Caribbean News

TCI: Khunla Family says they are the only ones hunting her killer

Published

2 years ago

December 31, 2021

Deandrea Hamilton

By Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer

#TurksandCaicos, December 31, 2021 – The family members of a woman murdered in the Turks and Caicos in 2018 say they are the only ones searching for justice.

Rick Khunla son of Marie Khunla told US media that the TCI Police are not searching for his mother’s murderer. Marie, a guest at Club Med Turkoise was killed near the resort three years ago.

Rick told the I-Team media house “It’s very clear to us that the only ones investigating my mom’s murder are us…not the police.”

The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police had long been criticised by the family on the handling of the investigation.

It is therefore no surprise that the Khunla family hired a private investigator who said based on the autopsy he thought there was more to the case than met the eye. He quotes the condition of the body and various bruises that seem to indicate a prior assault, PI Eddie Dowd says.

“This wasn’t just a strangulation. This woman was beat up.”

There is also an account that her underwear was tampered with in a way which pointed to sexual abuse. He is now investigating whether the body was deliberately allowed to decompose at the island’s morgue.

The Khunla family attorney alleged that the Turks and Caicos Islands coroner was holding back evidence that could help the investigation “inexplicably” including photos from the crime scene. They say since I-Team reported on the story photos have been released by the Turks and Caicos with restrictions.

The family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Club Med and a former employee, Frank Yacullo. Yacullo in that I-Team news report is fingered as being overly aggressive with Khunla and her travel companions.

Club Med Turkoise did not offer comment.

The murder remains unsolved and an open investigation.

Caribbean News

Barbados recognizes Palestine as sovereign

Published

1 day ago

April 23, 2024

Shanieka

Rashaed Esson

Staff Writer

Barbados has made a huge diplomatic move, recognizing Palestine as a sovereign state, as announced by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kerrie Symmonds, according to a report from CBC News Barbados on Saturday April 20. This now aligns Barbados with other UN Member states which also recognise Palestine.

Caribbean News

Haiti death toll rises

Published

1 day ago

April 23, 2024

Shanieka

Rashaed Esson

Staff Writer

Haiti’s death toll is now up 53 percent with more than 2,500 people killed from January through March 2024, compared to the same time last year. This was reported by the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), on Friday April 19. The organization expressed that gangs have changed their tactics, now targeting public institutions and important infrastructure such as the main Airport. Most of the violence is reportedly in the Capital Port Au Prince.

Caribbean News

U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS SHINES AS A PREMIER DESTINATION AT THE 2024 SEATRADE CRUISE GLOBAL CONFERENCE

Published

2 days ago

April 22, 2024

Shanieka

St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) –April 11, 2024—The U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism, led by Commissioner Joseph Boschulte, Assistant Commissioner Alani Henneman, and Deputy Commissioner RoseAnne Farrington, traveled to Miami, Florida, to support Governor Albert Bryan Jr. and other local partners agencies for the 2024 Seatrade Cruise Global Conference.

To kick off the week-long event, the Department of Tourism sponsored the highly anticipated Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) barbecue, which was hosted by Governor Bryan.

Revered as a steady leader in the Caribbean tourism industry, the USVI delegation, which also included the Legislature of the Virgin Islands, the Virgin Islands Port Authority, West Indian Company Limited, Magens Bay Authority, and the U.S. Virgin Islands Government Employee Retirement System, showcased the territory and its growing accessibility around the cruise industry to key operators and businesses.

“Cruise has been and continues to be a leading entryway for visitors into the territory, and Seatrade allows representatives from the USVI to interface with and share pertinent updates needed to continue fostering positive relationships throughout the industry,” explains Commissioner Boschulte.

Commissioner Boschulte was featured on the Caribbean Spotlight panel moderated by renowned industry leader and FCCA CEO Michelle Paige, who referenced the Commissioner being named the 2023 Caribbean Tourism Executive of the Year by Caribbean Journal and shared how exceptional the publication’s acknowledgment of his accolades are. Paige referenced Caribbean Journal’s spotlight paragraph reading, “No Caribbean destination has seen more growth in the last three years than the U.S. Virgin Islands, which kicked off a full-fledged tourism renaissance just after the onset of the pandemic and hasn’t looked back. And so much of that growth can be directly tied to the expert stewardship of Boschulte, who helped craft an innovative, flexible response to the challenges of the pandemic and has continued to drive the USVI’s performance with a data-driven, creative approach to modern tourism.”

Commissioner Boschulte and Deputy Commissioner Farrington joined Governor Bryan for meetings with leading cruise lines, including Disney Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Carnival Corporation & plc, amongst others, to discuss continued partnerships, expansion opportunities, and industry updates.

As the global cruise industry continues to restabilize following challenges incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, St. Thomas and St. Croix experienced a 13% growth in 2023 over 2019, with West Indian Company Dock, Crown Bay Dock, and E. Abramson Marine Facility welcoming more than 1,600,000 passengers from 495 total calls for the year. With a 58% year-over-year passenger increase from 2022 to 2023, the USVI continues to grow and is projected to experience another 5% increase in cruise passenger arrivals in 2024.

Commissioner Boschulte also highlighted the remarkable success of the USVI and Caribbean region, stating, “I am proud to see the Caribbean’s appeal continue to captivate travelers. Our collaborative efforts with partners like FCCA and the Caribbean Tourism Organization underscore the unity of our region, ensuring unforgettable experiences for visitors while highlighting the unique strengths of the U.S. Virgin Islands. With a safe, welcoming destination and a shared commitment to tourism, we embrace our role as an integral part of the Caribbean community.”

For more information about the U.S. Virgin Islands, please visit https://www.visitusvi.com/.