News
Commissioner of Police Responds to Media Reports on Marie Kuhnla Inquest
#TurksandCaicos, June 15, 2022 – “At the outset, the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands were shocked and saddened that Mrs. Kuhnla, a wife, mother and attorney for vulnerable people came here for her holidays but did not return home. The Jury at her Inquest have returned a verdict of homicide by manual strangulation. This Inquest spanned seven days of evidence and the Jury deliberated for more than seven hours, over two days and everyone involved in this case, Mrs. Kuhnla’s loved ones, and the general public owe them a great debt for their service and dedication to their task.
“Unfortunately, there has been much inaccuracy and untrue sensationalism reported in the media, particularly in other jurisdictions in regards to this inquest. It would not have been appropriate for public officials, like His Excellency, Governor Nigel Dakin, the Honourable Attorney General, Rhondalee Braithwaite-Knowles QC and
myself to comment on the many erroneous and misleading facts published in the international press while the matter was before HM Coroner Jolyon Hatmin and the Jury, who were tasked to return a verdict on how Mrs. Kuhnla passed.
In the Turks and Caicos Islands, as in the United Kingdom, commenting on proceedings that are before the Court is not permitted as it can prejudice those proceedings. However, it is now fair to comment, as those proceedings are at an end and it is appropriate to do so.
“One inaccuracy repeatedly reported is that this inquest is a “review” of a previous finding. That is simply not the case. This is the first and only inquest into the death of Mrs. Kuhnla. After the Ministry of Health Pathologist, Dr. Michael Robert Steckbauer determined that the cause of death was “manual strangulation” on the 25th of October 2018, a murder investigation was immediately launched by senior members of the R&TCIPF. In the Turks and Caicos Islands, as in the United Kingdom, it is customary and best practice for an inquest to be held either at the conclusion of a murder investigation, or where an investigation has exhausted all the avenues of inquiry or any related criminal court proceedings have concluded. Otherwise, any police investigation or a fair criminal trial is in danger of being compromised by a premature inquest, thereby potentially denying justice for the deceased and their loved ones. In the wake of the gradual lifting of restrictions surrounding protective measures to combat the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, jury trials resumed in earnest in the Turks and Caicos Islands in March this year and this inquest was scheduled almost immediately thereafter.
“The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force have always maintained an open mind as to the circumstances of the passing of Mrs. Kuhnla and given the views of the pathologist, a murder investigation was initiated and pursued with vigor.
Forensic analysis of evidence was sought and biological samples, were analyzed by an independent American forensic analysis laboratory. Statements were taken from tens of potential witnesses, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation were used as a liaison and cross jurisdiction Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty provisions were utilized to assist in the investigation, two sets of interviews were conducted in the United States with potential witnesses and officers travelled to the US to communicate with the family of Mrs. Kuhnla.
“The Jury heard evidence that Mrs. Kuhnla arrived in the Turks and Caicos Islands on 10th of October, 2018 with her friends for a week-long holiday in a local resort. Immediately, her friends were concerned that another guest had attached himself to her and was plying her with large amounts of alcohol.
Evidence suggests that this man was a nuisance, her friends did not like this man and one accused him of indecent assault as he had touched her posterior in the resort pool. The same friend gave evidence that she had never seen Mrs. Kuhnla intoxicated before this holiday and was surprised that she was uncharacteristically inebriated at times, this was corroborated by other guests.
“The Coroner and Jury further heard evidence that Mrs. Kuhnla was not usually a drinker as she suffered from a seizure disorder and other medical conditions. Indeed, her toxicology analysis post mortem revealed that were prescription drugs in her blood prescribed for that seizure disorder, bi-polar disorder, depression and insomnia. The Inquest heard evidence from her friends that she had suffered a number of falls during her holiday that they had once again attributed to her uncharacteristic drinking. One of her friends remarked to the RTCIPF that she had bruising on her leg the last day she had seen her on the 14th of October, 2018. Another guest who met Mrs. Kuhnla close on his arrival at 2:30 pm, again on the 14th of October, 2018 gave evidence that she was “very slurred in her speech ‘and it was “indiscernible” what she was trying to say.
