Alas, throwing Premier Misick overboard is necessary to save the TCI…
[Author’s Note: Throughout this article, I have interposed a series of rhetorical questions that I hope will guide fellow TCIslanders in discussions with family members, neighbours and friends about this very serious call to action.]
In the fall of 1973, President Richard Nixon of the United States had every right to feel invincible. After all, he was still reveling in a landslide re-election victory, his political opponents were rendered virtually irrelevant and he was becoming as famous abroad as he was at home. Yet, within a year, he was forced to resign the presidency in utter disgrace.
Today, Premier Michael Misick of the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) also has every right to feel invincible. After all, he is still reveling in a landslide re-election victory, his political opponents have been rendered virtually irrelevant and he is becoming as infamous abroad as he is at home. Yet....
(What does it say about a national leader who seems more interested in fraternising with B-list celebrities than in networking with international statesmen…?)
Regrettably, as farfetched as the comparison above might seem, the parallels between Nixon and Misick do not end there. And anyone with only a passing knowledge of U.S. history will appreciate not only the dire implications this raises, but also the grave consequences it portends for Premier Misick, his enablers and, most important, the TCI.
However, this is neither the occasion nor the appropriate forum for a full exposition of the eerie and foreboding similarities in this respect. Instead, I shall suffice to note that many of the allegations in the bill of particulars that led to Nixon’s downfall are now being alleged against Premier Misick. And not least among them is the recent charge that he had evidence of one of his crimes erased from a videotape, which, of course, mirrors one of the more damning charges U.S. authorities leveled against Nixon.
(What does it say about a national leader who leads by inciting fear and intimidation rather than by providing hope and inspiration…?)
Meanwhile, it behooves members of the ruling Progressive National Party (PNP) to heed the grievances of people who have taken to the streets to protest the government’s employment policies. Because it’s a reflection of how far removed from the concerns of ordinary labourers Premier Misick has become that he has dismissed them - with indignation - as unwitting pawns of a vanquished, mischief-making Opposition People’s Democratic Movement (PDM).
But I suspect there are conscientious and informed PNP ministers who know that these people’s grievances are well-founded. And, moreover, ministers who know that the Premier’s short-sighted strategy for economic development, which seems predicated on exploiting cheap foreign labour instead of employing local workers, is enough to make all patriotic TCIslanders disillusioned and disaffected with his leadership.
(What does it say about government ministers who stand by and watch as a national leader grounds their ship of state…?)
Most troubling of all, however, is the growing realisation that Premier Misick’s gamble - of building our economy on beachfront resorts - now looms like a house of cards. Especially since he seems blissfully ignorant of the fact that the sub-prime mortgage mess in America is bound to turn the foundation upon which our booming economy was built into quick sand.
But there’s no greater indication that the Premier is grounding our ship of state than his double-talk about the need to “broaden our tax base.” After all, according to his own report, the government “increased revenue collections from $98 million in 2003 to over $215 million this year.” Therefore, it insults our intelligence and assaults our pocketbooks for him to suggest that “gone are the days when there will be no tax” in the TCI.
(Never mind that his irresponsible talk about taxation could trigger unwarranted concerns in the international investment community about our coveted tax haven status).
Frankly, instead of levying more taxes upon us, the Premier should be announcing what additional government services will redound to our benefit as a result of the increased revenues he’s so fond of boasting about!
(What does it say about government ministers who stand by and listen to a national leader make the unconscionable and oxymoronic assertion that taxing poor people is necessary for their country to “mature into a jurisdiction of low tax”…?)
Of course, it would be understandable if the “large investments” the Premier claims his government is making were actually benefiting more than just a select few TCIslanders. But it is plain for all to see that, after years of promising to build a first-rate infrastructure of hospitals, schools, roads…police force, etc, the Premier’s government has only delivered third-rate services for local (as opposed to tourist) consumption.
