http://www.rocketnews.com/2009/08/ex-turks-and-caicos-pm-accuses-uk/
Read the full story at the above link.
Here's a summary
" ...premier Galmo Williams said UK Foreign Office findings of "systematic corruption" must also reflect badly on the territory’s British governor.
Power was transferred to the governor on Friday, when the Caribbean colony’s administration was suspended.
The UK government had been threatening action for several months after an inquiry commissioned by the Foreign Office returned a damning verdict.
It examined the actions of the Turks’ Cabinet and Assembly and found "information in abundance pointing to a high probability of systematic corruption or serious dishonesty".
"It’s a very sad day – democracy has been taken away from the citizens""
Showing posts with label Islands. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Islands. Show all posts
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Newly ousted Premier of Turks and Caicos: "our country is being invaded and re-colonized by the United Kingdom"
The Current Premier, Hon. Galmo Williams released the following statement to the press in anticipation of the coming suspension of the constitution.
“My fellow Turks and Caicos Islanders, my days in office as your Premier and as the Representative in Parliament for all the people of Long Bay Hills are almost over, as I have every reason to believe that the much talked about coup that the Government of the United Kingdom has been planning for the Turks and Caicos Islands is about to be executed, but I assure you that my days of service to my country, will never be over.
In my life time I will never hold a position higher or take an oath more sacred than that of your Premier, but know too, that there is no title I will wear more proudly than that of citizen of these our Turks and Caicos Islands.
Let me at the outset publicly thank both my Cabinet and my Parliamentary colleagues (on both sides of the isle) and the hundreds of civil servants and political appointees and others with whom I have served over the last several years and in particular since I became your Premier last March, for the dedication and competence they have brought to the service of our country. But let me however express my deepest gratitude and thanks to the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands (particularly the people of Long Bay Hills), because it was you who gave me this great opportunity to serve.
During my time as Premier we have faced great challenges together, and we know that there will be greater challenges in our future, but I am convinced now more than ever that the Turks and Caicos Islands will successfully meet whatever challenge and uncertainty the future might bring, for as the grand children of slaves, left abandoned on these barren shores centuries ago, we, together with those who came later on, have turned these Islands into something that we can all be proud of, and indeed something that our once delinquent masters, have stated that they will do anything (“except a return to slavery”) to repossess.
Our government has brought more development to Turks and Caicos over the last six years than at any other time in our history. We have educated more of our people at university level than at any other time in our history. We have made more provisions for the health care and welfare of our people than at any other time in our history, and we have created for our country one of the most respected brands in the tourism industry the world over.
Despite these many accomplishments, however, this last year has been a challenging one for our country, one filled with set backs, but rather than cause me to loose heart, these setbacks over the last year has made me more certain than ever of the inner strength, the ingenuity and decency of our people, for, in this last year, we have watched our economy take tremendous body blows as the economy of the United
States to which it is linked, and indeed the world economy was brought to its knees. As we all know, these economic challenges could not have come at a worst time for of country, coming as it did at a time when our country was hit by two back to back devastating hurricanes, Hanna and Ike, in less than one week and coupled with this, we have also had to simultaneously withstand the negative impacts of a commission of inquiry.
And now, today, our country is being invaded and re-colonized by the United Kingdom, dismantling a duly elected government and legislature and replacing it with a one man dictatorship, akin to that of the old Red China, all in the name of good governance.
As the legitimately and duly elected leader of this country, I strongly object to the recommendations outlined in the Report of the Commission that the Governor now seeks to bring into force. I do not support permitting non-Belongers the right to vote, and I wish to go on record as stating that I am opposed to the recommendation of trial by judge alone rather then a trial by a jury of your peers. My government and I also object to the removal of the House of Assembly, thereby leaving the people of these Islands voiceless and without representation.
read entire press release:
http://www.tcfreepress.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&catid=13%3Afeatured-news&id=899%3Apremier-reacts-to-possible-suspension&Itemid=69
“My fellow Turks and Caicos Islanders, my days in office as your Premier and as the Representative in Parliament for all the people of Long Bay Hills are almost over, as I have every reason to believe that the much talked about coup that the Government of the United Kingdom has been planning for the Turks and Caicos Islands is about to be executed, but I assure you that my days of service to my country, will never be over.
In my life time I will never hold a position higher or take an oath more sacred than that of your Premier, but know too, that there is no title I will wear more proudly than that of citizen of these our Turks and Caicos Islands.
Let me at the outset publicly thank both my Cabinet and my Parliamentary colleagues (on both sides of the isle) and the hundreds of civil servants and political appointees and others with whom I have served over the last several years and in particular since I became your Premier last March, for the dedication and competence they have brought to the service of our country. But let me however express my deepest gratitude and thanks to the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands (particularly the people of Long Bay Hills), because it was you who gave me this great opportunity to serve.
During my time as Premier we have faced great challenges together, and we know that there will be greater challenges in our future, but I am convinced now more than ever that the Turks and Caicos Islands will successfully meet whatever challenge and uncertainty the future might bring, for as the grand children of slaves, left abandoned on these barren shores centuries ago, we, together with those who came later on, have turned these Islands into something that we can all be proud of, and indeed something that our once delinquent masters, have stated that they will do anything (“except a return to slavery”) to repossess.
