It was ‘a mistake’ to cooperate with UK CoI - former TCI Premier
Mr Misick, who served as Chief Minister from August 2003 to 2006 and then as the territory’s first Premier from August 2006 to March 2009, had an Inquiry into alleged systematic corruption under his administration announced in 2008.
“I am pro-independence, I believe that the relationship between the British government and its colonies is unnatural. I believe every People will have the right to self-determination. I don't think there's any room for colonies in the 21st century… and I’m sure it’s the same in BVI,” Mr Misick said in a Monday, February 15, 2021 interview with 284 Media.
It should be noted that in the VI, a similar inquiry under the Andrew A. Fahie (R1) government was announced in January of 2021, using almost identical terminology by ex-Governor Augustus J.U. Jaspert, just a few days before he officially demitted office.
Honourable Fahie and his Virgin Islands Party (VIP) administration have been pushing a narrative of self-determination, while seeking to have locals occupy senior positions in the public service as against imported labour including from the UK.
Further, the method which Mr Jaspert used, which included keeping the local government in the dark about his intentions while colluding with the UK press, has raised questions about the real motive for the CoI.
‘UK had Hidden Agenda’ - Michael E. Misick
The former TCI Premier said while the UK provides very little financially, they still want to have a strong say in the governing of the territories. He said the CoI led to the democratically elected government of the day receiving the boot out of office.
“In 2008… when the Commission was announced, like your Premier, I said ok fine, I welcome the inquiry, let's see what this systemic corruption that you're talking about is all about, and I and my ministers cooperated fully.”
“To some extent that was a mistake, because they had a hidden agenda. The outcome of the inquiry in my view was pre-determined and they just use the inquiry as a means to do what they already had planned to do,” he said.
UK used CoI to make recommendations
According to the ex-Premier, the CoI was a means for the UK to propose recommendations through its one commissioner and for the territory to accept those recommendations, which included the suspension of the constitution.
“So in my mind in 2008, I could not imagine that in the 21st century that the British Government would suspend the constitution, enter an interim administration. Basically, that means that the country was run by a UK Governor, by the UK government in the person of the Governor solely and unilaterally.”
He said while the Governor appointed advisors, at the end of the day “it was a dictatorship, he ran the country.”
UK had other means to investigate corruption
Mr Misick further remarked that there was absolutely no need for a CoI in his territory given there were other means to investigate allegations of systemic corruption in the territory such as the local police under the purview of the Governor.
“They used the Commission of Inquiry as an excuse to intervene, and I never expect that to happen… what that has taught me is that you cannot trust them and they are not a people of their word,” he said.
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37 Responses to “It was ‘a mistake’ to cooperate with UK CoI - former TCI Premier”
We are being lead to the slaughter just like the good sheeple that they have us to be.
Why should we listen to independence talk to your people about it? We don't want independence.
Misick’s party is alleged to have received US$13.5 million over seven years for “electoral purposes” and the prosecution sad that he spent much of the money on himself, including US$23,000 given to his wardrobe stylist; US$110,000 for a boat charter for Misick’s then-wife, Hollywood actress LisaRaye McCoy, and nine of her friends; and a further US$150,000 apparently debited for furnishings in the newly-built Misick mansion.
and this....
The court heard that several large parcels of government land were sold to local people at special discounted rates, then again to investors at market rates, with defendants pocketing the difference.
Also according to another independent news site he ran for office again and was unsuccessful receiving less than 6% of the votes.
Where's your evidence they made it up?
For one, it would balance your Misick interview. For two, it might give us an idea of what similar issues might be happening here, and how.
Simple. Easy, I guess if you slow in the head or lazy. But literally wrong on an infinite number of levels. ie you can see your world through ANY prism you choose. Female? Differently abled? Poor? Gay? Terminally ill? QAnon? - to infinity.
You can choose to make everything B&W, or you can choose to look for what's actually happening in the world you live in, here and now. When it's B&W, shout it out.
Just stop putting on B&W glasses for every darn thing. If you do, we might just find a way through all the MASSIVE obstacles we face. Together. Yes. As one. Some black, some brown, some white, some yellow, etc. - all of us different but all of us humans first.
I hope that the BVI government, both sides(including the opposition) have a plan to fight this. Whatsoever recommendation is made, ask yourselves, can it be challenged? To what extent? Can it be delayed? For how long?
This inquiry is not being treated fairly. They already have a decision. You can already see what this man hicklebottom(or whatsoever his name is) is all about. The UK is not a nice place. Come out of this mindset that the white man has to be in charge. Yes, we (as black folks) will make mistakes and we will learn from them. Right now, the country can run itself however. No white figureheads needed. Slavery has been abolished. If you want Andrew to resign so someone else can lead, do that. Lets be out own ruler. Think Nelson Mandela.
From the summary:
"Among the contributors to this moral, governmental and financial decline have been:
1) the potential and encouragement in the system of governance for abuse of public
office, concealment of conflicts of interest at all levels of public life, and consequent
venality; 2) the power of politics in the mix of public decision‐making and commercial
activity, and willingness of overseas developers and other investors to exploit that power
for their own purposes; 3) vulnerability of the majority of the Territory’s long‐term
residents, owing to the precariousness of their permission to live and work here, and to
whom Belongership and, with it, the right to vote are denied; and 4) lack of effective
constitutional checks and balances in the system of governance to protect the public purse, the inefficient from scrutiny, the dishonest from discovery and the vulnerable from
abuse.
We can never trust the british
Stay awoke people
Sent of oppressor