(What does it say about a national leader who declares himself a virtual pauper upon entering office, but is soon living like a king (in his public and private life) and flaunting worldly possessions that would make an ordinary millionaire green with envy...? Because even if married to an American TV actress, his wife would have to be raking in Oprah-like millions to fund their royal lifestyle.)
More to the point, however, I cited Nixon’s corrupt and failed presidency above as a cautionary and instructive precedent. Because, as it proved to be with Nixon, it is my informed opinion that Misick’s invincible pride is but a prelude to a spectacular fall.
Therefore, I caution all members of the ruling PNP to consider carefully whether blind loyalty to this Premier is worth risking their careers, if not their freedom, for. After all, just as those who covered up Nixon’s crimes were only masking a “cancer that was growing on his Presidency”, those who fail to report Misick’s (apparent) misdeeds are only masking the terminal state of his premiership.
PNPers can also rest assured that no matter how many kickback schemes or shady land deals they may have transacted (especially involving the promiscuous granting and selling of irredeemable Crown Lands), doing the right thing will likely reduce his or her liability to a misdemeanor.
Naturally, I would like to think that those involved will be compelled by their conscience rather than by fear of investigators from the UK’s Foreign Affairs Committee (FAC) – who are now conducting an inquiry into TCI governance. But whatever the motivation, our country will be well served by the moral conviction of just one good man or woman in this respect.
(But never mind Nixon, what does it say about a national leader who has a living example in his own Party - of the legal and political consequences of abusing power to feed greed that knows no bounds - yet follows that example down the same path to perdition…?)
Accordingly, I entreat the honourable members of the PNP to follow the instructive precedent set by the members of Nixon’s inner circle - who threw him overboard to save their ship of state. (I just hope our Premier is not like so many TCIslanders who never learnt how to swim….)
That said, I appreciate that PNPers might prefer to wait for the British to hold the Premier to account for his patently-suspect governance, which has people talking about the TCI as if it is being governed by an African kleptomaniac. I fear, however, that a mere cursory FAC audit of our public finances would uncover such egregious abuses and misappropriations that the British would (indeed should) feel compelled to dissolve yet another PNP government, and put our country into receivership…again.
But I have no doubt that, despite appearances, there are still PNPers who would rather sacrifice their careers than have the British impose another humiliating suspension of our Constitution “to restore respect for the rule of law and good governance in the Turks and Caicos Islands”.
Therefore, I urge them to rally around their “Gerald Ford”; i.e., a man (or woman), of unimpeachable integrity and probity, who can assume leadership of the PNP and, by extension, the premiership of our country - after we bid good riddance to the untenably-flawed Dr. Michael Misick.
(Finally, what does it say about a country where freedom (or integrity) of the press is such that no newspaper owner dares to publish any article critical of the leader out of fear of retaliation: i.e., losing political patronage or jeopardising financial interests…?)
NOTE: I have focused exclusively on the Premier’s dereliction of duties because I believe that we are, in fact, not only “mature” enough to take responsibility for the mess he’s gotten us into, but also intelligent enough to figure out how to clean it up.
But it would be tantamount to ignoring the big white elephant in the room if I did not acknowledge HE Governor Richard Tauwhare’s dereliction of duties that have contributed to our national woes. After all, it would have required his complicity or tacit approval for the Premier to commit many of these alleged political and fiduciary crimes.
Not to mention the governor’s failure to deal with the menace of illegal (Haitian) immigration, which has made us liable to charges of human rights abuses and negligent homicides, and with the scourge of predatory crimes, which is threatening peace and tranquility in our island paradise..
Therefore, I admonish the FAC to reserve a special section in its report to cite and censure Governor Tauwhare for his appalling failure to perform his constitutional duties….
[* This article was also published today by Caribbean Net News, the leading regional newspaper in the Caribbean.]
Link to several Related Articles:
Premier Misick: A wannabe gansta…
No public interest in prosecuting Premier Misick for assault...?!
