New Year's message from Former Premier Michael Misick
My fellow Turks and Caicos Islanders I would like to wish everyone a prosperous, healthy and safe new year.
The year 2016 has been a difficult year for us as a country as we have lost numerous citizens, young and old, that were pillars in our
community.
We have seen violent crimes take over our streets, businesses and homes. Unemployment is growing and strong representation for our citizens seems to be lacking from politicians. All of the wealth and major opportunities in our country continue to be concentrated in the hands of the few 'The Grace Bay Boys' their heirs and successors.
The election of December 2016 that returned the PDM to office will compound the concentration of wealth as it will cement the Grace Bay Boys' grip on power, as they are the major sponsors and financiers of the PDM party.
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the PDM under the leadership of Hon. Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson for their victory at the polls.
We started a movement for change, a movement to return power to the people and take our country back. Although we did not win a seat in this election we were successful at the polls. Approximately 1629 voters crossed party lines and voted for me as an independent candidate. This is remarkable in a country where the two major parties are deeply and culturally entrenched.
I would like to thank all of those that attended my rallies and voted for me. I can assure you that your vote will not be wasted as I intend to continue to represent you and fight for the ideals that we believe in.
We believe that you don't have to be inside of Parliament to effect change. As an agent of change, we believe we can effect change everywhere by speaking out and lending our voices to oppose injustice and oppression wherever and whenever it raises its ugly head.
We believe that we can provide that strong and fearless representation to you regardless. We still believe that our best days as a country are ahead and we believe that the future lies within us taking responsibility for our own actions, taking responsibility for our own country. No external power can help us or save us. We must seek our solutions ourselves and we must help and save ourselves.
As we move forward into 2017, it's my wish that we unite as a people and work together for our common good, because there is more that unites us than that which divides us. We must take a stand against British colonialism and imperialism. That's the only way I believe we will achieve our goal as a prosperous and safe nation among the other nations of this world.
I wish the new Government much success. But to end right you must begin right. I believe the re-appointed of Hon. John Phillips by the Governor is a dangerous precedent. While I don't agree that the Governor should be appointing any person to our Parliament, while he has that power, he should exercise it responsibly and in the wider public interest.
I have nothing against Mr. Phillips personally. I have known him for a very long time and believe that he has made a significant contribution to Parliament over the last 4 years. However, I believe there are other citizens that are equally as capable of making a contribution and should be given a chance. If you are going to serve Parliament two consecutive times and be pensionable, you should run for office. I call on the governor to review and rescind the appointment of Mr. John Phillips to Parliament.
In the first national address by the new Premier presenting her Cabinet, Hon. Cartwright-Robinson, in addition to appointing the six ministers that are allowed by the Constitution, suggested that Hon. Derek Taylor and Hon. Doug Parnell will be working out of her office in Grand Turk and Providenciales, respectively.
My question is, what will be their roles and positions, as the
Constitution does not provide for junior ministers or parliament secretary. This seems to me to be a recipe for political mischief and is not permitted by the Constitution or by law.
I will end where I started, by again thanking those that supported our movement for change and to wish all of our citizens and residents alike a prosperous and safe 2017.
May God bless each and every one of you and may He bless our beloved Turks and Caicos Islands.
The year 2016 has been a difficult year for us as a country as we have lost numerous citizens, young and old, that were pillars in our
community.
We have seen violent crimes take over our streets, businesses and homes. Unemployment is growing and strong representation for our citizens seems to be lacking from politicians. All of the wealth and major opportunities in our country continue to be concentrated in the hands of the few 'The Grace Bay Boys' their heirs and successors.
The election of December 2016 that returned the PDM to office will compound the concentration of wealth as it will cement the Grace Bay Boys' grip on power, as they are the major sponsors and financiers of the PDM party.
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the PDM under the leadership of Hon. Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson for their victory at the polls.
We started a movement for change, a movement to return power to the people and take our country back. Although we did not win a seat in this election we were successful at the polls. Approximately 1629 voters crossed party lines and voted for me as an independent candidate. This is remarkable in a country where the two major parties are deeply and culturally entrenched.
I would like to thank all of those that attended my rallies and voted for me. I can assure you that your vote will not be wasted as I intend to continue to represent you and fight for the ideals that we believe in.
We believe that you don't have to be inside of Parliament to effect change. As an agent of change, we believe we can effect change everywhere by speaking out and lending our voices to oppose injustice and oppression wherever and whenever it raises its ugly head.
We believe that we can provide that strong and fearless representation to you regardless. We still believe that our best days as a country are ahead and we believe that the future lies within us taking responsibility for our own actions, taking responsibility for our own country. No external power can help us or save us. We must seek our solutions ourselves and we must help and save ourselves.
As we move forward into 2017, it's my wish that we unite as a people and work together for our common good, because there is more that unites us than that which divides us. We must take a stand against British colonialism and imperialism. That's the only way I believe we will achieve our goal as a prosperous and safe nation among the other nations of this world.
I wish the new Government much success. But to end right you must begin right. I believe the re-appointed of Hon. John Phillips by the Governor is a dangerous precedent. While I don't agree that the Governor should be appointing any person to our Parliament, while he has that power, he should exercise it responsibly and in the wider public interest.
I have nothing against Mr. Phillips personally. I have known him for a very long time and believe that he has made a significant contribution to Parliament over the last 4 years. However, I believe there are other citizens that are equally as capable of making a contribution and should be given a chance. If you are going to serve Parliament two consecutive times and be pensionable, you should run for office. I call on the governor to review and rescind the appointment of Mr. John Phillips to Parliament.
In the first national address by the new Premier presenting her Cabinet, Hon. Cartwright-Robinson, in addition to appointing the six ministers that are allowed by the Constitution, suggested that Hon. Derek Taylor and Hon. Doug Parnell will be working out of her office in Grand Turk and Providenciales, respectively.
My question is, what will be their roles and positions, as the
Constitution does not provide for junior ministers or parliament secretary. This seems to me to be a recipe for political mischief and is not permitted by the Constitution or by law.
I will end where I started, by again thanking those that supported our movement for change and to wish all of our citizens and residents alike a prosperous and safe 2017.
May God bless each and every one of you and may He bless our beloved Turks and Caicos Islands.