TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS – It was towards the latter part of 2008 when the British Governor to the Turks and Caicos Islands, Richard Tauwhare, announced his departure and informed the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) that he had advised that a Commission of Inquiry be carried out in the TCI. As islanders, we welcomed the Inquiry as we had our own concerns about the Government at that time.
Within a few short weeks of the former Governor’s announcement, a new Governor Wetherell took office as the Governor of the TCI, and now, due to the suspension of the TCI’s Constitution, this lone gentleman serves as the government of the TCI as well. Of course there are persons who assist him in carrying out his duties, but he has clearly stated that he is not bound to accept any advice offered by these persons. In other words these persons are there to carry forth what the Governor commands, knowing very well that their feedback, opinions, or the opinions of their people (TCI people) do not matter.
I believe that the deciding persons of the United Kingdom, acting on behalf of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, must have had great confidence in Governor Wetherell to have empowered him to such an extent. I imagine that he had proven himself as a credible leader in past times and the British were certain that his leadership abilities would bring positive needed changes to the TCI and speak well of British leadership. Undoubtedly, these representatives of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth appointed the right man to do the right job on Her Majesty’s behalf.
Over eighteen months later, the people of TCI sit in awe at the lack of leadership shown by Governor Wetherell. It is clear that he is the head man in charge and that he does not care about the feedback and opinions of those who work for him, or the opinions of the TCI people. Under his ‘excellent’ leadership, the TCI will probably go through its darkest times ever since receiving its 1976 constitution. While numerous misdeeds have been carried out in the TCI’s past and has led to the most difficult present, it is clear that Governor Wetherell is not the man to head/direct/guide TCI into a better future.
While the Commission of Inquiry suggests that there are past leaders who have failed the people of the TCI, I have to also acknowledge that Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and her team have failed us as well by sending Governor Wetherell to govern during times such as these. I hasten to add that Governor Wetherell is the wrong person to lead the job at hand.
He has failed to genuinely consult with the people of the TCI and give feedback;
He has failed to review the reports of working groups which he has appointed and share their findings with the public;
He has failed in involving the people of the TCI with moving this country out of darkness and back into our place of blessing;
He has failed in showing the people of the TCI a style of leadership different from that of the previous government (the alleged corrupted government) .
Governor Wetherell has failed, failed, failed.
Truly, the people of the TCI accept that we are in a great bind that will take time to undo and we do require professional assistance to get us to a better place. What we cannot accept is the style of leadership that Governor Wetherell has shown. If the British genuinely want to help they must realize that the people of the TCI deserve and are requesting someone better.
