Creating mischief to undermine British authority in TCI

[Author’s note: I am mindful that the unfolding political drama in my home country has been the subject of many of my commentaries lately.  But we are experiencing a constitutional crisis there that is the equivalent of the impeachments of Nixon and Clinton combined.  So please bear with me as I do whatever I can to help guide my compatriots through this national ordeal.  ALH]

I’ve been told that I raised quite a few eyebrows in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) back in 1995 when I declared, during a keynote address at a political gathering, that local politicians should negotiate with British authorities to abolish the title of Chief Minister for our national leader in favor of Premier. 

Ironically, I reasoned that “Chief Minister” perpetuated stereotypes of the colonial white man-native relationship that seemed anachronistic even in a dependent UK territory. More to the point, it offended my national pride that this title conveyed connotations of immaturity and irresponsibility and conjured up imperial presumptions about “the white man’s burden.”

Then along came the government of Premier Dr Michael Misick, which promptly validated all of those connotations and presumptions and even reflected a need to teach us basic principles of Christian morals and ethics.  And now local politicians are engaged in all kinds of mischief making, which our British overseers must simply regard as confirming displays of petulant and infantile futility. 

But I hasten to reassure long-suffering and understandably confused TCIslanders that, notwithstanding petition drives by local politicians, perfunctory meddling by regional politicians, unwarranted admonitions issued by CARICOM, or even this week’s swearing in of the new government of Premier Galmore Williams (in light suit), the following will (and should) still ensue in due course:

The Turks and Caicos Islands Constitution (Interim Amendment) Order 2009 will come into force on 30 April (or sooner depending on how much of this mischief the British can tolerate). This means, amongst other things, that:

1. The office of Premier “shall become vacant” – thus rendering the premiership of Hon. Galmore Williams as short as it is meaningless.
2. The Cabinet “shall cease to exist” – thus rendering Premier Williams’ appointments equally short and meaningless.
3. The House of Assembly “shall be dissolved” – thus rendering all MPs unemployed and irrelevant.

Therefore, I regret that, instead of helping our people understand the legal force and salvaging import of this Order, our local politicians are raising unsustainable challenges to some of its provisions to further their short-sighted, selfish and ultimately feckless agendas. 

Frankly, the British should execute this Order precisely as drafted – especially given its unassailable intent and the amount of time, thought and effort they clearly put into it. And our politicians – effectively bereft of constitutional power (and evidently even of intellectual ideas) – should be seeking ways to cooperate with them instead of behaving like unruly children playing a game of chicken.

That said, I’ve received enough e-mails to feel obliged to clarify what I wrote in last week’s commentary on the Commission of Inquiry’s recommendation for an enlargement of the franchise.  Here’s what I wrote:

[T]he enlargement of the franchise is only a recommendation; not some constitutional provision being imposed upon us. Yet I hope we adopt it because I have championed this cause for many years not only as a civil right for long-settled expatriates but also as a political and economic necessity for the sustainable development of our country.

Therefore, notwithstanding their visceral opposition, I maintain that it is in our enlightened national interest to implement:

‘Reform, with clearly defined criteria, to widen the Franchise to long-term residents of the Territory and thereby reduce the scope of political patronage, bribery and electoral abuse.’

Frankly, it is immature, unfair and ultimately self-defeating for us to continue relying on these expatriates to contribute to our economic development whilst treating them like undocumented aliens when it comes to our political development.

In fact, we should seize this opportunity to relegate some other vexing appellations to the dustbin of history.  In this respect, a friend reminded me this week about how often I used to argue that we should abolish the colonial fictions of “Belongers” and “expatriates” in favor of referring to ourselves as citizens and residents (permanent or temporary). 

Accordingly, we should enact reforms to do just that.  And I remind those voicing concerns about this recommendation that the Order provides for an Advisory Council and a Consultative Forum, which will give them the right not only to be heard but also to participate in the process of reforming our political system.

I have no doubt, however, that all sensible and fair-minded TCIslanders will agree that, like all civilized countries, the TCI should provide “clearly defined criteria” for long-term residents to become naturalized citizens with all of the rights and privileges of citizenship, including the right to vote. 

And, as the recommendation suggests, this would eliminate the unseemly practice of selling Belongerships like a commodity or claiming it like an inheritance from a rich Daddy.

Meanwhile, even though misguided and patently self-serving, there’s nothing wrong with the (new) Premier and his party, the PNP, rallying for independence.  But I challenge them to make this the organizing principle of their election manifesto when this Order expires in two years. 

After all, if TCI citizens vote them back into power on a pledge to push for independence, I’m sure the British will be all too happy to facilitate this process.  However, I suspect that, in the interim, cooler heads (even within the PNP) will prevail; and that, when all is said and done, this expedient call for independence will be exposed as nothing more than vainglorious political bluster….

Related commentaries:
Putting concerns about British intervention in TCI into perspective

* This commentary is published today also at Caribbean Net News and The TCI Journal.