U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin and U.S. Representative Josh Brecheen are back from a trip with a bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Delegation to Turks and Caicos in hopes of that country releasing five Americans, including Oklahoman Ryan Tyler Watson.
These detained Americans are accused of carrying ammunition in Turks and Caicos. In Watson’s case, he allegedly left four rounds of ammunition in a duffel bag previously used on a deer hunting trip. The sentence in that country carries a minimum of a 12-year prison sentence.
Mullin and Brecheen were joined by U.S. Senator John Fetterman, U.S. Representative Guy Reschenthaler, U.S. Representative Michael Cloud, and U.S. Representative Bob Good.
“We went in respectful of their sovereignty, and with an open mind looking to find common ground. Unfortunately, despite our willingness to work with Turks and Caicos officials to get our constituents home, we were not able to find a path forward today. At this point, well-intentioned American citizens are facing a dozen years in prison all for unknowingly having one or two bullets in their luggage. The unintended consequences of TCI’s law have been at the expense of well-intentioned American tourists, including a grandmother, who had no intention of breaking the law. We will stay at the table through this process until the issue is resolved. With two hearings on the docket this week, I remain hopeful. Should they receive a prison sentence, we will need to consider additional actions to safeguard American citizens,” said Mullin who led the delegation.
“Our comments to Turks and Caicos officials were diplomatic, but also to the point. I reiterated that with Turks and Caicos’ economy being 65 percent based on tourism, and with 80 percent of that coming from the United States, it is in their interest to ensure justice prevails. We were emphatic that it would be unfathomable for five Americans, including Oklahoma’s own Ryan Watson, to face 12 years in prison for accidentally leaving a handful of shells in their luggage. I shared my position with the Attorney General and the Premier (lead legislative official) that a modification of their law seems to be the only way to reverse the message of fear their actions have instilled in U.S. tourists and that there must be just outcomes with the pending cases. With sentences for the five Americans to be announced in the days ahead, we shall see whether justice prevails. If not, America must respond appropriately, using every economic tool in our toolbox,” said Brecheen.