Premier Michael Misick, Turks and Caicos Islands
…If Chief Minister Michael Misick fails to move our country forward he will be exposed as a hollow politician who is more interested in posing as a national leader than in assuming the duties and responsibilities of governing a nation.
[Now prophetic words from an April 2006 article (linked to below), in which I questioned Hon. Dr. Michael Misick’s motives for flirting with the prospect of TCI independence.]
In the fall of 1973, President Richard Nixon of the United States had every right to feel invincible. After all, he was still reveling in a landslide re-election victory, his political opponents were rendered virtually irrelevant and he was becoming as famous abroad as he was at home. Yet, within a year, he was forced to resign the presidency in utter disgrace.
Today, Premier Michael Misick of the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) also has every right to feel invincible. After all, he is still reveling in a landslide re-election victory, his political opponents have been rendered virtually irrelevant and he is becoming as infamous abroad as he is at home. Yet....(What does it say about a national leader who seems more interested in fraternising with B-list celebrities than in networking with international statesmen…?)
Regrettably, as farfetched as the comparison above might seem, the parallels between Nixon and Misick do not end there. And anyone with only a passing knowledge of U.S. history will appreciate not only the dire implications this raises, but also the grave consequences it portends for Premier Misick, his enablers and, most important, the TCI.
However, this is neither the occasion nor the appropriate forum for a full exposition of the eerie and foreboding similarities in this respect. Instead, I shall suffice to note that many of the allegations in the bill of particulars that led to Nixon’s downfall are now being alleged against Premier Misick. And not least among them is the recent charge that he had evidence of one of his crimes erased from a videotape, which, of course, mirrors one of the more damning charges U.S. authorities leveled against Nixon.(What does it say about a national leader who leads by inciting fear and intimidation rather than by providing hope and inspiration…?)
Meanwhile, it behooves members of the ruling Progressive National Party (PNP) to heed the grievances of people who have taken to the streets to protest the government’s employment policies. Because it’s a reflection of how far removed from the concerns of ordinary labourers Premier Misick has become that he has dismissed them - with indignation - as unwitting pawns of a vanquished, mischief-making Opposition People’s Democratic Movement (PDM).But I suspect there are conscientious and informed PNP ministers who know that these people’s grievances are well-founded. And, moreover, ministers who know that the Premier’s short-sighted strategy for economic development, which seems predicated on exploiting cheap foreign labour instead of employing local workers, is enough to make all patriotic TCIslanders disillusioned and disaffected with his leadership.
(What does it say about government ministers who stand by and watch as a national leader grounds their ship of state…?)
Most troubling of all, however, is the growing realisation that Premier Misick’s gamble - of building our economy on beachfront resorts - now looms like a house of cards. Especially since he seems blissfully ignorant of the fact that the sub-prime mortgage mess in America is bound to turn the foundation upon which our booming economy was built into quick sand.But there’s no greater indication that the Premier is grounding our ship of state than his double-talk about the need to “broaden our tax base.” After all, according to his own report, the government “increased revenue collections from $98 million in 2003 to over $215 million this year.” Therefore, it insults our intelligence and assaults our pocketbooks for him to suggest that “gone are the days when there will be no tax” in the TCI.
(Never mind that his irresponsible talk about taxation could trigger unwarranted concerns in the international investment community about our coveted tax haven status).
Frankly, instead of levying more taxes upon us, the Premier should be announcing what additional government services will redound to our benefit as a result of the increased revenues he’s so fond of boasting about!
(What does it say about government ministers who stand by and listen to a national leader make the unconscionable and oxymoronic assertion that taxing poor people is necessary for their country to “mature into a jurisdiction of low tax”…?)
Of course, it would be understandable if the “large investments” the Premier claims his government is making were actually benefiting more than just a select few TCIslanders. But it is plain for all to see that, after years of promising to build a first-rate infrastructure of hospitals, schools, roads…police force, etc, the Premier’s government has only delivered third-rate services for local (as opposed to tourist) consumption.
