Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer

The Turks and Caicos courts will soon have the task of trying a convicted sex officer, this time accused of raping a woman repeatedly after posing as a jitney driver; again raising the issue of the need for safe transport locally. 

Elvethan Handfield was refused bail when he appeared in the Magistrates Court on April 29. He had spent at least 13 years in prison on a rape conviction and is now accused of picking his latest victim under the guise of being a jitney or unlicensed taxi driver. 

The defendant claims she got into the vehicle instructing him to take her to Dock Yard on April 19. Instead, Handfield is accused of driving her to a home, forcing her inside at knifepoint where he proceeded to rape her and record his actions over the course of two days (April 19 – 20). 

Jitneys abound in the Turks and Caicos, they’re unmarked, unlicensed, and driven by often unknown individuals with no legal authority to be ferrying passengers. With no formal process of vetting, all a potential predator would need is a car to appear as one of these drivers, and he could strike. 

Since the beginning of the year at least three women have reported attacks from men posing as jitney drivers, leading to a safety bulletin being issued by police in February.

Despite this, the business of jitney driving is still operational, thriving even, because they fill a gap for the community, left open by the lack of secure, dependable, government-sanctioned transport. 

When we spoke to Wilbur Caley, Head of the Department of Motor Vehicles, to find out how many Community Cabs were licensed to operate currently, he told us this. 

“From recollection, there are about seven licensed.” 

It’s a disappointingly low number and tracks with what Wilkie  Arthur, Magnetic Media Court Correspondent, observes on the streets daily “I don’t think they’re readily accessible,” Arthur said of the community cabs.  “I would comfortably say 98 percent of the population is using illegal jitneys.”

The ‘community cabs’ were a government-sanctioned solution to jitneys and TCIG had hoped residents would take the opportunity to join the fleet of white and blue sedans, touted to provide safe, clean, and accessible travel. But it hasn’t worked that way. The number of registered community cabs still is far lower than the number of jitneys. 

“The uptake for these types of licenses is very, very low. A number of individuals have expressed interest however they are reluctant because they say they don’t want or can’t compete with the illegal jitneys,” Caley explained. 

Technically, as the DMV head pointed out, jitneys are illegal but the gray area of necessity vs law has created a space for them and in that murk, predators are hiding. 

In the past several years both adults and school children have suffered at the hands of vulturine men using their position as drivers to assault.  

Even tourists who usually get ferried by designated taxis have reported abuse at the hands of jitneys angering legitimate taxi drivers who say they’re shouldering the blame for the actions of a wholly separate group. 

It’s now up to the government to breathe new life into the Community Cab initiative and populate the country’s roads with clean, safe, traceable vehicles rather than leave travelers at risk. 

Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer 

Record-breaking numbers are expected for TCI tourism this summer, specifically from air arrivals with 80,000 travelers per month booked. 

“June and July, in particular, are poised to become record-breaking months, with forecasted arrivals nearing the 80,000 mark for each,” said Josephine Connolly, Minister of Tourism during a ministerial speech on April 17. 

“Since January 2024, we have consistently welcomed over 65,000 visitors each month, with March peaking at over 71,000 arrivals,” she explained further. 

It’s excellent news for the thousands of locals who depend on the tourism industry to support their livelihoods, from jet ski operators to chefs; and is also excellent news for the economy which balances on tourism. The positive economic impact that increased visitors will have on the locals who work in the industry cannot be overstated. 

Conversely, the potential of record arrivals could put a heavy strain on the main port of entry, the Providenciales/Howard Hamilton International Airport, which for many is a place of distress. 

Long lines, no a/c, poor facilities, and a bunch of flights coming in at once create nightmarish conditions for travelers on weekends when the airport is busiest. It’s so bad that travellers continue to vow that they will never return despite the beauty and warmth of the country. 

In March, hundreds of visitors were stuck at the airport overnight when travellers hit a record 60,000 passengers. It raises valid concerns about how the Providenciales International Airport is going to manage the whopping 80,000 monthly passengers booked for TCI travel this summer. 

The answer to that didn’t come from Connolly as she steered clear of addressing any airport issues. Instead, it was hinted at by Arlington Musgrove, Minister of Immigration and Border Services, who oversees the ports. 

“The TCAA has initiated a congestion alleviation plan, which encompasses renovations aimed at enhancing various critical aspects of the airport. We hear the cries and concerns of the people and immediately shift gears to respond,” he said, but omitted any details on the plan and how it would work to achieve its goal. 

