Police Commissioner statement regarding recent shootings
“On Friday, August 3rd, 2018, around 9:00 p.m., we saw a second firearms incident, in the area of Five Cays, within 24 hours when a male lost his life and two others were injured as a result of gunshot wounds. This follows the Murder near a local bar on Aviation Drive, also by gunshot wounds.
Both incidents occurred in areas busy with lots of people and it is extremely fortunate that more persons were not injured or killed as a result of indiscriminate violence. These men of violence are a blight on Turks and Caicos and my officers are working round the clock to detect the culprits. Two man are already under arrest in relation to the Aviation Drive shooting and our inquiries continue with detectives, forensic teams and other specialist officers involved.
Members of the public can expect to see increased patrols, including armed officers and K9 patrols tonight and in the coming days to prevent or react to further incidents. I seek the active cooperation of the public in bringing offenders to justice and recover the firearms used in these and other crimes.
The suspects are hiding among us, people know who they are, and it is their public duty to come forward, in confidence, to any police officer or by calling Chalk Sound Police station on 338-5901 or 941-8082 or by calling Crime Stoppers on 1-800-8477.
We must act together to stop this violence and get guns off the street, please help us in our inquiries and keep Turks and Caicos a safe place to live.”
BAHAMAS AND TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS PUBLIC FORECAST 7TH AUGUST, 2018
THIS IS THE PUBLIC FORECAST FOR TODAY TUESDAY 7TH AUGUST 2018 ISSUED BY THE BAHAMAS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY AT 12:00 AM.
GENERAL SITUATION: THE NORTHERN EXTENT OF A WESTWARD MOVING TROPICAL WAVE ACROSS HISPANIOLA INTERACTING WITH AN UPPER LEVEL LOW ACROSS THE SOUTHERN BAHAMAS INCLUDING THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS WILL SUPPORT SOME SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE SOUTHEASTERN ISLANDS. HIGH PRESSURE WILL DOMINATE ELSEWHERE ACROSS THE BAHAMAS.
SPECIAL WARNINGS: THERE REMAINS THE RISK FOR RIP CURRENTS ALONG EAST COAST BEACHES IN THE SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS.
SOUTHEAST BAHAMAS INCLUDING THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS
WEATHER: PARTLY CLOUDY AND BREEZY WITH SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH TONIGHT.
ADVISORY: SMALL CRAFT OPERATORS SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION
WINDS: EAST TO SOUTHEAST AT 15 TO 20 KNOTS. GUSTY IN SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS
SEAS: 4 TO 6 FEET OVER THE OCEAN. HIGHER IN GUSTS
NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL BAHAMAS
WEATHER: PARTLY SUNNY AND HOT WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE. MAINLY FAIR TONIGHT.
ADVISORY: GUSTY WINDS AND HIGHER SEAS CAN BE EXPECTED IN SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS
WINDS: EAST TO SOUTHEAST AT 10 TO 15 KNOTS
SEAS: 2 TO 4 FEET OVER THE OCEAN
HIGH TEMPERATURE TODAY 92F 33C
LOW TEMPERATURE TONIGHT 77F 25C
HEAT INDEX 103F 39C
SUNRISE: 6:40 AM
SUNSET: 7:49 PM
MOONRISE: 2:35 AM
MOONSET: 4:23 PM
HIGH TIDE: 3:14 AM 4:00 PM
LOW TIDE: 9:29 AM 10:29 PM
TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK: A NON-TROPICAL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM CENTERED A LITTLE MORE THAN 1000 MILES WEST-SOUTHWEST OF THE AZORES IS INTERACTING WITH AN UPPER-LEVEL LOW, AND SHOWER ACTIVITY REMAINS DISORGANIZED. ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS COULD
FAVOR SOME DEVELOPMENT DURING THE NEXT DAY OR SO, BUT AFTER THAT TIME, THE LOW WILL ENCOUNTER INCREASING COOLER WATERS AND DEVELOPMENT IS NOT ANTICIPATED. FORMATION CHANCE THROUGH FIVE DAYS IS LOW AT AROUND 30 PERCENT. ELSEWHERE TROPICAL CYCLONE
FORMATION IS NOT EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT FIVE DAYS.
The Deputy Premier and Minister of Border Control and Employment to Host Summit on Illegal Migration
The Office of the Deputy Premier and Ministry of Border Control and Employment, under the leadership of the Deputy Premier and Minister, the Honourable Sean Astwood will be hosting a one-day Summit on Illegal Immigration, on Thursday 9th August 2018 at the Shore Club in Providenciales.