(What does it say about a national leader who declares himself a virtual pauper upon entering office, but is soon living like a king (in his public and private life) and flaunting worldly possessions that would make an ordinary millionaire green with envy...? Because even if married to an American TV actress, his wife would have to be raking in Oprah-like millions to fund their royal lifestyle.)More to the point, however, I cited Nixon’s corrupt and failed presidency above as a cautionary and instructive precedent. Because, as it proved to be with Nixon, it is my informed opinion that Misick’s invincible pride is but a prelude to a spectacular fall.
Therefore, I caution all members of the ruling PNP to consider carefully whether blind loyalty to this Premier is worth risking their careers, if not their freedom, for. After all, just as those who covered up Nixon’s crimes were only masking a “cancer that was growing on his Presidency”, those who fail to report Misick’s (apparent) misdeeds are only masking the terminal state of his premiership.
PNPers can also rest assured that no matter how many kickback schemes or shady land deals they may have transacted (especially involving the promiscuous granting and selling of irredeemable Crown Lands), doing the right thing will likely reduce his or her liability to a misdemeanor.
Naturally, I would like to think that those involved will be compelled by their conscience rather than by fear of investigators from the UK’s Foreign Affairs Committee (FAC) – who are now conducting an inquiry into TCI governance. But whatever the motivation, our country will be well served by the moral conviction of just one good man or woman in this respect.
(But never mind Nixon, what does it say about a national leader who has a living example in his own Party - of the legal and political consequences of abusing power to feed greed that knows no bounds - yet follows that example down the same path to perdition…?)
Accordingly, I entreat the honourable members of the PNP to follow the instructive precedent set by the members of Nixon’s inner circle - who threw him overboard to save their ship of state. (I just hope our Premier is not like so many TCIslanders who never learnt how to swim….)That said, I appreciate that PNPers might prefer to wait for the British to hold the Premier to account for his patently-suspect governance, which has people talking about the TCI as if it is being governed by an African kleptomaniac. I fear, however, that a mere cursory FAC audit of our public finances would uncover such egregious abuses and misappropriations that the British would (indeed should) feel compelled to dissolve yet another PNP government, and put our country into receivership…again.
But I have no doubt that, despite appearances, there are still PNPers who would rather sacrifice their careers than have the British impose another humiliating suspension of our Constitution “to restore respect for the rule of law and good governance in the Turks and Caicos Islands”.
Therefore, I urge them to rally around their “Gerald Ford”; i.e., a man (or woman), of unimpeachable integrity and probity, who can assume leadership of the PNP and, by extension, the premiership of our country - after we bid good riddance to the untenably-flawed Dr. Michael Misick.
(Finally, what does it say about a country where freedom (or integrity) of the press is such that no newspaper owner dares to publish any article critical of the leader out of fear of retaliation: i.e., losing political patronage or jeopardising financial interests…?)
NOTE: I have focused exclusively on the Premier’s dereliction of duties because I believe that we are, in fact, not only “mature” enough to take responsibility for the mess he’s gotten us into, but also intelligent enough to figure out how to clean it up.
But it would be tantamount to ignoring the big white elephant in the room if I did not acknowledge HE Governor Richard Tauwhare’s dereliction of duties that have contributed to our national woes. After all, it would have required his complicity or tacit approval for the Premier to commit many of these alleged political and fiduciary crimes.Not to mention the governor’s failure to deal with the menace of illegal (Haitian) immigration, which has made us liable to charges of human rights abuses and negligent homicides, and with the scourge of predatory crimes, which is threatening peace and tranquility in our island paradise..
Therefore, I admonish the FAC to reserve a special section in its report to cite and censure Governor Tauwhare for his appalling failure to perform his constitutional duties….
