Misick seeking political asylum in wake of warrant
(CNS): Following the news from the Turks and Caicos Monday, that officials there have issued a warrant for the arrest of the former premier, Michael Misick says he is being forced to seek political asylum in a third country. In a statement to the press released yesterday evening the former TCI premier who is wanted for questioning regarding a corruption investigation said he couldnot expect to get a fair hearing in his native country. He said he was being politically persecuted because of his plan to move the country towards Independence. Misick also accused the UK interim government of changing laws in an attempt to convict him and his political colleagues and supporters.
The former leader of the overseas territory did not reveal his whereabouts or the country in which he will be seeking asylum but it is understood that since his exile from TCI he has been living in the Dominican Republic.
Misick described the investigation as a “set-up for a modern-day John Crow political lynching,” and said he would not be a part of it. “I have therefore sought protection from another country in accordance with the United Nations Convention on Human Rights and the human rights laws of that country, as it is my right to do and the right of any person that is being politically persecuted,” he stated. “I am not a fugitive, and will never be a fugitive. I have applied for political asylum from another country and I am merely seeking protection from political persecution.”
Misick said however that he would continue to bring challenges to clear his name and that of the administration he led. “I dream to return to my homeland as an independent, victorious, proud and free nation,” he added.
Accusing the current TCI government of already convicting him he said the whole notion of a trial was just a show as he made it clear he would not be returning to face the special prosecution investigation team.
He accused Helen Garlick, the special prosecutor appointed by the UK government, of trying to get rich of the backs of Turks and Caicos Islands’ tax payers and to make a name for herself. He said she had already collected over $20 million slated to collect at least another $10 million while the interim government is laying off hundreds of civil servants, cutting pensions and increasing taxes.
Misick said he faced “political persecution of the highest order” because he and his supporters “desire to live in an independent Turks and Caicos Islands.”
On Monday officials in TCI confirmed that not only had a warrant been issued for Misick’s arrest but Interpol had also issued a red notice. The governor’s office said the prosecution team had tried to get Misick to come back voluntarily to answer the allegations of corruption and money laundering but despite every opportunity being given to he has failed to show up.
Category: World News
Go home and face the music. Only cowards behave the way you do. If you hands are clean and your heart is pure, then go home and prove it. Let this be a lesson to all who believe that accountability won't catch up with them at some point. Make sure your gains are not "ill-gotten gains", because life is B*@CH and it will eventually catch up with you.
I am not crook until I SAY I'm a crook. And you can't make me say it! All evidence to the contrary. And I am not running and hiding I am just going shopping somewhere new!
They need to jail that Guy for a long time, keep everybody else honest.
The three AMIGOS, former Premier Brown – Bermuda, former Premier Missick – TCI and current Premier Bush – Cayman Islands; two down and gone one tp go. The Bermudans removed their amigo, the UK helped TCI by removing theirs, O where have all the good Caymanians gone time for Caymanians to remove ours. Reading or listening Mr Chief of police and Mr. Governor.
Zzzzzzzzz.
Apparently "Zzzzzzzz" is the new "Caymankind"/
Oh I like it! Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz! works!
Let this be a lesson for the Caymanians.
I am absolutely amazed that anyone could support corruption and corrupt politicians. I guess it is sad, but true to have to acknowledge that some people think that it is ok to be corrupt and do anything unscrupulous to obtain a dollar. If Missick really was a man that had done nothing, why is he running? I hope the UK catch him and put him on trial. I don't know if their arms are as long as the USA's but they aught to demonstrate to the rest of their OTs that corruption will not be tolerated.
love that Pin-Stripe suit!
Under the British law, if this man is to be criminally tried for serious offences, doesn't he have the right to remain silent and not testify?
There is no such thing as "British law". The law in England may differ from the law in Scotland which may differ from the laws in the respective overseas territories.
I don't know what the position is under TCI law but under the Cayman Police Law 2010 (which I believe has not yet come into force) although a right to silence remains certain adverse inferences may be drawn from your refusal to answer questions.
There is no such thing as "British law". There is the law of England and Wales, the law of Scotland and the law of Northern Ireland.
It didnt have to be this way. Under Michael Misick's leadership, the country booming experienced growth and development. Now that the country is becoming successful the British are taking over. Since the take-over the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands are suffering. They have lost there "way of living". Things are not as good for them, as under Michael Misick's leadership. I wish the people would come together and stand up for "justice". Misick may have been corrupt himself, but I wish him the best … he is outnumbered by those who want him plus all they can get from TCI.
