Bonaire residents demonstrate against present status, governing Coalition falls

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"If this is how it’s to be, then give us our independence."
Amigoe KRALENDIJK — A demonstration was held this morning on Bonaire against the current situation on the island. While the ceremony of the Day of Bonaire was held for the official invitees, worried citizens assembled for a peaceful demonstration. According to witnesses, it was a ‘passive demonstration consisting of approximately two-hundred people’. The organization estimates the number was closer to one-thousand. According to organizer Cedric Soliana , the demonstration was to indicate the people’s dissatisfaction with the current situation on Bonaire. “Although nothing came of all beautiful promises, all laws and rules were implemented. Bonaire was to become a land of milk and honey, but the people only feel pain.” Soliana emphasizes that the Bonairean is feeling more and more like a stranger in his/her own country. “Our culture is being pushed aside and our manners trampled.”  According to him, the demonstration was not directed against the Dutch government or the Bonaire government. “We are angry with those who put us in this situation. We say: if this is how it’s to be, then give us our independence. We may then have to battle hard and long for our prosperity, but we will then have autonomy, which we do not have now.” The organization also states is does not oppose the Dutch. “We are not against people, against Dutch citizens, Venezuelans, Chinese or whatever. We only ask that people adjust when they live on Bonaire just like we are expected to do when we choose to live elsewhere.” Ruling Coalition Loses Majority  Approval for new government on Bonaire KRALENDIJK — Bonaire holds out prospects of a new government again. The coalition PDB/MBL/PHU lost its majority on Monday when Island Council member Rafael Santana for the PHU abandoned his confidence in the PHU deputy Michiel Bijkerk. Tuesday evening, on behalf of the UPB Santana informed the PHU and James Kroon there was an agreement to form a new government. The representatives of the parties PDB and MBL in the Island Council of Bonaire (four seats in total) indicated they cooperation in a government that can count on a majority of eight seats in the Island Council.The two parties UPB (4) and PHU (1) have five seats and therefore a narrow majority in the Island Council of nine seats. The agreement promises to present a coalition agreement from the two parties within two months that is based on trust, stability, transparency and mutual respect. Agreement on new government The parties have confirmed three decisions. First, as majority of the Island Council to do their utmost in promoting the needs and interests of the Bonairean people in a dignified and correct manner. Second, the new government wishes to restore the confidence so investors can contribute towards a permanent economic development, thus increasing employment on Bonaire again. Third, the new government wants to list all current matters of concern regarding the new political status and deliberate with the Netherlands. Kroon explains he is happy Bonaire will have a stable government, which according to him will last up to the elections of March 2015. Since the rift of Monday morning, Kroon has not heard anything officially from the other parties PDB and MBL. He states, “We can make agreements with the PHU that are in the interest of the people of Bonaire and we find that most important”. On being asked, he doesn’t know which role PHU party-leader Michiel Bijkerk plays in this. “We consulted with Santana, member in the Island Council for the PHU and signed an agreement with him.” According to Kroon, the people of Bonaire have suffered under the former collation and he’s happy the UPB as largest party (4 seats) is back in the government. “We can now work on the existing concerns.” PDB and MBL The signatories of the agreement – Robby Beukenboom, Nollie Oleana and Clark Abraham on behalf of the PDB and Benito Dirksz on behalf of the MBL – forwarded the letter yesterday to the UBP council members Burney EI Hage, Maritza Silberie, Milena Winklaar and Jeffrey Levenstone. In this letter, they express their concern on the lack of stability in the Bonairean government the past years. “We were once again confronted with a crisis on one seat in the council.” According to the signatories, very important matters are taking place on Bonaire and we must not waste our time on political games. The formation of a new government of eight seats by a coalition of UPB, MBL and PHB, will guarantee the stability, working on a solid government. The signatories requested a response before two o’clock today. The most important concern points include the spending power, the public health, the tax system, relief and family allowance. The signatories prefer consultation within the Kingdom in the shortest possible time to come up with solutions. In addition, the instable political climate has a negative effect on investors. “This is certainly undesirable in the economic world situation.” Benito Dirksz of the MBL terminated a collaboration agreement with coalition parties with the PBU last week because he learned that Santana and Kroon had started negotiations. Bijkerk had denied those negotiations, but according to Dirksz, it is beyond doubt.

Statia oil storage expansion would change face of island

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 Daily Herald, Sint Maarten

 

NuStar expansion plan will change Statia’s face forever

~ Building permit not yet submitted, but opposition is growing ~

By Suzanne Koelega

ST. EUSTATIUS--The NuStar oil terminal expansion plan in St. Eustatius is a clear example of a clash between business interests and development, and nature and cultural and archaeological heritage on a limited amount of land. On a small island like St. Eustatius with a fragile economy, the impact of a multimillion-dollar investment is even bigger.
NuStar Energy L.P., owner of 90 terminal and storage facilities around the world, wants to expand, invest and make a profit, as all businesses do. Statia Terminals hasn’t applied for a building permit yet, but is seriously looking at possibilities to construct 31 storage tanks of different sizes in the Cul de Sac area, locally known as The Farm, in addition to a new jetty.

There is a demand for more storage capacity in St. Eustatius, said NuStar’s Vice-president International Terminal Operations David Smith and Mike McDonald, General Manager of NuStar’s facility in St. Eustatius.
“St. Eustatius and NuStar are popular for bunkering,” they said. Some 800 vessels come to St. Eustatius per year to bunker and obtain fuel. These vessels stay out at sea. More than 100 ships come to the jetty annually to discharge and take on crude oil and petroleum products.

An expansion of 31 tanks would mean an increase of more than 50 per cent of the terminal’s current capacity of 67 storage tanks that can hold more than 13 million barrels, with another five tanks being built at this time. 
 The proposed work would take up some 278,000 square metres of space.

Monuments Director Walter Hellebrand and other opponents of an oil terminal in The Farm area find this is quite a lot for the proposed location which is in the only usable seven square kilometres of the island where people live, work and enjoy recreation.

International negotiations

The fact is that international oil companies are interested in renting the new storage tanks. NuStar has been negotiating lease agreements with these customers, preferably long term, said McDonald. Negotiations have not been concluded as yet. Smith wouldn’t give details on the negotiations, but said at least one “major international publically traded company” was interested. But, Smith added, “We have not signed any contract yet.”

The contracts with consumers are cardinal in deciding whether to go forward with the US $477 million project and to apply for a building permit. “NuStar is not into speculation construction where we build tanks and then wait for customers,” said McDonald.

“We are not going to invest half a billion into something that makes no sense. If there were no interest, we would not build,” said Smith when asked about concerns about the risks of St. Eustatius being stuck in the future with some 30 unused tanks.

“NuStar is here to stay. We won’t go away just like that. Business is good. We are responsible owners with an excellent track record,” added McDonald.

