Thursday, July 9, 2009

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Former TCI premier faces criminal inquiry By JUAN MCCARTNEY ~ Guardian Senior Reporter ~ juan@nasguard.com: Not only is there no hope of the Turks and Caicos Islands having its constitution reinstated and power returned to its parliamentarians in the near future, but former TCI Premier Michael Misick and four ministers who served in his cabinet are facing a criminal investigation by a special prosecutor. TCI Governor Gordon Wetherell, who retains ultimate authority in the British territory since its constitution was suspended in March, said yesterday that he has identified a special prosecutor and a senior investigating officer to work in a Civil and Criminal Recovery Unit (CCRU) that will conduct criminal investigations into the conduct of Misick and those four cabinet ministers, who Wetherell failed to identify. He added that the CCRU will attempt to identify "possible corruption or other serious dishonesty," that occurred during Misick's tenure in office. "The necessary procedures relating to [the prosecutor's and senior investigating officer's] appointments are now underway," Wetherell said in a press statement. "The holders of these positions will work together with a team on the investigations recommended by the commission. I will announce further details soon." Wetherell's announcement confirms the recommendation in the Interim Report of the Commission of Inquiry that was published in March. That report, as well as a final report delivered by Commissioner Sir Robin Auld on May 31 (that has yet to be made public), called for the establishment of the CCRU and the appointment of the special prosecutor. Wetherell said that the final report indicated that, "the commissioner states that the information he has gathered points to a high probability of systemic corruption and/or other serious dishonesty involving past and present elected members of the legislature in recent years. This same information (and his preliminary findings against individuals) has highlighted weaknesses in the law and its administration." Wetherell said these findings "together with clear signs of political amorality and immaturity and of general administrative incompetence, demonstrated a need for urgent suspension in whole or in part of the constitution and for other legislative and administrative reforms" and that "nothing that has happened since he submitted his interim report has prompted him to change his original view. "His close examination of the information and evidence before the Inquiry has reinforced, not weakened, his conviction of a need for urgent and wide-ranging systemic change," Wetherell said. "Some recommendations focus on deterring or preventing corruption and other serious dishonesty, and others look at the broader constitutional and statutory framework of governance," he said. "He recommends the appointment of an independent expert on the management and allocation of Crown Land as well as strengthening the governor's office and attorney general's chambers." Wetherell said that although he had hoped to publish the full final report yesterday he was not able to do so because of legal proceedings initiated by two developers identified in the report. "Consequently I hope to publish a redacted version of the final report as soon as possible," he said. "I remain firmly committed to publishing the full report and will continue to defend the legal challenges and appeals so that I can do so. I strongly believe that the people of TCI deserve to see the entirety of the final report." An Order in Council made in Britain on March 18 officially suspended TCI's constitution. As a result of the corruption scandal that gained worldwide attention, Misick resigned as premier in March. Galmo Williams, a former minister who resigned from Misick's cabinet weeks earlier, was sworn in as premier by Wetherell just hours after Misick resigned. Friday, July 3, 2009