RTC Director

GOVERNOR BECKINGHAM AWAY FROM TCI FOR 2 WEEKS

HE  The Governor Peter Beckingham will be visiting the UK, and briefly New York, from 24 November – 8 December. In London the Governor will have an audience with Her Majesty the Queen, and take part in the annual Joint Ministerial Council of Overseas Territories. He will also be taking some leave. In New York the Governor will attend an event arranged by the Hotel and Tourism Association to promote TCI, and to meet potential and existing investors.

“I look forward to having the honour of an audience with Her Majesty,” the Governor said “as well as having the opportunity to describe the exciting developments in Turks and Caicos. The Joint Ministerial Council will also provide an excellent opportunity for the Premier and I to discuss our progress with other Territories, and share experiences. There will be a separate meeting with the FCO Minister responsible for the Territories, James Duddridge MP, and after his visit here in 2012 I am sure he will be interested to hear from Premier Ewing about progress.”

 
“On the way back,” the Governor concluded, “ I will be pleased to return to New York, where I have worked previously, and meet potential and existing investors. It is essential to build on the great reputation TCI has in the US.”

During Governor Beckingham’s absence the Acting Governor will be the Hon Anya Wiiliams.

by RTC Director

STATEMENT FROM UK ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CONFERENCE

Attorney General Rhondalee Braithwaite-Knowles OBE, along with the Attorneys General of ten of the UK’s Overseas Territories (Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia (SBAs), St Helena and Ascension & Tristan da Cunha) and representatives from the US and Canadian Departments of Justice attended a UK Attorney General’s Conference last week. 

The meeting that was held in Miami from 12- 14 of November to discuss a range of topics relating to the rule of law and administration of justice in the Territories and enhance mutual cooperation was chaired by the UK Solicitor General, Robert Buckland QC MP and co-chaired by Mrs. Braithwaite-Knowles.

In a press release, the UK Solicitor General, Robert Buckland said:

“This Government has set out to reinvigorate our relationship with the Overseas Territories, to increase the UK’s engagement with Territory governments at all levels and to support them where required.

The Attorneys General of the Territories play a key role in driving forward legal reform and helping us meet our wider ambitions for the Territories.  Ensuring good governance and respect for the rule of law is a fundamental and vital platform for delivering security and prosperity for our citizens so that Territories present themselves as reliable and transparent partners in business and attract new investment.

During the conference we have discussed cooperation on a number of important topics, including mutual legal assistance and extradition procedures, tackling bribery, fraud and corruption in the territories, improving legislative drafting processes, child safeguarding and constitutional matters.

We have committed to work together to:

1.            continue efforts to ensure that the Territories meet global standards in tackling bribery and corruption, particularly through the extension of the UN Convention Against Corruption and other related conventions where they do not already apply;

2.            address gaps in Territories’ legislation and provide training support, enabling them to deal effectively with complex fraud and corruption cases, including through the recovery of criminal assets;

3.            simplify and improve extradition and mutual legal assistance arrangements, including through the extension to the territories of the UK Extradition Act;

4.            ensure Territories develop and implement robust child protection measures, including through the completion of comprehensive child protection reviews, where these have not already been undertaken;

5.            improve forward-planning and information exchange on UK and Territory legislative programmes and to improve the legislative drafting process in the Territories, through better coordination and sharing of resources where possible.”

Attorney General, Rhondalee Braithwaite Knowles OBE said:

“The meeting was very meaningful and presented a rare but important opportunity for Attorneys General across the UK Overseas Territories to meet and share experiences and lessons learnt.  There are clearly similar challenges and successes across the Overseas Territories and coordination and cooperation are key to addressing the wide variety of issues that confront Attorneys General in these Territories.  I was very pleased to attend the meeting for the first time and look forward to working with colleagues over the course of the next year to realize the goals we set for ourselves.”

by RTC Director

Rodney Adams issues first statement since cleared

Former Deputy Commissioner of Police Rodney Adams issued a release today following yesterday’s verdict in Providenciales.

Mr. Adams recreated his experience “This afternoon in the Providenciales Supreme Court, I was vindicated when a jury returned a verdict of “not guilty” on the one count that they were given directions on by the Chief Justice of the Turks & Caicos Islands.

This was the last remaining count that I faced after being charged with five counts of corruption charges by the Integrity Commission alleging interference in a high profile murder investigation on Providenciales in April 2013.

It is noteworthy that three of the counts never made it to trial and of the two that did, the Chief Justice instructed the jury to return a not guilty verdict on one count before sending them off to deliberate on the one remaining count.
While I was always confident of my innocence in the entire matter, given the delicate situation involving a shocking murder in our otherwise peaceful country, I can understand why reasonable persons would be concern.

In light of these circumstances, I deliberately refrained from speaking out about my charges as I always wanted the legal process to run its course and at the end of the day the results would be there for all to see.
I never doubted my innocence and I had every expectation that once the court heard the evidence that it would conclude that I likewise was innocent of the charges filed against me.

