News

RTCIPF Response to Serious Crime – Statement by the Commissioner of Police

Published

1 week ago

August 3, 2023

#TurksandCaicos, August 3, 2023 – The shooting dead of a man in Grace Bay on Wednesday 2nd August 2023 at 2 pm in the afternoon was shocking.

This murder was targeted against the man who died and is, we believe, linked to gang-related serious crime, motivated by revenge and retribution.

This is the twelfth murder for 2023, with the majority of these deaths being linked to gang and serious crime activity.

Our young men on the TCI are dying needlessly through senseless violence. This matter is under active investigation, and I am asking you, our community, to tell us what you know about this and other serious crimes. You can do this in a number of ways and if you wish to stay anonymous, you can use Crimestoppers to tell us what you know.

You don’t need to leave your name and the information will be passed to us.

Soon after the incident in Grace Bay yesterday, the RTCIPF received reports of a group of armed men in the Dock Yard area. When Police Officers attended the area, they were subject to sustained gunfire from a group of men who were armed with automatic weapons.

In order to protect themselves, the Police officers also discharged their firearms. It is not known if any persons were injured as a result of the exchange although I can say that due to the protection afforded by the armoured vehicle, no police officers were injured in this cowardly attack on our Law Enforcement.

Very soon after this event, the second RTCIPF armoured vehicle also deployed to Dock Yard and the armed gang members dispersed.

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.

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. For this reason, the RTCIPF is on high alert and is undertaking robust operations in our communities, on our roads, and through intelligence-led targeted operations to locate and bring to justice those seeking to cause harm and fear across the TCI.

The Force remains committed and resolute in keeping our communities safe. The Turks and Caicos Islands Government investment in Policing have led to the purchase of two armoured vehicles to protect Police Officers from reckless and violent individuals as we chase them down and chase them down, we will. We have more Tactical Officers than in 2022, specialists who are well-trained and equipped to tackle the threats we are facing. I remain grateful to the Hon Premier and his Government for their support of the work of Policing across the TCI.

In terms of the threats posed to Police officers, let me be absolutely clear if any person poses a threat to the courageous men and women of the Force, their response will be uncompromising and robust. You need to know the reality, if you threaten a Police officer with a firearm, you must expect to be challenged and your threat will be met with potentially lethal force.

In the days ahead, you will see more Police Officers on the streets, in your communities, and carrying out policing operations on the roads and in neighbourhoods. Please ensure that if you are around this operational policing, do not threaten officers and comply with any instructions given, this will help officers do their job. One other way that you can assist is to ensure that your vehicle is properly registered, displaying number plates, and that your window tints do not exceed the legal limits. Officers will be checking non-compliant vehicles and whilst you may end up with a fine, you must also expect to be challenged robustly when officers stop you. Criminals use cars that are heavily tinted and have no registration plates so if you don’t want to be considered a potential threat, ensure your vehicle complies with the law.

I have briefed The Governor and Premier, who actively engaged to ensure the required support is in place for our policing response. I have ensured that our Tourism Minister and partners are aware of the circumstances of the incident in Grace Bay.

The Policing arrangements remain under constant review and if additional support or capacity is needed, then we will explore all options for bringing in additional resources.

We realise that yesterday’s incidents have caused fear within our communities and one man lost his life. In the coming days, there will be increased visibility of officers on our streets as we work hard to bring calm, security, and safety to the TCI and we are committed to dealing with the violent criminality that is blighting the Islands

News

Bankers’ Association President Samuels Finds Residents Hungry for Housing Financing at policy launch

Published

2 hours ago

August 11, 2023

Deandrea Hamilton

Dana Malcolm

Staff writer

#TurksandCaicos, August 11, 2023 – Despite the Government’s attempt to create more affordable housing for residents with the creation of the new Housing Policy, many say they left the launch feeling less hopeful than they went in.

After the event, one resident expressed it was time to speed up a government-operated mortgage scheme, and those inside the launch event had a similar lack of faith in their ability to secure bank-backed mortgages.

Marcus Samuels, Head of the Banking Association, was hit with questions about how the Association would seek to help residents secure mortgages to purchase these new government homes, considering how difficult residents on both sides of the employment spectrum (private and public) found it to get approval for loans.

The pre-prepared question was met with applause from the ample audience who had gathered to hear about the programs.

“Homeownership isn’t rocket science, ” Samuels said, stressing that once residents came prepared with knowledge about their own paychecks and the size of the loan they could be offered they had a good chance of success.

Necessary information included:

Level of income
Level of previous debt

He also said the cost of housing could be lowered for buyers if the Government decided to decrease or forgo their taxes.

“There are some fees that we genuinely cannot move, like the Government stamp duties, which is usually one percent on the transaction. Thankfully, the Premier is here— the ball is in his court.”

Zhavargo Jolly, Event Moderator, fielded concerns shared by residents, including that the proposed cost of homes in the example (just over $ 200,000) was lower than the usual market value in the country.

There was also a concern that the mortgages seemed geared toward double-income homes, which was not the case for all residents, alienating single mothers, fathers, and other single-income earners.

While Samuels came prepared with calculations for a hypothetical $230,000 home that he said proved residents could be able to own a home with a down payment as low as $12,500 the audience was unconvinced. When he questioned them about whether residents believed they could afford a home after laying down the calculations the answer was still a resounding ‘no’.

Following the event, Bishop Coleta Williams, Chaplain to the House of Assembly, also spoke on the programs expressing concern that residents would be paying back the loans for years to come.

