Premier Comments On Turks & Caicos Elections
Dr Ewart Brown today [Oct 1] called a decision by the UK Government to extend the suspension of general elections in Turks and Caicos past the original July 2011 deadline a “dreadful delay.”
The TCI Legislature, portions of their constitution and elections were suspended in August 2009 in the wake of corruption allegations within the government. Elections set for July 2011 to return the Turks and Caicos Islands to self-governance have been postponed by the UK Government until an investigation concludes.
In August 2009 the TCI Governor, on the instructions of the UK Foreign Office, imposed direct rule on the Turks and Caicos Islands by authority of the 18 March 2009 Order-in-Council issued by the Queen. The islands’ administration was suspended and power was been transferred to the Governor. The move was met with vehement opposition by the former Turks and Caicos government, with Premier Michael Misick’s successor calling it a “coup”, and stating that, “Our country is being invaded and re-colonised by the United Kingdom, dismantling a duly elected government and legislature and replacing it with a one-man dictatorship.”
Reports say that on Tuesday over 200 angry protesters swarmed over a fence at Providenciales Airport and surrounded the car of UK-appointed Governor Gordon Wetherell [pictured] he prepared to board a flight to Grand Turk island. Police broke up the crowd and no injuries were reported.
Dr. Brown said, “I am deeply saddened by the continuing, dreadful delay in restoring full democratic rights to the people of Turks and Caicos. Historically governments and government leaders throughout the world that have taken the step of suspending free, democratic elections have been roundly condemned and sanctioned. If this were to occur in Zimbabwe for example, the world and the UK government in particular would refer to the move as barbaric and characterize its government as a cruel dictatorship.”
The Premier continued, “Bermudians and the people of Turks and Caicos share deep historical and familial ties and it is my fervent hope that free elections and a government duly elected by the people will be quickly restored to that country.”
[Photo courtesy of the TCI Government via tcgov.tc]
Obviously in his eyes, corruption should exist. How are you going to let a country rule itself when the leaders in question are corrupt? Zimbabwe is a terrible example to use, who in their right mind would like to end up like that. Not being funny but if something is not done soon by a responsible government then Bermuda could be like that to.
stfu!!! your a bandwagoner!!! You jump from ship to ship..MCFC? Jus like the way you support Man City!!!
I don’t see the Governor ordering his followers to attack, maim and in some cases kill and disrupt constitutional hearings due to the fact that these individuals support the opposition and not Zanu-PF. I don’t see the Governor handing out pieces of the people’s land as a thank you for political patronage after having his supporters raid the land and kill the occupants. I don’t see the fact that every part of the Zimbabwean security forces, police and judges are all corrupt to the point of rendring them completely useless, unless it is the Zanu-PF giving the orders. I don’t see the Governor shutting down and placing highly restrictive measures (sound familiar) on all types of free media and institute a state owned media system. I don’t hear about the Governor handing out government contracts willy-nilly to his brethrens while the ordinary and small business people suffer (sound familiar) while only a few of the “top brass” profit immensely. I don’t remember the Governor amassing North Korean troops within T&C to slaughter hundreds of opposition supporters like Mugabe did a few years back just because they were the opposition and he could with impunity. I don’t hear about the Governor sabotaging elections through political intimidation and violence and then when losing refuse to step down as per the democratic process and have his zealots attack his main rival almost to the point of death. Those few examples, of a once hero turned tyrant, exemplify a barbaric and dictatorial government.
If only these protesters of T&C were so active in getting rid of Dr. Brown’s good mate Misick during his tenure in which he became extraordinarily rich through underhanded government contracts and selling off of public land for his own personal gain (i.e. Coco Reef anyone) they wouldn’t be in the position that they find themselves in today.
So Dr. Brown protect your crook of a friend, like your previous campaign manager (birds of a feather seems to be true) all you like, but don’t you dare belittle the suffering of Zimbabweans by comparing them to T&C. It is a slap in the face of not just Zimbabweans but anyone who respects and seeks to uphold human rights.
Actually I find it quite funny that you claim yourself to be some sort of humanitarian and then have the nerve to compare these two situations as apples to apples. You are more twisted than I originally gave you credit for in the first place. Disgusting!!!
Sorry, but that is a lil too far in the deep end..If you knew what you were talking about, you would realize Bermuda has MORE small businesses now then before Ewert Brown was in charge. I have 5 friends aged 25, who now run their own small business. That would have never been possible if the UBP and the old firm was in power. They had restricted young black owners from getting bigger contracts..
All i see is mad white people, hating the government for spreading the wealth..Let me guess..I bet your white too.
Here we go, the race card again. How original!