“The Coroner and Jury heard that her friends last saw Mrs. Kuhnla on the evening of the 14th of October, 2018 at around 7 pm. On the 15th of October, by the afternoon, her friends became very concerned that they had not seen her since the night before. They began to search the resort as they feared that she was unconscious on the property due to her seizure disorder and the fact that she had been, again unusually for her, drinking heavily. The RT&CIPF were alerted and arrived at about 7 pm that evening due to those concerns, they examined her room and the room of the acquaintance so disliked by her friends, but nothing was out of place and they left. She had been missing less than 24 hours at that time. Early on the 16th of October, 2018, one of Mrs. Kuhnla’ s travel companions and a fellow guest discovered her body in the bush near the resort’s soccer pitch.
“As Dr. Steckbauer reported, she was found in bush with her face in a downward position, with debris in her mouth, upper airway, her clothing was askew, and the back of her blouse/beach wrap torn. He conducted the autopsy on the 19th of October, but as he attested, he was unable to ascertain all of the elements that could be associated with manual strangulation as the body was more decomposed than would have provided for an optimum autopsy. In his report dated the 28th of October, 2018, Dr. Steckbauer concluded that due to hemorrhaging of the strap muscles, dirt and debris in the mouth, bruises on the legs, abrasions of the legs and arms, a fractured rib, the manner in which she was found, her torn clothing and the crime scene photos, that Mrs. Kuhnla had died by manual strangulation.
“During the course of the inquest, he did concede that he did not have knowledge of her seizure disorder, the medications found in her toxicology, her uncharacteristic drinking and her falls earlier in the week when he came to that conclusion however, when questioned he asserted that now knowing these factors, none of them would change his finding.
“This statement cannot deal with all the inaccuracies and unsubstantiated comments made in relation to the sensationalist reporting of these proceedings, it could fill pages and pages. The people of the Turks and Caicos
Islands do not deserve the slant quite bluntly stated in the reporting of this matter. It has been alleged in the American media that the justice system of in these Islands would conspire with a tourist resort to cover up the alleged sexual assault and murder of an innocent woman to prevent adverse publicity. This is as preposterous as it is insulting and offensive.
The motivation for such a contention may be considered in future proceedings and will not be commented on here, all that will be said for now is that this Coroner and Jury have demonstrated through their hard work, attention and consideration in hearing this Inquest and reaching their verdict, that prejudicial innuendo cannot replace facts.
“Mrs. Khulna’s death was investigated by an experienced detective, Assistant Superintendent Williams, a senior officer in CID in the RT&CIPF of some 27 years’ experience. The role of the investigator is a ‘search for the truth and this is achieved by maintaining an open mind as to the circumstances of a person’s death and how they came about their passing. It was for this reason that ASP Williams offered potential alternatives as to how Mrs. Kuhnla met her death band these were explored during the Inquest for the jury to consider. At the conclusion of the inquest, they decided that Mrs. Kuhnla was unlawfully killed and that judgement is accepted by the RTCIPF.
“Whilst no one has been charged in connection with the death of Mrs. Kuhnla, no investigation is ever closed and if any further lines of enquiry are identified, then they will be followed up vigorously. As a matter of course, we will consider if any new information has come about as result of the inquest.
“The last three and half years must have been very difficult for the family of Mrs. Kuhnla and I am certain the last week during which time the Coronal inquest was held would have been hard to bare for the family and friends of Mrs. Kuhnla.
“As with any legal process, we must not forget the human side of this tragedy and I speak on behalf of the TCIG Government, the RTCIPF and the entire Turks and Caicos Islands when I pass on our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Mrs. Kuhnla.
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands – Friday, 26 June 2026: The Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies
(DDME) successfully hosted its Hurricane Preparedness Expo this past Friday, 19 June 2026, at the Dillon Hall in Grand Turk. Residents and visitors attending the event, took full advantage of the opportunity to learn more about hurricane preparedness while participating in exciting activities and receiving complimentary tokens.
The expo brought together several key partners and stakeholders, including the TCI Red Cross, Do it Center (Building Materials), Pelican Energy TCI, Interhealth Canada, TCI Regiment, Health Promotion and Advocacy Unit, Aged Care and Rehabilitation TCI, the Environmental Health Department, Survey and Mapping Department and the Public Works Department. These stakeholders and vendors contributed to the event’s success by sharing valuable information and products aimed at helping individuals and families prepare for the hurricane season.
