Volume 21 Issue 24: June 23, 2011 - fp Turks and Caicos

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▶ 04 LOCAL U.K. agrees to revise some reform proposals Elections June 23, 2011 _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ www.fptci.com CHANGES from page 1 gest concession, the parties won their fight to preserve the election method and number of members in the House of Assembly, in part because Bellingham said he was “adamant” that the country not adopt a proportional voting system. U.K. voters recently decided overwhelmingly to keep first past the post voting for Parliamentary elections. Advisory Council member Doreen Quelch-Missick told Bellingham in her opening statement that most council members were in favor of proportional voting as proposed, saying the current method “has lent itself to political pandering; it has been nothing, but divisive and is vulnerable to manipulation.” But she said she was persuaded that the proposed system was too complicated and could delay returning the country to elected government. The House of Assembly is currently made up of 15 members elected from single-member districts, plus four appointed members — one by the governor, two by the premier and one by the leader of the opposition. Constitution advisor Kate Sullivan said 15 was enough, and that the appointed members should be eliminated because they only served to increase the majority’s membership. Bellingham agreed with politicians that the number of ministers should remain the same at 19, except that only 10 of them will be elected from singlemember districts, with five others elected at large countrywide. Four members would still be appointed, but the governor would appoint two at his discretion and two after consultation with the premier and the leader of the opposition. No one who has unsuccessfully stood for election could be appointed, and they should be “persons representing shades of opinion which would not otherwise be represented in the House.” Bellingham also approved a term limit for premier of two consecutive four-year terms, unless at least one term has expired since the office was last held. Belonger issues Sullivan also recommended allowing the governor to appoint someone other than a Belonger as deputy governor, who would be head of the public service. But Bellingham agreed with overwhelming objections against allowing a non-Belonger to be deputy governor. Consultative Forum Chairwoman Lillian Misick was among those attending the meetings who called for a move away from the term Belonger, suggesting it be changed to citizen. Bellingham agreed that it be changed, but to Turks and Caicos Islander throughout the Constitution. Sullivan also had recommended adding the definition of and conditions for being a Turks and Caicos Islander to the Constitution. Bellingham agreed to remove the definition but retained the minimum conditions. Those conditions require that an applicant be a British overseas territories citizen or a British citizen who has held a permanent residence certificate for a period of at least five years, or who has been a legal resident for a period of at least 10 years. Applicants also cannot be serving a sentence in any country or been declared bankrupt in any country if the bankruptcy has not been discharged. Public Service Commission Sullivan had recommended that the governor be given authority to reduce the size of the five-member Public Service Commission (PSC) to three members and to appoint them at his discretion after consulting with the premier and the leader of the opposition. The 2006 Constitution forces the governor to accept one appointment each from the premier and the leader of the opposition. Bellingham decided that PSC membership stay at five, with the governor making all five appointments, including the chairman. However, the governor would be required to consult with the premier on selecting one member, the opposition leader for one member and Civil Service Association for one member. And he would have to consult with all three on the choice of a fifth member. Changes would also give the governor final say in making appointments to public offices and in disciplining those officials without having to follow recommendations of the PSC. The 2006 Constitution forces him to listen to the PSC unless instructed by the Secretary of State or Her Majesty. Local councils One request that was unanimous across the smaller islands during public consultations was the need for local councils to deal with local issues. The Constitution will soon require that an ordinance be passed to “provide for the establishment and functions of local councils to contribute to effective local government in the islands.” Freedom of Information The TCI has never had a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), but the 2002 Constitutional commission recommended one, and both political parties renewed that call in September in their All-Party Commission report on the Constitution and election reform. It was called for again during public consultations. Bellingham agreed that the Constitution will be amended to require an ordinance to “provide for a right of access to information held by public authorities, for the conditions for the exercise of that right, and for restrictions and exceptions to that right in the interests of international relations, the security of the Islands and the United Kingdom, public safety, public order, public morality or the rights and interest of individuals.” Bellingham’s Constitution decisions On the electoral system, I recognise that many people share our concerns about the transactional politics which have existed in TCI for many years. But I also understand the political parties preference for the first past the post voting system. I am willing to drop our proposal for a mixed member proportional system, and remain with the present system where all elected members of the House of Assembly are elected by the first past the post system. House membership I understand a number of options for the membership of the House have been discussed. I consider that 10 constituency members, 5 “at large” or “territory wide” members and 4 appointed members would be the best arrangement. I also want to see the Electoral Boundary Commission as drafted by my officials. Term limits On term limits, I