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Heads must roll on NHIP cover up

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Providenciales, TCI, November 28, 2016 -The PDM is not surprised by the recent revelation on the state of finances of the National Insurance Board. We are offended by the comments attributed to the Cabinet in their Cabinet Minute as we find them to be insulting to our people and shows clearly that there is a disrespect for the intellect of our people and a serious case of negligence on the part of the Government.

“I told the people of this country that something was wrong for years now with NHIP and the entire healthcare system” says Party Leader.  “When I sat in the Consultative Forum, I said something was wrong:  at the rate, with our population and with how much that had to be covered from the then 4%, NHIP would be financially challenged.   After being elected I called for a review of the contract and NHIP. I later brought a Private Member’s Motion for a full investigation and it was blocked by the Government so nothing happened. When a few amendments were recently made that will incur further costs, I called for a review of NHIP. 

I told this country as recent as a few months ago that as Leader of the Opposition and Chair of the Public Accounts Committee I had not seen an Audit (not that they were not done but none was ever laid for the 6 years it was in existence).  The Minister of Finance in response to a parliamentary question that I asked inquiring as to when we might see an Audit of NHIP responded that it would come.  Here we are 6 years after its introduction and there has been no public scrutiny of the finances of NHIP and now we see why these audited accounts have not been released”.

The Minister of Finance and a Minister of Health who is also Premier together with Cabinet is recorded as saying in a recent Cabinet Minute that “Cabinet expressed grave concern about the failure of NHIB Management to bring to the attention of Cabinet in a timely fashion the parlous state of its financial situation.”  The people of this country need to know how is it possible for this to be happening under the noses of the people elected to manage the purse and they not know?  The PDM is convinced and can not be otherwise convinced that the Government did not know all along the state of the Institution.

The PDM finds it troubling that the Cabinet Minute said for the first time a report of this nature was prepared and presented. This is an indictment on this Government and this ought to have never been the case.  Healthcare is the largest expenditure in our country’s Budget and the Minister of Finance whose portfolio includes NHIP and the Premier as Minister of Health would wish for our people to believe that they did not know.  If they did not know, they did not care to know and was negligent and asleep on the job.

“The management of a health system is a life or death issue and this Plan is a part of a major expenditure item that is bleeding this country. The people of this country must ask what is this critical funding towards and whether patient care is in jeopardy? What the people need to know who we owe and if $6.1m is critical, then are there other amounts that may be less critical but outstanding in payment? With the Cabinet only able to approve $2m where does that leave our patients and their care?” says Party Leader.  She continued, “Last year, I was reported in one of our local papers saying that there was a cover up and I remain steadfast in this stance. We now need to know what else is to be uncovered?”

The PDM believes that both the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Health/the Premier has failed us as a people in many ways but this one is absolutely reckless and irresponsible and we find it more alarming that they are continuing to offer themselves as candidates in this upcoming election but so is the immediate past Chairman of the Board, Mr Mark Fulford who also had direct management of the Board and ought also to have known. These three gentlemen should be rejected at the Polls.

Our Party Leader has consistently called for an investigation into healthcare generally and NHIB specifically and as recent as a few weeks ago.  Having brought a Motion which was successful in its passage, this Government has done nothing more than cover up the true picture and stifled the agreed Resolution passed for an investigation into healthcare.  We note that there is a call by the current Government now for an investigation by the end of January next year but we demand an investigation immediately.

Our Party’s Leader has written to the Governor to this effect and we expect that the investigation will take priority given the amount of monies involved and the veil of secrecy as to its true state.  The Staff at NHIB must be congratulated for its stance as it seem to have yielded this important disclosure.

The PDM believes that the Minister of Finance and the Premier should resign even before the Polling Day.  They cannot in good conscience think that they are serving our people well.

We will address this issue head on and bring the much needed reform. We maintain, as we have always said, that the PNP has no moral authority to do so.

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Government

Why the Premier doesn’t need to be the Most Popular

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Deandrea Hamilton
Editor

 

Turks and Caicos, February 9, 2025 – It took some diligence and re-learning of the electoral process back in 2012 to understand the unique practice of voting for candidates in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

No longer were voters only choosing one constituency representative, but also five all island representatives. That has since ballooned to nine due to a constitutional change which eliminated appointed seats. Now, all seats in the TCI’s parliament are held by an individual who has been duly elected by the people.

Curiosity emerged in this 2025 national poll when E Jay Saunders, a PNP backbencher won the most votes in the all island category. He finished with 4,614 and topped Washington Misick, his party’s leader and the re-elected premier, who got 4,208 votes.

They were first and second, though the difference between them was 406 votes.

It’s not the first time the most popular finisher in the all island vote hasn’t also been premier. In fact, the first time this happened the person who got the most votes – Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson – had to be contented with serving as Opposition Leader because her party was not the one with the most elected candidates. That was in 2012.

