News
PREMIER ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF TCI’S 2ND NATIONAL RISK ASSESSMENT
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 23rd July 2024 — In a decisive move to bolster our nation’s anti-money laundering/ counter-financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) system, and ensure the safety of our citizens, I am pleased to announce the launch of a comprehensive National Risk Assessment (NRA) being led by the Anti-Money Laundering Committee (AMLC), chaired by the Hon. Rhondalee Knowles, Attorney General. This initiative is a cornerstone of our government’s commitment to protecting our country from the threats posed by money laundering (ML), terrorism financing (TF) and the financing of weapons of mass destruction (PF).
The security and prosperity of our beautiful Turks and Caicos Islands is our utmost priorities. The NRA will serve as a critical tool in
identifying and mitigating the risks associated with ML/TF/PF and related offences. The resultant action plan and strategic plan will lead to enhancing our resilience and ensuring compliance with international standards set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
The NRA will involve a large number of public sector authorities and include consultations with key private sector stakeholders. By leveraging the expertise and insights of all relevant parties, we aim to develop a nuanced and effective strategy to allocate resources to effectively mitigate the risks.
We acknowledge that ML/TF/ PF risk is complex and evolving and demands a dynamic and proactive response. The findings of the NRA will be instrumental in shaping our policies, regulations, and operational measures going forward, bolstering our national security and reaffirming our commitment to upholding global standards in the fight against terrorism.
I wish to thank the AMLC and all the dedicated personnel that are undertaking this enormous task. I ask the respective statutory bodies, ministries and departments to prioritise this exercise and we seek to develop a comprehensive understanding of our risks and an appropriate risk-based response to the gaps or weaknesses identified. I affirm my government’s commitment to prioritizing the effective implementation of the FATF recommendations and look forward to receiving the finding of this risk assessment and seeing through the implementation of all recommended actions. Together, we can build a safer and more secure future for our nation and its people.
For further information, please contact the AML/CFT National Coordinator at the AMLC Secretariat at klucio@gov.tc
Honourable Charles Washington Misick
Premier of Turks and Caicos Islands
Wilkie Arthur
Eagle Legal News Media
Turks and Caicos, September 13, 2024 – In case one, allegations of a brother, of Dominican descent, raping his own sister and then hanging himself. In case two, allegations of another and known Dominican man after being deported or repatriated returns to the Turks and Caicos as a stow away and allegedly drowns.
Eagle Legal Court Correspondent was in the Coroner’s Court for the past two weeks when various different coronial matters were called.
The learned Coroner delivered her final decision on the two coronial matters mentioned above.
We will report on case number #1, “Allegations of brother raping sister, then killing himself.”
GABRIEL ESMIL DURAN, lived in Dock Yard, Kew Town, Providenciales. He was born in 1976 and allegedly hung himself in November 2021. His sister, whose initials are A V D, gave police a statement of her brother raping her about 12 hours before being found hanging with a rope around his neck.
The Hon Coroner relied on that statement to help aid her in her decision.
The sister said, her brother was drinking earlier that day, and after the sexual assault she ran out of the house and hid herself in the bushes until the morning. It was said that she told someone about the sexual assault. She said around 9pm she checked the door, it was locked, but in the morning the door was unlocked. The Coroner said there was no evidence of anyone entering the property, but one of her concerns was how the door got unlocked.
There was also information or evidence about his partner catching Covid-19 in the Dominican Republic, and that possibly weighed heavily on him.
Due to insufficient evidence surrounding the “police provisional suicide death” of Gabriel Esmil Duran, the learned Coroner did not reach the conclusion that this was a suicide death and her decision in the coronial matter was an “OPEN CONCLUSION”, which means if any further evidence was to ever come forward in this particular case, the coroner could reopen it.
Crime
“Life in Prison for setting fire” as Wheeland Residents say fire bomb tossed into residence Monday night
Wilkie Arthur and Deandrea Hamilton
Turks and Caicos, September 13, 2024 – TCI Police are not saying how the fire was set, but they do confirm a fire was intentionally set and witnesses speaking to Eagle Legal News Media report that it was thrown into a Wheeland house where it landed in the living room and exploded.
“…it is alleged criminals sent fire bomb (s) through a home, but thankfully no one was in the living room area where it landed and an explosion was heard loudly, no one was hurt or injured,” reported Wilkie Arthur of Eagle Legal on the night of the horrifying incident.
The Police report explains: Shortly after 8 p.m. yesterday (September 9), officers of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force
responded to a fire report at a dwelling in Wheeland, Blue Hills, Providenciales. Upon arrival at the scene, police officers and firefighters saw a structure in flames.
All efforts to contain the fire were successful. Fortunately, there were no injuries. Based on initial reports, the fire appears to have been deliberately set.
The RTCIPF wishes to remind the public that under the Malicious Injuries to Property Ordinance Chapter 3.11, Section 4, “Setting fire to a dwelling-house with any person being therein Whosoever shall unlawfully and maliciously set fire to any dwelling house, any person being therein, commits an offence, and being convicted thereof shall be liable to imprisonment for life.”
Fire Trucks and Police were summoned to the scene on Monday night. Images of the response are shared by Eagle Legal.
Meanwhile, the RT&CIPF is asking anyone with information that may help in this investigation to contact the closest police station, 911, the Serious Crime Unit at 231-1842, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800- 8477 to provide any information anonymously.
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