News
At A Moment’s Notice
Coral Harbour Base, 3 Sept 2015 (RBDF): It was on a Thursday shortly before 8 p.m. when my cell phone rang. I looked at my phone for a brief second, thoughts began racing through my mind as I recognized the number and then I answered feverishly, “Hello?”. It was my senior on the other end of the line with a sound of relief in his voice, he replied.
“Good! You answered. I need you to make your way out at the port at midnight. You will join the ships company to slip harbor tonight in a couple hours for seven days to document the patrol. Have a safe trip and he hung up.
As I received my orders my heart skipped a beat and with no one else around to verify whether or not this reality was a dream or this dream was a reality, I had to just stop take a deep breath and relax. Even though the orders came hard and fast, I was eager to go out to sea. I was waiting on the opportunity to do my part as we prepared for the storm. I was ready to help prepare and protect my country, our country.
What should have been a typical 24-hour shift lined with fatigues to complete in the morning, suddenly became anything but typical. But what was I to expect? The Bahamas was in its first trimester of its hurricane season and Tropical Storm Erika was due to make landfall that upcoming weekend.
As a Marine Seaman on the Royal Bahamas Defence Force, it has definitely been a new experience for me. A marine can be called at a moment’s notice to perform his duties. That’s just the nature of the organization. Therefore, being in a constant state of readiness is crucial. However, in addition to individual preparedness, organizational preparedness is also important and this hurricane season showed me just how prepared we, the Defence Force, are in times of potential disaster.
As I followed the updates of Tropical Storm Erika, I learned that The Bahamas was lined up perfectly like bowling pins for a clean strike in hurricane alley. I saw citizens and residents making final attempts to protect life and secure property. Supermarket aisles were packed, store shelves were emptied, home cupboards were filled and anticipation for the oncoming tropical storm grew.
All the while, we at the Royal Bahamas Defence Force were also making preparations of our own. Though faced with a potential disaster, we took numerous precautions under the direction of Captain Tellis Bethel, the Commander Defence Force (Acting), and his command team to help safeguard our country and stood ready to provide assistance at a moment’s notice.
Subsequently, Advance Teams were dispatched ahead of the storm to various islands such as Mayaguana, Governor’s Harbour and Abaco to assist with the coordination and preparation of hurricane relief efforts. Impact Teams were standing by ready to provide immediate support to pre-defined Advance Teams and affected Family Islands for road, airport, and harbour clearing along with restoration of the basic utilities following the passing of the storm.
Defence Force Hurricane Shelter Managers were ready to be stationed at 25 shelters throughout New Providence. Standby Security and Urban Search and Rescue Teams were also established to provide immediate security assistance to shelter managers and local communities, in the event of security threats or missing persons. Teams were also formed to assist families of Defence Force personnel who were abroad and about to face the wrath of Tropical Storm Erika.
Marines were assigned to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to assist with the coordination of national hurricane relief efforts. Defence Force patrol crafts were dispatched to various locations throughout the Bahama chain of Islands, where they prepared for the aftermath of the storm.
Military Police Personnel were stationed at key Government and foreign diplomat facilities in New Providence to provide necessary security. Hurricane Platoons were also standing by to provide further support with hurricane mitigation efforts during and after the storm in Nassau and the Family Islands.
We seemed to have covered all the major areas of concern. Most people didn’t see any of it, but while the average Bahamian was on alert for Tropical Storm Erika making landfall, Defence Force marines were already out to sea and on the various family islands anticipating the potential disaster, positioning themselves for what was to come.
In a turn of events, Tropical Storm Erika, instead of striking The Bahamas, decided to throw a curve ball, swung around our archipelago and eventually dissipated. However, this provided the Defence Force with an opportunity to put our hurricane plan of action under a microscope, allowing us to identify both our strengths and our weaknesses for the next call of duty. This will undoubtedly enhance our plan of execution in the future if needed.
