Police Investigate weekend vehicle collisions
Traffic Officers of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force are investigating two Motor Vehicular accidents that occurred over the weekend on Providenciales.
Around 8:43pm on Saturday 4th March 2017, Police and Medical Services responded to the vicinity of Glass Shack on the Leeward Highway to an accident involving two motor vehicles. Upon arrival at scene Police noticed a Black SUV and a White Daihatsu Terios Jeep with extensive damages. The passengers of the Terios Jeep who received serious injuries were removed from the vehicle by using Jaws of Life. The driver of the Black SUV receives no injuries.
Injured passengers were transported to the hospital and have underwent surgery. They are in stable condition.
Police and Emergency Services also responded to another collision involving two vehicles in the Grace Bay area of Providenciales around 9:36pm on Sunday 5th March 2017. Upon arrival at scene police noticed an overturned grey Toyota Sequoia SUV with extensive damages, also a black Toyota Scion car with extensive damages to its front and left fender. Both male drivers of 23 years-old were transported to Cheshire Hall Medical Centre to seek further assistance for injuries sustained.
If you have any information regarding these accidents, contact the police at Chalk Sound Police at 338-5901/941-8067 or contact Crimestoppers at 1-800-8477. The information you provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence. We remind you not to report crime information via our Facebook and Twitter page.
Women robbed while exercising
A male in a Black SUV robbed a woman and attempted to rob another one earlier this morning (Monday 6th March 2017) at two separate locations as they were out exercising on Providenciales
Complainant one reported to the police that around minutes to 6am as she was jogging in the vicinity of the Sands Resort, a tall unknown male about 6ft came of the vehicle, attacked her and demanded cash. She fought him off and he ran.
Another complainant reported that around 6:05am she was walking along the Leeward Highway in the vicinity of Napa when a short height, dark complexion male who came out of a black SUV, ran across the streets and tackle her to the ground. The male took her cellphone and ran back to the vehicle and drove off.
No one was injured during these incidence.
If you have any information contact the police at Chalk Sound Police at 338-5901/941-8067 or contact Crimestoppers at 1-800-8477. The information you provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence. We remind you not to report crime information via our Facebook and Twitter page.
Safety tips for Joggers
• Jog or run with a known companion.
• Jog or run in a familiar area.
• Do not jog or run in a heavily wooded, poorly lighted or secluded area.
• Particularly if jogging or running alone, don’t wear radio or recorder earphones.
• Do not jog or run after dark.
• Do not jog or run near bushes which can provide concealment.
• Wear bright colored clothing to improve your visibility.
• Vary your route and pattern of jogging or running.
• Carry a whistle or high decibel battery powered personal alarm device when you jog or run.
• If followed, go to the nearest residence, open business or group of people.
Statement by HE the Governor, Dr John Freeman
"The assault on a visitor to TCI on Saturday March 4th has understandably caused further public anxiety about security. I have been in touch with the Commissioner of Police over the week-end and also with the Hon. Premier. Clearly what is immediately important is the care of the victim and the investigation of the crime. The Police are fully engaged on this.
But of course what most concerns the public is not just this particular incident, but a sense of an upward trend in instances of violent crime. As well as the immediate response and investigation - led by the Police - all of us in government have a responsibility to address the causes of crime and to respond properly and intelligently and with the right resources.
With others in government I am very engaged on this larger issue, both in terms of analysis and of resourcing. And this involves many government bodies, i.e. not only the Police but others as well as Border Control, Immigration and also Customs.
I will be speaking to certain groups next week as part of an ongoing effort to reach out and provide responsive reassurance. There is however no magic wand in all this. It requires due consideration, proper application and steady determination, as the Police Force is showing already and with some real success. All of us however have a part to play in this process, including all relevant agencies of government."
Appeal to remove image of female on social media
The female whose image has been circulating on Whatsapp and Social Media indicating that she is the mastermind of a robbery and shooting incident that occurred yesterday (Saturday 4th March 2017) at a Resort in the Lower Bight Providenciales, has voluntarily reported to Police stating she has no involvement with this incident.
