June 20-26, 2020
Residents picket against crime in TCI
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
A protester’s placard says ‘Crime needs to stop’
One concerned protester’s sign reads ‘Am I next?’
NEWS
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Protester calls on Government to pay stimulus funds
Residents protest gun violence and lack of stimulus money BY OLIVIA ROSE SCORES of concerned residents took to the streets last Friday to protest against lack of action over gun violence and delays in the payment of stimulus grants. The peaceful demonstration took place on June 12 in a parking lot opposite the popular Sweet Ts restaurant in Downtown, Providenciales. Armed with placards and a PA system, they called on the authorities to put an end to the unremitting crime that is plaguing their once peaceful society. The protesters demanded that the Sharlene Cartwright Robinson ledadministration address the violence that citizens have been facing, especially during the Covid-19 crisis. They further claimed that the Royal TCI Police Force has failed to fulfil its promise to arrest the perpetrators. Organiser of the demonstration Chevelle McPhee in a letter addressed to both the premier and Commissioner of Police Trevor Botting called on authorities to do more. McPhee said: “While we are cognisant that we all must play a role in the community abiding by the law and assisting police in theirs, we have become weary of the fear that has been inflicted on our community and do feel that there is more to be done by those in roles of power. “We are residents that in these times especially are already plagued with uncertainty, unemployment and hunger. “To add an increasing fear for one’s life is not something we take lightly or willingly.” McPhee said the protest served as a platform to garner signatures from
residents in support of a list of suggestions made to the Government in an effort to stem the crime wave. Included in the list of suggestions, McPhee highlighted the need for more employment opportunities and effective rehabilitation strategies for ex-offenders. “Upon assessment before leaving prison, have the Labour Department ensure that there are jobs assigned to offenders as soon as they are out of jail and there is at least a three-month monitoring of their progress. “Cleaning police records in lesser time based on offences. It has been made public by a few men that this is tedious and many times forgotten.” He stressed that integration into the community through gainful employment and avoiding discrimination is paramount to rehabilitation and lessens the chance of future offences. The protesters also called for a swift pay-out of their stimulus grants. To date, more than 6,000 workers have received relief payments into their bank accounts – but thousands of others have been rejected or are still awaiting their promised money. In a separate letter addressing this issue, McPhee said: “As residents of the TCI we find it unacceptable that up to Thursday, June 11, 2020 the last official report of the stimulus package pay-outs on May 29 were at a low of just 4,000 of the 13,000 who applied. “As a community we have taken into consideration all of the duplicate information, mandatory document requirements and hiccups with the system, however in times where $1,200 makes a difference between a provider and a thief, considerations no longer take precedent.
“We hereby ask that the remaining persons qualified for this employee stimulus be granted their funds in batches of no less than 500 payees a day.” Another protester, Joel Rigby who spoke to the Weekly News said life has been very difficult for him lately. Rigby explained that he lost his job, his only source of income, three months ago after the coronavirus pandemic caused the Government to institute a mandatory lockdown. “Many days I want to go and beg because I’m broke, I’m hungry, I don’t know what else to do. They promised us so long ago. Every day is another excuse.” Rigby who works as a bartender at a restaurant in Grace Bay said although he met the requirements for the stimulus payment his application is still pending for weeks.
The man explained that the $1,200 stimulus money from the Government would help to feed his family. Protesters said if their demands are not met or the Government does not engage with them soon on these issues, they will take the picket exercise to the Office of the Premier. Last week hundreds of residents cried out to the Government on social media, bemoaning the slothful processing system. Many questioned the reason for the delay while others expressed frustration that friends and family had got their payments quickly while they continued to wait. The Weekly News subsequently reached out to the Office of the Premier for a response to the protest. The Office of the Premier said a statement will be issued soon.
Man critical in hospital after shooting at home AN ARMED man entered a Kew Town home at about 3am on Tuesday (June 16) and shot a 20-year-old resident who was inside. The victim was taken to Cheshire Hall Medical Centre with a single gunshot wound to his upper body where he received immediate care. Nikira John, press officer at TCI Hospital, said: “The patient was admitted to the High Dependency Unit
for continuous care and monitoring. “He is in critical condition and is currently awaiting transfer overseas to a tertiary level facility.” Police have labelled the attack as an attempted murder and are investigating the circumstances surrounding it. Anyone with information on this crime can call 911 or Crime Stoppers anonymously on 1-800-8477.
