RTC Director

A homeowner who killed an intruder during an attempted robbery is on $20,000 bail

A FILIPINO homeowner who killed an intruder who attempted to rob his Kew Town home on February 22, 2017 is presently on a US $20,000 police bail and is scheduled to return to the police station on March 27, 2017.

Police said in a press statement that contrary to what is posted on Social Media, the 38-year-old man in question has not been charged and that the decision on whether to charge him will be recommended by the Department of Public Prosecutions.

Ensley Rolle, a Bahamian man with Turks and Caicos Islands roots, was killed on last Wednesday morning during an alleged home invasion in Kew Town, Providenciales.

Police say that the 29-year-old broke into the home of a Filipino native and was stabbed to death by the owner.

According to a police press statement, at around 3:20 am, Police and Emergency Services were dispatched to an area in Norway, Kew Town after a report was made that a person was caught inside of a home.

For safety reasons, police will not be revealing the identity of the man.

by RTC Director

Update: Police Investigate death of Ensley Rolle

Investigators continue to investigate the circumstances to determine what lead to the death of 29 year-old Ensley Rolle who was killed on Wednesday 22nd February 2017 in the area of Kew Town Providenciales, a 34 year-old male was subsequently arrested on suspicion of Murder.

Around 3:40am, Police and Emergency Services were dispatched to an area in Norway Kew Town after a report was made that a man was caught inside of a home. Upon arrival, officers met the complainant who stated while he was asleep the deceased entered his home and upon confronting him, an altercation ensued.

The male is presently on a $20,000 Police bail and will return to station on Monday 27th March 2017.

Contrary to what is posted on Social Media, the man in question has not been charged. The decision of whether charges will be laid or not will be a recommendation from the Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

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.

by RTC Director

Representatives from Infrastructure, Housing & Planning take Official Visit to Islands

The Minster with responsibility for the Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Planning, Hon. Goldray Ewing, along with several members of his team from within his Ministry, recently conducted a familiarization and fact finding mission on the Islands of South, North and Middle Caicos, and Providenciales, to get a first-hand view of government properties and projects in an effort to prioritize, repair and improve, where necessary.

During the visits, the team viewed and examined:

    Several of the schools throughout the Islands mentioned
    All government clinics
    Roads on Providenciales, South and North Caicos
    Explore several options to relieve the morning congestion at the downtown roundabout Providenciales
    Kew Town Ball Park project
    The Reverse Osmosis Plant and storage tanks / South Caicos
    The Boiling Hole project / South Caicos
    The Causeway Project  / North & Middle Caicos
    The Wellness Center Project / South Caicos
    The Long Bay High School Project
    Regatta Village works
    Government Treasury and Customs House-South Caicos
    Kew Community Center
     Sporting Facility and Green Fitness Parks projects

Hon. Ewing, during the various meetings with various persons, listened attentively to their concerns, while at the same granted assurances that his Ministry and his government will look into the various issues raised, with the view to having them all addressed on a prioritized basis and as funding become available.

He also thanked each person in advance for their patience and understanding, as we all work to better their situation and by extension, that of these Turks and Caicos Islands.

by RTC Director

NEW DEPUTY REGISTRAR OF LANDS AT THE LAND REGISTRY DEPARTMENT

Ms. Toni Ann Foster has been appointed as the new Deputy Registrar of Lands in the Land Registry by the Deputy Governor effective the February 23rd, 2017.  Ms. Foster succeeds former Deputy Registrar Ms. Tresha Ustanny following an open competition for the post.

                          
Ms. Foster is an Attorney at Law of the Jamaican Bar for upwards of eight (8) years. She is a graduate of the Norman Manly Law School. While there she was the recipient of the Andrea Gabrielle Lloyd Memorial Prize for student involvement.    
                                                                                    
Ms. Foster holds a Bachelors of Law Degree with Honours from the University of the West Indies. Ms. Foster has also received training from the Management Institute for National Development, Jamaica in Supervisory Management. She has experience in land registration and conveyancing having worked at Audrey Allen & Co, Attorneys at law as an Associate. She gained considerable experience at the National Land Agency Jamaica as a Legal Officer where she was involved in the review and approval of various types of Land Registry applications and instrumental in the conduct of conveyancing workshops and roadshows.         

Ms. Brandie Anderson, the Registrar of Lands said she is excited about the appointment of Ms Foster and looks forward to working closely with her to achieving the Land Registry's mandate. She stated; "Ms Foster's appointment will increase the technical capability of the Land Registry and contribute to its continued positive development."

