Connect with us

TCI News

TCI: Former Premier Michael Misick Press Statement

Published

on

#Providenciales, October 31, 2019 – Turks and Caicos – On hearing that the Premier was making a National Address I waited with baited breath, intense anticipation, hoping that the Premier after being missing in action for months, had a major announcement to make on tackling crime, Immigration and civil servants pay.  An announcement of a breakthrough in the Constitutional talks would have been a game changer or maybe a first major investment since coming to office was about to be lauded for which she could have finally claim honest credit.  

But to my disappointment non of the above happened.  Instead in her typical roddy, bullying style she used the national radio to try to intimidate the striking air traffic controllers, politicians and ordinary citizens who stood with them for exercising their Constitutional right to peacefully protest. 

Let me be clear; I am not intimidated by Sharlene Cartwright or any of her fake Facebook accounts. I have stood with the workers of the Turks and Caicos Islands fighting for jobs, better pay and working conditions, respect and against discrimination all of my adult life.  Where was Sharlene when I and others stood with the workers of club Med in the 80s and cost it to be shut down until they changed their discriminatory practices?  Where was Sharlene when I and others stood up against the racism that was perpetrated on our people by the then owner of the Yacht Club, Jack Albershadt, who we ran out of town? So my record of standing with my people is undeniable I dare Sharlene to show anything comparable on her behalf. 

Unlike her and Doug Parnell, I am not running for political office this time.  Therefore, I don’t need a photo opt.  I have served my country for more than 25 years and my record speaks for it self.  I stood with the air traffic controllers because it was the right thing to do. 

I was first made Tourism Minister in the early 90s and my government formed 2003 to 2009 has done more to promote these islands including putting these islands on the map as a high end tourist destination.  So I do not need no “Johnny Come Lately” politician to lecture me about destroying an industry which my government helped to create . While we must protect the tourism industry, we cannot continue to do so at the expense of our own people, be they the air traffic controllers or the hotel workers.  I will always stand with the people of this country when threatened by big business that seeks to exploit them or a government that seeks to take advantage of them. 

The simple fact of the matter is that since 2009, the people of this country have seen a complete regression in their economic fortunes whether in their personal lives or their businesses.  They have seen crime increased, unsolved homicides and their quality of livelihood adversely affected like never before.  They are watching Grace Bay develop and cannot see a meaningful future there for them or their children as entrepreneurs or property owners.  

All this is taking place while the Government boasts of record surpluses but our people cannot get their children in public schools or generate any savings on their bank accounts.  Our people are either living from paycheque to paycheque or from hand to mouth with no hope in sight.  The roofs of their homes still have gaping holes in them in the aftermath of the hurricanes of 2017.

The Premier is a complete failure!!  She can fittingly be called “a do nothing Premier with all talk and no action”.   There is presently a  major crime ring that is affecting our country – where was she during the highest murder occurrence a month ago? She didn’t even have the decency to show up to her own press conference on crime.  We now know where her priority lies and it isn’t with us.  

The sloops keep coming in weekly and her solution is she can’t stop the sloops.  Again in her so called national address she said nothing about illegal Immigration.  She never takes responsibility for anything.  Instead she can be relied on to deflect and lie whenever she is confronted with an issue relating to this country.  

In her address, she gave the public the impression that the Airport Authority has nothing to do with the Government. The Authority is a statutory body that is wholly own and run under the direction of the Government. The Board reports to a minister; in this case, she is the minister responsible for the Airport Authority.  Her PS of Finance sits on the Board.  The reason for this is to ensure that Sharlene, as Premier and Minister responsible is kept abreast of essential matters of the Authority.  

As the Minister responsible she should have known what was brewing and should have dealt with it long before it got to a crisis point for the young and committed air traffic controllers who had to strike  to get her attention.  For her to now come out of hiding and spew out the garbage she did in her address is in true conformity to her style of deflection. 

She lied about the situation regarding Hon. Ralph Higgs who has a matter before the Integrity Commission.  The fact of the matter is that when she was in the Opposition she made numerous reports to the Integrity Commission about PNP Ministers including Premier Ewing and Minister Amanda Missick.  

It was the PDM with her help in 2008 that wrote fictitious letters to the British Foreign Affairs Committee complaining about my government and alleging systemic corruption causing the suspension of the Constitution and the last ten years of investigation and trial. 

