Connect with us

News

Murder in TCI surged by over 300%; from  FOUR in 2013 to FORTY-EIGHT in 2024

Published

on

Deandrea Hamilton

Editor

 

Turks and Caicos, January 27, 2025 – When there has been a total of 118 lives brutally and callously ended by unrelenting homicidal criminals over the course of one’s tenure as head of elected government, and when that number reflects a boom in violence that is heart-rending, there grows immense public pressure to explain why there isn’t a more firm handle on crime by now.

In the Turks and Caicos Islands, this is especially true as the tiny archipelago nestled in the Atlantic has been beset by media reports which expose an out of control situation.

The escalation in homicides is fuelled by clashing gang syndicates, said to have spilled into the British overseas territory from neighbouring Caribbean countries.  The onslaught has overwhelmed local law enforcement and landed the country at the top of the list of nations with the highest murder rates anywhere in the world.

The escalating crime has plagued the last two government administrations most.  Both Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson and Charles Washington Misick have faced punishing criticism on crime; so have the British appointed Governors, (there have been five) who are actually the lead – in the territory – on national security.

While former premier, Rufus Ewing (PNP) saw 21 murders over his four years in office, Cartwright-Robinson, as premier witnessed seven murders grow to nine, then nine grow to 14 and 14 surge to 22 by 2020 just ahead of the pandemic which had forced lockdowns and other restrictive measures.

Crime under the current Washington Misick government has jumped over 300% since the days of Ewing.  This meteoric rise in the murder rate is also a 227% jump over the Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson (PDM) administration which ran from December 2016 through February 2021.  The country’s first woman premier recorded a total of 52 murders in the four calendar years when she served.

For Misick, it has been an epic challenge.  From 13 homicides in 2021 when he took office, to 34 a year later, 23 homicides in 2022-23 to now 48 killings in 2024.  Already three murders have happened this year.

The statistics come from published TCI media reports, fed by data from the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force.  While there is some ambiguity and inconsistency on how Police communicate crime statistics, we did our part to source the figures from the Police as the official source in almost all cases.

The comparison by our news organization follows comments from the Leader of the Opposition and the retort by the current Premier, who found themselves pointing a wagging finger at each other earlier this week.  The men, who are fast approaching a definitive national poll are blaming and claiming.  Blaming the other for the surge in crime.  Claiming their party has what it takes to deliver on promises to the public to bring about an abatement in crime.

We checked the numbers and it is tragic all around.  No one is a winner.  And while both political teams often say, crime should not be politicised, it is an indisputable fact, that Electors will more likely be giving their votes to the party with a more impressive pitch on stopping the violence.

“When my government took office in 2021, crime was already a growing crisis. A wave of violence had been allowed to fester under the failed policies of the past. The so-called “twelve-point crime plans” of the previous administrations were nothing more than hollow promises, leaving our communities vulnerable and our Police Force under-resourced.

We refused to let this trend continue. Over the last four years, my government has made unprecedented investments in law enforcement and the judiciary—$147 million to date, including $125 million allocated specifically to the Police Force. These funds reflect not just our commitment, but our resolve to give our law enforcement agencies the tools, training, and support they need to protect our people,” said the Premier on Tuesday.

In a statement issued after the more recent murders,  the PDM said, “Under the leadership of the PNP, crime has spiraled out of control in the Turks and Caicos Islands, and the lack of an effective strategy to address it is unacceptable.

The safety and security of our people and visitors should be the government’s top priority, yet we are witnessing continued inaction and mismanagement,” chastised Edwin Astwood on Sunday.

On Tuesday, the Premier’s press conference was convened to shed light and allay public dismay about any thought that his government was incapable of  putting a choke hold on the unrelenting murderous crime and violence.  A press conference, which was necessary because there had been a shooting at a top rated night spot on Grace Bay, the country’s luxury tourism hub.

Three people were shot, including a tourist who was a police officer visiting the island.  Shamone Duncan, a 50-year old Cook County Sheriff’s deputy on vacation in Providenciales will not be returning to her son and grandchild in Chicago.

Also shot by an errand bullet, Dario Stubbs, a father, husband, beloved son and insurance professional hailing from South Caicos. He was picking up his wife from work.  His young daughter was also there.

The stunning crime sent shockwaves across the nation and news of it quickly spread to the islands’ leading tourism source market, where one of the victims is from, the USA.

ABC News reported: “The fifty year old grandmother was on her second of three nights on the island, vacationing for her sister’s birthday.  Along with two of her sisters were at a roof-top party Saturday night at a restaurant, when others began to argue downstairs.  That’s when her son says a shootout ensued.”

His mother was among those told to get down; his mom instead got up.

