From TCI Weekly News Online

Months after a high-level delegation from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) conducted a fact find mission in the TCI and subsequently released its findings in a report; there has been no word from Her Majesty’s Government (HMG) on the results.

At a press briefing on Monday (November 25) at the Premier’s office on Providenciales, CARICOM Ambassador for Foreign and Community Relations, Colin Granderson and Acting Premier Don-Hue Gardiner both indicated that neither party has received so much as an official acknowledgment of the report.

Asked what the regional body has done since releasing the report, Ambassador Granderson said that they have made their recommendations and it is now for the TCI Government and the British authorities to carry them out as they see fit.

“CARICOM continues to follow the situation; it may take some time perhaps for it to be properly digested because it covers a number of areas and the recommendations are fairly wide ranging.”

The Government has taken very seriously the recommendation to have a review of the 2011 Constitution conducted and has since made moves to convene a consultative committee to conduct an examination of the instrument.

Pointing to this, Acting Premier, Don-Hue Gardiner stated this is well on its way.

“It is something that we would expect the committee to begin its work on in the next several weeks and then there would be a report to the parliament sometime before the end of this financial year in the hopes that we can then begin, after the new financial year in April, to really push these changes and how best we can have them signed on to and accepted by HMG.”

Responding to a question of whether there has been any dialogue with HMG concerning the report, Gardiner said: “The report has been received by the British government; there has not been any feedback to us necessarily concerning their views on the report.

“They do however have it and I can only recommend that questions of that sort be put to them.”

He added that whatever comes out of the constitutional review are the things that would be most important to the Government’s work and its relationship going forward.

Ambassador Granderson noted that although there has been no position from HMG to date, CARICOM would certainly have a chance early next year to raise the issue.

“There is going to be a meeting of the UK-Caribbean forum and that will give us an opportunity to get more information with regard as to how they are proceeding.”

Asked if CARICOM will lend any assistance to the consultation process, Ambassador Granderson said it is up to the TCI Government to determine if they require any assistance and to what extent CARICOM is in a position to provide such assistance.

Responding to the same question, Gardiner pointed out that the first thing would be to conduct the review and then submit the recommendations to the House of Assembly,

Following this, he added, the Government will then look to CARICOM and to whomever else can provide the TCI with assistance in achieving the aims coming out of the review process.

Meanwhile, when questioned as to the Secretariat’s official stance regarding the state of affairs in the TCI over the past few months – particularly the furor surrounding the Attorney General and the extradition of former Premier Michael Misick – Ambassador Granderson said that the regional body is following what is taking place.

“CARICOM doesn’t get involved in the day to day events and developments in member states. The report was the outcome of a specific situation but it’s not something we are going to do on a daily basis.

“But I would imagine that, based on how things evolve, the matter would come up again at the next meeting of heads of government.”

He added that Bahamas Foreign Minister, Fred Mitchell – who headed the fact-finding mission earlier in the year – has been given the remit of keeping the community informed about what is taking place in the TCI and that this will continue.

“It all depends on the evolution of the situation, I would imagine that some sort of a report might be made, but it is in the hands of the Turks and Caicos Government,” the Ambassador stated. (DI)

PHOTO: Acting Premier, Don-Hue Gardiner (third from left) met with CARICOM Ambassador Colin Granderson (to his left) and members of the CARICOM consultative team during their visit

For more on this story go to:

http://tcweeklynews.com/still-no-word-from-hmg-on-factfinding-report-p4572-1.htm