PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands; Tuesday, June 23, 2009 - On Friday June 19th, the United Nations Committee of 24 on Decolonization at its 10th meeting, issued a statement on the Turks & Caicos Islands. The statement said the United Nations Assembly noted with concern the ongoing situation regarding the suspension of the territory’s constitution and by extension the suspension of the territory’s government.
The statement said specifically: “Concerning the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Assembly would recall the Constitution of the Territory, which took effect in 2006, and note the territorial government’s view that that there remained scope for a degree of delegation of the Governor’s power to the Territory so as to secure greater autonomy. It would note with concern the ongoing situation and also the need to restore good governance and sound financial management. The Assembly would welcome the territorial government’s continuing efforts to address the need for enhanced social cohesion.”
Premier Williams is hailing this statement a landmark success of his recent presentation to the United Nations Committee of 24 in St. Kitts & Nevis from May 12-14 2009.
Premier Williams said the UN statement says two things: first it says that the degree of power the Governor enjoys is disproportionate with the obligation to move toward greater democracy. By saying what it did, “the UN body advocates a reduction in the powers of the Governor, which is a direct challenge to the suspension of the territorial government and putting all powers in the Governor’s hands.”
Second, the statement further noted the need to restore “good governance and sound financial management”. On this point, Premier Williams accepts the need for sound financial management and expressed that his financial policies have already addressed this matter in the form of the Fiscal Stability Plan and the strengthening of the office of the Auditor General.
Below is the link to the approved UN text reaffirming principle of self-determination as fundamental human right with respect to the Non-Self Governing Territories including the Turks & Caicos Islands.
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2009/gacol3197.doc.htm
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