Wilkie Arthur

Eagle Legal News

Tuesday, April 15, 2025 – Turks and Caicos Islands – In the early hours of Wednesday, April 9, 2025, a former police officer in the Turks and Caicos Islands was the victim of a terrifying robbery and kidnapping in the Dock Yard area, Eagle Legal News Media has learned.

Shortly after 3:00 a.m., the victim had just dropped off his girlfriend near Bible Street (Behind Mara) and returned to his vehicle when he was confronted by a lone, masked man armed with a firearm. The attacker, described as aggressive and agitated, demanded the victim’s wallet, phone, and other valuables. The victim, trying to remain calm, complied. His wallet reportedly contained over $1,000 in cash.

Despite giving up his belongings, the gunman continued to threaten him, demanding more money and pressing the firearm to the victim’s head and body. The victim described the ordeal as intense, saying he felt as if the bullets were already tearing through him due to the attacker’s inexplicable rage.

Although he considered using his police training to subdue the attacker, the victim noticed other men nearby observing the situation without intervening. Concerned for his life, he instead came up with a plan: he told the robber he could take him to an ATM to withdraw more cash.

“I felt like he was going to kill me for more money,” the victim said. “So I told him we could go to the ATM, even though I knew it was closed, just to get out of Dock Yard and buy myself a chance to survive.”

The assailant agreed, and the two drove to a nearby ATM, with the victim behind the wheel and the gunman keeping the firearm aimed at him the entire time, threatening him with violent language. When they arrived and found the ATM closed, the victim seized his moment.

“As soon as I stepped out of the car, I ran like Usain Bolt,” he recounted, “I tore through the bushes straight to Cheshire Hall Medical Centre.”

There, he hid in the brush for a time before emerging to seek help. He contacted authorities from the hospital, where he was treated for minor cuts and bruises sustained during his escape.

Thankfully, he was not shot.

The former officer described his assailant as a male with a mixed Jamaican-Haitian accent who spoke fluent English. The man reportedly told him he was hungry and desperate for money.

He recalled the gunman saying, “If you don’t get me more money, I’ll kill you.”

The assailant fled the scene in the victim’s car, which was later recovered by police in Dock Yard. As of this report, no arrests have been made.

The victim contacted Eagle Legal News after seeing no official police report released about the incident.

S C H E D U L E    O F    E V E N T S

The 2025 CARIFTA Athletics Games will be held at Hasely Crawford Stadium from April 19–21, while the CARIFTA Aquatics Championships take place at the National Aquatic Centre from April 19–22, with Open Water events on April 23 at Five Islands Beach.

Friday April 18, 2025

52nd CARIFTA Athletics Games and the XXXVIII CARIFTA Aquatics Championships Opening Ceremony

• Hasely Crawford Stadium, Port of Spain, Trinidad
• Time: 3:00 – 5:00 PM
• Admission Free

Saturday April 19, 2025

Athletics – Hasely Crawford Stadium: Port of Spain, Trinidad

Morning Session – Starts 9:00 AM

• Boy’s U20 Decathlon 100m Heats
• Girl’s U17 High Jump Final
• Girl’s U17 Javelin Throw Final
• Girl’s U20 Shot Put Final
• U17 & U20 100m and 400m Semi-Finals
• Boy’s U17 Octathlon 100m Heats
• Boy’s U20 Decathlon Long Jump & Shot Put

Afternoon Session – Starts 4:00 PM

• Medal Ceremonies
• U17 & U20 Finals: 100m, 400m, 1500m
• Girl’s U20 Triple Jump Final
• Girl’s U17 Discus Final
• Boy’s U20 Discus & High Jump
• Boy’s U17 Triple Jump & Shot Put
• Special Olympics 100m (Girls & Boys)
• Mixed Open 4x400m Relay Final
• Pole Vault & Octathlon/Decathlon 400m Heats

Aquatics – National Aquatic Centre: Couva, Trinidad

Morning Session – Starts 9:00 AM

• Girl’s 800m Freestyle (slowest heats)
• Boy’s 1500m Freestyle (slowest heats)
• Prelims:
  • 200m Breaststroke (11-12, 13-14, 15-17)
  • 50m Backstroke (11-12, 13-14, 15-17)
  • 100m Butterfly (11-12, 13-14, 15-17)
  • 4x100m Freestyle Relay (all age groups)

Evening Session – Starts 6:00 PM

• Girl’s 800m & Boy’s 1500m Freestyle (fastest heats)
• Finals:
  • 200m Breaststroke
  • 50m Backstroke
  • 100m Butterfly
  • 4x100m Freestyle Relay (all age groups)

Sunday April 20, 2025

Athletics – Hasely Crawford Stadium: Port of Spain, Trinidad

Morning Session – Starts 9:00 AM

• Boy’s U20 Decathlon 110m Hurdles, Discus, Pole Vault
• Girl’s U20 Shot Put Final
• Boy’s U20 Long Jump Final
• Boy’s U17 Octathlon 110m Hurdles, High Jump
• Girl’s Open Heptathlon: 100m Hurdles, High Jump
• U17 & U20 400m Hurdles & 200m Semi-Finals
• Girl’s U17 Discus Final

Afternoon Session – Starts 4:00 PM

• Medal Ceremonies
• U17 & U20 4x100m Relay Semi-Finals
• Girl’s Open Heptathlon: Shot Put, 200m
• Boy’s U17 Octathlon: Javelin, 1500m
• U17 & U20 800m Semi-Finals
• U17 3000m, U20 3000m, Shot Put, Long Jump, High Jump, Javelin
• Finals: 400m Hurdles, 4x100m Relays, Mixed 4x400m
• More Medal Ceremonies

