RTC Director – Page 1536 – Radio Turks & Caicos

Minister of Justice Angry at Police -- Detective plans to fight back.

A detective working at the Philipsburg Police station is looking at ways to redress a situation he considered to be unfit and improper.

SMN News learnt that the detective met with union representatives on Monday as well as the Chief of Police to inform them of an incident that involves the Minister of Justice Roland Duncan. According to information reaching SMN News, the Minister went to the Police station late Sunday night after a French citizen got injured and refused treatment from the local paramedics. Sources say when the Minister reached the police station he insulted the detective instead of dealing directly with the chief of police.

The Minister of Justice met on Monday for about four hours where he discussed with the police management team.
In an invited comment Chief of Police Peter de Witte said he discussed the matter with the Minister on Monday and the outcome was positive.

Efforts made to contact Minister Duncan on Monday evening proved futile as he did not answer his cellular telephone.

by RTC Director

5 Haitian migrants killed in boat accident

A motorboat overloaded with Haitian migrants slammed into a reef off the British Virgin Islands and capsized today as it tried to evade authorities. Five people were killed, including two infants.

The 30-foot (9-metre) boat was carrying at least 30 people when it struck the reef off the southern coast of Tortola, said British Virgin Islands Customs Comptroller Wade Smith.

The exact number of passengers was unknown, but it was believed more people were on board and authorities were searching for more victims or survivors, Smith said.

Authorities in the British territory detained 25 of the survivors as suspected illegal migrants, including six who were hospitalised with undisclosed injuries, said police spokeswoman Dianne Drayton.

The boat had apparently departed from Dutch St Maarten and was trying to illegally enter British territory about midnight, Smith said.

The British Virgin Islands is home to a relatively small community of Haitian migrants.

A Dutch coast guard plane spotted the vessel and alerted other authorities in the region, said US Coast Guard spokesman Ricardo Castrodad. A US Coast Guard ship arrived after the boat had capsized and was assisting with search and rescue efforts, Castrodad said.

The boat overturned in Paraquita Bay, which is notoriously tricky to navigate even in daylight because of the extensive network of reefs in the area, said Phil Aspinal, president of the Virgin Islands Search and Rescue, a volunteer group helping to find survivors.

by RTC Director