Detectives did not have any suspicion of this particular female, however her image including Social Media profile has surface and had since went viral accusing her of being a part of the set-up.
The public is reminded to act responsibly when publishing statements that are non-factual about persons on the internet and since this can cause damage to a person’s reputation, character or integrity, civil suits may be taken.
If the Police have reasons to believe that a person has committed a crime, they may issue wanted images to the public for assistance.
Persons must also be careful of their Whatsapp Interactions. A voice-note sent from one person to the next may go viral. Living in a small community it makes it easier for a voice to be identified. If the voice-note entails information regarding a potential suspect or criminal, it makes the author of that voice message vulnerable for attacks. Written conversations that are screened shot, can be screen shot with person’s phone number or names of the contact in that conversation and be sent viral via Whatsapp or Social Media, and some of these conversations have contained private information.
It you have images or information of any possible suspect, it is suggested that you email it to ncib@tcipolice.tc instead of sending on Whatsapp or posting on Social Media.
50 year-old male shot and robbed at Resort’s lobby
Detectives of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force are actively investigating an incident that occurred at a resort this morning (Saturday 4th March 2017) in the Lower Bight area of Providenciales.
Around 2: 29am, Police responded to the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre where the victim was met and told officers that he caught a ride from the Casino and as he exit the vehicle at his hotel he was approached by three masked men who demanded money. The culprits stabbed and shot him before making off with an undisclosed amount of cash.
The victim underwent a surgery and is still at the hospital in stable condition.
The scene was visited and a crime scene established.
Detectives of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force have since then arrested two men, a 23 year old on suspicion of Robbery and a 35 year old on suspicion of Conspiracy to Rob. These arrests are in connection with a robbery that occurred at a resort on Saturday 4th March 2017 in the Lower Bight area of Providenciales.
Around 2: 29am, Police responded to the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre where the victim was met and told officers that he caught a ride from the Casino and as he exited the vehicle at his hotel he was approached by three masked men who demanded money. The culprits stabbed and shot him before making off with an undisclosed amount of cash.
The victim’s condition is improving and he is still in the hospital.
If you have any information regarding this incident, contact the police at Chalk Sound Police at 338-5901/941-8067 or contact Crimestoppers at 1-800-8477. The information you provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence. We remind you not to report crime information via our Facebook and Twitter page.
"Budget will be late"- Premier
PREMIER Sharlene Cartwright Robinson has revealed that the new budget for the country will be later than her government had expected.
At a press conference on Thursday (March 2), the Premier explained that on assuming office on December 20, her government learned that the budget process had stopped, and in the last few months they have had to re-start the entire budget process and finalise it.
She did assure that they already have the recurrent budget – which will see spending in the area of law enforcement, policing, primary health care – with major focus on policing and the prison.
"You will see quite a bit of support in these areas from this new government," the Premier stated.
She added that the Financial Strategy and Policy Statement (FSPS) has already been sent to the United Kingdom.
The premier explained that document was recently amended to include a European Union budgetary support, as the government had just signed the EDF11 which gives the country budgetary support over forty months, and which began in 2016.
Meanwhile, the Premier stated that there will be a House of Assembly meeting sometime this month, during which time they will present a provisional warrant that will allow the government to continue to function until the budget is actually passed.
The government is constitutionally bound to pass the budget by July, the Premier assured, stating that her government is on track to do that and that the country can expect it much earlier than the constitutional deadline.
"We are going to have some additional capital projects that are desperately needed," Cartwright Robinson said, pointing out that some major infrastructural works will soon be carried out in order to give the country a "facelift".
These works, she said, will be carried out in several islands.
She added that the budget is not comprehensively a PDM budget, as they are rolling over several projects that were approved by the previous administration.
She noted that her government intends to move forward ambitiously with a number of projects that have been pending since 2015.
The Premier also updated the press on the government's legislative agenda for the next four years.
The agenda has already been presented to the Attorney General's chambers.
