COMMENTARY

Next  Commentary: Possum Nasty Possum (PNP) Wednesday, November 19, 2008 When I read the most recent statements issued by the Progressive National Party (PNP) it instantly made me recall an encounter I had years ago with a possum. The possum (opossum) is a creature which looks like a giant rat. A long snout, mouth full of teeth and a skinny hairless tail. read more... Feature: Grand Turk battles back from Hurricane Ike Monday, November 17, 2008 When Hurricane Ike hit my little piece of Caribbean real estate called Turks & Caicos the most I could do, from where I was, was helplessly watch it on the Weather Channel, scared to death and expecting the worst for all the people I have known all my life. It was not a good feeling. read more... Commentary: The PNP curse is upon us once again Monday, November 17, 2008 In the mid nineties, the PNP administration’s incompetence reared its ugly head when their failed economic policies devastated the economy of the Turks and Caicos to the point where their government was unable to pay civil servants’ salaries and the British government had to intervene. read more... Commentary: Hurricanes and diminishing income to cause financial crunch in the TCI Saturday, November 15, 2008 When the leader of this nation, Premier Misick, says things may get a little difficult in days and weeks to come, we should all be concerned. This is a man who has denied the failure of his policies and now the proverbial chickens are heading for the coop to put their heads under their wings. read more... Commentary: The case for an Interim Government in the Turks and Caicos Islands Saturday, November 15, 2008 Nobody can deny that members of the ruling Progressive National Party (PNP) have given us probable cause to suspect that self-enrichment has been their governing principle for the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) over the past five years. Therefore, nobody should be surprised in February when... read more... Commentary: Obama signals change in the USA but what about the TCI? Wednesday, November 12, 2008 Will the US engine of success be put back on track or be further derailed halting the long term slide in the US economic status? Obama wins and his daddy’s nation of Kenya calls a holiday! Not only was Kenya watching the US election but the entire world. I find it very interesting. read more... Commentary: It's the economy, stupid! Wednesday, November 12, 2008 In preparing a follow up to an article I wrote a little over a month ago entitled “Who is watching our economy”, I thought about the length of time that has passed since that article was published and the Premier’s statement just last week where he now seems to be getting around to addressing the economic issue. read more... Commentary: House of Assembly meeting ends prematurely Friday, November 7, 2008 The Turks and Caicos Parliamentary House of Assembly meeting held Wednesday on Grand Turk was an exercise in futility as it ended with almost nothing accomplished except a limited exchange of information and some interesting revelations. At the outset of the session, standing orders for the meeting were waived. read more... Commentary: What does not kill us makes us stronger Thursday, November 6, 2008 This is one of those sayings which is only half true. Certain physical injuries may in fact make you weaker. I do not believe the author of this phrase had physical injuries in mind. The stress of modern life may be the source for this now common phrase.  The two hurricanes left no one seriously injured or dead. read more... Commentary: Let's work together for the good of our country Thursday, November 6, 2008 The world looked on in awe last night as America rose to the historic occasion and overwhelmingly elected its first black president in its entire history as a cosmopolitan nation and the bastion of modern democracy. After close to two years of campaigning, both candidates extended the olive branch. read more... Commentary: Update: Turks & Caicos Islands Commission of Inquiry Friday, October 31, 2008 For the past two weeks, a delegation from the UK Commission of Inquiry into possible corruption or other serious dishonesty has been in the Turks and Caicos Islands: “... identifying and examining documents, visiting relevant locations and talking to persons wishing to give information and/or evidence in the Inquiry.” read more... Commentary: Depression, recession or balanced budget Thursday, October 30, 2008 There continues to be confusion on the state of the economy in the Turks and Caicos Islands. This has been going on for approximately two years and the confusion seems to be escalating not diminishing. At the centre of this confusion quite naturally is our chief financial leader, Honorable Floyd Hall. read more... Commentary: The case for a Caribbean environment space Monday, October 27, 2008 There are some who perceive the signing of the EPA and the moves by Trinidad and Tobago and the OECS to form an economic union as posing serious questions as regards the future of CARICOM. This, notwithstanding, plans for the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) have not been shelved. read more... Commentary: Corporate extortionists on the loose Monday, October 27, 2008 Hearts were broken last weekend and cell-phones began blazing with despondent, distraught, and