#Providenciales, Turks and Caicos – July 28, 2020 —Turks and Caicos young men are killing each other and the majority of serious crime is linked to turf or gang wars according to Nigel Dakin, TCI Governor who on Monday (July 26) addressed the nation in a message capturing the highlights of his first year in the post.
Fresh recruits. Turks and Caicos candidates at Police Graduation held in June 18 in The Bahamas; photo by Derek Carroll
“Beyond the sadness when a member
of our society is a victim of crime who has no association whatsoever with the
world I’ve just described – indeed has lived their life standing against this
sort of nihilism – the horrible truth is that our young men are killing each
other; increasingly the victim knows the perpetrator and visa-versa,” explained
Governor Dakin.
Crime statistics for 2019 remain unpublished, but in the Governor’s presentation there is strong indication that upward trends in violence remain vexing. His Excellency said 70 percent of serious crime victims were under the age of 30; that 95 percent of those victims were men and 90 percent of the violent crime involved a firearm.
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Retaliatory crime is driving these disturbing trends and the Governor, who heads National Security shared, “We increasingly observe that even those seriously injured in attacks, often as collateral to a murder victim who they are associated with, choose not to provide the Police with a statement.”
Turks and Caicos Police graduates. Photo by Derek Carroll
Governor Dakin is an avid Instagram user with over 4,350 followers. During his remarks, a peppered perspective on what could alleviate the seeming surge in crime was shared.
“A regular
contributor to my Instagram account therefore quite reasonably asked yesterday
for timelines as to when she could expect changes. This was my response: Almost immediately if public outrage about crime
converted to the public providing information about crime in equal measure…”
Nearly 30 new members added to the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police was touted to bring concrete changes in public trust of the Force and investigative capabilities.
“… serious financial investments made in Policing by
the Premier, at the recommendation of the Commissioner, should start to be felt
this year – that includes community policing which helps provide the confidence
the public need if they are to support the Police. In the last 12 months 27 locally recruited
officers have been trained for six months overseas and they are now back with
us and ready to serve.”
Turks and Caicos new graduates from Police Training in The Bahamas in June 2020; photo by Derek Carroll
Investigative specialists have also been identified, and with funding support from the United Kingdom, two Superintendents will embark on a two year stint in the Turks and Caicos as part of the Tactical Unit.
“Both are tough and knowledgeable in detecting homicide – they will join
the Force, mentor and support their TCI colleagues who will replace them in two
years, and report to the local Police Executive Leadership.”
Appointed to
the newly created post in January, the Permanent Secretary of National Security
is fixed on crafting a long term remedy, which is expected to do in the Turks and
Caicos, what it has done for other overseas territories including Bermuda.
Bermuda
managed, through intervention, to reduce its murder count in 2019 to zero.
“Those that have properly got to grips with crime
(Bermuda and Glasgow are great examples) have brought crime down in a sustained
way. They however have found that is a 10-year programme. The National Security
Permanent Secretary is pulling together, for the Premier, the programmatic disciplines
this approach needs,” said the Governor on Monday.
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Ninety percent of murders are recorded in Providenciales, which is the economic hub of the country; yet the Governor was resolute that for tourists, the islands are safe.
“As we unpack and understand the figures, this therefore remains an incredibly safe tourist destination; but that’s certainly not the case if you are a young man living in Providenciales who is running with the wrong people.”
According to Magnetic Media records, there were 13 homicides in 2019 and 12 people murdered so far, in 2020.
Magnetic Media is a Telly Award winning multi-media company specializing in creating compelling and socially uplifting TV and Radio broadcast programming as a means for advertising and public relations exposure for its clients.
PROVIDENCIALES, Turks & Caicos Islands: — Beaches Turks and Caicos continued its strong commitment to sports development in the Turks and Caicos Islands with its sponsorship of the 2025/2026 Provo Men’s Premier League, a partnership that has significantly elevated the competition for a second consecutive year.
