Delivered by Premier, The Hon Sharlene Cartwright Robinson October 30, 2019
Good afternoon Turks and Caicos Islands,
CABINET MINISTER AND INTEGRITY COMMISSION
I am encouraging us to use the efficiency and advances in social media for good. Today we see circulating a Whatsapp message in relation to a Minister of my Cabinet. I wish to clear the air right away on this. Hon Ralph Higgs, as this matter will recall, was reported to the Integrity Commission some years ago by the Hon Porsha Stubbs Smith concerning the inclusion of the Promenade in Bottle Creek North Caicos under his Ministry. This Project was included in my Party’s Manifesto, was the plan of elected members before Hon Higgs and was given approval by myself to be included in the Budget, passed by the Cabinet and the House of Assembly. Hon Higgs will vigorously defend himself against this malicious report next week before the Integrity Commission. Again this is an old matter and it is a sad attempt to spread lies with a plan to smear persons’ name and reputations.
I turn our attention to the main now two issues that I propose to address.
AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS STRIKE
Much has transpired over the past few weeks in this country that has caused residents of these Islands to be seriously concerned. I begin with the most recent experience that saw the sudden cessation of local and international flights on Friday past. The impact of this is still being tabulated and analysed; what has not been and cannot be analysed and monetized is the fall out in reputation for us as a destination. Whilst persons will focus on monetary value, I have asked the Chairman of the Tourist Board to seek information from the TCHTA and others as to the number of guests that were impacted.
I have been receiving stories of residents and visitors alike and again apologize for this tragic experience to have befallen this beautiful destination. Because this is a critical area and because the action of the staffing had an international impact, it became evident, very clearly, that as Premier and Minister with responsibility I had to become involved very early, though meanwhile respecting the Airports Authority’s Board’s authority and remit. I must start by thanking the Air Traffic Controllers who in the end, returned to work and thanks to the Acting CEO Mr Floyd Ingham (newly appointed COO) and the newly appointed Chairman of the TCI Airports Authority Board, Mr Andre Malcolm Jr.
On Friday morning I was informed by the Acting CEO very early that ATCs on shift across TCI did not come into work but called in sick. The Acting CEO immediately began efforts to reach persons to fill in so that the American Airlines flight on the ground could leave. During his (and eventually the Board’s) efforts, I made contact with the Civil Aviation Authority, who are the Regulators, and invited all to a meeting. While we were gathered for the Meeting, we were advised that the ATCs had gathered at a Restaurant in the Grace Bay area with strike paraphernalia and holding signs. To this point, there had been no contact with the Airports Authority, the Board or the Government and there was no identifiable spokesperson or letter delivered. The Acting CEO and the Chairman of the Board left and went to meet with the ATCs who handed them two letters: one dated September and the other dated Friday’s date; all items listed in the September letter were not included in the October letter as there was demonstrable progress. Immediately we were informed that two meetings had been held with the ATC over the past months and I encouraged the Acting CEO and Chairman to seek an audience with the ATCs away from the few members of the public who had come to the scene. Whilst on site, former Premier Michael Misick appeared as well as elected member for Cheshire Hall who both took different approaches. I wish to thank Hon Parnell for his efforts to assist in securing a Meeting between the ATCs and the Acting CEO and the Chairman of the Board. Though a time for midday was confirmed, this was frustrated as we were advised by ATCs that they were told not to meet the Government by the elected member Hon Josephine Connolly who had by then together with Former Premier Michael Misick joined the demonstration and were holding placards. Flow’s Social Media representative and PNP candidate soon joined in and began live coverage.
There were attempts then by these persons and now including the LOO Hon Washington Misick to bait me as Leader of this country to come to the street to hear sensitive concerns that were raised by the ATCs. I resisted all urges as this matter was too sensitive in many cases to seek to address on the curbside. I thank the ATCs who did not take this stance but who agreed to meet at 2pm at my Office. By this time, failing the earlier Meeting, we had to issue a Notice to Airlines and all flights including international flights offered by AA and Jet Blue were cancelled. I had invited their spokesperson or spokespersons and was pleasantly surprised that all ATCs came and met with myself, the Deputy Premier, the Minister of Immigration, the Chairman and the Acting CEO for nearly 4 hours.
The ATCs expressed their concerns and were given proof that the issues were being addressed and they were satisfied with the documentary proof that the TCIAA had done its part as promised in the Meetings held with them in recent weeks. Additionally, salaries and pensions were raised and the matter was fleshed out with commitments as it relates to the timeline on the procedure. I had not known until the former Minister of Finance and now Leader of the Opposition shared nationally that this was a seven (7) year issue. I had met privately with a few ATCs in 2017 before the Hurricanes and the state of the Tower, a sore issue I was made to understand since early 2000s, and salary increases were discussed. I must admit that the next Budget passed in 2018 after the Hurricanes did not include the new proposed Building but this Budget 2019/20 does and in September an artist rendition was released publicly. Nonetheless works are to be done to the existing place and commitments were already made by the TCIAA in this regard and endorsed by the Board and myself. The matter of salaries were reported for action but regrettably did not move fast enough. This new Board appointed in March received an update on the works towards a salary review as recent as a week before the Strike (on Friday October 18th). Whilst salary was a critical issue for the ATCs, they were reasonable and mature in their approach as the process was explained.
