Commission of Inquiry into corruption looms for the Turks and Caicos Islands

I caution all members of the ruling PNP to consider carefully whether blind loyalty to this Premier is worth risking their career, 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….

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.

This quote is from a commentary I wrote last October, titled Alas throwing Premier Misick overboard is necessary to save the TCI, in which I entreated senior members of the government of the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) to prevail upon Premier Michael Misick to resign.

Today, in light of last week’s evidence session of the UK Foreign Affairs Committee (FAC), I feel obliged to extend my entreaty to rank and file members of the PNP – for their own sake as well as for the sake of our country. And here’s why:

The report on this session, which was published here on Monday, highlighted the fact that members of the FAC were “shocked and appalled” by the failure of the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to ensure good governance in the TCI. More importantly, however, the report made it forebodingly clear that members were “astonished” by the spectre of corruption, intimidation and fear they found in this Overseas Territory.

Now there seems little doubt that the British government will be compelled (legally, politically and morally) to establish a commission of inquiry to investigate sweeping allegations of wrongdoing by our government officials.

Indeed, the only uncertainty is whether the British will prevail upon our reportedly complicit (or compromised) governor to convene a commission; or whether they will “send the heavies in” from the UK to conduct an inquiry on recommendation by the FAC. But it will be established despite the patently contrived attempt by a local newspaper, the Turks & Caicos Sun, to delude some and fool others into thinking that “No Commission of Inquiry” is forthcoming.

Therefore, it behooves all TCIslanders – who have just cause to worry about a commission of inquiry following the trail of corruption to their own bank accounts or front doors – to take steps now to make full restitution. And this applies especially to high-ranking government officials who have participated in speculative sales of Crown Lands or in self-dealing business transactions, which they knew or should have known were either unethical or illegal.

Because, as I warned in the above-referenced commentary, British investigators will examine every land transfer, bank deposit, and business deal conducted in recent years for evidence of unjust enrichment. And only a deluded fool can doubt that grave consequences are bound to follow….

I am convinced, however, that the FAC will recommend leniency, if not immunity, for anyone who does the right thing now; i.e., by voluntarily disclosing any personal involvement and all he or she knows about these matters. After all, the British know as well as I do that the vast majority of TCIslanders who have been ensnared in this government’s misdeeds were invariably unwitting pawns.

Of course, I am mindful of the rational fear of reprisals far too many of our people have in this respect. Therefore, I’m prepared to facilitate all such disclosures to British authorities in a manner that guarantees confidentiality – based on my professional oath as an attorney licensed to practice in the TCI and the UK. In addition, I will consult with the FAC, free of charge, on behalf of any TCIslander who wants to clear his or her conscience, but fears civil or criminal liability.

Accordingly, I invite anyone facing this predicament to contact me via the link above.

God bless the Turks and Caicos Islands and our long-suffering people.

Related Articles:
Alas, throwing Premier Misick overboard is necessary…
Report: British FAC “shocked and appalled”… (updated)

Turks and Caicos Islands