News

Letter to the Editor, from former TCI Deputy Police Commissioner

Published

7 years ago

June 26, 2017

Deandrea Hamilton

Turks and Caicos, June 26, 2017 –

Ms. Hamilton

I think that you are doing a great job covering the crime situation in the TCI as always. It is however, unfortunate and must be disappointing to the people of TCI that the two Commissioners who succeed Mr Hall as Commissioner cannot find an answer to tackle the violent crime situation in TCI. Based on recent events anyone with common sense will come to the conclusion that Mr Hall and his management team was doing their best with the limited resources they had to get the job done.

The facts are policing an archipelago will always have its challenges for all Commissioners local or from the UK or Canada. The truth is the police force is asked to do more with less resources and the lack of funds to provide the necessary training for the 20% committed officers who do all the work. I was once told by a former British senior police officer that he cannot come to Turks and Caicos Island and tell the local police how to police the Turks and Caicos islands because of his lack of local knowledge. In addition one of them admitted to me that the first time he saw a kilo of cocaine is when he came to TCI in charge of the criminal investigation drug squad. Policing an archipelago like Turks and Caicos requires a Command team with good local knowledge of the environment, national culture and subcultures of the different island and families, and good human investigation management training and skills . It call for a great deal of knowledge on how to police the air, land and sea in order to control gun crime in particular.

There is a lot of talk about that the public is not providing the local police with information to assist in the prevention and detection of crimes. That is so because the police don’t have a good relationship with the public. When it comes to relationships everything starts with self respect and respect for others. Are the officers who are charged with the responsibility to prevent and detect crimes conducting themselves in a respectable manner when dealing with members of the public in order to gain their respect. Respect will lead to shared values to improve public confidence in the force. Shared values will lead to trust. Without trust no one will speak to the police in confidence. In order to prevent and detect crime the level of trust within the ranks of the force must be high as well. I’m not convinced if that is the case within the RTCIPF at the moment.

From the media reports it seems that violent crimes continues to be a great concern for residents and the public confidence in the police to deal with such crimes is low.

My approach to such a situation would be to divide crimes in the following four categories: exploitive crimes, mutualistic crimes, competitive crimes and individual crimes. Exploitive crimes are predatory crimes in which the offender injure or kill a person or seize or damage another’s property. They are crimes such as murder, rape, robbery burglary and aggravated burglary etc. Exploitive crimes should take priority; therefore more resources to be deployed to prevent such crimes. Competitive crimes where two people or groups act in the same capacity involve physical conflict against each other, such as gang crimes. More training and resources need to be directed in this type of crime and equally important as exploitive crimes because such crimes involved murder and serious injury as well.

Mutualistic crimes where two people are groups engage in complementary crimes such as drug transactions, human smuggling/trafficking etc. To prevent this types of crime requires real time intelligence and good coordination locally, regionally and internationally. I agree that every effort must be made to prevent this type of crime but in most cases if successful it does not have an impact in terms of fear and emotional stress on residence like exploitive and competitive crimes. Individualistic crimes are crimes committed by an individual such as drug use and abuse. Such crimes could be considered victimless crimes if the drugs are used for recreational purpose and not as a motive to commit other serious crimes. A lot of police resources is used chasing and arresting persons for a joint for personal use. I am not suggesting that such crime should not be policed but instead suggesting that more time and resources should be allocated to exploitive and competitive crimes.

The truth is the offenders who commit such crimes are motivated and most likely have performed the hedonistic calculus of weighing the risks and rewards. They most likely select the targets where they believe the rewards are high and the risk of getting caught in the act of committing is low because of in effective policing methods and poor deployment of resources. The criminals seem to be on step ahead of the police in terms of planning and targeting their victims.. I’m sure there is enough data in the intelligence system to direct the Command of the force to develop a crime prevention and reduction plan that is ninety to ninety five percent preventative and five to ten percent investigative and punitive action. In other word the focus should be on prevention by being proactive and not investigative and reactive policing. When prevention fails you end up with the two most expensive aspects of policing investigation and prosecution if the offenders are caught.

The crimes are committed by persons on the streets who are street smart with good local knowledge of the environment and culture they are operating in. Likewise you need street police officers of all ranks to deal with the present situation. The information is on the streets and not in the wine bars in Grace Bay, therefore you need officers with the ability to communicate effectively with the guys on the streets without creating a us and them environment that eventually lead to hostility towards the police.

I thought I should share my views with you after reading about the most recent events in Grace Bay. I called for you today to have a chat but you did not answer so I decided to email you my thoughts on the situation.

Regards

Hubert M Hughes

Former Deputy Commissioner

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News

InvestTCI facilitates the Development Agreement Between TCIG and Molo Hotel Group

Published

2 days ago

May 14, 2024

Deandrea Hamilton

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – May 14th, 2024 – The Turks and Caicos Islands Government and Molo Hotel Group reached a pivotal juncture on Monday, May 13th, 2024, with the ceremonial signing of a development agreement at the Premier’s Office on Providenciales. The agreement, which received official Cabinet approval on March 13th, 2024, signifies a steadfast commitment to advancing the economic landscape of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Molo Hotel Group is a family-owned business, renowned for its distinguished portfolio of high-quality hotels worldwide. The development initiative encompasses the construction of three distinct IHG branded hotels: InterContinental Turks and Caicos, Kimpton Turks and Caicos and Hotel Indigo Turks and Caicos. Scheduled for completion by 2027, each resort boasts a distinctive design from luxury to laidback sophistication spanning across the shores of Grace Bay Beach.

