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NEW:  Jumilla Isma was Person of Interest, Killers got to him before Police 

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Deandrea Hamilton, Dana Malcolm and Wilkie Arthur

Editorial Staff

 

 

#TurksandCaicos, November 10, 2023 – Fourteen days before his public execution at the entrance to the Providenciales International Airport the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force was reportedly searching for Jumilla Isma. Attorneys confirm to Magnetic Media that it was suspicions related to illegal guns and ammunition, including high-powered rifles that put the 24-year-old back on their radar for questioning.

It was also these allegations that led police to lay in wait at the Airport on October 19; reports to our newsroom indicate, they too were alerted about Isma’s attempt to unceremoniously leave the country.

Isma had checked in for a British Airways flight to get out of the Turks and Caicos then left the airport for reasons unknown.  Following his slaying, a video was shared of him as he exited the check in terminal at their airport.  By the time he was to return, sources tell us, police officers were already stationed, prepared to seize Jumilla Isma on sight in order to take him in for questioning.  Before that chance materialised, so-called ‘rivals’ who also learned of the 24-year-old’s whereabouts pounced on the man, shooting him dead in a vehicle along with another, 19-year-old Mike Forbes.

It has led those who knew Isma was a person of interest to TCI Police to surmise that had he been taken in or turned himself over to authorities, he may have been spared that fate.

The gruesome scene was sprawled practically at the airport’s gate, residents tell us, stressing that anyone looking to get in or out would have to pass by the body, the blood and the shot-up car.  The killers, who are still at large, sent a third man, who was injured in the melee, scrambling back into the airport lobby soaked in blood as shocked travelers and airport workers looked on.

Isma was no stranger to the law, having been booked for murder multiple times in his short life.

He was charged with the double murder of Tamia Simmons and Stuart Harris – the two were shot to death in a suspected retaliation attack at their Five Cays home in September last year.  Simmons, the girlfriend and Harris, the father of a young man wanted on the streets in an ongoing turf war.  Isma was exonerated of the homicides in May 2023 because of a lack of evidence.

Prior to that, he had been convicted of the killing of Godly Petiote in 2021 and handed a life sentence but the ruling was overturned.  This record may be one of the reasons his death was met with celebration from some residents.

In recent days, videos have emerged of young men spraying champagne and brandishing guns following the gruesome killing of the young man, who had been suspected of involvement in a slew of other crimes.

Despite these concerning videos, police have not yet approached the public with any new information about arrests or suspects in this case.  Police have also not revealed why they were so interested in questioning the young man who is of Haitian heritage.

When we reached out to them their response was: “The RTCIPF will not be making any comments at this time.”

Magnetic Media is told Isma was aware he was a person of interest to police yet he decided against cooperating with law enforcers.  Instead, his murder is another youth snuffed out in the record setting tally of homicides in ongoing feuds between groups or gangs in  the Turks and Caicos Islands.

What sparked this bloody back and forth is unclear, though drugs and profits from its sale have been fingered by authorities.  What is certain is that it has forced beefed-up backing from the UK with additional detectives and aircraft imported to bolster expertise and crime fighting capacity.

In 2020, 15 officers were dispatched from the UK including two Superintendents, Lisa Mitcheson, ( Crime and Public Protection) and Martyn Ball (Specialist Operations).  Again in 2022, 24 more officers were sent in to form an Anti-Gang Unit. In 2023 Superintendent Dean Holden (Head of Crime, Safeguarding and Public Protection) arrived.

The local government has pumped money into the cause as well. Budgets have continually increased over the past three years from $29 million in 2021/22 to $34 million in 2022/23 and money was allocated for 12 marine officers to be added to the Police Force. In 2023/24 financials revealed the Police got $35.9 million, plus $6.2 million in Capital projects.

Since the double murder which marked the 16th and 17th killings for the Turks and Caicos in 2023, there have been threats against a reportedly innocent airport employee who had been accused of taking the video of Isma as he walked out of the terminal after checking in for his flight that fateful Thursday.

