Recent Town Hall Meetings
Premier the Hon Dr. Rufus Ewing and his ministerial colleagues held the second public town hall-style meeting at the HJ Robinson High School’s auditorium Wednesday evening to get insight into community members’ thinking on the constitution and matters surrounding SIPT.
Premier Ewing said he and his colleagues came to power with a mandate to ensure some constitutional amendments must be made and so begun the process of engaging the community, then generated a report.
While they knew HMG might have not been receptive to some of the recommendations, which he said were only cosmetic, they were not prepared for the outright rejection of the constitutional recommendations.
After taking the audience through some of the challenges they have been faced with, he laid on the line his government’s position.
Local entrepreneur Carlis Williams questioned what if the scales continue to tip in HMG’s favor.
The Premier explained that there is nothing that allows for a referendum on anything and explained the processes.
On the matter of independence, there still seem to be some trepidation. Mrs. Rosabell Adams, one of the attendees at last evening’s meeting, expressed sentiments that for her, it’s a scary situation.
We’ll have further feedback from last evening’s meeting.
PDM LEADER’S ADDRESS ON GOVERNMENT’S RECENT TOWN HALL MEETINGS
I wish to address this nation on what I consider to be critical current issues facing our country. I do so out of concern and also to clarify some misconceptions that we have been addressing over the past few days.
On Monday, September 7th, 2015 the Ministerial Members of Cabinet held the first of two Town Hall Meetings on Providenciales. Like many others, the members of the PDM were made aware through social media and no one was invited in his/her official capacity and rightly so as this was a meeting held by the Ministerial Members of Cabinet. While members of the PDM Parliamentary Team attended the Town Hall Meeting, they did so as citizens of this country.
I wish to advise the people of this country that on Monday, September 7th, 2015, the Premier sent an email to me as Leader inviting me to a meeting to discuss the proposed constitutional amendments, monies expended for SIPT and another pending matter. A response was sent which stated that I was open to a Meeting to discuss the three issues. However a time or date is yet to be set.
During the Government’s Town Hall Meeting, the Premier spoke to three issues: the proposed constitutional amendments; the monies for SIPT’s security costs and the Immigration Bill.
Like the Premier, I was provided with a copy of the letter from the UK Minister in response to the Constitutional Review Committee Report. I was provided for the first time with the final recommendations that were sent from the House of Assembly to the UK. As stated before, we are not surprised by the UK’s response to take a slower approach to the recommendations. We do not agree that there has been a dismissal of the work of the Committee and quote this excerpt from the letter, “...the work of this Committee is so important and we will ensure that a dialogue on these issues is sustained with TCI and other Overseas Territories that wish to engage…”
In our years of collective experience, it has been the approach of the UK on constitutional amendments to hold several talks in an engagement process. I call to mind the work of the 2006 Constitution that begun in 2002 and which after the Constitutional Modernisation Review Body’s Report held three rounds of talks. I was privileged enough to work be a part of both rounds of public consultation as a member of the review body. With the background of the 2011 Constitution, we anticipate a different approach. While we are now aware of the approach that this Government has publicly taken and its intention to hold a referendum on the relationship with the UK, we remain committed to the process and to the acceptance of the offer by the UK Minister’s invitation to engage. We believe that there is a call for a mature and sober approach to be taken in this process as we represent the people on this important issue.
On the matter of funding for the Special Investigations and Prosecution Team, we are surprised by the Premier’s position that there is not enough information on SIPT’s expenditure. We are surprised that over these near three years, there has not been presented a proposed Budget for SIPT’s spending to Cabinet ahead of approval there for passage in the House of Assembly. We believe that a line itemed Budget must be in existence for the final total figure to be presented.
The PDM will never renege on its responsibility to provide oversight and to call for transparency and accountability which are the hallmark tenets of good governance. Therefore I have in my capacity as Leader of the Opposition been consistent over the years in posing questions relating to SIPT and Civil Recovery actions and in particular costs. As recent as July, 2015, I posed a question, “Will the Hon Attorney General be pleased to say what is the total cost of SIPT related Trials to date? Will she say how much has been spent on lawyer’s fees inclusive of legal aid? Over the period, HMG agreed to pay costs and did pay costs, please advise how much was paid and over which period? Will she further advise when did TCIG assume cost again and why was this decision made by HMG?”
In fact, even while serving on the Consultative Forum, I posed questions about SIPT’s funding and the sharing of the cost between the TCI and the UK. It was on one of these occasions that the former Attorney General made the public aware of the resumption of costs by the TCI Government.