I have dedicated my entire professional career to policing since joining the RTCIPF on 5th March, 1984.
I decided to make policing a career because of love for my country and wanted to do my part in ensuring the safety and security of its citizens and those who come to visit and live among us. In all my dealings I endeavored to respect the laws of our country and uphold the decency and integrity of the Police Service.
Now that this matter has run its course and has been resolved by the court, I will be officially advising HE the Governor’s Office and the Commissioner of Police that I am available to continue my duties as a police officer.
I do so out of a sense of commitment and duty to my country and to the many young officers of the Police Service who seek a role model to aspire to.

They need to know that in this life they too will face many challenges, however if you work hard, be respectful of authority and always do right, you will have nothing to fear.
I want them to know that in spite of difficulty they too can overcome challenges and achieve the rank of Acting Deputy Commissioner or higher in an organization like the RT&CIPF.

I would like to thank my entire family and the many persons in the community who believed in my innocence and supported me throughout this very difficult and challenging ordeal over the last year.

Thanks to all for your prayers and words of encouragement. I equally would like to thank my legal team,the court (including the jury) and the prosecution for conducting this trial with a high degree of professionalism.

In all our trials let us continue to be thankful to God for his many Blessings. To him I owe all the Glory thanks and praise.
May the great God above bless, guide and protect us all and may he bless the Turks and Caicos Islands.”

That’s the full text from Former Deputy Commissioner of Police, Rodney Adams. Mr. Adams was represented by Ariel Missick QC.

by RTC Director

SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS ADVISES ON REGISTRATION

TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDERS ARE AGAIN REMINDED THAT THE REGISTER OF ELECTORS IS CURRENTLY BEING UPDATED AND THE NEW REGISTER WILL BE PUBLISHED ON 31 MARCH 2015.
 
INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE NOT ON THE CURRENT REGISTER BUT WISH TO BE INCLUDED IN THE NEW REGISTER OF ELECTORS WILL HAVE UNTIL 30 NOVEMBER 2014 TO CONTACT THE ELECTIONS OFFICE WITH THE RELEVANT DOCUMENTATION.
 
SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS MR. DUDLEY LEWIS HAS ADVISED THAT THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY TEN THOUSAND (10,000) ELLIGIBLE VOTERS IN THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS AND TODATE ONLY SEVEN THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED AND FOURTY SEVEN (7,247) NAMES ARE INCLUDED ON THE CURRENT REGISTERED.
 
NEW PERSONS ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY TO BE INCLUDED ON THE REGISTER ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HAVE TURNED 18 YEARS OF AGE SINCE 1 MARCH 2014, ALSO THOSE PERSONS WHO ARE OVER 18 AND DID NOT APPLY TO JOIN THE REGISTER EARLIER IN 2014.
 
MR. LEWIS SAID; “ELLIGBLE VOTERS ON THE PRESENT REGISTER OF ELECTORS DO NOT NEED TO RE-APPLY TO BE INCLUDED IN THE NEW ONE.  THEY WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY INCLUDED UNLESS THEY NOTIFY THE ELECTIONS OFFICE THAT THEY HAVE CHANGED THEIR NAME OR PLACE OF RESIDENCE, OR NO LONGER MEET THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA.  THIS INCLUDES BEING RESIDENT IN THE TCI FOR AT LEAST 12 OUT OF 24 MONTHS.
 
“AN ELECTOR’S STATUS AS A TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDER MUST BE VERIFIED FIRST BY THE MINISTRY OF BORDER CONTROL THROUGH THE PROCESS TO OBTAIN TC ISLANDER STATUS CARD.  THEREFORE, THOSE WITHOUT STATUS CARDS SHOULD APPLY FOR ONE PRIOR TO REGISTRATION.”
 
THE ELECTIONS SUPERVISOR ADVISES THAT HIS OFFICE WILL AWAIT THE COMPLETION OF THE TC ISLANDER STATUS VERIFICATION PROCESS BEFORE IT WILL CONSIDER A PERSON’S APPLICATION TO BE ADDED TO THE PRELIMINARY LIST AND REGISTER OF ELECTORS.
 
POTENTIAL NEW ELECTORS SHOULD COMPLETE A VOTER REGISTRATION APPLICATION FORM.  THOSE WHO HAVE ALREADY OBTAINED THE STATUS CARD, BUT DID NOT SUBMIT AN APPLICATION FORM ARE ENCOURAGED TO PREPARE AND SUBMIT IT BEFORE NOVEMBER 30, 2014 THE CUTOFF DATE FOR REGISTRATION.
 
MR. LEWIS FURTHER ADVISES THAT IF PERSONS DO NOT REGISTER, THEIR NAMES CANNOT BE ADDED TO THE PRELIMINARY LIST OR REGISTER AND THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO EXERCISE THEIR DEMOCRATIC RIGHT TO VOTE WHENEVER GENERAL ELECTIONS ARE CALLED.
 

by RTC Director