By: Denny G.
It’s commonsense that the members of UK parliament should be smart cookies who are up on their current events. They can’t be oblivious to what is going on in their own territory with the withholding of our local elections and democracy. Turks Islanders are not taking UK abuse laying down anymore. Nobody in parliament is listening to us and we need to wake them up.
God knows that the [installed] British interim government is not listening to us. That's when we turned our attention to parliament and the foreign affairs committee to get someone to listen to us. But what we hear back is stuff like what Lord Nigel Jones told the TCWeekly. He said that we need to work with the British interim government before we can have elections and democracy. Excuse me, but that’s assbackwards. Lord Nigel Jones is saying that we have to work with the corrupt British interim government to stabilize our economy and correct government malfeasance. Excuse me, the British interim government is who destroyed our economy and if they don’t have government malfeasance fixed by now after two years of direct rule then they have proven incompetence or are purposely stonewalling us. Some of us believe that the British interim government is causing the malfeasance on purpose.
You know, I am sorely disappointed in the UK government. We were patient and helpful for a long time. We were trusting that they wanted to help. But the UK government is taking advantage of us and playing games with us. Lord Nigel Jones knows what he is talking about and he knows that Turks Islanders have been sucker punched. He has traded sides from his former position of going to bat for us. That really hurts.
It also really hurts that the UK is not looking out for our best interests. They are playing every trick up their proverbial sleeve to find a way for this draft constitution to bypass our approval. It’s out of order for us to trust the UK who took our democracy from us to start with. Now there is proof out there of some kind of health care deal and developer contracts that is driving the UK to be installed in Turks and Caicos. Our faith in the UK is gone. How can we let the UK govern us on any level even if it’s only as a territory supervisory level? We need independence just to keep the UK armed robbers from our doors.
What also really hurts is that it took the president of the United States to speak of our rights. When Barack Obama made that speech that the territories have a right to self determination and democracy, the camera turned to William Hague who looked angry at the president’s statement. They have no compassion for what they have done to us, only contempt.
We got the short stick being imprisoned by UK politics. They have turned against us and blame us for why we are suffering losses of rights and freedoms. Only abusers do that. It reminds me of a battered wife who is beaten by her husband and she’s blamed because “she had it coming”.
Showing posts with label economy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label economy. Show all posts
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Local Leader Calls UK's Lack of Financial Assistance to Turks and Caicos, "Disrespectful"
By: The Turks and Caicos Sun News
Local businessman Albray Butterfield Jnr. Is strongly criticising Britain’s involvement in an economic bailout package for Portugal that has been approved by European Union (EU) finance ministers and which includes a £4.2 billion contribution from Britain.
“As a proud Turks and Caicos Islander, I find this latest revelation very offensive, prejudice and disrespectful,” Albray said in a short commentary to the SUN.
“The issue that I have found so offensive... is the outright blatant hypocrisy and prejudice displayed internationally by the UK Government towards the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI),” Albray said. “Since taking control of the TCI by the UK Government in 2009 (which at the time, was a long overdue and necessary intervention that I undeniably supported), the UK Government has allowed the citizens and the economy of the TCI to further suffer and fall deeper into bankruptcy by announcing to the world within days of taking over that: "...the UK Government will not be taking the British Tax Payers Money to bail-out the Turks and Caicos Islands..." -Mr. Colin Roberts of the UK FCO. (Which I might add is a UK Territory and a situation in which the OVERSEER’S /UK Government is part responsible for the social and economic state-of-affair the TCI found itself in 2009).”
Butterfield continued: “Fast forwarding to 2011, to now have exposed to the world that while the UK Government was saying NO to bailing-out the TCI (their own territory) for a measly and up to $400 million (if you include the prevention of TCI Bank Limited from collapsing, and a few much need infrastructure projects such as the construction of new public school buildings, etc), the UK Government was simultaneously negotiating with the IMF a £67.5 billion bail-out package for the country of Portugal (a non UK territory) of which the UK is contributing £4.2 billion towards Portugal's bail-out.”
The £67.75 billion package, subject to strict austerity measures agreed by Lisbon, is the second to commit the UK to financial guarantees which will only be called upon if Portugal defaults on the loans it raises thanks to the EU-IMF combined bailout deal.
Local businessman Albray Butterfield Jnr. Is strongly criticising Britain’s involvement in an economic bailout package for Portugal that has been approved by European Union (EU) finance ministers and which includes a £4.2 billion contribution from Britain.
“As a proud Turks and Caicos Islander, I find this latest revelation very offensive, prejudice and disrespectful,” Albray said in a short commentary to the SUN.
“The issue that I have found so offensive... is the outright blatant hypocrisy and prejudice displayed internationally by the UK Government towards the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI),” Albray said. “Since taking control of the TCI by the UK Government in 2009 (which at the time, was a long overdue and necessary intervention that I undeniably supported), the UK Government has allowed the citizens and the economy of the TCI to further suffer and fall deeper into bankruptcy by announcing to the world within days of taking over that: "...the UK Government will not be taking the British Tax Payers Money to bail-out the Turks and Caicos Islands..." -Mr. Colin Roberts of the UK FCO. (Which I might add is a UK Territory and a situation in which the OVERSEER’S /UK Government is part responsible for the social and economic state-of-affair the TCI found itself in 2009).”
