News
Judge stuns, sentences “irresponsible” Indiana tourist to 8 Months in Prison for Ammo Possession
Wilkie Arthur
Freelance Court Reporter
#TurksandCaicos, September 24, 2023 – His lordship The Hon Mr. Justice Chris Selochan in passing sentence on 18th September, 2023 on an American tourist MICHEAL ALLAN GRIM, JR, told the defendant, that his starting point for possession of 20 rounds of illegal 9mm ammunition found in his luggage was a sentence of five years Imprisonment.
The ammunition was picked up on the scanners at the Providenciales International Airport on August 1, 2023.
The announcement by the judge brought obvious despair and disbelief for the 26-year old in the defendant’s dock and his family seated in the public gallery; the heart sinking admission elicited what could only be described as an audible pause from the courtroom.
However, the five year sentence, was not the final sentence and the judge went on to articulate his reasoning for giving the young man a substantial discount: A. You’ve pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity on 13th September, 2023; B. You have impeccable good character; C. You provide this court with a number of impressive references from high standard members of your community; D. You purchased and possess the ammo legally in your home state of Indiana and E. You did not try to conceal the ammunition.
There were other points provided by the accused’s King’s Counsel representative, Oliver Smith that warranted and assisted with the reduction.
The learned judge outlined them all in detail at the sentencing hearing and promised to put his reasons in writing and make them available for the parties at a later date. The learned Judge said not every case involving tourists are the same and that there should be no immediate custodial sentence (no jail time). He said that each case must be looked at separately and on its own merit, as each may have different circumstances.
He went on to explain that not because he found that there are exceptional circumstances in this case to depart from the mandatory minimum of 12 years imprisonment means that this defendant should not do some sort of jail time.
The Judge explained that Grim said he knew he could not have brought ammunition into the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI). He had three opportunities to at least declare the ammo but failed to do so. One when leaving the USA, two when arrived at the Providenciales International Airport in Providenciales and three before being captured by the scanners on his departure from Providenciales.
The judge further said and even while on vacation in the TCI you failed to secure the ammunition properly. The judge said I have to take into account the serious firearm and ammunition issues we are now facing in these Islands.
Justice Selochan told the defendant you demonstrated a clear sense of irresponsibility and negligence throughout
and unlike the other cases (judge cited or named a few local and international cases) involving tourist, this particular matter warrants a custodial sentence.
Having regards to all the factors and circumstances in this case, and the very impressive submissions by both sides, Principal Public Prosecutor Mr. Clement Joseph assisted by Senior Pubic Prosecutor Mrs. Nayasha Hatmin for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutor and Mr. Oliver Smith, KC for the defendant, I must express my sincere thank you in the manner you assisted this court.
The judge concluded by announcing, the sentence of the court is eight (8) months imprisonment, the defendant passport is to be returned to him at the completion of the sentence and a destruction order made for the ammunition.
Mr. Oliver Smith, KC, in a final attempt to keep his client out of prison, asked the judge if he would consider suspending the sentence. The judge said I did consider it but decided this is not the appropriate case for a suspended sentence.
Michael Grim Jr was arrested in early August for the ammunition detected in his luggage, and at one point faced bail in the amount of $10,000 for the offence which carries a 12 year mandatory jail term.
PROVIDENCIALES, Turks & Caicos Islands: — Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort recently collaborated with the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force and the Department of Social Services to support a youth camp hosted at the Oseta Jolly Primary School, underscoring the resort’s ongoing commitment to youth development in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The camp, which brought together security forces, government agencies and private sector entities, focused on equipping young participants
with practical life skills and character-building tools. A team from Beaches Turks and Caicos’ leadership and training departments joined the programme to deliver sessions on basic table etiquette, dining mannerisms, polite demeanour and public speaking fundamentals, all designed to help the students present themselves confidently in formal and professional settings.
General Manager of Beaches Turks and Caicos, Deryk Meany, said the resort views national development as an integral part of its corporate social responsibility. “We are always happy to be supporters in the development of the youth of the Turks and Caicos Islands. We continue to commit our team to help in creating the next generation of leaders who will provide support to the islands and help in its development,” Meany noted.