The ministry recognizes the problems that exist with illegal migration in the Turks and Caicos Islands, with the increase of illegal sloops and overstays, which has become a national concern and has the potential to negatively impact the lives and businesses of all our citizens and those living among us. In a bi-partisan approach towards cooperation on this critical matter at the highest level, the Deputy Premier will convene a meeting with past Chief Ministers and Premiers, as well as former Ministers of Immigration and Border Control to formulate an eventual agreement for strategic approaches to effectively address and combat this challenge, and agree the pathway to the eventual stemming of illegal migration in the country.
Honourable Astwood indicated that "My ministry holds the main responsibility for migration and immigration, and continues to do its utmost to fight illegal migration, and in recent months have had numerous successes". He further stated that "However, as a country we remain cognizant that while we continue to affect our operational mandate, there is a need for a strategic direction and sustainable program in order to curb this issue for the long term."
The Department of Immigration, in recent months has led on numerous operations and through its Task Force Unit, continues to mount joint operations with the Police Department and other enforcement agencies, which resulted in a number of apprehensions of persons who are illegally residing and working within the country.
This high-level meeting is another in a series of engagements with public stakeholders that the Deputy Premier has undertaken since coming to office, as a collaborative approach to addressing major immigration and migration issues in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
CCTV site visit
On Tuesday, 31st July, members of the local media, along with private sector sponsors, were treated to a site visit of the new CCTV facility in Providenciales.
In a press conference held prior to the site visit, H.E. the Governor remarked:
"Commissioner of Police, Ladies and Gentleman. I have been asked to make some remarks at the start of this Site Visit.
Modern policing requires, I would suggest, three key ingredients: the human factor, the technical factor and the community factor. I want to say a few words on each.
Without the human factor, i.e. well-trained, committed Police Officers under effective leadership, nothing will be possible. TCI benefits from having in the RTCIPF a local police force which is increasingly on top of its game. I am glad to have this opportunity to commend the Officers of the Force and those who lead them, not least and to his considerable credit, the Commissioner James Smith. My thanks to them and to him.
Without the technical factor, a Police Force is hobbled from facing down the criminals and would-be criminals. The RTCIPF is benefitting from increased technical capacity enabling it to be fit for the task. For that thanks - and I very much wish to say this today - are due to TCIG without whose support and significant budgetary allocations none of these improvements, including the CCTV project, would be possible.
Without the community factor, a Police Force can never deliver optimally. And community support takes many forms. A Police Force is not separate from the local community, it is part of it and relies upon it. The RTCPF needs public support if it is to deliver on public safety. The project whose completion we anticipate and the site of which we are visiting today, is a key part of community engagement. And the support provided by members of the local business community as a contribution to the setting up of the new Suite, is also a demonstration of that wider effort and I wish to acknowledge and applaud that support by the businesses and representatives here this morning.
I hope that all of us in these Islands will soon benefit from the new facility; benefit in the way that really matters, namely, enhanced security and even greater public safety."
MELANIA TRUMP MOCKED BY 'BEST' DRESSED WOMAN Who Pulled Statue of Liberty Protest
The woman who was arrested for scaling the Statue of Liberty on Independence Day to protest President Trump's immigration policy is at it again, and this time her target's Melania.
Patricia Okoumou showed up for her court hearing Friday in Manhattan wearing a green dress with the words, "I REALLY CARE WHY WON'T U?" and "BE BEST" written on her backside.
The first message is a shot at the First Lady for the tone-def jacket she wore in June that read, "I REALLY DON'T CARE, DO U?" on her way to visit child detention centers in Texas.
Okoumou's "Be Best" refers to Melania's initiative of the same name to promote online safety for kids ... which has been ripped for allegedly plagiarizing from the Obama administration.
As we reported, Okoumou was arrested for scaling Lady Liberty on July 4 to protest the separation of immigrant families. She was charged with trespassing, interference with agency functions and disorderly conduct.
Sprint Relay Gold For Jamaica's Women
Jamaica's women's sprint relay put together three smooth baton exchanges on their way to winning the 2018 Central American and Caribbean Games title yesterday as the country increased its medal tally in athletics to 17.
The team of Jura Levy, Sherone Simpson, Jonielle Smith and Natasha Morrison stopped the clock at 43.41 seconds as Trinidad and Tobago finished second with 43.61 while the Dominica Republic secured the bronze medal with 43 68.
"We are very happy that we were able to pass the baton safely. The aim was to get a good start and the other three just maintain (the lead)," Simpson said after the race
Their male counterparts were beaten into third as Barbados took the victory in 38.41 seconds. The team of Nesta Carter, Romario Williams, Rasheed Dwyer and Javoy Tucker registered 38.79 seconds.