Butterfield continued: “Fast forwarding to 2011, to now have exposed to the world that while the UK Government was saying NO to bailing-out the TCI (their own territory) for a measly and up to $400 million (if you include the prevention of TCI Bank Limited from collapsing, and a few much need infrastructure projects such as the construction of new public school buildings, etc), the UK Government was simultaneously negotiating with the IMF a £67.5 billion bail-out package for the country of Portugal (a non UK territory) of which the UK is contributing £4.2 billion towards Portugal's bail-out.”
The £67.75 billion package, subject to strict austerity measures agreed by Lisbon, is the second to commit the UK to financial guarantees which will only be called upon if Portugal defaults on the loans it raises thanks to the EU-IMF combined bailout deal.
Friday, May 20, 2011
"We are hurting" Citizen of Turks and Caicos Explains Conditions Under UK Occupation
Everybody talking about the new British constitution we all reject. We talk about the corruption investigation that has kept us locked up in British occupation for two years [no arrests have been made after 2 years]. We talk about referendum is needed to pass British constitution and all we get are town hall meetings. We talk about our loss of democracy and intimidation against anyone who speak against the British.
I want to talk about a different problem. What about our financial hurting? We are locked in our country and forced the pay the high price of living that we are all familiar with because it is a tourist destination. No lie, a gallon of milk costs $10.00. How much does it cost in the US about $4.00? Everything is like that our gas, our food, housing. It is out of control. The high cost of living is hurting us. I know people in my own family who had to have utilities cut off to pay for food.
The British are doing nothing to help us. If we were UK citizens so many of us would have welfare by now, food stamps or any assistance. But the British ignoring us in our own country that they took from us. Where are we going to go? Nowhere. We are stuck.
Why they need to give us our country back because when we were running our own affairs we had a great economy. Our local business was doing good. The UK is now laying off our civil service, closing out business and it's hurting our economy. My family run a store and nobody has money to buy. This has been hurting us. Who can afford to spend when everyone job is on notice and they want to buy things that help them survive.
The British have locked is in our country without any aid, took our government and programmes, force us to buy the items we need at three times the inflated costs and top of it giving us the ax at our jobs. They are raising taxes and fees, health costs. Then we see that they bringing in their own people from the United Kingdom to take our jobs.
They will be some big political blow up coming soon. We are disrespected by the British treated so much lesser than there real citizens in the UK. We are hurting here and they killing us. Why do we have no help after they ransacked our country?
(lightly edited for fluency)
I want to talk about a different problem. What about our financial hurting? We are locked in our country and forced the pay the high price of living that we are all familiar with because it is a tourist destination. No lie, a gallon of milk costs $10.00. How much does it cost in the US about $4.00? Everything is like that our gas, our food, housing. It is out of control. The high cost of living is hurting us. I know people in my own family who had to have utilities cut off to pay for food.
The British are doing nothing to help us. If we were UK citizens so many of us would have welfare by now, food stamps or any assistance. But the British ignoring us in our own country that they took from us. Where are we going to go? Nowhere. We are stuck.
Why they need to give us our country back because when we were running our own affairs we had a great economy. Our local business was doing good. The UK is now laying off our civil service, closing out business and it's hurting our economy. My family run a store and nobody has money to buy. This has been hurting us. Who can afford to spend when everyone job is on notice and they want to buy things that help them survive.
The British have locked is in our country without any aid, took our government and programmes, force us to buy the items we need at three times the inflated costs and top of it giving us the ax at our jobs. They are raising taxes and fees, health costs. Then we see that they bringing in their own people from the United Kingdom to take our jobs.
They will be some big political blow up coming soon. We are disrespected by the British treated so much lesser than there real citizens in the UK. We are hurting here and they killing us. Why do we have no help after they ransacked our country?
(lightly edited for fluency)
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Tourism in Turks and Caicos under direct UK rule - the consequences
By: Chis Burke, originally posted on August 2 (written before the take over. It's prophetic)
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.
If Britain decides to take over the self-governed territory of Turks and Caicos Islands, which has been self-governed since 1973, they better be prepared to keep the status quo. Changing the constitution to take revenues from tourism would be akin to slavery in the sense that revenues would be taken directly from the islands' people who work hard for their economy.
Great Britain must step lightly if they plan to take self-government from Turks and Caicos. As it is, this step would not be favourable to the world or the people of Turks and Caicos. For one, the world has denounced colonialism. For second, the new government of 5 months is doing quite well, which takes away legitimacy for this draconian move by Great Britain.
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. For Britain to suddenly usurp that progress and capitalize on the revenues, will not sit well with the world.
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.
Britain better think long hard before disrupting any development or tourism in Turks and Caicos. Resort development is the future of the Turks and Caicos economy for many generations to come.
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.
If Britain decides to take over the self-governed territory of Turks and Caicos Islands, which has been self-governed since 1973, they better be prepared to keep the status quo. Changing the constitution to take revenues from tourism would be akin to slavery in the sense that revenues would be taken directly from the islands' people who work hard for their economy.
Great Britain must step lightly if they plan to take self-government from Turks and Caicos. As it is, this step would not be favourable to the world or the people of Turks and Caicos. For one, the world has denounced colonialism. For second, the new government of 5 months is doing quite well, which takes away legitimacy for this draconian move by Great Britain.
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. For Britain to suddenly usurp that progress and capitalize on the revenues, will not sit well with the world.
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.
Britain better think long hard before disrupting any development or tourism in Turks and Caicos. Resort development is the future of the Turks and Caicos economy for many generations to come.
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