| PDM leaders voice concerns | | Print | |
| Thursday, 13 May 2010 17:54 | |||
 After a month of quiet, People’s Democratic Movement party leaders broke their silence expressing their concerns about issues that arose in recent weeks. Issues of burning attention included the budget, a proposed gas tax, concern for safety, plans for the tourism industry and constitutional reform. PDM leader Doug Parnell said the party had observed a period of silence in respect of the U.K. election process. “Given that we are in a situation of direct rule from the U.K., anything we said during this time ran the risk, ever so slight, of spilling over into the election process,” Parnell explained. He also said the party leaders planned to travel to the U.K. in short to meet with new government representatives “so that our situation is not placed on the back burner amongst very pressing and challenging issues that the new administration in the U.K. must address.” The leader rejected the recently proposed 25 cent per gallon gas tax increase, saying that while the party welcomes the cost-cutting measures of the interim government, increases in cost of living should be avoided. In fact, Parnell suggested the current 25 cent per gallon tax that was added during the previous administration should also be eliminated, as a way to help ease the burden faced by residents. Parnell expressed his support of revenue generating activities, but he objected to suggestions made by Permanent Secretary of Finance Delton Jones in his budget statement that government assets could be sold to stir up cash to close the budget deficit gap. “Proper financial management and the right to make mature decisions about (TCI government) finances are under the purview of the British government, and they failed to act appropriately,” Parnell said. It is this oversight that he believes should cost the U.K. half the budget deficit, which he estimates to be $120 million. “These deficits must not be borne solely by the people of the TCI and her residents, but shared equally between (Her Majesty’s Government) and the TCI,” Parnell explained. With hurricane season about to start, Parnell also addressed concerns about the reach of government-owned Radio Turks and Caicos. “It is imperative that leading up to the hurricane season that the communication tool and information station of last resort is working across the entire nation to keep people informed.” Parnell says at present the station is not heard on North and Middle Caicos. The PDM leader also called for the current administration to produce the study conducted by the tourism working group so that stakeholders can have an opportunity to comment before any laws are implemented. “Our understanding is that a draft ordinance with radical changes to the tourism industry is being complicated by the interim administration,” he said. Parnell also said the party was in the process of appointing a constitutional commission to address the concerns of the people of the TCI. Click HERE to read the full statement.
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