Whether the project goes ahead depends on several other factors, the approval by the local government on a building permit request being a key aspect. Several Dutch Government ministries will be involved in the decision-taking process, providing advice and support, but the ultimate decision is in the hands of Statia’s Government.

Negative consequences

Local heritage foundations are squarely against the construction of the tanks in the proposed area. The St. Eustatius Awareness and Development (SEAD) movement, Statia Roots Foundation (SRF) and Statia Monuments Foundation said there would be negative environmental, safety and historical consequences.
Statians are becoming increasingly concerned about what the expansion at The Farm would mean for their quality of life. There are fears that the people would be adversely affected, as well as the island’s natural and aesthetic beauty. Residents living close to the proposed building site are concerned about their health.
People are worried about the risks of so many tanks close to their homes, schools, workplace, sports places. Not to mention that the island’s vital facilities like the airport, hospital, harbour and government are located not far away.

Stringent requirements

NuStar said people should not worry about risks, as the facility would be built according to the very stringent Dutch PGS 29 building code which dictates that the tanks have to be at a certain distance from each other. The company said there would be no risk of a large fire, because safety measures would prevent this from happening.

Each tank will be surrounded by a dike with an area that can contain 110 per cent of the contents of the tank to prevent spilling. A vapour recovery system will be included to control and recover possible vapours, explained McDonald. He stressed that the terminal was not a refinery.

As for the visual aspect, the tanks will be camouflaged as much as possible using natural colours and by planting vegetation. The plan was adapted, in accordance with the wishes of the Island Government, to accommodate the runway safety area. The tanks will now be moved more into the hill in the back, for which excavation will be necessary.

SEAD and SRF are making citizens more aware of their rights and this is working, because more and more Statians are becoming vocal on the issue. The court injunction initiated by the Monuments Foundation to prevent the project attracted the people’s attention. The foundation may have lost the injunction, but Judge indicated that areas of archaeological value might not be destroyed.

Mobilising people

“The result is that Benners Plantation will remain intact. But more important, we managed to mobilise many people. It was a signal to the people that they have a right to object when they don’t agree with something,” said Hellebrand.

The Monuments Foundation’s appeal against a possible oil terminal in The Farm area still has to be dealt with in court.The organisations certainly will make use of other legal procedures against a change of the spatial development plan to designate the area in question as an industrial area.
SEAD, SRF and the Monuments Foundation sought help from the United Nations Environmental, Cultural and Scientific Organisation (UNESCO) in July. ( OTR Note - UNESCO is the acronym for the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization).

SEAD coordinator Kenneth Cuvalay said the organisation had started a door-to-door campaign and an online petition
(www.change.org/petitions/st-eustatius-government-nustar-energy-lp-stop-nustar-oil-terminal-expansion-in-the-farm-area in July against the construction of a second terminal at The Farm. So far the petition has yielded more than 500 signatures. SEAD will be launching the Weblog
http://no-to-nustar-expansion-steustatius.blogspot.com soon.Then there is the aspect of tourism, which should become Statia’s second economic pillar after the oil terminal business.

“No tourist wants to come to an island that is crowded with oil tanks,” said Hellebrand. He believes all chances for St. Eustatius to profile and develop itself as an eco-tourism destination will go down the drain if the plans go ahead. The second terminal also would eliminate chances of having The Farm area placed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

Archaeological heritage

It is a fact that The Farm area contains cultural and archaeological heritage. There are the ruins of Benners Plantation and its private early 18^th century cemetery that contains four of the five oldest graves on the island. There are several slave burial sites in the area of which a large part has been documented in archaeological research.

The St. Eustatius Archaeological Research Centre SECAR uncovered three possible slave cemeteries, two plantation cemeteries, two possible slave villages and three dry laid stone walls during research earlier this year.

Buried at the Benners Cemetery are former Governor of Dutch St. Maarten Johannes Gibbes, former Governor of St. Eustatius Johannes Heyliger, and Abraham Ravené, grandfather of the commanding officer of Fort Oranje at the time of the First Salute in 1776, among others. Plantation owners Johannes and Lucas Benner also are buried there.

Moving graves

NuStar said it would respect the heritage on its property, but Smith couldn’t exclude a relocation of the graves. He said this would depend on the final drawings of the containment area. Smith and McDonald said it would be better to move the graves to another location, also to make them more accessible to the people.
However, one must have very urgent reasons to relocate graves and other archaeological artefacts buried in the ground. The Convention of Malta, signed by the members of the Council of Europe in 1992, prescribes that preferably archaeological remains should remain at the original site, as the soil is the best preservation. The convention in question applies to St. Eustatius as part of the Dutch Constellation.

An archaeological monuments law prescribes archaeological research prior to disturbing the soil. Leiden University carried out this research, in cooperation with SECAR. Trenches were dug and the area cleared of bush to determine the location of possible archaeological remains. The archaeological research report will be published shortly.

NuStar has decided to adapt the construction plan to spare Benners Plantation by leaving out one large storage tank. The large trees, mostly tamarind trees, will be relocated with the assistance of St. Eustatius Nature Parks Foundation Stenapa and not torn down, promised Smith. 

Still, an oil terminal on the verge of an important heritage site is still highly undesirable, according to Hellebrand. Three fortifications on Signal Hill, home to the protected Morning Glory flower, Battery Royal, Battery Jussac and Fort Panga, no longer would be accessible, as the entrance to these sites goes through the proposed terminal.

There is currently a hiking trail through the area, said Hellebrand. Battery Tumbledown Dick, built around 1700 and one of the oldest on the island, located on property of the current terminal, is already affected by operations.

Eco-tourism

Hellebrand’s fears that Statia could lose its potential as an eco-tourism destination were confirmed by a Dutch tour operator specialised in active eco-tourism travel that plans to start a special walking programme in the Windward Islands in 2012.

The Director of SNP Natuurreizen warned on SEAD’s online petition site that the proposed expansion would “damage the experience of our clients to be walking on an island of special natural beauty and could result in excluding St Eustatius from our scheduled programme.”

The heritage foundations are of the opinion that the second terminal could also be built in another location than The Farm. “We think there is space at the current terminal. There are possibilities with a land swap,” said Hellebrand, pointing at the fact that the land belongs to other owners than NuStar.

But Smith and McDonald said there was no more space to expand at the existing terminal. The land in the back, called Bergje, is not a possibility because it is all mountain range. It would require filling the ravine between two hills. The foundation simply would not be solid enough. Rock fall and stability would be problems.

Complicated hydraulics

Engineering-wise it is also not possible because of hydraulics, said Smith. “We have looked everywhere for available land,” he said. Building the facility on the Atlantic side is not an option either, because the sea conditions are too rough at the jetty. It also would be much more expensive and would require constructing lots of pipelines across the island, which would make it more dangerous.

