PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands; Friday June 12, 2009- As Turks and Caicos Islanders await the results of the Commission of Inquiry, the country has been deemed to be on a standstill -as anticipation mounts for the Commission’s Final Report. At a press call at the Premier’s Office, Upstairs National Insurance Building in Providenciales, Premier Galmo Williams stated that the business of the Turks and Caicos must move forward, and no longer can we wait for a decision to be reached.
The Premier noted that on Thursday, June 11, he and Deputy Premier Hon. Royal Robinson met with HE the Governor, Gordon Wetherell, where in which HE was advised to prorogue the House of Assembly, and to dissolve the House of Assembly pursuant to Article 55(2) of the Constitution and set October 22nd 2009 as the date for the next General Elections. Later that day, HE stated that after having consulted the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London, he decided not to accede to the request. Premier Williams said that the refusal was expected; however, his decision to pursue the matter was not made to undermine the British Government, but “It was made to obtain a reaction from the British because since the commencement of the Commission of Inquiry the country has come to a halt.”
“This press conference was called to address the facts that our country has been on standstill since the Inquiry and it has been too long; and our people need to know what our future will be, rather the British Government will take over or not because the level of uncertainty is causing our country to lose out on investment opportunities,” said Premier Williams.
He went on to add that: “There are investors and developers that our interested in coming to our country, but due to the fact that there in uncertainty in the future of the TCI because the British is taking to long to release the results of the Inquiry.”
In office nearly three months, the Williams Administration has not been allowed to borrow any funds; thus, not being able to finish pending projects which have paused due to the uncertainty surrounding the Inquiry’s final report; the most important projects being the high school in Grand Turk, airport in South Caicos, and the extension of the airport in Provo.
Premier Williams noted that the only thing that the Government has been allowed to do is cut expenditure, by doing this, his Administration has demonstrated the initiative to find alternative ways reduce the deficit and begin the process of raising the economy.
“Our country’s future is bright, our best days are still ahead.”
Deputy Premier Robinson noted that government has implemented a fiscal stabilization plan and put fixed cost of the expenditure side. However, “The borrowing guidelines needs to be changed, as to make money, the country has to be in position to borrow, thus spending money to move forward.”
He stated that at present the government needs US$100 million in order to do so, and that if investors such as Butch Stewart (Beaches Resort and Spa) and Dr. Cem Kinay (Dellis Cay) can pump over US$120 million into the TCI economy, so too “should the TCI Government to get projects going and make the country viable.”
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