Our government has brought more development to Turks and Caicos over the last six years than at any other time in our history. We have educated more of our people at university level than at any other time in our history. We have made more provisions for the health care and welfare of our people than at any other time in our history, and we have created for our country one of the most respected brands in the tourism industry the world over.
Despite these many accomplishments, however, this last year has been a challenging one for our country, one filled with set backs, but rather than cause me to loose heart, these setbacks over the last year has made me more certain than ever of the inner strength, the ingenuity and decency of our people, for, in this last year, we have watched our economy take tremendous body blows as the economy of the United
States to which it is linked, and indeed the world economy was brought to its knees. As we all know, these economic challenges could not have come at a worst time for of country, coming as it did at a time when our country was hit by two back to back devastating hurricanes, Hanna and Ike, in less than one week and coupled with this, we have also had to simultaneously withstand the negative impacts of a commission of inquiry.
And now, today, our country is being invaded and re-colonized by the United Kingdom, dismantling a duly elected government and legislature and replacing it with a one man dictatorship, akin to that of the old Red China, all in the name of good governance.
As the legitimately and duly elected leader of this country, I strongly object to the recommendations outlined in the Report of the Commission that the Governor now seeks to bring into force. I do not support permitting non-Belongers the right to vote, and I wish to go on record as stating that I am opposed to the recommendation of trial by judge alone rather then a trial by a jury of your peers. My government and I also object to the removal of the House of Assembly, thereby leaving the people of these Islands voiceless and without representation.
read entire press release:
http://www.tcfreepress.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&catid=13%3Afeatured-news&id=899%3Apremier-reacts-to-possible-suspension&Itemid=69
Friday, August 7, 2009
Crown land in Turks and Caicos, British rule threatens tourism and development
As the Islands of Turks and Caicos settles amidst the welcomed departure of Michael Misick, Turks and Caicos' former Premier, worries about Crown land deals threaten tourism on the Islands. Colonialism is dying, but it's not dead and Britain has clear designs to take over the self-governed territory of Turks and Caicos Islands.
Crown land is real estate or property owned by the government of Turks and Caicos Island. The government is the largest Crown landholder on the Islands. This makes Crown lands the government’s most valuable asset and this asset value has risen dramatically over recent years.
Commercial land development is one of the main purposes of Crown land use and sale. The Crown Land Policy is formulated to "attract investments judged best for the interest of TCI," as prescribed by The Turks and Caicos Islands, Crown Land Policy.
While certain developers have purchased Crown land and are in various stages of developing the real property, Britain's rule could hold these developers hostage within their own multi-million dollar projects, years of planning and promises of employment for many locals.
At the core of the movement to welcome British rule is a small but outspoken group of "Belongers," residents who were born in Turks and Caicos Islands.
According to the Crown Land Policy, a Belonger who is at least 21 years old can qualify for a discount on Crown Land.
Under the former Misick cabinet, several land developers were sold Crown land as encouraged under the Crown Land Policy and did so under the color of government authority.
However, this outspoken group of Belongers have been lobbying British Parliament dating back years, protesting their right to own Crown Land and expressing their dissatisfaction of developers' owning Crown land property. However, their efforts are misguided.
Under the Open Tendering provision of the Crown Land Policy, the government, "will identify potential development site(s) on every island, consistent with its development strategy. These sites will be actively marketed to prospective developers ..."
At the very soul of Turks and Caicos economy is tourism, certainly development is a requisite part of that in every way.
Now that Misick is no longer Premier of Turks and Caicos, some Belongers are reported to be exploiting this political situation by encouraging British rule, presumably to make legal standing for the return of Crown land and to attempt to thwart sales of Crown land to land developers.
However, this Crown Land Policy is not likely to change under British rule and the Belongers are unwittingly putting the future of Turks and Caicos in limbo for a period of at least 2 years should Britain take over. The prospect of Britain's interference would most certainly cause a stalemate in development, hence tourism revenues for the people of Turks and Caicos, which would be an unfortunate short-sighted plan for Crown land grabbers.
Without advancement of tourism and tourism revenues, Turks and Caicos will regress; this at a time when Turks and Caicos might be the only economy on the upswing. Again, the economic upswing is thanks to tourism dollars and resulting jobs.
Crown land is real estate or property owned by the government of Turks and Caicos Island. The government is the largest Crown landholder on the Islands. This makes Crown lands the government’s most valuable asset and this asset value has risen dramatically over recent years.
Commercial land development is one of the main purposes of Crown land use and sale. The Crown Land Policy is formulated to "attract investments judged best for the interest of TCI," as prescribed by The Turks and Caicos Islands, Crown Land Policy.
While certain developers have purchased Crown land and are in various stages of developing the real property, Britain's rule could hold these developers hostage within their own multi-million dollar projects, years of planning and promises of employment for many locals.
At the core of the movement to welcome British rule is a small but outspoken group of "Belongers," residents who were born in Turks and Caicos Islands.
According to the Crown Land Policy, a Belonger who is at least 21 years old can qualify for a discount on Crown Land.
Under the former Misick cabinet, several land developers were sold Crown land as encouraged under the Crown Land Policy and did so under the color of government authority.
