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$100,000 in Cash, 18 Guns, 57 Arrests now TCI Police gets 50 NEW Armed Police to kill Crime

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Deandrea Hamilton

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Turks and Caicos, January 26, 2025 – Roughly 40-days after a crime crackdown initiative was launched, leaders from the Royal TCI Police report having taken in 18 firearms, illicit drugs, over $100,000 in cash and confirm 57 arrests, with nine individuals formally charged in a court of law.

“These targetted operations were organised to include intelligence driven policing, proactive policing, and specialist operations, strengthening our borders and community engagement initiatives and were carried out in tandem with the Border Force and the TCI Regiment,” said Rodney Adams, Acting Commissioner of Police in a Wednesday January 22, 2025 press conference.

The partnership operations also resulted in one person being arrested for murder.

On Saturday January 25, came the confirmed count of additional support from the United Kingdom, which is responsible for National Security in the Turks and Caicos as a British Overseas territory.

Twelve new officers are to be deployed, augmenting the current 13 on loan from the UK which – at this time – support the tactical unit with eight armed officers and the investigative unit with five skilled in intelligence led operations.

The additional manpower was in response to the infiltration of regional gangsters, which drove the Turks and Caicos’ murder rate to unprecedented heights: 48 homicides in 2024.  Now, the UK’s Defence ministry is sending more help and the TCI Government is advancing new money to better staff the Serious Crimes Unit.

“To fortify our capacity, following discussions with regional partners, we have worked to secure secondments for up to thirty specialist armed officers. This will take us to a complement of fifty additional armed officers, while the police recruit seventy-five new rank and file positions approved by Cabinet for expedited recruitment. Additional support has also been approved for the TCI Regiment.”

Ahead of the confirmed support, the Turks and Caicos National Security Council had announced the help would be dispatched, after the vexing crime trend took out two innocent people on Saturday January 18; one a young father and South Caicos native, the other a Sheriff’s deputy and tourist from Chicago, Illinois.

A lone shooter pulled the trigger; shooting three people and giving rise to new fears and fresh reports on the safety of the Turks and Caicos Islands for tourists.

“We will continue to work in collaboration with our regional and international partners as well,” said DCP Adams at the Thursday January 23, press event, adding, “You would have heard about the upsurge that will be happening soon so we will be having additional partners that will be joining us from the region…” explained Adams.

Additionally, it was shared that Cabinet on January 20, approved extra funding for the Police; a Cabinet summary shared:

  • Noting the previous uplift of over $3.5m in the Police 2024/25 Budget, Cabinet approved special funding of an additional $500,000 from the Contingency Fund to cover the cost of immediate specialized tactical police deployments from within the region to assist with crime fighting initiatives
  • Approved special funding of $100,000 from the Contingency Fund to assist TCI Crimestoppers with crime fighting initiatives such as rewards and tips
  • The above is in addition to the previous $730,000 that was awarded to the Police in the November approved supplementary to increase their Serious Crime budget from $500,000 to $1.2m during the 2024/25 financial year

It was also explained that over $5 Million in illegal drugs, mainly Cannabis was seized at TCI Borders in 2024 and the 18 unregistered firearms uncovered during December and January special-ops, were largely found on the streets.  Unimaginable in an island nation, which only a decade ago – 2014 – recorded only two murders for the entire year.

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NEW DESTINATION GUIDE BOOK ANNOUNCED FOR TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDS

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Turks and Caicos, April 23, 2026 – Experience Turks and Caicos is happy to announce that we have published a new destination guide to the Turks and Caicos Islands, designed to enhance the visitor experience while providing potential travellers with comprehensive and inspiring information on the destination.

The magazine was produced in collaboration with Greydoor Publishing, a UK-based company that partners with tourism boards across the Caribbean to create high-quality destination magazines and pocket guides.

Spanning 104 pages, the publication offers an in-depth look at the Turks and Caicos Islands, from its rich history and culture to the diverse range of activities and experiences available across the islands.

With the tagline “An Ocean of Experiences”, the guidebook, in keeping with Experience Turks and Caicos’ mission to promote the destination’s multi-island identity and ensure that all communities benefit from tourism, shines a spotlight on each island, highlighting unique experiences, locally owned restaurants, and homegrown entrepreneurs. It also serves as a practical planning tool, featuring curated three-day, seven-day, and ten-day itineraries to help visitors make the most of their stay.

The guide places a strong emphasis on culture, with a dedicated section outlining signature events held throughout the year, giving visitors a deeper connection to the rhythm and spirit of the islands.

