Summary of Chaos, Turks and Caicos Government

I have recently received an inquiry on my website, called TCIWatch.com, from a leader abroad wanting to know the other side of the story with regard to Turks and Caicos' government. Here is what I sent him as a perspective from my point of view based on my investigation. It is a quick summary of the political situation. Please help get the word out and help us get some world attention.

The Turks and Caicos Islands has a GDP of about $600 million per annum. The country debt is zero at year's end.

A political opposition party, run by a man named Shaun Malcolm, staged an overthrow of the former government under the Misick administration. Malcolm uses a media site called TCI Journal to do his bidding. Besides alleging that the former premier was corrupt, Malcolm uses so-called anonymous letters to the editor and character names to poke fun at people and/or bully them. Michael Misick, the standing Premier at the time, was accused of corruption by Malcolm and somehow Malcolm was able to get the UK government to open an inquiry into corruption in Turks and Caicos. There appears to be some talk about a quid pro quo with Malcolm and a government official in the UK.

The corruption inquiry was run by one man, an activist judge in the UK, Sir Robin Auld. The letters from citizens claiming corruption by Misick were often anonymous or written under pseudonyms, a popular MO of TCI Journal. Furthermore, Shaun Malcolm claims that anyone with a dissenting opinion is corrupt and he censors comments made to him in opposition.

The UK abolished the islands' constitution and took direct governance of the islands in August 2009. Mind you, Michael Misick had resigned in April and a newly elected government had been installed since. So UK's move in this regard is greatly suspicious. Upon installation of their government, the UK found outstanding national loans and bills; and the UK failed to pay them, including health care services for islanders and tourism advertisement fees to Conde Nast.

There is currently $135 million of debt, $9 million of which is over draft fees. The Turks and Caicos islands have more than enough money from GDP revenue to pay this debt. However, the UK government is using the debt to lord over the people of the islands and is failing to meet payroll obligations to the civil servants of the islands. The UK has also fired or frustrated local government officials to quit their posts. Many government-run organizations have been closed by the UK as well. The UK raised taxes, cut islanders' benefits and failed to bring any aid with them.

Gordon Wetherell, the governor from UK, makes all decisions solely. This has caused many islanders to call foul, for nothing is ever brought to a vote. Everything, and I mean everything, is up to the discretion of Mr. Wetherell.

Furthermore, the UK is imposing state run health care for the islanders, but not out of government revenue. The UK is forcing all of the people to pay this sum from their pockets each month for services that are yet a year away. Nobody asked for the UK to set up a health care plan, there was no referendum, no consensus, nothing.

The economy has been run into the ground by the UK causing many businesspeople to seek an exit strategy from the islands. The UK has deemed several lucrative resort developments to be also corrupt and they have been closed down. This has caused the islands' economy to come to a screeching halt. Not only have islanders lost their jobs, but the revenue from those 5 star resorts are gone, not to mention the tourism spending associated with those resorts!

Meanwhile, the resorts aforementioned, happen to be on Crown land for which the UK government claims now for its own. The five star resorts are vacated, some question, "as a prize for the UK." The UK government has also taken settlements of lower-middle class working citizens, this has caused a homeless population and terrified citizens.

The people of Turks and Caicos are standing up for their rights in small groups. Each time a citizen speaks out about the UK's force and dictatorship in the islands, they are somehow linked to Michael Misick and their motives dismissed. Mind you, the population is somewhat isolated and everyone is somehow linked to someone else. That does not mean to say that the two are friends or have like political minds. The people who are speaking out are generally tired of being called "friends of Misick" in an effort to silence them.

Furthermore, the UK took all of the populations' right to trial by jury. The meaning of this? The UK claims that the people of Turks and Caicos are corruptible. This could not be further from the truth. We have educated, sophisticated and capable people in the islands. The UK has managed to discredit anyone with a voice.

The special prosecutor from the UK, now installed in the islands, is publicly calling for people to come forward to report each other. This has been announced on several occasions, which has caused anyone with a grudge to be possible informants on anyone. It has created a police state mentality. Shaun Malcolm, the opposition party leader and editor of TCI Journal has been a frequent visitor of the special prosecutor airing his grudges against who knows who with the UK prosecutor. It seems that nobody is off limits to Shaun Malcolm, particularly if someone is discrediting him. He attacks with half-truths or lies if necessary. Without an independent judiciary or trial by jury, this is called a police state or denunciation.

There is a very reliable rumor that the TCI Journal is financed by a UK competing developer in Turks and Caicos named David Harthsorn, who has an ax to grind with Lord Michael Ashcroft, a competing developer in the islands. Hartshorn and Malcolm deny Hartshorn's involvement in this, but we will see. Ashcroft's development was Nikki Beach, which has since been closed. Luckily, the UK government did not cause a stall of Mr. Harthsorn's development, The Ritz Carlton. What a lucky break for Mr. Hartshorn.

On November 24, 2009 and many times besides, Members of Parliament have been treated to public statements by Shaun Malcolm speaking on behalf of the people of Turks and Caicos, stating that the people are quite content with UK's presence and anyone who is dissatisfied is a Michael Misick supporter.

As God is my witness, I have never met Mr. Michael Misick in my life. The Turks and Caicos Islands has been in a terrible state since UK took over in August.

Certainly, I am not alone in this opinion. Besides myself, patriots and islanders, the UN denounces this move by the UK as does the EU and CARICOM (Caribbean bloc). Many brothering islands are also disturbed and upset by UK's installation.

Thank you for your follow up questions.

Chris Burke
TCIwatch.com