TCI constitution proclaimed after 3 year-direct rule
(CNS): The Turks and Caicos constitution finally came into effect Monday marking the beginning of the end for the UK government ahead of the General Election next month when democracy will return to the overseas territory. The UK took over three years ago in the wake of a major corruption scandal and began a controversial reform programme designed to improve transparency, accountability and public financial management. With what were termed as the eight milestones largely achieved country’s new constitution has now been proclaimed.
“Today marks the culmination of a huge amount of work to get the country to this point where it is significantly more transparent, accountable and financially better run,” the TCI governor, Ric Todd said. “We now have a modern Constitution that is the result of wide consultation including a Turks and Caicos delegation who visited London in the summer of 2011 to help ensure that it reflects the wishes of both the citizens of the islands and Ministers in London.”
The former OT’s mnister from the FCO Henry Bellingham had announced in the that sufficient progress had been made to allow elections and the governor said he was impressed by the “diligent preparations” of the local political parties. .
“We have an experienced international observers coming to our Islands for the elections. They will be here to ensure that 9thNovember passes off as intended as a free and fair democratic election. I welcome their presence and look forward to receiving their reports over the weekend after polling day,” he added. “The Government’s work does not now stop until after the election results are announced and a new administration is in place.”
Todd stated that the new constitution will help the incoming administration govern fairly and transparently, and in tandem with the other legislative enhancements.
“The education programme launched last week by the Supervisor of Elections will ensure that all citizens eligible to vote are fully informed on the new electoral system and the choices they will be asked to make on the Electoral District and All Island ballot papers,” hesaid. ““The building blocks for successful elections are now in place and we all eagerly anticipate the return to elected government here in the Turks and Ciacos Islands.”
The interim administration had taken over TCI following the suspension of parts of the previous 2006 Constitution after the Sir Robin Auld Commission of Inquiry found that there was “a high probability of systemic corruption in government and the legislature and among public officers in the Turks & Caicos Islands in recent years.”
Category: World News
Lol!
Actually, the great irony in all of this is the fact that the very existence of Cayman as a top offshore financial center is due to the extensive and international scope of global corruption directly attributed to the UK!
Where else could they hide the profits of their little dirty deeds than in the backpocket i.e. overseas territory?
Pretty much sums out the entire story.
Yes, and what a grubby little country you are to allow such dealings and base your whole economic model around it. As for corruption, read your own papers to see how a nation of 35,000 has 50+ anti corruption investigations in progress.
Pretty much sums up your two faced attitude and the story of modern Cayman.
Which nation is that? The news reports here says there are 10 active ACC investigations and Cayman's population is estimated at about 50,000. It is certainly not 35,000.
10 active corruption investigations and 50+ complaints. That's a good thing on such a small island right?
The World Bank published the population for 2012 as follows:
Total population is based on the de facto definition of population, which counts all residents regardless of legal status or citizenship.
So, back to my original point, if 50% of the total (56,000 ish) resident figure are expat residents or work permit holders, then 35,000 permanent residents/Caymanians is not far off the mark.
Recognise it now?
You appear to have admitted that you got the number of ongoing investigations wrong. The fact that there were 50 complaints but far fewer active investigations may mean that the investigations were closed because there was no evidence of wrongdoing as in the complaints against Dart and MLA Arden McLean.
The population is the number of persons who are legally and ordinarily resident in the country. It will thereafter include all of those who are here on full (as opposed to temporary) work permits. That is how a census is conducted. It is not defined by Caymanians plus permanent residents (which would contradict the statement that it does not depend on legal status or citizenship) and there is no good reason why it should be for this purpose. Clearly, anyone resident in these Islands has the ability to be involved in corruption or crime generally.
What is your point again?
So you are in favour of the closure of OFCs?
Considering the nosedive that the people of this country has been experiencing as of late, I would not be shedding many tears if this was the case.
And yes, I have carefully considered the ramificaitons but I suspect you and I would have very differing opinions on the outcome.
