PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands, CMC—A United States congressional delegation has held talks with the Governor of this British Overseas Territory, Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam, following the recent arrest of US nationals for possession of ammunition offenses.
A statement issued by the Governor’s Office said that Premier Charles Washington Misick also attended Monday’s meeting and that the US Congressional delegation had requested it.
The statement said that the US delegation “raised five cases of US nationals currently before the courts, expressed concern for their well-being, and clarified the legal process.”
The five Americans are facing charges that they illegally carried ammunition during recent trips to the island, prompting pleas for mercy from the Governors of Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
The three governors have already written to Governor Daniel-Selvaratnam, stating that the three men charged from their states maintained they inadvertently took ammunition with them on vacation. They did not have firearms.
One of the men, Ryan Tyler Watson, of Oklahoma, went to the Turks and Caicos with his wife and other couples to celebrate several people’s 40th birthdays, including his sister. As Watson and his wife were heading home in April, airport security found four rounds of ammunition in a duffel bag allegedly left from a deer hunting trip. Watson’s wife, Valerie, was released and returned home. He made bail but remains on the islands, with a hearing scheduled for June.
The Turks and Caicos government have identified the three other men as Michael Lee Evans, 72, of Texas; Bryan Hagerich, of Pennsylvania; and Tyler Scott Wenrich, 31, of Virginia.
Evans had a court hearing in April and has pleaded guilty to possessing seven 9mm rounds of ammunition, and Hagerich pleaded guilty to possessing 20 rounds of rifle ammunition.
They have since been released on bail. The fifth American, Sharitta Shanise Grier, 45, of Orlando, Florida, was arrested during a routine search at the airport. She was charged with one count of possession of ammunition and was due back in court in July.
The Turks and Caicos Islands have significantly tightened their gun laws in 2022 following a jump in gun violence and weapons trafficking. The strict penalties were meant to protect the community by deterring gun crimes, the government has said.
In its statement following the meeting with the US Congressional delegation that included Angela Kerwin of the US State Department and the Charge d’Affairs at the US Embassy here, Jason Crosby, it quoted the Governor as indicating that “to maintain the integrity of the legal process…it would not be appropriate to facilitate the delegation’s request to meet with the Chief Justice”.
The statement said that both the Governor and the Premier confirmed that, in keeping with the constitutional separation of the executive and judicial branches, “they cannot intervene nor comment on ongoing legal cases before the courts.
“They explained that the Turks and Caicos Islands have clear laws prohibiting the possession of firearms and ammunition, and strict penalties are in place to serve and protect all who reside and visit the Turks and Caicos Islands.”
Attorney General Rhondalee Braithwaite-Knowles confirmed during the meeting that the possession of firearm and ammunition offenses carries a mandatory minimum custodial sentence of 12 years plus a fine.
“Where the court finds there are exceptional circumstances, the sentencing judge has discretion, under the law, to impose a custodial sentence and a fine that are fair and just in each case rather than impose the mandatory minimum. Noting that defense counsel must ensure all relevant information is put before the court.”
The UK Government’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office representative, Adam Pile, who also attended the meeting, affirmed that London cannot comment on or intervene in an ongoing legal case and that, as a British Overseas Territory, the UK has full confidence in the operation of the courts of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The statement said that the Governor and Premier appreciated that the circumstances for US nationals in this position can be difficult. Still, they knew that US officials were providing consular support to each individual.
“They noted that the Turks and Caicos Islands law enforcement agencies apply professional standard operating procedures for processing matters through the legal system and that they will investigate any concerns where it was felt standards were not met,” the statement said.
It said that both the Governor and premier have noted that the prohibited items of ammunition were not identified at US departure screening and that travelers must ensure their baggage is free of firearms and ammunition before traveling to the Turks and Caicos Islands.
“They noted that the National Security Council keeps under review the operational effectiveness of legislative provisions that underpin internal and border security. The meeting concluded with both parties recognizing continued Turks and Caicos Islands – United States partnerships to tackle shared threats in the region,” the statement added.
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