Cartwright Robinson further noted that her government is supporting the police strongly in the legislative agenda, with other much-needed support to the financial services, planning legislation, environmental legislation and youth work.
Youth listening tour kicks off on March 14
ON MARCH 14, the Ministry of Education, Youth, Sport and Library Services in collaboration with the Youth department will launch the first in a series of youth listening tours across the Turks and Caicos Islands.
On Thursday (March 2), the subject minister, Hon. Josephine Connolly was joined by Director of the Youth Department Jasmine Parker and national youth council member, Ronley James to outline the government's youth policy.
Minister Connolly noted that the main objective behind the tour is to give the youth of the Turks and Caicos Islands a voice.
"We said we would do it within the first 100 days, and I have done it. Myself and the youth department are very enthusiastic about involving our youth in government policy and decisions that affect them."
She assured that this initial tour will be the first in a number of initiatives to engage the local youth to ensure that they have a voice in the development of their country.
Within the next four months the team will be conducting youth listening tours, which will be both formal and informal around the islands, and according to the minister, the youth talk series will be instrumental in instigating programmes and policies.
The youth affairs director stated that another component of the tour is to establish the social issues in the country that youth are struggling with.
She said that there will be two official launch dates – the first will take place on March 14 at 4pm at the Gustarvus Sports Complex in Providenciales and the second one will take place on March 17 at the Helena Robinson high school auditorium in Grand Turk.
After the official launch ceremonies, the formal listening sessions will commence with groups such as Rotaract, Young Corporate Alliance, church youth groups and high school students.
The age group targeted is 12 to 29 years of age.
Parker said that they will also be hosting intimate listening sessions with about 30 or 50 youths so as to foster a better understanding of issues that affect youth in the country.
She said that there will also be a week of informal listening tours whereby the tour officials will go into communities in order to talk to youths who are hanging out on neighbourhood blocks, under trees, and on road corners to see what is happening with them.
She noted that the drive behind this particular part of the tour is to get an understanding of what is causing these young people to be hanging around the communities, so that the department and the government at large can put measures in place to cut down on this.
Parker also assured that the youth series will also take place in South and North Caicos, and that a detailed tour schedule with dates, time and locations will soon be made public.
At the end of the tour, the public will be made aware of the issues and initiatives that the government is hoping will come out of the tour.
That will be done by way of a public symposium, Parker said.
Youth councilor, Ronley James is therefore encouraging every young person in the designated age group to take part in the listening tour, as he said this is an ideal opportunity for the youth of the country to regain its voice.
First Caribbean unveils new and improved Provo branch
A NEW and improved facility of the CIBC First Caribbean International Bank was officially unveiled at the Leeward Highway location in Providenciales on Tuesday (February 28).
Cutting the ribbon to modern building was Deputy Governor Anya Williams, assisted by the bank's Chief Executive Mark Brown, Managing Director Mark St. Hill and other dignitaries.
The $1.5M remodel saw major works being carried out to the interior of the building with several banking machines being added.
Delivering very brief remarks at the opening ceremony were Brown and St. Hill.
St. Hill noted that the location now sports greatly upgraded automatic banking machine (ABM) services with three new ATMs and a drive through service for those who wish to bank on the go.
He said that four main banking options will be available from the newly improved location, namely: retail banking with the local mortgage centre, business banking, business banking, corporate banking, and a local operations centre.
"The improvements here mirror what we have been doing and will continue to do across our business footprint in the region, and we are doing all of this with one goal in mind – a better client experience," the director stated.
He further promised that the institution will continue the process of transforming its retail operations as well as the reconfiguration and enhancement of their premises.
Modern Banking
Speaking with the media following a tour of the remodeled building, St Hill commended the local population on adopting more modern banking options.
He said that the population here has adopted the alternative channel – with the Leeward branch being the most highly used in terms of volume.
"TCI is the number three performing country branch right now, and the Leeward branch is currently ranked number five," the Director said.
Two years ago TCI was ranked number one, and according to St Hill this was gauged on all of their regional branches performance in banking areas such as loans, insurance, consumer loans, mortgages, credit to life and some other products.
