By Deandrea Hamilton

Editor

#TurksandCaicos, August 5, 2023 – The PDM’s appointed member to the House of Assembly may have been a bit more satisfied by Friday evening with the release of a strong statement from the president of the Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association; firmness is what everyone expects in the aftermath of another wild shooting – on Wednesday – in Grace Bay.

“We have had seven or eight murders since June 5th. We saw days where there were two murders in 24 hours. In these past two months, we have seen a shooting incident that saw 3 or 4 persons shot and by all accounts intentionally. We are seeing brazen day murders and now in the heart of Grace Bay.

In the past two years we have seen at least two beheadings and maybe a third. We have seen a trial witness killed in close proximity to CID. These historic events have whisked by without matching attention,” said Alvin Garland, Opposition Appointed member to the House of Assembly.

Garland expressed being incensed by the silence and the method of communication as violent crime grows in frequency and boldness.

“The PDM and I are calling on the Premier to address his people other than through a Press Release. The TCI has turned the corner and the question is how much more has to happen before we act decisively again?

The Minister of Tourism and TCHTA can no longer remain silent and must regain their voices to address our country’s visitors. In times when things were not as extreme, they were indeed vocal. We need leading voices and stakeholders on the record.

It is important to measure our comments in times like these but the silence must stop and the call for help must be urgently sent out,” said Garland.

Coming from the TCHTA was this, “Over the past two months, our Board of Directors has met with the Police Commissioner and the Governor’s Office to voice these concerns as we saw a serious trend starting once again of extreme violence not common to our islands.

We are concerned as an industry and as the nation’s largest employers that our citizens and guests must believe Turks & Caicos is a safe place to live and to visit.”

There has been no comment from the Minister of Tourism, however on Friday the TCHTA released its position on the shooting incident which forced a temporary road block following a barrage of bullets which left a 26-year-old man dead near a popular Grace Bay Beach access.

Hon Garland said this group was more vocal when the crime situation in the country was less serious.  Garland’s other advice, get outside help.

“We need outside help, not because we have no faith in our own, but because we need the extra skills and manpower, but this cannot be our fall back each time these acts are threatened or committed. The Bahamas assisted us greatly in stemming the violent tide and whilst we are aware that they too have their challenges, one more stint maybe warranted. But after this, we must have an ongoing plan that sees capacity built in in our own Police Organisation.”

Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer 

#TurksandCaicos, August 5, 2023 – Police officers in the Turks and Caicos are, for the first time in years, preemptively expressing real concern that there will be a possible exchange of fire between warring factions following a killing in Grace Bay on August 2, and it does little to soothe residents.

“The brazen manner in which armed men carried out the murder in Grace Bay and the attack on the Police Officers in Dock Yard is shocking and highly concerning. I also remain concerned that further shootings will be carried out between gangs of young men involved in organised gang activity, motivated by drugs, guns, and retaliation.” Trevor Botting, TCI Police Commissioner, said in an August 3rd statement.

While the police have admittedly been more communicative, as of late, the messages are ringing more and more similar, with appeals for information, promises of more patrols, heightened security, and a commitment to keeping residents safe.

Missing from them are reports of concrete arrests and evidence that the brazen criminals are being watched, rounded up, and removed from the streets.

There have been over 40 murders in the last 12 months as we approach October and the anniversary of the two double murders that heralded the beginning of the bloodiest period in TCI history.

Still, barely any of the murders have been solved; gang leaders are only unmasked after their deaths, except Brandon Rahming and gangs continue their bloody march across Providenciales killing who they want, when they want, where they want.

Following the latest incident, the appeal for information is once again repeated.

“I appeal to those law-abiding residents in Dock Yard to tell us where these individuals are living and who they are, you don’t need to leave your name, just tell us what you know, and we will deal with the fear and harm they are creating within the community,” said the Commissioner.

“The Force remains committed and resolute in keeping our communities safe.” he continued.

Of the twelve murders in the Turks and Caicos so far this year, two people have been arrested.

Wilkie Arthur

Freelance Court Reporter

#TurksandCaicos, August 5, 2023 – An interesting chain of events unraveled in a landmark gun case, covered in early July, where a man charged with illegal firearms possession and who was caught by the person he tried to rob, was stopped and is now incarcerated under new, tougher gun laws.

The matter had been adjourned on several occasions after the accused ROUDELIN DORSAINVIL pleaded guilty to all the charges he was facing.   However, as the Supreme Court closed for its Summer break, the case of the Haitian man wrapped up.

Some of the important facts and details of the case are the convict had an accomplice that got away according to the victim witness.  During the robbery, the robbers tried to take more than what they already stolen.  They pointed the loaded gun at Wisland Mesidort and demanded his money; Mesidort had just received his salary.

This attempt was unsuccessful and the defendant and his unknown/unnamed accomplices then took off in the surrounding bush.  They were chased, and when the defendant saw they were being chased by the very ones they had just robbed, he stopped to discharge his firearm but thankfully no one was hit or injured.

Mr. Mesidort said, ROUDELIN DORSAINVIL then saw they were still being chased after the single shot, so he pointed the gun again and “this time I said In the name of Jesus of Nazareth, I block the gun.”

Despite pressing the trigger a few more times, according to the witness, the gun never fired.  It was jammed, he said.

When the now convicted Dorsainvil stopped to reload the gun, he removed the magazine, checked it out and put the magazine back.  He pointed it and tried shooting again and it still didn’t work.

Miraculously, the witness said the armed robber then put his hand into his pocket and gave back two of the stolen envelopes.

“The phone had dropped and I picked it up while we were running.  I asked him for the third envelope…. We wrestled him and held him down until police arrived.”

Dorsainvil, plead guilty and became the first person convicted under the new stiffer mandatory prison time for gun passion; he got 12 years in HMP.  He was charged with:  Carrying a Black and Silver Ruger 9mm pistol; Carrying 10 rounds of ammunition for the said 9mm pistol; Discharging Firearm; Discharging ammunition and Robbery at Gardenia Way, in Grace Bay, Providenciales.

The matter was before newly appointed His Lordship, Chris Selochan. Justice Selochan was the first, on the TCI bench to passed sentence under the new firearm amendment ordinance and he did so on 31st July 2023.

All his sentences are ordered to run concurrently.

He was represented by Ashwood Forbes, Senior Defence Counsel.