News
Is TCI investing enough in crime prevention, detection and resolution?
#TurksandCaicos, July, 2023 – Despite the recent reduction in serious crimes in Turks and Caicos Islands, based on crime per capita, it is still at unacceptably high levels. Overall, crime trends are better but still worse than they once were.
Are we so immune to violence now that we are beginning to accept it as the new normal, or are we becoming comfortably numb? 
In my opinion, some communities have been left behind in the success of overall crime reduction. Be it Five Cays, South Dock road or Kew town in Provo.
Unfortunately, these communities continue to be plagued with unparalleled levels of crime and violence and it’s incredibly unsettling to see.
There should be no room for complacency and this should be a rallying cry.
Although more can be done, in most cases, the level of crime is not due to a lack of effort on the part of our local law enforcement agencies.
Nonetheless, I think it’s important that the department take a closer look at the demographics and find more efficient ways to meet these growing challenges head on, by funding crime prevention programs and initiatives that are effective.
Initiatives should as Operation Pursuit and the re-establishment of the Turks and Caicos Islands Joint Law Enforcement Group(J-LEG) was a smart strategic move, and will give the police department the impetus it needs to intensify the fight against crime.
Utilizing strategies like these that focus on policing and mobilization of agencies working hand in hand, will be both financially and strategically beneficial.
Although most crimes are unpredictable, some of the risk factors are already established in these communities that creates this cycle of violence, but are often overlooked; whether it’s due to lack of funding or active citizens involvement.
In certain communities where good paying jobs are scarce and families are marginalized, this makes it easier for wayward youths to justify other ways and means to make an income by get involved in criminal related activity.
Having quality after school programs like the Edward Gartland youth center in Provo, is an excellent alternative outlet and if properly funded, can have a tremendous impact on our youth and crime reduction. Programs such as these, should be mirrored in the other developing islands?
With the exposure of the internet and social media, in most cases, parents are limited to what they can do and control now days. At the end of the day, it’s all about creating the appropriate environment for our youth to grow and thrive.
Crime resolution in a small developing country like TCI is an immense challenge, especially with limited resources. This is an area that must have the community support.
Having had the opportunity to work closely with various law enforcement agencies across the US, conducting a number of high level investigations, I understand some cases can be complex and painstaking work.
Nevertheless, it’s rewarding for both law enforcement and citizens alike, when a crime is solved and criminals are removed from the streets within a reasonable timeframe.
Some of the investigations especially cold cases, will require formidable expertise with specialized training. It will also demands bravery from citizens with information who are willing to come forward without fear or reprisals.
In taking a holistic approach to crime prevention, we have to start with reaching children and young adults who are susceptible to gangs or have fallen into criminal behavior and need a second chance. These are groups from which all too often society turns away.
It’s important that we explore the social conditions that provides the motivation and opportunity for criminality to thrive in the first place.
Law enforcement in coordination with Social Workers have to take a step back to see the wider picture. They should re-examine how to best serve communities through collaboration and their leadership. This will allow them to better determine if their combined efforts are indeed having a positive impact on crime prevention or just trying to control it?
Of course, crime fighting is easier said than done. Having said that, what we need more of, are high tech crime
fighting tools and equipment with easier access and quicker turnaround of evidence.
Crime fighting tools like fiber analysis, DNA, biometric fingerprints, high resolution CCTV surveillance systems, SmartWater forensic kit etc, all of which requires a significant amount of investment and partnerships.
Fingerprints are by far the most frequently retrieved physical evidence. With the rapid growth in our population, at some point, finding ways to enlarge the database collection and automation could contribute more toward greater success in identifying criminal offenders.
Not only will these tools be useful, but it also creates new job opportunities for students with interest in such field of study.
So, how do we measure the effectiveness to achieve the desired outcome? We must start with taking a more pragmatic approach with stronger focus on higher-risk individuals and communities.
Once in the criminal system, social workers and probation officers can begin targeting factors that contribute to criminal behavior, and using cognitive behavioral treatment to reduce recidivism rates.
This coupled with citizens trust and confidence in the leadership team will erase negative perceptions and improve outcomes.
