Providenciales, Tuesday 30 April, 2024 – A delegation from the Ministry of Health and Human Services, recently undertook a pivotal visit to the West Midlands Ambulance Service in Birmingham, United Kingdom. The visit, which took place from April 21st to April 23rd, 2024, was held under the esteemed patronage of the Ambassador of Health of the British Overseas Territories, Professor Ian Cumming.

Led by Permanent Secretary Mrs. Desiree Lewis OBE, the delegation included Ms. Renessa Williams, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Human Services, and Mr. Andy Brijmohansingh, Director of Emergency Medical Services. This strategic meeting was an integral part of the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to enhance emergency services within the Turks and Caicos Islands.

During the visit, representatives from the West Midlands Ambulance Service provided comprehensive insights into their operations, sharing valuable expertise and offering collaborative initiatives for the development of the TCIs emergency services. Discussions encompassed various aspects, including training and mentoring programs tailored to empower emergency personnel within the Turks and Caicos Islands.

“The visit marked a significant step forward in our strategy for the advancement of emergency services,” stated Mrs. Desiree Lewis OBE. “We are deeply grateful for the generosity and support extended by the West Midlands Ambulance Service, and we look forward to implementing the insights gained to further enhance emergency care within our country. Permanent Secretary Lewis also expressed the Ministry of Health’s gratitude to Professor Ian Cumming for his assistance by way of arranging the visit.”

Mr. Andy Brijmohansingh, Director of Emergency Medical Services for the Turks and Caicos Islands, underscored the importance of the discussions, emphasizing the poignant exchange of ideas and the potential for meaningful collaborations which signifies a commitment to improving emergency services and ensuring the safety and well-being of the residents of the Turks & Caicos Islands.

The Ministry of Health and Human Services expresses its sincere appreciation to the West Midlands Ambulance Service for their warm hospitality and invaluable contributions during the visit.

For additional information, please visit the Turks and Caicos Islands Ministry of Health and Human Services Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/tciministryofhealth/.

Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer 

With no evidence to support their claim, the prosecution has dropped their case against Pedro Jose Alfredo Grant Gallon, the Dominican Republic citizen who was accused of impersonating an officer in September 2023.

The Police, who publicized the arrest and charge, have not yet commented on the matter despite Magnetic Media queries.

Grant, for his part, has always vehemently denied the accusations that he was impersonating an officer and described the circumstances surrounding his arrest as unfair.

He contends that on the evening of July 13, 2023, he was being followed by a strange driver, concerned, he waited until the man pulled off at a bar, then took his license plate number and called the police, but police never came to help Grant. He alleges that the next time he saw them, they came with handcuffs to arrest him. In a search, police found his IDs which included his documentation for humanitarian work with the International Diplomatic Alliance (IDA) and police lights attached to his vehicle. In explaining the possession of those lights, Grant said he told officers that they had been in his car from his time in the Dominican Republic where he was involved in law enforcement.

Since that time, Grant has maintained several facts:

• The Police did not have a warrant to search his home and car;
• The Police took his documents including passports and IDs, one of which was issued by the IDA, and to date have not returned them despite being court-ordered to do so;
• The Police intimidated his wife with threats of deportation;
• He never showed any ID, flashing lights at the man following him, or claimed to be an officer.

Police have steadfastly refused to comment on the case despite numerous queries into the bizarre circumstances, even with serious allegations like intimidation against them. Grant was officially charged with Impersonating an Officer in September but IDA Head Jerrod Crockett told Magnetic Media despite seizing documents from Grant to support their case, no one even called the organization to see if they were real or fake.

Now, when called to provide evidence to the court as to why they arrested and charged the resident, the police and DPPs office drew a complete blank as Wilkie Arthur, Magnetic Media Court Correspondent, confirmed it was a lack of evidence that got the case dropped.

Despite this win serious damage has been done Grant claims, describing his life as a ‘living hell’ and ‘miserable’ since the accusations were publicized.

The IDA says it has been affected as well.

“That really put a hurt on us for the last six to eight months now because of accusations of fraudulent documents that everybody else has seen. We’re trying to prove our legitimacy now because you guys can’t verify any documents— before you put everything out there as public information,” Crockett said of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF)

The president also told our news team they had lost thousands of dollars in funding.

Following the closure of the case we reached out again to police to find out on what grounds Grant had been arrested and charged but no response was issued.

Wilkie Arthur

Freelance Court Correspondent

A Dominican female, after allegedly being sexually assaulted, allegedly recorded performing sexual acts and allegedly threatened and held against her will overnight by a jitney driver will have to wait a little longer for the conclusion of the matter.

Identified as the accused in this case is ELVETHAN MCFAIAN HANDFIELD, 47 of Parrot Cut Street, Cooper Jack, Providenciales; it is in the area residents call, Glass Shack.

Hon Chief Magistrate, Mr Jolyon Hatmin has remanded the man to prison until his sufficiency hearing on June 7, 2024.

A Dominican woman, resident in Dock Yard, Providenciales reported to police that she was on the road waiting on a jitney when she was picked up by the accused HANDFIELD.  She said he asked her where she’s going?  She said she told him to Dock Yard and then jumped into his car.  The woman said she had just gotten off from work and wanted to get home, instead, the driver allegedly detoured to what she suspected was his home, where he reportedly pulled out a knife and forced her inside.

The woman was held captive, according to her account of events to Police.  Raped repeatedly between Friday April 19th to Saturday April 20th; and then was threatened not to report the matter or face being humiliated, because her alleged attacker recorded the sexual encounter, without her consent and was prepared to post it online.

 Officers of the Safeguard and Public Protection Unit arrested ELVETHAN HANDFIELD shortly after the release of the woman, who filed a formal complaint. He was subsequently charged by female detective Ms. Michelle Goslyn with two acts of rape of female complainant, her identity revealed but which we withhold due to the sensitive nature of the crime.

The charges were laid against him on Friday April 26 and his court appearance was on Monday, April 29, 2024. HANDFIELD was not required to enter a plea as the CM explained to him that these are indictable offenses. The serious nature fit only for a Supreme Court trial.

In his attempt to get bail, as he was unrepresented at the arraignment, Ms.Tassja Mitchell of the DPP’s Office outlined all that is mentioned above and further told the Court that he there are other investigations pending, with more charges to come for the man who is known to the Police.

Mitchell explained that the Crown is opposing bail; expressing sincere concern for public safety if the suspect were to be released.  

While the Chief Magistrate dismissed hearing more about the other matters pending against ELVETHAN HANDFIELD.  

The Senior Public Prosecutor, Tassja Mitchell, in making a case for NO BAIL expressed to the Court that the Rehabilitation of Offenders’ Ordinance prevented her from giving the details of HANDFIELD’ convictions.

Bail for the man was denied; he is currently on remand at His Majesty’s Prison in Grand Turk.