Whodatis, last week you were making sense, this week none. Back on the ganja? You are so vitriolic about your hate of the mother nation, you seem incapable of looking objectively at anything.
Who is responsible for the law here? The Legislative Assembly. Who is responsible for CIMA? the LA. Who is responsible for corporate governance here? The CI government. The only thing the UK deals with is foreign policy and the courts, and trying to ensure that the budget is balanced. So, please report all your knowledge of these "corrupt activities" and "dirty deeds" to the Anti Corruption Comittee, to the CIMA anti money laundering people and to the financial crimes division of RCIPS and lets put all these "bad" people in jail. Cayman justice administered by Caymanians will prevail!! I agree with you that jail is where people who do these things should be. Unless of course this is just things you actually don't have evidence to support, in which case you really should stay quiet.
I know whats bothering you!! The new Bond film is out in a couple of weeks, do you play the baddy trying to screw the UK? You should know by now, Bond is the good guy, and always wins..
Ummm … Hollywood specializes in fiction and make-believe. Should we refer to Harry Potter as well?
Anyway, it is not "hate" – it is simple truth.
Evidence has been floating around for decades, it pops its head up time and again on a regular basis (recent examples being damning documents leaked via Wikileaks – btw, where is Assagne again? Oh yeah, now I remember!).
Regardless, I know none of this will make any difference to you and like-minded individuals because you still steadfastly believe that the world works in the way you have been instructed to believe.
Anyway, standby for the inevitable major "shock" in this regard. For some of us it will be just another day observing the filth and hypocrisy.
Dear Respondents,
My post simply expressed a long known dirty secret regarding the purpose and existence of jurisdictions such as the Cayman Islands.
Does anyone believe that any of this is solely or primarily for our (Caymanians) benefit?
I am a born and raised Caymanian and even I know better than to believe that.
Good ol' UK … always capable of "saving" everyone but themselves.
Provides for some the opportunity to feel good for a moment – until they snap back to reality and remember their own desperate state of corrupted affairs.
Thumbs away all you want … truth is truth.
Yes, and its so perfect here, absolutely no corruption, no bribery, no unemployment, no guns, no drugs. Biggest problem here is the flying pink elephants, has anyone else apart from me got issues with those?
The only problem that I have issues with in Cayman is the mass status grants of 2004 and the fact that with the stroke of a pen Native Caymanians are now outnumbered.
But there were always only a few hundred blue iguanas. They were always outnumbered.
Native Caymanians whose forefathers are from the UK that moved to a UK Oversseas Territory?
Are you an Ebanks; Welsh, McLaughlin: Scottish etc etc?
Pissed off cause you failed to do well in school like everyone told you to?
Therer were those deserving of status who have down a hell of a lot more for this country than most if not all of the people who constantly complain about than the 2004 grants, like its the only reason they cannot get a job.
Perhaps you should look at othe aspects of your job applications other than your qualifications, if you have any for those said jobs before you think you are being hard done by, like your oral skills, presentability at the interview etc. You might find that is hwere 90% ofthe problem lies.
An Embarassed Caymanian.
Most of us do not agree with the CABINET (irrevocable) grants of 2003 because there were many undeserving people who only got status because of their connection to the UDP. The people who would have got it anyway under the new law were thrown in to muddy the waters. Many of the former category will be unable to sustain themselves in the future and a large number are already on social service benefits. Politicians should never be able to hand pick who will become Caymanian. We end up with people XXXX being Caymanian without having earned it, whilst other deserving people are left out.
now come and save the cayman islands
It would be nice if the UK could come and save the Cayman Islands. Sad to say Grand Cayman is beyond saving. Nothing can save poor Cayman at this point except devine intervention. What can the UK save in and about Cayman? They can't save the land because there is none left, it's all in foreign hands and being sold and swapped everyday. They can't save the natives, just too few left even the blue iguanas have a better chance of a come back and survival than the native population. Save the financial industry? when the US, OECD and FATF get through with us because of the HSBC fiasco we will be like the city of Houston in the late 1980 to 1990. One only have to look around the capital of George Town to see what is happening I just hope that the end results won't be like Gulfton, Houston and more like TCI because atleast TCI got a change to wipe the slate clean and start over again. I doubt it very much that Cayman will get such an apportunity at the end of the day.
