Director of Planning Clyde Robinson has been placed on administrative leave.
The news was confirmed today via a statement from the Government Press office.. It read quote: On 12 November 2010, the Turks & Caicos Islands Government (TCIG) issued civil proceedings against Mr. Clyde Robinson arising out of his acquisition of Crown Land and the sale on of that land at a substantial profit. Those proceedings have now been served on Mr. Robinson. Proceedings have also been issued against Susannah Robinson, but these have not yet been served.
TCIG’s claim against Clyde Robinson alleges that he acquired the freehold of parcel 61112/286 in Long Bay Hills, Providenciales, from TCIG for $70,000 in March 2007, at a time when he was Director of Planning, owing a duty of good faith to TCIG and a duty not to put himself in a position where his personal interest conflicted with his duties and responsibilities.
The Land Transfer contained a covenant that Mr Robinson would use the land for his only or main residence and that he required the property for his own or exclusive use and that of members of his family.
The statement continued : In May 2007, Mr Robinson agreed to sell the parcel for $1,500,000 to a third party developer, Wawa Co Ltd. On 14 June 2007, Mr Robinson transferred the parcel to Susannah Robinson for no consideration, and in September 2007, the parcel was transferred to Wawa Co. Ltd for $1,500,000.
TCIG argues that Mr and/or Mrs Robinson have been unjustly enriched, and it is unconscionable for them to retain the proceeds of sale, and that they are liable to account to TCIG for the profit from the sale, equaling $1,220,000 after payment of a Crown charge, as well as interest and costs.
These are the next set of proceedings issued by the Civil Recovery team since they began their work at the end of 2009, and the second set of proceedings in connection with the ‘flipping’ of land.
In view of the serious allegations against Mr. Robinson he has been required to go on leave until these proceedings have been resolved. No decision has yet been taken in relation to possible disciplinary proceedings.
Robinson who had been Director of the Department for several years was instrumental in the approval of several projects across the Turks and Caicos Islands some of which have been heavily scrutinized by many.
He was also placed in the limelight during talk of a proposed Star Island development project off the Leeward Marina which never materialized as environmentalists and residents of the area lobbied hard against it .
