Garfield Ekon
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, May 31, 2024 – The Opposition says it is “profoundly shocked and dismayed” by a recent town hall meeting convened by the Turks and Caicos Islands Government, on the Grand Turk Cruise Port Operations.
In a statement issued by the Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Edwin A. Astwood, he said over 200 concerned individuals, comprising tour operators, store managers/workers, beach vendors, taxi drivers, restaurant and retail workers, and others, attended the meeting, and sought clarity on the proposed shutdown of the Grand Turk Cruise Center, and they “left without substantive information by the Government.”
He said, included in the meeting, were the Premier and Cabinet Ministers, and the lack of information is “utterly unacceptable. It has now been a week since the meeting with Carnival executives, and all that has been offered is what the Premier described as a mere ‘holding letter’ sent to Carnival. This lack of decisive action and transparency is deeply troubling,” he pointed out.
Mr. Astwood who is also the leader of the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM), is contending that simply convening meetings to listen to the concerns of impacted businesses and citizens is not sufficient, and what is “urgently needed” is a “comprehensive plan” that not only addresses the implications of Carnival’s proposal, but also ensures the protection of livelihoods in Grand Turk.
He said the critical issue is that, the Progressive National Party (PNP) Government’s continuation in making “bad contractual deals” with Outside companies that have been shown to have “ultimately disadvantaged” the people of the country, and in this case, directly disadvantaged the residents of Grand Turk.
“The relationship between Governments and corporations, particularly in the cruise industry, demands transparency, accountability, and a steadfast commitment to serving the best interests of the populace. Unfortunately, all too often, we witness instances where the PNP Governments enter into agreements that prioritise profits over people, which is now leading to dire consequences for our people, our communities, and our collective well-being,” he said.
The Leader of the Opposition said by engaging in “these covert dealings”, the Premier and his Government have demonstrated a “shocking lack of integrity” and a blatant disregard for the concerns and needs of the people they were elected to serve, and it is alarming that the Government stated that out of 14 projects earmarked for the infrastructure fund, only two or three have come to fruition, despite over $9 million allocated.