Beware of News from Turks and Caicos, The People Need Facts

You know, I am a reasonable guy. I have been told by countless people to watch out for the spin of Turks and Caicos Net News because they are pro PDM [political party] in Turks and Caicos. That didn't bother me much. I have also heard that the Sun Times is pro PNP [political party]. At the end of the day, we are all journalists, right?

Well, I was disheartened by an article today published by the Turks and Caicos Net News. I am sure that there are no amateurs there, this is why I was concerned with some of the reporting. It seems to be malicious and disingenuous.

In the first place, I have no political party affiliation. When I said that the opposition political party working with the UK was considered a gang of thugs, I was referring to Shaun Malcolm and his TCI Journal friends who call themselves a political opposition party and is how they are described in the press blitz following their Wikileaks publishing triumph. I still submit that they are a hired gang of political thugs who routinely terrorize citizens, for lack of a more appropriate word for those making false and half-truth statements and reports meant to cause alarm or fear for the person's safety or reputation.

That the PDM denounced Shaun Malcolm long ago does not make Shaun Malcolm PDM, nor do I discredit the PDM in any fashion. I am not sure why the Turks and Caicos Net News characterized my statement as PDM specific. I have great respect for the PDM and I look forward to learning of Doug Parnell's causes and ideas.

Another problem that I have with the article in the Net News, which is linked herein, is that the author claims to not have any knowledge of the UK claiming that they will be in Turks and Caicos permanently. Really Net News? I will cite here for your convenience:

Saturday, November 12, 2009 "The British investigator said it is her intention to ensure that they have a permanent presence here."

This comes from an Article by the Sun: Prosecutor Probing New Matter

One other problem is that the resort developers that Net News claims were singled out in the corruption report were Mario Hoffmann and Cem Kinay. This is not true. At least the Net News could have added Jak Civre who was listed proper. But Net News, what about Rex, Lamb, Ashcroft and the many others? Come on. Many, many resort developments failed at the hands of the UK's not-so-interim government. This has come at great expense to the Turks and Caicos economy.

Furthermore, if Net News does not believe that the UK abolished democracy, show me your vote to have your self governance taken. You have no judiciary, you have no jury trial, you have no democratic rights. Parliament surely didn't vote on it, nor did anyone in Turks and Caicos. I do not believe that this is okay with the people of Turks and Caicos, to have all of their democracy taken from them. And, while I am at it, let's just dispel a myth about the Advisory Council, they have NO input whatsoever and no vote - merely suggestions for HE Gordon Wetherell's final decision. It's called a dictatorship.

Let's just talk straight.

People, beware of thieves peddling lies. All of this is public information.

C Burke