TCI News
American MICHAEL LEE EVANS sentencing June 19, Prosecutor sides with Defence on Prison Time
Wilkie Arthur
Eagle Legal News Media
#TurksandCaicos, June 4, 2024 – Mr. Oliver Smith KC told her Ladyship The Hon. Ms. Tanya Lobban Jackson said that “to sentence his 72 year old terminally ill client to prison, would be passing a death sentence on him.”
Last week on Tuesday May 29th in the Supreme Court before her Ladyship The Hon Ms. Tanya Lobban Jackson, in the criminal case against the oldest American that is charged before the court for ammunition possession in the Turks and Caicos, came up for sentencing submissions.
MICHAL LEE EVANS of Texas is one of three Americans awaiting sentencing in the controversial cases, which have spawned numerous headlines.
Attorney Smith did not pull any punches and during his argument landed some serious blows when bringing to light the facts of the matter in the case of his client who was a very ill man.
Smith argued that under no circumstances should EVANS be sent to prison for the seven rounds of 9mm ammunition found in his
luggage as he departed Turks and Caicos Howard Hamilton Providenciales International Airport on December 12th last year.
The court learned that in this particular case, the Prosecution, being the proper ministers of justice they are, did express and agree that this is a case of ‘exceptional circumstances.’
Ms. Roseanne Richardson, senior public prosecutor speaking on behalf of the office of the Director of Public Prosecution told her Ladyship that they are in full agreement with everything that KC Smith submitted on behalf of his client, however, they took exception to one point. That is, they do not agree and believe the Court has the power to suspend a sentence where the mandatory minimum is beyond two years imprisonment.
Senior Public Prosecutor Richardson informed that her submissions were, regardless of the finding of exceptional circumstances, the court cannot suspend the custodial sentence in cases where the mandatory minimum is beyond two years.
KC Smith strongly disagreed, but he wasn’t able to carry the Court to any law in support of his disagreement nor was he able to convince or persuade the learned Judge Lobban-Jackson that she was acting correctly by suspending sentences after finding exceptional circumstances and intends to sentence to two years or less.
However, having heard both sides and given the fact there was only one specific area that was in dispute “re: suspending of the sentences” the Court invited counsel for the prosecution to go with her to paragraph 126 of the Attorney General’s Reference handed down in February of this year and the judge expressed, it was in that section or paragraph where she is duly empowered to hand down suspended sentences where the Court finds exceptional circumstances and intends to sentence to two years and/or less than two years imprisonment.
The revelation left Roseanne Richardson with limited words following the evidenced validation by her Ladyship. The DPP’s Office rested on the point with, “I see my lady, and I am guided by the court.”
The matter is now adjourned to June 19 for the actual sentencing of accused, MICHAEL LEE EVANS of the United States.
It was not expressed at the close of the hearing if the defendant had to return from America on the 19th for his sentencing in person, though it was clearly laid out at his bail hearing that it was expected that Evans would have to attend sentencing in person.
At the May 29th proceeding, Evans, who was granted bail in December 2023 due to the fragile state of his health, attended court by video link.
Turks and Caicos, September 6, 2025 – The Office of the Deputy Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands is pleased to announce the appointment of Mrs. Tamica Prospere as the Director of the Department of Learning and Development within the Office of the Deputy Governor.
Mrs. Prospere holds a Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) Associate Diploma in Organisational Learning and Development (RQF Level 5), a Bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of the West Indies (UWI) and an Associate Degree in Education, also from UWI. She has further enhanced her credentials with certifications and coursework in content delivery, human resource management, talent management, and training and development from esteemed institutions, including Mico University College and CIPD.
With a strong foundation in public service and education in St. Lucia, Mrs. Prospere dedicated over a decade to classroom teaching at the secondary school level, beginning in 2002. During her tenure, she educated a diverse student body across various subjects, including Mathematics, Information Technology, and Life Skills, all aimed at fostering students’ personal and social well-being. She also facilitated community adult learning programs, showcasing her enduring commitment to promoting inclusive and varied educational opportunities.
Her career in public service in the Turks and Caicos Islands began in 2014 as a teacher at Marjorie Basden High School. From 2019, she served as the Learning and Development Manager for the legacy Customs Department and later for the TCI Border Force. In this role, she made significant contributions to improvements and championed a culture of professional growth.
Mrs. Prospere has been a strong advocate for leadership development through several key programmes. She conceptualised and introduced
the Leading Effectively through Accountability and Development (LEAD) programme for the management team, which has successfully run for three consecutive years, with its most recent leadership reinforcement event held in 2025. Additionally, she implemented several programmes in partnership with educational institutions, resulting in 27 Border Force officers earning continuing professional development (CPD) certifications in supervisory management from UWI and 10 managers completing the Dynamic Leadership course with the Caribbean Maritime University.
She played a pivotal role in developing operational strategic plans and frameworks for both the Customs Department and the TCI Border Force. Mrs. Prospere spearheaded the creation and delivery of professional programmes, such as the Customs Broker Certification Programme. She introduced a Learning Management System (LMS) to facilitate scalable learning for aspiring Customs Brokers.
Moreover, she led the implementation of several significant projects, most notably the Regional Clearance System in the TCI and a comprehensive revamp of customs procedures at Howard Hamilton International Airport, which greatly enhanced operational efficiency. She also facilitated key engagements that strengthened partnerships with leading regional bodies, including the Caribbean Customs Legislation and Enforcement Council (CCLEC), the border security team within CARICOM IMPACS, and the customs advisory arm of CARTAC. These collaborations were instrumental in securing vital technical assistance for training.
Speaking on the appointment, Mrs. Prospere said, “I am honoured to step into this role and lead the Learning and Development Directorate. I believe that a world-class public service is built together. I’m dedicated to partnering with civil servants at all levels to foster a dynamic learning environment where we can collectively develop the skills needed to be adaptable, exceed standards, and deliver truly exceptional service to the public.”
In congratulating Mrs. Prospere, Deputy Governor and Head of the Public Service, H.E. Anya Williams stated, “We are pleased to extend congratulations to Mrs. Tamica Prospere on her appointment as the new Director of the Department of Learning and Development within the Office of the Deputy Governor.
With over a decade of dedicated service in the field of training and development, Mrs. Prospere has consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to building capacity and strengthening the public service workforce in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Her innovative and strategic approach to learning has transformed teams and empowered individuals, ensuring the public service is well-equipped to meet the demands of a constantly evolving landscape.
As the government continues its efforts to enhance service delivery through robust and comprehensive training initiatives, we are confident that Mrs. Prospere’s leadership will be instrumental in advancing a culture of excellence, collaboration and continuous growth across the public sector.
Congratulations Mrs. Prospere, on your well-deserved promotion. We look forward to working with you to shape the future of learning and development in the Public Service in the Turks and Caicos Islands.”
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