The Turks and Caicos Islands, a British Overseas Territory famed for its beaches, has seen a sharp rise in violent crime that has prompted media warnings to U.S. tourists and an intensified law-enforcement response.
According to a recent study by Insight Crime, the territory recorded 48 homicides last year, a figure that — against a population of roughly 47,000 — produced one of the highest per-capita murder rates in the Caribbean. The spike in killings has included several high-profile incidents involving visitors and long-standing residents, and officials say they are taking emergency steps to restore public safety.
Premier Washington Misick has publicly linked much of the violence to gang activity concentrated in communities of Haitian descent, saying at a press conference that the territory is experiencing "gangland-type slaying" unlike anything officials have seen before. Haiti is about 90 miles south of the islands, and CNN has estimated that roughly 11,000 Haitians live in Turks and Caicos — about a third of the territory's population. Migrant arrivals have increased in recent months; authorities intercepted a 50-foot boat carrying 194 migrants in July and have repatriated many intercepted migrants, officials said.
Local religious and community leaders have expressed concern on both sides of the debate. Jacques, a pastor in the Haitian community, told the BBC that "the crime situation is worse in the Haitian communities," a view that reflects tensions between residents and government officials. Misick urged members of the Haitian community to cooperate with police to curb the smuggling of firearms into the territory.
The violence has included attacks that involved visitors. In January, Shamone Duncan, a 50-year-old police officer from Chicago, was fatally shot while dining near the Grace Bay Suites where she had been staying. The gunfire also killed 30-year-old insurance agent Dario Stubbs; authorities said neither appeared to be the intended target. In June and July there were additional cases involving U.S. citizens: a Manhattan man who went missing after leaving a Grace Bay-area condominium in the early hours was later found dead; authorities said they did not suspect foul play in that death.
The islands also suffered what officials described as the first mass shooting in their history in July, when gunmen opened fire at a popular nightclub, killing three young men and injuring 10 others. Police and government statements have characterized the attack as gang-related.
Officials have pursued a series of security measures. The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force announced the arrival of 30 officers from the Jamaican Constabulary Force to augment local capabilities and said those officers would help improve "operational and tactical capabilities" to serve both residents and visitors. The government has also introduced temporary curfews, expanded search powers for police and tightened regulations on the sale of alcohol. In August, authorities demolished more than 200 shanty homes that they said harbored criminals.
Tourism remains the islands' economic lifeline, and government officials emphasize that preserving visitor confidence is a priority. So far, tourism revenue has not shown a broad decline, but local leaders say they are acting urgently to prevent a deterioration that could harm the sector.
The recent spike follows other violent episodes in prior years. In 2022, Kent Carter, a 40-year-old NAACP leader from Virginia, was killed in a shuttle ambush after returning from the beach; officials at the time blamed gang-related actors and called for stronger regional cooperation to stem firearms and gang movement across borders.
Regional migration, law-enforcement cooperation and socioeconomic conditions on the islands and in nearby countries are factors cited by officials and analysts as shaping the security challenge. The government of Turks and Caicos has said it is coordinating with neighboring jurisdictions and increasing patrols at sea to intercept vessels carrying migrants and potential contraband.
U.S. travelers and others planning visits have been urged by media outlets and travel commentators to exercise caution and stay informed about local conditions. The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force has encouraged residents and visitors to report suspicious activity and to use official channels for safety information.
Authorities say investigations into recent killings and shootings remain ongoing, and they have appealed for community cooperation as they attempt to dismantle networks they characterize as responsible for the surge in violence. The government has framed the measures as necessary to protect both residents and the territory's vital tourism industry while long-term strategies are developed to address the underlying causes of crime.