RTC news has received the following statements from TCIUJE that reads:
We have reviewed Gordon Wetherells statement of yesterday denouncing our protest as a band of approximately 30 protesters.
The Turks and Caicos Islands public would be aware and could attest to the fact that literally hundreds of people came out yesterday which was day 1 of our efforts, and the fact that more than 30 persons kept vigil and demonstrated throughout the night, making this the first time in history a 24 hour demonstration has been held in these Islands, is testament to the resolve of the majority of our people, and a show of their lack of support for and confidence in, this illegitimate British imposed and British propped up regime.
Our group, Turks and Caicos Islanders United for Justice and Equality, have just one simple demand and that is that the British Government set a date for elections, and returns our country to democracy, pure and simple. Simply put, we are saying that we want what you have in Britain – democracy, not dictatorship.
The people of the Turks and Caicos Islands generally, are appalled that Britain, the so called and self proclaimed mother of democracy, would deny the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands the right to elect their own leaders in a free and democratic process, while the same British Government continue to spill British blood fighting for the institution of democracy in the far flung corners of the earth, in places like Afghanistan and Iraq. We are appalled that they would demand democracy in Egypt and the rest of the Middle East and in Libya, while at the same time they prop up a one man dictatorship in these Turks and Caicos Islands.
The mothers of the Turks and Caicos Islands are sickened by the brutality meted out to demonstrators last night. For the first time in the history of these Islands, the Police in riot gear stormed the streets, beating and macing protestors. Up to that point, our protest had been peaceful, and nonviolent, and despite the brutality and heavy handedness displayed by the Police, we intend to keep our protests peaceful and non violent. Gordon Wetherill’s Police were the ones who started the violence, one officer was even seen in a self gratifying manner, stumping and kicking one of the men arrested about his head and body, and Wetherell’s Police Force had to even be blocked by protestors and dissuaded from running over a local Church Pastor, whom they had hit with their police car.
We say that these are the tactics of a true dictator and we are appalled that Britain would take the hypocritical stance of undertaking and applauding this kind of action here in Turks and Caicos Islands while condemning these same actions in Egypt, Libya and in other places.
Wetherell and his regime should rest assured that we have the full support and consent of the overwhelming majority of the people of the Turks and Caicos Island in all of our efforts and we would reiterate our goal which is their goal and which is simple, that there be a return to democracy in the Turks and Caicos Islands and that a date be set for free and fair elections in these Turks and Caicos Islands now.
RTC News is tracking this story and will have more as this develops.
