fp Turks and Caicos

Misick said much of the public criticism of the forum since it was formed eight months ago has been warranted. “For when even informed and respected members of the forum are forced to complain about the utter futility of our service, then you’d have to be deaf, dumb and blind not to appreciate that this interim government was not functioning as it should,” she said.

Misick drew parallels with the criticism Sir Robin Auld leveled against the British government in a letter he addressed to Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee a few weeks ago.

“Because at the end of the day, no matter how diligent we are in executing our duties and responsibilities over here, if the British are still showing us salutary neglect over there, then none of the conditions that caused Sir Robin to recommend a partial suspension of our constitution will be properly addressed,” she said.

In his letter Sir Robin charged that:

“All or most of the troubles (the governor) faces in trying to restore the territory to good order, efficient government and financial health — and the increasing chorus of challenge to his conduct of the territory’s affairs — flow from the British government’s failure to provide urgently needed financial support.”

Misick called this criticism of the British government “almost as damning as the criticism Sir Robin leveled against the Progressive National Party’s government in his final report.” She said she believed this was the reason the FAC urged the British government to “commit the resources necessary to ensure that the process of reform in the Turks and Caicos Islands does not unravel, at a great cost to the international reputation of the United Kingdom.”

She said the forum was encouraged by the FAC report and is pressing the governor to take all necessary steps to procure this funding from the British government as a matter of national emergency. Regarding the FAC’s more controversial finding that the date for elections will have to be postponed, Misick said, “Getting too exercised about that now is rather like putting the cart before the horse. So let me just assure you that we will debate the merits of this with all interested parties in due course.” Misick also took the opportunity to state for the record that many have been urging the British to provide these resources from day one. “… Given all that we have suffered because of their failure not only to ensure good governance during the Misick administration but also to fully fund this interim government, I hope the British will forgive us for not jumping for joy because they have finally acknowledged this obligation.

“I share this only because I do not want anyone in the U.K. or in the expatriate community here to mistake this informed disappointment with the British government for support of local politicians for whom grasping political power seems more important than restoring good order, efficient government and financial health to our country.”

Misick said some issues have given rise to what she called “political theater,” noting specifically the recent unity march.

“The British are not going to rewrite our Constitution and then impose it upon us,” she began.

“Second, while I note the comments of the leader of the (People’s Democratic Movement) party with respect to a private, and I reiterate private, meeting with Mr. Colin Roberts, and the comments made by the CEO in this forum, I expect Ms. Kate Sullivan to put to rest all Belonger concerns about the composition and work of her constitutional reform team in her address to the forum today.

“First, we can assure you that no non-Belonger will ever have the right to vote in the TCI. Period. It is in our enlightened national interest, however, to heed Sir Robin’s recommendation to increase our Belonger population based on more objective criteria than the greasing-of-palms-with-cash system the previous administration allegedly used.

“Second, we will explore the possibility and appropriateness of scheduling closed sessions with the special investigation and prosecution team (SIPT) and the U.K. law firm that is heading our asset recovery efforts. They will brief us on the scope and progress of their investigations, and we in turn will brief the public to the extent it does not compromise any of these investigations. Because, frankly, we see no reason why our people cannot be kept informed about progress, process and procedures in these cases.

“Third, we want to assure the people of these Turks and Caicos Islands that we take seriously our duties and responsibilities to act in their interest throughout the tenure of this interim administration. And we hope the more considered guidance we are providing in this current crisis will establish a precedent for our people to begin regarding the forum, not as a place where the CEO goes to tell their representatives about what he has done; but rather as a place where he does inform them about what he plans to do. It will be for us to discuss those plans and then recommend to the governor what should be done in each case.”

She also acknowledged the forum’s need to communicate more with the public and media about forum deliberations as well as interactions with the governor. She said that in addition to engaging more with the press, the forum intends to make community outreach a priority, “even on those days when our monthly meetings are not being televised.”

She closed her remarks begging political leaders to do the following:

“As you campaign for political power, please spend more time trying to inspire confidence in your leadership and less time inciting misguided rage in our people with reckless and unfounded rhetoric about oppression under Gov. Wetherell’s leadership.

“And if that is asking you to do too much for your country, then do it for yourself. Because it should have occurred to all of you by now that the more you try to undermine and turn our people against this interim administration, the longer it will be before you can realize your ambition of becoming the next premier of the TCI.”

She also asked members of the press to take a moment to consider “what just cause you have to question this governor with more righteous indignation about democracy and freedom than any of you ever questioned Premier Misick, that is, those of you he allowed to even question him.”