Chair of the Consultative Forum of the Turks and Caicos Islands Mrs.Lillian Missick, made a huge impact when she opened the 27th and final sitting of the Forum for 2011.
She referred to what she regards as ‘national woes’ which have befallen the Turks and Caicos Islands, ranging from the recent arrest of former
government ministers on charges of corruption, to the imposition of ‘onerous’ taxes and fees, which she said have left us all feeling as
though we are paying fines for the crimes that those ministers allegedly committed.
However, she suggested as we approach a new year, that we as a country look forward and not dwell too much on the past.
Mrs. Missick spoke to the parental role that the British are playing by implementing structural reforms in order to help avoid the mistakes of the past, but she hastened to add that she used the term ‘parental’ advisedly.
Mrs. Missick lamented the fact that far too many of the British overseers,do not accept responsibility for creating this financial black hole.
The Consultative Forum Chair said this is especially important as it reinforces what she has been trying to impress upon the British for sometime now.
Mrs. Missick referred to her attendance at the recent Overseas Territories Consultative Council (OTCC) meeting in the UK with Overseas Territories
Minister Henry Bellingham, noting that he seemed committed to developing a relationship between the UK and the TCI, that is defined by mutual
respect, mutual trust and mutual appreciation. She also said she was heartened by the level of support from the sister overseas territories.
