News
TCI Social Services has a plan to shield Youth from Crime lifestyle, coming in the New School Year
By Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, July 17, 2023 – Troublesome alliances are forming even in schools, that’s the concerning revelation from the Departments of Social Services and Rehabilitation and Community Services. They now say they are working on a pilot program to disrupt the seemingly steady march of some of our young people into a life of crime.
For several weeks Magnetic Media has been trying to find out more about how residents can protect youngsters from not only recruitment into gangs but descending into a life of crime. We reached out to the Department querying the seeming lack of any sustained programs to educate the population in this regard; while we did not get much on that issue, they did provide some valuable insight into the atmosphere in the TCI that they say is fueled by an undercurrent of petty alliances between our young men.
“There are many factors connected to children with behavioral issues and negative peer relations are one of them. While there are many definitions of gangs, in this context, I am specifically referring to a group of students who spend time together, often fighting with other groups and behaving badly,” Jaron Harvey, Director of the
Department of Rehabilitation and Community Services told us.
While stressing that he couldn’t speak on behalf of the schools or Department of Education, Harvey explained that the continued violence in certain communities spills over, affecting students and their behavior everywhere they are.
“In the context of the TCI, there are many communities that seem to be the epicentre of crime. Consequently, many students that reside in these communities tend to spend a considerable amount of time together where loyalty and allegiance are prioritised.”
In the last 12 months there have been several incidents of mass fights between both boys and girls after sporting events and the like where children are seen viciously clawing, kicking, and even in one particularly extreme case, stabbing each other.
The Department was swift to stress that these very public violence confrontations were not necessarily gang related. Similarly, the US National Institute of Justice NIJ warns against conflating the issues of gang activity to be larger than they seem, but it also advises that young men are the most vulnerable to slipping into a life of crime and says keeping them healthy and involved in their community is an excellent way to ward off the lure of criminal activity.
The TCI office says it is working to shield these young people from inheriting the trend of violence that affects their communities.
“We understand the importance of addressing the many factors contributing to delinquent behaviour, and this is why we are working feverishly to introduce a pilot program in the upcoming school year. This program will target these students and their families while simultaneously addressing their behavioural issues.”
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