However, this outspoken group of Belongers have been lobbying British Parliament dating back years, protesting their right to own Crown Land and expressing their dissatisfaction of developers' owning Crown land property. However, their efforts are misguided.
Under the Open Tendering provision of the Crown Land Policy, the government, "will identify potential development site(s) on every island, consistent with its development strategy. These sites will be actively marketed to prospective developers ..."
At the very soul of Turks and Caicos economy is tourism, certainly development is a requisite part of that in every way.
Now that Misick is no longer Premier of Turks and Caicos, some Belongers are reported to be exploiting this political situation by encouraging British rule, presumably to make legal standing for the return of Crown land and to attempt to thwart sales of Crown land to land developers.
However, this Crown Land Policy is not likely to change under British rule and the Belongers are unwittingly putting the future of Turks and Caicos in limbo for a period of at least 2 years should Britain take over. The prospect of Britain's interference would most certainly cause a stalemate in development, hence tourism revenues for the people of Turks and Caicos, which would be an unfortunate short-sighted plan for Crown land grabbers.
Without advancement of tourism and tourism revenues, Turks and Caicos will regress; this at a time when Turks and Caicos might be the only economy on the upswing. Again, the economic upswing is thanks to tourism dollars and resulting jobs.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
TCI Journal and Shaun Malcolm of Turks and Caicos revealed
TCI Journal vs Dellis Cay as editor revealed
Published on Tuesday, July 28, 2009
On Monday, July 27, the “editors of the TCI Journal” posted an extensive article documenting what they claim are unfounded attacks on the weblog by Dr Cem Kinay, the developer of Dellis Cay.
Kinay was successful in his initial application to the TCI Supreme Court to have references to himself and the Dellis Cay development redacted from the Final Report of the Commission of Inquiry. However, due to an apparent oversight, it was found that the report in its redacted format could be restored to its original unredacted form by computer users with the knowledge to do so.
The TCI Journal article goes back and forth between the claims of Dr Kinay and the TCI Journal personnel and there appears to be some confusion as to the true identity of writers and editors of the TCI Journal. What the Journal describes as “the necessary anonymity of some of the Journal’s contributors” has been a point which has drawn attention to the publication in recent months. It is unclear why the editors and contributors to this particular website, with a few exceptions, believe they need to maintain anonymity and they have yet to explain their reasons.
The website ostensibly promotes openness while at the same time keeping the identities of the editors and contributors secret. In a very recent article posted by one of the original and few publicly revealed contributors Shaun Malcolm, he supports transparency. Another frequent contributor, Richard Berke, who is mentioned in the article, is an American who reports he has been visiting the islands since the mid to late 1980s. Currently, he has been visiting while he has been having a home constructed. Berke claims he is a contractor from California. Berke has claimed on a number of occasions that threats, including death threats, have been forwarded to him via cell phone text messages. Contributor “Diana de Gara” has been reported by Berke to be a fictitious name and at this time her true identity has never been revealed to the public. It is unknown if she is a TCI national or expatriate. Shaun Malcolm has been associated with the TCI Journal since it first appeared online briefly in December 2007.
Malcolm has been referred to by many of his acquaintances as a political opportunist. He has been active in both political parties and has openly criticised both, with current overtures reportedly being made by him to the British authorities. Malcolm has also claimed he has received threats via text messages. For the first time, however, a Gurchuran Singh has been identified by the website. Sources within the TCI have long reported that, in fact, Singh is the singular motivating force behind the Journal and that he has made representations to this effect to numerous persons of note in the TCI.
Numerous articles over the name “editors” or GS and other initials are usually attributed to him. Singh’s history is incomplete but the following information has been obtained from a variety of sources. Singh is now 49 or 50 years old and it appears that he was born in India but his family moved to Canada when he was young. His TCI history traced to date places him in Provo in the mid to late 1980s, where he was writing software. Later, he formed a company known as Norbellis to buy about 17 acres west of the Blue Horizon Resort on Middle Caicos, which was to be a computer lab or think tank business (non- profit).
Plans were drawn, TCI Invest and many others were stirred up by it but nothing came of it, as it appeared he had no funding. Unknown to anyone except the private seller, he did buy 7/10 acres consisting of two lots at Blue Horizon. These are currently in default on a large mortgage owed to Meridian Mortgage of Provo.
They are reportedly held by Singh in the name of a firm called Natures Way. In 1998, Singh founded a company known as IQ Ludorum in the UK to create gaming software to support in-house and online gambling enterprises. Initial success put the firm up to 80 employees with 50 percent of the market by May 2003. Reports relating to Singh and his company’s position as a key supplier facilitating gambling houses and online gambling have been posted over the years. After the company went public, when it appears Singh raised millions of dollars, the company went downhill. It appears that following a public offering Singh lost stock control and the company fell on hard times.
At one point, in an online article, the company was reported to have “blown it” as related to its chance to continue to hold a strong market share. The board of directors fired Singh in February 2005. The company is now know as Continuum Payment Solutions and, with Singh gone, has re-emerged as a software entity. It is unknown if Singh still has holdings in that firm. Singh reportedly resides in Miami with his wife, a TCI national.
