Michael Misick Accused of Rape. Turks and Caicos Islands Shocked!

A woman has accused Premier Hon. Dr. Michael Misick of rape. And her accusation is spreading like wildfire. Everyone in the Turks & Caicos Islands (TCI) is shocked. But no one is surprised.

Michael Misick accused of rape

Rumors are that his premiership is going down in flames. Even supporters of his ruling Progressive National Party (PNP) are fueling those rumors. Their disloyalty reflects long-simmering disaffection and disillusionment with his leadership.

But I urge my compatriots to resist fanning those flames. After all, nobody knows all the facts. And only God knows what this accusation means for Misick and our country.

He denies it, of course. Here, in part, is the statement he delivered on state TV on Thursday night:

My fellow Turks and Caicos Islanders, a few days ago, an American female, after leaving the Turks and Caicos Islands, made a false report to law enforcement officials in the United States that she had allegedly been sexually assaulted by me.

I strongly and categorically deny these false allegations. … Let me be clear, I will continue my duties as Premier.

Misick is entitled to the presumption of innocence – until proven guilty! Never mind complaints that he has routinely denied TCIslanders the rights they’re entitled to. But this case will take months, if not years, to play out.

So keep calm, and carry on.

What allegedly happened?

This story has national, regional, and international significance. There’s no denying that. So, I hope this commentary fosters more informed gossip about it.

Simply put, no court in Misick’s TCI will convict him of rape. The only chance would be if the alleged victim has an eyewitness who can corroborate her accusation under oath. Because, no matter the forensic evidence, Misick is bound to win a “she said, he said” case. 

According to reliable sources, here is what little we know:

Misick allegedly committed this rape on March 27 at the TCI home he shares with his American (actress) wife, First Lady LisaRaye. The accuser is a Puerto Rican friend of LisaRaye. She reported the crime to the TCI police.

There’s no word on whether our police followed proper procedure. If they did, the police would have used a sexual assault forensic evidence (SAFE) kit to collect evidence. No doubt Misick is banking on their (willful) incompetence in this respect.

Within hours after reporting this rape to TCI police, she returned to America and reported it to the FBI.

Those are the alleged facts. And, based on them, I believe her. But those facts raise all kinds of questions. Unfortunately, most are unanswerable. And all are rife with political and legal implications. For example:

• This rape allegedly occurred on the night of the gala opening of the Nikki Beach Resort and Spa. What did guests observe – even if through a drunken or drugged-out haze? Because any antic behavior could have been a prelude to this rape.
• Misick denies raping her. But he does not deny having sex with her. So, could he be angling for a defense of consensual sex that got a bit rough…with her consent?
• Misick claims FBI agents are “just observing” the investigation. Is he being naïve or nationalistic?
• Will LisaRaye stand by her man? Or will she fly the coop back to the US to stand by her “friend”? This, especially if the FBI and IRS make her an offer she can’t refuse… Of course, if she flees, divorce proceedings are bound to follow. That means ending our tourism ad campaign. It features her in the most lucrative role of her life. And ending it would add to the millions Misick’s government has already squandered.
• His spendthrift ways have triggered a looming commission of inquiry. The British government is considering one to investigate “epidemic corruption” in the TCI. And it threatens to ensnare many government ministers. So, this rape accusation might give them just cause to finally throw Misick overboard. 

What will the British government do?

This accusation highlights the need for a commission of inquiry. After all, preliminary findings have left British officials “shocked, appalled [and] astonished.”

But Misick is the head of a rotten fish. So, their inquiry is bound to find that the whole TCI government reeks of corruption. Misick institutionalized it, after all.

Every TCIslander knows this. We also know that Misick would rat out his own family to save his own hide. And he would, especially if that means avoiding trial and probable incarceration in the United States (via comprehensive plea bargain). 

So, government ministers are in for a rude awakening if they think chopping off Misick will leave them smelling like roses. For example, his lawyers might (should) negotiate a plea bargain. He would have to tell all about his tangled web of corruption in exchange for leniency.

And his ministers have good reason to fear prosecution. That’s why it behooves them to plead their case to British officials before it’s too late. And my offer stands to represent, pro bono, anyone interested in avoiding the prosecutions that are bound to come.

Misick’s risk of arrest 

Misick would be well-advised to avoid traveling to the United States. Because the FBI would waste no time arresting him. And the last thing he wants is to be prosecuted there.

Granted, he might not be safe even in the TCI. After all, America’s extraterritorial jurisdiction appears to have no limits these days.

However, if left to TCI authorities, Misick would be forgiven for thinking he could get off scot-free. And he can look to the precedent St. Vincent and the Grenadines authorities set earlier this year.

Two women accused that country’s prime minister, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, of rape. But “his” attorney general dismissed both cases, citing reasons so absurd they’re not worth mentioning.

Then, there’s the precedent “Misick’s” own attorney general set last year.

A man accused Misick of physical assault. And he allegedly obstructed justice to cover up that crime. Yet the attorney general decided there was “no public interest” in prosecuting Misick, citing reasons so absurd they’re not worth mentioning.

The glaring difference, of course, is that the alleged victim in this case is American. By contrast, the alleged victims in the Gonsalves rape cases, as well as the alleged victim in the Misick assault case, were all locals.

That should not make any difference. But I trust it’s obvious why it makes all the difference in the world.

* This article was also published today in the most widely-read newspaper in the Caribbean: Caribbean Net News