Former Premier Michael Misick responds to HE Governor in the release below:
In response to the dictator Governor Ric Todd questioning my right to question his morality, I wish to say that I am a 46-year-old Turks and Caicos Islander born and bred in North Caicos. I have served my country for more than 20 years of my life with distinction.
I am proud of what I, along with my colleagues and Progressive National Party, (PNP) have accomplished while in government. When we came to office, the GDP of the island was less than 200 million dollars.
When I left office it was over 750 million dollars. When we came to office, tourist arrivals were around 200 thousand people per year; now it is over 1 million.
We invested tens of millions of dollars in infrastructure, brand new roads in North and Middle Caicos, the Causeway, roads in South Caicos, Providenciales and Grand Turk.
We built schools, parks a national stadium, the Gus Lightbourne auditorium, Horse Stable Beach Park, Built the Children’s Park in the Bight, Community Centers in Providenciales and South Caicos, built two brand new world-class hospitals in Providenciales and Grand Turk, just to name a few of the infrastructure projects.
We spent tens of millions of dollars on scholarships ensuring that every Turks and Caicos Islander that wanted a scholarship got one. We also spent tens of millions of dollars on health care making sure no Turks and Caicos Islander died because they could not afford health care.
We attracted over 2 billion dollars in inward investments, with everyone working and Turks and Caicos Islanders becoming successful business people.
This brings me to why we are where we are. Yes, we gave out thousands of acres of land to Turks and Caicos Islanders as part of our policy of empowering them and making Turks and Caicos Islanders first. I will never apologise for that and will never depart in my personal quest to see Turks and Caicos Islanders first in our country and to see an independent Turks and Caicos Islands.
This is why there was a Commission of Inquiry, because a few white expatriates disliked the policy of making Turks and Caicos Islanders rich. As long as we were poor and had to work for them, there was never a problem. As long as they were the ones getting the Crown land and selling it, this was good business, but as soon as we gave the land to the Turks and Caicos Islands people it was seen as corruption.
This is why we are being prosecuted. As long as we want to remain colonial salves it was ok, but when we begin seeking independence we were call corrupt and put in our place. So Governor Todd, your attempt to change history will not work. The people of the Turks and Caicos Islands know me and love me and they know what I and the PNP have done for these Islands. Not one day have I ever disrespected any of them while I was leader.So you can never justify your arrogance and racist approach by questioning my morals.
On the matter of SIPT, it is clear that the justice system in the Turks and Caicos Islands has turned into a puppet show with judges making decisions to please the dictator that appointed them. It is clear that me, none of the other accused or charged or any other black persons can ever get a fair trial. If I or any one has done anything wrong why did you and the British government have to change the whole legal system including abolishing our right to jury trial, changing the evidence laws and hearsay laws just to name a few. Why is SIPT illegally gathering information and harassing law abiding citizens if it is so clear that we have done wrong.
And how can there be a fair trial when you are the executive, you are the legislature, and you also appoint the judges and you have already pronounced that we are all guilty. Furthermore, how come you know and I don’t, that the SIPT has questions that they want to ask me? And how come you are assuming that I am not going to return home to clear my name?
You and the British government have made a mockery of the Turks and Caicos Islands as we once knew it by your interference in every aspect of government. The British pride themselves with having a justice system with a government that is based on separation of powers. You and the British government have ruined our economy and three years after your occupation you are still blaming me. If it was an elected government, they would have to take responsibility for their tenure in office and would be looking to hold elections soon based on their record. It is high time that you and the British government take responsibility for your actions over the last three years and stop blaming me and anyone else you can blame.
In conclusion, I renew my call for you to resign. You are the leader of the country now and all of the people have lost respect and faith in you. That is why they say the only time you tell the truth is when your mouth is closed. Since it obvious that you have no decency, I again call on the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Rt. Hon William Hague to recall you immediately and set a date for elections so that the Turks and Caicos people can vote for a government of their own choosing. I also call for a referendum on the future relationship of the Turks and Caicos Islands people with Britain. That is the only way to determine whether the people want to remain a British Colony.
