Premier the Honorable Dr. Rufus Ewing hit back in the Assembly Thursday at critical comments made about him by Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, William Hague in a letter made public on Wednesday.
Mr. Hague accused the Premier of misleading both the TCI and Caribbean leaders at the CARICOM Conference last month about Britain’s policy and intentions in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The Premier told the House it never ceases to amaze him how the people of the TCI were constantly reminded about the allegations of corruption by the last PNP Administration and reminded at specific and opportune times.
Here’s Dale LeVack with more.
The Premier cited two examples – the press release by the Governor one day before the November General elections and secondly the press statement by the Secretary of State one day before the General Elections, reminding the people of this country about the corruption of the past PNP Administration.
On Wednesday another expected, (but coincidental in its timing) letter by the Secretary of State, reminded the people that the previous PNP Government left behind a chaotic situation, including (through incompetence, abuse of power and corruption), rapidly deteriorating public
finances. He said there were many people in the TCI who were currently being accused of engaging in corruption. Despite the many allegations, he said they should be considered innocent until proven guilty by the courts.
Premier Ewing went on to say that any system in which high officials of Government, such as the Secretary of State and the Governor could prejudice the minds of Judges as to one’s guilt or innocence, is a potentially unfair system. Any system where people who ought to be politically neutral, intentionally or strategically make statements as facts that might influence the judiciary or electorate, is indeed corrupt.
He was using the power of his office to respond to the Secretary of State so as to expose the corruption that was taking place in the name of Good Governance.
This is Dale LeVack for RTC News.
