UK Sets Date For Turks & Caicos Elections

The Turks and Caicos Islands will hold elections on November 9, three years after Britain suspended the government of following allegations of widespread corruption.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague said, “Three years ago Sir Robin Auld’s Commission of Inquiry identified a high probability of systemic corruption in government and the legislature and among public officers in TCI. This led us to suspend Ministerial government and set eight milestones for elections and a return to democratic government.

“I am pleased to inform the House that the interim government in TCI, led by the Governor and supported by TCI and UK public servants and specialist advisers, has made significant progress with an ambitious reform programme.

“We now judge there has been sufficient progress, on the milestones and on putting in place robust financial controls, to set 9 November as the date for elections.”

Mr Hague continued, “Thirteen people, including four former Ministers, have been charged with corruption and money laundering offences. An international arrest warrant has been issued for former Premier Michael Misick.

“It is now for the courts to decide whether the persons charged are guilty. The investigations and prosecutions will proceed independently of a future elected Government.

“A civil recovery team was appointed to recover property and redress loses arising from corruption. The team has made significant progress including over 40 separate recoveries of money and/or land.

“Over US$12million has been recovered, including payments already made, judgements obtained and still to be collected, and agreements to pay.

“More than 900 acres of land have been returned to the Crown – valued in the tens of millions of US dollars. The team expects to recover significant further amounts of cash, land or other assets.”

Mr Hague concluded by saying, “I want to make clear this Government’s determination to ensure that there is no repeat of the maladministration that led to the suspension of democratic government in TCI, either there or in any other British overseas territory.”

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