News
Residents want resignation; Police Commissioner calls for patience
By Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, April 22, 2022 – After waves of angry messages, posts and the revival of a petition calling for the resignation of the Royal TCI Police Commissioner Trevor Botting, he was asked the question about letting go of the post, to allow someone else to step in.
“I get why they want me to go but if they think that will fix it I think they’re misguided. But I understand, everyone is entitled to their view. I am in public office and that’s absolutely fine,” said Mr. Botting as guest Tuesday on Financially Speaking, which is aired on Radio Turks and Caicos and hosted by Drexwell Seymour.
The Commissioner acknowledged the public’s concern and noted that their concerns were also police concerns.
Saying, “I am asking for a couple of things; patience while we build the capability. The force is building a very strong capability that is going to go way beyond my time here and we’ve got a very strong leadership developing.”
He noted that they have been very well supported by the Public despite everything, acknowledging the issues with 911 he said, “I know there’s been well documented issues… When someone called in and they didn’t get the best service but don’t let that deter you. Tell us what you know and we will do our absolute most to develop that.”
About 24 hours later, the Commissioner engineered his own independent statement to the nation. In the ‘vlog’ he provided an update on the recent crime spree.
Between April 8 through 16, Police recovered six illegal firearms, drugs and ammunition.
- Gun and Drug Crimes
One of the guns was found on Saturday, April 9 in downtown Provo after reports of shooting.
On the 11th a woman was arrested on suspicion of keeping firearms and ammunition. One gun was recovered in that operation along with jewelry and cash.
On the same day, Canadian citizen David Lit was charged after entering and being found with a quantity of marijuana at the PLS airport. Lit had briefly escaped custody but surrendered, accompanied by an attorney.
On the 15th after robbery reports were made a vehicle was intercepted along Leeward Highway and another gun and ammunition was found.
- Two men were arrested in that incident.
And on April 16th, a 45-year-old was arrested after he attempted to leave the country with cocaine and marijuana as well as an illegal firearm.
The crime wave has come crashing down on the Turks and Caicos Islands in its busiest hour; tourism has never been better and guests were not exempt in the brazen armed robberies and assaults.
On Tuesday at least one person was arrested in Long Bay and blue Hills; search warrants were executed for those same areas on Wednesday said Botting.
In all matters, information was not lavishly doled out. Just splashes of insight which for TCI is more frustrating than helpful.
- Arson
Along with the violence confrontational crime erupting in Providenciales, the trend of arson has struck again this time not only in Grand Turk.
Police are investigating that fire on Bambarra Beach which resulted in as many as four tiki beach huts being destroyed and a boat was set on fire later.
In Grand Turk, prison officers are being targeted. So far said the Commissioner, there have been reports of three cars torched on purpose.
“Attacks on law enforcement and colleagues from the prison will simply not be tolerated. Someone on Grand Turk knows who set these fires and if that is you, and you don’t come forward, you are part of the problem. Now is not the time to be passive, name the criminals, don’t let them hide amongst you,” Botting said.
By now, residents are exhausted at the promises which amount to being unfruitful. The legacy is the same, outflow of information is kept at a slow and low pace, which public distrust and trial losses and non-convictions soar.
The petition, which resurfaced on the Easter holiday weekend, has 103 who have signed agreement for the Trevor Botting, who climbed the ranks from Deputy Police Commissioner to be replaced as the Police Commissioner with someone from the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, March 17, 2023 – Revenue from the Turks and Caicos’ Financial Services Sector will more than double in the next few years, if E Jay Saunders, Deputy Premier and Finance Minister gets his way. It ‘s one of the reasons the country is investing so much capital into getting off of the EU blacklist and becoming a secure trustworthy financial destination.
“The FSC’s revenues for 2020/21 was $10.5M— the figures for 2021/22, would be about similar,” he said. He further explained that $10.5 million from the FSC represented about 2.6 percent of the country’s 408.5-million-dollar
revenue. Though it increased to $14 million in the 2021/22 financial year, finance is still a small fry compared to tourism or even stamp duties but that will change, says Saunders.
“My revenue goal for the Government by the year 2029 [or] the election after the next election – is $500M. By that time, I want the financial sector (FSC) revenues to represent at least 5% ($25M). So that’s my goal for the financial sector by 2029.”
This goal, should it be met, would increase the Government’s revenue by 100 million dollars, a significant increase in spending power for local upgrades and improvements for Turks and Caicos residents and visitors.
Saunders says it’s time for the TCI to diversify its sources of revenue to make sure that what happened in the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw residents out of a job for months, will not happen again. Tourism now makes up around 80 percent of the country’s GDP. The Minister of Finance wants to push that down to 60 or even 50 percent.
Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#Haiti, March 17, 2023 – When a CARICOM delegation visited Haiti earlier this month, conspicuously absent was the Turks and Caicos Islands despite being one of the nations most directly affected by the multi-dimensional crisis there. There is no comment, as yet from the Premier, to say why this was the case.
Still, from the expedition, CARICOM heads of Government have informed that there will be lobbying in Africa for assistance in Haiti. They say they have decided that the best course of action for the Caribbean country is to bolster the Haitian National Police and act as intermediaries with Africa and the world. The decision follows a one day visit on February 27th, and a March 5th meeting chaired by the Bahamas.
CARICOM says during the trip delegates ‘met with a broad range of Haitian stakeholders to hear their views on the
way forward to a Haitian-led solution’. With that in mind it has made a decision on how to proceed.
“The Heads of Government agreed to support the Haitian National Police in their efforts to address the security situation. The focus of the Community will be the provision of training for the HNP and the provision of humanitarian assistance to HNP and the wider Haitian society, taking into account the challenging humanitarian and security situation”
It’s not clear yet where and how this training will take place. Also distinctly absent from the report, no more mention of boots on the ground from other countries despite CARICOM Member States indicating they were ready and willing should it come to that.
In addition, recognizing ‘the common historical experiences and the strong African-Caribbean relationship’ CARICOM says,
“Heads of Government also agreed to seek support from African countries for Haiti. They also agreed to work with the Governments of Canada and the United States as well as the UNDP”
Magnetic Media has reached out to the Premier’s Office to get a full debrief of the February 27th visit (led by Jamaica; including The Bahamas and Trinidad and Tobago) to learn of Turks and Caicos’ posture following the critical sessions.
Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, March 17, 2023 – Musicians from the New World Symphony will be in the Turks and Caicos in concert next month and residents are invited to attend in support of the future of Ashley’s Learning Center. 
A fairly young orchestral academy based in Miami, the New World Symphony was launched in the 1980s by 1987, Michael Tilson Thomas and Ted Arison,Carnival Cruises founder. From the 1500 applicants who vie for a spot each year, the symphony accepts around 35 music graduates annually for training fellowships.
A select few of those graduates will be in country on April 8th headlining at the Ashley’s Learning Center concert ‘We’re all in this together’. The concert which also feature local artistes will be held at Brayton Hall on Venetian Road from 6 pm to 8:30 pm
Tickets are available ON ISLEHELP $75 PER GENERAL SEAT $125 PER PREMIUM SEAT $195 PER GALLERY SEAT – with /FREFRESHMENTS.
For TICKET RESERVATIONs you can call: 649-341-2304 or email EVENTS@ASHLEYSLEARNINGCENTER.ORG
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