Turks and Caicos Town Hall Meeting voices discontent with government.
Published on Monday, May 19, 2008
By David Tapfer PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands: The Turks and Caicos Islands opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM), conducted a Town Hall Meeting, on Friday evening 16 May on North Caicos, the home island of embattled Premier Michael Misick. In attendance were current and past PDM party leaders, a former PDM chief minister and other former PDM cabinet members. The meeting was well attended and well received. The main topic of discussion was the current financial condition of the country, and what was referred to as the excessive spending and gross mismanagement that has become obvious to citizens and residents.
Floyd Seymour, Leader of the Opposition in the Turks & Caicos Islands
The PDM leader Floyd Seymour circulated three different versions of the ruling Progressive National Party (PNP) 2007/2008 400-plus page budget booklets, all of which had been furnished by the PNP government. In one version it was reported that the country’s bank account was overdrawn by 31 million dollars (USD); a second version showed the overdraft to be 21 million; and the final version indicated a overdraft of 6 million dollars. All three versions were for the same period, and were prepared under the supervision of the current Deputy Premier and Finance Minister Floyd Hall. These led to questions as to whether the government has any idea of the principles of sound financial management. It was pointed out that, in a period when the world’s economies are declining, the government has budgeted no reduction in ministers’ salaries and expense accounts, which are widely regarded as excessive. The Premier himself enjoys a salary and benefits that total $18,000 for each day, 365 days per year, or a total of almost 7 million dollars annually just for this one man. This does not include his access to millions more in the Tourist Board’s funding, as he also serves as the minister for tourism. The budgets for cabinet members have also been extended with no cuts. However ten new taxes have been introduced and the population has been told to tighten their belts while their leaders continue what was called their unrestrained extravagant spending habits on themselves. All this in a tiny country with a total population of 35,000 people, of which less than one third are citizens. While taxes are being reduced and rebated in America to stimulate the US economy, they have been increased here in the T.C.I. Seymour announced that the UK has imposed new regulations on the TCI government, wherein all financial statements must be audited by Britain to ensure reserves needed for any borrowing are truly in place. Debt pay down has been imposed, and new regulations for restraining the sale of Crown Land have been announced by the FCO. While these regulations are needed and represent good budget practice, they may pinch the unrestrained spending style of Premier Misick, his ministers and supporters. The financial conditions created by the PNP government have raised a round of outcries in the Islands’ organisations, businesses and citizenry. Last week the Chamber of Commerce hosted a meeting with Finance Minister Hall, which saw Chamber leaders and the Minister at odds. The North Caicos Town Hall meeting included serious discussions on the upcoming cost the islanders must bear for the new health care and hospital construction programme. Again, there is unexplained confusion, as the hospitals have a cost budget of $125 million for buildings and equipment while the loan documents indicate $235 million. The cost to citizens of the new PNP health care programme is still unknown. None of the plan’s details, including cost or benefits to the average islander, have been revealed. During budget meetings, Hall has complained of the cost of the current health care system and has in fact cut the budget by $10 million from last year’s actual cost. It appears that, once known, the cost to islanders of the new PNP plan may not be acceptable. The possibility of the Britain's Foreign Affairs Committee (FAC) imposing a Commission of Enquiry was discussed. An FAC report on the Overseas Territories, including the TCI, is due out in late June or July. The announcement by PNP-favoured newspaper, the TCI Sun, indicating that Meg Munn, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), would not recommend an inquiry may have been premature. In fact, Ms Munn, the Governor Richard Tauwhare and assistant Leigh Turner are themselves being scrutinised by the senior FAC parliamentary members. Tauwhare was refused a term extension and will be leaving his post in less than 90 days. The three FAC members who visited the TCI included Sir John Stanley, who was a key member of the Margaret Thatcher administration.. These three members of parliament said they were "shocked and appalled" at what they quickly found in the TCI. The general feeling among the islanders is that it will require a formal Commission of Enquiry to fully enlighten the UK as to the details of the massive corruption which is reported to be obvious in the everyday life of the average resident. Premier Misick has been asked to step down by local and international media, civic leaders, religious leaders, members of his own party, the opposition leader and the prime minister of the Bahamas. Misick is currently under investigation by the local police for allegedly raping and sexually abusing an American tourist. FBI agents from the US are present to offer guidance. There are also reports that the FBI investigation may be widening.