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OT 435: Written Evidence from Ben Roberts, Turks and Caicos Islands
Letter to the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office from the Turks & Caicos Forum regarding the Overseas Territory of Turks and Caicos Islands
This letter is of an urgent nature and is being sent to the attention of the principals and decision-makers in the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO). It has to do with growing concerns in the Turks & Caicos (T&C) on the part of the TC Forum in regard to the recent developments resulting from the intervention into this Overseas Territory by the Overseeing authority that is the British Government. These are acute concerns by the citizenry of T&C, which includes the TC Forum, a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) whose core membership, both individually and collectively, have a distinct history of being seriously and single-mindedly committed to being in the forefront of the progress and advancement of the peoples of T&C irrespective of the governing political regime.
Just prior to, and since the installation of the Interim Government in T&C following a damning Commission of Inquiry, which incidentally was strongly called for and supported by the *TC Forum, there have been a series of moves and positions taken by the orchestrating agency of the FCO, on behalf of the British Government, that seem not to be in the best interest of the people of T&C. Not only do these actions seem not to be in the best interest of the peoples of T&C they appear to be, in addition, a gross violation of the rights of T&C citizens. The most recent such proposed action is a February 15, 2010 article in the 'Today's News' section of www.tcinetnews.com, titled: 'Britain to dictate Constitution.' This article states in no uncertain terms that the British, through their FCO, are in the process of empanelling a body to craft a reformed Constitution for the T&C and that those selected will not include a plurality of T&C Islanders. In fact based on the article, it will not include any T&C citizens at all. Suffice it to say that the opinions of the TC Forum, and myself, are strong on this issue. However, at this time we in the TC Forum reserve those opinions until we know if this is the intended action of the FCO. In essence we are asking the FCO, here in this correspondence, if such a plan of action is true or not. And we think it only fitting that those responsible in the FCO be kind enough to see this as an important issue that warrants a response.
However, notwithstanding this above mentioned pressing issue, the TC Forum is of the opinion that it is long overdue that we meet with principals in the FCO to discuss matters of grave concern as they relate immediately to T&C in the current British intervention. These issues include, but are not limited to, the following:
1. Discussing the financial burdens of increased taxation such as the mandatory National Health Insurance Plan and financial lock-outs of income generation such as the Offshore banking restrictions being suddenly rammed through in this uncertain Interim Government period and imposed on the Territory without one iota of public or political discussion, all to the benefit of Britain.
2. Agreeing upon the implementation, and in some cases roll-back, of Belongership, immigration, land and real property ownership, and electoral reform policies to ensure that T&C citizens, and most especially its indigenous people, do not become disenfranchised in their own country.
3. Addressing ways to deal with the runaway, and now more than ever unnecessary, immigrant labour force to accommodate inevitable cutbacks in the bloated Civil Service workforce, and the general employment slowdown for regular citizens.
4. Figuring out imaginative income generation methods for T&C that minimizes the need for unimaginative and burdensome taxation and destructive loan arrangements that could hamper the peoples of T&C for generations.
5. Prompt discussion and action on curbing illegal Haitian immigration into T&C in light of the earthquake disaster. This issue needs to be immediately addressed since it affects T&C in just about all segments of society.
6. Discussing the need for immediate monitoring of the British Interim Government intervention in T&C. As it is now the Governor of the Territory, and his FCO bosses, have absolute authority and do not have to give account or abide by the counsel of anyone locally or internationally. This cannot be good for the people of T&C, as far as ensuring their rights and what is in their best interests. As of now, two far-reaching decisions have been made that will affect the people of T&C for generations to come. They were done so without representative debate, town meetings, or any serious public discussion. This is a disaster for the people of T&C. There should be some form of monitoring of the British process in T&C. One that is non-confrontational, but simply aimed at observing the British process to see that it is proceeding in the utmost fashion that ensures the rights of the citizens, and cataloguing the concerns of those citizens as the process unfolds.
Added to this are the longer term issues, such as the outdated methods by which the British and FCO deal with the Overseas Territory of Turks & Caicos. Methods which benefit neither the British or the peoples of T&C, and in many cases are destructive to the latter. For too long there has been a climate of insulation and neglect in the relationship between the people of T&C and their Overseeing authority of the FCO. It must be understood that such climate is what has brought about the current crisis and dislocation in T&C. The result of which has been a deluge of financial obligations, the majority of which the Overseeing authority has pinned on the fledgling Territory, all the while claiming it to be their Dependency. All of these issues need to be discussed. They include, but are not limited to, the following:
1. Representation of Turks & Caicos in the British Parliament, or at the very least an emissary, or emissaries, from that Territory providing updates at intervals to the Crown on the state of affairs of the jurisdiction.
2. Full empowerment of the office of the Complaints Commissioner, as called for in the original Constitution, so as to ensure against the destructive and costly political excesses the Territory is now attempting to recover from. All unnecessary had the Overseeing authority seen to it that the position was fortified.
3. Addressing the actions of the Overseeing authority as regards their Constitutional obligation of protecting the territorial integrity of T&C. The result of which has been decades of crushing illegal immigration from neighboring countries that has resulted in a persistent financial and social anemia of immeasurable proportions.
4. Discussing long-term policies in regard to the qualification for, and acquisition of, T&C Belongerships, work permits, contract adjustments, and property ownership by legal immigrants, including potential roll-backs where these privileges were obtained illegally.
5. Discussing the British intervention into T&C and agreeing on milestones to see to it that, contrary to pronouncements by leading FCO officials of a heavier presence, the Interim Government period is not a day longer than necessary, since the longer it goes the more retarding and negative the impact on the peoples of T&C.
6. Evaluating what tangible benefits T&C has derived from its centuries-old historical colonial control and possession by Britain, and addressing the issue of possible linkage and partnership of the Territory with an alternate national entity under terms geared to true partnership and progress based on openness, equanimity, and responsibility.
These are some of the immediate and long-term concerns that need to be addressed by the TC Forum and British Government, through its executing agency of the FCO. It is hoped that, in the interest of all concerned, principals in the FCO make it a reality to see that this meeting takes place as soon as possible. Thank you.
8 March 2010
* Please refer to the 2009 Foreign Affairs Committee report titled:
House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee Overseas Territories Seventh Report of Session 2007-08
that catalogs the submissions of Turks & Caicos citizens calling for intervention by the British Overseeing authority. This document highlights the TC Forum, and its input in this undertaking.
Sub-section #6 of the first list of the 'immediate' issues outlined in the document is of paramount importance to the peoples of Turks & Caicos, and warrants immediate attention.
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