To further enhance convenience, the publication includes QR codes that link to comprehensive listings of car rentals, taxis, and restaurants across the destination.

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Zhavargo Jolly, noted that the guidebook comes at a time when the destination is strengthening its presence in key international markets.

“We have made a clear commitment to strengthening our presence in key international markets, and this guide is an important part of that effort. It gives visitors a much fuller picture of who we are as a destination—not just our beaches, but our culture, our people, and the experiences across all of our islands. It helps us tell our story properly and ensures that more of Turks and Caicos is seen, experienced, and shared with the world,” the Minister said.

Interim CEO Consultant of Experience Turks and Caicos, Mr. Paul Pennicook, expressed pride in the publication, which marks the organisation’s first official guidebook.

“As we continue to expand the presence of the Turks and Caicos Islands at trade shows and conferences around the world, this guidebook will play an essential role in showcasing the destination,” he said. “I would like to thank all of the stakeholders who supported this publication through advertising, as well as Greydoor Publishing for working closely with our Public Relations Manager, Ms. Laura Dowrich, to bring this magazine to life.”

A digital version of The Turks and Caicos Islands Guidebook will be available on our destination website at www.visitturksandcaicos.com.

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POLICE ENGAGE COMMUNITY THROUGH SUNDAY WORSHIP IN GRAND TURK AND PROVIDENCIALES

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Turks and Caicos, April 23, 2026 – Officers of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force strengthened community ties through worship and outreach on Sunday, April 12, with coordinated church engagements in both Grand Turk and Providenciales.

In Grand Turk, officers from the local police station attended a service at the Methodist Church, led by Reverend Frednor Toussaint. The visit was headed by Inspector Jeremy Jones, with Sergeants Marlon Morse and Aquina Martin, along with Detective Police Constable Philip Smith also in attendance.

The service focused on themes of forgiveness and healing, with Reverend Toussaint encouraging congregants to release past burdens and embrace a path toward restoration. Following the service, officers remained to interact with members of the congregation, reinforcing a visible and approachable presence within the community.

At the same time in Providenciales, the Force’s Safeguarding and Public Protection Unit marked Child Abuse Prevention Month with a special church service at the New Testament Church in Blue Hills. Senior leadership was present, including Commissioner of Police Fitz Bailey, Deputy Commissioner Rodney Adams, Acting Deputy Commissioner Kendall Grant and Assistant Commissioner Darron Williams, alongside officers from across various divisions.

The twin engagements reflect ongoing efforts by the police to connect with communities beyond enforcement, using faith-based outreach and public engagement to promote trust, awareness and support across the islands.

Developed by Deandrea Hamilton • with ChatGPT (AI) • edited by Magnetic Media.

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Police Honour Retired Officers and Reach Out to Community in Grand Turk

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Turks and Caicos, April 23, 2026 – Moments of reflection, laughter and service came together in Grand Turk on April 13 as officers of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force took time to honour retired colleagues while continuing outreach across the community.

Officers attached to the Grand Turk Police Station visited several former members of the Force, creating a day filled with nostalgia as the retirees shared memories of their years in uniform. The exchanges were warm and heartfelt, with many expressing appreciation for being remembered and recognised for their contributions to national service.

Among those visited was retired Superintendent Ralph Doughty, noted for his role in establishing the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force Cricket Team. The team also paid visits to former Sergeant Conrad Thomas, former Inspector Benjamin Harvey, Corporal Leroy King, Sergeant George Worrell, Superintendent Marc Henry and Acting Inspector Tomiko Glinton.

The visiting group included Inspector Jeremy Jones, Sergeants Kavin Mars and Aquina Martin, and Constable Hussein Higgs. During the visits, Superintendent Willet Harvey presented tokens of appreciation to Mr. Doughty and Mr. Glinton in recognition of their service.

The day extended beyond honouring past officers. Welfare checks were also carried out for elderly residents in the community, including Yvonne Lightbourne, Pastor Mary Forbes and Edith Mesa, as officers continued efforts to support and engage with vulnerable groups.

Meanwhile, in a parallel outreach effort, Constables Jeffrey Castillo and Demi Alexis visited the Ona Glinton Primary School, where they led a “Good Touch, Bad Touch” awareness session for children aged four to seven, focusing on personal safety and protection.

The initiative highlights the Force’s continued commitment to community policing—bridging generations of service while maintaining a visible and supportive presence across Grand Turk.

Developed by Deandrea Hamilton • with ChatGPT (AI) • edited by Magnetic Media.

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