Connect with us

News

Man killed in Confrontation with TCI Police

Published

on

By Deandrea Hamilton

Editor

 

#TurksandCaicos, April 15, 2022 – Just 22-years old and from all accounts, Randell Rigby Jr was a marked young man and now, he is deceased; shot early Monday morning in a confrontation with the Royal TCI Police, dying last night of that gunshot wound.

Unnamed in a statement, Police Commissioner Trevor Botting informed the man shot had been in serious condition after one of his officers fired on the suspect.

‘This incident highlights again the dangerous and challenging role that members of the RTCIPF undertake every day in protection of the communities of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Fortunately, our Police Officer received relatively minor injuries and we wish him a speedy recovery. As is normal when a firearm is discharged by Police, the circumstances of the operation and the discharged will be reviewed and whilst this process has already started, I will be seeking independent support and oversight for the review and I will update further when this is confirmed,” said Commissioner Botting in a statement issued on Monday April 11, 2022.

When we look back at Rigby’s life in 2022 alone, we see a deeply concerning series of events; he was being hunted, it appeared ever since his release from prison earlier this year.  Several times, Rigby, aka Trippy was fired at; said to be in a beef which had been raging for years.

With his face recently plastered on Police Wanted poster, the young man’s name was linked to many shocking incidents from the theft of a police woman’s private vehicle in February in a crime said to be aimed at him, to the armed robbery spree in March which left wanted man Gari ‘Santi’ Charles shot dead in Blue Hills, to days of haunting gunfire in Five Cays, which began on April 6, in the middle of the day.

All of these with Rigby’s name attached, now, he is gone.  It is said a firearm was seized at the address on Venetian Road and while this death is not considered a murder; it is still a life lost to violence & crime.

Police shared this on the raid:  “At around 4:30am on Monday 11 April 2022, a planned policing operation to arrest a suspect for serious offences of violence and firearms related crime was carried out at an address on Venetian Road, Providenciales. During this operation, a single round from a Police Firearm was discharged which resulted in serious injuries to a suspect.

The suspect is in hospital being treated and is under Police Guard. A Police Officer was also injured and is also receiving treatment in Hospital. A non-police issue firearm was recovered from the scene.”

Again, Rigby hours later died from the shot, reportedly to the stomach.

The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force has confirmed that the suspect who was shot during the Policing operation in the early hours of today, Monday 11th April 2022, has died in hospital at about 8:15pm tonight.

The circumstances of the discharge by the Police officer during the police operation remains under review as is normal in such circumstances and no further comment will be made at this stage.

The country continues to await plans, which can run interference on the criminal lifestyle so many young men, in particular, are choosing and there are now demands being made for intervention.

Randell Rigby Jr, though tagged in many crimes and whose face appeared on a WANTED poster just days before his death, reportedly lost his father at a young age; his mother – a Haitian – was deported therefore they were estranged and is the father of a young daughter.

Residents say the social system failed Randell Rigby.

News

DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM REGULATIONS INTRODUCES “RATE YOUR RIDE” SYSTEM FOR TOURISTS VISITING THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS

Published

on

FROM THE MINISTRY OF TOURISM

 

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 27th March, 2024 – Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands: The Department of Tourism Regulations is proud to unveil the “Rate Your Ride” system, a new initiative designed to enhance the vacation experience for tourists exploring our picturesque islands.

The “Rate Your Ride” system empowers tourists to provide valuable feedback on the quality of transportation services they receive while visiting the Turks and Caicos Islands. Through an easy-to-use online form, tourists can rate factors such as cleanliness, comfort, safety, and professionalism of drivers, helping us to assure the highest quality of service standards across all modes of transportation.

By participating in the “Rate Your Ride” system, tourists play a crucial role in shaping the future of transportation services in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Their feedback will enable us to identify areas for improvement and ensure that every visitor enjoys safe, comfortable, and convenient travel throughout their stay in the Turks and Caicos.

