| Constitution compromises please most delegates | | Print | |
| Written by Richard Green/richard@fptci.com | |||
| Thursday, 23 June 2011 12:21 | |||
 No one got everything they wanted at the June 15-16 meeting to discuss revisions to the Turks and Caicos Islands Constitution, but most agreed that the result is something most people can live with. “I was very impressed with the really statesman-like attitude of the political parties and the other people in the delegation,” Foreign Minister Henry Bellingham said after the meeting in London. “We can’t agree on everything, but what we can agree on is that we’re all in this to try and do our level best for the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands. They deserve a great future.” Bellingham said there was a sense of suspicion that the meetings arranged by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) were a sham and that nothing would be accomplished, but he believes the outcome should dispel that thought. Both party leaders believe they got some good results along with disappointments. “I thought the meetings went as well as could have been expected in the circumstances,” said Clayton Green, leader of the Progressive National Party. “I think we did not come back empty handed. Having said that, I thought on some key issues the British administration could have given more than they gave and in other cases they did not have to go where they went.” “One thing I was really annoyed by was the fact that without it being in Kate Sullivan’s recommendations on the second day of the discussion we heard the minister wished to see term limits for the premier. That came out of left field, and to this day the U.K. administration, members of the FCO have not been able to present any argument as to why that should be the case.” People’s Democratic Movement Leader Doug Parnell said his team had a few disappointments but for the most part he was pleased with the outcome. “Well, I’ll never be satisfied until we can achieve the type of self determination for our people that would provide every man and woman who call themselves a Turks and Caicos Islander full and complete satisfaction of what’s in our own Constitution; however, I must say that given the point where we started from in the draft, and certainly coming out of the recent history where the constitution was suspended and the legislature disbanded, I must say I think we have made some great strides in these direct talks with U.K. ministers.” Parnell didn’t support the premier’s term limit, but he said it was not a “deal breaker.” However, he was not pleased that the absolute right to a jury trial was stricken from the Constitution. “I must say I was disappointed that I did not get the type of support that I was expecting to get from other delegates on that provision, so I’m very, very disappointed in that, that’s a very sad thing for me to report,” Parnell said. Consultative Forum Chairwoman Lillian Misick has been at odds with the party leaders, criticizing them for refusing to take part in consultations and for their support of protests and marches. But she was pleased with the outcome of the meetings. “I am confident that, despite the protests of a vocal minority, the vast (silent) majority of our people will proudly embrace our new Constitution when it comes into force in due course,” Misick said. “I hope this experience will help these party leaders see the wisdom now of working with the forum to meet the other milestones that Mr. Bellingham and Alan Duncan, minister of state for International Development, set out for return to home rule. Most notable in this respect are the efforts underway to return our budget to surplus and reform our civil service.” Advisory County member Doreen Quelch-Missick said she too was happy with the outcome. “I feel confident that going forward, we will have the right Constitution for this time in our history. The team at the FCO and Minister Bellingham were quite receptive to our positions, and I would like to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to the FCO team.”
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