Democracy International: Turks and Caicos Islands' civil rights taken by UK

It is no secret that Democracy International has its hands full with Afghanistan at the moment, investigating Afghanistan's elections. Afghanistan desperately needs the help to stabilise the country's legitimacy. Certainty and clarity of the laws are essential before the citizens can come together as a nation in unity. Living without certainty is damaging for anyone of those citizens to make a commitment and investment for the future of the country.

I support Democracy International's goals in that region. Afghanistan needs to inspire trust and legitimacy before it is too late for their economic future as well. Poppy seed farming is nearly its only export, however illegal and therefore lacks proper accounting and taxation for the benefit of the people. But who will invest there without any governmental suring?

Another population of the world, the British Caribbean, needs certainty as well for its governmental bodies. Albeit perhaps on a different level. The UK has taken over the government of Turks and Caicos Islands and is rumored to have designs on Cayman as well. Turks and Caicos foreign investors are reluctant to invest in a country that has no real certainty of its future. The Turks and Caicos Islands, an island territory of the UK, has enjoyed autonomous self-government since the 1970s with its own constitution.

The UK investigated allegations by a group of complainants that corruption was occurring in Turks and Caicos. Sir Robin Auld, from the UK, made an investigation into the allegations of corruption, which was solely limited to several developers who purported to have given bribes to the embattled Michael Misick administration in exchange for Crown land.

In August 2009, the UK suspended the constitution of Turks and Caicos for a period of at least two years. Since UK's arrival, one economic disaster after another has tainted the island's reputation and thus confidence with the international community. Turks and Caicos' largest economic stimulus comes from resorts. This is not ONLY because of jobs for the islanders but also because of the revenue brought in by the tourism draw alluring people from all of the world to spend their dollars in Turks and Caicos. However, the UK's affect on the island has caused a down turn in the tourism industry.

The UK has implemented a tax hike of 1% on the hospitality industry which it has to pass on to its guests, causing many resorts to fear bankruptcy. It has also announced a review of the Islanders' discounts and benefits. Because the island is a very expensive place to live, citizens received discounts for which is now under review for suspension.

Then several other resort developments went out of business due to loss of funding reportedly resulting from the corruption allegations. This includes the posh Nikki Beach Hotel and more recently the half-billion dollar Dellis Cay development just to name two; but there are many others that have gone belly up. Why is all of this happening?

Why is there a mass closing of resorts, nevermind costing thousands of jobs, but what about the bigger picture: tourism revenue?

It is unlikely that you could scare up a group of more than 10 people who wanted to give up their right to have a self-governed constitution. In fact, some concerned citizens contend that if UK is sincerely there to bail out Turks and Caicos, why is it not financially doing so? Why is UK putting the burden back on the people by raising taxes and cutting benefits?

Recently exposed is that a handful of UK supporters using pseudonyms are the individuals who readily take credit for bringing UK to the islands. These individuals have not been properly investigated by the UK's Commission of Enquiry, although everyone else had been thoroughly scrutinized.

For example, had the UK properly investigated the intentions of the so-called whistle blowers, it would have found their deep ties to developers. It also would have found that they had positions as leaders of a political party called the PDM which had been trying to catch the former premier and his government in a compromising position. Their goal is said to be to take over power in the islands. This political partisan resulted in natural contention with the former premier, Michael Misick. This is not to say that Michael Misick did nothing wrong, but is to point out that all political parties folded amidst allegations of corruption. These are the same whistle blowers who are calling on UK to investigate other developers for corruption yet have deep financial ties with competing developers. The population of the sordid whistle blowers are said to be merely a handful who have a Crown land agenda.

I urge Democracy International to have all of these "individuals" in the same room to testify in person. It is improper for the UK to consider the majority of the complaints from the minority of the people using duplicative and exaggerated tales put on paper by anonymous individuals using pseudonyms. Since when has that been a proper standard of investigation and motivation to invade a territory and take its autonomous constitution? What's more, let's then see the UK's investigation of the individual's crying foul. The UK investigated most everyone else in Turks and Caicos, ostensibly hand-wringing over the whereabouts of a long ago former registrar shouting the need to investigate his former records. Yet it missed an investigation into the pasts of the whistle blowers who stand something to gain?

Democracy International, please find out the real reason why UK suspended the citizens' constitutional right to a jury trial across the board for the entire population. The UK states that the people of Turks and Caicos are not fit to serve on a jury panel because they are corruptible.

Taking away constitutional rights is never tolerated in any part of the world. Do not let Turks and Caicos go backwards.

http://tciwatch.com

Constitutional right to jury trials suspending in Turks and Caicos http://blogcritics.org/politics/article/uk-takes-turks-and-caicos-citizens/

Floyd Hall says taxes would be a burden on TCI at this time
http://www.suntci.com/index.php?p=story&id=462 Revenue needed for TCI government http://www.suntci.com/index.php?p=story&id=459 Kendle B. Williams has resigned as Registrar of Lands http://www.suntci.com/index.php?p=story&id=460

$400 duty allowance to which locals are entitled is under review by the Interim Government http://www.suntci.com/index.php?p=story&id=455

Dellis Cay in receivership

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2009/10/15/business-technology-hardware-amp-equipment-cb-turks-and-caicos-resort-receivership_7008256.html http://www.suntci.com/index.php?p=story&id=477 Mark Capes arrives as new chief executive http://www.suntci.com/index.php?p=story&id=476