Residents, in the comments of the live video which was carried on Facebook, expressed being disappointed that more representatives from the Banking Association weren’t present at the meeting when arguably one of the biggest roadblocks to housing is financing.

Government

New data reveals Housing pitfalls, government reveals detailed plan to fix it

Published

2 hours ago

August 11, 2023

Deandrea Hamilton

Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer

#TurksandCaicos, August 11, 2023 – Many Turks and Caicos Islanders are spending unsustainable amounts of money on housing, according to data gathered by the Housing Department via the National Housing Needs Survey, emphasizing the need for affordable homes.

Dominique Durham, Deputy Permanent Secretary of Physical Planning and Infrastructure Development

“Respondents of that Survey provided that the majority of households spend more than 50 percent of their income on housing expenses. Now, as a rule of thumb, especially in America, if you spend more than 30 percent of your income on housing, it is deemed not affordable,” Dominique Durham, Deputy Permanent Secretary of Physical Planning and Infrastructure Development, revealed.

He shared other significant data collected that showed the dire state of the housing market locally, including that nearly a quarter of residents live in damaged homes.

“It also revealed that 21 percent [of respondents] are living in homes in need of repair and 69 percent are looking to purchase a new home within the next five years,” Durham said.

Despite the intent to buy a home, the survey also revealed that many Turks and Caicos residents thought the housing market needed more affordable options for them to be able to bring that dream to fruition.

The majority of residents (32 percent) voted for the Government to create more options for affordable housing when asked what would best improve their housing needs.

Other popular suggestions included:

Creating Government housing loan programs (25 percent)
Housing subsidies (15 percent)
Home improvement/refurbishment programs (11 percent)

All of those suggestions voted on by residents have made their way into the Housing Policy as either short-term or long-term programs.

Jamell Robinson, Minister of Physical Planning and Infrastructure Development

“Long-term projects include inclusionary zoning, large-scale housing through public-private partnerships, and eventually, we will be establishing a National Housing Authority and Trust whereby we hope to lend at affordable interest rates. We also are looking to roll out help-to-buy schemes in the near future as we appreciate that an issue is also access to financing,” he said.

The Government is aiming to use these suggestions, voted on by residents, to fix the gaping hole in the market, but even with these new programs, there’s one thing residents say they need to purchase homes– better pay.

Jamell Robinson, Minister of Physical Planning and Infrastructure Development, was hit with the question of whether the Government would start to pay residents more so they could have more cash to afford housing.

The minister said step one was increasing public cash flow (with a pay and grade review for the public service now being conducted), and step two was upskilling all individuals to make them more marketable in the private sector.

“Our Job– is to ensure that our citizens as Turks and Caicos islanders can add value to themselves so they can participate more in the open market, and one of those ways is by making the community college free so you can access higher education– in a free open market which we have here, it’s hard to dictate to the private sector what they can pay a specific individual so we want to grow our individuals to make sure that they can level up,” he explained.

The Housing Policy launched on July 27th in Providenciales.

Caribbean News

Trinidad & Tobago Emancipation Day Marked with Major Events Attended by Prime Minister and other Dignitaries

Published

2 hours ago

August 11, 2023

Deandrea Hamilton

#TrinidadandTobago, August 11, 2023 – Prime Minister Dr the Hon Keith Rowley and Mrs Sharon Rowley attended the Distinguished Open Lecture by His Royal Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, The Asantehene at The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus last evening (Thursday 3rd August, 2023).

The Asantehene is the Guest of Honour in commemoration of this country’s 2023 Emancipation celebrations.

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and Member of Parliament for Tunapuna, the Hon. Esmond Forde, Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs, Senator the Hon. Dr. Amery Browne, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, the Hon. Camille Robinson-Regis, Minister of Education, Dr. the Hon. Nyan Gadsby-Dolly, Minister in the Ministry of Education, the Hon. Lisa Morris-Julian, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal of The University of the West Indies, St Augustine Campus Professor Rose-Marie Belle Antoine, Dean of the Faculty of Food and Agriculture, Professor Mark Wuddivira and Lecturer Department of History, Dr. Debbie Mc Collin were also in attendance at yesterday’s lecture.

Prime Minister Dr the Hon Keith Rowley and Mrs Sharon Rowley also visited the Desperadoes Pan Theatre at George Street, Port of Spain last evening (Wednesday 2nd August, 2023).

Dr Rowley welcomed His Royal Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, The Asantehene and his delegation to the pan theatre where His Majesty was treated to various aspects of Trinidad and Tobago’s Carnival which culminated in a performance by the Desperadoes Steel Orchestra and a demonstration on the playing of the national instrument for the Asantehene.

“They now see Africa, not through European eyes, as a dark continent, but as the cradle of human civilisation, citing the discoveries of its great empires. They talk of it glowingly, as the world’s fastest developing economic region in the 21st century, having just overtaken Asia, and of its six of the 10 fastest growing economies in the world and of its minerals, critical and indispensable to the technologies of the 21st century green economies.

Today, recognising the pain of the Middle Passage, and the centuries of colonial brutality, I salute the African community, a people, who through grit and determination, is on the march, striving for further discovery and self-realisation, searching, and transforming themselves for the challenges of the 21st century.

Let us all reflect and educate ourselves as we celebrate African Emancipation Day 2023.”

Dr the Honourable Keith Rowley

Prime Minister of The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago

on the occasion of Emancipation Day 2023