defeated voices after it was learned that the three Cable and Wireless (C&W) bucket trucks that were dispatched to Grand Turk to restore telephone lines, were sent back because TCU refused to allow lines to be re-hung. read more... Commentary: Hide and seek in Turks & Caicos Friday, October 24, 2008 They say laughter is the best medicine. Well I just read something and had a real good laugh. It is an article at Caribbean Net News by staff writer Tess Hennigan. The article explains that the ruling PNP party has put out a news release voicing displeasure with the British Government. read more... Commentary: What's wrong with us? Friday, October 24, 2008 "What’s wrong with us” was the topic of discussion that I was engaged in Friday at lunch. It came from a prominent businessman who I guess is safe to say, has had enough. He was upset at the media, upset at the public and seemingly upset at himself for what I termed as inaction. He posed the question... read more... Commentary: Players change at FCO Wednesday, October 22, 2008 I find that personnel changes within the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), which has responsibility for the British Overseas Territories, are interesting. In early March of this year, the Parliamentary Undersecretary of State in charge of the Overseas Territories, Ms Meg Munn, visited the TCI. read more... Commentary: A major national cisis is on our hands Tuesday, October 21, 2008 In the heat of political passion, this PNP administration has made us a couple of distinct promises, namely; that things would happen ‘just like that’ and that things would be ‘bigger and better’ In their desperate quest to hold on to the extremely profitable and lucrative reins of power, they had also coined a deceptive phrase. read more... Commentary: 'The British are coming': T&C Commission of Inquiry due to arrive Tuesday, October 21, 2008 The Turks & Caicos Commission of Inquiry has been in the UK for most of this time processing documents and other information sent in to assist with their task. And from what I hear they have been flooded with input. With that phase closing out they are now slated to arrive in T&C this week. read more... Commentary: How to destroy a country in five easy years Saturday, October 18, 2008 After eight and a half years of conservative management by the Derek Taylor government, the Turks and Caicos Islands were on the verge of a new era. Our Beautiful by Nature slogan was backed by careful environmental management. Investors were carefully checked out and development had gone forward. read more... Commentary: Tinkering with government's role Wednesday, October 15, 2008 It has long been a known that democracy is a work in progress. As many have said it is not a perfect system, but is so much better than anything else the world has seen before. I believe this is true but we also need to examine how the dynamics of the process to "improve" the democratic systems have changed. read more... Commentary: US stock market and financial woes to affect TCI income Saturday, October 11, 2008 I have been taking the pulse of the tourist industry here in the TCI since the first weakness was shown in 2006. First there was denial by the government and finally the Premier claimed that the sub-prime mortgage crisis was causing a slowing in tourist arrivals. Later he said tourism was up 7 percent. read more... Commentary: 'If it ain't nailed down, it's mine': A Turks and Caicos state of mind Thursday, October 9, 2008 This is a claim to fame that Turks & Caicos should not be proud of, and that should be addressed. Our institutions of law and order should tackle this problem promptly by putting laws in place and enforcing existing laws to seriously penalize and prosecute those T&C Islanders who seem to live by this principle. read more... Commentary: We need to wake up now Thursday, October 9, 2008 After flexing its military muscle in Georgia, Russia has now teamed up with Venezuela whose bitter dislike for America is no secret whatsoever, and they are now both stepping up their game of provocation of the United States, right here in the Caribbean under the nose of the US. read more... Commentary: Cast away in Middle Caicos Thursday, October 2, 2008 The movie “Cast Away” starring Tom Hanks has Hanks stranded alone on a Pacific atoll cut off from the busy world he knew as a FedEx employee. The approximately 150 residents of Middle Caicos, the largest TCI island, got a tiny dose of what Hank’s character felt when Tropical Storm Hannah reformed itself. read more... Commentary: Who is watching our economy? Wednesday, October 1, 2008 I posed this question because I am truly afraid, afraid of the fact that I have not seen or heard the Premier or the Minister of Finance get on national television and specifically address the economic crisis in the United States, which obviously has serious ramifications for us here at home. read more... Commentary: The Best Little Country in the World meets the Enquiry, Hanna and Ike Saturday, September 27, 2008 In the Afterword of the historical treatise “At Dawn We Slept” the author quotes an old French saying and then applies it to current history: “The more things change the more they remain the same.” It strikes me that these words apply so accurately to our body politic here in the Turks and Caicos