Connect with us

News

Parent Issues Plea after son’s Murder, calls for Young Men to Make Peace 

Published

on

Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer

 

#TurksandCaicos, February 15, 2024 – As of February 8, another young man has been killed in the Turks and Caicos Islands, now a parent is pleading for peace.

“To be honest with you, it’s been going on for too long, young people are losing their lives for foolishness and it doesn’t make sense,” a Parent explained to the news team around 1:40 p.m. Thursday, February 8th.

Hours earlier his son, a DECR officer, was killed in Grand Turk in broad daylight,  his death came after two double murders on February 1st and 2nd respectively. During those incidents, five others were injured including a 12-year-old girl.

For the parent, like many other citizens, it has all become too much.

“I just would like for these children to stop their foolishness and everybody come together and make peace,” he told our news team over the phone.

The Magnetic Media team has observed countless videos, social media photos and threats with young men heaving, crying, and swearing revenge after the death of their companions.  It’s proof of what Politicians, Police, and residents have been saying for years, young men in the Turks and Caicos too often use violence as a ‘go-to’ response.

A dangerous back and forth has emerged, threat for threat, violent song for violent song, and too often, kill for kill.

Grand Turk was not unfamiliar with the ‘beefs’ either; many murders over the years have been attributed to retaliatory crime including one as recent as January 29, where four people were shot, including three women and a young man, fatally.

In the turf war, a sort of callousness has also sprung up on social media, champagne is popped to mark kills, residents post death videos in celebration, laughter and cruel jokes are thrown back and forth rubbing salt in the wounds of loved ones.

The shooters themselves show no care for the vulnerable, pumping bullets into toddlers, 10-year-olds and pregnant women while stray shots take down unintended bystanders. The latest incident was just metres from a school sports day.

“None of them can come up and say I do this because of that or I hate you because of this, the just- it’s just foolishness. I think [it’s] attitude, ‘hard mouth’. Back in the days it used to be a little fist fight, but now these fellas using guns, these children need to come together, somebody needs to get these children together and make peace or else we won’t have no young folks here” the parent told us.

It’s a sentiment shared by law-abiding citizens at all levels, from Facebook anonymous chats to the House of Assembly.

“The alarming increase in incidents involving innocent bystanders being shot and targeted shootings has left us all grappling with fear and uncertainty– Our streets should be safe havens, not battlegrounds,” said Minister of Physical Planning Jamell Robinson speaking during the House of Assembly sitting on Tuesday February 6.

Similar speeches came from both sides of the floor with actionable solutions shared.

Those solutions must come sooner not later as seven weeks into 2024 the murder count stands at seven, even as the UK rushes to implement a new firearms unit and a new Commissioner is delayed in taking office, for medical reasons.  His temporary replacement is Chris Eyre, a former UK senior officer, who was sworn in on Monday, February 12 by the Governor of the Turks and Caicos.

News

Governor’s Statement Following Results of TCI 2025 General Election

Published

on

Turks and Caicos, February 8, 2025 – This morning, I received confirmation from the Supervisor of Elections of the official results of the 7 February 2025 General Election of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Hon. Charles Washington Misick OBE JP, leader of the Progressive National Party, has written to me in line with section 31(2) of the Turks and Caicos Islands Constitution Order 2011, to demonstrate he commands the support of a majority of the elected members of the Parliament.

Accordingly, at a ceremony at the Governor’s Office this afternoon, I appointed Hon. Misick as the Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands. On his advice and in line with section 31(1)(c) of the Constitution, I appointed Hon. Jamell Rayan Robinson as Deputy Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Following the ceremony, the Hon. Premier, Deputy Governor, Hon. Deputy Premier and I received a national security briefing from the Commissioner of Police.

May I take this opportunity to thank sincerely the Supervisor of Elections, the Deputy Supervisor of Elections, all election officials and the independent observers for their committed efforts in managing the electoral process.

Instruments of appointment will be published in the Official Gazette.

Continue Reading

Crime

TCI Police Report a Rape Conviction, Handfield registered as SEX OFFENDER

Published

on

Turks and Caicos, February 8, 2025 – The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force acknowledges the sentencing of convicted rapist ELVETHAN “ALVIN” HANDFIELD to life imprisonment following his guilty plea. Handfield was charged with the following offences: Two Counts of RAPE and Two Counts of USING AN OFFENSIVE WEAPON TO CAUSE FEAR.

