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Former premier calls governor 'racist dictator'
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| Published on Thursday, June 25, 2009 |
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The 6th House of Assembly session in Grand Turk on Wednesday opened with juggling of the rules and agenda and an accusation of racism against Governor Gordon Wetherell by former premier Michael Misick.
In a move that on one hand surprised the public but also seemed to presage the posturing for future delays in the actions Governor Wetherell may soon enforce, McAllister Hanchell, a former minister in the Misick government, presented a private member’s motion to the House. The motion provides a platform for the House to state its opposition to the proposed direct rule by Britain.
This new motion seeks to prevent a trial of criminal prosecutions coming out of the Commission of Enquiry before a judge without a jury, prevent the partial suspension of the TCI constitution and prevent dissolution of the House of Assembly. Further, the motion proclaims the House’s position against any expansion of the franchise.
These actions are anticipated following the recommendations made in the interim report from the Commission of Enquiry. It is unclear what effect this motion, which was rushed through the House, will have except to provide a platform for further appeals to the TCI and/or British courts if and when the Governor moves to dissolve the House and the constitution and proceed with the criminal prosecutions.
The Attorney General warned the Speaker that the motion could be considered illegal due to pending issues in the courts but, after a 15-minute consideration, Speaker Greene decided the Attorney General was wrong and allowed the motion to go to debate, which surprised no one.
After the motion was read by Hanchell, former premier Misick spoke. He congratulated the Williams government for a wonderful job well done and then he launched into a stinging attack on the Commission of Enquiry, the British, the British parliament and finally claimed the British were jealous of him and, due to the jealousy, they decided to act against the current TCI government.
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Former Premier
Michael Misick |
At one point Misick compared Governor Wetherell to a known racist, finally saying the Governor himself was a racist dictator. The Speaker told the former premier he was out of order and must retract this statement. Misick refused to retract it. He was told to sit down but after a few seconds’ pause he was allowed to continue. Late in his speech he told the House that the reason opposition Member of Parliament Douglas Parnell supported the British takeover was because his white father was British. This caused quite a stir.
The vast majority of House members being incumbent Progressive National Party (PNP), they all spoke from the same point of view supporting the motion. Former minister Floyd Hall said the British ought to move immediately to do what they have to do even if he disagreed with it. He said he had been doing some self examination and found that he does not feel he is guilty of any wrongdoing and claimed his attorney supports that position.
Opposition Member Art Robinson rose and told the House that the country was in the position they were in was due to the PNP government’s own actions. He suggested the British had no interest in coming here except to override the widespread and systemic corruption that had occurred. “It should be remembered that it makes no sense to move against a one judge court because it was one judge (Richard Ground) who in 2003 overturned a certified election and helped install this government. That judge must be dreading that decision after he sees how it turned out,” said Robinson.
Parnell delivered a noteworthy speech, taking on the former premier again and again, issue after issue.
“When he walks out that door, the door to the House I never want him to walk back in, to ever hold office in this country again. If I have anything to say about it he will never run again. Yes my father was from Britain and my Mom was a black woman from Bottle Creek. So what! I loved and respected my parents. At this point in time, with Obama in the White House and the world at large moving far from racist days, it speaks to the character of the former premier to bring this nonsense into this honourable house,” said Parnell.
“If the former deputy Premier wants the British to move, have the former premier stop his legal actions, which only serve to delay the process. It is the PNPs who are stalling the process and holding the country hostage,” he said.
Parnell then offered a humorous anecdote wherein one character kills himself due to his own stupidity. “This is what you all have done -- destroyed yourselves,” he told the government members.
Former Minister Jeffrey Hall supported the motion but more or less admitted he was guilty of corrupt acts.
He boasted about health care and educational scholarships and said that if he had it to do over he would do the same things again.
This fired up Opposition Leader Floyd Seymour, who thanked Jeffrey Hall for admitting to his misdeeds, as he was the only one so far to do so. “However, he fell short of providing the people with an apology.”
Seymour then provided a laundry list of corrupt dealings and excessive squandering of funds, listing them one by one and admonishing Hall “so you would do that again” over and over as he listed each item.
Seymour went on to say, “Yes I am in favour of Britain taking over right now even though we might find a few in the PNP not corrupt,” however he suggested that might be difficult.
“We cannot have an election now because there are obvious guilty parties still in government, which will taint the election process. We need campaign finance reform, election reform, criminal prosecutions and asset recovery first,” said Seymour.
On the issue of corruption in the British parliament, the opposition leader said, “Yes there are some minor issues in the UK but they pale in comparison to what we have seen occur in our little country. Furthermore we see people in the UK resigning. That is what needs to happen here, it is long overdue.”
The motion passed after three readings and over the three negative votes from the opposition.
A second bill, which grew out of a motion made by Parnell in earlier House sessions, was put through three readings and was passed. This bill establishes new, easily obtained residency permits for present and new home owners. It is expected to provide stimulus through encouragement to expatriates to build or buy homes and condos in the TCI and to extend their stays in the TCI as long as desired. This bill has some interesting and fresh concepts, which may be welcome news to prospective home owners and business entrepreneurs. Details will be forthcoming in a comprehensive article.
Misick left the house early without leave and former Minister Boyce continued her absence, having never appeared in any sessions held by the new Williams government. House rules require suspension of members absent without leave for three sessions in a row. Boyce has been absent for all six sessions this year but continues on the government’s payroll. | | | | Reads : 1236 |
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