News
Armed, ready to shoot if necessary; Royal TCI Police
By Deandrea Hamilton
Editor
#TurksandCaicos, April 15, 2022 – The Gun Amnesty is now extended beyond its March 31st deadline, arrests have been made in the Five Cays shooting and a new Police-led operation is activated after Five Cays lit up with at least three episodes or three days of rapid gun fire in a move by criminals which was so bold, so dangerous people are comparing the sounds in Five Cays to shelling heard when Russia invaded Ukraine.
Given by the Royal TCI Police Force Commissioner, Trevor Botting, an update where he started by saying Five Cays was terrorized by reckless criminals.
“In the last three days the community of Five Cays has been terrorized by dangerous criminals discharging firearms indiscriminately recklessly within the community. The actions of these young men have led to one shooting, the
victim of which remains in hospital in a serious condition. Whilst only one person, to our knowledge, has been shot, there has been a constant discharging of firearms within the tight residential community, a community that is in fear and a community that is paralyzed and unable to live their normal lives whilst this reckless and criminal behaviour continues,”
Ending days of silence on the shocking situation which first erupted on April 6 with a string of shots around 1 pm; the Commissioner commented on his outrage at how residents are in fear; paralyzed by it and unable to live their normal lives.
“The reasons for the rise in activity is no doubt due to a number of issues, drugs, disputes and reprisals between groups of men and the commission of crimes such as robbery,” said the Commissioner, addressing the potential motive for the shelling.
There has been no statement from the elected Government. Heavily criticised for her silence is Rachel Taylor, Member of Parliament for Five Cays.
“Now we’re in a neighbourhood where, you’re hearing gun shots right outside of your house. You’ve got to duck on the ground an’ t’ings hoping nothing don’t fly through your window, said Paula Arthur, vocal advocate and media personality.
“For the last three days, it clearly was a voted in representor for Five Cays, Mrs. Rachel Taylor. I’m not saying come in Five Cays and get in the middle of nothing, at least let’s hear your voice of comfort to the people who don’t having nothing to do with all this crap that going on in Five Cays.”
The Commissioner said his team was coming into the area.
“The current situation is simply not tolerable. Armed policing operations have been deployed in Five cays in
response to this situation, both to push back against the criminals carrying and discharging firearms but also to proactively target those who we know are responsible. In the early hours of today, 8 th April an armed operation was carried out by our Tactical Team against a targeted individual. He is in custody and a firearm, ammunition and evidence linking him to murder and other serious crime have been recovered,” advised Botting.
He said officers will use whatever force is necessary, appropriate and proportionate to protect themselves.
Officers have a clear mandate and a legal right to defend themselves, the public and their colleagues, if threatened. In policing we never want to use force, we want compliance with the law and common decent behavior. However, Officers will use whatever force is necessary to protect themselves and my message to those carrying firearms or terrorizing our communities is clear, if you pose a threat to the public or Police Officers we will respond with force including firearms. The choices you make, may have a consequence for you. Our utmost priority is to protect our public and we will do that uncompromisingly.”
The Bahamas, August 27, 2026 – The Royal Bahamas Police Force wishes to inform members of the public that several individuals are scheduled to appear before the Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, 27th August 2026, at 12:00 noon.
The individuals and charges are as follows:
An 18-year-old female is scheduled to be arraigned on the following charges:
Three (3) counts of Murder
Three (3) counts of Attempted Murder
Three (3) counts of Possession of a Firearm with Intent to Endanger Life
Three (3) counts of Possession of an Unlicensed Firearm
Two (2) counts of Possession of Ammunition
Armed Robbery
Abetment to Armed Robbery
Stealing
Receiving
The charges stem from three separate shooting incidents and an armed robbery that occurred on Friday, 21st August 2026, and Saturday, 22nd August 2026.
The first shooting occurred in the area of Soldier Road and Baillou Hill Road, resulting in the death of a 51-year-old male.
The second shooting occurred in the area of Joe Farrington Road, resulting in the death of a 52-year-old male.
The third shooting occurred in the area of Gladstone Road, resulting in the death of a 36-year-old male.
