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Two American Tourists charged with Ammo Possession will know their fate in SEVEN days

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Photo by Wilke Arthur

Wilkie Arthur
Freelance Court Correspondent

#TurksandCaicosIslands, May 22, 2024 – Two American tourists from two separate arrests and both charged with possession of ammunition in two separate matters demanding the expertise of two local attorneys making their cases before two high court justices.

The defendants are from two different States and their matters were called on the same date while unfolding in the courtroom on two different islands.

PROVIDENCIALES PROCEEDINGS FOR RYAN WATSON

RYAN TYLER WATSON of Oklahoma and TYLER WENRICH of Virginia both appeared in the Turks and Caicos Islands Supreme Court on the same date of Tuesday, May 21st, 2024.

WATSON was in the Providenciales Supreme Court before her Ladyship Ms Tanya Lobban Jackson and TYLER WENRICH was in Grand Turk before his Lordship The Hon Mr Justice Davidson Kevin Baptiste.

Their attorneys are Mr. Oliver Smith KC and Senior Human Rights Attorney Ms Sheena Mair, respectively.

For RYAN WATSON, the case was listed for an application filed by his attorney KC Smith to expedite the proceedings. We can recall that he was remanded to prison on April 23rd and released on bail on the 24th by the Supreme Court.

Watson’s case was adjourned to a sufficiency hearing date of June 7, 2024.

The case was moved to Tuesday May 21st on an application by his defense counsel and the matter is now set for Plea and Directions Hearing ( PDH) in seven days which is May 28th, 2024.

This is indeed a jump from the June sufficiency hearing date, now WATSON if he pleads guilty, could be sentenced soon and his matter expedited for a quick close.

TYLER WENRICH GRAND TURK PROCEEDINGS

As for TYLER WENRICH in the Grand Turk Supreme Court, his judge heard sentencing submissions from his attorney, Ms. Sheena Mair and Mr Clement Joseph of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

We will outline some of the arguments put forward by the defense and the prosecution in the Grand Turk Supreme Court.

At the conclusion of both sides’ arguments, the judge adjourned the actual sentence for a date to be fixed within the next seven days.

Here are the arguments his Lordship Justice Davidson Kevin Baptiste are considering for or against TYLER WENRICH.

He was supported in court by his father, Michael Wenrich, and a United States of America Embassy representative, Mr. Lance Petererson, who flew in from Nassau Bahamas for the proceeding which was also being covered by a leading American broadcaster station, ABC News.

The Court proceeding was delayed some 30 minutes at 10am to ensure the indictment read, the charge of two counts of possession of ammunition was worded correctly (there was a difference between the police report and court’s indictment).

Tyler, a cruise ship passenger at the time of his arrest is charged with having two rounds of 9mm bullets in his carry-on bag.

Human Rights Senior Defense Sheena Mair begins her oral argument, having previously filed her written submissions.

Ms. Mair urged the Court to accept exceptional circumstances in this case for a lesser sentence.

She referred to the Attorney General’s reference that protect against an arbitrary and disproportionate sentence. She submitted that, “A mandatory minimum of 12 years in this case is not what Parliament intended with the firearm ordinance change in October 2022.”

“Tyler’s sentencing will not fix the gun issue in this jurisdiction,” argued Ms.Mair.

Adding that the court would not be undermining Parliament’s decision by using a holistic approach to this case, taking all that was presented into consideration as especially exceptional circumstances.

Mair dealt with the fact that Tyler’s carry-on bag, both TSA/Port Authority, missed the bullets in his flight to Miami from Virginia and him boarding the cruise. He did check his bag, but because the two bullets fell into the lining of a small pocket of the bag, it was impossible to see them.

“This is an offense of inadvertence,” as it is Tyler’s first trip outside the continental United States. He was only on the island for nine hours.

Mair then detailed Tyler’s great character, as a paramedic and volunteer EMT for underserved communities in Virginia. He had 17 character references submitted to the judge. He has no criminal record. She classified these characteristics as “mitigating circumstances,” a reason for a lesser sentence.