Moving the current control centre located away from the existing tanks to facilitate the construction of new tanks is not possible due to safety regulations. The control tower needs a view of the tanks, yet it must be at a great distance from the tanks and out of the blast range, explained Smith.

The local heritage foundations have an ally in Member of the Second Chamber Ronald van Raak of the Socialist Party (SP) who has been highly critical of the proposed expansion. He has posed questions to the Dutch Government on several occasions.

Referendum

According to Van Raak, a referendum should be organised to ensure that the Statia people have the last say. “It is a project with far-reaching consequences. It concerns a lot of money and oil on a small island with fragile and beautiful nature and heritage. This expansion will change Statia’s face fundamentally and for always. We have to give the people a voice in this,” he said.

Van Raak thinks the local government is no match for a large company like NuStar that has much more power and money. That is one of the reasons The Hague should be actively involved in the decision-taking process. He said Minister Piet Hein Donner had a role to play. “It can’t be that the Netherlands isn’t involved in the granting of a permit that has to comply with Dutch legislation.”


The Statia terminal is highly important to NuStar. The 67 current tanks at Boven represent some 25 per cent of all 55 NuStar terminals in the United States, according to the company’s 2010 Annual Report.
Why St. Eustatius? There are several reasons. The island has a very strategic location, because it is close to North and South America as well as Africa, but the fiscal climate is also attractive.

NuStar, which bought the terminal in 2005, has an arrangement with Statia’s Government until 2014 where it only pays NAf. 1 million (some US $555,000) profit tax per year. Combined with the anchorage fees, other duties and wage tax, NuStar paid US $5.2 million in 2008, said Smith. He added that he was aware of the fact that the company would have to pay more taxes in the future. “We will pay what we have to, as long as it is clear and fair.”

Not naïve 

NuStar is well aware of the concerns about constructing a new terminal. “I am not naïve to think that everyone will agree. It is not that we don’t care. Otherwise we would not have had town hall meetings, launched a Website or held many talks and answered the many questions,” said Smith. “All stakeholders have to agree: the people, government, elected officials.” He strongly believes that economically the project is a win for both NuStar and St. Eustatius.

Pacific Forum Secretary General Address to Small Island States Session in Auckland, New Zealand

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OPENING REMARKS BY TUILOMA NERONI SLADE,
SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM SECRETARIAT

20TH SMALLER ISLAND STATES LEADERS’ MEETING,
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND

6 SEPTEMBER 2011

Distinguished Leaders of the Smaller Island States of the Pacific Islands Forum
Honorable Ministers,
Distinguished Delegates and Observers
CROP Executives and their representatives

Greetings to you all,

First, may I record our collective appreciation to the New Zealand Government for hosting and arranging this meeting at this impressive venue.And then to say that I am honoured now to convene this 20th meeting of the Leaders of the Smaller Islands States of the Pacific Islands Forum and, on behalf of the Secretariat, very warmly to welcome Hon Leaders and their delegations to this the first of a series of meetings of Forum Leaders this week.

This year marks a significant milestone in the history of the Pacific Islands Forum, for 2011 is the 40th year since the founding Leaders in their foresight recognised the intrinsic value of regional cooperation and integration. In doing so, Leaders set the foundations of the Pacific Islands Forum, and began to map out a course for regional development and for well-being and prosperity for all.

Your meeting remains an important fixture of the Forum Leaders gathering, for it captures and reflects the unique nature of issues facing Smaller Island States of the Pacific and the recognition by all Pacific Leaders that the perspectives and requirements of Smaller Island States require special attention.

Your meeting therefore presents you as SIS Leaders with the opportunity prior to the combined Leaders meetings, to caucus and deliberate on issues of particular importance and relevance to the SIS.

I might say that in the preparatory work your Officials were very mindful of that objective and the strategic timing of your meeting, and I should like to thank and commend them for their efforts in putting together the agenda and documentation before you now.

The Officials report to you is in the form of a letter dated 15th August, 2011 from the Chair of the SIS Officials Committee, the distinguished Ambassador of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, to the incoming Chair of the SIS Leaders meeting.

The Officials’ report consolidates all the principal issues for Leaders’ consideration and guidance, and will be the main document for your deliberations.

The key priority areas identified in addressing the long term challenges of SIS are not new. But they require refocusing and a reenergising of efforts with the mobilisation and coordination of limited resources, so that the responses to those challenges become targeted and effective. 

The priorities identified include:

(i) climate change, in particular with respect to sustainable financing options;
(ii) strengthening of development coordination;
(iii) education and health;
(iv) transportation, in particular sub-regional shipping services;
(v) trade agreements and labour mobility in the context of regional economic integration; and
(vi) energy, with respect to renewable energy and bulk fuel procurement

Officials have also identified emerging regional issues that warrant consideration in conjunction with the regional priorities identified by Forum Leaders under the Pacific Plan for 2010 - 2012. These include gender equality and the inclusivity of people with disabilities in development.

Climate change remains the overwhelming challenge in our development pursuits. Since Copenhagen and Cancun and the resulting pledges of increased climate resourcing, the region, through the Forum Economic and Finance Ministers meetings, has considered a range of appropriate and feasible options to better position Forum countries to access available global resources and more effectively to manage and account for the flow and utilisation of these resources. This has been complemented by our own efforts to strengthen development coordination through the Forum Compact and by doing so, continue the significant work being undertaken in the SIS, to strengthen national systems and bring clarity to where development resources are most needed and best used.

The Forum’s Compact has progressed well and I am particularly pleased to commend the efforts of SIS countries, despite the known capacity constraints, to be at the forefront of the implementation of the Compact. The Secretariat is very grateful for the SIS leadership on this process, in particular by your Governments’ willingness to provide self assessments on the status of national plans, budgets and aid coordination activities and challenges. Specifically, I thank the Governments of Niue and Tuvalu for agreeing to host peer reviews this year, and the Governments of Kiribati and Nauru for moving on implementing the recommendations made under their peer reviews reports of 2010.

These country experiences are also important in supporting and shaping the position of the Forum region as we seek to influence the outcomes and negotiations at the upcoming Fourth High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Busan, Korea, in November. We as a Secretariat are committed to ensuring the region is well prepared and is able to engage in the preparatory meetings and at the High level Forum itself, which will redefine the global development cooperation agenda.

The Pacific Plan remains the master strategy for strengthening regional cooperation and integration. We have made some good progress across the five main themes adopted by Leaders in 2009. To complement efforts and to measure the extent of what is being achieved, the Secretariat has proposed the development of a performance framework for the Pacific Plan that will, essentially, draw on the accountabilities and performance targets within the existing regional institutional architecture.

