Working means Talking

PNP Government needs to say what led to a $500,000+ financial reward to Complainants and update us on the promise to “Living our best life”

#TurksandCaicos, May 27, 2022 – I don’t know about you, but we the people need to know why over half a million dollars of public funds was awarded to persons who won their claims against the Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

These claims were successful that they were poorly, inhumanely or criminally handled by our system. Why haven’t we heard what will be done to avoid any repeat of what went wrong in these matters?

The PNP Government saw and heard the reactions of the people of the TCI, and completely ignored the situation, and decided that once again, it was okay to not give any account to anyone.  Not even to you, who voted them in office.

Our leaders must find out what measures can be put in place to avoid constantly losing cases whether it is the criminal court or the civil court. This is like a pest eating away at the harvest we should be enjoying. If improved control and preventative measures are in place and properly followed, of course it is no guarantee for a perfect winning record, but we will stand a better fighting chance at winning or possibly seeing lower claim payouts.

The seriousness and far-reaching consequences not dotting “I”s and not crossing “T”s must be clearly understood by every person employed in the public sector.

This is an age which demands greater levels of transparency, consistent and intelligent communication and the kind of maturity by senior officers of our public offices which can admit wrongs and implement strategies and procedures to right the wrongs as quickly as possible.

Yet, no one is made to account.  It continues to be business as usual.  Maybe because it is not directly their money and if that is true, then it will make sense for Turks and Caicos Islanders to question whether we have the right stewards over our money.

I don’t know about you, but I found those payouts from the public purse to be jaw-dropping – and I know I am not alone.

Most of us would have heard the new budget address, all we heard was the same surplus talks and millions going into the public purse, but we have yet to see Islanders economically empowered, and amongst other things, our islands continue to struggle with things like better infrastructural development that can transform our communities into areas its residents can be proud of.

Why do we still have unpaved roads in TCI? Why don’t we have more parks for families to take their children or for our people to walk, run and jog? Why don’t we have more pedestrian crossings, sidewalks and speed bumps in our communities? Why aren’t we investing in recreational centres or other familyfriendly options that give our children more to do and to bring out the unique talents in them? Why isn’t more being done to better outfit our surrounding islands?

PNP, pay attention to your people, take a look at the audience you continue to address, they are not the same individuals you begged in the lower income areas for votes. This government’s focus has proven to be on one group of people when it should be country first. A new course of action must be taken to better the lives of your people – ALL of your people.

This beautiful country is in need of radical leaders who will pave a way for generations to come. Leaders with real vision that is not there for a title or to sit on a panel with no insight with what’s really going on in our country.

To the citizens of Turks and Caicos, The People’s Democratic Movement, will be ready to set that new course of action, we will continue to hold those accountable for you.

In closing, as we prepare to remember our only national hero, the Rt Excellent James Alexander George Smith McCartney, a founder of the PDM party, let’s remember his sacrifices and accomplishments for a better standard of living for the people of this country, let’s live in unity and keep the dream alive of our national hero. I stand with you Turks and Caicos to ensure that we ALL are able to have a better future for generation to come.

Robert Been

PDM Deputy Party Leader