Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer 

“Founded on the principles of Unity, sisterhood and community service,” is how Alicia Swann, One Nation TCI Founder, and President, describes the organization as it gears up for its inaugural showing, to be marked by a pageant and parade of nations, family fun day and cultural show. 

When Magnetic Media spoke to Swann she explained the inspiration behind the name.

“The reason why we chose ‘One Nation’ was because we wanted to ensure that all of our beautiful ladies within the Turks and Caicos feel as if they are a part of our society. Speaking with the ladies I’ve gotten the opinion that a lot of them feel as if they are in our country but they don’t actually feel fully a part of it,” she explained. With constants whose heritages span the DR and TCI, TC-Trinidadians and more the contest is showcasing the rich and diverse culture of the country.

At least two contestants flew in from the UK and the US to participate in the pageant and the event is not just an array of pretty girls.

“We’ve taken the aspects of pageantry to another level, the young ladies have a platform  based on our pillars of the organization which include education and mental health,” Swann continued “We wanted to ensure that they understand the value and importance of  having a role and voice in society.”

The contestants were all allowed to choose an area to speak on and advocate for, and the President told Magnetic Media that so far the young women are taking the challenge seriously. There are 10 contestants overall, five in the ‘Miss’ category and five in the ‘Teen’ category.

The pageant is already receiving regional recognition as the eventual winner has been invited to take part in a regional pageant in St Kitts in August, a feat which Swann says she is extremely proud of. 

In addition to that event a cultural showing, family fun day and parade of nations will be held. 

“We will be honoring people from across the Turks and Caicos, out of every island, for their lifetime achievement in terms of giving back to their society. The persons being honoured are unsung heroes. They have been active in their communities in various roles and we felt the need to recognize all of them.” Swann explained.

The Founder didn’t share the names of those being honoured, preferring to leave it a surprise but did drop hints about who would be highlighted during the event; a smiling clinic nurse in South Caicos, a Grand Turk Taxi driver committed to the island’s development, a dedicated principal from North Caicos, a shipping pioneer from North Caicos as well and a creative founder from Providenciales.

“Our company is huge on ensuring that the community is involved and a part of doing that is ensuring that persons in the community are honoured,” the president said.

Several sponsors have stepped up to the plate including 

No monetary support has come from TCIG but endorsements from both Rachel Taylor, Minister of Education, and Josephine Connolly, Minister of Tourism, have been shared and the girls are currently undergoing intense training with a pageant coach in preparation for their big night.

Swann is hoping that once the community has a chance to see what One Nation TCI is doing they’ll understand the importance of the events, 

“We are a diverse culture and society and– we want people to understand the importance of diversity, supporting our young ladies and empowering them so they can see they have a role in the Turks and Caicos– The more we offer our young ladies [the more] we are able to retain that talent. Once they feel empowered the sky’s the limit.”

The Pageant and Crowning will be on the 25 and 26th of April while the parade and family fun day will be held on the 27th.

Wilkie Arthur
Freelance Court Correspondent 

#TurksandCaicos, April 20, 2024 – ERROL DALLAVANTY WILLIAMS aka Rooster, a Jamaican living in Five Cays; DAVIAN CLARINCE ROYE, a Jamaican living on Back Road, Blue Hills and a local female AYANNA ASTWOOD of Five Cays, were all the occupants of a small car that was driven by Astwood attempting to drive through the police security check point at SUZIE TURN ROUNDABOUT, on the night of Friday April 5, 2024 when they raised suspicions.

Royal TCI Police say in looking at all three in the vehicle and after closer observation of accused DAVIAN CLARINCE ROYE, “his eyes were blood red” and this is when they decided to conduct a stop and search of the vehicle and the occupants.

Around a quarter pound of weed was found in the vehicle and all three occupants were jointly charged with possession of controlled drugs, namely the cannabis found in the vehicle.

They were all arrested and taken into custody.

Reportedly, an additional very small quantity of suspected cannabis was found on the lone female AYANNA ASTWOOD when her person was searched by a female police officer, later, at the Chalk Sound Police Station. She was charged with that small quantity of marijuana and accepted responsibility by pleading guilty to that charge and not guilty to the weed found in the vehicle.

ERROL DALLAVANTY WILLIAMS pleaded not guilty to the suspected marijuana found in the vehicle, and he pleaded not guilty to the immigration offense of remaining in the islands beyond the permitted time.

DAVIAN CLARINCE ROYE on Thursday April 11, 2024 pleaded guilty to the drug found in the vehicle, taking all the responsibility for all the drugs in the vehicle, and he pleaded guilty to being in the islands illegally and unlawfully.

