Caribbean News
Legal Year Opens, TCI’s DPP reveals conviction rates
By Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, January 11, 2023 – The Turks and Caicos preliminary conviction rates for 2022 were revealed in the recent Legal Year Opening ceremony held on January 4th. Eugene Otuonye, KC, Director of Public Prosecutions made the statistics public but before getting into them he revealed that data was missing in some areas notably January to March but did not say why.
Based on the available numbers, the Magistrate’s court had a conviction rate of 84% with 184 convictions from the 209 cases tried. The cases at the magistrates level are usually minor including theft, break ins etc. or preliminary trials for cases that will move on to higher courts.
At the Supreme Court of the 66 cases tried, 50 ended in convictions based on guilty pleas or verdicts, only seven cases came back not guilty or were dismissed. Sixteen cases were withdrawn, resulting in a 76 percent conviction rate, the DPP said.
Otuonye detailed some of the offences tried during the year citing forgeries, homicides and firearm and ammunition
offences.
Only three cases went to the Court of Appeal, two were dismissed and only one criminal case went to the Privy Council which awaits a verdict.
Several high profile misses in the justice system were recorded in 2022 in both criminal and civil matters, one of which put a suspected sex criminal back on the street. They ranged from a conflict of interest with the police provided translator in one case to huge payouts because of poor treatment of migrants and permanent residents, and improper introduction of evidence by prosecutors in others
The DPP maintained that convictions were not the sole aim of prosecutors.
“While the rate of conviction dismissal and acquittal may more reflect the state of the criminal justice system it can hardly be used to assess the effectiveness of a prosecutor whose primary focus is not to seek conviction at all costs but to act as a minister of justice.”
He admitted that the DPPs office was not where it needed to be but said they were working on getting it better in the 2023 year. The courts of the Turks and Caicos Islands are now officially opened for 2023.
A contrast to last year’s opening which had to be downsized because of emergence of the omicron variant within the Coronavirus pandemic and the attendees having to be spaced out for safety in an open air ceremony, this year was held at the St Monica’s Anglican Church and the Annex courtroom. Attended by members of all three arms of Government.
Caribbean News
Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts celebrate a night of wins, and take home a total of 16 titles at the 32nd Annual World Travel Awards
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands (October 6th, 2025) – CaribCon, the Caribbean conference celebrating culture, innovation, and creativity, will welcome some of the region’s most influential voices to its inaugural edition in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The event, set to be a dynamic gathering of thought leaders and cultural icons, will feature impactful panel discussions, inspiring and intimate fireside chats and a flow of knowledge from some of the Caribbean’s brightest and best in the creative sector.
Elizabeth “Lady” Montano
Jamaica’s own Dr. Terri-Karelle Johnson, celebrated communications specialist, media personality, and global keynote speaker, will headline CaribCon as the official keynote speaker. Known for her ability to connect authentically and inspire audiences worldwide, Dr. Reid will share her insights on Caribbean identity, storytelling, and the power of representation in shaping global narratives. Another highlight of CaribCon will be the presence of Elizabeth “Lady” Montano, mother and former manager of soca superstar Machel Montano. Lady will launch her award-winning book, King of Soca, in which she is positioned as the ultimate insider, chronicling the evolution of one of the Caribbean’s most iconic entertainers. She will also share her invaluable experiences on nurturing talent, building a brand, and sustaining longevity in the competitive music industry in an intimate fireside chat. Adding further star power to the event is Simon Baptiste, CEO of Question Mark Entertainment, co-founder of ODOS, a global collective network spanning over 1000 professionals in 35 countries, film director, talent manager and creative strategist. Baptiste will bring his expertise to conversations on shaping the region’s creative sector and talent.
Simon Baptiste
“CaribCon is where the Caribbean’s voices, ideas, and creativity converge,” says Omega Simmons, founder of CaribCon and CEO of SOS Media. “Having leaders like Terri Karelle, Lady Montano, and Simon Baptiste share their stories and expertise truly embodies the spirit of this event. Their presence reinforces the power of Caribbean culture to inspire and influence on the world stage.” CaribCon will take place at the Shore Club in Providenciales, the Turks and Caicos Islands, from October 23rd to 26th. Attendees can look forward to networking opportunities, panel discussions, and meaningful dialogue to foster an ecosystem that develops the region’s creative sector and propels it onto the global stage.
Sponsors are:
Signature Experience Partners: Ministry of Tourism, Experience Turks and Caicos, and The Shore Club.
Other sponsors: PPID, Invest TCI, InterCaribbean Airways, Subtronic Sounds, Spotlight Communications.
Hotel partners: Ocean Club Resorts, Waterloo Hotel Management, The Somerset on Grace Bay and Ports of Call Resort.
For more information, tickets, and updates, visit www.caribcon.co or follow @caribconhq on all social media platforms.
For more information please email: contact@caribcon.co
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