The women's 4x400 team at one point looked set to secure the country's ninth gold medal in athletics but was denied by Cuba on the anchor leg. Derriann Hill, Tiffany James, Alesha Kelly and Junelle Bromfield finished in 3:30.63. Cuba registered 3:29.48 as Colombia finished third with 3:32.61.
Yankees unravel in ugly loss to Red Sox
Like an out-of-control snowball tumbling wildly down a mountain, the New York Yankees cascaded toward a 15-7 blowout loss to the Boston Red Sox on Thursday thanks to an avalanche of mental errors and moments of uninspired, lackluster play.
The Yankees' starting pitcher, C.C. Sabathia, wasn't very good. Their bullpen was even worse. Their defense was, at times, questionable. And oh, by the way, they still have three more games this weekend against the best team in baseball.
As they stand at a crossroads, staring at a pivotal point in their season, the Yankees can only hope they don't stay on this reckless, downhill path.
If they do, their American League East championship goals might all but disappear.
Bahamian Government Remains Firm on August 10 Transition Date for Shanty Town Residents
The Government intends to “fulfil” its duty and make the eviction exercise for shanty town residents in New Providence as seamless as possible said Minister of Labour, Senator the Hon. Dion Foulkes.
He affirmed that the transition deadline of August 10, for all residents to leave shanty towns in New Providence is “firm” and “irrevocable” as he urged the residents to move by the deadline which was extended from July 31.
All of the land in the shanty towns is owned by the government and was previously leased for farming. “Most of the leases have expired,” said Minister Foulkes. “It is crown land; the people’s land and the government holds the land in the name of the Bahamian people.”
A utility disconnection exercise for Bahamas Power and Light, Cable Bahamas and Water and Sewerage will take place before August 10.
Furthermore, Minister Foulkes revealed that all animals including dogs, cats, and chickens in the shanty towns will be removed during an exercise on August 8 by the canine units of the Bahamas Humane Society and the Ministry of Agriculture. Pastor Jean Paul Charles, leader of the Haitian Pastors League, said his association is assisting 150-200 families who are willing to move but are experiencing challenges with finding sureties and funds for rental purposes.
Another challenge is that parents of children who reside in the shanty towns prefer them to attend schools in the neighbourhood where they are presently enrolled.
British minister visits BVI to review recovery efforts and hurricane preparedness
Britain’s Foreign Office Minister for the Overseas Territories, Lord Tariq Ahmad of Wimbledon, visited the British Virgin Islands this week to discuss hurricane preparedness and see progress on recovery from last year’s devastation.
On his two-day visit, the minister visited a number of public sites affected by last year’s hurricanes with Premier Dr Orlando Smith. He saw how UK support is helping recovery efforts, and officially handed over the new purpose-built temporary Court House to the government, which will allow the Supreme Court and Magistrates’ Court to function fully again whilst a permanent building is constructed.
Ahmad also visited RFA Mounts Bay, which will remain in the region throughout the hurricane season to provide rapid assistance to islands if needed. He met with the board of the Recovery and Development Agency to hear about their progress and efforts to deliver the six-month accelerated plan ahead of endorsement of the longer term recovery and development plan by the BVI House of Assembly.
Swedish royal jewels stolen by thieves who fled by speedboat
Thieves stole priceless royal artifacts in a daring raid on a Swedish cathedral before escaping by speedboat, police said.
The thieves made off with jewels belonging to former Swedish monarchs Karl IX and Kristina from the Strängnäs Cathedral to the west of the capital, Stockholm, on Tuesday.
Two crowns and a golden orb adorned with a crucifix were taken from the cathedral, which dates back to the 12th century, according to a police report. The items date from the early 17th century.
A witness told Swedish media that he was eating lunch when he saw two people running toward a boat, which they sped away in.
Police said several thieves were involved in the heist. They fled in an open-topped motorboat across the sea from the base of the church. Several police patrol boats as well as police helicopters joined a hunt for the perpetrators.
The cathedral was placed on lockdown, CNN affiliate Expressen reported, and the search for the thieves continued on Wednesday.
"To a limited extent we are still looking for (them) both on the ground and at sea. We have no new findings so far," said Tor Sevelius, commanding officer at the police's management center.
"From our point of view, the material value is less important than the cultural history of these items. I do not see this as a theft from Strängnäs cathedral assembly. This is part of the national cultural heritage, this is a theft of Swedish society," Lundgren said.