The ongoing success in reducing the most serious criminal offences, will rest largely on our law enforcement department’s ability to quickly identify, apprehend and bring criminals to justice.
This is a battle that law enforcement cannot win alone. With a coordinated effort and every likeminded citizens doing their part, it will ensure that the Turks and Caicos Islands remain a safe place to live, work, visit and do business.
Ed Forbes
Grand Turk Concerned Citizen
By Deandrea Hamilton
The Cassandra I remember never backed down from a fight.
She had an effervescent personality and was fiercely committed to her family—and that included her church and her friends. She deeply
appreciated the people God had given her, drawing on their love and support to push through circumstances no child, no teenager, should have to face.
Today, voters in a country far from where she grew up have trusted her to champion more accessible communities and better responses to people facing mental health and developmental challenges.
It speaks volumes about what happens when we believe in our children. When we refuse to set limits on who they can become, regardless of how they started. When we recognize God’s hand on their lives and support their ability to contribute and make an impact, wherever He places them.
Cassandra Toussaint is now councilwoman-elect for Ward 1 in Avon, Indiana, after defeating Republican Doug Elmore in the November 3 election. She ran as a Democrat. (youarecurrent.com)
Of Haitian heritage, she grew up in Turks and Caicos, attending Oseta Jolly, briefly Maranatha, and then TCIPS.
Her connections remain strong: friends, family and Lady Turks Gift Shop, a boutique venture she created with her best friend, Novie, from an idea they shared as teenagers.
Her family includes her father, Eliezer Toussaint, and her brother, Stoycov Toussaint, who graduated from Indiana University. Stephane Ambroise is playing basketball in Canada. Her mother, Ertha Etienne, died when Cassandra and her siblings were children.
In Turks and Caicos, her cousins Brenda, Steven, Lendcy and Sarah Cenary are, she says, successful and passionate about helping young
people and giving back to their community. Their mother, her aunt Rose Philomene Cenary, has worked in the Islands’ hotel industry for years and holds a special place in Cassandra’s heart.
“My aunt is the glue of my family,” Cassandra said, describing her love for the family and how she has always done her best to support them all.
A registered behavior technician, Toussaint says her childhood experiences inspired her to advocate for children who feel misunderstood.
Her campaign priorities included improved roads, accessible parks and facilities, and police training to better recognize and respond to autism and intellectual disabilities.
With limited money and little preparation time, she took her campaign directly to residents, knocking on doors and connecting at community events.
“Every resident deserves to be met with understanding,” she wrote.
The young woman I remember is preparing to bring that conviction into public office.
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands (November 6th, 2026) – The Turks and Caicos Islands welcomes Porter Airlines as it begins its service to the destination with its inaugural Toronto (YYZ) to Providenciales (PLS) route on Friday, November 6th. The airline will service the route five times weekly from the Toronto Pearson International Airport.
On December 17th, Porter will launch its Ottawa to PLS flight, a new route for the Turks and Caicos Islands. That route will be serviced twice weekly from Ottawa International Airport (YOW).
Minister of Tourism, Hon. Zhavargo Jolly said the expansion of air service from Canada reflects the growing strength of that market to the Turks and Caicos Islands.
“Canada is showing strong and growing interest in the Turks and Caicos Islands, and we are pleased to see that reflected in the expansion of air service from the market. Porter Airlines’ new nonstop flights from Toronto and Ottawa strengthen our connectivity with Canada and give travellers more convenient options for reaching our islands. Canadians have always shown a genuine appreciation for the culture, heritage, natural beauty and, of course, the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Perhaps it is that shared warmth and friendliness that keeps bringing them back, and our partnership with Porter will simply make it easier for Canadians to continue showing their love for our Beautiful by Nature islands. Toronto builds on an important existing market for us, while Ottawa opens an entirely new gateway to the Turks and Caicos Islands. This increased access will make it easier for more Canadians to discover and enjoy our destination, while supporting the continued growth of this important market.”
Hon. Arlington Musgrove, minister responsible for aviation, Turks and Caicos commended his team at the Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority (TCIAA) for developing this relationship with Porter.
