fp Turks and Caicos

Protesters who blocked the main road to the airport for four days abandoned their roadblock and are reviewing more diplomatic methods of airing their grievances against the U.K. and the interim government, a spokesman said.

“We thought it was best to end it that way,” Devon Williams, press officer for the group Turks and Caicos Islanders United for Justice and Equality (TCIUJE), told WIV 4 television. “The demonstration was effective.”

While it caused two American Airlines cancellation of two flights when it started, the roadblock didn’t stop traffic from reaching the Providenciales International Airport through another route.

The Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association said the demonstrations didn’t disturbed the main tourism areas along Grace Bay.

The group notified the governor on March 4 that unless a date for elections was set by 4 p.m. March 7, that “a sustained campaign would begin.”

His Excellency the Gov. Gordon Wetherell said the demand was unreasonable, but that elections in 2012 would be “imminently possible.”

When the governor took over the government in August 2009 after an allegedly corrupt elected government had plunged the country deep into debt, elections were expected to be held as scheduled in July 2011. When that date could not be met, the U.K. extended its control indefinitely, but saying it hoped to restore local government with elections in 2012.

But that won’t happen unless the TCI revises the country’s Constitution, addresses past government mismanagement and gets the country’s finances in order, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office insists.

Beginning it’s roadblock early March 8, TCIUJE said its demand was simple — set a date for elections — but their signs and participants complained of interim government actions that included Constitutional reform, revamping the Tourist Board, the Special Investigation and Prosecution Team looking into alleged government corruption, increased taxes, Community College funding cuts and public service reforms.

A group of people gathered and voiced similar concerns to the governor on Grand Turk.

Among those protesting or supporting the protesters on Provo were former Premier Michael Misick and members of his Progressive National Party (PNP) who are under investigation for allegations of misconduct that in part resulted in the suspension of elected government and parts of the Constitution.