would like to include a provision along the lines of that in the Cayman Constitution so that the Governor shall not appoint as Premier a person who has held office as Premier during two consecutive Parliamentary terms, unless at least one Parliamentary term has expired since he/she held Islands. They deserve a great future.” Bellingham said there was a sense of suspicion that the meetings arranged by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) were a sham and that nothing would be accomplished, but he believes the outcome should dispel that thought. Both party leaders believe they got some good results along with disappointments. “I thought the meetings went as well as could have been expected in the circumstances,” said Clayton Green, leader of the Progressive National Party. “I think we did not come back empty handed. Having said that, I thought on some key issues the British administration could have given more than they gave and in other cases they did not have to go where they went.” “One thing I was really annoyed by was the fact that without it being in Kate Sullivan’s recommendations on the second day of the discussion we heard the minister wished to see term limits for the premier. That came out of left field, and to this day the U.K. administration, members of the FCO have not been able to present any argument as to why that should be the case.” People’s Democratic Movement Leader Doug Parnell said his team had a few disappointments but for the most part he was pleased with the outcome. “Well, I’ll never be satisfied until we can achieve the type of self determination for our people that would provide every man and woman who call themselves office. Governor’s powers On the Governor’s powers, I firmly believe reserved powers should be increased in order to ensure the Constitution is sufficiently robust, to guard against a return to the situation that led to the Commission of Inquiry. Any decision to use such reserve powers would not be taken lightly. However, I am willing to accept the amendments agreed with my officials to require the Governor to consult the Secretary of State before exercising many of these powers, thus providing a check on the Governor in the exercise of his functions. Governor accountable As a number of concerns have been raised about this throughout the consultation process, I would like to reiterate that the Governor is not above the law. With extremely limited and specific exceptions, the Governor can be held to account for his or her actions in the courts like any other public official, which reflects the position in other OTs. Belongership On Belongership, I accept the request to remove the provisions that we had taken from a Turks and Caicos Islander full and complete satisfaction of what’s in our own Constitution; however, I must say that given the point where we started from in the draft, and certainly coming out of the recent history where the constitution was suspended and the legislature disbanded, I must say I think we have made some great strides in these direct talks with U.K. ministers.” Parnell didn’t support the premier’s term limit, but he said it was not a “deal breaker.” However, he was not pleased that the absolute right to a jury trial was stricken from the Constitution. “I must say I was disappointed that I did not get the type of support that I was expecting to get from other delegates on that provision, so I’m very, very disappointed in that, that’s a very sad thing for me to report,” Parnell said. Consultative Forum Chairwoman Lillian Misick has been at odds with the party leaders, criticizing them for refusing to take part in consultations and for their support of protests and marches. But she was pleased fp the immigration ordinance on Belongership by right. I am pleased that we have agreed on the inclusion in the Constitution of the minimum conditions for the grant of Belongership. Turks and Caicos Islander I welcome the agreement that the term Belonger should be replaced with Turks and Caicos Islander. Deputy governor On the Deputy Governor, I agree that the Constitution should confirm that the Deputy Governor should be a Turks and Caicos Islander. Trial by jury On the issue of trial by jury, I am not prepared to change the draft Constitution. I would like to reiterate that trial by jury is not being abolished. The relevant ordinance merely provides flexibility where it appears to the presiding judge that trial by jury would not meet the interests of justice. There is a similar provision in UK law. Preamble I can accept the new preamble which clearly affirms TCI’s religious beliefs. Source: Foreign and Commonwealth Office Compromises please most delegates Delegates from page 1 New preamble to Constitution The people of the Turks and Caicos Islands as a God-fearing people with convictions based on sound Christian culture, values and principles, tolerant of other religions; Affirm their intention to: ▶▶maintain the highest standards of integrity in their daily living; ▶▶commit to the democratic values of a just and humane society pursuing dignity, prosperity, equality, love, justice, peace and freedom for all; ▶▶ensure a vibrant diversified economy, work to provide full employment opportunities, and protect their posterity. Now, therefore, the following provisions shall have effect as the Constitution of the Turks and Caicos Islands. with the outcome of the meetings. “I am confident that, despite the protests of a vocal minority, the vast (silent) majority of our people will proudly embrace our new Constitution when it comes into force in due course,” Misick said. “I hope this experience will help these party leaders see the wisdom now of working with the forum to meet the other milestones that Mr. Bellingham and Alan Duncan, minister of state for International Development, set out for return to home rule. Most notable in this respect are the efforts underway to return our budget to surplus and reform our civil service.” Advisory County member Doreen Quelch-Missick said she too was happy with the outcome. “I feel confident that going forward, we will have the right Constitution for this time in our history. The team at the FCO and Minister Bellingham were quite receptive to our positions, and I would like to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to the FCO team.”