I must again thank them for facilitating the emergency airlift for medical services on Friday past and for their reasoned position at the end.
I must say to the public that a Statutory Body is not a Government Department. These Bodies are governed by Boards, not by the elected Government or the Deputy Governor. The former Board demitted Office in March this year and Mr Andre Malcolm Jr. was appointed the new Chairman. I am thankful for Mr Malcolm’s role on Friday and am confident in his leadership. Once he was made aware of the issues, decisions already taken at management level were endorsed and other commitments to be made, were made.
Prominent businessmen made their way to the scene on Friday in an attempt to assist in the resolution. I am grateful to Mr Carl Simmons who addressed the Leader of the Opposition and he and his elected member left shortly after which released the tension at the scene. I am also grateful to Attorney at Law Mr Alvin Garland who also addressed the former Premier and he also left.
It is also important for me to address the fact that the PNP’s Facebook Page early in the day hinted at two other critical but now Government Departments. I have since reached out to the Head of the Public Service and addressed Ministers as to this and am satisfied that this matter is being addressed. I believe it is important to address comments made by the Deputy Leader as to the treatment of civil servants under my Government and will do so at a later date. As Minister of Finance, I am required to present to the HOA a mid-year Financial Statement and it is there I will address his comments with the hopes that he will understand.
I am concerned what we are seeing and the intent of others to punish this country and trifle with our already fragile reputation and more concern about the willingness of the Opposition members to egg on experiences that are designed to negatively impact our entire country.
Amidst rants and mistruths that I was out of the country, missing in action, responsible for not delivering a salary increase and statements that the ATCs had to strike to get my attention to meet them, or that a fictitious break down in relationship between the regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority and the operator, the Airports Authority was to be blamed, one thing was truthful among all of these lies, the Opposition seems to have sunken to a new low and have displayed a dangerous level of politicking that will harm this country and are prepared to destroy this county to get the reins of power. As the immediate former Leader of the Opposition, opportunities as such presented themselves but love of country and maturity won over cheap politics.
I cannot as leader of this country not call out persons in elected leadership and aspirants for the path that they took and seem to joyfully to encourage. The truth is there is a climate that is being shaped by them and regrettably over issues that had faced them their entire 4 year term just ended. I will not ask why they did not address it but will say to the country that I will work and get the job done. The Fire Fighters, the Prison Officers and the Airports Authority Air Traffic Controllers’ main issue in common is poor physical space: all being addressed my by Government and well advanced. It is critical, in the interim, to ensure comfort whilst these works are ongoing.
It is regrettable that this matter has escalated to this but am confident that the issues have been sufficiently addressed. There are legitimate concerns that the ATCs raised that required attention beyond the Authority and the Board. It is a disservice to them to try to exploit their concerns.
I must also call on the members of the Opposition who have sought to inflame this issue for political points or a photo opportunity, to see the national importance of addressing this matter and to refrain from politicizing it. This is a critical service and the employees are critical. They did not need their concerns coloured but addressed as this time and it fast became a politically divided one where persons who were originally sympathetic towards them, pulled back their support.
I call on the Leader of the Opposition to educate his candidates on how Government works. The seeds planted today may bear fruit when they least want it to and as a country we cannot afford it at any time. Any fall out in revenues does not harm the PDM but harms the country; a poor country’s reputation will not hurt the PDM but it hurts the entire country. Some issues should be politicized but nationalised.
Politicians who choose to engage in this type politics will be rejected as voters are smarter than this. It is also sad that good persons who can offer themselves in this country are being turned off from serving in elected office because of this misguided behaviour painted as representation. Residents, I have and will always ask you to promote your candidate of choice by educating on the issues, their stance and records and refrain from the personal attacks and actions that harm us as a people.
UK GENERAL ELECTIONS
I turn briefly to the recent vote in the UK that will see a December 12th Election and the prorogation of the House as early as next week. This has been my greatest fear as we tried to press a more urgent approach to our Constitutional Talks with the UK. The Minister with responsibility for the UK OTs had agreed as he did last December during JMC agreed to meet the TCI delegation including myself and members of the PNP at the end of November. Regrettably this date will no longer hold and as such we will need to wait for a new Government and a new Minister to continue these talks. We are terribly disappointed but will use the time to ensure that we remain on accord.
CONCLUSION
We are a beautiful country. There remains much more that unites us than divides us. Our love for country must always be our guiding light. May we renew our commitment to its advancement for the better and may God continue to bless these beautiful by nature, Turks and Caicos Islands.