The season, which saw an increase in participating teams and heightened competitiveness across the league, has been widely regarded as one of the most successful in recent years. The top honours were shared between two of the league’s most dominant sides, SWA Sharks FC and Academy Eagles FC, both delivering consistent and high-level performances throughout the campaign.
Turks and Caicos Islands Football Association (TCIFA) Technical Director Dane Ritchie highlighted the critical role Beaches Turks and Caicos played in strengthening the league’s structure and overall quality.
“The sponsorship from Beaches Turks and Caicos for the second year helped tremendously in making the competition a success,” Ritchie said. “This season we were able to have a more structured programme with the inclusion of youth talents coming to the fore, as well as the improvement of the coaching staff for the different teams being certified by Concacaf.”
Ritchie noted that the enhanced organisation of the league created more opportunities for emerging players, while also raising the standard of coaching and match preparation. The integration of youth talent into senior teams was particularly impactful, signaling a positive shift toward long-term player development within the territory.
Provo Men’s Premier League President Patrick Baptiste echoed these sentiments, describing the season as a milestone for both football and youth advancement in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
“This was a very good year for football and youth development,” Baptiste said. “We were able to overcome a few challenging moments, but the overall grade for this season is an A.”
Baptiste emphasised that the continued support from Beaches Turks and Caicos has been instrumental in driving the league forward, providing much-needed financial backing and stability.
“With a title sponsor like Beaches Turks and Caicos providing the financial support again for this season, we are grateful,” he added. “We have come a far way and we still have a way to go, but the TCIFA team has been charged to continue to be creative in our marketing and being more inclusive in how we seek to showcase the talents of the TCI.”
Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort General Manager Deryk Meany also expressed satisfaction with the partnership and the overall progress of the league.
“Our commitment to youth development and the growth of sports and community throughout the TCI is of paramount importance to us as an organisation,” Meany said. “We are satisfied with this partnership and being the main sponsor is a major accomplishment for the resort. We are happy to have fielded a team this season that was placed fourth in the knockout round of the competition. We are seeking to continue to provide growth for our team members as well as the development of talent throughout the TCI.”
The 2025/2026 season also reflected broader efforts to professionalize football operations locally, including improved scheduling, officiating standards and fan engagement initiatives. Matches drew increased attendance, while community interest in the sport continued to grow, particularly among young athletes aspiring to compete at higher levels.
PROVIDENCIALES, Turks & Caicos Islands: — Beaches Turks and Caicos has been recognised with the corporate engagement award after fielding the largest number of participants in the second staging of the Turks and Caicos Islands Deputy Governor’s 5K Run/Walk, held recently.
The resort, which also served as a platinum sponsor for the event, mobilized an impressive team of 100 participants, demonstrating its strong commitment to community engagement, health, and philanthropy. Proceeds from the initiative will benefit three key organisations: the Turks and Caicos Islands Cancer Society, the United Way of the Turks and Caicos Islands and the Ashley Learning Centre.
General Manager Deryk Meany praised the collective effort of the Beaches team, highlighting the significance of the initiative both for employee wellness and community impact.
“This was a team effort that saw the resort mobilising a strong team to participate in this event,” Meany said. “It provided a healthy activity for participation as well as giving back to a worthy cause. Congratulations to the Deputy Governor and her organising team for staging such a successful event.”
Participants from across various departments joined the early morning run/walk, showcasing camaraderie, determination and a shared commitment to making a difference.
Hotel Manager Ghislain Boutoulle described the event as both physically rewarding and meaningful.
“The route was very good. It was challenging at first but once I got the pace of the run, it was a good morning workout that was done for a worthy cause,” Boutoulle shared. “The Beaches team were well organised and showed the grit and determination to complete the run.”
For many team members, the experience extended beyond fitness, offering opportunities for personal connection and memorable moments. Soraha Jolly from the resort’s entertainment department highlighted the event’s emotional significance.