He does yard work for elderly homes.

Mair commented on the mandatory minimum of 12 years: “That is not required as a deterrent.”

She made several points on how the Ordinance is meant to deter offenders with criminal intent, not tourists.

“If Tyler knew the bullets were in the bag, he would have removed them immediately.”

Counsel Mair then detailed and outlined previous case authorities such as Michael Grimm and Dave O’Connor.

O’Connor had 44 rounds (received a fine) and Grimm had 20 rounds (8 months custodial sentence). In both cases, she said, the Court of Appeal defended the finding of exceptional circumstances.

Mair described the exception circumstance of health – relating to the impact Tyler’s absence has had on his 18-month-old son Everett.

“He’ll never get that time back with his son.”

Tyler’s 14 days in custody between jail at the police station and on remand at His Majesty’s Prison were also documented. Mair argued that since Tyler spent nearly a month of a custodial sentence, that time should be considered in the sentencing or act as the sentencing itself.

The Attorney General’s report on the Court of Appeal ruling does not specify how long a sentence should be. The Court of Appeals is open to a short, lesser sentence.

“However small” was repeated by Mair, highlighting that any amount of time, even a day of custody would be deemed proportionate.

“How does a 12-year sentence deter a mistake?”

General deterrence has already worked for Tyler, he has learned his lesson and paid the ultimate price, rested the Defence.

PROSECUTION BEGINS SUBMISSIONS

Principle Public Prosecutor, Mr. Clement Joseph who appeared remotely, offered three pillars in his argument: knowledge, custody, and control.

He maintained that there are no exceptional circumstances to prove that Tyler did not possess those three aspects relating the two rounds of ammo.

Joseph began by clarifying Parliament’s definition of exceptional “something that is completely out of the ordinary.”

Joseph argued that since the cases of Americans being detained have exploded in the past two months, these circumstances/mistakes cannot be unique.

“The circumstances the defendant has provided are truly not exceptional.”

Joseph blamed the State Department, the US Embassy, and even travel booking websites for not providing a more clear travel advice including the punishment for possession of ammo.

“Re-boarding a cruise to leave Turks & Caicos is not unique or exceptional. Ammo is more dangerous than a firearm. We are not bound by US laws, we cannot be bound by rules that do not apply in Turks and Caicos,” he said.

Prosecutor Joseph then made claims against the American security apparatus, saying that security efforts in TCI are more effective than those in the US.

“If the US found ammo coming back in from a foreign country, the US would be threatened. Security is paramount to the US.”

The uptick in gun murders in 2022 led to the Turks and Caicos parliament instituting the 12-year sentence in October 2022.

The dominant purpose to go from 7 to 12 years was the “deterrence of future offenders”

A “harsh and draconian punishment is proportionate.”

Mr. Joseph argued that Tyler’s guilty plea should not reduce his sentencing whatsoever.

He stated that parliament did not differentiate between ammo and a firearm in the Ordinance. The two are on equal footing in the eyes of the law, he confirmed.

He then went on to invite the Court to consider a new line of argument never advanced before in any of the other firearms cases regarding the prison ordinance. He said. Secondary legislation (Prison Conduct Regulations) cannot trump or usurp primary legislation (Firearms Ordinance), the required custodial sentence should not be impacted by lower-level rulings.

The principal public prosecutor offered that Tyler’s previous 14-day custody should be subtracted from his overall sentence and not be considered the sentence in itself as submitted by defence attorney Sheena Mair.
On that note, the Prosecution then rested its case.

DEFENSE RESPONDS

Ms. Mair in her closing submissions said Grand Turk prison rules/regulations (involving a lighter sentence for good behavior, where the detainee serves 2/3 of their sentence) are not in the judge’s jurisdiction.

She outlined that Michael Grimm received a shorter sentence due to good behavior.

These exceptional circumstances must be looked at individually and holistically, she reiterated.