I understand that you don’t undertsand history of either Bermuda, T&C or Zimbabwe for that matter. It is quite obvious that such “deep” stuff is too much for you shallow brain. Anyone that turns what I wrote above into a white and black thing instead of rebutting the argument isn’t that bright anyways.
Also, can you produce facts about your small business claim? And also, are you saying that true freedom only came under Dr. Brown and thus Dame Jennifer and Alex Scott were also oppressors? Please provide the evidece. Or you can type in capitals with lots of exclamation marks, curse words and make racial remarks. Or your third choice is to regurgitate some myth that all you Brownites have been brainwashed with despite any evidence that this actually occurred under hsi reign. So produce figures or take your own advice and STFU!!
PS: You are right I am white and you can kiss the whitest part of my body you bigoted idiot…
He probably wants to retire down there .. (which is fine by me, the further away the better)
Thank you ‘Tired of Nonsense’!
Like you say, ‘birds of a feather….’
I mean really, does this surprise anyone?
The TCI protests are totally stage managed and not widely supported. Sure people are pissed off that the constitution has been suspended. But they are even more pissed off to have been pillaged by their own government.
Take a look at this “major demonstration”
http://corruptionfreeanguilla.blogspot.com/2010/09/protests.html
You all need to read HM Foreign Office’s report on what allegedly happened there, especially the section on tourism spending. The name Kerwin appears with some frequency therein. Is this the same Jim Kerwin who operates very closely with Ewart?
You are right on Kerwin. It is a company called Kerwin communications.
Look into Rock Media and Oxford Communications among other fronts.
Forget the UK !!!!!!!!! Colonialism ended a long time ago..Maybe 50 years now..What does the UK do for us?? We give them money for NOTHING !! They dont protect us, they dont help us. We pay some White Governor all this money and the biggest house in Bda to act like a Ground Master, enslaving out Government.
We would be better off, joining the US. It all make sense being that 84% of our produce/money/trade is with the US. Im sure Bermudians wouldnt mind getting off this rock and being able to live in the US. The UK are a##holes!! Leave Turks alone, they just want to keep what they have left, for themselves. Selfish english f##kers !!
84% eh? Please cite your source…….
theroyalgazette!
Bernews, awful job of editing the profanity out of Jason’s comment.
We would be better off joining the US? So what do you think would happen to the tax benefits that Bermuda holds for international business if this island were to magically become a US territory or, even scarier, independent? They would be non-existant! Why would companies then hire Bermudian based employees? They wouldn’t! The tax benefits are the only thing keeping this island afloat. Change one thing in the constitution and governing of this island and ‘poof’, the companies will leave with the tax changes. Then, with no industry to support the island, where do you think the government will get US dollars from? There is no exportation here, there is no tourism, and with no international business there would be no US dollars. Why would the US government accept Bermuda as an overseas territory? Well most likely they wouldn’t. What to do, what to do…we can’t go to the UK for help anymore, the US could careless about this worthless piece of land in the Atlantic, but our government has billions of Bermuda dollars they’ve just printed! Oh wait, those are now worthless.
I don’t think you realize how lucky you are. If you think trying to obtain US permanent residence is hard now, try doing it when this country is independent and visas are required just to visit the US. That will happen Jason. You will be required to obtain a tourist visa to travel to any other country as every inhabitant of this island will be considered a flight risk. Bermuda will have successful become a 22 mile long Jamaica. Have fun with that, I will be high and dry along with the other “selfish English f*ckers!”
stfu hater!!! free speech !! You cant compare us to Jamaica..And tax bla bla bla !! End of the day, UK dont do s%$t for us !!!
Again Bernews, slipping with the editing.
What’s wrong? You and your “bacholors” in Computer Science can’t come up with an educated rebuttal to my statement? Free speech does not apply to profanities or threats, you should have been able to acquire that knowledge with your “bacholors” degree. Also, because of my right to freedom of speech, I can compare this island to Jamaica if I so please. As for “tax bla bla bla”, just you wait until International Business leaves Bermuda. They will be metaphorically and literally shutting the lights off as they leave. At the end of the day, the UK is the reason you are living here in a civilized society as we speak. So don’t even try to tell me that “UK don’t do sh*t for us”. Get an education instead of bullsh*tting from your keyboard.
Great idea Jason – lets join the U.S. – we can pay huge income taxes, we can provide an ideal location for more Guantanamo Bay tourists or we can become a US Navy outpost. Hey – it works well for Puerto Rico/Guam etc. – they are thriving…… We dont really need to be tax free or to be one of the most attractive off-shore locations in the world – that’s just greedy! As for our
high per capita income – meh – who needs it?
Just curious – how much do ‘we’ pay the governor? How much do ‘we’ pay the UK? And how does the nasty white governor enslave our government?
Do you actually think before you write this crap?
Kerwin Communications is based in New Jersey by New York City.