Paradoxically, Malcolm, who is said to be very close to the gambling software developer Singh, was part of a pastors’ parade in Provo in 2007 when the church leaders were protesting the expansion of local casinos to allow locals to legally engage in gambling. Observers of the parade claim that at one point Malcolm took over a poster and led the protest parade.
Published on Tuesday, July 28, 2009
On Monday, July 27, the “editors of the TCI Journal” posted an extensive article documenting what they claim are unfounded attacks on the weblog by Dr Cem Kinay, the developer of Dellis Cay.
Kinay was successful in his initial application to the TCI Supreme Court to have references to himself and the Dellis Cay development redacted from the Final Report of the Commission of Inquiry. However, due to an apparent oversight, it was found that the report in its redacted format could be restored to its original unredacted form by computer users with the knowledge to do so.
The TCI Journal article goes back and forth between the claims of Dr Kinay and the TCI Journal personnel and there appears to be some confusion as to the true identity of writers and editors of the TCI Journal. What the Journal describes as “the necessary anonymity of some of the Journal’s contributors” has been a point which has drawn attention to the publication in recent months. It is unclear why the editors and contributors to this particular website, with a few exceptions, believe they need to maintain anonymity and they have yet to explain their reasons.
The website ostensibly promotes openness while at the same time keeping the identities of the editors and contributors secret. In a very recent article posted by one of the original and few publicly revealed contributors Shaun Malcolm, he supports transparency. Another frequent contributor, Richard Berke, who is mentioned in the article, is an American who reports he has been visiting the islands since the mid to late 1980s. Currently, he has been visiting while he has been having a home constructed. Berke claims he is a contractor from California. Berke has claimed on a number of occasions that threats, including death threats, have been forwarded to him via cell phone text messages. Contributor “Diana de Gara” has been reported by Berke to be a fictitious name and at this time her true identity has never been revealed to the public. It is unknown if she is a TCI national or expatriate. Shaun Malcolm has been associated with the TCI Journal since it first appeared online briefly in December 2007.
Malcolm has been referred to by many of his acquaintances as a political opportunist. He has been active in both political parties and has openly criticised both, with current overtures reportedly being made by him to the British authorities. Malcolm has also claimed he has received threats via text messages. For the first time, however, a Gurchuran Singh has been identified by the website. Sources within the TCI have long reported that, in fact, Singh is the singular motivating force behind the Journal and that he has made representations to this effect to numerous persons of note in the TCI.
Numerous articles over the name “editors” or GS and other initials are usually attributed to him. Singh’s history is incomplete but the following information has been obtained from a variety of sources. Singh is now 49 or 50 years old and it appears that he was born in India but his family moved to Canada when he was young. His TCI history traced to date places him in Provo in the mid to late 1980s, where he was writing software. Later, he formed a company known as Norbellis to buy about 17 acres west of the Blue Horizon Resort on Middle Caicos, which was to be a computer lab or think tank business (non- profit).
Plans were drawn, TCI Invest and many others were stirred up by it but nothing came of it, as it appeared he had no funding. Unknown to anyone except the private seller, he did buy 7/10 acres consisting of two lots at Blue Horizon. These are currently in default on a large mortgage owed to Meridian Mortgage of Provo.
They are reportedly held by Singh in the name of a firm called Natures Way. In 1998, Singh founded a company known as IQ Ludorum in the UK to create gaming software to support in-house and online gambling enterprises. Initial success put the firm up to 80 employees with 50 percent of the market by May 2003. Reports relating to Singh and his company’s position as a key supplier facilitating gambling houses and online gambling have been posted over the years. After the company went public, when it appears Singh raised millions of dollars, the company went downhill. It appears that following a public offering Singh lost stock control and the company fell on hard times.
At one point, in an online article, the company was reported to have “blown it” as related to its chance to continue to hold a strong market share. The board of directors fired Singh in February 2005. The company is now know as Continuum Payment Solutions and, with Singh gone, has re-emerged as a software entity. It is unknown if Singh still has holdings in that firm. Singh reportedly resides in Miami with his wife, a TCI national.
Paradoxically, Malcolm, who is said to be very close to the gambling software developer Singh, was part of a pastors’ parade in Provo in 2007 when the church leaders were protesting the expansion of local casinos to allow locals to legally engage in gambling. Observers of the parade claim that at one point Malcolm took over a poster and led the protest parade.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
http://www.bvinews.com/index.php/all_news/caribbean/3285.html
GRAND TURK, Turks and Caicos Islands; Thursday, July 23rd, 2009 –
“On 18 June 2009 my attorney made the following statement on my behalf to the Chief Justice – Until the final determination of any appeal to the Court of Appeal (when the question shall be reviewed) the Governor will not publish any part of the final Report of the Commission of Inquiry that contains any reference adverse to Cem Kinay, Turks Development LP, The Star Lions Limited, or to Mario Hoffmann.
In a letter dated 2 July 2009 written on my behalf to attorneys acting for Varet Jak Civre the Honourable Attorney General said –I confirm, that there will not be publication by the Governor of any part of the final Report of the Commission of Inquiry that contains any reference adverse to your client before final determination of the Court of Appeal in civil appeal no. 8/09 R v. Turks and Caicos Islands Commission of Inquiry Ex Parte Kinay et al…At the time that those statements were made and at all times thereafter I fully intended to comply with what had been said, and fully intended to ensure that those who acted on my behalf would comply with what had been said.
