PROVIDENCIALES, TCI – The government of the Turks and Caicos Islands has officially designated the scorched property at Block/Parcel 60503/17, Mary Jane Lane, Blue Hills, a Disaster Zone, following a fire that tore through the area on Friday, July 24, leaving more than 100 people displaced and the community in ruins.                                                                                                                                                        The declaration, made by Acting Governor Anya Williams on Tuesday, July 29, was based on advice from the Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies (DDME) and in consultation with the National Security Council. It invokes Section 53(1) of the Disaster Management Act, restricting all public access and prohibiting any reconstruction, repairs, or return to the area.

The site is deemed unsafe due to:

• Lack of access to water, electricity, and waste disposal;
• Extensive debris;
• Structurally compromised and uninhabitable conditions.

Authorities remind the public that entry is prohibited, and former residents are urged not to return under any circumstances. The land had already been subject to enforcement notices from the Planning Department and the Informal Settlements Unit prior to the tragedy

But this fire wasn’t an accident.

Investigators allege it was deliberately set by Andral Perceval, a Haitian national and fugitive wanted for double murder, sexual assault, and other violent crimes. Police Commissioner Fitz Bailey described Perceval as “brutal” and “dangerous,” confirming that he and an accomplice—believed to be Jamaican—ignited the fire to divert law enforcement as they attempted to evade capture during Operation Dragon, a joint task force crackdown on organized crime.                                                                                                                                                                                           Two brothers, believed to be defending their sister from ongoing abuse by Perceval, were found dead, bound and murdered in a home on the same property. Their deaths shocked the community and triggered an urgent renewal of a manhunt that had languished without public updates for 19 months.

The Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force, supported by U.S. aerial surveillance, continues to hunt for Perceval, warning that anyone caught harboring or assisting him will be prosecuted.

“This man has caused so much pain, so much suffering,” said Bailey. “His days are numbered.”

As residents displaced by violence now face displacement by law, the nation holds its breath—hoping for justice, accountability, and healing in Blue Hills.

Deandrea Hamilton | Editor

PROVIDENCIALES, TCI — The Turks and Caicos Islands is a nation under siege. That was the stark undertone of Premier Charles Washington Misick’s national address delivered on Tuesday, July 30, just days after a mass shooting at a popular hookah lounge in Providenciales claimed three lives and injured ten others.

Calling the tragedy “unacceptable and deeply troubling,” the Premier acknowledged the sense of fear gripping the nation. He said what many have long feared: that the country’s national security infrastructure is stretched, and its sovereignty compromised.

“Our spirit remains unbroken… But this moment will become a turning point in our nation’s story.”

Step Up or Step Aside

Premier Misick directed his pointed criticism at the United Kingdom, which holds constitutional responsibility for defence and internal security in the TCI.

“That responsibility cannot be symbolic,” he declared. “It must be matched with tangible and decisive action… or these responsibilities must be devolved to the local government.”

He confirmed that he had personally written to the UK Foreign Secretary, urging immediate support or a formal shift of security powers to the TCI government.

Crackdown Measures Announced

The Premier outlined a raft of urgent reforms:

• Liquor curfews: Effective July 31, all licensed establishments must close by midnight Sunday–Thursdayand 2 a.m. Friday–Saturday, for 90 days.
• Six-month moratoriumon first-time work permits and visas for Haitian nation
• Upcoming laws (by September)will authorize:
  • Warrantless searches
  • Temporary curfews
  • Cordon-and-search zones
  • Disaster zone declarations based on national security threats
• Launch of aSafe City Strategy, including CCTV, smart lighting, and connected policing systems.

Root Causes, Hard Truths

Misick acknowledged that irregular migration, human trafficking, and corruption—including by some public officials—have eroded law and order. He committed to investigations and systemic reform, saying “justice must not only be pursued—it must be delivered.”

“We will leave no stone unturned and no safe haven for those who betray this country.”

As Turks and Caicos reels from a wave of violence, the Premier’s message was both a call to unity and a challenge to long-standing power structures.

For him, the era of complacency is over.

Deandrea Hamilton | Editor

Haiti, July 26, 2025 – For five teenagers, achieving scholastic competence and excellence was a dream they worked diligently to achieve; they are now graduates, part of the class of 2025—but their story is rare in beleaguered Haiti.  In fact, the escalating humanitarian crisis now exposes that life for children in Haiti is among the worst in the world.

In a sobering update from the United Nations, Haiti is now considered one of the most dangerous places to be a child—alongside conflict-ridden countries like Gaza, Somalia, and the Congo.  Children are increasingly caught in the crossfire of gang violence, facing a 500% rise in violence against them, according to recent reports.  Many are maimed, raped, killed, or forced to carry guns and join gangs.  Others, arrested in chaotic crackdowns, find themselves trapped in adult prisons without due process.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   The education system has nearly collapsed under the strain of ongoing violence.  As of mid-July, more than 1,600 schools remain closed—a more than 66% increase since the beginning of the year.  With nowhere safe to learn, children become more vulnerable to exploitation, abuse, and gang recruitment.  UNICEF has stepped in to provide emergency learning opportunities to over 16,000 children and reached more than 100,000 with mental health and psychosocial support—but this barely scratches the surface.

The malnutrition crisis adds to the horror. Since January, UNICEF and partners have screened more than 217,000 children for acute malnutrition.  Over 21,500 have been admitted for life-saving treatment—representing only 17% of the 129,000 children projected to need help this year.  Many are like little Homer, who arrived at the “Love A Child Malnutrition Clinic” near death—unable to eat, move, or drink.  He is now recovering after receiving care and food support, thanks to organizations like “Feed My Starving Children.”

In total, 5.7 million people in Haiti face high levels of acute food insecurity, more than half the country’s population.  Meanwhile, humanitarian access is severely limited due to violence and instability. Health centers have closed, supply chains are choked, and fear has stopped mothers—who traditionally sell goods in markets to feed their families—from leaving their homes.

And yet, there are glimmers of hope.  Five young adults—Dieubon, Yolanda, Ada, Samuel, and Christian—will graduate from “Philo,” the 13th and final year of school in Haiti.  Their achievement is monumental not only because of the educational hurdles, but because orphans in Haiti often face stigma and marginalization.  As one caregiver put it, “Even if one child graduates, it is a big deal. But we have five.”

Still, the broader reality remains grim. The UN warns that Haiti is the least funded of all global crisis appeals.  As of July 23, less than 9% of the $908 million required for the 2024 humanitarian response has been received.

The story of these five graduates stands as a beacon amid chaos—a testament to the power of perseverance.  But for Haiti’s children to have a future, the world must not look away.  Urgent funding, safety, and long-term solutions are needed—before more dreams are extinguished.

CAPTIONS:

PHOTO OF CHILDREN WITH FOOD

Photo courtesy of HopeofChristHaiti.org posted April 2025/Facebook

PHOTO OF 5 GRADUATES

Photo courtesy of Love A Child, Inc posted June 19/Facebook