“And that’s when she got hit,” explained her adult son, Peyton, who was awash in tears; his devastation undeniable.

It was crushing news and the Premier  has vowed to find the perpetrators.

“These heinous acts are unacceptable, and let me assure you: my government will not rest until justice is served and peace is restored to every street, every home, and every corner of our nation.

This is not just a commitment to one family but to all families who have suffered because of crime in our islands,” said the Premier.

To date, no arrests have been made though police investigators say they are close.

Imagine residents ten years ago being incensed by four murders for the year, now having to come to grips with a staggering 48 deadly shootings and dozens more suffering gunshot wounds.  It would not be unfair to say that the last 16 years have been a living hell for far too many families and guests to the Turks and Caicos Islands.

There were at least 191 murders during that time.  Now, both political leaders are promising relief.

From the PDM, “The PDM has consistently outlined our comprehensive plan to tackle crime and violence head-on, including: Strengthening law enforcement with advanced training, technology, and resources. This includes increasing surveillance of our streets, neighborhoods and tourist hot spots; Implementing community policing to rebuild trust between residents and law enforcement; Securing our borders to prevent the illegal influx of firearms and drugs fueling criminal activities and Investing in youth empowerment programs to address the root causes of crime and create opportunities for at-risk youth.”

Premier Misick talked about some of his actions since the triple shooting.

“I also spoke to the Minister representing the Overseas Territories in the FCDO yesterday morning and expressed my view that HMG is not doing enough to assist the TCI.

Let me be clear: these tragedies demand not just words but decisive action,” he said.

Misick reflected on an emergency Cabinet meeting and actions taken then.

“On Monday, Cabinet approved $500,000 in special funding to bring in specialized tactical police units from across the Caribbean. These highly trained officers will provide critical expertise and manpower.

An additional $100,000 has been allocated to TCI Crimestoppers to support community cooperation through rewards and tips.

We have also strengthened our partnerships with regional allies through CARICOM Council for National Security and Law Enforcement (CONSLE). These partnerships ensure that we have access to additional resources, expertise, and boots on the ground to tackle crime from every angle.”

On Saturday January 25, the country learned that 50 more armed police officers will join the local Force from the UK and the Caribbean region.  The UK Department of Defence in response to the urgency of the TCI National Security Council has included more intelligence and investigative specialists, they will join five others who are already in the country, working and charged with an intelligence-led approach to uprooting the disorganised crime which has been allowed to plant itself in the islands.

News

Beaches Turks and Caicos Showcases and Supports Local Creativity

Published

on

September 12, 2025                                                                                

 

PROVIDENCIALES, Turks & Caicos Islands – The Turks and Caicos Islands are home to a wealth of creativity, from artisans and craft vendors to musicians and performers. Beaches Turks and Caicos, the Caribbean’s leading all-inclusive family resort, has pledged its continued support for these individuals by providing meaningful platforms for them to share their skills and stories with guests from around the world.

The resort’s commitment is most evident in its weekly Cultural Night showcase, where visitors are immersed in the vibrant traditions of the islands. Guests enjoy live performances which feature local music genres such as ripsaw, while artisans display and sell handmade creations. This event not only enriches the guest experience but also strengthens economic opportunities for local entrepreneurs.

Entertainment Division Manager Garett Bailey emphasized the significance of Cultural Night, “we want to showcase everything the Turks and Caicos Islands culture has to offer. Our goal is for guests to leave with a deeper appreciation of the island’s art, music and traditions, while giving local talent the opportunity to share their creativity with visitors from across the globe.”

Beyond Cultural Night, Beaches Turks and Caicos also welcomes local craft vendors onto the resort every Wednesday and Friday where they are offered a direct space to market their goods. Guests have easy access to the Turks and Caicos Cultural Marketplace, where they can purchase authentic local arts and crafts.

Managing Director, James McAnally, highlighted how these initiatives reflect the resort’s broader mission, “we are committed to celebrating and sharing the vibrant culture of these islands with our guests. By showcasing local artistry and music, we not only provide entertainment but also help sustain and grow the creative industries of the Turks and Caicos Islands. From our cultural showcases to nightly live music, we are proud to create authentic connections between our guests and the people of these islands.”

Local musician Keon Hall, who frequently performs at the resort, expressed gratitude for the ongoing partnership, “being able to share my music with Beaches’ guests has created lasting relationships. Some visitors return year after year and request songs from previous performances. This partnership continues to celebrate what we do and strengthens the bond between local artists and the resort.”

The resort’s support of local artisans and entertainers extends beyond business opportunity; it is about preserving heritage and sharing stories. Guests take home more than souvenirs; they leave with experiences that deepen their understanding of Turks and Caicos’ culture and history.