[* This article was also published today by Caribbean Net News, the leading regional newspaper in the Caribbean.]
Link to several Related Articles:
Premier Misick: A wannabe gansta…
No public interest in prosecuting Premier Misick for assault...?!
Premier Michael Misick, Turks and Caicos Islands
posted by ALH ipinions at 10/05/2007 04:37:00 AM
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5 Comments:
I cannot command words, instead I command creativity so I hope I can express myself as well as I do with my artwork.
I came across your writings via Caribbean Net News. It is so refreshing to read clear and intelligent thoughts. How sad is it for me, a decedent of the TCI, to be ashamed of her people? I can speak with people of other cultures and other countries about their lives and you hear the pride ringing in their voices. With me you get an earful of monotone with an undercurrent of disgust.
I was never really good with American History, but the few things I do know allows me to understand and agree with your comparison of our Premier to Nixon. Furthermore, I agree with your warning to his "sidekicks" but everyone knows they're dying to be part of the in-crowd.
What angers me most is the people are blissfully swallowing the government vile ejaculations. The rhetorical questions in one of your articles allowed me to think, but truthfully a few of those questions have been burning in my head for months. Anyone who has lived here knows our people have the potential to be an awesome power but instead we are silly, ignorant sheep; we want a leader who is removed from our plights, we crave a leader who desires the lime light, and we will follow that leader to our doom.
I was a hardcore follower of the PNP, but I am now a person. I have given up because in the sea of simpletons and stupidity there can be no room for a voice of reason. I have asked a few of the questions you asked and all I got was encouragement to trust in our leaders. After all, aren't they there to lead?
I wish I did not have to give up. Sometimes I believe I was mistakenly born into this, my heart and soul is far removed from the TCI. I will continue to read your blog and I hope you continue to ask questions and burn fires under the rest of the youth.
At 22 it is a shame for me to give up but what if someone younger than myself, someone with an even greater potential to change our nation, has done the same?
C Ferguson
C Ferguson,
You have no idea how much I empathize with your frustrations, which you expressed in commanding fashion incidentally.
But even after coping with my frustrations for twice as long, the thought of giving up on my country has never entered my mind. Therefore, I hasten to disabuse you of that notion...unconditionally!
Instead, I entreat you to help me transform the consciousness of our people from uninformed acceptance of this abuse to informed defiance against it. And you can do this through your art, in patient and instructive discussions with family and friends and / or by merely emailing this article to every TCIslander you know.
God bless
I challenge you to sit down with an unjaundiced mind and consider what, if anything, has Misick ever done of note for his country? From the outside looking in he seems no more than a "good time charlie" attending functions with a tarty looking wife from some substandard US soap. The people get what the people deserve. Vote sensibly next time.
I enjoy reading your observations and opinions in regard to the T&CI. I think that they are very informative and realistic. I too am a TCIslander who have been away for a number of years. I have never voted so therefore, I have no political preference. I try to keep informed about the political and economical issues of the T&CI especially since I intend on moving back home. I must say that I being from the T&CI; it makes me leary of what I hear because I know how TI people can be quick to "flap their gums" with "hear say". I don't know what supporting evidence that you have to base your findings and opinions on, but I would like to hope that the T&CI government is not in the predicament of which you stated. I look forward to reading your next article and hope that it would be enlightening as to the future of the Island.
C Ferguson,
You seem so angry and displeased with the choices of the TCIslanders. At such a young age it's a shame to see you give up on your country. Giving up on one's country is like giving up on one's family. Even though at times it may seem impossible to reason with people we must realize that in the end people will see the errors of their ways and do the right thing. I believe that T&CI is in for a big change. TCIslanders are becoming more educated and wiser to the political game that they are now able to think for themselves. I remember how back in the day when people would sell their vote for food. This was done by uneducated people who didn't care about economics and making a difference. You are young and I assume that you are in college so, think about how you can make a difference.
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