The devastating impact of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) on lives and livelihoods of all Pacific peoples is a crisis of serious magnitude which needs to be addressed with immediacy by all Governments of the region. I take the opportunity to note and applaud Palau’s leadership and efforts in declaring a state of emergency on the threats of NCDs. The Secretariat and CROP agencies are continuously collaborating with Governments and development partners to ensure that NCDs are addressed at all levels as a major development challenge to the region.

The Secretariat is happy to report that we have appointed six SIS Pacific Plan desk officers, and that the deployment of SIS Desk Officers at your capitals has been instrumental in facilitating regular reporting on the activities that you contribute to in implementing the objectives and intent of the Pacific Plan and the Forum Compact. The Secretariat through the SIS Unit will continue to support the Desk Officers and we will pursue efforts to provide the Desk Officers with adequate resources to allow them to continue the good work they have been providing.

Hon Leaders, the Secretariat and all CROP agencies, and I believe I can speak for my fellow-CROP Executives who are present here today, all stand ready to support SIS countries in their efforts to meet the development challenges.

 With these words, may I wish SIS Leaders a fruitful meeting and a productive week of deliberations.

As required of me and in accordance with your decision to appoint the SIS Leaders meeting Chair by alphabetical order, I am honored to invite His Excellency, President Jurelang Zedkaia from the Republic of the Marshall Islands, to assume role of Chair and take charge of the meeting.

Thank you for your attention.

President of Tahiti Nui (French Polynesia) makes strong case for United Nations non-self governing status

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Requests regional support at Pacific Islands Forum

Tahitian Assembly resolution supporting President's position adopted last August

Tahitipresse

"From 1977 to 2011, we have been granted six updates of our “constitution”. But none of these are in fact more than a “political sandbox” for kids to play in. Indeed, our so called “State of autonomy” is no more than one organic law within France’s own body of laws. One that is written and changed by Paris. Who would ever seriously call this a 'constitution'?"

Oscar Temaru, President, Tahiti Nui (French Polynesia)

Read full Statement of President Oscar Temaru

  

EL ATENEO PUERTORRIQUEÑO RECUERDA el PRIMER ANIVERSARIO del FALLECIMIENTO DE JUAN MARI BRÁS

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        Como parte de las actividades de Reafirmación Nacional que realiza el Ateneo Puertorriqueño, este próximo viernes, 9 de septiembre de 2011, a las siete de la noche, se llevará a cabo el Primer Acto de Recordación de la obra y vida patriótica del Maestro Juan Mari Brás.

        El Ateneo Puertorriqueño, unido estrechamente a la defensa de los valores de la libertad y la Nación por los que luchó Juan Mari Brás en su vida, desea convocar a toda la comunidad y a los medios de comunicación al acto que iniciará el Señor Presidente del Ateneo, el Dr. José Milton Soltero, con una semblanza y recordación de quien fuera compañero de luchas en los diversos frentes diplomáticos y políticos en los que se debatió la descolonización de Puerto Rico.

        Como orador principal del Acto, el Ateneo Puertorriqueño invitó al Presidente del Partido Independentista Puertorriqueño, el Lcdo. Rubén Berríos Martínez, quien hablará de la obra política del Maestro Mari Brás y su trascendencia en la lucha contra el colonialismo hoy.
  
Los actos de Recordación culminan con un Acto Artístico en el que participará el cantante Andy Montañez, el poeta Eric Landrón, Grupo Tepeu de música latinoamericana y la recitación del poema “A Juan Mari Brás” del poeta nacional Hamid Galib, vicepresidente del Ateneo Puertorriqueño. 

        El Maestro Juan Mari Brás falleció el 9 de septiembre del año 2010 luego de una larga enfermedad. Su vida y su obra patriótica estuvo diversificada en la lucha diplomática y política por la independencia de Puerto Rico. En la década del 70, el Maestro Mari Brás fue víctima de una férrea persecución policíaca que se desató contra él, en la que para intimidarle y retirarle de su lucha, su hijo, “Chagui Pesquera”, fue vilmente asesinado, crimen que aún no se ha juzgado. Entre las últimas tareas del Maestro fue la fundación y establecimiento de la Escuela de Derecho Eugenio María de Hostos en Mayagüez.

        El Ateneo Puertorriqueño, solidario con la obra y vida del destacado luchador independentista, publicó una colección de sus columnas periodísticas y tiene la intención en diversas actividades posteriores, de continuar honrando la memoria de este luchador que tanto honor y gloria dio a lucha contra el colonialismo de Puerto Rico.


MENSAJE DEL PRESIDENTE DEL ATENEO PUERTORRIQUEÑO DR. JOSE MILTON SOLTERO RAMIREZ ANTE LA CONMEMORACION DEL PRIMER ANIVERSARIO DE LA MUERTE DE JUAN MARI BRAS.

        ¿Por qué el Ateneo tomó la decisión de conmemorar el primer aniversario de la muerte de Juan Mari Brás?
      
Luego de un análisis académico de la obra de Juan Mari Brás entiende el Ateneo que sería Puerto Rico entero el que debería recordar este Primer Aniversario de su muerte pero reconociendo que todavía somos una colonia de los Estados Unidos; invadidos por ellos desde el 1898 y sometidos a la cláusula territorial de su Congreso era muy difícil que se le permita a una colonia que el pueblo puertorriqueño ejerza esas responsabilidades por tanto, corresponde al Ateneo Puertorriqueño hacerlo y llevarlo a cabo en el momento de haber llegado Puerto Rico la Estatua del Padre de Nuestra Patria, Ramón Emeterio Betances, que trajo a nosotros la fuerza espiritual y  moral; lo que  necesitábamos nosotros para llevar al Ateneo a sus máximas conquistas. Para dirigir desde el Ateneo y junto al  pueblo de Puerto Rico en nuestra última etapa de la descolonización luego que Casa Blanca ha producido dos informes en los que no se compromete con la descolonización y llegar al extremo de postular como una opción válida a su ELA que ellos mismos afirman es una alternativa territorial.

        Mientras todo lo anterior sucede,  está ocupado el PNP con todo el poder en sus manos con actos que ejerce  como un partido colonial progresista mientras que el PPD actúa como un partido populista colonialista propulsor de la dependencia. Mientras, el escritor y editor Faruk Zakaría de la revista Time, refiriéndose a Puerto Rico dijo:   ¨el desempleo  es la fuerza de voluntad ante el tremendo colonialismo que los asfixia y los fuerza a abandonar su patria Patria para tratar de vivir porque los americanos a llevado a su  nación a la quiebra  mientras los tienen amenazados con unas tensiones que no ceden y al mismo tiempo a través de nuestros partidos colonialistas nos amenazan nuestra voluntad para conquistar nuestra ultima etapa descolonizadora ¨.

