TCI’s Misick defends political payment by developer
(CNS): The former premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands has issued a statement hitting out against the British government accusing it of harassment of his former government members and supporters and stating that there was nothing wrong in payments made to the PNP by a developer who has been charged by the UK’s corruption investigation team. Michael Misick said the UK had sunk to a “new low” with the charges against Jak Civre, whom Misick said was a man of integrity. He said that all substantial investors give political contributions to both parties and politicians to further their political aims and there was nothing illegal about campaign contributions.
The developer of the Seven Stars hotel in Providenciales was charged last week by the special UK team, led by Helen Garlick, currently investigating allegations of corruption surrounding the previous government. Civre is accused of making a payment of $150,000 to one of the former PNP ministers, who has also been arrested.
In his statement, Misick said that, given the accusations, everyone who has ever given political contributions should now also be charged. “It is wrong for the British governor and his persecutors to hand pick developers to charge for giving political contributions when all have given political contributions,” he stated Friday. “Thiswhole process is an attempt to silence the voices of people that have made economic and political gains and to try and derail our movement towards independence by tarnishing the name of leading politicians and their supporters.”
The former premier called on the TCI pastors and wider population to speak out against what he said was an injustice, adding that while he expected to be politically persecuted, what the UK was doing to Jak Civre was wrong.
“No further investors will put another dime in the Turks and Caicos Islands and risk being politically persecuted because of their political contributions. The harassment, blackmailing and political persecution must stop. We must take our country back before there is nothing left to take back,” Misick said as he called on the British to go home.
See previous related story here
Category: World News
Do they have a 'Northward' branch in TCI too?
And does anybody if it is big enough to hold them all?
We clearly need to implement a Law which mandates that all donations to any Political Party or individual politician MUST be declared. The GOVERNOR can also issue a directive under the FOI law, that this information is also to be made public .
It would just be good goverence.
The only investment that will last in Turks and Caicos Islands, will be an investment that benefits the UK politically and economically.
Delusional, even by Libertarian's own bizarre standards. Libertarian, Planet Earth is worth a visit every so often.
Polly, for some reason, you would try to have me believe that the UK has no interest as to what happens in TCI. Note that the snake slithers and leaves a money trail from the shores of England. My friend, do you see the snake? ***** Libertarian
Wow – the UK will do all that over a n alleged payment of only 150k? Good job they are not governing us as closely!
When Misick calls you a man of integrity your goose is cooked.
I guess they have no laws. Reading the Cayman law seems to indicate that foreigners can't make political contributions (maybe that's only for elections) and the amounts allowed are a heck of a lot less than what's being talked about in the article. Is it really possible to make a legal $300000 donation?
I believe Civre is a Belonger.
Who would believe any statement from this politician who amassed a fortune in 5 short years of [raiding] his country's coffers and stealing money and land from his own people. It reminds us all of another island in the Caribbean.
I dear say the "Cayman Islands', where every piece of CROWN LAND is being given away to the lowest bidder. What I can put in my pocket I have to collect NOW!!!!
T&C Sun Newspaper: Misick made these comments in a press release that was issued late Tuesday night. The following is the full text of Misick’s press statement. “After losing the leadership contest within my own Progressive National Party (PNP) last year, I had decided to remain quiet and support the new leader Clayton Greene and allow him to tackle the issues at hand.
However, in the face of the complete destruction of my beloved country at the hands of the British government, Dictator Gordon Wetherell and the Turks and Caicos Islanders who sit on the two puppet bodies, the so-called Consultative Forum and the Advisory Council, I can no longer remain quiet.
First, let me put things in perspective for those who would blame me and my administration for the mess that the country is now in. When the PNP took over the reins of government, the national budget was $90Million and the GDP was about $200 million. When we left office some six years later, the national budget was in excess of $250 million and GDP was over $700 million. It is an undeniable fact that we attracted and presided over unprecedented growth economically, politically and socially.
Using the income from the growth, we invested heavily in… "
See the rest of his press statement in the T&C Sun Newspaper:
http://www.suntci.com/index.php?p=story&id=1759
CNS note: The link here is to a press statement made in June. The link to this latest statement is at the end of the CNS article.
Hmmmm, this sounds very familiar, where else have I heard this same story???????? Of course, from "my hands are clean and my heart is pure" McKeeva Bush.
Question: Is a campaign contribution to a political party or politician, corruption? Note: this is practice alot in the UK and the United States. Donors contribute millions of dollars to support a candidate they believe will best represent their commercial interest.
It would depend on the laws of the given country as to if contributions are legal and in what amoutn and who they are paid to etc. There is no universal right on this one it would very from one jurisdiction to another just what is legal. Any donations outside of the law would be corruption.
I think one of the things you have to look at is whether the donation is made to a political party or to an individual. Obviously the latter should not be allowed. Anyone who tries to hide any "gift' probably knows that it is corruption and not political support.