There has also been the release of a song which many have described as a group of young men, rhythmically, boldly confessing to the crime.  A near 3-minute rap, featuring a variety of voices, well produced, which says among other things that Jumilla Isma or “Ju” thought he could catch a British Airways flight and get away with murders.  The artists say they knew their act of getting even would be shocking to the nation, but they did not care and were instead focused only on ‘sending him home’.

Since the murders of Isma and Forbes, which drew condemning comments from government leaders including the Governor, Premier and Opposition party, the Royal TCI Police has kept all official information, including updates under lock and key.

Caribbean News

ENTITIES STRENGTHEN COLLABORATION TO FIGHT GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE

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Kingston, Jamaica, December 3, 2024 – The Women’s Resource and Outreach Centre (WROC) is strengthening its partnership with key stakeholders to prevent Gender-Based Violence (GBV), and support young women and girls in vulnerable communities.

Under an agreement, which was signed on Tuesday (November 19) during a Gender-Based Violence Prevention Network (GBVPN) event at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in Kingston, the stakeholders, which include public and private sector entities, will collaborate to carry out activities geared towards responding to and preventing gender-based violence in vulnerable communities.

One key aspect of the arrangement is the provision of assistance through the WROC’s GBVPN facility.

Community members will be able to engage with civil society organisations, as well as public and private institutions, to discuss the gender-based violence issues they face. They will also receive support in seeking remedies for their situations.

Executive Director of the WROC, Keisha Williams, explained that the GBVPN, which was launched in 2021, aims to create a people-centred approach and provide real-time support and advocacy for survivors of gender-based violence.

She said through the network, the WROC has secured partnerships with over 15 organisations and implemented case management and referral systems for survivors.

“We have provided trauma informed care counselling for many of our community members and implemented a robust case management system for survivors,” she added.

The Executive Director also lauded the partnership with the Inter-American Foundation (IAF), including a grant from the organisation, which “has helped WROC enhance its impact on communities by expanding advocacy efforts in the fight against GBV.”

 

She noted that the grant focused on three key components – institutional strengthening, creation of a gender-based violence prevention network and small business development.

Founded in 1983, the WROC works to improve collaboration among institutions that work to prevent gender and family violence, strengthen communities’ ability to reduce violence, and support survivors.

The organisation provides outreach programmes, with a focus on health and wellness, sustainable livelihoods, community capacity-building and advocacy.

Among its key stakeholders are: the Bureau of Gender Affairs (BGA), Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA),Women’s Empowerment Benevolent Society (WEBS), Social Development Commission (SDC), Fight for Peace, Trench Town Community Development Committee, Centre for Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse (CISOCA), Calvary Temple Church, Bethel New Testament Church, Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ) and the Rose Town Foundation.

 

CONTACT: E. HARTMAN RECKORD

RELEASE: JIS

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CARPHA Hosts Regional IATA Infectious Substances Transport “Train-the-Trainer” Workshop with the Pandemic Fund’s Support

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Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago – The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) concluded its Train-the-Trainer Workshop on the Safe Transportation of Infectious Substances today. The workshop, conducted by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), was supported by the Pandemic Fund grant, with CARPHA serving as the Executing Agency and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) as the Implementing Entity.

Fourteen (14) CARPHA Member States (CMS) participated in this initiative, which aimed to strengthen regional capacity to meet international safety standards for shipping infectious substances. The training provided participants with essential theoretical knowledge, interactive discussions, and practical exercises to achieve IATA certification as trainers. These certified trainers will now be well-positioned to serve as national trainers and advisors in biosafety and safe transport protocols, ensuring safer practices across the region.

Dr. Lisa Indar, Ad. Interim Executive Director of CARPHA, highlighted the significance of the initiative: “As a region, we must ensure that the transportation of infectious substances meets international safety standards to protect our public health systems and communities. This workshop builds on CARPHA’s commitment to developing a robust network of certified trainers who can implement and sustain best practices in their home countries. We are grateful for the training supported by the Pandemic Fund project, enabling us to take key steps in pandemic preparedness and response.”