        Salir del colonialismo es una lucha que nos corresponde a los puertorriqueños. El Ateneo así lo entiende y esperamos en poco tiempo tener  a nuestro pueblo con respaldando masivamente nuestros instrumentos culturales y  político  en camino a la descolonización, en su ejercicio de su libre determinación en independencia como ha sido y es  responsabilidad de todo pueblo que vive y ha vivido sometido al colonialismo.
        Mientras todo lo anterior  está ocurriendo,  el derecho de recibir un dinero aprobado por ley de nuestra Asamblea Legislativa aun no ha sido entregado y esta acción no puede ser interpretada de otra manera que no sea la de tratar  de estrangularnos. Esperamos no estar correctos en nuestra apreciación y muy pronto recibir el dinero para poder continuar nuestra obra cultural y descolonizadora. Este dinero que recibimos por ley no es un regalo, ni es la compra de nuestros principios, sino el merecido reconocimiento del pueblo puertorriqueño por la defensa de los más caros valores nacionales  que el Ateneo ha mantenido desde 1876.

Ateneo Puertorriqueño
www.ateneopr.org
www.twitter.com/#!/ateneopr
www.facebook.com/ateneopuertorriqueno
787-721-3877 / 787-722-4839

White House Attorney Denies Pardon for Marcus Garvey

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US official says no time, resources to waste

By Karl Walker 

Jamaica Observer Online 

News editor

THE Barack Obama administration has flatly rejected a request for a presidential pardon for Jamaica's first national hero, the Right Honourable Marcus Mosiah Garvey.

Garvey was imprisoned for mail fraud totalling US$25 in June 1923, and after spending two years and nine months in an Atlanta Federal Penitentiary, was deported from New Orleans, Louisiana to Jamaica on a ship.

Florida-based Jamaican-born attorney Donovan Parker has been writing to president Obama every week since January requesting a posthumous pardon for Garvey, who many believe was set up by the J Edgar Hoover-led Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), fearful of his widening popularity among downtrodden US blacks.

The Sunday Observer has acquired a copy of one letter sent by Parker to the US President, and the first ever reply from the White House on the matter .

"Marcus Mosiah Garvey is also a National Hero of Jamaica, West Indies and a leading forebear of the African American civil rights experience," wrote Parker."It is full time that this extraordinary human being of humble beginnings and strong moral character be pardoned by the pen of an American president. It would be fitting if both you, Mr President, and the first lady visit Jamaica for the purposes of signing the executive order pardoning Marcus Mosiah Garvey."

In a tersely worded reply to Parker's request, White House Pardon Attorney, Ronald Rodgers said such a move would be a waste of time and resources since Garvey had been dead for ages.

"It is the general policy of the Department of Justice that requests for posthumous pardons for federal offences not be processed for adjudication. The policy is grounded in the belief that the time of the officials involved in the clemency process is better spent on pardon and commutation requests of living persons.

"Many posthumous pardon requests would likely be based on a claim of manifest injustice, and given that decades have passed since the event and the historical record would have to be scoured to objectively and comprehensively investigate such applications, it is the Department's position that the limited resources which are available to process requests for Presidential clemency -- now being submitted in record numbers -- are best dedicated to requests submitted by persons who can truly benefit from a grant of the request," Rodgers replied on behalf of Obama, who is the first black president in the history of the United States.

Parker expressed his utter disappointment at the latest development and called on US ambassador to Jamaica Pamela Bridgewater, to add her voice to the call for Garvey to be officially pardoned.

"She should advise Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to strongly recommend an posthumous presidential pardon for the Right Honourable Marcus Mosiah Garvey in the name of human decency and justice. There is no reason why the US government shouldn't do this and Obama shouldn't sign it," Parker said.

The Jamaican-born attorney also pointed out that the original transcripts of Garvey's trial cannot be found. "They don't have it. Somebody took it. I was told this by the Jamaican Consul General in Miami, Sandra Grant-Griffiths, who informed me via a letter," he said.

He doubted whether President Obama had actually seen the request. "I believe there has been no co-ordinated effort to get this issue in front of the president. I think if President Obama reads it, he will sign it," Parker said.

Six years after being deported to his homeland, Garvey was also imprisoned in Jamaica for contempt of court and Culture Minister Olivia 'Babsy' Grange had, earlier this year, signalled her intention to do all within her powers to clear Garvey's name at home and abroad. Grange is reportedly assembling a team of Garveyites and legal minds to deal with this task.

Efforts to contact Grange yesterday were unsuccessful, but director of communications in the ministry of youth, culture and sports, Oliver Watt, said the news of the presidential rejection was a hard pill to swallow.

"We will be pursuing all the other options available to us. We definitely think his name should be cleared at home and overseas," Watt said.Head of the Marcus Garvey-founded People's Political Party, Miguel Lorne, was also livid as well as disappointed by the rejection of Parker's request.

"The language used in the reply is most disdainful. It makes you wonder if Obama actually read the request. Obama must know about Garvey, who is the forerunner of the civil rights movement. It is most disappointing," Lorne told the Sunday Observer.

Former Prime Minister Edward Seaga asked the US President, the late Ronald Reagan to grant a full pardon to Marcus Garvey on the 1923 charge of mail fraud. A resolution was brought to the US House Subcommittee on Criminal Justice from as far back as 1987, but the issue seemed to have been pushed on the back burner.

Marcus Garvey died in London on June 10, 1940, reportedly after succumbing to the effect of two strokes attributed to his reading a false obituary of himself in a Chicago newspaper which stated, in part, that he died broke, alone and unpopular. His remains were interred at the Kensal Green Cemetery in London.

In 1964, his remains were exhumed and re-interred at the National Heroes Park in Kingston and he was named Jamaica's first national hero.

Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/No-pardon-for-Garvey_9489036#ixzz1WgLZaHsG

Organization of American States (OAS) Declaration on the Malvinas Islands (Falklands)

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Organization of American States

AG/DEC. 67 (XLI-O/11)

DECLARATION ON THE QUESTION OF THE MALVINAS ISLANDS

(Adopted at the fourth plenary session, held on June 7, 2011)

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY,

CONSIDERING its repeated statements that the Question of the Malvinas Islands is a matter of enduring hemispheric concern;

RECALLING its resolution AG/RES. 928 (XVIII-O/88), adopted by consensus on November 19, 1988, in which it requested the Governments of the Argentine Republic and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to resume negotiations in order to find, as soon as possible, a peaceful solution to the sovereignty dispute;

BEARING IN MIND that in its resolution AG/RES. 1049 (XX-O/90), it expressed satisfaction over the resumption of diplomatic relations between the two countries;

RECOGNIZING that the accreditation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, under CP/RES. 655 (1041/95), as a Permanent Observer of the OAS reflects principles and values shared by that country and OAS member states, which facilitate greater mutual understanding;

NOTING with satisfaction that the Governments of the Argentine Republic and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland maintain important political, cultural and trade ties, share common values and are also engaged in close cooperation both bilaterally and in international fora;

BEARING IN MIND that, despite those ties and shared values, it has not yet been possible to resume the negotiations between the two countries with a view to solving the sovereignty dispute over the Malvinas Islands, South Georgias and South Sandwich Islands and the surrounding maritime areas in the framework of resolutions 2065 (XX), 3160 (XXVIII), 31/49, 37/9, 38/12, 39/6, 40/21, 41/40, 42/19 and 43/25 of the United Nations General Assembly, the decisions adopted by the same body on the same question in the Special Committee on Decolonization, and the reiterated resolutions and declarations adopted at this General Assembly; and

HAVING HEARD the presentation by the head of delegation of the Argentine Republic,

WELCOMES the reaffirmation of the will of the Argentine Government to continue exploring all possible avenues towards a peaceful settlement of the dispute and its constructive approach towards the inhabitants of the Malvinas Islands.