It is now common knowledge that the redacted version of the report that was placed on the Commission’s website on Saturday 18 July 2009 was not sufficiently protected so that those with sufficient technical knowledge were able to remove the redactions and thus reveal the full text of the report. The statements made on my behalf to the Chief Justice and to Mr Civre’s attorneys have therefore not been complied with.I have caused an investigation to be made so as to establish what went wrong. The purpose of this statement is to provide the results of that investigation. But before giving them I wish to apologise unreservedly to the court for what has happened.
I shall contact Dr Kinay, Mr Hoffmann and Mr Civre privately to make similar apologies to each of them. My intention at all times was to comply with the statements that I made. Both I and those acting on my behalf believed that the redacted version of the report that was sent to the Commission to be uploaded onto its website was sufficiently protected so that redacted portions of the report could not be read.
I am very sorry that that was not the case.As would be expected, I sought advice before deciding what passages should be redacted from the report that it was intended to publish pending the outcome of the Court of Appeal proceedings. Acting on that advice a draft of the redacted version of the report was prepared. At that stage the document was being worked on in Word format. It was recognised that if the redactions were to remain secure we would not be able to publish the redacted version in a Word format but that some form of protection, such as converting the document to pdf format, would be required.A Word document containing the draft of the redacted version of the report was converted into pdf format.
The converted pdf document was then reviewed to confirm that the redactions originally made in the Word document remained in place. To be certain that it would be safe for the redacted report to be published in pdf format, it was suggested by those advising on redactions that confirmation of the position be sought from IT support.The instruction was to determine whether this format [that is, the pdf format] is secure (i.e. people won’t be able to remove the redactions and see the text underneath). Acting on that instruction, a member of staff spoke to the IT support and was informed that there was no experience of security issues when publishing in pdf format, and that the pdf format was widely used by UK government departments generally for the publication of documents.
Confirmation that pdf documents were secure was then relayed back to those preparing the redacted text on my behalf.We therefore believed that publication in pdf format would be secure and would ensure compliance with the statements that had been made on my behalf.Thereafter the final redacted version of the report was converted into a pdf document and that pdf was then sent to the Commission for publication on its website. The Commission instructed its IT consultant to place the redacted report in pdf format on its website. That was done.
At the time that the redacted report was published on the Commission’s website we all believed that it was secure and that the redactions could not be uncovered. As soon as we were alerted to the true position the Honourable Attorney General initiated steps to have the redacted report removed from the website. It was removed as soon as was possible.It was always my intention that the spirit and letter of the statements that were made on my behalf should be honoured in full.
We believed that we had taken all reasonable steps to ensure that that was the case. I am very sorry that that was not achieved and repeat my apology to the court. As I have said, I shall write separately to Dr Kinay, Mr Hoffmann and Mr Civre.”Gordon WetherellWaterlooGrand Turk
END
GRAND TURK, Turks and Caicos Islands; Thursday, July 23rd, 2009 –
“On 18 June 2009 my attorney made the following statement on my behalf to the Chief Justice – Until the final determination of any appeal to the Court of Appeal (when the question shall be reviewed) the Governor will not publish any part of the final Report of the Commission of Inquiry that contains any reference adverse to Cem Kinay, Turks Development LP, The Star Lions Limited, or to Mario Hoffmann.
In a letter dated 2 July 2009 written on my behalf to attorneys acting for Varet Jak Civre the Honourable Attorney General said –I confirm, that there will not be publication by the Governor of any part of the final Report of the Commission of Inquiry that contains any reference adverse to your client before final determination of the Court of Appeal in civil appeal no. 8/09 R v. Turks and Caicos Islands Commission of Inquiry Ex Parte Kinay et al…At the time that those statements were made and at all times thereafter I fully intended to comply with what had been said, and fully intended to ensure that those who acted on my behalf would comply with what had been said.
It is now common knowledge that the redacted version of the report that was placed on the Commission’s website on Saturday 18 July 2009 was not sufficiently protected so that those with sufficient technical knowledge were able to remove the redactions and thus reveal the full text of the report. The statements made on my behalf to the Chief Justice and to Mr Civre’s attorneys have therefore not been complied with.I have caused an investigation to be made so as to establish what went wrong. The purpose of this statement is to provide the results of that investigation. But before giving them I wish to apologise unreservedly to the court for what has happened.
I shall contact Dr Kinay, Mr Hoffmann and Mr Civre privately to make similar apologies to each of them. My intention at all times was to comply with the statements that I made. Both I and those acting on my behalf believed that the redacted version of the report that was sent to the Commission to be uploaded onto its website was sufficiently protected so that redacted portions of the report could not be read.
I am very sorry that that was not the case.As would be expected, I sought advice before deciding what passages should be redacted from the report that it was intended to publish pending the outcome of the Court of Appeal proceedings. Acting on that advice a draft of the redacted version of the report was prepared. At that stage the document was being worked on in Word format. It was recognised that if the redactions were to remain secure we would not be able to publish the redacted version in a Word format but that some form of protection, such as converting the document to pdf format, would be required.A Word document containing the draft of the redacted version of the report was converted into pdf format.
