News
What you need to know before checking into your TCI Hurricane Shelter
By Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, September 18, 2022 – Moving to a hurricane shelter can be a traumatic and dizzying experience for some and as last minute provisions are hurriedly made many things can be forgotten. During a pandemic it becomes doubly important to protect yourself and your families by making adequate preparations to prevent illness in a communal setting.
COVID-19 is caused by an airborne virus and spreads quickly in large crowds of people. According to the CDC there are several ways to prevent contracting the disease even in crowded shelters.
- Prepare a “go kit” with personal items you cannot do without during an emergency. For COVID19 this means hand sanitizer; soap; disinfectant wipes (if available) and multiple clean masks for everyone.
- Stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccines. If you do contract the virus you are less likely to be severely ill and thus less likely to need medical services while hospitals are under strain from the natural disaster. This is especially important for high risk patients as medical airlifts will not be available during the storm
- Follow safety precautions when using (public) transportation to evacuate. If you have to travel away from your community to evacuate, follow safety precautions for travelers to protect yourself and others from COVID-19. Wear masks in close quarters and practice good hand hygiene.
- When you arrive at the shelter wash your hands often and avoid sharing food and drinks with others
- Keep your mask on and give others space, resist the urge to socialize. This will help protect everyone in the shelter, especially those who are at high risk for getting very sick from COVID-19.
- Speak with shelter staff immediately you feel ill
- Keep an eye on your children, monitor them for symptoms and ensure they keep up with protocols as well.
One shelter will be open on each island in the Turks and Caicos (see the list in the Magnate) and emergency services will not be available until after the storm has passed so protect yourselves and your family accordingly.
Turks and Caicos, December 7, 2024 – “Homicide detectives of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force are actively investigating a homicide in Five Cays, Providenciales.
Initial reports indicate that shortly after 10 pm yesterday (December 06th), the Police Control Room received several calls stating that
gunshots were being heard in the area of Sandy Land.
RT&CIPF officers responded to the given location and found the lifeless body of a male with what appeared to be gunshot wounds about the body. The victim was later identified as NEIL RIGBY, 52, of Five Cays.
The RT&CIPF offers condolences to Mr. Rigby’s relatives and friends.
The RT&CIPF is asking anyone with information that may help in this investigation to contact the closest police station, 911, the Serious Crime Unit at 231-1842, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-8477 to provide any information anonymously.
Additionally, individuals are encouraged to download the Crime Stoppers P3 app.
Statement from the Minister of Immigration
Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands
Turks and Caicos, December 5, 2024 – The Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands categorically states that we will not, under any circumstances, accept deportees from the United States or any other nation who are not citizens of Turks and Caicos. Our country’s immigration policies are clear and firmly rooted in the principles of sovereignty, the protection of our borders, and the welfare of our people.
Turks and Caicos, like all nations, has the sovereign right to determine who may reside within its borders. The unilateral imposition of third-country deportation policies, such as those reportedly under consideration by the incoming Trump administration, is fundamentally at odds
with international norms and legal standards.
We are deeply concerned about any suggestion of displacing individuals to countries with which they have no connection. Such policies disregard the cultural, social, and economic implications for receiving countries and the humanitarian impact on the individuals affected.
We remind all stakeholders that Turks and Caicos is already facing significant challenges managing irregular migration and the accompanying strain on our resources. We will not permit external policies to exacerbate these challenges, nor undermine or dictate our national security.
Our Government remains committed to maintaining strong diplomatic relations with the United States and our other international partners. However, we are steadfast in our commitment to protecting the interests of the Turks and Caicos Islands and upholding the integrity of our immigration system.
To be clear: The Turks and Caicos Islands will not participate in any program that seeks to forcibly relocate individuals here against their will, or ours.
Turks and Caicos, December 03rd, 2024 – The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force is actively investigating incidents involving an attempted robbery and a reported armed robbery in Providenciales on November 30 and December 02, 2024.
Incident 1: Attempted Robbery at Service Station
Shortly after midnight on November 30, 2024, officers responded to a report of an attempted robbery at a Service Station on Leeward Highway. Based on preliminary reports, a lone male approached the premises from a black Honda Fit vehicle. The suspect, armed with a firearm,
struck an employee, causing a wound. The suspect fled in the car. At the same time, the employee was transported to the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre, where he received treatment for his injuries.
Incident 2: Armed Robbery at Eatery
On November 30, 2024, at approximately 6:57 p.m., the police received a report of an armed robbery at an eating establishment in Blue Hills. Two masked individuals, one armed with a firearm, entered the premises and robbed patrons. No injuries were reported, and the suspects fled the scene on foot in an unknown direction.
Incident 3: Robbery/Malicious Injuries to Property
On the evening of Monday, December 2, 2024, a male driver was proceeding along Walter Cox Drive when he stopped to drop off a passenger. While reversing, an unidentified male armed with a cinder block demanded the driver exit his vehicle. The driver complied and was robbed of personal belongings. The suspect proceeded to use the cinder block to shatter the rear passenger side window before fleeing the scene.
We urge anyone with information about these incidents to come forward.
Individuals can contact the Serious Crime Unit at (649)-232-6696 or report anonymously via Crime Stoppers at 1-800-8477.
Additionally, persons are asked to download the Crime Stoppers P3 app and provide information.
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