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Turks & Caicos: Premier Says Country At A Standstill

Posted by CaribShout on July 10, 2009 at 8:04pm

PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands, CMC – Premier Galmo Williams says the current situation in the territory is untenable and he is anxious to receive word from the British authorities on the way forward for the Turks and Caicos Islands. “Today our country remains at a standstill. It has been nearly a month since Sir Robin Auld submitted the final report of the Commission of Inquiry to Governor Gordon Wetherell and the people of our country still do not know if or when the constitution will be suspended and whether an interim administration will be introduced,” Williams said in a national broadcast last Thursday night. “Our country cannot continue to operate in this manner. The atmosphere of uncertainty looms over our land and has created fear in the minds of citizens, residents and investors alike. Investors who want to purchase homes, land or develop property are afraid to do so when the future of our country remains uncertain.” Britain plans to impose direct rule for at least two years following the conclusion of the one-man Commission of Inquiry, which reported that it had found “clear signs” of corruption in the Government. Governor Wetherell said that while he had expected to release the report at the end of last month, a legal challenge to the Order in Council in the British courts is yet to reach a final conclusion. “While sharing the dismay felt by the TCI public, I can assure them that these delays will not deflect me from the task of implementing, with the full support of the UK Government, recommendations in the Commission's Final Report to restore good governance to the Islands,” the Governor said, adding that he hoped to make “a more detailed announcement” later. Earlier this week, the United Nations Special Committee on Decolonization said it would urge the upcoming General Assembly to reaffirm that there is no alternative to self-determination, which it regards as a fundamental human right. Acting without a vote, the Special Committee approved the “omnibus” text on 11 Non-Self-Governing Territories, recommending that the Assembly also “reaffirm the inalienable rights of their peoples to self-determination, in conformity with the United Nations Charter and General Assembly resolution 1514” regarding independence to colonial countries. In his broadcast, Williams said that his administration was preparing a two-year plan to ensure the continued socio-economic development of the island despite the position adopted by the UK Government. “I urge you to demand that the Governor shares his plans for our country as well so that at the end of the day the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands are able to hold him accountable for his actions or inactions.“I call on the religious leaders form all denominations to come together in prayer, seek God and ask that he reveal to us the direction he is taking us in and whatever his will is for the Turks and Caicos Islands and its people, it is my prayer that we accept his will, unite as one people and get through the challenging times together.” Williams said that the plan, which contains measures to boost the local economy, had been presented to the Governor for his support and consideration. “My Cabinet proposes a stimulus package which will bring outstanding debts up-to-date, revive the economy of the Turks and Caicos Islands and complete infrastructural works throughout the TCI.” He told citizens that stimulating the local economy would require some borrowing, “and we have requested that the borrowing guidelines for the TCI be reviewed in order to facilitate and effective stimulus plan for our country”.Williams said that no funds had been released by the British authorities to deal with the destruction caused to some of the islands by the hurricanes over the past year. “We are three weeks into the 2009 Atlantic Hurricane Season and the promises of Her Majesty Government have not been delivered, our people remain vulnerable and have not been able to rebuild their homes and lives, civil servants continue to work in substandard and hazardous conditions. We cannot sit back and allow these issues to go un-addressed.” Williams said that if Britain approves the changes to the borrowing guidelines as outlined by his government, work would begin on a number of projects including schools in Grand Turk, Salt Cay and South Caicos and the completion of the airport in South Caicos.“Additionally, we will work along with the private sector and potential investors to boost the economies of these Islands so as to alleviate dependence on the government and create job opportunities for those persons wishing to continue to reside in South Caicos, North Caicos and Middle “My Government is committed to rebuilding our country and reviving our economy through this economic stimulus proposal. Although borrowing is required in order to achieve the goals outlined. “The fiscal stabilization plan introduced by my Government has tremendously decreased our recurrent expenditure and puts TCI Government in a position to meet all of its monthly obligations once outstanding debts have been cleared,” he added.

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