Of further concern to all right thinking people, isn’t it alarming or damn right shameful how the British Government selected her and others who were highly conflicted to sit on the Consultative Forum to enact laws to persecute, sorry I meant “prosecute” her political opponents.  Wasn’t it convenient and beneficial to Sharlene and her associates to repeal the rights to jury trials and the treatment of hearsay evidence and to establish a sham kangaroo court so that she could be elected as the next government?  

If this is not Sharlene dealing in your own self-interest, then tell me what is?   And she and others like her have the audacity to call me and my colleagues corrupt?  Ain’t this exactly what the United States of America is dealing with in the impending impeachment of Donald Trump?  As they would say here….”Child Please”.  

I believe the majority of the people in this country can see and know exactly what is going on and history will judge Sharlene and people like her accordingly.

Sharlene Cartwright you are a dishonest hypocrite, a Liar and a two faceted bully who is surrounded by drug dealers and henchmen who are shaking down the Ritz Carlton investors and others for access and favors.  Maybe the Integrity

Commission should perform a close examination of this. 

But it ain’t long now the people of the Turks and Caicos will remember you at the polls and will  make sure you are a one term Premier. 

Enough is Enough

Release: Michael Misick, TCI former Premier

TCI News

Crime challenges are “not Insurmountable” says New Police Commissioner Dana Malcolm

Published

on

Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer 

”At this moment I can feel the enormity of responsibility bestowed on me and the weight of accountability and expectations of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF) as well as members of the wider community.”

That was the acknowledgment from Edvin Martin, new Commissioner of Police as he was sworn into his role as head of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF) on Monday, April 22. 

“I also feel an unprecedented opportunity and a distinguished privilege to serve by leading the Police Force into an era of modern policing,” he maintained. 

A well-trained force that is averse to corruption and maintains the trust of the people is what Martin promised in the address that spoke to the Police, the residents and the criminals. 

Not only does the Commissioner say he understands the gravity of his role and the lofty expectations to reverse high crime which he described as a ‘tremendous mandate’, he maintains he has a good grasp of the issues plaguing the country. 

To the residents, Martin called on them and all stakeholders to form an anti-crime coalition with an all-hands-on-deck approach. 

“There should be no bystanders in addressing the carnage in our communities,” he said. 

Even as Martin listed the threats of immigration, terrorism, cybercrime, transnational organized criminal activity, and the associated gang violence, illegal firearms and drug trading, he assured: 

”I urge you listening to me today, do not despair, for while these threats may be challenging, they are not insurmountable.”

The process for tackling them will need a tightened-up RTCIPF, according to the commissioner, one that is focused, well trained and adequately resourced. 

For Martin this means the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RTCIPF) must retool, restructure and reengineer its responses.

In this vein the top cop spoke directly to officers during his address, maintaining that the public deserves an accountable Police Force.

“As a service organization there will be allegations that cause the public to question our integrity; we must seek out and purge the organization of any semblance of bias, corruption and malfeasance,” he said. 

Martin maintained the top brass now has a mandate to work to ensure fairness in work and promotions.

“Anything less than this will be an injustice— we must do everything possible to inspire confidence in our force and improve our legitimacy as gatekeepers of law and order,” said the new Commissioner. 

As part of the crime fighting plan several immediate actions are to be taken:

  • The immediate and aggressive addressing of the spate violent crimes 
  • Collaborating with stakeholders to address safety challenges in the tourism industry
  • Redefining the Police Force image to become the pride of the TCI
  • Greater technological innovation
  • Restructure the force to better align with contemporaries 
  • Frequent Town Hall meetings
  • Increased safety at police stations. 

Martin had words for the mayhem causers and their ‘glaring disregard for human life and safety’ too. 

”Under my watch I can assure you that the RTCIPF will not sit idly by and observe this unrelenting rampage and havoc. Today I call on you to put down your weapons of destruction and change your criminal ways,” he said. 

Martin, who recently retired as Grenadian PC is credited with being lead of his home force for five years, serving a total 37 years before bowing out and moving on to head the CARICOM Crime Gun Intelligence Unit. 

Only months into that CARICOM job, Edvin Martin was approved and announced as police commissioner designate for the Turks and Caicos Islands, succeeding Trevor Botting. 

“My first order of business ladies and gentlemen, this morning, is to give a special thanks to God, as He directs my path in every single thing that I do. I am grateful for His blessings and His guidance,” started Mr Martin when delivering his inaugural remarks at the outdoor ceremony. 

