TCI News
TCI: Investigation of HMP incident launched
Grand Turk, March 27, 2019 – Turks and Caicos – An investigation has been launched into the violent incident at Her Majesty’s Prison which sent three men to hospital on Friday; two officers and an inmate.
Officials are finally speaking after a string of disturbing episodes emanating from Her Majesty’s Prison including the threat of a hunger strike, complaints about unfair treatment and the alleged battering of a prisoner who had to be treated at hospital and bandaged.
Prison Superintendent, Grahame Hawkings said; “Prison officers should be allowed to conduct their work without fear of violence. Additionally, there is a responsibility to look for illegal items, and we will always look to remove them at all times.”
The TCIG media statement conveyed that the two prison officers were looking for a cell phone, which is banned at the facility and instead were ambushed by the inmate who at the time was transferred to and being held in maximum security.
“The specific assignment at the time was to locate and retrieve an illegal cell phone that was used twice within the preceding days to post message on social media. During the search Prison Officers were attacked by the prisoner who was in possession of two weapons, including a home-made stabbing implement. The inmate also threw diluted cleaning fluid at the staff members, in his efforts to further harm them.”
Many do not believe this account and have called on the Human Rights Commission to look into the matter which has several versions about what actually happened on Friday March 22, 2019.
The Minister of Home Affairs, Delroy Williams is making his position clear. “Once again I am grateful to our prison staff for managing a violent incident. They act with bravery on our behalf and we wish them a speedy recovery. It is my hope that the laws and operational procedures governing Her Majesty’s Prison be respected, and that there will not be any future occurrence of incidents of this nature.”
The young man, said to be of a slim build is accused of throwing “diluted cleaning fluid at the staff members, in his efforts to further harm them. His exceptional and unexpected levels of violence lead to two members of staff being injured. Restraint was necessary to ensure the safety of the officers and the inmates, as well as a return to normalcy in the area where the incident occurred. Both of the prison staff were treated at hospital for their injuries, which had the potential to be life changing if the prisoner had not been restrained.”
Very noticeably, there is nothing in the media statement explaining the prisoner’s multiple injuries nor any information about whether there will be or has been an internal investigation to rule out possible excessive force by the “senior prison officer (and) a prison officer.”
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TCIG knew from April that fuel factor could surge almost 80%; Minister says $500 cost-of-living payment was part of Government’s response
PROVIDENCIALES — The Turks and Caicos Government knew months before July’s shocking electricity bills that consumers faced a potentially massive increase in the fuel factor.
Minister of Information Technology and Energy E. Jay Saunders revealed Friday that Pelican Energy warned his Ministry in April that generation fuel costs were projected to rise from $3.09 per gallon in May to $4.79 in June and July.
That translated into a projected fuel factor jump from about 17.5 cents to 31 cents per kilowatt-hour — an increase of almost 80%.
Saunders said he personally advised Cabinet of the projected increase and presented options for cushioning the impact.
He characterised Government’s $500 cost-of-living payment as its “initial response” to rising fuel costs, before a separate fuel-factor subsidy was approved.
Cabinet records show Government agreed on June 24 to provide funding to mitigate the fuel-factor impact, with the relief programme approved July 8.
Eligible residential customers — those averaging less than $1,500 monthly over the previous three bills — are capped at 22 cents per kWh from July through October.
Pelican confirmed Friday that Government’s contribution was already applied to July bills, meaning the bills now triggering widespread public outrage would have been even higher without the subsidy.
Saunders did not disclose the programme’s total cost.
His admission that Government knew since April, however, raises another question amid the backlash: why were consumers not directly warned by Government about the scale of the approaching increase?
PROVIDENCIALES — New commercial Crown Land applications are facing a six-month pause as the Turks and Caicos Islands Government takes inventory of its holdings.
During Cabinet meetings held July 15 and 16, an immediate six-month moratorium was approved on the acceptance, processing
and approval of new applications for commercial Crown Land grants, leases and allocations.
The pause will remain in place pending completion of the Crown Land Inventory Review. Cabinet’s summary did not state what prompted the review or indicate whether availability of commercial Crown Land is a concern.
The two-day meeting also advanced major consumer legislation. Cabinet approved the National Fair Competition Policy 2026 and drafting instructions for a Fair Competition Ordinance, moving TCI toward stronger consumer protection and fair competition rules.
In Grand Turk, Cabinet approved rezoning land in the North West Suburbs from low-density to medium-density residential use to facilitate a new apartment development.
Cabinet also advanced fisheries reforms, water legislation allowing private and public-private investment, minerals legislation and appointments across tourism, health and finance.
Progress toward establishing a TCI Credit Union was also noted.
PROVIDENCIALES — Major development projects outside Providenciales received Cabinet attention on July 8, with Government approving agreements connected to the redevelopment of Dellis Cay and a resort development in North Caicos.
Cabinet approved a Development Agreement between the Turks and Caicos Islands Government, Desarrollos Hotelco DC Ltd. and
Desarrollos Hotelco Astoria Ltd. for the redevelopment of Dellis Cay.
The long-discussed private island development sits between Providenciales and North Caicos and its return to Cabinet signals another step toward redevelopment.
Cabinet also approved amendments to an agreement involving SPR LND Ltd. (Royal Reef) and TCIG Development Agreement for a resort/hotel development in North Caicos.
Other decisions included approval of the First Supplementary Appropriation Bill 2026 for onward transmission and the appointment of Cindy Ewing as Chair of the Invest TCI Board, effective August 1 for three years.
Cabinet also noted consultation outcomes concerning changes to business licensing, approved professional membership expenses for qualifying Telecommunications Commission staff and approved advice relating to the Interim Clinical and Estates Services PPP.
The July 8 meeting was chaired by Acting Governor Anya Williams.
Photo Credit: Royal Reef (Keith)
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