“The launch of Porter Airlines’ new services from Toronto and Ottawa to the Turks and Caicos Islands is another important milestone in strengthening our connectivity with the Canadian market. Canada remains an important source market for our tourism industry, and these new routes will give Canadians more choice and easier access to the warmth, beauty, and hospitality of the Turks and Caicos Islands. I
commend the Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority for leading this initiative and for its continued efforts to develop air service and build strong relationships with our airline partners. I also extend our sincere appreciation to Porter Airlines for its confidence in the Turks and Caicos Islands and for choosing our destination as part of its growing network of sun destinations. We warmly welcome Porter, its passengers and crew to our shores and look forward to a successful and lasting partnership,” he said.
To celebrate and promote the new flights, Experience Turks and Caicos hosted a reception in Ottawa for travel advisors and media. Organised by VoX International, our marketing agency in Canada, the event featured remarks by Market Intelligence Manager, Sharissa Lightbourne and Chairman of the TCIAA, Dwayne Gardiner. Nikeva Ariza, Director of Corporate Affairs, Communications and Public Engagement was also in attendance.
The new flights are operated by Porter’s 132-seat Embraer E195-E2. The aircraft features a two-by-two seating configuration, meaning no middle seats for any passenger. Porter’s elevated onboard experience includes complimentary beer and wine served in glassware, premium Canadian snacks, and free, fast WiFi for every passenger.
To book your flight, visit www.flyporter.com.
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands (November 4th, 2026) – The Turks and Caicos Islands recorded its highest number of stayover arrivals for the third quarter of the year, with approximately 130,000 visitors welcomed between July and September, representing a three percent increase over the same period in 2025.
Preliminary figures from Experience Turks and Caicos show that the destination recorded 514,670 stayover arrivals for the first nine months of 2026, an increase of 25,048 visitors, or five percent, compared with the same period last year. Growth was recorded in every month from January through September, underscoring the destination’s continued appeal among travellers and the sustained demand for its tourism product.
Stay Over Arrivals by Quarter (2025/2026)
September closed the quarter on a positive note, with 20,204 stayover arrivals, seven percent more than the 18,795 recorded in September 2025. The year-to-date total of 514,670 is the highest number of stayover arrivals ever recorded for the January-to-September period.
Commenting on the record stayover arrivals, Minister of Tourism, Hon. Zhavargo Jolly said: “These record arrivals are an encouraging achievement for the Turks and Caicos Islands and a reflection of the continued confidence visitors have in our destination. However, I’ve always maintained that the true measure of tourism’s success cannot simply be the number of visitors arriving on our shores. It must also be measured by the opportunities we create for our people.”
“Our vision is to build a stronger, higher-value tourism industry where Turks and Caicos Islanders are not simply employees, but entrepreneurs, business owners and active participants in the economic opportunities tourism creates. This is why our recent Community Connect meetings across the sister islands were so important. We want to engage directly with our communities, understand their challenges and ensure that as our tourism industry grows, the opportunities for our people grow alongside it. Ultimately, tourism must do more than bring people to our shores. It must improve the lives of the people who call these islands home.”
Cruise arrivals reflect return to regular itineraries
Cruise passenger arrivals at the Grand Turk Cruise Port followed a different trend during the first nine months of 2026, with figures reflecting a return to more typical cruise itineraries following an unusually strong period in 2025.
Last year, cruise lines added Grand Turk to their itineraries, resulting in exceptionally high passenger volumes and cruise calls. With itineraries returning to more regular patterns this year, cruise passenger arrivals declined year over year throughout the first nine months.
The destination received 62,095 cruise passengers in September, a 22 percent decrease from the 79,341 recorded in September 2025. From January through September, total cruise passenger arrivals stood at 838,533, compared with 1,016,532 during the same period last year, representing an 18 percent decline.
Cruise Arrivals by Quarter (2025/2026)
While the cruise figures reflect a normalisation from last year’s elevated numbers, the continued growth in stayover arrivals provides a positive indicator of the destination’s performance in its overnight visitor market.
It is projected that the month-on-month increases in stayover arrivals will continue into the upcoming winter season, especially with the additional airlift expected from new and existing gateways in Canada and the US.
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