| New governor says U.K. committed to 2012 elections | | Print | |
| Written by Richard Green/richard@fptci.com | |||
| Monday, 12 September 2011 13:05 | |||
 Moments after taking office Sept. 12 as the 12th governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands, His Excellency the Gov. Damian Roderic “Ric” Todd said the U.K. is committed to holding elections next year, and that passing the necessary laws would be one of his top priorities. Everyone from Foreign Secretary William Hague to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to Parliament “all made clear to me their desire and commitment to seeing elections take place in 2012 in the Turks and Caicos Islands, and to seeing the relationship between the United Kingdom and the Turks and Caicos Islands flourish in the future,” Todd saidHowever, he qualified that desire by adding — “provided that sufficient progress has been made against the milestones” set by Foreign Office Minister Henry Bellingham in December 2010. The governor also said that Hague told him that the U.K. “would assume all its responsibilities” in assisting the country in returning to financial and economic stability. He said the pace of work toward those goals would increase to make the necessary changes and difficult decisions required. “I also undertake to discharge my responsibilities openly and honestly,” he said. “I am determined my actions and those of the Turks and Caicos Islands government will be transparent and open. And I want the Turks and Caicos Islands government to be the most transparent government in the Caribbean.” The interim government has come under fire from some for a lack of transparency. Todd was sworn in on Grand Turk during a joint session of the governor’s Advisory Council and the Consultative Forum, during which forum Chairwoman Lillian Misick welcomed him. She said the actions of former government officials that resulted in the suspension of elected government in 2009 during a global economic meltdown has left islanders facing a stagnant economy, increasing unemployment, introduction of new taxes, loss of retirement savings when the Turks and Caicos Islands Bank Ltd. failed last year, and dissatisfaction with delivery of health care, education and social services. “This country then, Your Excellency, needs a true, caring partnership that fosters a sense of renewal, of optimism, of hope,” Misick said. “We need to work together towards establishing the framework for a new, vibrant, socially and politically conscious society, a society which champions the strong values of our forebears, a society which promotes individual and community participation in national affairs, a society which advocates and rewards hard work and puts the highest premium on accountability and taking responsibility. “We the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands look forward to joining hands with you as governor to help shape the future for our country.” Todd replaces former Gov. Gordon Wetherell, who left office last month after serving a standard three-year term. He is a veteran FCO diplomat who comes to the TCI from serving as Her Majesty’s ambassador to Poland. Click here to read the governor's speech Click here to read Misick's comments
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