We believe in accountability and believe that as members of Cabinet, the Government ought to be able to obtain the information on SIPT’s broad expenditure without compromising its work. As we are not privy to know the details of what goes on in Cabinet other than what is being said in the public domain, we do not understand how there can be a denial of this information.
We also believe that the TCI can ill afford to have any adverse incidents that will seek to reverse our positive turn in our reputation, and so we believe that SIPT should feel and be made to feel safe as should all residents and this is why we believe that these monies can better be spent by way of investment in our local police force through advance specialized training.
We believe that our track record of entertaining and welcoming persons of high international status has been stellar and without incident. And while we do appreciate that SIPT’s stay here is under different circumstances, we believe it will certainly be to everyone’s benefit if we were to bolster the resources of the Police Force and build capacity. We are not convinced that what SIPT may need is outside the scope of our internal security.
This investment can also help in addressing the challenges that we face in the area of immigration which is fast becoming a national security concern. We believe that the resident populations of these Islands are larger than we can imagine. With the scarce resources that we have, together with this government’s intention to widen the franchise and increase the permanent population through the proposed Immigration Bills, certain systems and Institutions must rapidly rise to the demand should the Government proceed without design and at a manageable rate against the voices of reputable members of the clergy, attendants at the various Town Hall Meetings and its own high ranking supporters.
While there are many issues that seem out of our reach, there are many that are within our control and our remit alone and immigration is one of them. We are on record calling on this Government to slow down the consultations and to give its people more information and more opportunities to understand its immigration proposal and be heard.
The Immigration Bill must be carefully approached and while it must provide a fair and transparent path to citizenship, we must ensure that it is one that will guarantee that we as Turks and Caicos Islanders are protected, empowered and able to obtain jobs. We believe that the Government must place this new found passion into getting our people to work and in better working conditions with fair pay, the possibility of upward mobility and training in environments that are conducive to growth and advancement of the individual and our country.
It is my prayer that our people will be vigilant, hear the issues, seek out the facts, make reasonable and well informed choices and decisions and then hold us all into account according to our roles. As Opposition members in the House of Assembly we will continue to be diligent in our oversight roles and will always work for the best interests of our people.
May God bless these Islands.
Arizona police report nine possible shootings along interstate highway
The number of possible vehicle shootings along a stretch of freeway in Phoenix has jumped to nine over the last 10 days, the head of Arizona’s state police said on Tuesday.
Colonel Frank Milstead, director of the Arizona Department of Public Safety, said the attacks continued following two possible shootings early Tuesday on Interstate 10, the southernmost transcontinental highway in the U.S.
The shootings began on Aug. 29 along a roughly 10-mile segment of the highway when gunfire shattered the windshield of a sport utility vehicle, authorities said.
A 13-year-old girl sustained a minor cut to her right ear, the only injury that has been reported.
On Tuesday, a Phoenix police sergeant told state troopers he believes a bullet shattered the passenger side window of his personal vehicle as he was driving to work.
The sergeant was not in uniform and was not injured, police said, adding that it could not immediately be determined if the vehicle was struck by gunfire or something else such as road debris.
Details of the second incident were not disclosed.
“It’s just a matter of time, if this continues, that we have tragedy on our roadways,” Milstead said at a news conference.
Authorities also announced on Tuesday that a reward fund has been increased to $20,000 from $5,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.
Police said that they have not confirmed that all the incidents involved gunfire, saying only that some were hit by a projectile. Investigators also have not yet determined whether the incidents are connected.
On the first reported day of the shootings, a bus with only the driver on board was hit and a third vehicle was struck late that night, with the driver noticing a bullet hole after inspecting her vehicle the next day, officials said.
Milstead said the agency was using its gang task force, special weapons and tactics personal and undercover detectives for freeway surveillance, and was working with federal and local law enforcement.
He urged motorists to be on guard and report any suspicious activity, branding the recent incidents “domestic terrorism.”
“If you drive that stretch of roadway, always be vigilant,” he said. “Under these circumstances, be hyper vigilant.”
Serena defeats Venus to sustain Slam bid at US Open
World number one Serena Williams, chasing the first calendar Grand Slam since 1988, advanced to the US Open semi-finals Tuesday by defeating 23rd-seeded sister Venus 6-2, 1-6, 6-3.
Three-time defending champion Serena reached a Thursday semi-final against Italy's 43rd-ranked Roberta Vinci, who eliminated France's 40th-ranked Kristina Mla-deno-vic 6-3, 5-7, 6-4.
