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TCI gets New Interim Police Commissioner, what Chris Eyre brings to the table

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New Police Commissioner Chris Eyre

Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer

#TurksandCaicosIslands, February 14, 2024Chris Eyre, The Turks and Caicos’ Newest Interim Acting Commissioner took over the reins of the Royal Turks and Caicos Police Force on Monday, February 12th, under the watchful eye of Dileeni Daniel Selveratnam, TCI Governor. 

The emergency stand-in was called in from Cyprus after confirmation that Commissioner Designate Edvin Martin would be out for an additional three months, until May, because of health issues. 

Back in November when Martin’s appointment was announced several residents expressed frustration that a local had been overlooked for the role.

“What a shame we are still in a position where our own can’t rise to this level through succession planning,” said one man. 

Before Eyre’s appointment in Cyprus, he was a Chief Constable (Commissioner equivalent) in Nottinghamshire.

His tenure there began much like his tenure in the Turks and Caicos having been called in after a UK review that described the force as sub-par. After serving a year as Deputy he was promoted to Chief Constable on the retirement of Julia Hodson.

Hodson told the BBC  “Since he joined the force as deputy chief constable last year, Chris has made an outstanding contribution to policing in Nottinghamshire, not only in driving down crime but in overseeing a major re-engineering of how the service is delivered to the public.”

Eyre, on his Linkedin, said he “was invited to lead the transformation of Nottinghamshire Police which had been assessed as a ‘failed force’ by a Home Office capability review. At the time of moving to Nottinghamshire, it was assessed as ‘poor’ in all domains by HMIC. At the time of retiring from the Force in 2016, it was assessed as ‘good’ in all domains. Over the intervening 6 years the force had also achieved a 25% reduction in its budgets.”

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) described the county as the 18th most dangerous place to live in 2023, a classification that was surprising to most residents who spoke to the Nottinghamshire live news describing the area as safe. 

On his departure in 2016, Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Commissioner Paddy Tipping told Notts TV “Chris Eyre has been an outstanding Chief Constable for Nottinghamshire. Crime in Nottinghamshire is falling faster than almost anywhere else in the UK and Nottinghamshire Police is the fastest improving police force in England and Wales.”

According to crimerate.co.uk  crime rates in Nottingham, the most dangerous city in Nottinghamshire, rose in 2016 after the departure of Eyre from 95 percent in 2016 to 119 percent in 2017 and 133 percent in 2018.

Eyre has not yet spoken publicly about his appointment to the Turks and Caicos but Governor Daniel-Selvaratnam has expressed confidence in the officer.

Bahamas News

Royal Bahamas Police Force – ARRAIGNMENT NOTICE

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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

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Saunders Tells Caribbean Media: Be Seen, Be Heard – But What About TCI

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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

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Bahamas News

Bahama Brass Band Invitation Sparks Heritage Debate Ahead of TCI Constitutional Holiday

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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

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