OT 345: E-mail from Mr Galmo W Williams, Premier and Leader of the Progressive National Party, Turks and Caicos Islands, to the Chairman of the Committee: Turks and Caicos Islands

 

Firstly I wish to commend the Foreign Affairs Committee for the work that it has been doing, continues to do and in particular the work that has been done regarding TCI.

 

The announcement of the decision to extend the period for the submission of the Final Report of the Commission of Inquiry provides hope and an opportunity for HMG to reconsider its earlier express intention to suspend the Turks and Caicos Constitution and to allow my Government to prove that we have the will, determination, integrity and competence to continue with our plans "The Way Forward" to cure the defects as outlined in the Commission's Interim Report.

 

As you are aware on March 24th I was sworn in as the new Premier of Turks and Caicos Islands. Since that time, my Government has demonstrated its intention to advance a new era of good governance. In this regard I wish to highlight some of the initiatives we were able to achieve from then to now.

 

LEGISLATIVE ACCOMPLISHMENT

 

· A Code of Conduct for Ministers has been implemented.

· Passed the Amendments to the Integrity in Public Office Ordinance.

 

MINISTERIAL ACCOMPLISHMENT

 

· Imposed a temporary moratorium placed on Land Grants until a Crown Land Bill is enacted and the Crown Land Manual is implemented.

 

· Cancelled the Medical Referral Contract (which took up nearly 27% of the budget).

 

· All contracts are being reviewed to determine if they are still relevant and if they are, to seek cost reductions. This exercise should be completed by June 30, 2009.

 

· The issuance of a Cabinet Directive for all Ministers to Register and release their interests publicly.

· Initiate the set up of a permanent physical Office of Registrar of Interest.

 

· We have begun to implement a Fiscal Stabilization Plan, which encompass a number of immediate and short-term measures to stabilize and consolidate our financial position.

 

· Government Ministers salaries have been reduced by 10%.

 

· We have instituted regular (fort-nightly) meetings of the House of Assembly.

 

· Sought Cabinet's approval for the establishment of a bipartisan Select Committee of the House of Assembly to review and make recommendations on the reform of the electoral system, including the establishment of an Independent Elections Commission and new laws to regulate political parties and the financing of campaigns.

 

· We are in the process of establishing a bipartisan Select Committee of the House of Assembly to make recommendations for the review of the Standing Orders of the House, including strengthening the Committee System and to look at the overall management of the House of Assembly.

 

We welcome Minister Merron statement made in the BVI on April 9th regarding the Territories meeting their commitments to good governance and partnership as were outlined in the 1999 White Paper.

 

My government is committed to working with HMG to achieve the same goals and beyond what was highlighted in her press statement made in BVI. And so we have assemble a Cabinet from among the existing elected Members of the House of Assembly who have demonstrably not been involved in the alleged wrongdoing that has been the subject of the Commission of Inquiry's attention.

 

In 1998, upon receiving a review of Britain's relations with the Overseas Territories the then Foreign Secretary, Robin Cook, made a statement to the Dependent Territories Association at Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, London, on Wednesday 4 February 1998 -where he said "Your democratically-elected governments of the Dependent Territories have the right to govern, to be consulted by Britain on any constitutional changes affecting you, and to propose changes of your own. Just as we respect the wishes of the people of the Dependent Territories to decide on whether you wish to remain British, so we also respect your wishes to elect your own governments and be represented by them."

 

It is against this backdrop and in keeping with a modern relationship that I submit that, to not suspend our constitution will be truly advancing our partnership, as was envisioned by the First Minister for Overseas Territories Baroness Symons one decade and a year ago to the date.

In keeping with a modern partnership for this new millennium, we implore you to not displace the democratically elected government and displace the will of the people, but rather, to allow the system to work, thereby cultivating a culture of allowing and indeed forcing the systems to work, which will serve us well for centuries to come.

 

I believe that my election to the office of Party Leader and thereby Premier demonstrates, a degree of political maturity that has been difficult to attain in many nations. That the people of this territory, including my political colleagues, have not only the temerity to remove a popular, politically savvy Premier, but also, to reject a highly regarded, but politically damaged Deputy Premier, evinces an intention to insist upon the rule of law for the peace, order and good governance of TCI, and demonstrates that if allowed to, the systems can work, and that they should, in this case, be allowed to work.

 

For us to partner for progress, we ask that our Executive nor our Legislative branches of the government be suspended, but that we be allowed the opportunity to put the necessary systems in place, and we commit to holding fresh elections within nine months to one year from May 1, 2009.

 

Turks and Caicos - like the rest of the world - faces a severe economic downturns. As such, decisions that must be made to stabilize the economy, are inherently political. An Interim Government simply cannot enjoy the public support for its decisions, nor can it enjoy acceptance by those opposing it, in the manner of an elected body, for the sake of the representation of the people's interests.

 

In our brief time in government, we have demonstrated our interest in good, open governance. We believe the institutions of the constitution ought to be allowed to work, and together, the British and our regional friends, can assist us in getting these institutions on their feet.

 

We believe in a spirit of cooperation, we can bring the Turks and Caicos into a new era of good governance, hence my Deputy and I remain open to meet with you to discuss a viable alternative to the suspension of our constitution.

 

 

 

23 April 2009