Well, apparently our outgoing British Governor Richard Tauwhare, speaking at a Chamber of Conference meeting in Providenciales on Monday 23 June 2008, had some interesting comments to make about the Turks and Caicos present financial situation. Mind you, he arrived when we did in 2005.
According to a commentary by David Tapfer on Caribbean Net News, Tauwhare recommended that the UK government look into how TCI was running back when he first came into office.
First regarding the commission of inquiry,
"[Gov. Tauwhare] stated that shortly after his arrival, replacing Governor Poston (now deceased), he found evidence of corruption that he felt warranted the appointment of a Commission of Enquiry at that time.
In October of 2005 he presented his recommendation to his superiors at Britain’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), who reportedly considered the evidence [and ramifications?] carefully, but told him to leave it alone."
Regarding our tourism boom,
"The Governor also stated that the amounts budgeted to tourism promotion represent in his words “a 600 percent increase" and he indicated the benefits from this increase were not there.
In budget year 2008, the government’s budget documents indicate that $10 million has been allocated for tourism promotion. In addition to this $10 million, we also have $3.5 million due to Lisa Raye McCoy Misick, the Premier’s wife. This government agreed to pay her $7 million over two years for her to promote our country. The first payment may have been made and the second is due this year."
Regarding budget and liquidity,
"Governor Tauwhare’s most serious comments came forth when he noted that the current economic position of the country was tentative, in that our monthly income is below our monthly expenses."
And regarding health care costs,
"One final bombshell was dropped by Governor Tauwhare when he stated that overseas health care costs were completely out of control, rising 82 percent in recent years, while population was up only 14 percent."
Mind you, the Commission of Inquiry is charged with investigating both political parties here, as the inquiry will go back through the last administration. This is not simply an old "party against party" issue, but a deeper look into what it takes to lead a small Caribbean country through massive expansion and therefore massive infuxes of money. The results should be interesting to everyone, as these issues come up in every country, simply on much larger scale.
