Turks and Caicos Islands — As the British Interim Government in the Turks and Caicos Islands moves on a number of issues, members of the Progressive National Party (PNP) are voicing their discontent.
The early retirement of Police Commissioner Edward Hall and his Deputy Commissioner Hubert Hughes seems to be clouded by a refusal to name an Assistant Commissioner the Governor’s press release indicated will also be retired early.
Local television station WIV4 has speculated that this may be Assistant Commissioner Clarke, who is the most senior person in this post. The station has also reported confusion about the retirements at this time. Inquiries to the government have failed to confirm or deny Clarke is the person affected
Several months ago an independent investigation was commissioned into the running of the police force. The report coming out of this investigation, which landed in the governor’s hands months ago, has never been made public. Information that has leaked out has indicated the force was not being properly run. This and the fact that outside Canadians are planned as immediate replacements for the top police officials have caused speculation that the report triggered the early retirements.
Adding to the speculation is an absence of public statements by Hall and Hughes. Both men have long service records on the force. Hall moved to the top spot in 2005 during the Michael Misick administration. The governor has been complimentary regarding both men’s service in his press release and recent public statements.
The leave enforced against Clyde Robinson, the former Planning Director, for a land flip in the Providenciales Long Bay area is also causing concern that similar civil proceedings are in the offing. The parcel Robinson flipped was one of several that appear to have ended up in the hands of the same foreign buyer. Richie Arthur, Misick’s former pilot had a similar plot that he flipped.
Long Bay is the election district represented by Galmo Williams, who replaced Misick as premier for a short time when Misick resigned his post. Williams chose Royal Robinson as his deputy and finance minister.
Robinson has now posted a strong letter in this week’s TCI Weekly News admonishing the British Interim administration and the “milestones” recently announced by Foreign and Commonwealth Office minister responsible for Britain’s overseas territories, Henry Bellingham. Robinson took particular issue with the need to achieve a balanced budget. It appears this requirement has been put in place because Britain has been forced to support the interim government with grants and other aid.
It appears that this has amounted to upwards of $30 million since September 2008. In addition to the cash input, the Interim Government has also obtained loans for the purpose of bringing some integrity to the dire financial straits the Misick/Williams government left the territory in.
In fact, shortly after taking over, it was Robinson and PNP-appointed Permanent Secretary of Finance Delton Jones who found an additional $35 million in hidden unpaid commercial debts
Britain’s Bellingham is also arranging a strong financial package to further help the financial picture in the TCI. Robinson’s letter also pointed out that Britain experienced bank failures. The TCI Bank, which had a board of directors that included Jones and Misick’s brother Washington Misick, failed earlier this year, taking down the funds of 4,000 depositors and upwards of $22 million in government pension funds.
Robinson also indicated in his letter his personal belief that there will be a series of layoffs in the civil service.
Finally, Robinson indicated there has been no local real estate development since the Interim Government arrived.
In fact, all the developments approved by the Misick/Williams government, of which Robinson was a part, have since failed. However, according to multinational sources, possibly two new developments may soon be seeking approval..
In a public statement issued some days ago by John Smith, who heads the airport expansion, he expressed the opinion that thousands of new tourists are expected from Europe once the airport expansion is complete. This project appears to be running ahead of schedule.
New PNP leader Clayton Greene has just returned from the Bahamas, where he called on government leaders from both sides of the aisle. Greene also met with TCI nationals living in the Bahamas. Greene has appeared on WIVTV saying the purpose of his trip was to marshal support from the Bahamas and TCI Islanders living there.
Greene said he informed the Bahamas that the TCI is in “dire straits”.
When reporting on his meetings, Greene said, “They asked me why the people of the TCI are so passive and why they do not protest.”