Islands. read more... Commentary: Salt Cay Update: Two weeks post-Ike Wednesday, September 24, 2008 It has been two weeks since Ike left town. And now Salt Cay is settling into a rhythm of cleaning, fixing, coping, problem solving and mosquito bites. Several volunteers are back and reporting in on their time on Salt Cay. Sharon and Jim Shafer have posted photos so we can see what people are coping with. read more... Commentary: TCI hurricane relief: fewer criticisms, more helping hands...please Friday, September 19, 2008 In the wake of the destruction Hurricane Ike wrought in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), reverberating criticisms of the government virtually drowned out desperate cries for food and water. The cries have now subsided but the criticisms persist. No doubt you’ve read comments by some very informed critics, read more... Commentary: Salt Cay Update: The Hat Collection Thursday, September 18, 2008 Today on Salt Cay the container with the first load of relief supplies from Friends Of Salt Cay arrived on shore. Ten pallets of food and approximately 41,000 pounds of food and materials are landing right now. Another container is rapidly filling up with donations from many different sources as well. read more... Commentary: A little hurricane history Wednesday, September 17, 2008 Hurricanes Hanna and Ike are certainly not the first to devastate the Turks and Caicos Islands. Maybe a little history will help generate some optimism for those far too young to remember or know about our hurricane history. Or at least how I know it and can relate it from writings and oral histories. read more... Commentary: We are so badly in need of a mature and responsible government Wednesday, September 17, 2008 The frustrations of one disappointed minister revealed that, after three days of diplomatic haggling, the Premier eventually, and reluctantly, succumbed to the governor’s urging to declare a state of emergency. This was to cover the most devastated areas of the Turks and Caicos, which were ravaged by Hurricane Ike. read more... Commentary: Salt Cay Update: Guilt sets in Tuesday, September 16, 2008 I’m sitting here watching Monday Night Football, eating a low fat Frappuccino Chocolate Fudge ice cream bar, on my California patio, and drinking a frozen Bombay Sapphire martini. On any given Monday night on Salt Cay, this would be pretty darned good. All the luxuries of home and on island time to boot. read more... Commentary: Salt Cay: Let us not forget... Monday, September 15, 2008 Today on and off Salt Cay, people pulled together from all over the world to help our little island. The wind was still and the mosquitoes hatched. It is not fun on Salt Cay. Dead animals are still being found and the smell is not good. There is no power, no fans, no fridges, no ice, and work, non-stop work. read more... Commentary: Profound truths revealed by Hanna and Ike Saturday, September 13, 2008 As the rhythm and the rumba from the music festival faded, the floods from Hurricane Hanna receded and the devastating category four winds and tornadoes from hurricane Ike subsided, they leave glaringly exposed in their wake, a slew of profound truths. Truths that have been shunned, ignored and rejected. read more... Commentary: Why is Salt Cay not a disaster zone? Friday, September 12, 2008 Yesterday, Gordon Wetherell, governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), released an official press statement declaring a state of emergency for both Grand Turk and South Caicos, describing them both as disaster zones. In doing so he declared a State Of Emergency for those two islands. read more... Commentary: Thanks for supporting the TCI victims of Hurricane Ike Friday, September 12, 2008 On behalf of the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), I would like to thank you for your very kind response to my request for assistance for our victims of Hurricane Ike. I am especially proud of the generosity demonstrated by fellow islanders throughout the region as well as those in the Caribbean Diaspora. read more... Commentary: Let's kick off Caribbean Wellness Day with specific steps to live longer Thursday, September 11, 2008 September 13, 2008 is the first “Caribbean Wellness Day,” in commemoration of the landmark summit by CARICOM Heads of Government in 2007. Their Port-of-Spain Declaration called on Ministries of Health to set up “comprehensive plans for the screening and management of chronic diseases and risk factors. read more... Commentary: Hurricane Ike: A test of TCI leadership and our people's resolve... Tuesday, September 9, 2008 By all accounts, Hurricane Ike was “the worst natural disaster to hit the Turks and Caicos Islands in living memory”. Therefore, it is a testament to our people’s resolve (and God’s grace) that we weathered its fury with little or no loss of life.  Preliminary reports indicate considerable damage to property. read more... Commentary: Where is our Premier in our time of distress? Wednesday, September 3, 2008 Once again the nation feels let down and abandoned in its time of disaster as hurricane Hanna wreaked havoc as it dropped heavy torrents of rain throughout the Turks and Caicos, and the distressed nation had to wait until Tuesday afternoon before hearing from the Premier. Residents in Grand Turk felt abandoned. read more... Next