Wilkie Arthur

Freelance Court Correspondent

#TurksandCaicos, April 15, 2024 – Two separate murder trials. Two separate alleged Blue Hills killers. Two separate Blue Hills male victims lost their lives.  Two separate dates of killings. The Crown has two separate vulnerable witnesses, one for each murder case as their main or key witness.

Both main/key witnesses have each relocated to the UK after the murders and both are under a witness protection program. They both testified in their respective trials via video link, as they did not return to the Turks and Caicos for the trials in live or opened court.

The move to have them back in the islands considered too risky.

Each trial has a different judge with its own 12-member jury. Both cases are running concurrently in different court rooms but both are unfolding on the Island of Grand Turk.

This is an historical move for the TCI judiciary running two murder trials all at once and on one Island (The Nation’s Capital); simultaneously.

Both trials are expected to in mere days with verdicts from the separately empaneled juries or on a ruling by the learned trial judges.

JOUVLY INELUS, 32 is one of the accused men on trial for allegedly killing Brian Leon Williams on the afternoon of Thursday, November 3rd, 2022. His defense counsel is Mrs. Lara Maroof Misick and Principal Public Prosecutor, Mr. Clement Joseph started the Crown’s case for the office of the Director of Public Prosecution.

A 12-member jury and his Lordship, The Hon Mr. Justice Chris Selochan is presiding over INELUS trial.

In addition to murder, Inelus also faces four counts of firearm-related offences namely:

Discharging a Firearm, Discharging Ammunition, Carrying a Firearm, and Carrying Ammunition.

The homicide took place at a location known as Enid Forbes Yard, Hopeland Close, Blue Hills, Providenciales.

KENDALL DEAN, who is 29 years old is the second accused of homicide and his trial is underway for the shooting death of 24-year-old Joshua Swann on Sunday, August 8th, 2021 in the vicinity of North West Point, Blue Hills, Providenciales, according to police.

This trial was delayed its start, a week, due to jury issues, but now proceedings are progressing and Mr. Oliver Smith, KC is representing Kendall Dean against the allegations laid.

The trial is before his Lordship, the Honourable judge, Mr. Davidson Kevin Baptiste and a 12-member jury.

Dana Malcolm 
Staff Writer 

The Multi-sector Utility Regulator Policy developed by the government is going to make utilities affordable and reliable for residents in the Turks and Caicos, at least that’s what the TCIG hopes.

Currently, in the consultation phase, when this policy is signed into law it will allow for the creation of a unified Regulatory Commission that oversees water and sewage, telecommunications, fuel, and electricity and makes sure that the monopolies or semi-monopolies that provide these services are doing so in the best interest of the residents who pay for their services.

The draft copy of the Policy lays out the specific objectives which are listed as:

• Affordability which is measured by processes and outcomes during rate hearings.
• Reliability which is measured by regulatory decisions enabling minimal service interruptions and timely service deliveries such as interconnections.
• Economic Competitiveness which is measured by decisions on rates and service delivery compared to relevant jurisdictions.
• Innovation which is measured by regulatory decisions enabling access to new technologies and business models, and finally
•  Environmental Sustainability which is measured by regulatory decisions that advance/support regulatory service providers in meeting government goals on climate change and other aspects of sustainability.

All of this is geared toward value for money and better service for TC Residents but how will the Regulatory Commission operate to achieve the aims?

Firstly it won’t be directly controlled by the government. The document explains that TCIG alone will have the power to set the legislation that regulates the sector. The Commission is then bound to follow those rules and all its decisions must be based on law. However, The Commission will be independent of the Government in the operation of its duties and responsibilities.

Some of those legally established duties include: managing utility rates and tariffs; monitoring and compliance; granting and renewing licenses and Research and Development to advance the use of new technologies.

Another requirement of the body will be transparency, to ensure that both customers and investors trust and can substantiate the decisions being made.

The Multi-sector Agency will it be able to carry out inspections if providers fail to provide necessary information, and it has the authority to ‘collaborate with academic institutions, research organizations, and industry players to support innovation’.

Importantly the agency is to be charged with ensuring decisions advance the public interest for today and the future.

Additionally, according to the draft policy, it is to have a board made up of experts in utilities who must be ‘persons of integrity’ appointed by the government. With no need for a team of experts 24/7 The Commission will have a Chief Executive Officer who will manage a small team of regulatory officers and staff which will be supported by experts on an as-
needed basis.

The government is now undertaking consultation to get thoughts and concerns from all stakeholders including residents regarding the policy and eventual setup of the Agency. The need for the Regulatory body is crucial according to Kyle Knowles, Minister of Public Safety and Utilities.

“The Turks and Caicos Islands have witnessed unprecedented growth, bringing to the fore the urgent need for regulatory reform in our utility sector. The current challenges, including requests for rate increases and water shortages, underscore the limitations of our existing regulatory framework to effectively manage and mitigate such issues,” he said

The consultation will run until May 24, 2024.

Dana Malcolm 
Staff Writer

Edvin Martin, Police Commissioner Designate, will be in the Turks and Caicos earlier than expected; previously booked for May, his arrival is now set for April 22 and is paired with news of the departure of Chris Eyre, Interim Acting Commissioner.

Eyre was supposed to hold the fort until May allowing Martin to recover from health issues.

Eyre’s exit, announced by Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam, TCI Governor, on April 8th,  comes just under two months after his arrival and leaves local Acting Commissioner Rodney Adams back in charge. The Governor did not say whether his contract had expired, he had been fired or he resigned, only indicating Eyre was no longer in the position.

Eyre was brought in by the Governor and Washington Misick, TCI Premier, after a series of killings in February 2024, relieving Adams of the acting post.

Following his appointment, his time in the Turks and Caicos was marked with two murders and a spate of armed robberies that the force couldn’t quite get under control and that seems to be continuing. On the weekend preceding the announcement of his exit, there were two car thefts and one robbery.

For some residents, Eyre’s quick exit and the criminal activity recorded during his tenure are proof that bringing in a ‘foreign’ cop had little effect on crime, and making his controversial hiring a glaring mistake. For others, the blame isn’t fair, as they say, crime is too much for one person to take on. The governor, for her part, expressed gratitude to Eyre for his leadership in the interim position.

As for the incoming Martin, once again the Governor highlighted his strong leadership and regional operational experience as a former top cop in Grenada.

“Mr Martin is eager to arrive with his family to serve the Turks and Caicos Islands and deliver on his safety and security responsibilities to all residents and visitors across our islands,” Daniel-Selvaratnam said.

The press release indicated that, over the past few months, as part of his induction, he has been engaged with the Governor, Interim Acting Commissioner Eyre, members of the Force Executive, and regional colleagues.

Martin will arrive with several priority projects demanding his attention, including border security, internal gang infighting, and armed robberies.