REAFFIRMS the need for the Governments of the Argentine Republic and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to resume, as soon as possible, negotiations on the sovereignty dispute, in order to find a peaceful solution to this protracted controversy.

DECIDES to continue to examine the Question of the Malvinas Islands at its subsequent sessions until a definitive settlement has been reached thereon.

Wikileaks Cables Could Slow Okinawa base transfer

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U.S.-Japan relocation agreement included doctors figures

By Therese Hart

HAGÅTÑA, Guam

Marianas Variety

The Asahi Shimbun’s analysis of about 7,000 Japan-related diplomatic cables obtained from WikiLeaks could affect the relocation of U.S. Marines from Futenma to Guam since the Japanese newspaper claims that the 2006 bilateral agreement between Japan and the United States included doctored figures related to Japan’s financial burden and troop levels and was done for political considerations.

A diplomatic cable sent by the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo to the U.S. State Department that provided details on the negotiations explained that Japan's share was made to appear smaller with the inclusion of an unnecessary project costing US$1 billion (81 billion yen) to construct a military road by the United States, according to Asahi Shimbun.

The cable also stated that the numbers of people to be moved to Guam was inflated to 8,000 Marines and 9,000 family members to "optimize political value" of the agreement.

"This is sad, but not surprising, Speaker Judi Won Pat said in reaction to the report. Documents like these cables revealed by Wikileaks show us the unfortunate reality of this realignment process. The United States was willing to engage in less-than honest negotiations with one of our closest allies; it makes me question their negotiations with our local government as well."

Won Pat added: "This is exactly why we need strong, unapologetic leadership that is willing to dig in, find out the truth, and advocate unequivocally for the people we represent. This is what I believe your Legislature has been doing. We have been asking the questions that need to be asked. We must question any of our leaders who do not do the same."

A diplomatic cable said in 2006, there were "on the order of 13,000" Marines based in Okinawa. Okinawa prefectural government officials argued that the actual number was 12,000, and criticized the figure included in the relocation road map as an exaggeration, according to the Japanese paper.

Although the issue was taken up in the Diet, the government at the time refused to confirm the actual number of personnel to be moved. The cables back up Okinawa's doubts about the figures.

The Democratic Party of Japan-led government was not the first to make secret promises on the Futenma relocation issue that differed from official statements. Such discrepancies can be found in cables from the era of the coalition government between the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito, according to Asahi Shimbun.

The Japan-U.S. road map compiled in May 2006 included figures that differed from reality due to political considerations made by both governments.

The figures include not only the number of U.S. Marines based in Okinawa, but also the number of family members there, as well as the overall financial burden for moving Marines to Guam.

A series of cables dated Dec. 19, 2008 and classified "confidential" were sent by the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo to U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and others. They include the contents of a tentative agreement reached at working-level talks on moving Marines to Guam that defined the financial burdens to be borne by the two governments, according to Asahi Shimbun.

The documents show some of the hidden background in the road map for military realignment.

One example relates to US$1 billion set aside to construct military roads, part of the approximately US$4.1 billion to be borne by the United States. That figure represents about 40 percent of the total cost of US$10.2 billion to relocate the Marines.

Two of the cables explain the road construction expenses were included during "negotiations on cost-sharing as a way to increase the overall cost estimate (i.e., the denominator) and thereby reduce the share of total costs borne by Japan."

The cables also show that the road was not necessary for the completion of the move, the Asahi Shimbun further reported.

The paper also stated that during talks for a formal agreement, U.S. negotiators said the road was not absolutely necessary and asked that the reference be deleted as a way to avoid an international obligation to build the military road.

Japan and the United States in May 2006 compiled a road map for realigning U.S. military personnel stationed in Japan. Under the plan, a provisional agreement was reached in December 2008 on the move to Guam that included the financial burden on each nation.

During negotiations for the road map, a central focal point was the burden to be borne by Japan. The United States initially asked that Japan contribute 75 percent of the total, but the two sides eventually agreed on 59 percent. However, if the road construction cost is excluded from the U.S. contribution, Japan's burden increases to about 66 percent.

The cables also show that the figures of 8,000 Marines and 9,000 family members to be moved to Guam from Okinawa were upper limits included as a budgetary measure.

"The two sides knew that these numbers differed significantly from actual Marines and dependents assigned to units in Okinawa," one of the cables says.

The cable goes on to say the "numbers were deliberately maximized to optimize political value in Japan."

Other wording in the cable states that while the road map agreement said 9,000 family members would be moved, the number was actually smaller in Okinawa. The United States proposed using the term "associated dependents" to leave open the possibility that family members not currently living in Okinawa could be included.

However, Japanese officials did not agree to that proposal. Such differences were never made public.

Soon after Barack Obama became president, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton visited Japan in February 2009 and signed the agreement on the move of Marines to Guam with then-Foreign Minister, Hirofumi Nakasone.

At that time, the Japanese bureaucrats and the U.S. government wanted to create a legal framework that would require the immediate implementation of the Futenma relocation plan if the Democratic Party of Japan took over control of government following a Lower House election expected that year, according to Asahi Shimbun.

A "secret" cable sent by the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo to Clinton that provided an explanation before her visit to Japan said, "Japanese officials believe the agreement and the allotment of over US$900 million in realignment funding during the next fiscal year will buttress Japan's commitment to the May 1, 2006 Alliance Transformation Agreement even if there is a change in government here," the Asahi Shimbun reported.

At that point, the move of Marines to Guam and the construction of a Futenma replacement facility that would serve as a precondition had already become part of an indivisible package.

Argentina Invites U.N to discuss British oil exploration activities in disputed Falklands/Malvinas

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Argentina to protest Falklands' (Malvinas) oil activities and invites UN C24 president to Buenos Aires.

MercoPress

South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina will file an official complaint against Britain for oil exploration activities in Falklands/Malvinas disputed waters before the United Nations Decolonisation Committee and have invited the C24 president to visit Argentina to hold a meeting on the issue in Buenos Aires.