Public Relations Manager, Orville Morgan, noted the importance of this commitment, “for many visitors, these interactions represent their first genuine connection to the Turks and Caicos Islands. From artisans and musicians to farmers and transport operators, our local talent helps shape every guest experience. At Beaches, we are proud to give them the stage to share their stories and their heritage.”

Beaches Turks & Caicos remains dedicated to developing cultural connections and supporting the artisans, musicians and entrepreneurs whose creativity makes the Turks and Caicos Islands unique. Each guest experience is an opportunity to celebrate and sustain the spirit of the islands.

Continue Reading

Caribbean News

“Barbecue” is Cooked! US Turns Over 11 Million Haitians into Potential Informants with $5 Million Bounty

Published

on

August 12, 2025

The United States just set fire to the underworld in Haiti — and this time, the smoke might finally flush out the man many call the most feared in the Caribbean.

On Tuesday, the U.S. government slapped a $5 million bounty on the head of Jimmy “Barbecue” Chérizier, the ex-police officer turned gang boss accused of orchestrating massacres, torching neighborhoods, and strangling Haiti’s capital into chaos. This isn’t just a headline — it’s a full-blown game-changer.

That kind of cash — offered under the State Department’s Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program — is enough to turn the country’s entire population, more than 11 million people, into potential informants overnight. Add the millions in the Haitian diaspora, and Chérizier isn’t just wanted. He’s surrounded.

The Number That Changes Everything

Five million U.S. dollars today equals about 655 million Haitian Gourdes. In a country where many scrape by on less than $5 a day, that’s not just life-changing — it’s life-defining. It’s enough to rebuild homes, put generations through school, or buy a one-way ticket far from the gunfire.

In a place where trust is scarce and survival is everything, that figure is more than tempting — it’s irresistible. For Chérizier, it means every friend could be a future informant, and every loyalist might be calculating the cost of staying loyal.

‘We Will Find Them’ — Jeanine Pirro, U.S. Attorney

Jeanine “Judge Jeanine” Pirro, the U.S. Attorney, set the tone with fire in her voice.                                                                                                                                          “This indictment is the first of its kind,” she announced. “Jimmy Chérizier, also known as ‘Barbecue,’ is a notorious gang leader from Haiti who has orchestrated and committed various acts of violence against Haitians, including the 2018 La Saline attack in which approximately 71 people were killed. He both planned and participated in that massacre.

“Anyone who is giving money to ‘Barbecue’ cannot say, ‘I didn’t know.’ They will be prosecuted, and we will find them. They are supporting an individual who is committing human rights abuses, and we will not look the other way.”

Pirro wasn’t just going after Chérizier. She was sending a warning to the Haitian diaspora accused of feeding his war chest from abroad: the days of claiming ignorance are over.

‘No Safe Haven’ — Darren Cox, FBI

Then came Darren Cox, Deputy Assistant Director of the FBI, delivering the muscle of America’s most powerful investigative force.                                                                                                                                                                                                                “There is no safe haven for Chérizier and his network,” Cox declared. “We are closing every link, every cell.”                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Since January, he said, the FBI has arrested three Top Ten fugitives, taken more than 19,000 criminals off the streets, and seized thousands of tons of narcotics — enough to save millions of lives across the U.S.

The FBI’s Miami and Houston offices have already bagged one of Chérizier’s Viv Ansanm associates inside the United States without firing a shot. “These efforts are a deliberate and coordinated plan,” Cox said, “to protect our communities and confront escalating threats from terrorist organizations like Viv Ansanm.”

‘Three-Year Investigation’ — Ivan Arvelo, HSI

Ivan Arvelo, Assistant Director of Homeland Security Investigations, brought the receipts.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    “This is the result of a three-year investigation into Chérizier’s procurement networks, cash pipelines, and operational financing that violates sanctions,” he explained.                                                                                                                                                     Arvelo described 400 structures destroyed, entire communities erased, and a gang exploiting U.S. dollars, technology, and immigration loopholes to keep its killing machine running. “We tracked how Americans unwittingly bankrolled brutality,” he said — proof that the net is tightening both inside Haiti and abroad.

‘The Worst of the Worst’ — Chris Lambert, State Department

Chris Lambert, representing the State Department’s International Affairs division, gave the political bottom line.

“Mass violence in Haiti must end,” Lambert said. “The instability resulting from Chérizier’s actions fuels illegal migration, regional instability, and transnational crime. We will continue to apply every tool available — including our rewards programs — to stop the spread of unchecked violence, especially to target the worst of the worst criminal leaders threatening the people of our hemisphere.”