p www.fptci.com______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ June 23, 2011 f LOCAL ▶ 05 Scotiabank Investment Summit bears success PIMCO Vice President Kimble Skov, Scotia Private Client Group Investment Advisor Kevin O’Sullivan and Arrow Capital CEO Jim McGovern Two heavyweights in the financial industry visited the Turks and Caicos Islands last week, giving local investors insight into the current investment market. PIMCO Vice President Kimble Skov, whose firm manages $1.3 trillion in assets worldwide, gave TCI investors a bearish view of bonds. Arrow Capital CEO Jim McGovern explained why “hedge fund” are not dirty words. Arrow is one of the most experienced alternative investment fund companies in Canada with CAD $1.2 billion in assets under management. Scotia Private Client Group Investment Advisor Kevin O’Sullivan invited the two experts to an Investment Summit he designed to offer clients “more information” and confidence in investing in the currently volatile markets. O’Sullivan says he wanted to share global market insight with SPCG’s TCI resident investors. The goal was well achieved, thanks to clever presentations by McGovern and Skov that put often complex financial concepts into easily understandable real world examples. After a rough past two years in financial markets, Skov and McGovern preached safe investment practices that offer longterm gains by means of bonds. Skov said PIMCO’s outlook, based on in-depth industry analysis and insight from consultants such as Alan Greenspan and Gordon Brown, is mixed over the next nine months. “We are long-term investors,” he said, explaining the benefits of safe yield bonds. McGovern said his firm is focused on income generating vehicles over the next five years. This includes “diversifying like crazy,” which he said alternative investment funds can be good for. The one-day summit was held at the Regent Palms, closing with a roundtable discussion of which emerging markets are worth keeping an eye on, where the yen is going against the dollar and what industries they see having a positive growth potential. O’Sullivan says the feedback received from clients was very positive, and the firm was pleased to bring the experts to the TCI. Earlier this month the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Wave Ruler made a Regional Engagement Visit to Grand Turk. Royal ship visits capital Grand Turk was given the royal treatment this week when a U.K. naval ship visited the country’s capital. From June 16-20, Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Wave Ruler made a Regional Engagement Visit to Grand Turk. This was the third time the ship has visited the Turks and Caicos Islands, the first being in July 2008 to Providenciales. During its four-day visit, Wave Ruler conducted Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief visits in order to enhance awareness of facilities available on Grand Turk, and to assist Wave Ruler in preparing to provide future humanitarian aid assistance should the island require it. The Wave Ruler assisted Grand Turk in September 2008 when Hurricane Ike caused major damage throughout the island. Teams were deployed on various tasks, including restoring power to the island’s reverse osmosis plant, providing temporary roofing and restoring power to the health clinic, as well as distributing bottled water and food. Wave Ruler has previously been stationed in the Far East, Persian Gulf and in the South Atlantic, supporting the Falkland Islands, as well as working in territorial waters around the U.K. A significant part of the Royal Navy’s presence is patrolling the North Atlantic and Caribbean. Wave Ruler’s primary role is to provide support to the U.K. Overseas Territories and strengthen the U.K. government’s commitment in the region. This role includes providing regional support in the event of natural disasters such as hurricanes. Whilst at sea working in support of local defence and police forces, from a host of Caribbean nations together with the United States Coast Guard, Wave Ruler conducts maritime patrols. FirstCaribbean adds ‘CIBC’ to name in co-branding move As part of a new co-branding exercise, First- Caribbean International Bank is adding its parent company name to its title. On June 20, FCIB announced that it will be branded under the CIBC banner by adopting the co-branded name of CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank. FirstCaribbean’s parent company, CIBC, says the goal is for FCIB to be more closely aligned to the CIBC brand, while still maintaining the FirstCaribbean name and local identity. “By joining together the strong branding identities of both CIBC and FirstCaribbean, CIBC FirstCaribbean represents the proud heritage and uniqueness of the Caribbean backed by the financial strength of CIBC, one of the largest and best capitalized banks in Canada,” explained Michael Mansoor, the bank’s executive chairman. The transition to the new CIBC FirstCaribbean identity is expected to be gradual over the coming months as the CIBC FirstCaribbean brand is introduced to operations across the Caribbean region. “The addition of CIBC to the FirstCaribbean brand emphasizes CIBC’s long-term commitment to the Caribbean region, our employees and our clients,” says the bank’s CEO John Orr. “Our clients and our employees across the Caribbean will continue to benefit from the long-term investment that CIBC is making in the region that dates back to our first branches opened in 1920.” PAID ADVERTISEMENT Check it out Digicel Postpaid Winner! Marketing Specialist Trina Adams presents Digicel’s latest Postpaid Rewards winner Bethany Henfield, Employee of PPC, with a cheque for $1000. To be eligible for $1000 monthly prizes, customers are encouraged to pay their bills on time and in full before the 22nd of each month.
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