News
Rehabilitation gets its own Department, Jaron Harvey is new Director with 86% success
Dana Malcolm and Wilkie Arthur
Staff Writers
#TurksandCaicos, December 5, 2023 – The Probation and Rehabilitation Unit of the Turks and Caicos government has transitioned to the Department of Rehabilitation and Community Services and armed with new strategies they are successfully helping to prevent recidivism in the country.
In an enlightening session for those involved on November 21st, the Department detailed that with its limited resources, it was already successfully helping to stop reoffending locally.
Jaron Harvey, Director of Rehabilitation led the event which focused on probation and parole, which they describe as alternatives to incarceration, fostering rehabilitation. For this rehabilitation to be successful, the Department has certain strategies, including addressing criminogenic needs for effective change and creating a holistic approach to the reintegration of offenders, including education, counseling, and employment.
Armed with an assessment plan, the Department of Rehabilitation and Community Services will aim to identify risk factors for re-offending in their clients based on criminogenic needs, these are factors that directly contribute to recidivism.
Cited as potential triggers were the criminal history, education and employment, family, companions, alcohol and drug dependence of the clients. Then the Department creates a plan to effectively keep them away from crime.
“We have to tailor our intervention to their learning style so if they learn by playing, we have to play games, if they learn by watching videos, we have to watch videos,” he said.
Despite their hard work, there are some social issues which are barriers to clients; these include employment and ID challenges, societal stigma and personal struggles like substance abuse, mental health concerns or lack of education.
“There is a negative perception about offenders in the Turks and Caicos, and part of that is because people don’t understand what services are being made available to people who are caught in the criminal web,” Harvey lamented.
Representatives at the event shared one of their success stories under the pseudonym ‘John Doe’. Doe was placed on probation for 18 months after committing burglary in January 2020. The team developed a case plan to address his criminogenic needs and he reported to a parole officer three times a week for sessions. By October of that year, he got an entry-level job and was promoted twice in four months. By June 2021, he completed probation successfully and broke down in tears in the courtroom testifying that this was his first victory in his entire life.
As of 2023, John Doe has not reoffended and is still fully employed.
“This is a testament to the power of support rehabilitation and transformation,” Harvey explained.
But John Doe isn’t the only success story, he’s not even an outlier. Between 2019 to 2023 of the 12 clients helped by the Department, only one re-offended.
“We are functioning at about 86% success rate with limited resources,” said Harvey
During the meeting, several questions and concerns were raised by Magnetic Media including the length of time that some offenders have to wait for parole, we are told some offenders wait out their entire sentence, and parole applications are still not approved.
The Department recently visited Cayman to further its knowledge and is looking to introduce an electronic monitoring system by 2024.
What the Department of Rehabilitation and Community Services wants now is to give former offenders a chance to reintegrate into society without stigma and more resources to help even more residents.
PRESS STATEMENT
Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation
The Bahamas, February 6, 2025 – A delegation inclusive of all relevant agencies is meeting with SpaceX officials as The Islands of The Bahamas finalise preparations for the historic landing of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket booster on February 17.
This landmark moment will make The Bahamas the first international destination to host the Falcon 9 rocket booster landings. This historic event, set to take place off the coast of The Exumas, marks a significant leap for The Bahamas into the realm of space tourism.
The collaboration between Bahamian officials and SpaceX positions The Bahamas as a key player in the growing space tourism industry, with 20 scheduled landings to take place in Bahamian waters on autonomous drone ships. The country will be the exclusive location to witness these remarkable events, offering unique economic opportunities and advancements in technology.
The delegation includes senior representatives from the Royal Bahamas Defense Force, the Bahamas Air Navigation Services Authority, the Department of Environmental Planning and Protection, and the Port Department.
The relevant senior officials will remain on hand during the launch sequence and launch and ascent. They are fully engaged to ensure all safety, regulatory, and operational measures are in place for the scheduled landing. Every effort is being made to facilitate this historic event while maintaining the highest standards.
Further details regarding the landing and related activities will be forthcoming.
The Hon. I. Chester Cooper
Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Tourism, Investments & Aviation
***MEDIA RELEASE***
Turks and Caicos, February 5, 2025 – The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force is investigating the discovery of a decomposing body found in the vicinity of Delco Yard, Snake Hill, Blue Hills.
At approximately 7:45 pm on Tuesday, January 15, 2025, officers received information regarding the presence of a body in a ditch near Delco Yard. A team of officers and the TCI Regiment were deployed to the scene.
Upon arrival, officers confirmed the presence of a deceased male wearing black jeans and blue Jordan sneakers. The deceased had a black locks hairstyle. The body was in an advanced state of decomposition.
If you have any information that could assist in identifying the deceased or in the ongoing investigation, please call 911 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-8477 (TIPS).
Information can also be shared via the Crime Stoppers P3 app.
Further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.
Caribbean News
S Hotel Kingston Partners with Bob Marley Foundation to Celebrate Kingston as the Cultural Capital
KINGSTON, JAMAICA, [February 6, 2024] – In celebration of Bob Marley’s 80th birthday, S Hotel Kingston has partnered with the Bob Marley Foundation to launch an immersive “Explore Kingston” initiative, spotlighting the city’s rich cultural heritage. The collaboration features a dynamic new video that showcases Kingston in the world’s music culture.
Widely regarded as the heart of Jamaica’s artistic and musical legacy, Kingston takes center stage in this captivating video, which highlights
iconic sites such as the Bob Marley Museum, Trench Town Culture Yard, Tuff Gong International, and Kingston Creative’s Water Lane Art Walk. The video offers an inspiring glimpse into the city’s cultural essence and its deep connection to reggae music.
“We are thrilled to partner with the Bob Marley Foundation to bring this experience to life,” said Christopher Issa, CEO of S Hotels Jamaica. “This initiative is not only a celebration of Bob Marley’s birthday but also a tribute to the creative spirit that makes Kingston the beating heart of Jamaica.”
S Hotel Kingston embraces this cultural legacy throughout the property. Each room is equipped with a Bob Marley record player. The hotel’s Strings Cafe and Bar features a stunning zinc mural with an impression of Bob Marley, serving as a striking backdrop that pays homage to Kingston’s artistic roots, along with an 8-ft guitar. Additionally, a Bob Marley statue stands as a tribute to the legendary artist, further reinforcing the hotel’s deep connection to Jamaica’s music history.
For more information on S Hotel Kingston, please visit http://www.shotelkingston.com. To view the “Explore Kingston” video, follow S Hotel Kingston on social at @shotelkingstonjm.
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