Members of a delegation of the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) returned last weekend after a busy week in London networking with British government officials, including members of the House of Commons and House of Lords and other organisations and individuals who may be in a position to influence the immediate and mid-term future of governance and the economy of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The delegation which was formed and led by PDM leader Douglas Parnell is reported by sources to have had four principal agenda items: 1) To inquire into the current positions taken by top decision makers and how they will play into the reformation process now underway in the islands, including timing for elections; 2) To determine the terms of the new $260 million loan, including the priorities for application of the loan proceeds; 3) To summarise and input the desires of the people of the TCI as they apply to the reformation process; 4) To seek advice from prominent organisations and individuals on how to maximize the input from the people of the islands in the process.
Britain’s Minister of Overseas Territories Henry Bellingham met with the key members of the delegation to discuss these issues. Member of Parliament and chairman of the British TCI All Party Group Andrew Rosindell and some of the Group’s other MP members met with the entire PDM delegation. The delegation included Parnell, deputy leader Clarence Selver, national chairman Princie Harris, former chief minister Derek Taylor and branch chairman David Tapfer.
Others accompanying the group were representatives of the TCI All Party Constitutional Review Group, attorney Wendal Swan, and Rev. Dr Conrad Howell. Howell was appointed by former PNP leader Galmo Williams to represent the Progressive National Party (PNP) with the All Party Group during their meetings with residents on all the populated islands. Current PNP leader Clayton Greene has opted to exclude himself from the reformation process, with which he apparently disagrees.
The delegation held ten meetings with interested organisations and key individuals throughout the week.
One key meeting was held with Director of Overseas Territories Colin Roberts and his staff. The full delegation, including Swan and Howell, also met with Kate Sullivan, the British constitutional reform advisor, for two working sessions
Mid-week Wednesday evening, the PDM hosted a reception that attracted about 40 attendees. These included officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Members of Parliament and their staff, business people, investors and academics.