Both the Director and Deputy Director for DDME addressed attendees and emphasised the importance of remaining vigilant throughout the Atlantic Hurricane Season. DDME Director, Lt. Col (Ret’d) Jason Hills stated, “Preparedness is not a one-time activity but an ongoing responsibility. We encourage everyone to take the necessary steps by staying informed and ensuring their emergency plans and supplies are up to date,” DDME Deputy Director Ms. Kevaun Lucas added that, “It only takes one storm to change lives and communities forever. That is why preparedness cannot wait until a hurricane is on our doorstep, take the time now so you will not be caught off guard later.”
DDME would like to take this opportunity to express gratitude to all vendors and persons from the Grand Turk community that attended
this event. We also express our sincere thanks to The Hon. Otis Morris and Hon. Sharon Simons for their presence and participation.
The Hurricane Preparedness Expo forms part of the DDME’s ongoing public awareness and community outreach initiatives during the Atlantic Hurricane Season. These events aim to strengthen preparedness and resilience across the country. The public is warmly encouraged to attend DDME initiatives and take an active role in hurricane preparedness.
UPCOMING CHURCH SERVICE
Sunday, 28 June 2026 • St. Mary’s Pro-Cathedral, Grand Turk | 9:00 AM (New time)
OTHER UPCOMING EVENT
Saturday, 4 July 2026 • Community Hurricane Scavenger Hunt, Meeting point: Oseta Jolly Primary School, Providenciales | 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands (June 26th, 2026) — The Turks and Caicos Islands is celebrating another major airlift milestone with the announcement that United Airlines will launch new nonstop service between Denver International Airport (DEN) and Howard Hamilton International Airport in Providenciales (PLS) beginning December 2026.*
The new weekly service marks a significant expansion of United Airlines’ established presence in the Turks and Caicos Islands and is the
result of extensive negotiations with the Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority (TCIAA).
This announcement comes on the heels of the Turks and Caicos Islands’ successful roadshow in Denver, where the delegation, led by the Premier, Hon. Charles Washington Misick, was warmly welcomed by Governor Jared Polis, who proclaimed May 20th, 2026, as Turks and Caicos Islands Friendship Day in Colorado in recognition of the growing ties between the destination and the state.
Premier, Hon. Charles Washington Misick, said this new route will open up new opportunities for the Turks and Caicos Islands.
“This new direct service between Denver and Providenciales is tremendously exciting for the Turks and Caicos Islands. Denver is one of America’s great aviation gateways, opening convenient access to Colorado, California, and the entire western United States. Having already established strong links to the eastern and midwestern markets, we are delighted to now extend our reach to the west. We are confident this route will unlock significant opportunities for tourism, business, and investment and further strengthen our ties with the United States,” he said.
Minister of Tourism, Hon. Zhavargo Jolly, welcomed the announcement as a strong endorsement of the destination’s growing appeal and the Ministry’s continued efforts to diversify source markets and expand airlift.
“This new service between Denver and Providenciales represents another important step in expanding the global reach of the Turks and Caicos Islands. For many years, our strongest air connections have been concentrated along the East Coast and in the Midwest of the United States. Today, we continue our strategic expansion westward, creating direct access to one of North America’s most dynamic and affluent regions. This route strengthens our ability to attract visitors whose interests align naturally with the Turks and Caicos Islands’ tourism product—from luxury travel and wellness experiences to diving, outdoor adventure, and second-home ownership,” he said.
Minister of Physical Planning and Infrastructure Development, Hon. Arlington Musgrove, described the announcement as another
important step in strengthening the destination’s connectivity and competitiveness.
“This new service is the result of continued collaboration between the Government, the Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority, Experience Turks and Caicos and our airline partners. Expanding air access is critical to sustaining tourism growth, and we are pleased that United Airlines continues to recognise the immense opportunity that exists here in the Turks and Caicos Islands,” the Minister said. “As part of our broader strategic vision, we have been deliberately cultivating and developing routes from the western portion of North America — a market of enormous potential — with the goal of securing greater overall air capacity into our destination.”
“We’re excited to give our customers yet another non-stop option between the Caribbean and Denver,” said Tom Kozlowski, Senior Manager of Latin, Caribbean, & Hawaii Network Planning, United Airlines. “United is the largest carrier in Denver, and this new addition will be the westernmost service from Turks and Caicos to the US, opening new tourism opportunities. We know our customers in Denver and surrounds will enjoy easier access to beautiful beaches, unique island charm, and vibrant culture in one of the Caribbean’s most sought-after destinations.”
