Connect with us

TCI News

Hallmark Trust card service suspended by MasterCard, TCI customers worry despite FSC statement

Published

on

#Providenciales, November 1, 2018 – Turks and Caicos – Residents will have to wait and see whether or not the TCI Financial Services Commission is able to protect their money from being lost in, what bears eerie resemblance to another failing financial institution for the Turks and Caicos Islands.      

Rampant declines were reported as customers of Hallmark Trust Ltd tried to spend their own money using their payment cards; the declines triggered warnings from those customers on social media.  The warnings were with a singular message: ‘get your money out of Hallmark’.

It sent the weary Turks and Caicos marketplace into a tailspin, most wanting to know if the rumor was true. 

Magnetic Media immediately reached out to Hallmark Trust and was told the operation is not closing and a statement was coming; that was yesterday and we continue to wait on that official comment to the scores of residents who use Hallmark.

Our media house also contacted the Financial Services Commission, which on Wednesday evening issued a statement that does very little to quell fears about what will happen to monies entrusted to Hallmark.

“Financial Services Commission is aware of the disruption and inconvenience to customers caused by the suspension of Hallmark Trust Limited’s card service by MasterCard Limited.  The Commission is working with Hallmark to address the disruption of this service and to ensure the protection of cardholders’ funds.”

Hallmark Trust touts, on its website, being a principal member of MasterCard worldwide, explaining that it issues the Horizon standard, Gold MasterCard and Compass pre-paid card.  While Hallmark points out that it is regulated by the FSC and complies with anti-money laundering and anti-terrorism legislation; residents are far more interested in whether or not they will see their money again.

It is believed a six figure sum is held by Hallmark Trust Ltd in deposits by scores of customers in the Turks and Caicos Islands.  Comments to Magnetic Media have been laced with foreboding, many simply saying: “Here we go again.”

Others talk of their Gold MasterCard being hit with theft, the inability to use their Hallmark issued card at local bank ATMs, their transactions being declined as they tried to pay bills and make purchases, then came the signs at popular Graceway Supermarket stores, which read: 

“We are currently not accepting any money for the Hallmark pre-paid card.  Sorry for the inconvenience.  Please contact office 941-5191.”

Top-ups or depositing money onto the account of a card holder, which allows immediate access to the funds were no longer an option at the grocery store chain. 

The Turks and Caicos Islands consumer, over the past decade, has been through financial and emotional “hell” with trusted institutions collapsing while holding millions of dollars.  From CLICO and British American Financial where pensions and savings were all lost, to the whopper of a closure, TCI Bank, which went down in 2009 with a reported $17.3 million in deposits. 

The financial sector of these islands has also recorded the voluntary closure of International Banking Group, after a two year run from July 2010 to August 2012 and a radical change in the way ScotiaBank is doing business here.  ScotiaBank in September 2018 completed the phasing out of two of its ‘brick and mortar locations’ and now, there is no branch in Grand Turk and only one serving customers in Providenciales.

The Financial Services Commission, in this case, has offered no quick fix which is disconcerting for those who wonder if they have lost everything.  The Commission explained, “Further guidance will be provided to cardholders on this matter in the coming days.”

 

#MagneticMediaNews

#HallmarkTrustLtd

#HallmarkMasterCardsuspension

 

 

 

 

Continue Reading

Bahamas News

RBC appoints new Country Manager and Area Vice President for Turks & Caicos 

Published

on

RBC Royal Bank (Bahamas) Limited (“RBC”) is pleased to announce the recent appointment of Kerryl-Lyn King-Henry as Country Manager and Area Vice President (“AVP”), Personal and Commercial Banking, Turks & Caicos Islands (TCI).

In her new role as Country Manager and AVP, King-Henry will take on full responsibility for the bank’s operations, strategy, and development in the TCI market, with a strong focus on solidifying partnerships with the Government, regulatory bodies, and the local community.

King-Henry brings to the role a dynamism influenced by nearly 25 years of industry experience. Prior to her new appointment, she served as AVP of Business Banking in Trinidad and Tobago. She has held progressively senior roles within both personal and commercial banking, as well as various functional units.

King-Henry holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree, with a specialization in Leadership, FinTech and Big Data Analysis, in addition to a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. Further enriching her professional profile, Kerryl-Lyn is a certified John C. Maxwell Coach, Trainer, Teacher, and Speaker. Her passion for leadership and development is matched by her commitment to community service, as she actively volunteers her time and leverages her professional expertise to mentor and support others. “

Kerryl-Lyn’s extensive experience and proven leadership capabilities make her the perfect choice to lead our operations in the Turks & Caicos Islands,” said Ericka Rolle, RBC’s Managing Director and Vice President, Personal Banking, The Bahamas and TCI.

