American tourists are being warned about rising levels of crime on a popular Caribbean island that is suffering a record number of murders.
The Turks and Caicos Islands are renowned for their stunning beaches, but rising violent crime rates have sparked concern among the local population and travelers visiting.
Last year, the British Overseas Territory had 48 homicides, with a population of about 47,000, making it the Caribbean island with the worst murder rate per capita, according to a study by Insight Crime.
The head of the Turks and Caicos government, Premier Washington Misick, reportedly believes that Haitian migrants are the cause of the issue.
Haiti is roughly 90 miles south of the island. Haitians have fled to Turks and Caicos to escape gang violence, and some believe that they are bringing the problems with them.
In July of this year, 194 migrants on an illegal 50-foot boat were intercepted by the islands’ Marine Branch, according to a Facebook post by the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force.
The Turks and Caicos Islands are renowned for their stunning beaches
The Royal Turks and Caicos Police Force announced on their website that it has welcomed 30 officers from the Jamaican Constabulary Force
Multiple vessels carrying more than 100 migrants each have been intercepted by Turks and Caicos authorities in recent months, with many of the vessels’ occupants repatriated to Haiti.
‘The crime situation is worse in the Haitian communities,’ said Jacques, Haitian Church Pastor from Turks and Caicos to the BBC.
The first homicide reported this year was the killing of Elva Talbot, a pastor and well-known figure on the island, who was found stabbed to death in her home in Five Cays.
According to News Line TCI, Talbot was internationally recognized for her work and was considered ‘a pillar of strength and devotion within the community.’
American tourists have also been caught up in the violence.
Shamone Duncan, a 50-year-old police officer from Chicago, was killed in January when she was shot while dining in a restaurant not far from the Grace Bay Suites, where she was staying with other travelers.
She visited the island to celebrate her sister’s 21st birthday.
The spray of bullets also killed 30-year-old insurance agent Dario Stubbs.
According to the Miami Herald, neither Duncan nor Stubbs was thought to be the intended target.
Another American staying in the Grace Bay area was found dead after he had gone missing for over a week in July.
Brian Tarrence from New York was last seen leaving his condo at 3.30am at the Paradise Inn.
Brian Tarrence (pictured right), 51, of Midtown Manhattan, arrived to the coral islands on June 22 for a romantic getaway with his wife of one year (pictured left), staying at an Airbnb in Grace Bay before their planned return to New York on June 29
The first homicide reported this year was of a pastor Elva Talbot, a well-known figure on the island, who was found stabbed to death in her home in Five Cays
Kent Carter, 40, was shot and killed in a car ambush while on a vacation to Turks and Caicos with his girlfriend
Shamone Duncan, a 50-year-old police officer from Chicago, was killed in January when she was shot while dining in a restaurant not far from the Grace Bay Suites
His body was found in a bush on July 5. Authorities said that they did not suspect any foul play, according to Fox News.
In 2022, before the surge in homicides this year, Kent Carter was murdered while celebrating his 40th birthday on the paradise island.
Carter, a prominent NAACP leader from Virginia, was one of two men shot when a shuttle headed back from the beach was ambushed.
Carter was travelling with his girlfriend and immediately used his body to shield her, sustaining multiple bullet wounds from automatic weapons.
After the incident, Turks and Caicos Governor Nigel John Dakin blamed Jamaican gangs.
In July of this year, the island experienced its first mass shooting in its history.
At a popular nightclub, three young men were killed, and 10 others were injured. The shooting was reportedly gang related.
The head of the Turks and Caicos government, Premier Washington Misick, reportedly believes that Haitian migrants are the cause of the issue.
Haiti is roughly 90 miles south of the island
In July of this year, 194 migrants on an illegal 50-foot boat were intercepted by the islands’ Marine Branch
There are no detail on where the ship was sailing from
The deployment of officers is to improve the ‘operational and tactical capabilities’ and serve the people and visitors of the island
Premier Misick said in a press conference: ‘We are now having a gangland-type slaying, and a lot of this gang violence seems to be concentrated in our Haitian communities.’
‘What is happening here is unlike anything we’ve ever seen before,’ he said. ‘This is not a situation we should accept.’
He called on the Haitian community to work with the police to stop the smuggling of guns into the territory.
CNN reported that approximately 11,000 Haitians reside on the island, accounting for about a third of the population.
The crime-ridden paradise has attempted to crack down on the crime with temporary curfews, increased search powers for police, and strict rules surrounding the sale of alcohol
Premier Misick told a press conference: ‘We are now having a gangland-type slaying, and a lot of this gang violence seems to be concentrated in our Haitian communities.’
The crime-ridden paradise has attempted to crack down on the crime with temporary curfews, increased search powers for police, and strict rules surrounding the sale of alcohol.
The Turks and Caicos government has worked to demolish shanty towns that police say harbor criminals.
According to the BBC, 220 shanty homes were bulldozed in August.
The Royal Turks and Caicos Police Force also announced back in May that it has brought in 30 officers from the Jamaican Constabulary Force.
The deployment of officers is to improve the ‘operational and tactical capabilities’ and serve the people and visitors of the island, the force said.
While tourism revenue has not declined, the territory is urgently working to address the surge in crime before it affects the most significant driver of its economy.
