FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FROM:
THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS
GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SERVICE (TCI-GIS)
Denard Sweeting
Information Officer
Providenciales,
Turks and Caicos Islands
Tel: (649) 946-4258, ext 80007
Fax: (649) 946-4528, ext. 40925
Web:
www.tcgov.tc
SPECIAL PROSECUTOR HELEN GARLICK INTRODUCED TO TCI
PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands; Thursday, August 27th, 2009 – Earlier today at the Hilly Ewing Building on Leeward Highway in Providenciales, H.E the Governor - Gordon Wetherell - introduced special prosecutor Helen Garlick to the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Ms Garlick is responsible for the Investigation and Prosecution team that will be reviewing Sir Robert Auld’s Interim Report. That team is charged with the responsibility of undertaking an independent criminal investigation.
The RT HON SIR Robin Auld, as the sole appointed Commissioner for the
Turks and Caicos Islands Commission Of Inquiry 2008-2009 concluded in his report that there was a high probability of systemic corruption in government and the legislature and among public officers in the TCI Government in recent years.
And now, accordingly - one of the sixty-five recommendations advanced by Sir Auld was for the appointment of a Special Prosecutor for the criminal investigation and prosecution of matters that may arise out of the report.
Garlick stated that her first line of business is to comply with all the laws of the Turks & Caicos Islands while undergoing these investigations, and “Unlike an Inquiry, that is open to the public a criminal investigation is a confidential process that will cover the wide range of allegations.”
The Investigation and Prosecution Team will have two months to overlook Sir Robin Auld’s Interim Report to find which areas require criminal investigations. Moreover, the special investigation and prosecution team is prepared to have contact with and receive information from anyone who may be able to assist in the discharge of its responsibilities.
Garlick further explained she will be completely objective and independent in her judgment and her philosophy is “Don’t target persons but target projects to find information and unlike the inquiry that can only conduct investigations in this jurisdiction. The Investigation and Prosecution team can reach out to other jurisdictions.”
