The first phase of the National Conversation lasted two weeks and this new phase will last another two weeks before completion. I am pleased to report that the dialogue has gone extremely well thus far.
The first Official event on Program was the appearance of the Lead Coordinator, Mrs Sharlene Cartwright Robinson on the popular Talk Show, “Expressions” with its host Mr Robert Hall. Mrs Robinson used the opportunity to encourage the public to join The National Conversation and to present the Program of Events over the next three weeks. During the interview, a number of issues surrounding the economy and the rising crime were addressed. Callers were invited and the following issues were raised: the lack of fort coming information (openness) and transparency on the part of the Interim Government, unemployment, difficulty with former convicts being re-employed, need for education and dialogue on vital Bills for passage.
Mr Derek Taylor, longest serving Chief Minister followed on Friday. He was able to identify decisions made over the past year that may have compromised or eroded the revenue of these Islands and he also offered possible new ways of revenue generation for the Government. He called for a change in our attitude as a people and he also called on the British Government to look at the New Zealand’s Model on Public Sector Reform which allowed for persons who were laid off by the Government to be absorbed by the Private Sector in a pre arrangement.
The first week saw the appearance on Expressions of two former Chief Ministers, Norman Saunders and Washington Misick. Again our Leaders offered their insight on how they see the state of affairs in these Islands. They both shared recommendations on going forward. Mr Misick accepted that we have made mistakes but that we are not 100% at fault. Mr Saunders feels that a return to elected Government is the solution to the majority of the problems we face.
For the first time on Monday, December 7th, 2010, all Coordinators of the National Conversation appeared together on the PTV Talk Show “On Your Mind”. Mrs Sharlene Cartwright Robinson, Mr Drexwell Seymour and Rev Dr Conrad Howell (who is the Host of “On Your Mind”) weighed in on issues of national issues, the Rosindell’s Speech, the role of the Forum and the National Conversation Program.
On Tuesday, December 8, 2010, Lead Coordinator for the National Conversation made an Appearance on Popular Radio Station Blaze where she together with Mr Donhue Gardiner discussed the Kate Sullivan’s Recommendations on Constitutional and Electoral Reform.
A Panel on the Economy was held at the Gus Lightbourne Sports Complex on the evening of Tuesday, December 8, 2010. A Panel of four persons discussed different matters relating to the economy and the audience was allowed following the Presentations to ask questions and to also make recommendations.
Mr Royal Robinson spoke to the Role of TC Invest and as a former Director of the Agency (previously named Development Board) he was well poised to answer questions from the audience. Recognizing how important the Agency with its various arms (Banking, Inward Investment and Small Business Development) is to the economy of these Islands, he made suggestions so as to improve the efficiency of the Agency.
Mr Seymour gave an overview of how Government makes it monies and expressed the need for a steady stream of revenue but discourages the new taxation plans being considered. He offered a few suggestions on how to move forward with a sound call for greater openness and transparency in dealing with the Government’s finances.
Mr Gordon Kerr a resident of over 20 years spoke to the role of the Financial Services Commission. As a member of the Board since its inception, Mr Kerr was properly positioned to address this. He spoke to the overregulation of the Industry which still brings only nominal revenue to the Government’s coffers. He spoke to the need to challenge some of the regulatory measures. He also spoke to the uncertainty of the present climate in the TCI and the negative impact this is having in attracting investors.
Mr Simon Wood, a resident of over 20 years and an established Architect in a leading Architectural Firm. He spoke of the shortsightedness on the part of successive governments to rely almost solely on the construction industry to fuel the economy. He pointed out that we often defined development with construction and usually equate more construction with positive economic development. He reminded us that not all physical development is positive and
Representatives of the Ministerial Fellowship took to the airwaves on Faith FM 98.9. Rev Pedro Williams, President of the TCI Baptist Union addressed the topic of National Identity generally. He said we must embrace those things that make us unique – our dialect and other practises. He made a clarion call to patriotism. Pastor Bradley Handfield addressed the topic of “Who We Are”. He explored this topic by looking at the history of Britain as to how she established herself as a nation and called on us to identify and take pride in who we are, the heirs of hard working slaves that were let here on barren land and left to fend for themselves. He call on TC Islanders to embrace all those who were born here and to establish clearly who are Turks and Caicos Islanders. Bishop Bryan Cox spoke led on the topic of culture. He spoke of the use of culture in Churches so as to encourage pride in national symbols. Rev Conrad Howell spoke on the issue of appreciating who we are.
As we closed the second week, we had the benefit of a Release from MP Andrew Rosindell and the Joint Ministerial Statement made by British Ministers. The National Conversation Program welcomes the list of milestones to the extent that it allows for pointed dialogue. To this end, we agreed to revise the Program. We have also taken into account the feedback and the requests of many of our citizens who had not had the opportunity to listen to the various Interviews over Expressions and The Panel on the Economy. To this end, we are trying to negotiate times with various media houses to replay for the benefit of the Public. Whilst this is ongoing, the Program will gear discussions surrounding Electoral Reform, the Civil Service, Belongership and Immigration generally. The Full Revised Program is as follows:
Meetings throughout the Islands will be as follows:
Tuesday, January 18, 2011 Public Meeting in Grand Turk at 6pm
St Stephen James Hall aka Baptist Sunday School Hall
Thursday, January 20, 2011 Meeting with the Political Parties and Poll Workers on Electoral Reform at the Gustarvus Lightbourne Sports Complex at 5:30pm
Public Meeting at 7:30pm at the Gustarvus Lightbourne Sports Complex, Providenciales
Friday, January 21, 2011 Expressions on Radio Turks and Caicos at 10am
Guest: Dr Linda Williams on Civil Service and Education
Meeting with the Media at 10am (Providenciales)
Meeting with the Pastors at 2pm (Providenciales)
Tuesday, January 25, 2011 Public Meeting at the Community Center, Conch Bar, Middle Caicos at 3pm
Public Meeting at the Community Center, Whitby, North Caicos at 7pm
Saturday, January 29, 2011 Community Center, Salt Cay at 6pm
Tuesday, February 1, 2011 Iris Stubbs Primary School, South Caicos at 6pm
FEBRUARY 16, 2011 REPORT RELEASED
Discussions will be held with Members of the Police Force, Financial Experts, Immigration Enforcement and the Civil Service Association.
In the main time we are exploring the possibility of erecting a Website that will upload the Events of The National Conversation so that persons will be able to listen at their leisure.
Thanks to all the participants thus far. This National Conversation Program has seen the coming together of talents and resources and we wish to thank Mr Gregg Been, Techno Sounds, the Sports Commission, RTC especially Mr Robert Hall and Expressions, all the media houses for your coverage, and the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