The addition of the Denver route further strengthens the Turks and Caicos Islands’ airlift portfolio and builds on recent successes in expanding access from key and emerging markets. Experience Turks and Caicos and the Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority will continue working closely with airline partners to identify opportunities for strategic growth and enhanced connectivity.
The new route will be operated by a Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft featuring 179 seats, including 20 in business class and 159 in economy.
The tentative flight schedule is below:
| Route | Start Date/Frequency | Departure Time | Arrival Time | Aircraft |
| DEN – PLS | Dec. 19, Weekly on Saturdays | 10:00 | 17:00 | Boeing 737 MAX 9 |
| PLS – DEN | Dec. 19, Weekly on Saturdays | 13:35 | 17:21 | Boeing 737 MAX 9 |
Schedule subject to change.
Customers can book flights at united.com and on the United app.
*Subject to Government approval
By Deandrea Hamilton | Magnetic Media
The Bahamas, June 26, 2026 – Just in case you thought Sebastian Bastian, The Bahamas’ first Minister of Innovation and National Development, was about to dust off Vision 2040 and carry on where others left off… think again.
In his maiden Budget Communication on Monday, June 15, Bastian unveiled what amounts to a blueprint to rebuild how the government
works.
Not with another glossy vision document.
But with an execution machine.
The clearest indication came when the Minister acknowledged that while Vision 2040 was an important national achievement, it also exposed a weakness.
“So we are changing what we are building. The National Development Plan will no longer be a document we complete and set aside. It will be a living instrument — continuously reviewed, always current, resourced by full-time professionals, and grounded in real data — that shapes how this government, and every government after it, chooses its priorities. A plan is a document. What we are building is an institution.”
It is a remarkable shift in philosophy.
Instead of governments producing national plans every decade, Bastian wants professionals monitoring implementation in real time, measuring progress and ensuring administrations stay focused on delivering what they promised.
To Bastian, national development goes far beyond the roads, airports and buildings Bahamians can see. It also means creating the invisible infrastructure of government — smarter systems, better planning, reliable data, accountability and institutions that survive changes in political administrations.
His speech repeatedly returned to one central idea: government itself has become an obstacle to opportunity.
He described a Family Island entrepreneur waiting weeks or even months for approvals because government systems do not communicate with one another. He spoke of public servants trapped by outdated manual processes instead of serving people. And he highlighted an 18-year-old entering a workforce being reshaped by artificial intelligence before graduation.
As he explained:
“…our job is a practical one: to make government work better, to make The Bahamas easier to do business in, and to make sure our country and our people are ready for what comes next.”
For ordinary Bahamians, he said the objective is simple.
“…a government that is simpler, faster, and far easier to deal with… dealing with your government will get easier, year after year, by design.”
His ministry’s four pillars are ambitious: modernizing government, preparing the nation for artificial intelligence, developing Bahamian talent and driving long-term national development.
Among the initiatives announced were a National Artificial Intelligence Authority, the country’s first AI legislation, a National Digital ID,
SmartGov productivity tools for public officers, connected government systems, a National AI Literacy Initiative, an independent National Planning and Development Institute and a Delivery Division dedicated to turning plans into action.
The speech stopped short in one important area.
While Minister Bastian thoroughly explained how government intends to transform itself, he did not establish the measurable targets by which Bahamians can judge whether that transformation is succeeding.
However, he did reveal the next milestone.
Beginning in August, the National Development Plan Secretariat will begin assessing the planning capacity of every ministry and department while establishing a national tracking system before the renewed development plan moves into execution.
With 23 ministries and offices in the Davis administration, Bahamians now have a timeline.
It would not be unreasonable for the public to expect Minister Bastian to return once that assessment is complete with the findings, benchmarks and measurable goals that define success.
After all, the Minister’s own philosophy leaves little room for anything less.
“Delivery does not happen by good intentions — it happens when you build the institutions to carry it: capacity for research and policy thinking; teams dedicated to implementation; structures that demand accountability; systems that measure progress; and continuity that outlives any election cycle.”
If this speech is any indication, Minister Sebastian Bastian is not asking Bahamians to judge him by promises.He is asking to be judged by performance.
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