 

Ecuadorean diplomat Francisco Carrión Mena is the current president of the Decolonisation Committee

 According to Argentine official media the recent announcements of oil discovery in the Falklands/Malvinas waters and further confirmation of potentially vast reserves violate the UN Decolonization resolutions, reignite the conflict, although Argentine sources believe there is much of ‘financial speculation’ involved in the announcements.

“In coming days the Argentine Foreign Affairs ministry will again accuse the British government of violating UN resolutions following exploration activities undertaken by the British companies Rockhopper Exploration and Desire Petroleum among others in the exclusion zone, the area under litigation in the sovereignty dispute over the Islands”, an official source is quoted.

However the Argentine Foreign office doubts the commercial viability of such wells and describes the situation as “stocks speculation”. Nevertheless Argentina will again file a complaint before the C-24 which is currently under the presidency of Ecuadorean diplomat Francisco Carrión Mena.

“Last Tuesday Foreign Affairs minister Hector Timerman sent a personal invitation to the C24 president to hold talks in Buenos Aires”.

Last week Rockhopper announced the commercial viability of the discovered oil prospect which was confirmed by appraisal drillings “making shares soar almost 40% in one day precisely in the week of black Monday for world markets and which remain highly volatile” point out the Argentine sources.

In the sovereignty dispute Argentina counts with the support from MERCOSUR and UNASUR whose members agreed not to supply in their ports vessels that might be linked to hydrocarbons exploration activities in Falklands/Malvinas waters. Besides the region, Argentina’s position is also supported by African and Asian countries, the source is quoted.

The UK can only speculate with “the implicit support from the European Union that has included the Malvinas Islands in a list of British Overseas Territories”.
 

Opening of Tula Museum in Amsterdam; commemoration of 1795 rebellion in Curacao

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New Tulas needed for a better future

Amigoe

AMSTERDAM — Although the people of Curaçao dared to visualize a better future, they dared not realize that future. For a better future, we need hundreds of Tula’s. “Nevertheless, these Tula’s are there, on Curaçao, in The Netherlands and in this hall, but they haven’t found each other yet.” Jeanne Henriquez, founder and director of the Tula Museum, received a loud applause for her speech yesterday in Amsterdam during the commemoration of the slave rebellion of August 17th 1795 under command of the slave Tula.

by Otti Thomas

250 to 300 people, young and old, attended the commemoration in the Muider Church, which the knowledge center on slavery, Ninsee organizes every year.

There is still insufficient knowledge on the history of Curaçao and there are more obstacles en route to a cultural revolution that is eventually to lead to the independence of the island, says Henriquez. For example, people who wish to talk about the slavery are considered frustrated beings; the discussion on independence involves a huge fear for the unknown, poverty reigns particularly amongst women and Curaçao is a sexist society. “The sexism is a particular obstacle.

As African-Curaçao males and females, we have internalized our image of each other. We conclude that are men in the first place are sex machines, in the second place sportsmen and only in the third place intelligent men. Sexism and hatred of women impede spiritual freedom and a loving relationship between men and women,” says Henriquez. That was different during the slave rebellion. Women and men fought side by side for their rights and former slaves helped the slaves. That unanimity was also noticeable during the harbor strike of 1922, the battle for suffrage after the Second World War, the rebellion of May 30th 1969 and the protests against the final declaration, says Henriquez.

The museum director and graduated historian argued for better education, financial help for poor families and a national monument for all men and women who died during the slave rebellion. Moreover, we are to demand the Dutch government observe international treaties and it’s time the Dutch apologize, says Henriquez.

Sensitive toes

“Perhaps we should make the first step and forgive The Netherlands instead of demanding an apology.” This possibility is suggested by Rafa Rosario, one of the men who philosophized for two days in the weekend prior to the commemoration about which role Tula still plays in these times, especially as example for men. “I realize I am now stepping on sensitive toes,” says Rosario. Not only on Curaçao but also worldwide there are people who do not wish to work or work together and there are men who want more than one woman. “However, we have the possibility to make choices”, he says.

“Nevertheless, Tula is an example because of his courage in fighting for his rights. We must always fight for our rights.” The Tula-commemoration was concluded with music from the film Tula – The Revolt – performed by Junior Tecla & his band that subsequently got half the audience singing along with Bob Marley’s Redemption Song, which song has become the battle song on intellectual slavery.

Puerto Rico House to probe rum industry incentives

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House to probe PR rum incentives

By Caribbean Business Online Staff

cbnews@caribbeanbusinesspr.com

(Puerto Rico) House Speaker Jenniffer González (has) introduced legislation...ordering an investigation into the government’s handling of the local rum incentives program amid complaints by Destilería Serrallés that the Fortuño administration has given Bacardi Corp. an unfair advantage over other producers in Puerto Rico.

House Resolution 1779 states that Law 178, the new rum incentives law, calls for the government to take the needed actions to make sure the rum industry remains strong and retains jobs amid a rum war with the U.S. Virgin Islands.

“Nonetheless, there have been stories denouncing that the incentives granted by Economic Development & Commerce Department (DDEC) to liquor distillers has not been equal for all of the companies,” the resolution reads.

CARIBBEAN BUSINESS has reported that DDEC Secretary José Pérez-Riera has refused to grant Destilería Serrallés an incentives package similar to the one granted to Bacardi Corp. through a deal in February. Serralles President & CEO Felix Serrallés has complained that DDEC agreed to give Bacardi 46 percent of federal rum rebate revenues generated by its rum sales starting in July 2012. The DDEC has offered Serralles 25 percent of federal rum rebate funds on its bulk rum sales, the lion’s share of its business, and 46 percent on its bottled-rum sales.

The local incentives were launched against the backdrop of a rum war between Puerto Rico and the USVI. That fight was sparked by the USVI’s move to grant huge incentives based on federal rum rebates to British-liquor giant Diageo to start producing there.

Diageo’s Captain Morgan rum has been made under contract by Serrallés, but production is being moved to St. Croix after Diageo landed the incentives from the USVI, including a new cutting-edge distillery. While Diageo’s departure will affect Puerto Rico’s entire rum industry because of the potential decrease in federal rum rebates, a government study conducted by Applied Research says Serrallés will be hurt most, since it will lose as much as 70 percent of its sales volume.

The contract with Bacardi includes other benefits, such as $95 million to refurbish its Cataño plant and expand its aging warehouse.

In return, the company has to maintain a minimum level of production in Puerto Rico for the next 20 years, an agreement that translates into more than $230 million in yearly revenue for Puerto Rico through federal rum excise taxes, according to Economic Development & Commerce Secretary José Pérez-Riera.

Bacardi President Joaquín Bacardí has said he doesn’t sell bulk rum other than to Trigo Corp. and Edmundo B. Fernández, the latter which makes Barrilito rum.

