard area, Eagle Legal News Media has learned.

Shortly after 3:00 a.m., the victim had just dropped off his girlfriend near Bible Street (Behind Mara) and returned to his vehicle when he was confronted by a lone, masked man armed with a firearm. The attacker, described as aggressive and agitated, demanded the victim’s wallet, phone, and other valuables. The victim, trying to remain calm, complied. His wallet reportedly contained over $1,000 in cash.

Despite giving up his belongings, the gunman continued to threaten him, demanding more money and pressing the firearm to the victim’s head and body. The victim described the ordeal as intense, saying he felt as if the bullets were already tearing through him due to the attacker’s inexplicable rage.

Although he considered using his police training to subdue the attacker, the victim noticed other men nearby observing the situation without intervening. Concerned for his life, he instead came up with a plan: he told the robber he could take him to an ATM to withdraw more cash.

“I felt like he was going to kill me for more money,” the victim said. “So I told him we could go to the ATM, even though I knew it was closed, just to get out of Dock Yard and buy myself a chance to survive.”

The assailant agreed, and the two drove to a nearby ATM, with the victim behind the wheel and the gunman keeping the firearm aimed at him the entire time, threatening him with violent language. When they arrived and found the ATM closed, the victim seized his moment.

“As soon as I stepped out of the car, I ran like Usain Bolt,” he recounted, “I tore through the bushes straight to Cheshire Hall Medical Centre.”

There, he hid in the brush for a time before emerging to seek help. He contacted authorities from the hospital, where he was treated for minor cuts and bruises sustained during his escape.

Thankfully, he was not shot.

The former officer described his assailant as a male with a mixed Jamaican-Haitian accent who spoke fluent English. The man reportedly told him he was hungry and desperate for money.

He recalled the gunman saying, “If you don’t get me more money, I’ll kill you.”

The assailant fled the scene in the victim’s car, which was later recovered by police in Dock Yard. As of this report, no arrests have been made.

The victim contacted Eagle Legal News after seeing no official police report released about the incident.

Bahamas News

CARIFTA Games 2025 – Trinidad & Tobago

Published

2 days ago

April 19, 2025

Deandrea Hamilton

S C H E D U L E O F E V E N T S

The 2025 CARIFTA Athletics Games will be held at Hasely Crawford Stadium from April 19–21, while the CARIFTA Aquatics Championships take place at the National Aquatic Centre from April 19–22, with Open Water events on April 23 at Five Islands Beach.

Friday April 18, 2025

52nd CARIFTA Athletics Games and the XXXVIII CARIFTA Aquatics Championships Opening Ceremony

Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port of Spain, Trinidad
Time: 3:00 – 5:00 PM
Admission Free

Saturday April 19, 2025

Athletics – Hasely Crawford Stadium: Port of Spain, Trinidad