The converted pdf document was then reviewed to confirm that the redactions originally made in the Word document remained in place. To be certain that it would be safe for the redacted report to be published in pdf format, it was suggested by those advising on redactions that confirmation of the position be sought from IT support.The instruction was to determine whether this format [that is, the pdf format] is secure (i.e. people won’t be able to remove the redactions and see the text underneath). Acting on that instruction, a member of staff spoke to the IT support and was informed that there was no experience of security issues when publishing in pdf format, and that the pdf format was widely used by UK government departments generally for the publication of documents.
Confirmation that pdf documents were secure was then relayed back to those preparing the redacted text on my behalf.We therefore believed that publication in pdf format would be secure and would ensure compliance with the statements that had been made on my behalf.Thereafter the final redacted version of the report was converted into a pdf document and that pdf was then sent to the Commission for publication on its website. The Commission instructed its IT consultant to place the redacted report in pdf format on its website. That was done.
At the time that the redacted report was published on the Commission’s website we all believed that it was secure and that the redactions could not be uncovered. As soon as we were alerted to the true position the Honourable Attorney General initiated steps to have the redacted report removed from the website. It was removed as soon as was possible.It was always my intention that the spirit and letter of the statements that were made on my behalf should be honoured in full.
We believed that we had taken all reasonable steps to ensure that that was the case. I am very sorry that that was not achieved and repeat my apology to the court. As I have said, I shall write separately to Dr Kinay, Mr Hoffmann and Mr Civre.”Gordon WetherellWaterlooGrand Turk
END
Governor of Turks and Caicos apologizes to land developers for being named in Michael Misick corruption report
August 1, 2009 published BY CMC
Originally published: July 23, 2009 02:11:00 PM
http://www.suntci.com/index.php?p=story&id=264
PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands, CMC - Shrinking revenues have forced the government of this British Overseas Territory to terminate the services of political appointees, Premier Galmore Williams has announced.
Williams said Thursday that the decision taken on the advice of the Ministry of Finance will result in the discontinuation of the services of all political appointees, effective September 30, 2009.He said the move has become necessary to “better enable government to work within the constraints of its ever shrinking revenue intake which has gone from an average of approximately USD$18 million per month last year to approximately some USD$9 million per month this year”.Williams said regrets having to take such action, having wrestled long and hard with the issue. However, he expected the move to provide the government with room to implement measures to stimulate the economy, which has been slowing in recent months.“Coupled with the other measures that we have put in place and others yet to be implemented, this course of action will assure us of the opportunity to turn around our economy in the quickest possible time, while lessening the impact that the current worldwide recession will otherwise have on our wider community,” he said.The Premier also said efforts were being made to ensure that as many of the affected individuals as possible are given other job opportunities before the end of September.The Turks and Caicos government faces an uncertain future, with the British government preparing to suspend the territory’s constitution and implement direct rule after a Commission of Inquiry probing widespread allegations of corruption under the watch of former Premier Michael Misick said it had found "clear signs of political amorality and immaturity and of general administrative incompetence".
http://www.suntci.com/index.php?p=story&id=264
Originally published: July 23, 2009 02:11:00 PM
http://www.suntci.com/index.php?p=story&id=264
PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands, CMC - Shrinking revenues have forced the government of this British Overseas Territory to terminate the services of political appointees, Premier Galmore Williams has announced.
Williams said Thursday that the decision taken on the advice of the Ministry of Finance will result in the discontinuation of the services of all political appointees, effective September 30, 2009.He said the move has become necessary to “better enable government to work within the constraints of its ever shrinking revenue intake which has gone from an average of approximately USD$18 million per month last year to approximately some USD$9 million per month this year”.Williams said regrets having to take such action, having wrestled long and hard with the issue. However, he expected the move to provide the government with room to implement measures to stimulate the economy, which has been slowing in recent months.“Coupled with the other measures that we have put in place and others yet to be implemented, this course of action will assure us of the opportunity to turn around our economy in the quickest possible time, while lessening the impact that the current worldwide recession will otherwise have on our wider community,” he said.The Premier also said efforts were being made to ensure that as many of the affected individuals as possible are given other job opportunities before the end of September.The Turks and Caicos government faces an uncertain future, with the British government preparing to suspend the territory’s constitution and implement direct rule after a Commission of Inquiry probing widespread allegations of corruption under the watch of former Premier Michael Misick said it had found "clear signs of political amorality and immaturity and of general administrative incompetence".
http://www.suntci.com/index.php?p=story&id=264
UK's direct rule over Turks and Caicos?
BY Trudy Simpson "Is Colonialism Really Dead?"
Trudy Simpson asks whether Britain’s plan to restore direct rule over Turks and Caicos Islands amounts to ‘modern-day colonialism’ THE TURKS and Caicos Islands (TCI) face losing the right to govern key areas if Britain goes ahead with its plan to suspend the Caribbean territory’s constitution and take direct control of day-to-day government operations.
UK government ministers, Foreign Office officials and the TCI’s governor are now considering the final report of a UK-led Commission of Inquiry, which found a high probability of ‘systemic corruption’ and misuse of public funds in the British dependency.
But current TCI Premier Galmo Williams, and his predecessor, Michael Misick, have accused Britain of exerting ‘the strong arm of modern-day colonialism.’
