White Paper: ‘UK Determined To Tackle Corruption’
[Updated] The new white paper on the Overseas Territories states that “the UK is determined to tackle corruption in all its forms,” a report from Cayman News Service said.
“The Government has responsibilities towards the people of the Territories and of the UK to ensure the good governance of the territories,” the report states.
“The Government acknowledges the sensitivity of this area of work but believes that those living in the Territories have a right to expect the same high standards of governance as in the UK.”
“We are determined that the evidence of corruption and maladministration revealed in the Turks and Caicos Islands is never repeated, there or in any other Territory. The UK Government will take firm and resolute action wherever there is evidence of corruption or maladministration in a Territory,” said the report.
The report — which is due to be released soon by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office — will set out the U.K Government’s new strategy for the Overseas Territories, after a consultation period with various stakeholders was held from 27 September 2011 to 31 December 2011.
The most well known case of the UK interceding occurred recently in the Turks and Caicos Islands, when in August 2009 the UK Foreign Office imposed direct rule due to allegations of widespread corruption.
The islands’ administration was suspended and power was transferred to the UK-appointed Governor. A number of senior officials were charged in Court, and former premier Michael Misick disappeared from the island to seek refuge in an unnamed country after Interpol issued an arrest warrant for him.
In a statement issued from his unknown location, Mr Misick said he was being persecuted because of his plan to move the Turks and Caicos towards Independence. “They have sought to politically persecute us because we desire to live in an independent Turks and Caicos Islands,” said Mr Misick.
Opponents of Mr. Misick have accused him of moving toward Independence in order to try and dodge a UK commission of inquiry into reports of corruption by his administration. The Turks and Caicos Islands will soon return to self-government, as they are scheduled to hold elections in November of this year.
2009 was not the first time Britain had interceded in the Turks and Caicos, with the previous time occurring when the British imposed direct rule after a major drug scandal.
In 1985, high-ranking officials of the Turks and Caicos government were indicted on charges of conspiring to use the Turks and Caicos as a base to smuggle large amounts cocaine into the USA from Columbia.
The then-leader of Turks and Caicos Norman Saunders, Minister of Commerce Stafford Missick, and MP Auldin Smith were arrested at a Miami hotel after accepting cash from undercover agents. The agents — posing as drug smugglers — promised to pay them in exchange for allowing drug-laden planes traveling from Columbia to refuel at a Turks and Caicos airstrip.
Mr Saunders — reported to be the first leader of a foreign nation to be tried on criminal charges in the USA — was convicted and sentenced to 8 years in prison, and others involved also served prison time. The British returned self-government to the Turks and Caicos in 1988, and after serving his time in prison Mr Saunders was re-elected in the Turks and Caicos as an Independent MP in 1995.
The British Overseas Territories comprise of Anguilla, British Antarctic Territory, Bermuda, British Indian Ocean Territory, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn Islands, St. Helena and its dependencies Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, Turks and Caicos Islands, South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, and Sovereign Base Areas on Cyprus.
The full White Paper is expected to be released soon by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Update 2.57pm: The full White Paper has been released, the 128 page document is here [PDF].
Let’s have a Royal Commission of Inquiry in Bermuda into corruption. Let’s get to the truth. Surely, no-one would object to that. The truth hurts no-one, right?
@ Zombie Apocalypse: It only seems to hurt people like yourself that corruption can’t be found in the present government… Keep seeking for the truth, you might just find the UBP/OBA on the other side of it… LOL
Then let’s have it! Oba, plp, ubp, if corruption is there, heads should roll. IMO any politician found to be involved in corruption should be charged with treason to their country.
I suspect no-one has looked closely enough.
Fine. If corruption won’t be found, a Commission of Inquiry wouldn’t be a problem then, would it. We’d all be happier. We seem to be in agreement. We all want to dispel any rumours of corruption. Let’s do it.
@Zombie Apocalypse………….That suggest we would have to include those years before 1998, as much alleged corruption did go on, but it was unaccounted for, no Audit Reports during the UBP/OBA time in Government, except 1/2 towards the end.
FYI – the OBA has never been in power.
He never said that they shouldnt look pre 1998
My immediate response to the headline “UK determined to talckle corruption”, was “No, they’re not”.
Believe it when I see it. And yes, it should be retro to before 98. What is good for the goose and all that.
“The Government acknowledges the sensitivity of this area of work but believes that those living in the Territories have a right to expect the same high standards of governance as in the UK.”
WTF?! Are these people for real? They must think that we’re still in grass skirts and huts over here, isolated from the world. The UK Government doesn’t have the moral authority to make such a statement. In this year alone they have had:
1. Untold numbers of MPs investigated for misuse of exepnse accounts.
2. Lord Taylor banned from the practice of law and jailed for his part in the expenses scandal.
3. four MPs and two peers jailed for fraud over their expenses.
4. Baroness Warsi, Tory Party Chairman now being investigated.
5. David Cameron and Rebekah Brooks riding, smooching and chatting while she taps peoples phones.
6. The Energy Secretary charged with perverting the course of justice.
7. The Armed Forces Minister claiming his mileage for attending a Remembrance Day observance.
The UK Government should stick to fixing its own rot and drop the anti-corruption facade. They’re fooling no-one.
Hmmmmm-
In fairness, the UK has had its PATI act since 2000. The laundry list you’ve provided, which contains words like “banned”, “investigated” and “charged”, suggests that the UK Government is actively pursuing criminal and ethical violations, which speaks to upholding standards of governance.
Can the same be said for Bermuda?
AVP
And all of those things are currently being investigated. That’s the difference between there and here.
and another small difference- the U.K. MP’s scandal over expenses was in the tens of THOUSANDS, our’s is in the tens of MILLIONS! It’s another world and if we byes gonna ‘mismanage’ anyting we’re going big…BHC, TCD, Berkeley (and it rhymes)
Anything like this would have the PLP in riot mode shaking in their boots ….
LOL look how fast they shout the UBP did it to as some sort of justification. Come on PLP Bloggers stop using lines from your kids when they get caught for doing something wrong get that testicular fortitude you talk about after all you have nothing to hide …… do you??
LOL
start here please and interview everyone who did not win a bid for a Government contract and ask why?
@Rev Pastor’s Brother, where what are you smoking… “No Audit Reports during The UBP Period… What do you think Mr Larry Dennis was reporting to the Public Accounts Committe which the PLP members were memebrs of during that whole period that they were in Opposition?? Stop trying to spin, you don’t ahve the talent for it!!