Vexed Bermoothes

The Premier has taken a vocal stand in support of the discredited Government of the Turks & Caicos Islands, which is soon to be replaced by an interim government while the extensive allegations of corruption and official misconduct are investigated.

Many have asked why he is taking this stance, and how Bermuda stands to benefit from this expenditure of political capital?

After all, the latest news out of TCI is that up to 500 witnesses supplied information that may be used in prosecutions – shedding light into the scale of the problems there.

The PLP was quick to jump on UBP stalwart Quinton Edness’ editorial on the matter, which questioned the propriety of the UK’s actions in TCI.

Mr. Edness has now followed up on his original letter:

May 6, 2009

Dear Sir,

You may recall that I recently published on the 22nd April an opinion on what I called, “the constitutional disruption that occurred in The Turks and Caicos Islands by the British Government”. While agreeing it was urgently necessary to do something about the situation that prevailed in TCI, I blamed the British Government for the manner in which I thought they went about it. I was wrong.

My main concern was that the democratic process in Turks and Caicos be preserved. I also felt it was not necessary to amend the constitution by order in council because the British Government had the authority to act under the present TCI constitution. However the information that I had received which led me to accuse the British Government of sacking the Premier and others and dissolving Parliament was incorrect.

Our Governor Sir Richard Gozney sent me a very informative letter, graciously written, correcting the inaccuracies that I wrote. I am very grateful to him for taking the time to do so. I have spoken to him subsequently, and asked his permission to publish his letter so that all can see where I went wrong, and at the same time have a better understanding of the approach the British Government is taking to resolve the very difficult and complex issues in Turks and Caicos.

The following is Sir Richard’s letter:

“22 April 2009

The Hon. Quinton L. Edness, CBE, JP, Warwick

Dear Quinton (if I may),

I was interested to read your article in The Royal Gazette on 22 April. The situation in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) is indeed sad, regrettable and cause for much concern. You recognise in your article, rightly, that something had to be done following the shocking disclosures that surfaced during the work of the Commission of Inquiry. But I hope that you will not take it amiss if I explain some inaccuracies in your article.

The British Government has not sacked the Premier of the TCI, nor anyone else. Premier Misick was ousted by his former Cabinet colleague, Galmo Williams, who launched a successful bid to replace him as Premier, winning on 28 February an election for the leadership of the PNP. This followed several weeks of turmoil within the PNP, generated in part by disquiet at the evidence given before the Commission of Inquiry.

The TCI House of Assembly has not been dissolved by the Governor. It sat earlier this month for the first time after being prorogued three months earlier by ex-Premier Misick, apparently to avoid the risk of a vote of no confidence in his government.

Unless the Commissioner’s final report, now due to be submitted on or before 31 May, significantly changes the current assessment of the situation by the UK government and the Governor, the Order in Council to suspend parts of the Constitution will then be brought into fore shortly after the final report is received. This would not be a shift to indefinite direct rule, rather a targeted intervention lasting no longer than it would take for essential reforms to be implemented.

During the period of the suspension, the Governor would consult with the people of the TCI through the bodies described in the Order in Council which would be established to replace the Cabinet and the House of Assembly.

This action would not be taken lightly and the significance of it is fully appreciated by both the Governor and the UK government; but it is deemed necessary to restore the principles of good governance in the TCI.

I hope we have this chance to meet again soon.

Yours sincerely,

Richard H T Gozney”

I accept Sir Richard’s comments to be the true position taken by the British Government which I now regard as sensitive to the preservation of the democratic process and respectful to the people of TCI. I therefore wish to retract the remarks I made about the British Government especially the condemnation of it that I made.

I apologise and wish them every good wish in their efforts to help the people of Turks and Caicos.

THE HONOURABLE QUINTON L.EDNESS CBE, JP, Warwick