Galmo has been fighting against the takeover, taking a last ditch appeal to the UK’s High Court. The UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has rejected the colonialism accusations. ‘This would not be a shift to indefinite direct rule (but) would be an act of constitutional significance in order to restore the principles of good governance.
‘It would be for an interim period which would last no longer than it takes for the necessary reforms to be implemented, and to take effect,” the FCO told The Voice. It added: ‘The Governor would consult with Turks and Caicos Islanders throughout this period, including through the bodies which would be put in place to replace the Cabinet and House of Assembly, ie the Consultative Forum and the Advisory Council. ‘The Forum is intended to ensure that the voice of the people will continue to be heard.’ But in the minds of some, thoughts of colonialism may still linger, harking back to the decades when Caribbean territories lived under the colonial yoke of the British Empire.
Under colonialism, Caribbeans were dependent on and had no say in critical decisions which impacted on their daily lives. These were decided by foreigners in London. After the 1950s, many Caribbean countries opted for independence, but territories such as the Turks and Caicos, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands and several Dutch and French-speaking Caribbean countries were forced or opted to remain overseas dependent territories.
That direct dependency has had harsh consequences for some. For example, in the 1960s, Britain evicted the inhabitants of its dependent territory, Diego Garcia, so Britain could honour a deal with the Americans to build a military base on the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean. In 2001, 35 years later, the people and their descendants, trapped in poverty in Mauritian slums, took the UK to court to try to go back to their homeland. While the UK’s treatment of its dependencies has changed a lot since then, the TCI’s case – the second time the UK has intervened in the country’s operations since the mid-1980s – does bring up the question of whether Britain’s action is a form of modern-day colonialism.
Dr Peter Clegg, a senior lecturer in politics at West of England University, told The Voice that although colonialism is not dead, Britain’s actions regarding the TCI should not be confused with modern colonialism. “I can understand the argument that this is neo-colonialism or a new form of colonialism, but the issues are so fundamental to the island that the British government did not have much choice but to react in the way they are doing,” Clegg said.
The Foreign Office also dismissed claims that it is hypocritical to intervene in the TCI when many of the UK’s MPs have also been caught misspending taxpayer money. It said: ‘The expenses crisis in no way affects the UK's strong stance internationally on the importance of democratic politics, accountable government and anti-corruption. What you see in the UK is a political system that has recognised that something is wrong, and is working to deal with it.’ Clegg agreed, adding: “I think the TCI accusations are so serious and so fundamental to the operation of the islands and the government that an external power, in this case the UK, has to step in to deal with the underlying issues.”
Clegg, who is part of a Caribbean Politics Specialist Group, said Britain’s overall control, enshrined in the TCI’s constitution, is rarely used. “It’s their right to do it but this use of British power is very rare and they do this very reluctantly. The UK has a legal and financial responsibility for the territories, and an obligation to ensure that operations run properly in its dependent territories.” Patrick Bryan, Professor of history at the University of the West Indies (UWI) in Kingston, Jamaica, said the TCI agreed to this by remaining a ‘colony’ of Britain. “If they are a colony of Britain, how can they decide that Britain isn’t going to do this to them? It seems to me that the people in the Turks and Caicos cannot behave independently and still be a colony. They are not independent. Colonialism never died in the Turks and Caicos and this is one of the consequences of it,” he told The Voice. Clegg explained that the TCI – which has a small and close-knit population of 32,000 – need outside intervention because any reforms undertaken by the government, with its lack of proper division between the executive and the legislature, could be later questioned. He added that the UK faces difficulty because the nature of governance between the UK and its territories is “not very clear cut in reality.”
Clegg said this was illustrated recently when the UK chided Bermuda for not consulting Britain over the island’s acceptance of four former Guantanamo Bay prisoners. Bermuda, which controls immigration, accepted the former terror suspects on those grounds. But the UK said it should have been consulted because this was also a matter of security, which the UK controls. “…You have a clash and some uncertainty as to where the lines of power and authority rests,” Clegg explained. Both Bryan and Clegg said colonialism is still alive in the modern Caribbean. Bryan said this colonialism spreads beyond the existence of dependent territories like the TCI to encompass forms of neo-colonialism, where trade and other agreements with industrialised countries and former colonial masters keep sovereign Caribbean countries such as Jamaica as dependent as they were pre-1960s.
“Our economies are as dependent on the industrialised world as they have been under colonialism. It’s simply a continuation of the old economic controls,” Bryan said. Both men said that the only way forward in the fight against neo-colonialism is regional integration, which faces major obstacles.
“There would need to be far more cooperation and dialogue so that we don’t always find ourselves subject to the divide and rule pattern that we have seen all these years. If each nation or each group of nations seek a solution in its own right, there won’t be a solution in the long term,” Bryan said. Direct link to the original story: http://www.voice-online.co.uk/content.php?show=15790
Trudy Simpson asks whether Britain’s plan to restore direct rule over Turks and Caicos Islands amounts to ‘modern-day colonialism’ THE TURKS and Caicos Islands (TCI) face losing the right to govern key areas if Britain goes ahead with its plan to suspend the Caribbean territory’s constitution and take direct control of day-to-day government operations.
