Mr. Speaker, your excellency Governor Dr. John Freeman, Honorable Members of this House of Assembly, invited guests and strangers in the gallery.
We gather today to welcome the newest addition to our beloved country, his excellency Dr. John Freeman and his wife Mrs. Freeman.
His arrival marks the continuance of a tradition that extends throughout our history. Each Governor has brought to our islands, differing styles, various abilities and each, the mandate of the UK Government. To say that the mandate of The UK Government is not always aligned with the mandate of the government elected by the people of these islands, would be an understatement. Though at times there may not be that commonality of purpose and though there may be the often encountered friction between the elected representatives and the representative of the Crown, we however look forward your excellency’s contribution and we look forward, to working with you in a manner that is progressive, productive and amicable and in the best interest of the people of these islands.
The relationship between the United Kingdom and our beloved Turks and Caicos Islands is one that extends back over 200 years. This is a relationship that many Turks and Caicos Islanders value and wish to maintain.
Yet it is our position that any relationship no matter how solid its foundation and how mutually beneficial it may be, must constantly be evaluated for ways that the relationship may evolve, grow and strengthen.
Today, we are at a crossroads. Our relationship with the U.K. while being maintained, must evolve. Your excellency, it is our hope that you will see the obstacles that this government has overcome. From the elimination of the debt, to the continued building of institutions that would benefit Turks and Caicos Islanders, this government has demonstrated a willingness to work with the U.K. when it was in the best interest of our country. Please also be aware that this Government continues to stand ready to work around the U.K. whenever necessary and wherever the rights of our people and the wellbeing of our nation are at stake.
We as UK Overseas Territories Leaders constantly chide the UK Government for its approach to the territories where we are not seen or treated as partners despite its commitment under the 1999 white paper, “Partnership for Progress and Prosperity” or the 2012 white paper, “Security, Success and Sustainability” ignoring the fact that we are a country with a government democratically elected by the people to enact policies in the best interest of the people.
Governor towards this end and as will be discussed at the upcoming Joint Ministerial Council meeting in London, we envision an evolution of our relationship “to the next level” to that of an equal partnership.
To the Next level of greater autonomy over the operation of our Police Force as we believe that a Turks and Caicos approach to Turks and Caicos crime prevention and security is the best way forward to maintaining law and good order in our islands. This includes having our own Commissioner of Police, training and creating opportunity of upward mobility of our Officers and strengthening Community Policing.
We seek the evolution To a higher level of governance over our God given lands to be used for the betterment of our people. There is no democratically justifiable reason why we as a Government elected by the people of these islands cannot enact policies governing the management and distribution of our “Crown Land” without the need to obtain the approval and consent of the UK Government before passage in Cabinet or in this House of Assembly. We have been at a tug of war for almost 4 years over our crown land policy and I look forward to your excellency’s expeditious assistance in getting our draft Crown Land bill and regulations from White Hall into the hall of this honorable House of Assembly where the elected members will be the ones charged with deciding what is best for our people and not the nameless and faceless of White Hall who have no knowledge, care our concern for our people.
It is our demand to move this country To the next level with a Cabinet in which there is greater autonomy, chaired and comprised only of individuals elected by Turks and Caicos Islanders, fully empowered to act on behalf of the people who elected us.
We aspire to move this country To the next level with a financial framework that is void of individuals such as a Chief Financial Officer with financial veto powers who are not elected by the people of these islands. As a man residing amongst our people, you will be judged by and your time in these islands will be honored by the honor you in turn show to the nation and the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Yes, we expect you to see to it that the UK Government honors their own commitment by removing the CFO position from the constitution and repeal of the CFO Ordinance. We have paid our debt, the UK Loan guarantee has been removed despite our funding of SIPT against our will, our macro-economic targets, to the disappointment of the UK Government are being met, and no justifiable reason exists in this modern day democracy for the UK government to continue to have not only financial oversight but financial veto powers and powers of appropriation in these islands or any other territory.
We have fulfilled our obligations, we have conformed to institutions of good governance even more stringent than those in the UK and have still achieved success for the people of this country despite being set up to fail. Now it is time for you to be honorable and return to the duly democratically elected government of the day, the autonomy to decide where, when and how we spend the people’s money on behalf of and for the people.
We intend to advance this nation To a higher level where elected officials can discuss and make decisions as equals on issues that impact the lives of the people of these islands rather than being dictated to via orders in council, adoption of conventions for our ratification under instructions, or by economic pressures from supranational authorities, be they policies on International Financial Centers, Environment or others. The views, concerns and lives of the people of these islands must matter.
We seek this equal partnership not for personal gain, nor for the acquisition of personal power.
We seek an equal partnership and greater autonomy because we fervently believe that regardless of the ideology or political affiliation Turks and Caicos Islanders have grown and evolved far beyond the current state of affairs.
We seek an equal partnership and greater autonomy because we believe that the people of Turks and Caicos have within our collective intellect, the ability to manage more of our own affairs.
We seek an equal partnership and greater autonomy because we believe that Turks and Caicos Islanders have within our hearts, the courage to carry our homeland into the future.
We seek an equal partnership and greater autonomy because we believe that Turks and Caicos Islanders have within our spirit, the character to work with the U.K., build with the UK and see a new, evolved relationship emerge that reflects the intellect, ability, courage and character of our people.
Governor, yes, like every other nation, like the UK, we make mistakes and we fall, but we get up and rise again to the next level stronger than before, learning from the mistakes of the past. We do not need any training wheels, we do not need any holding of hands, what we need are barriers to be removed, shackles to be removed, greater autonomy and equal partnership in the best interest of our people. Governor we are a resilient people, with a strong will to survive as we have for centuries despite the barriers and despite the setbacks, we will continue to rise to the next level.
Your excellency, I truly believe that you have joined us in a key moment of our history.
The moment when we decided to put our heads together, work together and build together a new partnership. A more equal partnership.
To quote Bruce Hafen an equal partnership is built “…one choice at a time, one conversation at a time, one threshold crossed at a time…”
Your excellency, you will find our islands to be welcoming, our people friendly and our country to be one of the most beautiful in the world. We hope that your stay with us will be one that you cherish for the rest of your life. On behalf of my government and the people of Turks and Caicos, we welcome you and wish you and your family well as we work together for the benefit of Turks and Caicos.