It is exceptionally unique that Tyler’s case took place at a cruise port and his bag check was initiated by Royal Caribbean security.

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Beaches Turks and Caicos sets the Benchmark for Biodiversity in the TCI

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Volunteers from the Sandals Foundation and Great Shape 1000 Smiles dental programme complete an oral health presentation at the Ashley Learning Centre took time out to share in a photo opportunity with some students and teachers

PROVIDENCIALES, Turks & Caicos Islands: — Beaches Turks & Caicos continues to lead the way in sustainability by cultivating a culture of environmental stewardship across the Turks and Caicos Islands. Through the introduction of biodegradable alternatives, agricultural education and community partnerships, the resort is setting a new standard for eco-conscious hospitality.                                                                                                                                                                  As part of its ongoing sustainability mission, the resort has replaced single-use plastics and certain chemicals with compostable, biodegradable products derived from natural sources, to reduce pollution and minimize the resort’s carbon footprint.

At Beaches Turks & Caicos, sustainability is woven into every part of the guest experience,” said Managing Director, James McAnally. “From the products we use to the relationships we nurture, our goal is to make responsible environmental choices that benefit our guests, team members and the wider Turks and Caicos community.”

The resort also practices on-site composting, recycling fruit and vegetable waste from its kitchens to enrich soil and sustain its lush landscaping. This closed-loop system reduces waste and promotes biodiversity across the property.

Beyond the resort, Beaches collaborates with local partners including schools, government agencies and NGOs to extend green education into the wider community. Through the Sandals Foundation, the resort supports projects such as the installation of water filtration systems, tree-planting activities and biodegradable workshops. Schools like Enid Capron Primary have expanded their farming projects and integrated agricultural science into their curriculum thanks to this partnership.                                                                                                                                                                                 Beaches also leads regular coastal cleanups and reforestation drives which inspires residents and students to play an active role in protecting their environment. “The Earth Guardian volunteers take pride in giving back to our schools and the communities we serve,” noted Public Relations Manager, Orville Morgan. “These initiatives create a sense of shared responsibility that strengthens both our communities and our natural resources.”

With its commitment to biodegradable innovation, sustainable education and environmental action, Beaches Turks & Caicos continues to set the benchmark for biodiversity and sustainability in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Photo Captions

1st insert:  Beaches Turks and Caicos and the Sandals Foundation celebrate with students at the Enid Capron Primary School in a Reading Road Trip experience where guests and students get to experience a cultural melting pot of activity.


2nd insert: Beaches Turks and Caicos resort Simone Woodfine from the Bar Department prepares to plant a tree at one of our schools to celebrate the mission of providing a healthier environment for the Turks and Caicos Islands

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Turks and Caicos Corporate Community Join Beaches Resort to Raise Funds for Jamaica’s Hurricane Melissa Relief

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Some members of the local media fraternity who were present to share in the experience

Turks and Caicos Islands, December 17, 2025 – Corporate partners in and around Providenciales recently joined Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort raising over US $54,000 to support Jamaica’s Hurricane Melissa Relief effort.  The fundraising dinner, aptly titled, ‘One Caribbean, One Family, One Love’ saw over eighteen companies gather on Friday, December 12 to support the recovery of families and the rebuilding of communities affected by the category 5 storm.

“When our Caribbean family calls, we will respond with love,” said Deryk Meany, General Manager of the Beaches Turks and Caicos resort. “Today it is Jamaica that is affected, but tomorrow, it could be the Turks and Caicos or another neighbouring island. We are committed to serving our brothers and sisters and are deeply grateful to everyone who have donated to the cause.”

Since the passage of Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica on October 28, the Sandals Foundation has been working around the clock with local agencies and international partners to provide shelter essentials, food, and clean water, restore schools, and provide medical support to hospitals. Funds raised at the recent benefit dinner will help bolster the next phase of the philanthropic organisation’s support to rebuild schools and livelihoods in affected communities.