“This was good. I got the chance to participate with my mother and we ended the run feeling healthy,” Jolly said. “The event was a combination of partnership, healthy lifestyle and camaraderie. I am looking forward to the next staging to be the first to register for the Beaches team. It was a great experience for the entire team, but a very special one for me and my mom.”
Deputy Governor Her Excellency Anya Williams commended all participants and sponsors, with special recognition given to Beaches Turks and Caicos for its outstanding contribution.
“The three beneficiaries for this year’s staging were carefully selected to benefit from this event,” the Deputy Governor noted. “Giving back to the community, providing support for health through the Cancer Society and building a strong platform for education with the Ashley Learning Centre allowed the team to give back to a great cause.”
She continued, “We are grateful for all our sponsors but a special commendation to our platinum sponsor, the Beaches Turks and Caicos team, for not only donating but having the largest contingent of participants for this event. This is what true partnership looks like as we continue to build a strong relationship to make our community and the Turks and Caicos Islands better.”
The Deputy Governor’s 5K Run/Walk continues to grow as a signature community event, promoting wellness while raising critical funds for organisations that support health, education and social development across the islands.
Beaches Turks and Caicos’ strong showing this year underscores the resort’s ongoing commitment to corporate social responsibility and community partnership. With its record participation and enthusiastic team spirit, the resort has set a high benchmark for future events, reinforcing its role as a leader in both hospitality and community engagement in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands (June 16th, 2026) — Experience Turks and Caicos, in collaboration with the Statistics Authority, has announced the completion and publication of the latest Visitor Exit Survey Report, providing enhanced insights into visitor behaviour, spending patterns and overall travel experiences in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The Visitor Exit Survey is a joint initiative designed to better understand the characteristics of visitors to the destination, including their travel motivations, length of stay, expenditure, satisfaction levels and perceptions of the Turks and Caicos Islands as a tourism destination.
While exit surveys have been conducted in previous years, this latest publication marks a significant enhancement in the way tourism data is collected and shared. It introduces a new quarterly reporting framework, with surveys conducted at the end of each quarter and findings published on a more frequent basis throughout the year.
This improved reporting cycle is intended to provide more timely and actionable insights to support tourism planning, policy development, marketing strategy formulation and broader industry decision-making.
“The Statistics Authority is pleased to partner with Experience Turks and Caicos on the Visitor Exit Survey program,” said Mr. Shirlen Forbes, Director. “As tourism remains the cornerstone of our economy, reliable and timely data is essential for understanding visitor behaviour, measuring tourism’s economic impact and supporting informed decision-making. We value our ongoing collaboration with Experience Turks and Caicos and believe these quarterly reports will provide stakeholders with valuable insights to help guide the future growth and development of the industry.”
Miss Sharissa Lightbourne, Marketing Intelligence Manager of Experience Turks and Caicos, noted that the expanded approach will allow government and industry stakeholders to better track trends in visitor behaviour and assess the economic contribution of tourism beyond traditional arrival statistics.
“Data is the foundation of informed decision-making and plays a critical role in shaping the future of our tourism industry. The insights contained in this report provide a deeper understanding of who our visitors are, how they experience the destination, and how they engage with our tourism product. This information is invaluable to our hotel partners, service providers, investors and other stakeholders as they refine their business strategies, enhance the visitor experience and identify new opportunities for growth. I would like to thank the Statistics Authority for its continued collaboration and commitment to strengthening tourism intelligence in the Turks and Caicos Islands. I encourage everyone in the industry to download the report and explore the valuable insights it contains,” she said.
The findings will also support more targeted destination marketing efforts, improved visitor experience initiatives and more informed investment decisions across the tourism sector.
Experience Turks and Caicos and the Statistics Authority reaffirm their commitment to strengthening tourism intelligence and ensuring that stakeholders across the industry have access to reliable, timely and relevant data.