There have been congestion alleviation plans initiated before, with success, but even those changes are failing to keep pace with the rapidly escalating popularity of the destination.  The long term solution, which is the complete redevelopment of the airport, is behind schedule, with the Invitation to Tender (ITT) not yet listed. It’s set to be done in the coming months. 

With this work ongoing the country is awaiting the results of the capacity-carrying study that will lay out how many visitors the country can entertain sustainably. 

“Our Tourism industry must be sustained as exceeding the destination’s carry capacity will result in a decline in quality of life for both residents and visitors, emphasizing the need for this study,” Connolly said. 

The country expects to take in $112 million from accommodation taxes  this year alone. 

Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer 

The Turks and Caicos Islands need saving according to Edwin Astwood, Opposition Leader and he’s assembled his ‘Avengers’ to do it; a team of 10 district candidates who were unveiled on Monday, May 6 to contest the 2025 general elections. 

“We the PDM want to be those champions for you. We want to be your avenging team to lift the country back up,” said Astwood who is the incumbent for ED 2, Grand Turk South.

The Candidates in question were all allowed to speak:

ED 1 Grand Turk North candidate George Lightbourne, former PNP member and minister now stands ratified by the PDM and said “I am fully aware of the issues affecting our people and fully prepared to tackle them.”

ED 3 South Caicos candidate Hynetta ‘Karen’ Forbes made a vow, “To you the people of South Caicos I promise to be a positive change and an advocate for empowerment for all— to make up for the lack and neglect we have endured over the years.”

ED 4 candidate, contesting North and Middle Caicos, Denaz Williams said “I believe in good representation so try me and I guarantee you will love me.”

ED 5 Leeward and Long Bay hopeful Keith Cox said “I want to make sure my efforts go to the betterment of Leeward and Long Bay, it’s time for a change.”

ED 6 candidate for The Bight, Audric Skippings, who returns from his loss in 2021 said “I pledge to be the voice of the people, the driving force behind positive change, and the chairman of progress in our district.”

ED 7 candidate for Cheshire Hall and Richmond Hill, is Rose Higgs who swore  “I am committed to serve as someone committed to changing politics and how some politicians behave after we elect them into power, I am your Beacon of Hope, I am going to parliament!”

ED 8 Blue Hills candidate Anthony Walkin maintained “The ideas I have for the constituency will change Blue Hills— no longer will you be suffering” he swore. 

ED 9 candidate for Five Cays, popular firebrand church pastor and businessman is how many know the energetic Bryant Cox, now approved on the PDM ticket he promised “ED9 it’s our time, I stand before you a man of action ready to work for you.”

Finally, ED 10 candidate for Wheeland Vaden Delroy Williams, who lost to newcomer Kyle  Knowles, now-Minister of Public Safety and Utilities by only a few votes in 2021, said “I am back because you have asked me to come back—because of the love I have for my people…”

They join the already announced all-island candidate team of Robert Been, Ruth Ariza, Karen Malcolm, Sean Astwood, and Ralph Higgs.

Sean Astwood, the former Five Cays members and deputy premier in the Sharlene Robinson administration, had missed the PDM’s all-island slate announcement on March 22; during the constituency candidates roll out had his say.

“Returning to politics was not an easy decision for me and I didn’t make it lightly— I came back because I believe we have a responsibility to stand up for what is right,” said Astwood.

Opposition Leader Edwin Astwood was especially excited to unveil the array of candidates having been the sole elected representative for the past four years. 

“Being in the fight alone these three and a half years wasn’t easy— I was in this battle alone but now you gave me 15 people, they had trouble when it was just me so imagine now with this team coming,” he exclaimed.

Astwood was the only PDM representative to be re-elected in February 2021 when the current PNP Administration gave them a historic walloping, storming their way to victory 14 to 1. Seven of those 2021 candidates including the party’s leader have returned to fight again in the upcoming elections which are constitutionally due in early 2025.

Ezra Taylor, National Party Chairman is convinced that the ‘rescue team’ will serve the Turks and Caicos to its fullest potential.

“Real representation, meritocracy, and honest engagement with our people will be the order of the day in the governance of the Turks and Caicos islands,” he continued “Our candidates embody the values that define us as a country, integrity, compassion, and a relentless dedication to the common good.”