The Supreme Court delivered the ruling yesterday (February 6), with Handfield, 47, of Glass Shack, Providenciales, being ineligible for parole until he has served 16 years. Should parole be granted, he will be registered as a sex offender for life.

Acting Superintendent Grantley Williams, Head of Serious Crime, Safeguarding, and Public Protection, stated: “Following an extensive investigation by our Safeguarding and Public Protection Unit, Handfield was charged after a report made by a female victim on April 20, 2024. The victim, after entering a jitney driven by Handfield on April 19, 2024, was taken to his residence in Glass Shack, where she was subjected to sexual assault before being released the following day.

“This heinous act of violence, where Handfield posed as a jitney driver, lured, and assaulted the victim while threatening harm, is despicable. The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force commend the victim’s bravery in coming forward, demonstrating immense courage in ensuring that this predator is brought to justice.

We recognize this is a difficult journey, and our Safeguarding and Public Protection Unit officers remain available to support the healing process.

We take this opportunity to urge any victims of sexual violence to come forward. Your reports are vital in removing dangerous offenders from our streets and ensuring the safety of our communities. Our commitment to justice remains unwavering, and we will continue to work tirelessly to protect and safeguard the communities.”

If you have been a victim or know anyone who has been a victim of sexual assault, please get in touch with the police without delay at the Safeguarding and Public Protection Unit at 232- 6696 or the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) at -338-4013.

All calls will be treated with sensitivity and confidentiality.

Continue Reading

Government

Misick promises to be Premier for all after “Sweet, Sweet Victory”  

Published

on

Deandrea Hamilton

Editor

 

Turks and Caicos, February 8, 2025 – When the cheering and dancing and handshakes and high fives were given the attention they rightly deserved, Washington Misick, the resoundingly re-elected premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands turned his attention from the divisiveness of the election trail to a message of solidarity.

“I have lost elections, so I know how difficult it is for you but now it is time to put partisan differences aside and work on behalf of our people,” said Misick, as he spoke pointedly to the Leader of the Opposition from his celebration stage just after midnight on February 8.

“I want to thank our wonderful and loyal supporters.  Our campaign team and our candidates who worked hard, long hours, burned the midnight oil to mount this victorious campaign.  I wanna thank my beloved wife and our extended families of all of our candidates for all of their support. Tonight’s victory belongs to you.

Because of you we will be able to continue the work of building for our children and our children’s children.  I am inviting everyone to be on this journey with us, whether you’ve voted PNP or whether you voted PDM or whether you voted independent.  I want you to be on this journey with us,” he said.

The premier, who is now serving a second consecutive term in office and serving for a third time as leader of the Turks and Caicos Islands, was flanked by his winning team and throngs of jubilant supporters assembled at the party’s headquarters in Providenciales.

While the PNP was clearly most able to energize its base, winning many of their seats by spectacular margins, voter turnout in this 2025 General Election was at an historical low.  The premier, in his victory speech demonstrated his awareness of that fact and offered an olive branch to those who skipped voting altogether, which would have been over 2,400 people, according to Elections Office statistics.

“And to those Islanders who did not vote for me or the PNP, I hope that our work, policies and programs will earn your support and your blessings.  I promise, I will hear your voices, we will hear your voices and I promise that we will be there for you and I will be your Premier too.”

The Washington Misick led team swept the At Large category securing all nine seats, which now also introduces two first time Members of Parliament.  Only three seats from the constituency races went unsecured by the PNP; it was a total of 16 seats for the party in yellow.

“On this journey, we must have great success together and we will continue the economic and social transformation together.  No journey is without bumps and setbacks, you won’t always agree with the decisions we take but I will always be honest with you about why we make those decisions and the challenges we face.”

“To every islander and every resident, we will work hard everyday on your behalf and we will create the conditions and the opportunities to give all of our people a better quality of life,” he said to vigorous applause, adding, “Let us build together in a single purpose to make our beautiful by nature Turks and Caicos Islands the place where dreams flourish, justice abounds, love is abounding and hope is endless.”

The Premier informed supporters and those watching via social media that work for his new Progressive National Party Administration continues promptly on Monday.

Continue Reading

FIND US ON FACEBOOK

TRENDING