UK government ministers, Foreign Office officials and the TCI’s governor are now considering the final report of a UK-led Commission of Inquiry, which found a high probability of ‘systemic corruption’ and misuse of public funds in the British dependency.
But current TCI Premier Galmo Williams, and his predecessor, Michael Misick, have accused Britain of exerting ‘the strong arm of modern-day colonialism.’
Galmo has been fighting against the takeover, taking a last ditch appeal to the UK’s High Court. The UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has rejected the colonialism accusations. ‘This would not be a shift to indefinite direct rule (but) would be an act of constitutional significance in order to restore the principles of good governance.
‘It would be for an interim period which would last no longer than it takes for the necessary reforms to be implemented, and to take effect,” the FCO told The Voice. It added: ‘The Governor would consult with Turks and Caicos Islanders throughout this period, including through the bodies which would be put in place to replace the Cabinet and House of Assembly, ie the Consultative Forum and the Advisory Council. ‘The Forum is intended to ensure that the voice of the people will continue to be heard.’ But in the minds of some, thoughts of colonialism may still linger, harking back to the decades when Caribbean territories lived under the colonial yoke of the British Empire.
Under colonialism, Caribbeans were dependent on and had no say in critical decisions which impacted on their daily lives. These were decided by foreigners in London. After the 1950s, many Caribbean countries opted for independence, but territories such as the Turks and Caicos, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands and several Dutch and French-speaking Caribbean countries were forced or opted to remain overseas dependent territories.
That direct dependency has had harsh consequences for some. For example, in the 1960s, Britain evicted the inhabitants of its dependent territory, Diego Garcia, so Britain could honour a deal with the Americans to build a military base on the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean. In 2001, 35 years later, the people and their descendants, trapped in poverty in Mauritian slums, took the UK to court to try to go back to their homeland. While the UK’s treatment of its dependencies has changed a lot since then, the TCI’s case – the second time the UK has intervened in the country’s operations since the mid-1980s – does bring up the question of whether Britain’s action is a form of modern-day colonialism.
Dr Peter Clegg, a senior lecturer in politics at West of England University, told The Voice that although colonialism is not dead, Britain’s actions regarding the TCI should not be confused with modern colonialism. “I can understand the argument that this is neo-colonialism or a new form of colonialism, but the issues are so fundamental to the island that the British government did not have much choice but to react in the way they are doing,” Clegg said.
The Foreign Office also dismissed claims that it is hypocritical to intervene in the TCI when many of the UK’s MPs have also been caught misspending taxpayer money. It said: ‘The expenses crisis in no way affects the UK's strong stance internationally on the importance of democratic politics, accountable government and anti-corruption. What you see in the UK is a political system that has recognised that something is wrong, and is working to deal with it.’ Clegg agreed, adding: “I think the TCI accusations are so serious and so fundamental to the operation of the islands and the government that an external power, in this case the UK, has to step in to deal with the underlying issues.”
Clegg, who is part of a Caribbean Politics Specialist Group, said Britain’s overall control, enshrined in the TCI’s constitution, is rarely used. “It’s their right to do it but this use of British power is very rare and they do this very reluctantly. The UK has a legal and financial responsibility for the territories, and an obligation to ensure that operations run properly in its dependent territories.” Patrick Bryan, Professor of history at the University of the West Indies (UWI) in Kingston, Jamaica, said the TCI agreed to this by remaining a ‘colony’ of Britain. “If they are a colony of Britain, how can they decide that Britain isn’t going to do this to them? It seems to me that the people in the Turks and Caicos cannot behave independently and still be a colony. They are not independent. Colonialism never died in the Turks and Caicos and this is one of the consequences of it,” he told The Voice. Clegg explained that the TCI – which has a small and close-knit population of 32,000 – need outside intervention because any reforms undertaken by the government, with its lack of proper division between the executive and the legislature, could be later questioned. He added that the UK faces difficulty because the nature of governance between the UK and its territories is “not very clear cut in reality.”
Clegg said this was illustrated recently when the UK chided Bermuda for not consulting Britain over the island’s acceptance of four former Guantanamo Bay prisoners. Bermuda, which controls immigration, accepted the former terror suspects on those grounds. But the UK said it should have been consulted because this was also a matter of security, which the UK controls. “…You have a clash and some uncertainty as to where the lines of power and authority rests,” Clegg explained. Both Bryan and Clegg said colonialism is still alive in the modern Caribbean. Bryan said this colonialism spreads beyond the existence of dependent territories like the TCI to encompass forms of neo-colonialism, where trade and other agreements with industrialised countries and former colonial masters keep sovereign Caribbean countries such as Jamaica as dependent as they were pre-1960s.
“Our economies are as dependent on the industrialised world as they have been under colonialism. It’s simply a continuation of the old economic controls,” Bryan said. Both men said that the only way forward in the fight against neo-colonialism is regional integration, which faces major obstacles.
“There would need to be far more cooperation and dialogue so that we don’t always find ourselves subject to the divide and rule pattern that we have seen all these years. If each nation or each group of nations seek a solution in its own right, there won’t be a solution in the long term,” Bryan said. Direct link to the original story: http://www.voice-online.co.uk/content.php?show=15790
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