News
Elderly American man gets bail on bullets charge; Cancer diagnoses sways court
Wilkie Arthur
Freelance Court Reporter
#TurksandCaicos, December 21, 2023 – He is a 72-year-old, retired school teacher now serving in the Catholic Church in his home state of Texas in the United States of America. He arrived in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) along with his wife and family as they renewed their vows, celebrating some over 40 years of marriage.
As we wish not to divulged too many details regarding his terminal cancerous medical conditions but the aged senior is near death and came to TCI on what could be one of his final vacations according to his medical records from doctors in the United States. The heartbreak of the doctor’s prognosis, revealed in open court by his defense team Oliver Smith, KC, and his junior assistant Ms. Kimone Tennant was palpable.
The old man was leaving the TCI on Tuesday, December 12th, 2023 with his family after an enjoyable vacation when, at the Providenciales International Airport, seven rounds of low end 9mm ammunition was discovered in his departure luggage.
MICHAEL-LEE EVANS was released on Police bail with the directive to return to the station on the December 19th but given his poor health, his senior defense counsel Oliver Smith KC made emergency arrangements with police and the Magistrate’s Court to meet them at the court instead of the police station, where detectives charged EVANS with being in possession of unregistered ammunition without being the holder of firearm; which is illegal in the TCI.
In a fast moving case, the Grand Turk Acting Resident Magistrate Ms. Patricia Arana told the accused when brought before the court (she appearing by video link from the Grand Turk Magistrate’s Court) that she would be unable to consider or grant him bail. Magistrate Arana added that a plea was not yet required and the matter was scheduled for its Sufficiency Hearing on February 2; she then transferred the matter to the Supreme Court.
Attorney KC Smith rushed to the Supreme Court’s office in order to file a bail application; his action was met with success as a bail hearing was arranged for 11:30a, pm December 19.
Magnetic Media was present at the bail hearing which was opposed by senior public prosecutor Mrs. Nayasha Hatmin on the instructions of the learned DPP. Hatmin did give an earnest effort to have the hearing re-scheduled to a later date however, Judge Tanya Lobban Jackson was opposed to any adjournment of the matter especially given the court was due to be shut until the opening of the new legal year in 2024.
Due to the deteriorating health of the elderly defendant, KC Smith took a bold approach and asked the Court for the visitor to be allowed to return to the US to continue his extensive and continuous medical treatment while waiting on his sufficiency hearing.
Mr. Smith told the court in plain and direct language that to keep Mr. Evans here in the TCI could result in his death while under our watch. Smith raised the points that the accused requires round the clock medical care and to remand him at the Department of Corrections which has no doctor and is only visited by a nurse from time to time, could be detrimental.
The DPP’s office was not prepared to back down despite the reasoning put forth, explaining that this “is a very serious offense that carries a mandatory minimum of 12 years in prison” and said, if the accused was allowed to leave, he has no reason to return.
Her Ladyship Tanya Lobban Jackson having heard both sides in her decision said, the accused man’s medical needs is what “tips it over the scale”. Bail was granted for Michael Lee Evans in the sum of $20,000.00; $10,000.00 to be immediate cash and $10,000.00 surety for one or two persons to sign.
The judge went on to order that Evans is allowed to leave the jurisdiction and attend court via link from overseas through his attorney Mr. Smith, KC. Explaining that the 72-year old cancer patient did not have to return for the February 2nd, 2024 Sufficiency Hearing but that he “must return to the TCI for the date of the plea and direction hearing(PDH).”
Michael-Lee Evans has since left the country along with his family.
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
