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March 31 - April 6, 2018
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
We welcome letters from all members of the public on a variety of topics Please note that all submissions are subject to editing in keeping with defamation laws and newspaper style. Letters should be accompanied by the author’s full name, location and phone number. Names will be withheld if requested.
No recognition or respect for transparency Dear Editor, Anyone currently watching American politics knows that one of the most contentious matters that is troubling the Americans is president Donald Trump’s total refusal to criticise, punish or otherwise exact any significant consequences from Russian president Vladimir Putin for Russia’s internet meddling in the most recent American presidential election. Quite the contrary; Trump, despite cautions and advice from
professionals in the US State Department, continues to compliment Vladimir Putin at every opportunity, including congratulating Putin on his most recent re-election as Russian president without regards to the international outrage over Russian assassinations and video evidence and first-hand reports of ballot box stuffing and election rigging in Russia. Why would Trump do this? Why would Trump advocate for A Russian President (gangster) rather than the
We welcome letters from all members of the public on a variety of topics Please note that all submissions are subject to editing in keeping with defamation laws and newspaper style. Letters should be accompanied by the author’s full name, location and phone number. Names will be withheld if requested.
Send letters to tcweeklynews@gmail.com
Americans who elected him. It has become painfully obvious to any American with a fifth grade education that Trump, for whatever reasons, is quite obviously beholding and obligated to Putin as evidence by his almost constant pandering and stated admiration for the Russian president. What does Vladimir Putin have on Trump? It can’t be legitimate, but it must be powerful to compel the president of the United States of America to cater and acquiesce to the desires of the Russian president. Anyone currently watching Turks and Caicos Islands politics knows that one of the most troubling matters to Turks and Caicos Islanders is the support that Premier Sharlene Cartwright Robinson and the PDM Government are giving in the House of Assembly to a proposed amendment to the Public Finance Management Ordinance that will see the British governor being granted greater and additional powers over statutory bodies in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Simply said, this bill increases the British governors’ power and control over Turks and Caicos Islanders and their economy. Is this what the citizens of the
TCI want? Have the previous British governors done so much for Turks and Caicos Islanders and distinguished themselves so well that they have earned or deserve more power? I think not. A reading of the premier’s explanation in the Turks and Caicos Weekly News for supporting this illadvised bill provides no reasonable or logical explanation for her support of the bill other than reading between the lines of her statement. “The situation is that the statutory bodies… pose a significant financial risk to the Government of the Turks and Caicos”. One can only conclude that in the opinion of the premier, neither she nor her PDM Government are capable or qualified to administer, manage or otherwise supervise the TCI’s statutory bodies and in her opinion, the British will do it better. How can we expect the youth and college graduates of the TCI to display the required can do spirit and attitude that is necessary to succeed in life when the premier of the TCI surrenders to the British without a fight? The premier needs to lead, follow or get out of the way, not take us backwards.
It has become painfully obvious to any Turks and Caicos Islander with a fifth grade education that Premier Sharlene Cartwright Robinson, for whatever reasons, is quite obviously beholding and obligated to the British government as evidence by her support and lobbying on behalf of the British government for an increase in the governor’s power and control over Turks and Caicos Islanders. Why would the premier do this? What could compel her to advocate for increasing British control over Turks and Caicos Islanders rather than advocating for what is in the best interests of the TCI citizens who elected her to office? What does the British government have on the premier? It can’t be legitimate, but it must be powerful to compel the premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands to ignore her responsibilities and the interest of Turks and Caicos Islanders to cater and acquiesce to the desires of the British government. Transparency is a word that the premier neither recognises nor respects. Everett Freeman, Providenciales
COMMENTARY
Women’s year, 2018 POLITICS in the TCI is no different than in other democracies. One party favours careful use of government income. They are against wasteful spending and for low taxes making the cost of living low. They believe in a small efficient government. They believe in honest private business that provides employment. They believe people need to make their own decisions. Is this our People’s Democratic Movement (PDM)? The other party believes in making huge loans then raising taxes to pay it back. They believe government is better equipped to make decisions for the people than the people themselves. They believe in big government and big business connections. They load the civil
BY DAVID TAPFER
David is a retired mobile hydraulic engineer and business executive. He has been married to Middle Caicos native Yvette Robinson Tapfer for 27 years and has lived in Conch Bar, Middle Caicos, since 2002. David formerly served as branch chairman of the PDM from 2008 to 2011
service with party favourites who become their own huge voting block. Is this our Progressive National Party (PNP)? In the USA, 1968 was the year of the woman. Now 2018 in the TCI, the woman’s year begins. Our former minister of education Josephine, brought into the PDM by Oswald Skipping, recently lost her ministry when she questioned Premier Sharlene Cartwright Robinson’s management.
Everyone knew where Josephine came from; she believed in big government principles. Losing her PDM ministry was a humbling experience. No surprise, she has now defected to her roots, the PNP. In fact, Oswald Skippings had thrown away his PDM roots in the 2016 election. Skip got so few votes it appeared his political career was over. What we find interesting is both
Oswald and Josephine have the same basic instincts - a burning need to lead. They have told the country that in no uncertain terms. It is not about Sharlene or party principles, it is all about being leader. “The PDM cannot win without me leading them,” said Skip. The PDM did win without him in 2016 after they had lost with him in 2012! Does pride go before the fall? Now the PNP has a potential leader and the TCI knows they need one. Royal lost placing last in the 2012 election when his party won. He now relies on an appointment. Mark lost in 2016 a seat his party had held for decades. Two election losers? Who then are the PNP winners? Akierra Misick of course and now Josephine. It’s now about PNP gals. Porsha won based on long lasting PNP
control of vote counts. Amanda could be on the comeback trail. We hear she has been shopping clothes in the USA. What about Anya? She has the responsibility to straighten out the civil service. Has she performed? What gal will lead the PNP? PNP campaign ethics are about big promises, big tents, big cars and big wardrobes. Mike Misick had the best wardrobe we ever saw. Rufus showed off his chauffeur driven limo on the airport tarmac, after the 2012 election. Porsha drove her SUV all over Provo. Remember? 1968 was the USA year of the woman. Now 40 years later, will woman lead the PNP? The PNP is much more fun to watch than the PDM. Let the PNP women’s year begin!