Athletes return from the UK
Monday, September 7, 2015 saw the return of the two athletes Sanadia Forbes and Colby Jennings who represented the Turks and Caicos Islands at the Sainsbury's 2015 School Games in Manchester in the UK from 3rd to 6th September.
The athletes, although not being successful in obtaining a medal for their individual events, found the experience to be a memorable one, and said training in the cold was definitely an experience they will always remember.
Despite participating in the cold weather, something very unusual for them, Sanadia achieved a Personal Best (PB) in the long jump, having moved from 4.46m to 4.96m. According to Sanadia’s mom, one of the persons travelling with the team, Sanadia felt a little disappointed with her time in the 100m, but after competing in the long jump and achieving a person best (PB) she felt extremely pleased with herself. She now wants to concentrate more on her long jump and feels more confident in participating in other events in the future.
HOUSE OF LORDS APPOINTMENTS AN AFFRONT TO CROWN DEPENDENCIES AND BRITISH OVERSEAS TERRITORIES AS WELL AS TO THE BRITISH PUBLIC
The HOUSE OF LORDS has APPOINTMENTS AN AFFRONT TO CROWN DEPENDENCIES AND BRITISH OVERSEAS TERRITORIES AS WELL AS TO THE BRITISH PUBLIC.
Anthony D C Webber, a Member of Guernsey Parliament, 1991- 2004 and an Independent political analyst and commentator, says he is now in the process of contacting all British Overseas Territories’ media, and there is a very positive response.
Webber
Key points:
1.) UK Prime Minister’s House of Lords appointments damaging to British democracy
2.) Affect will be felt on Crown Dependencies and British Overseas Territories
3.) Need for such jurisdictions to have representation in House of Lords, and later in the House of Commons
Prime Minister David Cameron’s dissolution honours list creating of 45 Life Peers has been subject to intense criticism, reflected across the media.
He has been accused of affronting democracy and bringing the British Parliament into disrepute.
The unelected House of Lords, at one time in the past numbering just 50 Members, now has 831 Members, the second largest Parliamentary body in the world after communist China’s National People’s Congress of 2987. (However, they have about twenty times the UK’s population, at 1,357 million people to the UK’s 64 million ).
The Lords has far too many Members who have been placed there for what can be politely described as the wrong reasons.
Interestingly the Tory supporting media has been in the forefront in expressing distaste and disapproval, believing the appointments will also damage the Conservative party.
What has been particularly surprising has been the arrogance surrounding David Cameron’s inner circle, refusing to respond to or take the slightest notice of those who expressed outrage, both before and after the appointments were announced.
It is behaviour similar to that of a King who feels he can do whatever he likes, grant patronage almost at will, but in the case of David Cameron, is it because he simply just does not care because he has said this is his last term as Prime Minister ?
Why should all this bother the Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories ?
Firstly, because her Majesty the Queen plays a constitutional role in all such jurisdictions, to a varying degree.
The reality of that role is that the Crown has for many years meant the UK government, but the de facto taking over of the granting of Membership of the House of Lords by the Prime Minister, means that the status of the Crown Dependencies and British Overseas Territories ( BOTs) have become more diminished and less autonomous.
Although all have their own systems of government and their own Prime Minister equivalents, they all are represented on defence and foreign policy by the British government and whatever happens with the British Parliamentary democracy in some way affects them, even if it is by association only. The British government is ultimately responsible for their good government, and that right has never been challenged.
The problem is that the House of Lords is the UK Parliament’s second chamber, the equivalent to a Senate, and has important responsibilities as part of the British democratic system. The decisions of the British Houses of Parliament do affect the Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories in varying degrees. Unlike other countries, such as France, who have overseas territories representation in both their Houses of Parliament, the United Kingdom still has not brought in similar rights for British overseas voices to be heard.
It would not be quite bad not if there was just restriction from elected House of Commons Membership, but to be kept out of the House of Lords as well is particularly insulting, when the make-up of the House of Lords is examined in detail.
Just why should this ad hoc mixture of people have any say at all in affecting those jurisdictions which the UK has some form of responsibility for?
The Ministry of Justice is responsible for the affairs of the three Crown Dependencies of Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man, and the Minister of State responsible has been Lord Faulks, QC, since January 2014. Lord Faulks has never been elected and was only ennobled in 2010.
Lord Faulks is also a Privy Councillor.
Where is the logic of having a person with no previous Crown Dependency connections being put in such a position of responsibility?
This is no slight to the capabilities and calibre of Lord Faulks, who appears to have had an illustrious legal career, but why cannot that position be held by a suitable Crown Dependency person who could quite easily be made a Life Peer and Privy Councillor?