Aquatics – National Aquatic Centre: Couva, Trinidad

Morning Session – Starts 9:00 AM

• Prelims:
  • 200m Freestyle (11-12, 13-14, 15-17)
  • 50m Butterfly (11-12, 13-14, 15-17)
  • 100m Backstroke (11-12, 13-14, 15-17)
  • 4x100m Medley Relay (all age groups)
• Slower heats: 400m Individual Medley

Evening Session – Starts 6:00 PM

• Finals:
  • 200m Freestyle
  • 50m Butterfly
  • 100m Backstroke
  • 4x100m Medley Relay
• Fastest heats: 400m Individual Medley

Monday April 21, 2025

Athletics – Hasely Crawford Stadium: Port of Spain, Trinidad

Morning Session – Starts 9:00 AM

Morning Session – Starts 9:00 AM

• Girl’s U17 & U20 100m Hurdles – Semi-Finals
• Boy’s U17 & U20 110m Hurdles – Semi-Finals
• Girl’s Open Heptathlon: Long Jump
• Girl’s U20 High Jump Final
• Boy’s U17 Long Jump & Discus Final
• 4x400m Relay Semi-Finals (U17 & U20 – Girls and Boys)

Afternoon Session – Starts 3:00 PM

• Medal Ceremonies
• Finals:
  • All Hurdle Events (U17 & U20)
  • Girl’s U20 Discus Throw
  • Girl’s U17 Triple Jump
  • Boy’s U20 Shot Put
  • Girl’s U17 & Boy’s U20 800m
  • Girl’s & Boy’s U17 and U20 200m
  • Boy’s U20 Triple Jump
  • Girl’s U17 Javelin Final
  • Boy’s U20 5000m
  • Special Olympics 200m (Girls & Boys)
• Girl’s Open Heptathlon: Javelin & 800m
• 4x400m Relay Finals (U17 & U20 – Girls and Boys)
• Closing Ceremony

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Tuesday, 15 April 2025: The Ministry of Health and Human Services is pleased to announce the successful conclusion of an official three-day visit to the Turks and Caicos Islands by a technical team from the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) Office in The Bahamas, held from 8 -10 April 2025.

The visiting delegation included:

• Dr. Eldonna Boisson, PAHO/WHO Representative for The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
• Dr. Anton Best, PAHO/WHO Advisor for Health Systems and Services.
• Dr. Sasha Peiris, PAHO/WHO Advisor for Communicable Diseases Control and Elimination.

During the visit, the team engaged in a series of high-level meetings with the Hon. Minister of Health and Human Services, the Acting Permanent Secretary of Health and Human Services, and senior officials from various departments and units within the Ministry of Health and Human Services. Meetings were convened in both Grand Turk and Providenciales. The delegation also visited Cockburn Town Medical Center, where they toured the facility, including the Primary Health and Dental Departments and interacted with staff.

The highlight of the visit was the recognition from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) of the Turks and Caicos Islands for its exceptional efforts in the surveillance, prevention, and control of respiratory viruses over the past ten years. The country was awarded for its collaboration with the Severe Acute Respiratory Infections Network (SARINET) and the REVELAC-1 network. This recognition highlights the islands’ leadership in early detection, prevention strategies, and effective outbreak control, underscoring the importance of global partnerships in addressing future health challenges.

The primary objectives of the visit were to:

• Identify and reach consensus on common strategic priorities and focus areas for PAHO’s Technical Cooperation in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
• Discuss the implementation, coordination, monitoring, and evaluation of key programme areas under the PAHO Biennial Work Plan 2024–2025.
• Align strategic objectives with one or more of the nine (9) targets under Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3: “Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages,” as well as other health-related SDG targets.
• Provide technical updates and support on ongoing health projects and programme initiatives, and those planned for the 2025/2026 financial year.

Speaking on the significance of the visit and the award, the Hon. Kyle Knowles Minister of Health and Human Services, stated:

“We are extremely pleased to welcome our partners from PAHO to the Turks and Caicos Islands. This visit reflects our shared commitment to strengthening our local health system and improving the well-being of our people. We are honoured to receive this award in recognition of our decades-long collaboration with PAHO, which has been instrumental in advancing key health initiatives across our islands. Through continued partnership, we remain committed to building a resilient, inclusive, and high-quality health system for all.”

This mission forms part of the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to foster strong partnerships with PAHO/WHO and other regional stakeholders. These partnerships continue to play a vital role in the development and execution of key health policies, strategies, and plans that aim to enhance the health and well-being of all residents of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

PHOTO CAPTIONS:

Header:  MOH team Grand Turk L-R (Ms. Crivanne Adams, Ms. Betty Ann Been, Ms. Leanne Sills, Dr Alicia Malcolm, Ms. Kendra Malcolm. Dr Astwood, Dr Camelia Clarke, Dr Eldonna Boisson, Mr. Andre Morgan, Dr Janice Baron, Mr. Lynrod Brooks, Dr Sasha Peiris, Dr Sasha Walrond, Dr Anton Best, Nurse Jackurlyn Sutton.

1st insert: Hon. Minister of Health and Human Services Kyle Knowles, Dr Eldonna Boisson

2nd insert: CMO Dr Astwood and PWR Dr Eldonna Boisson