| Simons outlines candidacy, would rescind Misick warrant | | Print | |
| Written by Richard Green/richard@fptci.com | |||
| Thursday, 26 April 2012 09:13 | |||
 Though he has been seeking leadership of the Progressive National Party for some time, Carlos Simons recently gave a glimpse of his current run for party leader and potential premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands. “We live in very perilous times, and the people have been crying out for a leader to match these times,” Simons said April 23 on Robert Hall’s Expressions program on Radio Turks and Caicos. “Well look no further. You have found him and his name is Carlos Simons, born in Salt Cay, grew up in Grand Turk, educated in Britain and lives in Provo. I’ve walked with kings and princes but prefer the company and the struggles of the common folks. The search for your leader is over. If you will have me, I am your man!” Simons’ candidacy takes aimed at the U.K. and its interim administration and their policies since taking over the country in 2009. If elected premier, Simons said he would stop paying the Special Investigation and Prosecution Team (SIPT) that is investigating corruption allegations against members of Michael Misick’s PNP-dominated government. He said he also would rescind an Interpol arrest warrant for Misick, who says he is seeking political asylum in an unnamed country to avoid political persecution. The TCI paid $10 million for the first year of the investigation, but the U.K. gave a one-time grant to reimburse that expense. His Excellency the Gov. Ric Todd has said he would ask the U.K. again to pay for expenses in 2011-12 but that the TCI would have to pay if that money did not come through. On April 26, the FCO announced that it was giving $7.2 million to the TCI government to help meet the costs of the SIPT investigation and Civil Recovery Team for the financial year 2011-12. Simons said he also would seek to extract the TCI from $260 million in loan guarantees the U.K. provided to pay off a mountain of debt by the former elected government and to cover subsequent deficits caused by government overspending and the worldwide economic downturn. Another target for Simons would be the governor’s order that the National Insurance Board pay $10 million to government to cover medical reimbursements that former elected governments never sought. That order currently is being challenged in court. Simons, a Queen’s Counsel attorney, was appointed to the Consultative Forum in 2009 but resigned in March 2010 to announce his candidacy for PNP leader. In August 2010, Clayton Greene defeated Simons. Since then Simons has made no secret that he would challenge Greene, who is facing money laundering charges from the Special Investigation and Prosecution Team (SIPT). Greene has said he will not seek re-election in May. So far, the only other candidate is Dr. Rufus Ewing, who left his job in March as director of Medical Services for the Ministry of Health and Human Services and announced his candidacy April 11. Simons said Ewing is “a bright, well-spoken, charismatic young man with fire in his belly,” but Simons said the times demand someone with more maturity and experience to “make the case for the TCI, both legally and otherwise, and to press that case in whatever forum it needs to be taken, whether to the FCO in London or to the United Nations in New York.” Click here to read a transcript of Simons' statement on Expressions File Photo: Carlos Simons (By Robert Houseman)
|
Related Articles
Entertainment: Your Island Guide
|
Top things to do in April Top things to do in April 1. From Golfing to More... |
|
Valentine’s Day Cup 2013 model sailboat races The Middle Caicos Sailboat Association will once again present the annual model sailboat races at More... |
|
Lime and Tourist Board announce weekly Fish Fry The Turks & Caicos Tourist Board & LIME partner with Cultural Fish Fry The Turks & Caicos Tourist More... |
|
Turks & Caicos Reef Fun to host dazzling evening The Turks and Caicos Reef Fund will host its 2nd Annual Cocktail Party Reception on Jan. 26 at the More... |
|
Fashion Glam at Regent Palms The Regent Palms is inviting everyone to an evening of fashion and glamour at their event being More... |
Latest Community News
|
Cholera Clinical Management Training Held in the TCI Healthcare professionals from the TCI Health Services were trained in the Clinical Management of More... |
|
Illegal Haitian immigrants Intercepted Illegal Haitian Immigrants Intercepted, to the Repatriated According to the Ministry of Border More... |
|
Ministry of Health Reminding public about sanitation Health surveillance teams attached to the Ministry of Health and Human Services (MOHHS) have More... |
|
Scholarship applications now being accepted The Ministry of Education has announced that they are now accepting applications for scholarships More... |
|
History and traditions stay alive at the 13th annual boat races in Middle Caicos The 2013 Valentines Day Cup welcomed many fun loving residents and tourists to Middle Caicos’ More... |