Ms. Foster's primary role at the Land Registry is to assist the Registrar of Lands to:

    Increase the level of accuracy in registering interest in the land and thereby create a higher level of confidence and reliance on the registration performance by the Land Registry.
    Increase the efficiency of the department so that the Registry's service standards are consistently met and exceeded.
    Enhance the Land Registry's ability to manage and secure records, many of which are available to the public
    Increase the revenue to government among other things.

by RTC Director

Jermain Missick remains on US $20,000 bail after appearing in court

Jermain Missick appeared in the Magistrates Court number 1 in Providenciales on February 14 before Judge Jolyon Hatmin for the charge of causing death by dangerous driving, following an accident that took the lives of Martin Field Jr. and Correll Glinton.

Missick remains on a $20,000 bail and a sufficiency hearing has been set for April 7, 2017 at the Supreme Court in Grand Turk.

At the time of the incident, officers were called to the area of South Dock road at around 11:12 pm on Thursday (September 8, 2016) to investigate an accident involving a white Nissan V8 Titan Truck, driven by the accused, and a scooter, driven by Field Jr., with Glinton as a passenger.

The bodies of Field Jr. and Glinton were found off the road in the bushes almost 10 to 15 feet apart. They were both pronounced dead on the scene by Dr Adolphus Oguche.

The suspect was taken to the Cheshire Hall Medical Centre to be treated for minor injuries and was released shortly after.

However, he was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

by RTC Director

TCHTA Urges Officials to Address Crime Situation

With crime rates steadily rising in TCI the Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association is appealing to the newly appointed Administration and Governor the Excellency Dr. John Freeman to urgently address the matter before the destination’s leading industry is severely affected.

With 2,080 crimes reported by the Royal Turks and Caicos Police Force between the period January to September 2016,87 of these crimes involving crimes against visitors,along with the more recent shooting incident involving TCHTA’s Allied member and TCI businessman Galmo Williams, TCHTA is urging both parties to better equip the local Police Force in order for them to perform more effectively.

Praising the Force for having an increased presence along the Grace Bay tourist area, TCHTA’s Board of Directors stated, “The increased presence is welcomed but more must be done and at a much higher level to address this troubling situation.

Police can patrol the area but if they aren’t equipped with the necessary resources or if their manpower is limited then the issue remains. We need the persons at the top, including the Premier and the Governor to engage the country’s influential Associations in some serious dialogue to find solutions which will work to address and alleviate the growing crime level.“

The Board also noted, “This is a critical situation because not only are crimes being committed against our visitors but because we live in an age now where news is real-time. A visitor who is robbed will share the story instantly with their friends and family via social media and will no doubt warn them against the dangers they have encountered in the TCI.
This then endangers our product and the brand we have worked so hard to develop. It puts our tourism product and our reputation of being a safe tourist destination at great risk. Over the past five years our Association and its members have put measures in place to assist the destination with combatting the crime situation, including donations to the Police Force and the installation of CCTV cameras along the Grace Bay tourist area. However, our hands are tied at this point because there is only so much our members can afford to contribute towards. At some juncture, there must be national dialogue between all partners, where a serious and detailed analysis of the threat is given and a workable solution found which includes educating our society about how negatively crime affects the industry.” 

With the Association predicting a busy Winter 2017/2018 the Board is hoping that the meetings can be held soon to craft out a way forward.

by RTC Director

Police Investigate Fire arm related offences

Police are investigating two firearms related reports that occurred between Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th February 2017 in the area of Blue Hills Providenciales.

Around 10:50pm, police responded to an Aggravated Burglary report to a home on the Millennium Highway, where the victim told police that she heard someone knocking on her front door, and upon opening it, four masked men rushed and entered the home and demanded money, jewelry and cellphones. The culprits got away with a number of items including a large undisclosed amount of cash. No one was injured during this incident.

Another report was made at 12:21 am the following morning, Police went to the Bay Road area where the complainant told officers that a male was shot in the ear by a masked man. The victim told officers that he was in his home when he heard his female neighbor screaming. He ran outside to see what was happening and came face to face with three masked gun men who fired shots at him. He received a gun-shot wound to the right ear.

The neighbor was seen and told officers that she came outside and saw a number of men in the corridor with guns in their possession, she screamed and ran back into her home.
The man was taken to the hospital where he was treated and discharged.

Investigations are ongoing.

by RTC Director