Is this just a little insulting to the Crown Dependencies, that a key decision maker in their affairs is someone they have absolutely no say in appointing.
Why not create a small number of Life Peers and Privy Councillors who could serve on the Committee for the Affairs of the Channel Island as well ? Why not have some a Privy Councillor for the Isle of Man too, who are in a slightly different position to Guernsey and Jersey ?
The British Overseas Dependencies come under the UK’s Foreign Office Minister, James Duddridge, MP, the Falkland Islands under Colleague Hugo Swire, MP, and Gibraltar and the Cyprus Sovereign Base Areas under David Lidington, Minister for Europe.
The constitutional procedures are complicatedly different for the British Overseas Territories, with a population of about 350,000 compared with the Crown Dependencies’ approximately 290,000, but just why are they all denied representation on affairs which the UK Parliament and the UK government decides for them ?
So, on a matter which could easily give such representation, why no Life Peerages given so that they could have some say in such matters ?
No one could deny that there are plenty of suitable candidates, from distinguished former politicians to those who have put in outstanding public or business service.
This omission is glaring, but in view of the quality of the new Life Peers recently announced, and indeed of Life Peers generally, is not the lack of anyone in the Lords to put forward the views of Crown and Overseas Dependencies, an oversight which has now become an affront to them ?
Webber sees it as not also an affront to deny all but Gibraltar from participating in the referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU? All are affected in various ways by the UK’s membership, but currently will have absolutely no say in the outcome. Maybe, Gibraltar can assist the case for everyone else ?
CARICOM SG congratulates Dr Rowley
Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Ambassador Irwin LaRocque has extended congratulations to the new Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Dr. the Honourable Keith Rowley.
The Secretary-General said; "I congratulate Dr the Honourable Keith Rowley on his ascension to the office of Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago. His long Parliamentary career and his varied experience in Cabinet will no doubt have assisted in preparing him for this position. I look forward to working with him in continuing to strengthen our integration movement in the interest of the people of Trinidad and Tobago and the entire Caribbean Community," said LaRocque.
Dr Rowley's party, the People's National Movement (PNM) won 23 of the 41 seats in Monday's general election.
Another tropical storm forms
THE BAHAMAS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY is reporting another TROPICAL STORM HENRI.
THE FORECAST OFFICE SECTION of the Met office BAHAMAS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY FORECAST OFFICE SECTION, said in its bulletin, issued 6:00 o’clock this morning THURSDAY 10TH SEPTEMBER 2015, TROPICAL STORM HENRI IS MOVING SLOWLY NORTHWARD WITH NO CHANGE IN STRENGTH.
AT 05:00 AM EDT, THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM HENRI WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 31.4°NORTH AND LONGITUDE 61.0 WEST OR ABOUT 230 MILES EAST-SOUTHEAST OF BERMUDA.
HENRI IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTH NEAR 3 MPH AND THIS GENERAL MOTION IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE WITH AN INCREASE IN FORWARD SPEED THROUGH TONIGHT. A FASTER NORTH-NORTHEAST MOTION IS PREDICTED ON FRIDAY. ON THE FORECAST TRACK, THE CENTER OF HENRI WILL PASS WELL EAST OF BERMUDA LATER TODAY.
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 40 MILES PER HOUR (MPH) WITH HIGHER GUSTS. SOME STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST DURING THE NEXT DAY OR SO.
THE NEXT NEWS ITEM WILL BE ISSUED AT 12PM THURSDAY.
QUICK RESPONSE BY POLICE CREDITED FOR ARREST OF A BURGLARY SUSPECT
Police are also reporting that quick response by officers from the Beat & Patrol Division is being credited for the arrest of a 34 year man who according to reports had burglarized a home early this Wednesday morning (September 09, 2015).
According to Astwood, shortly after 4am, police received a report that a man had burglarized a home in The Bight area. Officers from the Mobile Division responded to tat report, and upon arrival in the area they arrested the suspect after they found that suspect with an item in his possession believed to be stolen from the home that he was allegedly seen leaving.
The suspect was taken into custody and will be formally charged for Burglary this week.
Fire officials are battling an early morning fire in Providenciales
RTC News is learning of Structure Fire on 16 Tranquility Lane in Leeward Estate Providenciales.
Police Public Relations Officer, Audley A. Astwood says the Fire Department, police and Medical unit were all informed are still on scene battling the fire.
He said several people were treated for smoke inhalation but no fatalities reported. We will have further updates in our later news cast today.