tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37949944.post840700716446462885..comments2023-05-05T07:13:41.889-04:00Comments on Corruption-free Anguilla: FAC FalloutUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37949944.post-88360165683002095602008-07-11T16:53:00.000-04:002008-07-11T16:53:00.000-04:00You can read it here:Harry WigginYou can read it here:<BR/><A HREF="http://www.publications.parliament.uk/cgi-bin/newhtml_hl?DB=semukparl&STEMMER=en&WORDS=harry%20wiggin&ALL=&ANY=&PHRASE=%22harry%20wiggin%20%22&CATEGORIES=&SIMPLE=&SPEAKER=&COLOUR=red&STYLE=s&ANCHOR=muscat_highlighter_first_match&URL=/pa/cm200708/cmselect/cmfaff/147/147we93.htm#muscat_highlighter_first_match" REL="nofollow">Harry Wiggin</A>idmitchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08966173951425644722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37949944.post-6530947423901352102008-07-11T16:32:00.000-04:002008-07-11T16:32:00.000-04:00I would like to see a complete copy of Harry Wiggi...I would like to see a complete copy of Harry Wiggin' letter please.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37949944.post-61707589983419753592008-07-10T19:01:00.000-04:002008-07-10T19:01:00.000-04:00Anonymous said... An independent inquiry would be ...Anonymous said... <BR/>An independent inquiry would be a good first step, as it would answer many of the outstanding questions on past actions. <BR/><BR/>I agree. A completely independent group should initiate this inquiry, say a bunch of lawyers and accountants; indifferent of the British/OECS way of thinking?<BR/><BR/>- ScottyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37949944.post-71473145398200209142008-07-10T13:48:00.000-04:002008-07-10T13:48:00.000-04:00Today, Thursday, the Commission of Inquiry for Tur...Today, Thursday, the Commission of Inquiry for Turks & Caicos has already been announced.<BR/><BR/>How long before the same is announced for Anguilla?<BR/><BR/>IDM<BR/>-------------------------------<BR/>Foreign Affairs Committee <BR/>House of Commons <BR/>London SW1A 0AA <BR/><BR/>PN 37 (Session 2007-08) <BR/>10 July 2008 <BR/><BR/>ANNOUNCEMENT OF COMMISSION OF INQUIRY IN TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS <BR/> <BR/>Responding to the announcement by the Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands that he had appointed a Commission of Inquiry into allegations of corruption in the Territory, the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Mike Gapes MP, said: <BR/> <BR/>“We are delighted that the Government has responded so quickly to our recommendation that there should be a Commission of Inquiry into serious allegations of corruption on the Turks and Caicos Islands. As part of our inquiry into the Overseas Territories, the following Members of the Committee visited the Turks and Caicos Islands in March 2008: Mr Paul Keetch MP, Mr Greg Pope MP, and Sir John Stanley MP. In the Committee’s subsequent report, published on 6 July, the Committee concluded: <BR/> <BR/>‘We are very concerned by the serious allegations of corruption we have received from the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI). They are already damaging TCI's reputation, and there are signs that they may soon begin to affect the Islands' tourism industry. There is also a great risk that they will damage the UK's own reputation for promoting good governance. Unlike the Cayman Islands, where the Governor has taken the initiative in investigations, the onus has been placed on local people to substantiate allegations in TCI. This approach is entirely inappropriate given the palpable climate of fear on TCI. In such an environment, people will be afraid to publicly come forward with evidence. We conclude that the UK Government must find a way to assure people that a formal process with safeguards is underway and therefore recommend that it announces a Commission of Inquiry, with full protection for witnesses. The change in Governor occurring in August presents an opportunity to restore trust and we recommend that the Commission of Inquiry should be announced before the new Governor takes up his post.’ “idmitchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08966173951425644722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37949944.post-61672622912136149162008-07-10T10:24:00.000-04:002008-07-10T10:24:00.000-04:00An independent inquiry would be a good first step,...An independent inquiry would be a good first step, as it would answer many of the outstanding questions on past actions. <BR/><BR/>However, in order to prevent these questions from popping up again and again, as you have stated in this blog many times in the past, structural changes are necessary to ensure proper statutory checks and balances are brought into existence. <BR/><BR/>Executive accountability and transparency are not just "buzz words" to be conventiently used and then forgotten. They are essential principles of a functioning democracy. As long as questions and concerns central to the well-being of Anguilla are treated as illegitimate; as long as citizens have no enforceable rights to inform themselves about (their) government's actions; as long as we are told it is none of our business how, what and why decisions are made, the odium of corruption will linger, whether justified or not. <BR/><BR/>Why is it that these arguments are always (around the world, as in Anguilla) popular with the opposition, but harldy ever with the sitting government - even when today's government is yesterday's opposition? Isn't it the duty of all politicians, wherever they sit in the pecking order, to make democracy stronger for future generations? <BR/><BR/>Yes, our political system is a representative one - we don't have a direct democracy and not all decisions should be taken by direct involvement of the citizenry. But there is no excuse not to involve and inform citizens to the greatest extent possible, and enshrine this approach in the form of enforceable rights.<BR/><BR/>What could form a better backbone for the political programme of a united opposition than just such a "new deal", a new contract between government and the people based on a clear agenda for the introduction of statutory checks and balances for greater transparency and accountability?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37949944.post-63922782559320242792008-07-10T08:10:00.000-04:002008-07-10T08:10:00.000-04:00"Sheep can run Anguilla better." --Hubert Hughe..."Sheep can run Anguilla better."<BR/> --Hubert HughesAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com