“Her commitment to excellence, combined with a genuine passion for community engagement, aligns perfectly with our Bank’s purpose of helping clients thrive and communities prosper. We are excited to see the positive impact she will undoubtedly bring to her new role,” she added.

 

 

Continue Reading

Government

MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DELEGATION VISITS WEST MIDLANDS AMBULANCE SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM, UK

Published

on

Providenciales, Tuesday 30 April, 2024 – A delegation from the Ministry of Health and Human Services, recently undertook a pivotal visit to the West Midlands Ambulance Service in Birmingham, United Kingdom. The visit, which took place from April 21st to April 23rd, 2024, was held under the esteemed patronage of the Ambassador of Health of the British Overseas Territories, Professor Ian Cumming.

Led by Permanent Secretary Mrs. Desiree Lewis OBE, the delegation included Ms. Renessa Williams, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Human Services, and Mr. Andy Brijmohansingh, Director of Emergency Medical Services. This strategic meeting was an integral part of the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to enhance emergency services within the Turks and Caicos Islands.

During the visit, representatives from the West Midlands Ambulance Service provided comprehensive insights into their operations, sharing valuable expertise and offering collaborative initiatives for the development of the TCIs emergency services. Discussions encompassed various aspects, including training and mentoring programs tailored to empower emergency personnel within the Turks and Caicos Islands.

“The visit marked a significant step forward in our strategy for the advancement of emergency services,” stated Mrs. Desiree Lewis OBE. “We are deeply grateful for the generosity and support extended by the West Midlands Ambulance Service, and we look forward to implementing the insights gained to further enhance emergency care within our country. Permanent Secretary Lewis also expressed the Ministry of Health’s gratitude to Professor Ian Cumming for his assistance by way of arranging the visit.”

Mr. Andy Brijmohansingh, Director of Emergency Medical Services for the Turks and Caicos Islands, underscored the importance of the discussions, emphasizing the poignant exchange of ideas and the potential for meaningful collaborations which signifies a commitment to improving emergency services and ensuring the safety and well-being of the residents of the Turks & Caicos Islands.

The Ministry of Health and Human Services expresses its sincere appreciation to the West Midlands Ambulance Service for their warm hospitality and invaluable contributions during the visit.

For additional information, please visit the Turks and Caicos Islands Ministry of Health and Human Services Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/tciministryofhealth/.

 

 

 

Continue Reading

TCI Court

Eight Months facing Police Accusations and Court, now Pedro Grant Exonerated

Published

on

Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer 

With no evidence to support their claim, the prosecution has dropped their case against Pedro Jose Alfredo Grant Gallon, the Dominican Republic citizen who was accused of impersonating an officer in September 2023.

The Police, who publicized the arrest and charge, have not yet commented on the matter despite Magnetic Media queries.

Grant, for his part, has always vehemently denied the accusations that he was impersonating an officer and described the circumstances surrounding his arrest as unfair.

He contends that on the evening of July 13, 2023, he was being followed by a strange driver, concerned, he waited until the man pulled off at a bar, then took his license plate number and called the police, but police never came to help Grant. He alleges that the next time he saw them, they came with handcuffs to arrest him. In a search, police found his IDs which included his documentation for humanitarian work with the International Diplomatic Alliance (IDA) and police lights attached to his vehicle. In explaining the possession of those lights, Grant said he told officers that they had been in his car from his time in the Dominican Republic where he was involved in law enforcement.

Since that time, Grant has maintained several facts:

  • The Police did not have a warrant to search his home and car;
  • The Police took his documents including passports and IDs, one of which was issued by the IDA, and to date have not returned them despite being court-ordered to do so;
  • The Police intimidated his wife with threats of deportation;
  • He never showed any ID, flashing lights at the man following him, or claimed to be an officer.

Police have steadfastly refused to comment on the case despite numerous queries into the bizarre circumstances, even with serious allegations like intimidation against them. Grant was officially charged with Impersonating an Officer in September but IDA Head Jerrod Crockett told Magnetic Media despite seizing documents from Grant to support their case, no one even called the organization to see if they were real or fake.

Now, when called to provide evidence to the court as to why they arrested and charged the resident, the police and DPPs office drew a complete blank as Wilkie Arthur, Magnetic Media Court Correspondent, confirmed it was a lack of evidence that got the case dropped.

Despite this win serious damage has been done Grant claims, describing his life as a ‘living hell’ and ‘miserable’ since the accusations were publicized.

The IDA says it has been affected as well.

“That really put a hurt on us for the last six to eight months now because of accusations of fraudulent documents that everybody else has seen. We’re trying to prove our legitimacy now because you guys can’t verify any documents— before you put everything out there as public information,” Crockett said of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF)

The president also told our news team they had lost thousands of dollars in funding.

Following the closure of the case we reached out again to police to find out on what grounds Grant had been arrested and charged but no response was issued.

 

 

Continue Reading

FIND US ON FACEBOOK

TRENDING