Misick was awesome, he increasedhis wealth from his declared assets of $50,000 when elected in 2003, to close $100 million by 2007 when he was ousted.
He was clearly moral, ethical financial genius
LOL
Must have been that same intellectual capital that MacMadHatter is talking about.
Mr Marshall you have no idea as to the corruption that has taken place in the Turks and Caicos Islands under the Misick government which abounded. There is now an Interpol arrest for him. Are you daft?
The Brits took over because of large scale corruption which has resulted in 23 arrests of which 8 at least are politicians. The investigations being conducted there will realize millions of dollars for the government in the end.. I say this because I know I what is going on. Clearly you haven no clue so please refrain from sending your asinine comments to this website.
A good example of why universal suffrage is overrated.
Could this have come about because of too much corruption, and a little bit of transparency?
Why dont they damn learn to behave when they touch a little power?
Instead they start galavanting around the world, making all kinds of deals that benefit themselves and their friends, acting like dictators and using Govt funds as if it is their own personal piggy bank.
Then they beg for asylum when the UK gives them their 'Red Card'….
Let this be a warning to Cayman – be careful who you put in power in the next election.
Dear Michael,
Please can you make sure and prepare the spare bedroom at your new house as I am pretty sure I will be needing it soon. I look forward to catching up with you, I cannot believe so much time has passed since we last got together. See you soon.
Love,
Big Mac.
For those wishing for Cayman to have some kind of UK style intervention like Turks and Caicos, I guess you all have decided already to choose a Totalitarian State over a Democratic State, because that is what is happening in TCI. Plus many of their investors have pulled out. TCI's reputation is lost!
What ever you do. Do not allow a perfectly corrupt system to be terminated. These crooks /politicians are our way of life and shame on the UK for thinking that this needs to be stopped. The investors do leave when the leaders stop taking bribes and this exodus will be our down fall. We must, at all cost keep the current corrupt system in place and continue to call it democracy. God help us if someone were to step in and force us to clean up our act. How shameful is that?
Well when you say it that way you have a point however no one is asking for that ,so the picture you paint is far fetched and skews from the point. Many conservative investors have pulled out of TCI howeevr you'll find where there is money to be made investors will follow. Cayman for example has a global reputation for money laundring however finding investors is the last problem we have.It is the quality of investors we need to be concerned about. As for an intervention, our own seems too dull minded to sort our problems,XXXX an intervention seems our only way out. I once heard any press is good press. Imagine the Cayman Islands finally weeding out the corrupt, only then would we see investors ready to do business with the new Cayman Islands. Alas this is but a dream, we are so deep in bed with greed that a complete collapse or handover will happen before we fix our mess.
We now have a totalitarian state and don't you think our reputation hasn't been damaged? Open your eyes and look cdarefully at what has been happening and tell me what you see? It sure ain't pretty.
You couldn't be more wrong. Only corrupt investors have pulledout in an effort to avoid being caught. The honest business is thriving with many firms bringing people back from offices setup in other jurisdictions during the corrupt years.
And I bet all the crooks are pissed at the change. Like you and many here it would make life "harder" and less lucrative.
Yep, I am willing to give it a go.
To humiliate him, they may hunt him down like Dudus Coke. It just shows you that those in power blink the eye at so much corruption that is happening amongst their ranks, but a black man overseas about a thousand miles from the UK practice what the MPs in London practice, is the center of attention. I have always smelt huge rat of hypocrisy!
If Dudus Coke is a criminal he should be hunted down. If Missick is a criminal then he too should be hunt down regardless of what is happening in the UK. The problem we face in our small countries is that the malfeasance of our politicians cause much greater damage than in larger countries and the our politicans seem to get away with it. If the cycle is not broken soon we will be condemned to a dismal future of inept, greedy, corrupt politicians that kick back a small portion of their spoils to a desperate population who, beaten into submission, actually give gratitude for receiving what was their's in the first place. Please do not follow this breed of politician with the sweet mouth!
Dudus Coke is a convicted criminal. There is no "if" about it and he has already been hunted down.
You really do not understand the more advanced structures of the English language do you?
I think the writer meant to say "If one is a criminal one should be hunted down".
There is good reason why you ALWAYS smelt a huge rat of hypocrisy and always will.