“As we continue to provide essential first-relief support, we have already begun our long-term recovery response,” says Patrice Gilpin, Public Relations Manager at Sandals Foundation. “Many schools, which are the cornerstone of stability, learning, and emotional support for our young ones, require urgent attention. This donation will go a far way in restoring a sense of normalcy in the lives of our youngest and most vulnerable.”

The One Caribbean, One Family, One Love fundraising dinner featured, amongst other things a silent auction of Sandals and Beaches Resort stays, airline tickets, spa services, catamaran cruise, and private chef dinner. The night’s four course meal was also spearheaded by the TCI’s 2025 Taste of the Caribbean silver medalist culinary team- all of whom volunteered for the event.

Managing Director of the Northern Caribbean and Curaçao, James McAnally expressed delight at the outcome noting, “The success of this event is indicative of the power of partnerships to effect real change. We are grateful to the TCI business community, resort guests and our resort team for coming together and making this moment count.”

Photo Captions

1st insert:  Sandals Foundation Public Relations Manager Patrice Gilpin (centre) accepts the cheque from Beaches Turks and Caicos resort General Manager Deryk Meany (left) and Managing Director of the Northern Caribbean and Curacao James McAnally

2nd insert:  Members of the Beaches Turks and Caicos resort’s entertainment team were on hand to provide scintillating performances at the event

3rd insert:  Beaches Turks and Caicos resort General Manager Deryk Meany (5th left) poses for the cameras with representatives of the Graceway Communities as he personally thanked those who were in attendance

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Experience Turks and Caicos Projects Month-on-Month Growth of Stayover Arrivals for Winter Season  

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Paul Pennicook, Interim CEO Consultant, Experience Turks and Caicos

PROVIDENCIALES, TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS – (December 17th, 2025) – As the Turks and Caicos Islands welcomes visitors for the 2025/2026 winter season, forward bookings for the peak travel period from December to March are projected to surpass those of the same period last year. Experience Turks and Caicos is also forecasting steady month-on-month growth throughout the first half of 2026, with forward bookings already tracking ahead of 2025 levels.

“This is welcome news for our tourism sector, which experienced modest declines over the last two quarters,” said Mr. Paul Pennicook, Interim CEO Consultant of Experience Turks and Caicos. “One of the key drivers of this positive outlook is increased airlift, including a 19 percent increase in capacity from Canada for the winter season and a six percent increase from the United States.”                                                                                                                                                                                  Mr. Pennicook also attributed the improved projections to targeted marketing and trade engagement efforts led by Experience Turks and Caicos, particularly ongoing training and education for travel advisors and tour operator call-centre agents across all key source markets.

 

“We have maintained a strong presence through product launches and travel trade events such as Delta Vacations University, while significantly increasing the destination’s visibility through co-op advertising with major tour operators in our three primary markets,” he added.

Public relations activity has also played a critical role, with several hosted media visits from journalists in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Latin America, alongside proactive pitching efforts that resulted in more than 100 placements in travel trade and consumer publications in 2025.

Analysis of current booking patterns also indicates a notable shift toward shorter booking windows. “One major U.S. tour operator reports that over the past several weeks, approximately 90 percent of bookings have been for travel within the next 60 days,” Mr. Pennicook noted. “Hoteliers are reporting similar trends, suggesting the potential for further growth as we move into 2026.”

Despite the positive outlook, October and November recorded declines in stayover arrivals. Preliminary data shows 30,508 air arrivals in October, representing a seven percent decrease compared to October 2024, largely due to reduced airlift from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom as well as the impact of Hurricane Melissa on travel to the region. November recorded 52,547 stayover arrivals by air, a marginal one percent decrease year-on-year.

As the Turks and Caicos Islands welcomes visitors back to its shores this winter season, Experience Turks and Caicos would like to reassure that the island remains safe and welcoming. Statistics from the Royal Turks and Caicos Police Force show that overall crime is down, with a 40 percent reduction in murders. Experience Turks and Caicos is working closely with the police force to ensure tourism areas are well monitored and patrolled to enhance visitor security.

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