Turks and Caicos Islands: Hon. Lillian Boyce welcomes investigation and criticizes Governor
PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands – Turks and Caicos Islands’ Hon. Lillian Boyce says if she is one of the former Cabinet Ministers to be investigated she would welcome the probe because she would be completely exonerated.
“No one is above and beyond investigation, but I can assure the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands that I have not done anything corrupt or illegal, and I therefore anticipate being totally cleared in any fair and transparent investigation,” she said.
Hon. Boyce added: “Over the years I have worked extremely hard, honestly and unselfishly to establish a solid record of helping people and serving my country. I’m proud to have changed so many peoples’ lives for the better, and I will continue to do so. I’m therefore not going to allow Sir Robin Auld, Governor Wetherell or anyone to get away with even trying to assassinate my character or tarnish my reputation.”
She was responding to comments made by Governor Gordon Wetherell who told a countrywide audience in Press conference on Thursday July 2, that the Commissioner of Inquiry’s Final Report made preliminary findings and recommendations including the institution of criminal investigations in relation to former Premier Michael Misick, and four of his former Cabinet ministers, of possible corruption or other serious dishonesty.
Hon. Boyce said that although she was not specifically named by the Governor, a logical inference can be drawn that she is among the former ministers he alluded to, if only because she gave evidence before the Commission of Inquiry.
“While the British Parliamentarians are so busy investigating themselves and seeking to wrongfully implicate others, they should not forget to investigate the former Governor Richard Tauwhare who presided over, and approved, all Cabinet decisions, certainly with the endorsement of his bosses in England,” she added.
The MP for Five Cays and former Deputy Premier said it is quite unfortunate that simply giving evidence before the Commission of Inquiry is being used as a yardstick by which to condemn certain persons.
“I gave my evidence and I was cross-examined and the transcripts are still there on the Internet for the world to see. The public knows the truth, the facts and the reality, and I have nothing to be ashamed about and will continue to hold my head high,” she added.
Describing the Governor’s press conference as a flop, Hon. Boyce said he did not reveal any new information, other than the hiring of a team of consultants and experts from the UK who will be a financial burden on the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands, at a time when he is asking the people and Civil Servants of the Turks and Caicos Islands to cut costs.
Hon. Boyce said it is obvious that His Excellency is frustrated because he is having difficulty suspending the Constitution, but she said he should not take out his frustration on the people of Turks and Caicos Islands.
“Whatever you’re going to do, just do it so the people and the country can move on, because as it now stands the British are the ones who are being obstacles to progress in the Turks and Caicos Islands,” she added.
Hon. Boyce noted that through collective hard work and strategic planning, the Turks and Caicos Islands has emerged as the most rapidly developing country in the region, but the UK is now trying to re-introduce a cruel form of colonialism to this country by suppressing and oppressing its people, and which has started to quickly erase and destroy all of the gains which the people worked so hard to achieve.