On Wednesday April 10th, ROYE was first brought before the court under the proceeds of crime Ordinance.

He was found with $950.00 dollars cash on him. Asked, how he got the money by financial crime unit Inspector Paulin Nemours, he said he was fishing as he lived here illegal for some three years.

The then acting DPP Mrs. Angela Brooks told the Chief Magistrate that her office was unable to prove the money was from the sale of drugs, though admission that funds were derived from fishing still makes it illegally obtained because ROYE has no status in the Islands and no fishing licence.

The court after hearing from ROYE’s attorney Mr. Ashwood Forbes did order the Crown’s forfeiture application and the $950.00 was confiscated for the government of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The prosecution, Ms. Richardson applied to the Hon. Chief Magistrate Mr Jolyon Hatmin to have both Jamaicans remanded to custody pending the conclusion of the case, but female defense attorney Mrs. Leanna Brooks Campbell got up after hearing the Crown’s application for remand submissions and told the court there’s no need to remand Rooster because he’s now married to Mrs. AYANNA ASTWOOD, so he’s not here illegally, and he can not be deported.

She admitted they’re still waiting on certain documentation, but they are a married couple and bail should not be refused.

She also reminded the court that ‘Rooster’ was on bail in another immigration case of unlawful entry months ago, and he has continued to make his court dates.

The learned Chief Magistrate was reminded that, that case only came to end on March 5th, this year.

WILLIAMS was granted $7500.00 baill and the other defendant, DAVIAN CLARINCE ROYE was remanded pending sentencing for the drugs in the vehicle and the unlawful entry charge.

AYANNA ASTWOOD was granted bail in the sum of $2000.00 and all three have to return to court next Friday April 19th, 2024.

The Crown will advise if they intend to withdraw the charges in connection to the illicit drugs found in the vehicle against Rooster Williams and his wife or proceed to a trial against the couple despite ROYE’S guilty plea in an attempt to accept full responsibility for the serious offense.

Wilkie Arthur

Freelance Court Correspondent

He was arrested in November of 2020, remanded to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation until November 2023 (three years later), when he was offered 40,000.00 bail and released. 

On January 22, 2024 his trial for the November 18th 2020 robbery of Royal Jewels on Leeward Highway, Providenciales commenced, coming to an end on April 18, 2024 with verdicts of guilty by a reduced number of jurors. 

After deliberating for some two and half hours, all five members agreed WILLIGENCE NOEL was one of the five men that held up, robbed and put the employees of Royal Jewels in fear with various types of unregistered firearms. 

The prosecution’s case against the defendant was that his DNA blood sample was left in the stolen vehicle used in the commission of the robbery. Although not admitted in evidence in the trial, common sense would dictate that police in a high-speed chase of the white van leaving the robbery scene did open fire at the vehicle carrying the robbers. 

Medical evidence was laid by Mrs Nayasha Hatmin, Senior Public Prosecutor, for the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) against WILLIGENCE NOEL stating that the following day or some 12 hour after the robbery, chase and shooting, Noel attended the hospital with a gunshot injury/injuries for treatment. 

During the investigation after the officers found the stolen vehicle without occupants, shortly after the robbery, they discovered jewelry and spent shells in the van that they testified they lost sight of for some 7 to 10 minutes in an area near Dock Yard. 

Senior defense human rights attorney Ms Sheena Mair challenged the DNA evidence and made several applicational attempts to the learned trial lady Justice Ms Tanya Lobban-Jackson to get the DNA evidence thrown out but each time the application was refused. 

These applications were in the absence of the jury, Ms. Mair contended that her client could not have a fair trial if the DNA evidence was to be allowed. She raised several legal issues with the taking and police procedural process of the lawfulness of the taken and testing of the DNA. 

However, her Ladyship, the Hon. Ms. Tanya Lobban-Jackson kept refusing Ms. Mair’s application on what appeared to be different directions and reasons for her decisions each time. 

At the conclusion of the three-month trial, Magnetic Media in speaking to Human Rights Attorney Mair about the verdict and outcome of the lengthy trial, and she said an appeal will be logged immediately after sentencing next month. 

Her client was convicted of two counts of robbery (one for the jewelry store heist and the other for robbing the occupants of the store), using firearm so as to cause fear and allowing himself to be carried in a stolen vehicle.

NOEL is scheduled to be sentenced on May 9, and was ordered to return to prison on remand pending sentencing.