Kimpton Turks and Caicos – an epitome of luxury lifestyle living, will feature 192 guest rooms including three outdoor pools, a luxury spa and a fitness center. Additionally, seven dining options ranging from a beachfront restaurant to a rooftop bar.

Adjacent to the Kimpton, InterContinental Turks and Caicos will offer 59 classic luxury suites with panoramic ocean views. Mirroring its counterpart, this resort will offer an array of dining options and upscale facilities.

Steps away from the Intercontinental and Kimpton resorts, Hotel Indigo Turks and Caicos will embrace a sense of community and contemporary elegance, offering 56 bedrooms. The resort will feature an onsite restaurant, lobby bar, outdoor pool, and fitness room.

Beyond the realm of hospitality, this development agreement underscores the government’s commitment to fostering economic growth and enhancing employment opportunities in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Molo is partnering with the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College (TCICC) to actively promote hospitality as a career choice and support in developing training programs, career fairs, seminars, workshops, and events to raise awareness about hospitality careers. Molo has committed to provide employment and apprentice opportunities to TCICC students and provide mentoring and practical on property training to students.

The signing event was graced by Hon. Charles Washington Missick, Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands, Hon. Jamell Robinson, Deputy Premier, Hon. Kyle Knowles, Minister of Public Safety and Utilities, Hon. Rachel Taylor, Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture, Łukasz and Marcin Slominski, Owners of Molo, Ross Morrow, Managing Director Molo, Arik Kono, Vice President Upscale Development for IHG, Dr. Candice Williams, President and CEO of the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College, Angela Musgrove, InvestTCI CEO, Dr. Barbara Ambrister, Chairperson of the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College, Dr. Delores Stapleton- Harris, Vice President of Academic, Vocational and Student Affairs for the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College, Mr. Kevin Baxter, Dean of Technical Vocational Education Training (TVET) and Sheryl McLaughlin, InvestTCI Investment Services Executive.

Commenting on the development agreement, Premier, Hon. Misick, stated “The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing of IHG/Molo Hotels is a significant step towards a sustainable future for hospitality in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Three hotels, Kimpton, Intercontinental, and Hotel Indigo, will be introduced, enhancing our tourism product and creating employment opportunities.”

He further added, “Partnerships with the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College and Turks and Caicos Islands Sports Commission are underway, demonstrating the Government’s commitment to developing human capital and elevating tourism offerings. This project will bring economic growth, embrace local talent, and enrich our economy.”

Additionally, Mrs. Angela Musgrove, CEO of Invest Turks and Caicos Islands, emphasized “This collaboration confirms our commitment to fostering economic growth and prosperity within our country. We have worked closely with Molo Hotel Group, and we are confident that this transformative project will further position the Turks and Caicos Islands as a premier destination for travel and investment. Much to our delight, it will also provide opportunities for engagement with our Community College and small business community.”

The Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands, operating through its primary Investment Promotion

Agency, Invest Turks and Caicos Islands, remains committed to attracting and facilitating Foreign Direct Investments to the country by providing a comprehensive suite of services. Through strategic initiatives and targeted promotion, the agency catalyzes sustainable development, driving innovation and small business opportunities across various sectors of the economy.

Crime

Male Charged with Robbery

Published

3 days ago

May 13, 2024

Deandrea Hamilton

#TurksandCaicos, May 13, 2024 – Detectives of the Serious Crime Unit of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force have charged a man who allegedly stole a vehicle.

The accused, DANVANTE BRISCO, 30, of Kew Town, Providenciales, was charged with:

One Count: Robbery
One Count: Taking Motor Vehicle Without Authority
One Count: Using Offensive Weapon to cause fear

Mr. BRISCO appeared in court today (May 13 ) and was granted bail of $7500.00 with one surety.

The matter was adjourned to July 05 for a Sufficiency Hearing.

Crime

Dock Yard Male Charged

Published

3 days ago

May 13, 2024

Deandrea Hamilton

#TurksandCaicos, May 13, 2024 – A 20-year-old Dock Yard male appeared in court today (May 13th) charged with a series of firearm-related offences.

The accused, JAMES SIMON, was denied bail and remanded into custody pending a Sufficiency Hearing scheduled for July 05^th, 2024.

Mr. SIMON faces the following charges: 

One Count: Robbery;
One Count: Gang Membership
One Count: Possession of a Firearm for the Benefit of a Gang
One Count: Possession of Ammunition for the Benefit of a Gang.

The charges against Mr. Simon followed investigations by officers of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force into a robbery at the parking lot of a Casino where three males robbed a victim.

Additionally, Mr. Simon is charged with the following offences, having been arrested on May 02^nd, 2024, along South Dock Road.