Crime
PDM Calls on Leaders to Stand Up, Speak Up on shocking Crime
By Deandrea Hamilton
Editor
#TurksandCaicos, August 5, 2023 – The PDM’s appointed member to the House of Assembly may have been a bit more satisfied by Friday evening with the release of a strong statement from the president of the Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association; firmness is what everyone expects in the aftermath of another wild shooting – on Wednesday – in Grace Bay.
“We have had seven or eight murders since June 5th. We saw days where there were two murders in 24 hours. In these past two months, we have seen a shooting incident that saw 3 or 4 persons shot and by all accounts intentionally. We are seeing brazen day murders and now in the heart of Grace Bay.
In the past two years we have seen at least two beheadings and maybe a third. We have seen a trial witness killed in close proximity to CID. These historic events have whisked by without matching attention,” said Alvin Garland, Opposition Appointed member to the House of Assembly.
Garland expressed being incensed by the silence and the method of communication as violent crime grows in frequency and boldness.
“The PDM and I are calling on the Premier to address his people other than through a Press Release. The TCI has turned the corner and the question is how much more has to happen before we act decisively again?
The Minister of Tourism and TCHTA can no longer remain silent and must regain their voices to address our
country’s visitors. In times when things were not as extreme, they were indeed vocal. We need leading voices and stakeholders on the record.
It is important to measure our comments in times like these but the silence must stop and the call for help must be urgently sent out,” said Garland.
Coming from the TCHTA was this, “Over the past two months, our Board of Directors has met with the Police Commissioner and the Governor’s Office to voice these concerns as we saw a serious trend starting once again of extreme violence not common to our islands.
We are concerned as an industry and as the nation’s largest employers that our citizens and guests must believe Turks & Caicos is a safe place to live and to visit.”
There has been no comment from the Minister of Tourism, however on Friday the TCHTA released its position on the shooting incident which forced a temporary road block following a barrage of bullets which left a 26-year-old man dead near a popular Grace Bay Beach access.
Hon Garland said this group was more vocal when the crime situation in the country was less serious. Garland’s other advice, get outside help.
“We need outside help, not because we have no faith in our own, but because we need the extra skills and manpower, but this cannot be our fall back each time these acts are threatened or committed. The Bahamas assisted us greatly in stemming the violent tide and whilst we are aware that they too have their challenges, one more stint maybe warranted. But after this, we must have an ongoing plan that sees capacity built in in our own Police Organisation.”
***MEDIA RELEASE***
Turks and Caicos, September 15, 2024 – The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Serious Crime Unit has identified Barnabas Norbert as the victim of yesterday evening’s homicide.
Mr. Norbert, 60, of Blue Hills, Providenciales, was killed shortly after 9 pm.
Initial police reports indicated that the Police Control Room received reports that gunshots were heard near Phase One in Blue Hills, Providenciales.
Officers, along with medical personnel, responded and, upon arrival at the given location, noticed that two males had sustained what appeared to be gunshot wounds.
Mr. Norbert was deceased, while another male, age 29, was transported to a medical facility for treatment.
The RTCIPF extends condolences to Mr. Norbert’s relatives and friends.
While at the scene of the homicide, officers received information shortly after 10 pm of an aggravated burglary in the area.
A male victim had arrived home when he was accosted by two armed men who proceeded to rob him of valuables. The armed suspects ran off and escaped.
Shortly after 2 am today (September 15), the Police Control Room received a report of a robbery at a restaurant in Kew Town.
Reports are that three males, one of whom was armed with a firearm approached employees as they were closing the establishment and robbed them of a black Honda Fit car. The vehicle was recovered in Dock Yard today.
These incidents remain under active investigation as the RTCIPF intensifies its efforts against criminal elements.
We are asking anyone with information that may help in these investigations 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 to share information.
Crime
“Life in Prison for setting fire” as Wheeland Residents say fire bomb tossed into residence Monday night
Wilkie Arthur and Deandrea Hamilton
Turks and Caicos, September 13, 2024 – TCI Police are not saying how the fire was set, but they do confirm a fire was intentionally set and witnesses speaking to Eagle Legal News Media report that it was thrown into a Wheeland house where it landed in the living room and exploded.
“…it is alleged criminals sent fire bomb (s) through a home, but thankfully no one was in the living room area where it landed and an explosion was heard loudly, no one was hurt or injured,” reported Wilkie Arthur of Eagle Legal on the night of the horrifying incident.
The Police report explains: Shortly after 8 p.m. yesterday (September 9), officers of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force
responded to a fire report at a dwelling in Wheeland, Blue Hills, Providenciales. Upon arrival at the scene, police officers and firefighters saw a structure in flames.
All efforts to contain the fire were successful. Fortunately, there were no injuries. Based on initial reports, the fire appears to have been deliberately set.
The RTCIPF wishes to remind the public that under the Malicious Injuries to Property Ordinance Chapter 3.11, Section 4, “Setting fire to a dwelling-house with any person being therein Whosoever shall unlawfully and maliciously set fire to any dwelling house, any person being therein, commits an offence, and being convicted thereof shall be liable to imprisonment for life.”
Fire Trucks and Police were summoned to the scene on Monday night. Images of the response are shared by Eagle Legal.
Meanwhile, 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.
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