OT 301: Letter to the Chairman from Gillian Merron MP

 

 

Turks and Caicos Islands Commission of Inquiry

 

Further to my letter of 22 October 2008, I wanted to let you know that the Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands has again extended the time for the Commission of Inquiry to present a preliminary report to 30 April 2009. This was due to the volume of material submitted to the Inquiry and delays in the transmission of information requested by it.

 

A copy of the Governor's press statement is attached.

 

 

11 February 2009

 

5 February 2009

Press Statement

Commission of Inquiry

In exercise of his powers under the Commissions of Inquiry Ordinance, my predecessor appointed a Commission of Inquiry on 10 July to inquire whether there is information that corruption or other serious dishonesty in relation to past and present elected members of the House of Assembly (previously known as the Legislative Council) may have taken place in recent years. The Commission was asked to present a preliminary report and recommendations to the Governor by 3 November.
 
When it became apparent that the Commission would not be able to do its job effectively within this deadline, I extended the date by which is should present its preliminary findings to me to 16 February 2009. Some of the reasons which led to the extension of the deadline have persisted. The volume of material submitted to the Commission has continued to grow. But, at the same time, there have been delays in the transmission to the Commission of information requested by it and of importance to its inquiry. One of the results of this has been the postponement of the hearings the Commission is now holding from December 2008 to the present time.

 The Commission will be concluding its hearings by 13 February 2009. But it is already clear that the deadline of 16 February cannot be met if the Commission is to fulfill its mandate with the thoroughness it deserves. After consultation with the Commissioner, and acting under Section 3 of the Commission of Inquiry Ordinance, I have therefore today formally directed the Commission to present its preliminary findings to me by 30 April 2009.

 

I know that many will be concerned by the uncertainty implicit in a further extension of the time of the Commission of Inquiry. But, as I said when announcing the first extension on 21 October: "the important thing is that it (the Commission) should be allowed the time necessary to do its job properly. This will enhance the credibility of its report and, ultimately, provide the basis to ensure that the TCI's reputation is firmly established as a jurisdiction based on the rule of law and the integrity of all who hold public office". That statement remains as true now as it was then. I regret that this comparatively short extension of the Commission's time is proving necessary. But I am sure that it is the right thing to do.