Cayman take note…unless we get some responsible people in govenrment soon (I almost wrote politicians, but there are not any here), the same fate awaits us. Huge cuts would be imposed, making the situation already worse than it is…and the really stupid thing is…there is no need for it at all. If sensible people were running the show, we would be in surplus and have a thriving economy..
ah hush! them, taking us over is not a "fate" or some doomsday! corruption is with them too, its just that its colored white! ying-yang, heard it before over and over again, no matter whose in or who gets power, there will be no change and grace for average people. And please don't call anyone "sensible" or refer to them as sensible people, because you have alot of sensible corrupt people in the world and they are not doing anything to make a better world. so stop being prejudice and putting uk on a righteous pinnacle. some of you commenters don't know anything about cayman!
Hmmmm, are they better off? Does TCI still have advatanges of tax friendly? Are the people happier? Are their finances now on track?
No more power hungry politicans?
Can Cayman benefit from the same? (Should we?)
Just thinking how nice it wold be to retain our tax advantages and go back to the days of NO politicians, just a few well paid (not power hungry) administrators who would insure we had decent public roads and utlities, fair human rights, a small and heard world voice, and good edcuation….Sorry, I ask only for the basics and am fed the BS.
Let me get this right – you are asking for pure colonialism without a hint of democracy?
That would be better as a short term option than the autocratic rule of Mac and his increasingly crazy whims.
Ah….Yes. As a matter of fact, yes. Democracy is global facebook and the www. my friend. There is no slavery, civil-rights abuse, or injustice except the blind greedy situation that we have NOW.
Stop fooling yourself that your politicians who have createda nanny-state are good for you. They only want your vote to stay in power- please, tell me how any of them have improved our land in the past 10 years??? Huh?….better tourism product = nope. Good deals with developers = nope. Better finance position= nope. Better educated children = nope!
I want accountability and administration. I NO longer want power-hungry policiitans.
Yup, I want a few administrators to balance the budget, build a few decent roads, hire better teachers for our children, and stop the madness that thinks 60,000 people need (17) overpaid MLAs to run around the globe filling their pockets and passports.
Yes sir, I would rather have direct rule and a balanced budget instead of this mockery of democracy. My grandfathers are rolling over in the graves and they go back to 1845….I want the way they ruled this land, with a firm hand, accountability among their peers, and no foolishness.
Throw the bums OUT. ALL politicians here have proven horrid for the past decade, sorry but oh-so true.
What a naive and backward mentality.
How will Cayman ever truly develop national consciousness?
Colonial administrators have always worked the system for their own benefit over the ruled, and what's worse, you have no recourse.
I hope you can find time machine to take you back to 1845.
You are so right I too long for the good old days but they are gone forever. Those days will never return due to corruption and foreign influences that cause our weak politicians and people alike to be easily corrupt for a few dollars or an invitation to some half arese social event that they were not necessarily welcomed to anyway. Caymanians have become too greedy and corrupt, they have sold their souls and country in the process for very little.
Well done to the UK government for stepping in when it did and sorting out the TCI mess. The UK must learn no to give these territories the benefit of the doubt when it comes to misconduct and corruption and step in earlier next time. Of course any intervention must be 100% funded by the territory in question, UK monies should not be spent on such steps.
With all of the corruption and fiscal mismanagement in the UK I am somewhat surprised that they have anyone available to send on vacation to the Cayman Islands.
… and who is going to sort out the UK's mess, pray tell?
The recent £350,000,000,000 (yes – billion) injection of printed money hasn't seemed to make much of a difference.
Things are already bad over there – but wait until the effects of their print-another-pound economic strategy really hits home in a few years time.
The blinding side-effects of arrogance never fail to amaze me.
LOL