As some of the country’s best trained assets, sufficient gratitude cannot be expressed to the Defence Force marines who continuously and selflessly render their service towards our country’s defence, wherever and whenever called. Leaving your family behind is never easy at such a time, so I can tell my fellow brothers in arms thank you for your service because you are keeping my loved ones safe also as I am to yours.
The families of marines must also be acknowledged for their continued support of their loved ones during such times, as these brave men and women of the Defence Force are deployed to safeguard our heritage. Many of us were far from our families and homes, but as a nation, you did not allow us to be far from your thoughts and prayers.
Thank you to all our supporters. Your support and well wishes are always appreciated.
#TurksandCaicos, May 20, 2024 – The Governor’s Office can confirm that Her Excellency the Governor Dileeni Daniel-
Selvaratnam and the Honourable Premier Charles Washington Misick will this morning receive a US Congressional delegation, who have requested a meeting to discuss the recent arrests of US nationals for possession of ammunition offences.
The US delegation, which arrived yesterday evening, was met by Protocol officials and is due to depart this afternoon.
News
Eleven Senators, Three Governors make appeals for Leniency; Five Americans now face 12 Years in Prison
Deandrea Hamilton
Editor
#TurksandCaicos, May 20, 2024 – US law makers are going to bat bigtime for their citizens detained in the Turks and Caicos for breach of the firearms ordinance, a congressional delegation arrived on Sunday and talk about an amicable conclusion in the controversial court matters.
Here for a meeting set to take place today, the congressional delegation is led by Senator Markwayne Mullin.
Five tourists are facing the 12 year minimum for possession of bullets, they say were inadvertently left in their checked baggage, but they can get a lesser sentence if the judge rules that it is warranted under the ‘Exceptional Circumstances’ clause in the Firearms Ordinance, newly amended and stiffened in 2022.
Eleven U.S. Senators and three State Governors have addressed letters to the TCI government beckoning for leniency in the cases of American citizens charged and detained for breach of Turks and Caicos gun laws which strictly prohibit the possession of unregistered firearms or ammunition; an infraction which carries with it a penalty of 12 years imprisonment.
It became known that at least one governor was communicating with Daleeni Daniel- Selveratnam, Turks and Caicos Governor about the unsettling situation.
J Kevin Stitt, Governor of Oklahoma appeared on television vocalizing his thoughts, calling the mandatory 12 year sentence “absurd.” His letter for leniency was endorsed by Josh Shapiro, Governor of Pennsylvania and Glenn Youngkin, the Governor of Virginia.
“We humbly ask that your government – in its wisdom – temper justice with mercy and recognize that these made mistakes but had no apparent malicious intent,” states the May 14th letter signed by all three governors.
Twelve days before, Senators had already expressed their dire concern in correspondence dated May 2nd.
Magnetic Media obtained that letter which 11 senators have supported; their dispatch issued to the Attorney General of the Turks and Caicos, Rhondalee Braithwaite-Knowles, KC.
Senators Markwayne Mullin, Oklahoma; Robert P. Casey Jr, Pennsylvania; Mark Warner, Virginia; Tim Kaine, Virginia; James Lankford, Oklahoma; Michael Cloud, Texas; John Fetterman, Pennsylvania; Bob Good, Virginia; Guy Reschenthaler, Pennsylvania; Josh Brecheen, Oklahoma and former presidential contender, Ted Cruz of Texas boldly signed the document, with strong words for the TCIG.
“We do not discount the fact that the authorities in Turks and Caicos take the presence of unspent ammunition cartridges seriously to prioritize the safety of its civilians. However, based on our relationships and understanding of the circumstances of these American citizens, we strongly urge you to exercise leniency when reviewing their cases.”
Both letters point to the current good relationship between the Turks and Caicos and the United States as the reason to have the cases of Michael Lee Evans, 72 of Texas; Bryan Hagerich, Pennsylvania; Tyler Wenrich, 31 of Virginia and Ryan Watson, 40 of Oklahoma come to a reasonable conclusion.
