The Turks and Caicos cabinet has blamed rogue elements in the Haitian expatriate community for an unprecedented mass shooting a week ago that killed three people and injured 10 others, some of them critically, officials said.

Angered by the brutality of the incident, Premier Charles Washington Misick pointed to gangsters from Haiti’s growing community in the archipelago as he appealed to members to help police identify those bent on criminality.

His comments came after gunmen opened fire indiscriminately at patrons at a bar, killing three and injuring the others, a development the premier and others have deemed as unprecedented in the CARICOM associate member nation.

Addressing the issue on a live social media platform this week, the premier wasted little time in fingering elements in Haitian enclaves in the colony, noting that authorities will do all in their power to stem this outbreak of violence in the tourism-dependent nation.

“Let me just cut to the chase here. We are now having a gangland-type slaying, and a lot of this gang violence seems to be concentrated in our Haitian communities. So, I’m going to appeal to our Haitian nationals, our Haitian brothers and sisters, and the leadership in the Haitian community to make a concerted effort. The government stands behind those persons who are law-abiding, legally resident in this country, who wish the best for their families and the other citizens of these islands.”

Local police have so far arrested several suspects from the mass shooting, and at least one critically injured person has been flown overseas for specialized treatment.

As the TCI reels from the late July incident, authorities there have also announced sweeping changes to the immigration and work permit systems for Haitians. They immediately imposed a six-month ban on first-time work permits and visas for Haitians.

The neighboring TCI and The Bahamas are favorite destinations for Haitian boat people and others fleeing violence and economic deprivation back home with both nations absorbing sizable numbers of Haitians in recent decades. Successive governments in both countries have been tolerant of the plight of Haitians and have allowed thousands to settle there.

The announcement referred to “informal settlements” dotting the various islands in the archipelago, suggesting that these “harbor criminals and foster unsafe conditions. In light of the ongoing escalation of violence in Haiti and the steady influx of work permit applications from that region, the government will immediately implement a six (6) month moratorium on issuing first-time work permits to Haitian nationals,” Premier Misick stated. “There will also be a six-month moratorium on visas that will take effect immediately.”

Meanwhile, the premier also wrote to London, specifically to Foreign Secretary David Lammy, expressing the cabinet’s horror at the situation while pointing to its gravity. Britain is responsible for the security and defense of the Turks and Caicos, among other responsibilities.

“This responsibility cannot be symbolic. It must be matched with tangible and decisive action, particularly when the capacity of our local institutions is being tested and, as is the case now, is at risk of being overwhelmed. The UK can and must do their part, or these responsibilities must be devolved to the local government,” he suggested.