The acknowledgment of God was a distinctive moment that many are hoping will auger well for the mission of newly installed policing leader for the TCI. Soon after his bold remarks, Martin, with his wife looking on from the audience took the oath of office and oath of allegiance in a live streamed event. 

Also giving remarks at the swearing-in ceremony staged at the Gustarvus Lightbourne Sports Complex were Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam, TCI Governor and Washington Misick, TCI Premier.

Continue Reading

TCI News

Sonia Fulford unveiled as Flow Brand Ambassador

Published

on

PROVIDENCIALES, TURKS AND CAICOS, APRIL 24th, 2024 – Flow Turks and Caicos, leading telecommunications provider, is excited to announce its latest endorsement of daughter of the soil and TCI’s most formidable local and international female sports administration icon, Sonia Fulford. She also serves as President of TCI Football Association (TCIFA), Female Member of the Concacaf Council, and Member on the FIFA Council, within the highest ranks of football governing worldwide.

FLOW TCI Country Manager, Joanne Missick shared: “Sonia’s journey continues to inspire women such as myself leading in male dominated industries, and she continues to make our country proud both on and off the global stage. It is with great pleasure that we welcome her to the Fibre Federation, as our brand ambassador, and we look forward to the many positive outcomes this partnership will reap for our brand and for Flow customers around the Turks and Caicos in the very near future.”

Sonia, a native of the Nation’s Capital of Grand Turk embarked on her career as a multi-sport athlete for TCI, which included a long tenure as Captain of the TCI National Women’s Football Team. After a successful 14-year career in the legal field, she made a significant career shift, joining the TCIFA as General Secretary in 2006 – a decision that would lead to her becoming a sports administration icon and global ambassador for football, championing the cause of girls and women around the globe, in addition to, women in sports.

During her tenure within the FA, Sonia, a decorated leader with a plethora of local and international accolades, ascended the ranks to become the President of the FA. However, the most noteworthy appointment of her career to date, was reached in May 2013, when she etched her name into the history books as one of the first Female Member representatives to be elected to the prestigious FIFA Council, a testament of her unwavering dedication and leadership.

“I am thrilled to be aligning my brand with a company that has been an integral part of the Turks and Caicos Islands for more than 125 years. Flow/C&W TCI’s mission to empower and provide opportunities to young people in the local community and region through education and sports resonates deeply with my personal mission. Therefore, I am happy to announce today that I will be joining the Fibre Federation, Flow Turks and Caicos”, declares Sonia Fulford, Flow TCI’s newest brand ambassador and TCIFA President.

Follow Flow TCI on Facebook & Instagram for the last updates on this partnership and for more exciting announcements.

Continue Reading

Crime

Following Court ruling, US Embassy Doubles Down on Warning: DO NOT TRAVEL TO TCI WITH GUNS, AMMO

Published

on

By Deandrea Hamilton

Editor

Dozens of news reports are all over TV and the internet, scarring the Turks and Caicos’ reputation yet again. This time linked to what Americans view as the preposterous law, which would, without chance for legal argument, throw a tourist into prison for 12 years.  It is a mandatory conviction law on the books for possession of unlicensed guns or ammunition, and which just heard from the Court of Appeal that there ought to be no exceptions, whether it is one bullet or one gun, whether it is a tourist or a woman.

But what policymakers in various submissions in the House of Assembly back in October thought would return a win or opportunity for leniency to be injected as part of a legal defense has backfired.  Now, unequivocally, the high court has ruled that the law gives no leeway.  Anyone found with an unlicensed gun or ammunition must face what the law says is the penalty: not a fine, no reduced prison time, no exoneration, but 12 years mandatory in His Majesty’s Prison.

Now the US Embassy is doubling down on its message to travelers to the Turks and Caicos Islands.  Do not travel with your legal gun and ammunition from the US to the islands. Do not, because in the islands, your right to carry arms is not automatic, and if you are caught, you will face severe punishment, and there is nothing the US government can do about it.  There are several tourists charged and awaiting a ruling in their cases.  There is also a Grand Turk businesswoman who was arrested for a single bullet in her luggage.  While all of these matters are shocking and drawing public calls for leniency, as far as the law goes, everyone charged under it is headed to prison for 12 years.

Continue Reading

FIND US ON FACEBOOK

TRENDING