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The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has expressed its condemnation of a decision taken by the British government to take over rule of one of its associate members, the Turks and Caicos Island.
A CARICOM release on Thursday said the regional grouping notes “with profound concern and deep disappointment the decision of the British Government to dissolve the Government and the legislature, as well as to suspend the right to trial by jury in the Turks and Caicos Islands all in reaction to the adverse findings of the Report of the Commission of Inquiry on the administration of the territory”.
The imposition of direct rule by the Governor the release is a step backwards for the islands and as such this and view the action as counterproductive adding that the democratic process within the region cannot be strengthened by removing representative democracy from the citizens of the Islands.
”It maintains that, on the contrary, it would have been far more beneficial, and the results more sustainable, to involve the people of the territory through their elected representatives, in the efforts required to strengthen the good governance and public administrative processes of the Turks and Caicos Islands, which is the stated ultimate goal of the British Government” the release continued.
The regional grouping added that it is the firm hope of CARICOM that this action by the British Government will be for a very limited duration.
The UK took control of the islands on Friday last after claims of widespread corruption in the British overseas territory.
Local government in the islands, was suspended for up to two years while their affairs are put back in "good order” the British press reported.
The move went ahead after a legal challenge by former premier Michael Misick failed in the court of appeal in London earlier this week. He resigned in March but, along with other senior officials, continues to deny accusations of corruption highlighted by a parliamentary committee and commission of enquiry last year.
Mesick has been accused of building a multimillion-dollar fortune financed from questionable dealings that gave property developers access to crown-owned land.
The UK Guardian quoted British the foreign office minister Chris Bryant as saying "After careful consideration I have instructed the governor to bring into force today an Order in Council which will suspend ministerial government and the house of assembly for a period of up to two years, to allow the governor to put the Islands' affairs back in good order. This is a serious constitutional step which the UK government has not taken lightly."
However The islands' governor, Gordon Wetherell, denied that the step was a "British takeover".
"Public services will continue to be run by the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands, as indeed they should be," he said. "Our goal is to make a clean break from the mistakes of the past by establishing a durable path towards good governance, sound financial management and sustainable development."
Among the controversial deals Misick has been accused of is building a Dubai-style luxury resort off one of the islands. He denies any impropriety.
The islands have been subject to extensive development as their government has aimed to turn them into a sunshine paradise for wealthy holidaymakers. But many of the luxury developments have provoked allegations that they were the product of corrupt deals between local politicians and foreign businessmen.
The imposition of direct rule is likely to prove hugely unpopular with the Turks and Caicos's political elites, some of whom have accused Britain of a "return to colonial rule". Misick himself has hit out at London for flexing its "strong arm of modern-day colonialism", while the islands' media have accused the British government of having double standards on the issue of corruption.
A CARICOM release on Thursday said the regional grouping notes “with profound concern and deep disappointment the decision of the British Government to dissolve the Government and the legislature, as well as to suspend the right to trial by jury in the Turks and Caicos Islands all in reaction to the adverse findings of the Report of the Commission of Inquiry on the administration of the territory”.
The imposition of direct rule by the Governor the release is a step backwards for the islands and as such this and view the action as counterproductive adding that the democratic process within the region cannot be strengthened by removing representative democracy from the citizens of the Islands.
”It maintains that, on the contrary, it would have been far more beneficial, and the results more sustainable, to involve the people of the territory through their elected representatives, in the efforts required to strengthen the good governance and public administrative processes of the Turks and Caicos Islands, which is the stated ultimate goal of the British Government” the release continued.
The regional grouping added that it is the firm hope of CARICOM that this action by the British Government will be for a very limited duration.
The UK took control of the islands on Friday last after claims of widespread corruption in the British overseas territory.
Local government in the islands, was suspended for up to two years while their affairs are put back in "good order” the British press reported.
The move went ahead after a legal challenge by former premier Michael Misick failed in the court of appeal in London earlier this week. He resigned in March but, along with other senior officials, continues to deny accusations of corruption highlighted by a parliamentary committee and commission of enquiry last year.
Mesick has been accused of building a multimillion-dollar fortune financed from questionable dealings that gave property developers access to crown-owned land.
The UK Guardian quoted British the foreign office minister Chris Bryant as saying "After careful consideration I have instructed the governor to bring into force today an Order in Council which will suspend ministerial government and the house of assembly for a period of up to two years, to allow the governor to put the Islands' affairs back in good order. This is a serious constitutional step which the UK government has not taken lightly."
However The islands' governor, Gordon Wetherell, denied that the step was a "British takeover".
"Public services will continue to be run by the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands, as indeed they should be," he said. "Our goal is to make a clean break from the mistakes of the past by establishing a durable path towards good governance, sound financial management and sustainable development."
Among the controversial deals Misick has been accused of is building a Dubai-style luxury resort off one of the islands. He denies any impropriety.
The islands have been subject to extensive development as their government has aimed to turn them into a sunshine paradise for wealthy holidaymakers. But many of the luxury developments have provoked allegations that they were the product of corrupt deals between local politicians and foreign businessmen.
The imposition of direct rule is likely to prove hugely unpopular with the Turks and Caicos's political elites, some of whom have accused Britain of a "return to colonial rule". Misick himself has hit out at London for flexing its "strong arm of modern-day colonialism", while the islands' media have accused the British government of having double standards on the issue of corruption.
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