Since Monday May 13, added to the four men and despite the media attention and US State Department warnings, Sharitta Grier, 45 of Orlando, Florida was arrested, sentenced and is now out on bail on near identical charges.
She is the fifth American held in recent months for the discovery of ammunition upon departure of the islands.
Grier, was on Thursday May 16 arraigned for allegedly having two bullets in her baggage; detected as she was exiting the Turks and Caicos following a Mother’s Day getaway with her daughter. By Friday, bail had been granted to the woman who is still expressing shock at the gravity of the consequences; a dozen years in a Grand Turk prison.
A week earlier, a Thursday May 8, media release by the Turks and Caicos National Security Council informed of the Attorney General’s report to the group, which included the Premier, Minister of Tourism and Governor on the nuances of the legislation, according to a recent Court of Appeal decision.
“The Attorney-General, in respect of the law applicable to the cases against US Nationals on charges relating to the possession of ammunition, confirmed that an Attorney General’s Reference to the Court of Appeal certified that where a court finds there are exceptional circumstances, the sentencing judge has discretion under the law, to impose a custodial sentence and a fine that are fair and just in the circumstances of each case rather than impose the mandatory minimum. The Chief Justice is advancing sentencing guidelines in this respect.”
On Sunday, Senator Mullin of Oklahoma landed in Provo, with him: “Rep. Reschenthaler of Pennsylvania; Rep. Good of Virginia; Rep. Brecheen of Oklahoma and Rep. Cloud of Texas. They have a few staff members and an escort of four marines. They will be in meetings all day. We are hoping for an agreeable resolution today,” explained a source close to the senate.
We’ve also learned that the Governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis may climb aboard this train in the name of reasonable justice after Floridian, Sharitta Shiniee Grier was last week charged.
On social media, Grier has opened up about her arrest.
“Once the police cuffed my leg to a chair and left me in a room by myself I started crying out to the Good Lord, saying I know you are real but I need you to move for me, right now! I need you to show me a sign that I’m going to be alright.”
Grier explains that before she could wipe away tears, “Mrs. Susan and her husband My Pop Pop” turned up, came to check on her while in police custody and are now lending her moral support.
Court correspondent Wilkie Arthur informed that during Grier’s arraignment, the courtroom was filled with some of the other Americans accused and their families; in her post, she called Ryan (Hagerich) and Bryan (Watson), both men who share a vacation villa as they await verdicts in their bullet possession matters, her ‘brothers.’
“I know it was God who placed them in my life. They have a heart of gold, just like me and I love them. We are family forever.”
It is this kind of solidarity that the defendants hope will work in their favour as their Representatives have reportedly taken advocacy to a new level; landing at the private airport in Providenciales on Sunday to – in person – make appeals on behalf of the five Americans with the hope of seeing them avoid the lengthy prison term mandated by TCI law.
SERVICE WITH PRIDE AND INTEGRITY
***MEDIA RELEASE***
May 18th, 2024.
Following a police shooting incident on May 14th, the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF) is now able to name the deceased male subject, with the permission of the family.
The Serious Crime Unit contacted the relatives of the deceased, and formal identification has taken place, with the subject being identified as 14-year-old Antorens Dorcely, also known locally as ‘Toto’.
During this challenging time, the RTCIPF also expressed its deepest condolences to the deceased’s family, and the force will continue to offer support through our Family Liaison Officer.
In light of this incident, the RTCIPF is urging the public to show respect and sensitivity towards the grieving family by refraining from sharing any footage of the deceased on social media.
Sharing such material can cause additional distress and harm. We emphasize the importance of empathy and respect for the family’s privacy as they navigate their grief. The death of any young person is a loss to the TCI.
The RTCIPF is committed and dedicated to conducting a thorough investigation and ensuring that all aspects of the incident are carefully examined and the findings are communicated transparently to the public.
A request has been made to an external police force to conduct a review of the incident. This is a routine procedure and intended to ensure an independent and objective review of the facts. The community’s cooperation and respect during this time are essential. The RTCIPF assures the public that we remain dedicated to upholding justice and accountability.
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