The armed robbery occurred at a business establishment in the area of Carmichael Road and Baillou Hill Road.
A 21-year-old male is scheduled to be arraigned on one charge of:
- Murder
The charge stems from a shooting incident that occurred on Tuesday, 21st July 2026, in the area of Samson Street, Nassau Village, which resulted in the death of a 28-year-old male.
A 32-year-old male is scheduled to be arraigned on the following charges:
- Murder
- Attempted Murder
These charges stem from a shooting incident that occurred on Wednesday, 24th December 2025, in the area of Graham Drive, Yellow Elder, which resulted in the death of a 25-year-old male.
RBPF, PACD
by Deandrea Hamilton | Editor
PROVIDENCIALES, TCI — In a country where government press conferences are virtually non-existent, ministers are often difficult for
journalists to access and regular broadcast television news has disappeared, TCI Innovation, Technology and Energy Minister E. Jay Saunders has challenged Caribbean media to become “impossible to ignore.”
Speaking at the Caribbean Broadcasting Union gathering, Saunders argued that the Caribbean does not have a relevance problem but a “discoverability and positioning problem.”
Discoverability is precisely the issue in Saunders’ home country. Even Government’s own attempts at video news broadcasting have struggled against the realities of consistently producing a daily, weekly or even monthly newscast.
The difficulties confronting TCI media extend well beyond algorithms: limited advertising revenue, underfunding, shortages of trained professionals and insufficient human capacity leave newsrooms struggling for both staff and stamina.
Then there is the reality of operating in one of the region’s smallest societies. Politicians, journalists, advertisers, businesses and the subjects of stories often exist within the same tight economic and social circles. A controversial report that might create a ripple elsewhere can produce a tsunami in TCI, intensifying concerns among journalists about commercial and professional victimisation.
Saunders believes AI can help.
He urged Caribbean media to use the technology to transform one original story into television, radio, web, podcast, social and translated content without multiplying newsroom workload.
He also wants regional journalism structured so AI systems can find, understand and trust Caribbean sources, moving media beyond traditional SEO into Answer Engine Optimisation.
His ultimate message was emphatic: “Use AI not to make Caribbean media more artificial — but to make Caribbean voices more visible.”
For Turks and Caicos media, however, becoming visible may require more than technology. It requires an environment in which journalism can survive.
That last sentence is where I think we land the plane. It acknowledges that EJ actually has some us
Bahamas News
Bahama Brass Band Invitation Sparks Heritage Debate Ahead of TCI Constitutional Holiday
Turks and Caicos, August 20, 2026 – The planned participation of the Bahama Brass Band in the Turks and Caicos Islands’ inaugural Constitutional Holiday celebrations on August 30 has sparked public debate over culture, heritage and the historical contributions of Turks and Caicos Islanders abroad.
Organizers defended the invitation, saying the band’s inclusion is intended to highlight the deep historical ties between the two countries
and honor Turks and Caicos men who helped establish and develop the institution in Grand Bahama.
According to the organizers, the Bahama Brass Band began in 1955 in Pine Ridge, Freeport, with Turks and Caicos Islanders, including the late Deacon Reuben Hall Sr. of Middle Caicos and Jenkins Williams and Mervin Hendfield of North Caicos, among those who helped build its foundation. The band eventually grew to more than 50 men.
The organizers also pointed to the participation of Turks and Caicos men in The Bahamas’ Independence celebrations on July 10, 1973, arguing that their contributions became part of Bahamian history while maintaining strong connections to their homeland.
Supporters say bringing the band home represents an opportunity to honor those pioneers, showcase their regional influence and expose younger generations to an important part of Turks and Caicos history.
However, concerns raised publicly described the invitation as potentially disrespectful to local culture and heritage. Organizers acknowledged those concerns, apologizing to anyone who felt overlooked or offended, while maintaining that no disrespect was intended.
The committee said the event should ultimately unite rather than divide, presenting the band’s history as evidence of the reach and resilience of Turks and Caicos heritage.
PHOTO CREDIT: Bahamas Brass Band