The initiative also received strong endorsement from the Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports and Community Development, which has been championing holistic programmes aimed at building well-rounded young citizens. Minister Rachel Taylor highlighted the importance of collaborations like the camp in helping youth access structured guidance and mentorship. “We are happy to join in celebrating the growth and development of our youth here in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Beaches Turks and Caicos continues to be one of our primary supporters in helping to develop well rounded individuals. This commitment from this resort has grown with the vision of the youth ministry to help in their overall development,” she said.
Taylor further emphasized that the camp’s timing was especially significant, coming as youth across the islands seek positive outlets and
constructive engagement. “This camp came at the most ideal time for our adolescents. With the support of our governor, the security forces, the social services along with Beaches Turks and Caicos, we are confident that the training needed for them to improve is on the right track,” she added.
Beaches Turks and Caicos Public Relations Manager, Orville Morgan, described the collaboration as an exemplary model of cross-sector partnership. “To be able to join with the security forces to provide support for the youth of the Turks and Caicos Islands is exceptional. We are happy to provide the necessary support to equip them to grow into being productive citizens of these islands,” Morgan said.
He noted that the resort team focused on practical etiquette and hospitality-driven skills that can be carried into the youths’ future experiences. “As a team, we were able to share in the basic table setting and dining etiquette for them, skills we are sure that they will be able to use in their next fine dining experience,” Morgan added.
Organizers expressed optimism that the camp’s blend of discipline, mentorship and soft skills training will have a lasting impact on participants. With stakeholders pledging continued support, the Beaches Turks and Caicos team and their partners aim to expand similar initiatives, further investing in the personal and professional growth of the next generation of Turks and Caicos Islanders.
TCIG knew from April that fuel factor could surge almost 80%; Minister says $500 cost-of-living payment was part of Government’s response
PROVIDENCIALES — The Turks and Caicos Government knew months before July’s shocking electricity bills that consumers faced a potentially massive increase in the fuel factor.
Minister of Information Technology and Energy E. Jay Saunders revealed Friday that Pelican Energy warned his Ministry in April that generation fuel costs were projected to rise from $3.09 per gallon in May to $4.79 in June and July.
That translated into a projected fuel factor jump from about 17.5 cents to 31 cents per kilowatt-hour — an increase of almost 80%.
Saunders said he personally advised Cabinet of the projected increase and presented options for cushioning the impact.
He characterised Government’s $500 cost-of-living payment as its “initial response” to rising fuel costs, before a separate fuel-factor subsidy was approved.
Cabinet records show Government agreed on June 24 to provide funding to mitigate the fuel-factor impact, with the relief programme approved July 8.
Eligible residential customers — those averaging less than $1,500 monthly over the previous three bills — are capped at 22 cents per kWh from July through October.
Pelican confirmed Friday that Government’s contribution was already applied to July bills, meaning the bills now triggering widespread public outrage would have been even higher without the subsidy.
Saunders did not disclose the programme’s total cost.
His admission that Government knew since April, however, raises another question amid the backlash: why were consumers not directly warned by Government about the scale of the approaching increase?
NASSAU, Bahamas — More Bahamians are accessing HIV and sexually transmitted infection-related healthcare through National Health Insurance, a trend the NHI Authority says should be viewed positively.
NHIA stressed in an August 6 statement that its 2025 figures measure healthcare utilisation, not newly diagnosed infections. They include beneficiaries screened, treated, monitored or receiving follow-up care, including people diagnosed previously.
“Increased utilisation of these services should be viewed as a positive development,” NHIA said.
The Authority pointed to “greater enrolment and use of NHI, improved access to screening and testing, continued treatment and monitoring of existing conditions, and increased willingness to seek medical care.”
The development comes amid a mixed three-year HIV picture. New diagnoses rose from 130 in 2023 to 156 in 2024, before declining to 142 in 2025.
NHIA said increased utilisation demonstrates that more beneficiaries are accessing needed healthcare and actively managing their health, reinforcing the importance of screening, early diagnosis and continued treatment.
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