News
RTCIPF Response to Serious Crime – Statement by the Commissioner of Police
#TurksandCaicos, August 3, 2023 – The shooting dead of a man in Grace Bay on Wednesday 2nd August 2023 at 2 pm in the afternoon was shocking.
This murder was targeted against the man who died and is, we believe, linked to gang-related serious crime, motivated by revenge and retribution.
This is the twelfth murder for 2023, with the majority of these deaths being linked to gang and serious crime activity. 
Our young men on the TCI are dying needlessly through senseless violence. This matter is under active investigation, and I am asking you, our community, to tell us what you know about this and other serious crimes. You can do this in a number of ways and if you wish to stay anonymous, you can use Crimestoppers to tell us what you know.
You don’t need to leave your name and the information will be passed to us.
Soon after the incident in Grace Bay yesterday, the RTCIPF received reports of a group of armed men in the Dock Yard area. When Police Officers attended the area, they were subject to sustained gunfire from a group of men who were armed with automatic weapons.
In order to protect themselves, the Police officers also discharged their firearms. It is not known if any persons were injured as a result of the exchange although I can say that due to the protection afforded by the armoured vehicle, no police officers were injured in this cowardly attack on our Law Enforcement.
Very soon after this event, the second RTCIPF armoured vehicle also deployed to Dock Yard and the armed gang members dispersed.
I appeal to those law-abiding residents in Dock Yard to tell us where these individuals are living and who they are, you don’t need to leave your name, just tell us what you know, and we will deal with the fear and harm they are creating within the community.
The brazen manner in which armed men carried out the murder in Grace Bay and the attack on the Police Officers in Dock Yard is shocking and highly concerning.
I also remain concerned that further shootings will be carried out between gangs of young men involved in organised gang activity, motivated by drugs, guns, and retaliation. For this reason, the RTCIPF is on high alert and is undertaking robust operations in our communities, on our roads, and through intelligence-led targeted operations to locate and bring to justice those seeking to cause harm and fear across the TCI.
The Force remains committed and resolute in keeping our communities safe. The Turks and Caicos Islands Government investment in Policing have led to the purchase of two armoured vehicles to protect Police Officers from reckless and violent individuals as we chase them down and chase them down, we will. We have more Tactical Officers than in 2022, specialists who are well-trained and equipped to tackle the threats we are facing. I remain grateful to the Hon Premier and his Government for their support of the work of Policing across the TCI.
In terms of the threats posed to Police officers, let me be absolutely clear if any person poses a threat to the courageous men and women of the Force, their response will be uncompromising and robust. You need to know the reality, if you threaten a Police officer with a firearm, you must expect to be challenged and your threat will be met with potentially lethal force.
In the days ahead, you will see more Police Officers on the streets, in your communities, and carrying out policing operations on the roads and in neighbourhoods. Please ensure that if you are around this operational policing, do not threaten officers and comply with any instructions given, this will help officers do their job. One other way that you can assist is to ensure that your vehicle is properly registered, displaying number plates, and that your window tints
do not exceed the legal limits. Officers will be checking non-compliant vehicles and whilst you may end up with a fine, you must also expect to be challenged robustly when officers stop you. Criminals use cars that are heavily tinted and have no registration plates so if you don’t want to be considered a potential threat, ensure your vehicle complies with the law.
I have briefed The Governor and Premier, who actively engaged to ensure the required support is in place for our policing response. I have ensured that our Tourism Minister and partners are aware of the circumstances of the incident in Grace Bay.
The Policing arrangements remain under constant review and if additional support or capacity is needed, then we will explore all options for bringing in additional resources.
We realise that yesterday’s incidents have caused fear within our communities and one man lost his life. In the coming days, there will be increased visibility of officers on our streets as we work hard to bring calm, security, and safety to the TCI and we are committed to dealing with the violent criminality that is blighting the Islands
Nassau, Bahamas, January 15, 2025 – CIBC Caribbean has warned about an ongoing ‘smishing scam’ targeting clients in The Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands.
It noted that fraudsters have been sending text messages to persons stating that their accounts were placed on hold or that their cards were locked and requesting them to click on a link and to enter their banking credentials in order to regain access to their accounts.
The bank has reiterated that it does not send out texts or SMS messages with links for clients to click on.
Clients who receive any communication with links should check that they are from a bona fide source prior to attempting to click on them.
The latest fraud attempt is a smishing scam and we are taking the necessary steps to report the fraudulent sites, the bank said.
Smishing occurs when fraudsters attempt to steal customers’ data or money through a text message that tries to trick them into following a link and revealing personal details or login information.
If you believe that you have encountered a suspicious message, just follow these simple tips.
Firstly, don’t click on any links or attachments and don’t reply to the message. Try and establish the legitimacy of the message by getting in contact with the organisation through alternative means, for example, calling the phone number on your printed statements.
If the sender claims to represent CIBC Caribbean, then forward the email as an attachment to our dedicated fraud team (fraud@cibcfcib.com) and delete the message from your system.
It is also a good idea to regularly review all your financial accounts and if you spot any irregularities, contact the bank immediately. Additionally, email security should be reviewed and consider changing your password to a stronger one, using a combination of characters, letters and numbers. Never share your internet banking log-in credentials or One-Time Verification Codes (OTVC) with anyone!