The program not only addressed gaps in Certified Infectious Substance Transport Training within CMS, but also established mechanisms for monitoring and evaluating the trainers’ impact in their respective countries. Participants are expected to conduct infectious substances transport training within the first quarter of 2025, ensuring the rapid application of their certification.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Dr. Horace Cox, Acting Director of Surveillance, Disease Prevention and Control at CARPHA, remarked: “The effectiveness of our public health response hinges on having a cadre of professionals who can translate this critical knowledge into action at the country level. This program empowers Member States to strengthen their capacity to handle infectious substances safely and securely, which is a cornerstone in bolstering regional health systems and pandemic preparedness and response.”

To ensure the sustainability of the training program, CARPHA is also establishing mechanisms for ongoing feedback and continuous improvement, ensuring that the program remains dynamic and responsive to the needs of the Member States and trainees. These efforts promise to enable better tracking of training activities and contribute to the long-term sustainability of the training program. This initiative is part of CARPHA’s broader mission to enhance laboratory capabilities, improve surveillance systems, and ensure public health security across the Caribbean. By creating a robust network of self-sufficient trainers in its Member States, CARPHA aims to strengthen the capacity for safely shipping infectious substances and enhance regional public health resilience.

About the Pandemic Fund Project:

The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), the sole regional public health agency, is the Executing Agency for the Pandemic Fund (PF) Project: RG-T4387, with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) as the Implementing Entity. The goal of this Project, which spans from 2024 to 2026, is to Reduce the Public Health Impact of Pandemics in the Caribbean through Prevention, Preparedness, and Response (PPR). The objective is to support the reduction of the public health impact of pandemics in the Caribbean by building pandemic PPR surveillance and early warning systems, laboratory systems and workforce capacity, regionally at CARPHA and at country levels. This will reduce the transboundary spread of infectious diseases and improve regional and global health security. CARPHA is the beneficiary of the PF project and CARPHA Member States are the participants.

The PF was approved at the highest level by the Council for Human and Social Development, as well as by CARPHA’s Executive Board and other stakeholders, including Chief Medical Officers. This is a regional 3-year project (2024-2026). The public signing of Technical Cooperation Agreement to implement the project was on December 14, 2023.

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Strengthening Families Through Knowledge: Parent Training Workshops Held Across the Islands

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PRESS RELEASE

FROM THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

YOUTH, SPORTS AND CULTURE

 

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands : The Department of Special Education Needs Services (SENS) of the Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture proudly concluded its highly impactful series of Parent Training Workshops across the islands, aimed at empowering parents with the skills and knowledge needed to support children with special educational needs. These workshops represent a significant step in building stronger partnerships between families and the education system while fostering a culture of inclusivity and understanding.

Held on Grand Turk, North Caicos, and South Caicos, these interactive sessions provided parents with valuable insights into identifying and addressing their children’s unique needs. The sessions were hosted by the speech-language pathologist and behavioural analyst of the SENS department. Topics included behaviour management strategies, communication techniques, and resources available to enhance their children’s learning and development.

Director of Special Education, Dr. Anya Malcolm-Gibbs, emphasised the importance of these workshops, stating, “Parents are their children’s first and most influential teachers. By equipping them with the tools they need, we empower not only the children but entire families. This series of workshops demonstrates our department’s commitment to collaboration, inclusivity, and excellence in special education.”

The workshops saw robust participation, with attendees expressing gratitude for the practical advice, hands-on activities, and opportunities to connect with other parents and professionals. Parents in South Caicos especially shared their enthusiasm, highlighting how these sessions gave them renewed confidence to support their children’s educational journey.

The Hon. Rachel M. Taylor, Minister of Education, praised the initiative, stating, “This program highlights our government’s unwavering commitment to education for all. These workshops are a testament to the power of collaboration between parents, educators, and the community to ensure that children with special needs receive the support they deserve.

This initiative is part of the department’s broader efforts to ensure no child is left behind. Over the past year, the Department of Special Education has served over 250 children through therapy, assessments, and camps, hosted eight professional teams for screenings and evaluations, and transformed the SNAP Center into a thriving educational hub.

The department thanks all stakeholders, facilitators, and parents who made this series of workshops a resounding success. Together, we are paving the way for a more inclusive future where every child can thrive.

For more information about the Department of Special Education and upcoming initiatives, please contact sens@gov.tc.

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