In these islands, the premiership is won when two simple requirements are met.

One, when a political party elects its leader it is constitutionally entrenched within that document that the leader, if he or she wins their seat, will ascend to premier.

Leader of party equals leader of country if that party wins the most seats to form government and if that person is a holder of one of those seats.

Two, in order to satisfy the country’s constitutional requirement, you have to be elected to parliament and deemed the leader of the party with the most seats.

In TCIs case, we have 9 seats for the all island candidates.

Any individual who ended the day as among the nine people with the most votes, they would have satisfied that requirement because they would be among the nine elected in that category.

First or fifth, you’re in the nine and you’re the party leader, then you’re the premier.

If you’re a party leader and ended up the candidate with even the ninth highest amount of votes, you would still be qualified to be country leader.

Place in this category of the race does not matter. It’s why the fight for leadership is often so fierce within political parties, why a party has to be governed by a constitution so that clear rules are established and accepted and why the organisation has to be government approved or registered.

The governor then complies with the party’s written constitution about who he or she must swear in as premier if the said party racks up the most seats.

The PNP won the most seats; 16 of 19.

The PNP chose Washington Misick as its leader, therefore Washington Misick becomes the premier.

Popularity in the all island category in TCI gives one bragging rights (if they feel like it) and insight into how the public sees or accepts them. But, that’s all.

The voters in this 2025 runoff have demonstrated that of all the 20+ candidates that ran all island or at large, EJ Saunders was or is the most popular because he got the most votes in this category. He’s got to feel good about that fact and he should. That’s some seriously bankable political capital which he can spend in a bid to become the next leader of the PNP first, then the Turks and Caicos Islands if his party is able to repeat a victory in 2030, which is when elections are constitutionally due.

Popularity is super but in the Turks and Caicos’ system it does not automatically mean, premier.

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News

Governor’s Statement Following Results of TCI 2025 General Election

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Turks and Caicos, February 8, 2025 – This morning, I received confirmation from the Supervisor of Elections of the official results of the 7 February 2025 General Election of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Hon. Charles Washington Misick OBE JP, leader of the Progressive National Party, has written to me in line with section 31(2) of the Turks and Caicos Islands Constitution Order 2011, to demonstrate he commands the support of a majority of the elected members of the Parliament.

Accordingly, at a ceremony at the Governor’s Office this afternoon, I appointed Hon. Misick as the Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands. On his advice and in line with section 31(1)(c) of the Constitution, I appointed Hon. Jamell Rayan Robinson as Deputy Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Following the ceremony, the Hon. Premier, Deputy Governor, Hon. Deputy Premier and I received a national security briefing from the Commissioner of Police.

May I take this opportunity to thank sincerely the Supervisor of Elections, the Deputy Supervisor of Elections, all election officials and the independent observers for their committed efforts in managing the electoral process.

Instruments of appointment will be published in the Official Gazette.

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Crime

TCI Police Report a Rape Conviction, Handfield registered as SEX OFFENDER

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Turks and Caicos, February 8, 2025 – The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force acknowledges the sentencing of convicted rapist ELVETHAN “ALVIN” HANDFIELD to life imprisonment following his guilty plea. Handfield was charged with the following offences: Two Counts of RAPE and Two Counts of USING AN OFFENSIVE WEAPON TO CAUSE FEAR.

The Supreme Court delivered the ruling yesterday (February 6), with Handfield, 47, of Glass Shack, Providenciales, being ineligible for parole until he has served 16 years. Should parole be granted, he will be registered as a sex offender for life.

Acting Superintendent Grantley Williams, Head of Serious Crime, Safeguarding, and Public Protection, stated: “Following an extensive investigation by our Safeguarding and Public Protection Unit, Handfield was charged after a report made by a female victim on April 20, 2024. The victim, after entering a jitney driven by Handfield on April 19, 2024, was taken to his residence in Glass Shack, where she was subjected to sexual assault before being released the following day.

“This heinous act of violence, where Handfield posed as a jitney driver, lured, and assaulted the victim while threatening harm, is despicable. The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force commend the victim’s bravery in coming forward, demonstrating immense courage in ensuring that this predator is brought to justice.

We recognize this is a difficult journey, and our Safeguarding and Public Protection Unit officers remain available to support the healing process.

We take this opportunity to urge any victims of sexual violence to come forward. Your reports are vital in removing dangerous offenders from our streets and ensuring the safety of our communities. Our commitment to justice remains unwavering, and we will continue to work tirelessly to protect and safeguard the communities.”

If you have been a victim or know anyone who has been a victim of sexual assault, please get in touch with the police without delay at the Safeguarding and Public Protection Unit at 232- 6696 or the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) at -338-4013.

All calls will be treated with sensitivity and confidentiality.

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