He added that this speaks very positively about the economy of the Turks and Caicos Islands, which he said seems to be rebounding.
Asked about one of the chief complaints about the First Caribbean locations in Providenciales – that of ATMs being constantly down, St Hill said this is because of the high usage of the machines.
"When you come and you see it down it's because we are constantly restocking, so we have to restock it every time it is down, and that is why it went from three machines inside and one outside, to four inside.
"We are having a challenge right now with the drive through and the vendor is bringing in a part now for us to fix that."
However, he said that this is actually a good problem for them to have.
"Because we have no problem deploying ABMS, this is extremely good. What it says to me is that as a society (TCI) you have adopted modern ways of banking and that is where we want to change the region, we want the region to adopt these methods," St Hill observed.
Over the past 18 months, the bank has opened four new ATM machines across the country, bringing their total to 11.
TCI Financial Regulation
St. Hill is also quite pleased with the financial oversight and regulations here in the TCI.
"A lot of Caribbean countries are not very good at business facilitation and business facilitation here is good, when we were launching our home and auto insurance it was the regulators here that sat with us and navigated us through it and that is business facilitation.
"So I have to give kudos to the FSC here, because of that it became a domino effect in going through the region, so business facilitation is very important."
He noted that countries need to have a very strong regulatory environment.
"I have seen where when you take your eyes off of that you get things called the IMF and whole lot of things coming your way.
"TCI is not there, so I think we should be happy that there is a level of fiscal discipline here.
"I think this is one of the few economies that is in a surplus for seven straight years, so there is a give and take," St. Hill added.
Men on trial for Sunny Foods robbery and shooting
THE FOUR men charged and remanded for the April 10, 2016 robbery and shooting at the Sunny Foods supermarket are currently standing trial for the crimes in the Grand Turk Supreme Court.
The length of the trial – which is now in its third week - was cut down significantly due to a culling of the witness list by the prosecutor, and it is now expected that the jury will soon get the case and deliver a decision sometime soon.
The defendants in the trial are: 27 year old Ewing George who is charged with robbery, and inflicting grievous bodily harm; while the three others 33-year-old Reginald Presil, 32-year-old Fritzer Prevalus, and Wilbert Almonor, all face charges of conspiracy to commit robbery.
The three charged with conspiracy to rob are Haitian nationals.
The case against the men stemmed from an armed robbery and shooting of a local security official and ex-superintendent of police Albion Williams outside of the Five Cays store in Providenciales last year.
Witness accounts of the brazen daylight robbery stated that the assailants were waiting for Williams – who is also the owner of Tag Security Services – to exit the store with the bag of money he normally collects from that location.
When he came out of the supermarket the men allegedly knocked him to the ground, grabbed the bag of money, fired three shots into Williams' back and made good their escape.
The men were arrested in June last year and were charged with the crime.
George was arrested and charged later in the year.
GOV`T exploring all avenues to collect and protect its revenue –Tourism Minister
MINISTER of Tourism, Hon. Ralph Higgs says the Government is exploring all avenues to collect and protect its revenue.
Higgs made this comment during a brief exclusive interview with the Weekly News on Wednesday March 1.
Tax evasion and avoidance are problems which seem to have defied solution, and have bedeviled the Turks and Caicos tax system for many years; however, the new Tourism Minister says his administration is working assiduously to reverse this debilitating issue.
His sentiments come after owners of the Regent Grand recently voiced their concern about the long running tax evasion practice of some villas, condos and private homes in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The call for greater regulatory practices is one which has been made for a number of years, most recently last week by the Chamber of Commerce and the Hotel and Tourism Association when they met for the first time with the new Government.
Premier Sharlene Cartwright- Robinson at a press conference on Thursday (March 2) disclosed that her government has already sent legislation aimed at regulating these businesses to the attorney general's chambers for implementation over the next four years.
She said: "One bit of legislation that will be of interest to the people is the regulation of the RBOs.
