TCI Must Force Premier Misick to Resign

Force Misick to resign like Nixon 

Premier Michael Misick of the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) has become as hopelessly compromised a national leader as President Richard Nixon was in 1974 

Of course, in the fall of 1973,  Nixon had every right to feel invincible. He was still reveling in a landslide re-election victory, had rendered his political opponents practically irrelevant, and was becoming as famous abroad as he was at home. Yet, within a year, his own political allies forced him to resign in utter disgrace.

Today, Misick also has every right to feel invincible. He is still reveling in a landslide re-election victory, has rendered his political opponents practically irrelevant, and is becoming as infamous abroad as he is at home. 

(What does it say about a political leader who seems more interested in mingling with B-list celebrities than networking with other political leaders?)

Alas, as farfetched as the comparison above might seem, the historical parallels between Nixon and Misick do not end there. Those parallels raise dire implications and portend grave consequences for Misick, his enablers, and the TCI. Anyone with only a passing knowledge of US history will appreciate that.

However, this is neither the occasion nor the forum for a complete exposition of those eerie and foreboding parallels. Suffice it to note that Misick is facing many of the allegations that led to Nixon’s downfall.

Not least is the allegation that Misick erased evidence of (one of) his crimes from a videotape. That, of course, mirrors one of the more damning allegations US authorities leveled against Nixon.

(What does it say about a political leader who leads by inciting fear and intimidation rather than providing hope and inspiration?)

Are TCI politicians more loyal to our country or Misick?

People have taken to the streets to protest government policies. It behooves members of the ruling Progressive National Party (PNP) to heed their grievances. 

Unsurprisingly, Misick dismisses them as unwitting pawns of a vanquished, mischief-making opposition: the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM). But his dismissal only reflects how far removed from the concerns of ordinary laborers this wannabe international celebrity has become.

But PNP ministers know those grievances are well-founded. After all, Misick has predicated his short-sighted strategy for economic development on exploiting cheap foreign labor instead of employing local workers. And that’s enough to make all TCIslanders disillusioned and disaffected with his leadership.

(What does it say about government ministers who stand by and watch as a political leader grounds the ship of state?)

Misick’s economy: house of cards built on sand

Misick’s is building the TCI economy on beachfront resorts. But we all know what Mathew says about fools who build on sand. Then, there’s the impact the subprime mortgage mess in America will have. That will turn the foundation of our booming economy into quicksand.

But nothing will ground our ship of state quite like Misick’s double-talk about the need to “broaden our tax base.” After all, according to his own report, the government “increased revenue collections from $98 million in 2003 to over $215 million this year.” 

Yet, he’s warning that “gone are the days when there will be no tax” in the TCI. That warning insults our intelligence and betrays his intent to assault our pocketbooks. It also risks spooking investors who rely on our coveted status as a tax haven.

Misick boasts about increased government revenues. That should have him promising TCIslanders more government services. Instead, this shyster is threatening more taxes.

(What does it say about a political leader who makes the unconscionable and oxymoronic assertion that taxing poor people is necessary for his country to “mature into a jurisdiction of low tax”?)

Misick boasts about the “large investments” he’s attracting to TCI. But most TCIslanders are still waiting to benefit from them.

He promised to build a first-rate infrastructure of hospitals, schools, roads, law enforcement, etc. But most TCIslanders are still receiving third-rate services and facing alarming increases in crime.

Misick’s ill-gotten gains

Upon entering office, Misick declared himself a virtual pauper. Yet, he was soon living like a king (in his public and private life). Even worse, he was flaunting worldly possessions that would make an ordinary millionaire green with envy.

Yes, he married an American TV actress. But she would have to be raking in Oprah-like millions to fund their royal lifestyle.

Misick’s looming downfall

Nixon’s corrupt and failed presidency is a cautionary and instructive precedent. The imperial pride he displayed proved to be a prelude to his spectacular fall. Misick’s imperial pride seems destined to be the same. 

Therefore, I caution all members of the ruling PNP to consider whether blind loyalty to Misick is worth falling with him. In covering up Nixon’s crimes, his enablers were only masking a “cancer that was growing on his Presidency.” In covering up Misick’s crimes, his enablers are only masking the terminal state of his premiership.

(Never mind Nixon, what does it say about government ministers who follow a political leader, abusing power to feed boundless greed, down a primrose path?

Government ministers are complicit in many kickback schemes or shady land deals, especially involving the promiscuous granting and selling of Crown Lands. But doing the right thing now will likely reduce their criminal liability. They would do well to act accordingly. 

Of course, their conscience should be their guide, not fear of the UK investigators now conducting an inquiry into TCI governance. But, whatever the motivation, any minister who decides to do the right thing will serve our country well.

The precedent members of Nixon’s inner circle set is instructive. They threw him overboard to save their ship of state. I just hope Misick is not like many TCIslanders who never learned how to swim.

Trust me, the British will hold Misick to account. After all, it’s as embarrassing for them as it’s devastating for us that he has ruled the TCI like an African kleptomaniac. But I suspect the last thing they want is to feel compelled to dissolve yet another PNP government, putting our country into receivership…again.

In a similar vein, no patriotic TCIslander wants to see the British impose another humiliating suspension of our Constitution. Presumably, this would be “to restore respect for the rule of law and good governance in the Turks and Caicos Islands.”

So here’s to government ministers rallying around their “Barry Goldwater.” There must be someone of unimpeachable and uncompromising integrity who can tell Misick it’s time to go, warning that he faces a humiliating vote of no confidence if he refuses to.

(Finally, what does it say about a country with so little freedom of the press that no newspaper dares publish any article critical of the leader out of fear of crushing retaliation?)

British complicity

I have focused exclusively on Premier Misick’s corruption and dereliction of duty. That’s because I believe we are “mature” enough to take responsibility for the mess he’s gotten us into and also intelligent enough to figure out how to clean it up.

But HE Governor Richard Tauwhare is the proverbial white elephant in the room. So, I’d be remiss to ignore how his dereliction of duty contributed to our national woes. After all, Tauwhare’s complicity or tacit approval enabled Misick to commit many of his crimes. 

Not to mention the governor’s failure to deal with the menace of illegal (Haitian) immigration. This failure has led to a scourge of predatory crimes, threatening peace and tranquility in our island paradise.

Therefore, I admonish the British to reserve a special section in its report to censure Governor Tauwhare. Because his failure to perform his constitutional duties has been almost as egregious as Misick’s.