#TurksandCaicos, February 5, 2021 – If you want a straight talking, agriculture advocate in the House of Assembly the next time parliament in Turks and Caicos convenes, then perhaps Courtney Missick is the candidate for you. The 47-year-old pastor and talk show host is a farmer on the island of North Caicos and on Tuesday, he released an electronic version of his manifesto.
The seven-page document focuses largely on
farming and the development of agriculture, with Missick laying out seven
pillars where he promises to advocate for farming as the path to a healthier
nation and the sustainable development of the agriculture sector; to ensure
equality in Public Service benefits; greater financing to support local
business development; restoration of powers to cabinet ministers and a policy
to free-up space in public schools.
Missick wants to re-design the government
farm in North Caicos. Often a forgotten
treasure, the farm has suffered various shocks including theft and economic,
political and natural events which have reduced production and shrunk its scope.
There used to be livestock, acres of fruits
and vegetables and boundless potential.
Missick wants to create a model farm; to be
replicated in other islands and give aspiring farmers a quarter acre lot within
the 10-acre government farm as a teaching tool.
Grants, long term land leases and a farm
which will come only when farmers show a dedication to learning best practices.
Missick also supports home and community
farming; he says in the document.
When it comes to public schools; the
independent candidate explained Turks and Caicos must discontinue paying for
the education of work permit holders while denying indigenous children
placement in the government school system.
“…if a work permit fee is $2,500 a year but
a child’s education is valued at $5,000 a year, then we are on the losing end
of that transaction,” he writes in the manifesto in his Pillar No. 6.
Courtney Missick believes there must be an
understudy program which ensures Turks and Caicos Islanders move up within an
organization or the civil service.
He feels cash grants of $70,000 to support
business development should be delivered incrementally, and should go strictly
to 100% locally owned companies in order to reduce the likelihood of “fronting”
in order to boost start up concessions.
The Reverend from North wants stronger support for the Centre for
Entrepreneurial Development.
The manifesto, provided to Magnetic Media
by the candidate who once served in the country’s Consultative Forum during the
UK Interim Administration wants a true technical school. Carpentry, Masonry, Building Engineering,
Block Laying and Electrical are some courses he names for the institution.
He outlines some systems he believes would
balance technical and practical development of the students of the technical
school and these certified graduates would, he outlines, be fast-tracked in the
understudy program which makes up his fifth pillar.
In the Public Service, Missick says he will
advocate for balance.
“The Government should have one standard
policy across the board for all civil servants, if contract workers receive
gratuity, local government workers should receive the same benefits. AT the end of a public servant’s tenure, due
to retirement or for any other reason, workers should receive remuneration.”
Courtney M. Missick is one of 18
individuals who nominated Friday January 29 to hold one of five All-Island
Candidate seats in parliament. While ten
of the nominees were linked to a political party; Missick and seven others are
vying for the votes as independent prospects.
