TCI News
Three TCI Men Released on Bail in Connection to July 27 Mass Shooting
Deandrea Hamilton | Magnetic Media & Wilkie Arthur | Eagle Legal News
Turks and Caicos, August 15, 2025 – In a deeply unsettling update to one of the most devastating crimes in the nation’s recent history, three young Turks and Caicos Islanders who were being questioned in connection with the July 27 mass shooting have been released on police bail.
The massacre — which unfolded at a local lounge — left three people dead on the spot, a fourth victim dying after being airlifted off-island, and nine others wounded by gunfire. The scale and brutality of the attack shocked the nation to its core, sparking public outrage and a heavy security response.
The suspects, aged between just 16 and 20, are barely out of childhood themselves. Police allege they opened fire indiscriminately into the
crowded venue, showing no concern for who was in their line of fire. In the aftermath, government officials imposed multiple nights of island-wide curfews, shut down late-night parties, and ramped up police patrols — measures that, while aimed at restoring order, have also delivered a heavy blow to nightlife and small businesses.
While authorities have not publicly accused Haitians of carrying out the shooting, both police and government leaders have pointed to the role of the Haitian crisis in fueling the flow of illegal weapons into the TCI. Haitian community leaders, they said, must be more forthcoming about those facilitating the influx of guns and other dangerous contraband that is arming young men in the territory and enabling violent crime.
That sentiment touched a nerve. The revelation that the three men initially held were all Turks and Caicos Islanders has complicated the conversation, showing that the gun epidemic is not bound by nationality but is deeply entangled with local youth and social breakdown.
With no concrete evidence yet to bring formal charges, police say they urgently need information from the public if they are to secure convictions. “Someone knows something,” one officer close to the investigation told Magnetic Media. “But until that person speaks up, these killers could still be among us.”
The emotional toll on the islands remains high. Residents are grappling with grief, anger, and the sobering reality that teenagers are now at the center of one of the bloodiest incidents in modern TCI history. For a country long marketed as a peaceful paradise, the events of July 27 stand as a grim reminder that serenity is fragile — and that without collective action, the violence could return.
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The Department of Trade, Industry & Fair Competition to Host Export Readiness Workshop Under the theme “Empowering TCI Businesses for Local Growth and Global Markets.”
TCI News
Experience Turks and Caicos and Aquila Host Product Development Workshops to Strengthen Sister Islands Tourism
PROVIDENCIALES, TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS – Experience Turks and Caicos, in collaboration with the Aquila Center for Cruise Excellence, successfully hosted a Product Development Workshop for tourism stakeholders from North Caicos, Middle Caicos, and South Caicos on Wednesday, January 14 and Thursday, January 15, 2026.
The workshop was designed to support tour operators, entrepreneurs, and tourism-related businesses as they adapt to the evolving demands of the global tourism industry. Participants engaged in hands-on exercises and structured sessions aimed at reimagining existing tourism products and developing new, innovative, and sustainable experiences that are market-ready and aligned with current visitor expectations.
Throughout the workshop, attendees were equipped with practical tools and strategies to develop high-impact tourism offerings, strengthen
product packaging and pricing, assess market readiness, and enhance value creation. Emphasis was also placed on collaboration, partnership development, and the promotion of sustainable practices to ensure that the Turks and Caicos Islands remain a fresh, competitive, and appealing destination. More than 20 participants representing tourism businesses across the islands took part in the training sessions.
“Experience Turks and Caicos has a responsibility to ensure that all communities across the Turks and Caicos Islands benefit from tourism. These workshops are designed to equip local businesses with the essential tools and knowledge needed to maximise the opportunities within the industry, and we look forward to supporting their continued growth,” said Mr. Paul Pennicook, Interim CEO Consultant.
Speaking on the importance of the initiative, Candesha Mills the Product Development Manager at Experience Turks and Caicos said: “We are actively working on destination development by supporting our stakeholders as they reimagine their products and experiences. Workshops like this are critical to helping businesses identify opportunities for collaboration, create bundled offerings, and develop cohesive tourism experiences that align with emerging trends and evolving visitor expectations.”
The workshops were facilitated by Ms. Ambra Attus, who guided participants through strategies for designing distinctive and engaging tourism experiences that resonate with today’s travellers.
She said: “Product development is where destinations truly define their identity, and these trainings are designed to help operators in North, Middle and South Caicos create experiences that are not only market-ready, but meaningful, high-quality, and rooted in what makes these islands truly special. These sessions reflect a forward-thinking commitment by Experience Turks and Caicos to invest in their people and in the long-term quality of the destination’s tourism product. Aquila is proud to be your training partner.”
The workshop also featured the Invest TCI MSME Team, who were on site with an information station available throughout both sessions. Stakeholders had the opportunity to engage directly with the team, gain insights into the MSME Programme, and learn more about the range of support services, incentives, and resources available to assist business growth and development.
Experience Turks and Caicos commended participants for their commitment to investing in their businesses and contributing to the continued enhancement of the destination’s tourism product. The organisation expressed appreciation for the active participation and innovative ideas shared during the session, which are expected to contribute meaningfully to the sustainable growth of tourism in North and Middle Caicos and South Caicos.
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Thursday, 5 February 2026: The Informal Settlements Unit (ISU), in collaboration with
partner agencies, coordinated a multi-agency enforcement exercise on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at Silverado Wells in Five Cays. The exercise was led by the Crown Land Unit, pursuant to its statutory mandate under the Crown Land Ordinance to prevent squatting and encroachment on Crown land. The ISU coordinated the operation, with support provided by Immigration and Border Services, while the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force ensured security throughout the activity.
The enforcement action followed a series of inspections conducted by the Crown Land Unit throughout Five Cays, which identified an illegal concrete structure on the subject parcel. In keeping with the provisions of the Crown Land Ordinance, a Section 22 Notice of Illegal Occupation was posted on the structure. Following the failure of the responsible party or parties to comply within the prescribed timeframe, enforcement action was authorised.
The Informal Settlements Unit reiterates that these coordinated enforcement exercises form part of the Government’s ongoing efforts to uphold the law, protect Crown land, and manage informal settlements in a structured and lawful manner. Members of the public are reminded that unauthorised occupation and development on Crown land is unlawful and subject to enforcement action.
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News2 days agoThe Department of Trade, Industry & Fair Competition to Host Export Readiness Workshop Under the theme “Empowering TCI Businesses for Local Growth and Global Markets.”
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TCI News4 days agoExperience Turks and Caicos and Aquila Host Product Development Workshops to Strengthen Sister Islands Tourism