January 13th, 2025 – Nassau, Bahamas – The Bahamas National Trust (BNT) is excited to announce the appointment of new officers and members of the BNT Council 2024 -2025, elected at the organization’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) in October and later confirmed during a special meeting after the AGM.
Mrs. Joanne Smith has been elected as President of the Council. As President and Creative Director of Media Enterprises, she brings a wealth of experience to the role. A former President of the Rotary Club of East Nassau and a Lifetime Member of the BNT, Smith is a passionate advocate for environmental preservation. Her long-standing involvement in producing educational materials for the BNT and her expertise in public relations will be invaluable as the nonprofit strives to promote the national park system and expand its membership base.
Returning to the Council as Deputy President is Ms. Janet Johnson, a former BNT President. With more than 40 years of leadership experience in the tourism industry, both internationally and nationally, Johnson’s marketing expertise will be critical as the BNT implements its 2024-2029 Strategic Plan, targeting expanded infrastructure and visitation for 12 national parks.
Mr. Phillip Cumming has been appointed Honorary Treasurer. A chartered accountant and past President of the Rotary Club of East Nassau, Cumming is also an avid birder and nature photographer.
Elected members of the BNT Council include: Geoff Andrews (immediate past President); Marvin Arrington; Glenn Bannister; Kevin Cartwright; Hank Ferguson; Janet Johnson; Marcus Laing; Neil McKinney; Devin Peet; Naisha Roberts; Karin Sanchez; Gary Sands; Tanya Woodside; and Eddie Carter.
Appointed members are: Dr. Maria Woodside-Oriakhi, University of The Bahamas; Dr. Ana Luz Porzecanski, American Museum of Natural History; Dr. Karen Bjorndal, University of Florida; Christopher Hughes, US Parks Service; Meredith Ross, Leon Levy Foundation; Dr. Pamela Reid, University of Miami RSMAS; Dr. Barney Long, re:wild; and Aurelio Ramos, National Audubon Society.
Representing The Bahamas Government are: Christina Davis-Justin and Holly Peel, Governor General’s Representatives; Ashley Sturrup, Ministry of Education; Dr. Kenneth Romer, Ministry of Tourism; Dr. Rhianna Neeley-Murphy, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources; and Gregory Bethel, Ministry of Agriculture and Marine Resources.
“We are thrilled to welcome such a talented and diverse group of leaders to our Executive Board,” said Lakeshia Anderson-Rolle, BNT’s
Executive Director. “Their combined experience and dedication to The Bahamas’ national park system will be essential as we work to accomplish the goals outlined in our new five-year strategic plan.”
“It is indeed an honor to serve as the President of the BNT,” said Joanne Smith. “They have grown The Bahamas’ national park system to 33 national parks that protect marine resources, endangered species, and the habitats necessary for the survival of our island flora and fauna. I am looking forward to working with the BNT team and the Council to ensure we meet our strategic goals.
“One of my goals is to increase the membership of the organization and support sustainable finance mechanisms for the parks. I am especially grateful to past President Geoff Andrews, who has agreed to lead the Advancement Committee in successfully achieving our financial goals over the next five years. We hold our first full Council meeting at the end of January and look forward to working with the Council on initiatives that guide the BNT into its next chapter.”
To learn more about the BNT’s role in managing national parks, protecting wildlife, and informing environmental policy, please visit its website: www.bnt.bs, and follow its various social media channels: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
Turks and Caicos, January 13, 2025 – The Marine Branch of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force successfully intercepted two illegal sloops within the last 24 hours. In the first incident, at around 2:25 a.m. yesterday (January 12), the Maritime Operations Center tracked a suspicious target in the Bird Rock, Long Bay area.
Officers of the Marine Branch were informed, and at 2:35 a.m., they spotted a dark blue wooden vessel with two outboard engines carrying several individuals.
The illegal sloop was intercepted, and officers discovered TWENTY-SEVEN (27) illegal migrants- TWENTY-ONE (21) males, including two
minors and SIX (6) females. All individuals were handed over to the TCI Border Force for processing.
Shortly after 1 a.m. today, the Marine Branch, alongside the TCI Regiment, received information that a blue 38-foot wooden Haitian vessel with two outboard engines was in TCI waters.
The vessel was located and intercepted.
Onboard the vessel was ONE HUNDRED and TWENTY-ONE (121) persons – ONE HUNDRED and FOUR (104) males –including a minor and SEVENTEEN (17) females.
Assistant Commissioner (ag) Mat Newton said, “I am grateful to our partners—TCI Border Force and TCI Regiment—for their assistance and support in successfully processing the illegal migrants intercepted by the police. This shows that the layers of security in place are increasingly effective, and we continue to build our defensive measures to tackle this type of crime.”
The RTCIPF asks the public to notify the closest police station, contact 911, the Serious Crime Unit at 231-1842, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-8477, and anonymously give any information on illegal activity.
Additionally, persons are encouraged to download the CrimeStoppers P3 app and share information anonymously.
Photo Credit: RTCIP
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