The code will also be publicly accessible through the cooperation of volunteer drivers who will make the rating code available in their vehicles. Flyers and stickers displaying the code will be distributed at hotels, resorts and airports. The mandated display of these codes is expected to align with the rollout of our tourism regulations in 2025.

For more information about the “Rate Your Ride” system and other initiatives by the Department of Tourism Regulations, please visit gov.tc/tourismregulations/or contact us via telephone at 946-4970 and email at tourismregulations@gov.tc.

Continue Reading

News

THE DEPARTMENT OF BEHAVIOURAL HEALTH SERVICES CONDEMNS RECORDING OF PERSONS WHO ARE IN CRISIS

Published

on

FROM THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

 

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 27th March 2024– The Department of Behavioral Health Services is appealing to the general public to refrain from recording and circulating videos of persons who may appear to be experiencing a mental health crisis. Anyone can experience a mental health crisis at some point in their life. According to the World Health Organization, 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem in any given year. Persons may struggle with very common conditions such as Anxiety and Depression or be diagnosed with more serious conditions like Bipolar Disorder or Psychosis.

“There are a lot of misunderstandings about various mental health conditions and how they may manifest. In addition, there are a number of negative perceptions and misconceptions that society exhibits towards people with mental health problems. However, just as we would show care and concern for someone diagnosed with Cancer, or any other physical illness, in the same way, we need to be as caring and helpful to persons with mental illnesses”– stated Director of the Department of Behavioral Health Services, Dr. Alicia Malcolm.

The Department is urging the public to call the following numbers if you see someone who appears to be experiencing a mental health crisis:

338-5473/338-3616: Providenciales, North or Middle Caicos

338-3614/338-3612: Grand Turk, South Caicos, Salt Cay

338-6301: Nights and Weekends

If someone is putting themselves or someone else in immediate, serious risk of harm, call 911.

The Department of Behavioral Health services is here to help and provides the following services which are free and confidential:

Location of above services:

o             Sam Harvey Building, Down Town, Providenciales,

o             Primary Health Care Department, Cheshire Hall Medical Center, Providenciales 

o             Department of Behavioural Health, Duncombe Alley, Grand Turk

 

Let’s all do our part in creating a community where people with mental health problems feel respected, supported and cared for. 

For additional information, please visit the Ministry of Health’s Facebook page on https://www.facebook.com/tciministryofhealth/ or the Department of Behavioral Health Services Faceebook on https://www.facebook.com/TCIDBHS/.

Continue Reading

News

Breaking Ground: TCI Could Lead in Regional Communication Standards

Published

on

Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom, 27th March 2024: The PR, marketing, and communications sector is poised for potential growth and could lead the Caribbean region in terms of industry standards says Damian Wilson. Wilson’s suggestion comes after the release of a new research report into the current trends and future direction of the sector as a possible emerging industry in the Turks & Caicos Islands (TCI).

Wilson is the report’s author, which conveys the findings of research which he initiated. “One of the key research results is the considerable optimism by industry practitioners and government alike, with persons seeing growth potential. I believe that we can become regional leaders in this field. I believe that one of the initiatives that could be used to do this is by establishing a ‘TCI Centre of Communications Excellence’ within the TCI Community College. Such an institute would be dedicated to communication and media innovation with a particular focus on digital communications and ICT,” says Wilson.

He further explained, “I believe that the PR, marketing, and communications sector, like much of the country, is at a crossroads and could have an even greater impact on our socio-economic fabric. Some may have concerns about our small size, but I believe this makes us far more agile than our neighbours. All in all, any potential growth must be underpinned by new investments, professional development, and a strategy to integrate the sector into the broader economy.”

Wilson also said that he sees his research as a first step in understanding our own industry sectors in the TCI and would love to see more profound research and analysis conducted. He’s hoping that the report will spark discussion along those lines. The report is entitled ‘Current Trends and Future Direction: A Preliminary Report on the PR, Marketing, and Communications Sector in the Turks & Caicos Islands’. Anyone wanting a copy of the report can contact Damian Wilson via his email, damian.wilson.pr@gmail.com.

Continue Reading

FIND US ON FACEBOOK

TRENDING