Published On:Tuesday, August 18, 2009

THE PLP yesterday severely criticised Britain's decision to suspend the democratic organs of the government of the Turks and Caicos Islands, calling the move "deeply disappointing."

Through its foreign affairs spokesperson, Fox Hill MP Fred Mitchell, the party said it is especially disturbed that the right to trial by jury is also suspended.

"The position of our party is that the British ought to have found another way to deal with the issues of alleged corruption in the Turks and Caicos. This position is well within the public policy on this matter by CARICOM, of which we the Bahamas are a member," Mr Mitchell said.

On Saturday, Britain officially suspended the government of the Turks and Caicos Islands, imposing direct rule following allegations of "systematic corruption and/or serious dishonesty" in the country.

This is the second time in 23 years that the British have used the same method to solve issues relating to governance in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Mr Mitchell said that this says something about the lack of effectiveness of the methods employed by the British and a failure of their administration of the territory.

"We reiterate that Britain as the colonial power in the Turks and Caicos Islands has the responsibility not only for the economic development and well-being of the territory, but also its political development.

Failure

"The need to impose direct rule and suspend the elected government of the Turks and Caicos Islands speaks not only to the failure of the internal mechanisms of governance but also to failures on the part of the colonial power," he said.

Mr Mitchell said that Britain as the colonial power cannot by this action absolve itself of the responsibility for the corruption that they allege took place.

Further, the Fox Hill MP said that examples of other public policy instruments available to deal effectively with this matter are there for all to see.

"Even in Britain itself which recently saw a crisis in governance as a result of corruption it did not result in the suspension of their democracy, but rather a realignment of the institutions to reflect the demands of the public for openness, transparency and accountability," he said.

Mr Mitchell said the PLP is reiterating its call for an all-party conference in the Turks and Caicos Islands to ensure that this suspension of the organs of democracy in that country are for a limited period of time and less than the two years envisaged.

It should also be ensured that democracy is restored to legitimately elected representatives of the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands, he said.

"Trial by jury must be restored. The people of the Turks and Caicos Islands are part of the world community and as such are entitled to the same standards of democracy, transparency and accountability in public life."