Lambert confirmed what many have long known: Chérizier is not just a gang leader. He commands Viv Ansanm, officially designated in May as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. In the eyes of the U.S., that makes him not just Haiti’s problem — but everyone’s.

Why Haitians May Not Resist

In Haiti, money talks — loudly. And when you put 655 million Gourdes on the table, it shouts.

That’s the kind of figure that turns casual acquaintances into informants and makes even the most hardened loyalist wonder if the payout is worth more than the risk. It’s not a matter of “if” word gets out, it’s a matter of “who will be first to collect.”

For grieving families, it’s a chance at justice. For the desperate, it’s a chance at survival. For Haiti as a whole, it’s hope — wrapped in the most dangerous of temptations.

An Answer to Prayers

For years, Haiti’s headlines have been a scroll of horrors — kidnappings, executions, burned neighborhoods, bodies in the streets. Chérizier’s name has been attached to too many of them.

This move by the U.S. isn’t just strategy. It’s personal. It’s a signal to every Haitian — at home or abroad — that the days of impunity could be ending.

I’ll admit it: when I heard the news, I danced, I sang, and I nearly cried. Not because $5 million is a lot of money, but because of what it means — the possibility, at last, of stopping the man accused of helping turn Haiti into hell on earth.

Four officials, four angles, one mission: Pirro’s fire, Cox’s grit, Arvelo’s precision, Lambert’s conviction. Together, they’ve put the heat on “Barbecue” like never before.

BBQ is cooked. The only question now is: which one of over 11 million potential informants will serve him up?

Continue Reading

Africa

What If Caribbean Dollars Flowed to Africa? A Trade Revolution Within Reach

Published

on

By Deandrea Hamilton | Editor

 

What would happen if the Caribbean started spending more with Africa?

That question is no longer hypothetical. It’s the vision behind a growing movement that sees the Caribbean not just as a neighbor of the Americas, but as a key partner in the rise of a “Global Africa.” With shared history, deep cultural ties, and emerging trade frameworks, experts say the potential is enormous—if the will to act finally matches the passion of the speeches.

Billions on the Table

Today, trade between Africa and the Caribbean sits at just over US $729 million annually. But the International Trade Centre (ITC) and Afreximbank project that number could balloon to US $1.8 billion per year by 2028—more than doubling in just a few years.

This boost is expected to come not just from commodities, but increasingly from services, particularly in transport, travel, food exports, and creative industries. Two-thirds of that growth, according to analysts, could come from services alone—sectors where the Caribbean is eager to expand. (afreximbank.com).

Meanwhile, Africa’s consumer and business spending is forecasted to skyrocket to US $6.66 trillion by 2030, driven by a population boom and rising middle class.

The Case for a New Trade Axis

The Caribbean imports 80% of its food, but many of those goods can be sourced from African markets. What we offer in return? World-class logistics, tourism know-how, financial services, and proximity to the U.S. market. It’s a natural fit—one that is currently underdeveloped.

The recent call by Grenadian Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell for a “Global Africa Commission” underscores this urgency. He urged stakeholders at the Afreximbank Trade Expo to stop the cycle of empty talk and get to work: building shipping routes, finalizing trade agreements, and boosting knowledge of what each region actually has to offer.

“We will not leave here with another communiqué,” Mitchell continued. “We will leave here with a commitment to act, to build together, to trade together, to succeed together and rise together.”                                                                                                                                                                                                   The statement underscored a central theme of the summit — that both Africa and the Caribbean can no longer afford to admire the idea of unity; they must operationalize it.Pilot platforms like the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) are already simplifying how cross-border payments work between African countries—and could extend to Caribbean partners. The system removes the need for U.S. dollars in trade between African nations, creating space for sovereign empowerment.

What’s the Hold-Up?

Let’s be blunt: political will, slow bureaucracies, and lack of coordination are stalling real action. Despite a decade of “Africa–Caribbean unity” talk, less than 3% of CARICOM trade currently involves the African continent. That fact continues to undermine these brave speeches and ambitious notions.

Where Caribbean Consumers Fit In

Caribbean consumers—especially the younger, tech-savvy generation—are already looking for affordable, ethical, and culturally relevant goods. African markets offer exactly that. Redirecting even a fraction of spending toward African-made clothing, beauty products, tech tools, or agro-processed foods could start a real trade revolution.

Bottom Line

If the political leaders won’t build the bridge fast enough, maybe Caribbean consumers will. The money is there. The interest is rising. Now it’s time to turn the “Global Africa” vision into a real economic shift—one shopping cart at a time.

Continue Reading

FIND US ON FACEBOOK

TRENDING