" We want to do that from two standpoints and that is to make sure that we are not losing revenue and to make sure that the industry is regulated but also in the issue of national security because we want to know who is renting where and given the recent unsettling environment as it relates to crime we want to know where people are in this country and it is important to know where tourists are in these stand alone villas and heavily bushed, not well lit areas, we want to be able to protect our product and protect tourists who continue to rent under the RBOs.
"I don't want to give the impression that all of them are illegal or unregulated but it is an industry that has to be managed and managed better."
These establishments are accused of not paying their accommodation taxes to the Government and there is a call for them to be regularized as private rental properties.
A well-placed source at the Regent Grand resort in Grace Bay recently told this publication that there are American unit owners who have been engaged in the practice, and are undermining the hotel business in the country.
In a recent press statement, both the TCHTA and the Chamber, stated that an area identified was that of private home owners using platforms like Airbnb, Vacation Rentals By Owner (VRBO) and other online sites to secure bookings.
This, they said is an emerging business which needs regulating as it can be a revenue source for the administration in the collection of taxes.
Currently there are several hundred rental properties in the TCI listed on these websites most of which are rented at exorbitant prices, with many of them not paying any taxes.
This is not a problem that plagues the TCI only, as many other Caribbean tourism destinations are affected by rise in online vacation home rental platforms.
The Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association has since published a resource guide supporting the TCI's effort to level the playing field through the taxation and regulation of the sector and its engagement in public and private sector tourism development efforts.
According to industry news last year, the region's leading umbrella tourism private sector organization is counseling the Caribbean's 32 national hotel and tourism associations and governments to work together to address the challenges and opportunities presented by the rapid rise of the online vacation home rental industry and other sharing economy businesses being fueled by hosting platform companies like Airbnb and Uber.
"Airbnb, in particular, recorded more than 25,000 listings in the Caribbean as of February 2016 and is projecting significant growth this year. Destinations such as the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guadeloupe, Jamaica, Cancún, Martinique and Barbados feature the most listings on Airbnb with continued growth projected throughout the entire region."
CHTA president Karolin Troubetzkoy has noted that the sharing economy made possible by these hosting platforms is happening whether, whether it is embraced or not.
He pointed out: "This leaves us with two options: we can allow it to develop as an untaxed and under-regulated market and lose out on tremendous opportunities or we can bring all the players to the table to work out solutions to the benefit of all concerned parties."
Only last month ,the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), the region's tourism development agency, and Airbnb, whose community marketplace provides access to millions of unique accommodations, signed a landmark agreement to develop a set of policy principles and recommendations on the sharing economy for Caribbean governments and other stakeholders.
Under the agreement, both organizations will share data and studies with policymakers about the positive impact of the sharing economy in the region; identify ways to make it more inclusive; and broaden the benefits of tourism to non-traditional actors, attract new stakeholders and focus on providing amazing and unique travel and cultural experiences to visitors.
This partnership agreement will also provide to the CTO an economic analysis of Airbnb's positive impact on local economies.
By reviewing Airbnb's aggregate data, key stakeholders will be briefed on the value of a peer-to-peer review mechanisms; at the same time Caribbean government officials and other stakeholders learn about the long term benefits of the sharing economy and home sharing in particular.
"The CTO is establishing a basis for mutual cooperation with Airbnb's. It is important for us to examine all aspects of this important segment of the sharing economy.
We believe that by clearly understanding Airbnb's massive influence in capturing consumers' interest in unique accommodations we will be in a position to properly advise our members and to allow the Caribbean to achieve the goals of year-round profitability, visitor satisfaction and sustainable tourism development," Mr. Riley said.
Currently, there are 41 thousand listings across the Caribbean and a typical host in the Caribbean earns approximately US$3,900 per year.
The agreement will also help to identify new ways to market the Caribbean as a region: One Sea, One Voice, One Caribbean and grow the tourism industry.
With this cooperation agreement, Airbnb will continue promoting tourism and highlighting Caribbean history and culture.
The strategy focuses on the diversification of the tourism industry and the expansion of the economic opportunities for the Caribbean people.