News
Community Value highlighted by Police Commissioner at Blue Hills town meeting
Danae Dennie
Intern
#TurksandCaicos, July 19, 2024 – “The community delivers 80% of the ability of the police force. It means therefore if we don’t have the community the most we can put forward to you is about 20% of our effort.”
These were the statements made by Commissioner of Police Edvin Martin who was speaking at a town hall for Blue Hills and
Wheeland on July 2nd, 2024. This meeting was held to allow the community to share their concerns and bring recommendations to the RTCIPF.
During the meeting many issues were brought up such as the murder rate, illegal immigration traffic congestion and the understaffed police force.
The main theme being pushed by the officers was the importance of community support.
As the issue was raised by a resident of the area, Commissioner Martin shared statistics on illegal immigration. He said the TCI was experiencing a 60% decline in the number of illegal or irregular immigrants intercepted.
“Last year it was just over 4,000 persons, for this year so far it’s about 826. We are down by about 60%. We are not out of the woods as yet as it is it still happening….We cannot eliminate these issues without the help of the community,” said Martin.
Superintendent Dwight Gardiner, overseeing Providenciales and Community Policing areas of the Force communicated the RTCIPF’s plans. He agreed that murders and illegal immigration are huge issues and expressed the importance of the Force being visible during these times. He said that serious crime was reduced in Blue Hills in 2019-2020 due to visibility.
To mitigate these crimes, they have increased patrols in Blue Hills with uniformed and tactical officers as well as CID Officers. He said that they want to boost engagement.
They want to build partnerships by speaking to members in the community, working with the church, supporting community events and doing impact assessments. They want to push the D.A.R.E programmes back in schools and will have Police Action week in collaboration with the sports commission.
Gardiner reassured the public that they will be improving.
“We are going to continue to evolve. We do listen to your comments.”
During the question and answer segment, Willah Gray, a member of the Blue Hills council shared that a lot of the recommendations were set three years ago such as putting up more lights and increasing patrols. He shared that the community needs an increase in police presence in the district.
The RTCIPF is ‘On demand and under equipped’.
Mr. Gray made a call for a training school within the Turks and Caicos, highlighted the high frequency of illegal migrants in the Northwest Point area, including landings which have gone undetected by authorities. There was also highlight of the issue of traffic congestion with a recommendation to add police officers to direct traffic.
In response, Commissioner Martin encourages the public to ‘police the police’ when they are not doing what is necessary. The recently installed police commissioner expressed agreement with the need for increased police presence and traffic management.
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
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
Bahamas News
Bahama Brass Band Invitation Sparks Heritage Debate Ahead of TCI Constitutional Holiday
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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