Pérez-Riera told Serrallés in a letter that if Bacardi were ever to compete in the bulk-rum business with Serrallés, the DDEC would increase Serrallés’ incentives. A massive bipartisan tax package inked by President Barack Obama in December included the temporary increase in limit on cover over of rum excise taxes to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The temporary increase, which has been approved every year since the early 1990s, boosts the territories’ shares of federal rum taxes. Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands currently get $13.25 of the $13.50 tax slapped on each proof gallon of rum. Lawmakers must renew the increase or the rebate will drop back to $10.50.

The federal government returns most of the $13.50 per proof gallon tax on rum distilled in each territory and in foreign countries to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The territories keep the revenue produced in their jurisdiction, and taxes collected on foreign rum are split between the two jurisdictions based on their ratio of the U.S. market. That’s what makes the move from one territory to the other so painful: the U.S. Virgin Islands share of foreign tax rebates also goes up at Puerto Rico’s expense.

In 2008, Puerto Rico received about $370 million and the U.S. Virgin Islands some $80 million under the program. Puerto Rico currently has an 86 percent share to the U.S Virgin Island’s 14 percent, but after Captain Morgan’s move, the proportion will change to a 60 percent-40 percent split, according to industry experts.

The USVI government also entered into a similar deal that will use federal rum tax-rebate proceeds to finance $105 million in improvements to the Cruzan rum facilities on St. Croix and provide other benefits.

In response to the USVI moves, Puerto Rico passed legislation this year that gives the island government a range of tools to boost producers.The legislation increased from 10 percent to 25 percent the portion of the monies from the federal rum rebate that the island government can invest to provide incentives to and promote Puerto Rican rums. That amount had been capped at 10 percent by local legislation. In addition, it gives the government of Puerto Rico the ability to work directly with rum producers to develop incentives and promotional strategies that will enhance their competitiveness and, therefore, their potential for growth in the future.

The measure also gives the governor the discretion to increase this percentage up to 46 percent if the U.S. Congress does not impose, before December 31, 2011, a cap on the amount of subsidies that a U.S. jurisdiction can give a rum producer out of the federal rum excise tax cover-over program.

Inconsistencies continue under British direct rule in Turks & Caicos

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UK Governor of Turks and Caicos Lies About Delay in Corruption Investigation, Blames Labour Party


Exposing the truth behind Turks and Caicos Corruption Investigation, and the most recent lies by the British

by AnselLoya

ground report

Governor, Gordon Wetherell, just put out another interview as he is set to depart as the UK-appointed governor of Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI). He oversaw the British occupation regime in Turks and Caicos after the UK takeover of the islands on August 9, 2009.

The topic of his interview this week was to address the dragging corruption investigation for which the Turks and Caicos people and parliament have grown increasingly impatient for its conclusion. Wetherell blamed the delayed and lengthy (so far, 2 years) corruption investigation of Helen Garlick’s Special Investigation and Prosecution Team (SIPT) on the former British Labour government.

Wetherell said in an interview this week, “the former British Labour government has delayed the investigative process.” Therefore, he said, SIPT could not progress properly because of inadequate funding, he continued, “SIPT was funded one year late and only after the government in Britain changed in May 2010.”

TCI people are shocked to hear Wetherell make such a claim of a delay or lack of funding. The truth is, there was no delay. “Helen Garlick was appointed as the Special Prosecutor to the Turks and Caicos Islands on 10 August 2009” (House of Commons report). Helen Garlick’s team was installed one day after the British takeover (August 9, 2009) and has been installed in TCI continually ever since.

The truth is that SIPT was working continually, thanks to funding by the TCI government treasury. A report by the Foreign Commonwealth Office (FCO) noted that Helen Garlick herself expressed concern that her investigation had become a burden on the budget of TCI Government.

On March 10, 2011, Gordon Wetherell himself admitted that the TCI Government had been funding SIPT. It wasn’t until March 2011 that the British government finally agreed to fund SIPT to take the burden from the TCI treasury. It was Wetherell who made a statement on March 10, 2011 stating that “a $10.6 million discretionary grant will reimburse the government for the “full costs” for fiscal year 2010-11 for the Special Investigation and Prosecution Team (SIPT) and the Civil Recovery Team.” Wetherell acknowledged just there that the Turks and Caicos government was paying for the corruption investigation the entire time and further revealed the amount already paid by the TCI treasury, $10.6 million! How can he lie now that the investigation was not funded, which he says caused a delay?

If Wetherell’s lie is to be believed, that there was no funding for SIPT causing a delay, what was SIPT doing in TCI? They are continually installed in TCI on an expense account, living the high life in TCI in luxury whilst TCIslanders are waiting to have democracy restored pending this investigation. 2 years without democracy so that a poorly planned corruption investigation can proceed is an abusive of power. What is going on with SIPT? Why are the British now lying about a delay, and why is it being paid by a loan to TCI, and why is it taking so long, and why is democracy being withheld during this never-ending investigation?

Something quite amusing, the British say that the Turks and Caicos Islands are in a fiscal crisis requiring loans by the UK, VAT and more taxes. But this week Wetherell pointed out, “Colin Roberts visited the TCI and in a press conference said that (UK) assistance would not be forthcoming because the TCI was ‘rich’.” The British can’t get their story straight, is the TCI rich or is it in need of burdensome UK loans and taxes due to the PNP government’s (former local government) poor fiscal legacy?

Another amusing fact is in December 2009, MP Chris Bryant said that the FCO will not provide a loan or funding for the investigation because, “It has always been our view that the former TCI Government is responsible for its present financial crisis. It is therefore correct that the Territory pays to sort out these matters. It is not appropriate to ask the British taxpayer to do so.” Therefore, TCI treasury was required to pay the investigation even though the TCI people didn't ask for the investigation, nor did they get a vote on it.

None of the British bureaucrats know what they are talking about. Chris Bryant said he believed that the former PNP administration should pay for the corruption investigation, even while the TCI treasury was paying it, because the PNP (random people who have not even faced trials nor have had the benefit of a completed corruption investigation) had been forcibly removed from office by the British.

The people of TCI should not suffer financially, socially or lose their freedoms because of a corruption investigation ordered by the British government, especially the incompetent and delayed circus it has become by both parties in Britain. It is absurd.

The people of TCI are still wondering why there haven't been any results from this ongoing investigation, nor have any persons been identified to stand trials yet. It is curious why the British Governor felt forced to (albeit clumsily and falsely) address the investigation delay. Members of Parliament, including Lord Nigel Jones, have been asking questions about Turks and Caicos' return to democracy and local elections. The corruption investigation is a milestone which must be completed prior to TCI returning to self rule.

In the meantime, the delay caused by the bumbling corruption investigation is suspected to be a calculated means to stall the TCI people while the British installed their new constitution in TCI, a constitution for which the people did not vote.