Leader of the Opposition Hon. Edwin Astwood has labeled Premier Hon. Washington Misick as weak, ineffective and afraid, in the wake of the Haiti crisis.
According to the Opposition Leader, the premier has gone silent on how he plans to protect the borders of the Turks and Caicos Islands from criminals fleeing Haiti.
The Following is Astwood’s statement:
Weak, ineffective, and afraid are the best words to describe Premier Washington Misick's most recent inaction as it relates to the international crisis in Haiti that has directly impacted TCI.
With the recent escalation of violence in Haiti causing our country to assemble its national security to plan to tackle an influx of now potentially illegal armed and dangerous Haitian migrants to our shores, we have heard nothing decisive or definitive from the Premier on what his government is doing to protect our country and our people.
Additionally, with the recent announcement of Haitian gangsters and criminals arrested in Turks and Caicos Islands, surely this should have catalyzed the Premier to treat with urgency the situation unfolding in Haiti.
Instead, what the public is witnessing is a complete turnover of elected powers to the British Government by this out-of-touch Premier. I dare say he has even turned the TCI power over to the Bahamian Prime Minister, as in his words he has said that the Turks and Caicos Interest was represented by the Government of the Bahamas.
It is said that adversity often reveals a person's true character. Observe how they respond to difficult situations, setbacks, or failures. Do they take responsibility for their actions, do they give their responsibility to others, do they blame others?
We have seen Premier Misick crumble or hide over and over again when facing critical and difficult matters being faced by our people and our country.
What could be occupying this sleepy Premier time so much so that he cannot attend the high-level meeting of Caricom convened in Jamaica for the specific purpose of addressing the Haitian crisis taking place on our doorsteps and presenting a clear and present danger to our people?
Having read the embarrassment of a statement issued by the Premier, he has not stated why he did not attend in person or virtually. This is unacceptable, and he is duty-bound to explain to the public his absence from an invited meeting of the heads of Caricom. Outside of Death in the family or Sickness, there is no excuse that the Premier could give that would be acceptable.
I would go on to say that Premier Misick and his Cabinet have embarrassed the Turks and Caicos, locally, regionally, and internationally. His absence from this meeting shows that he does not care about us, our security, our lives nor our livelihood.
With all due respect, no one in the Turks and Caicos Islands elected the Hon. Fred Mitchell to represent them. Does the Hon. Mitchell work for the Governor’s office? Is he our new Deputy Premier? Is the Hon. Mitchell a Member of the House of Assembly of the Turks & Caicos Islands?
However, I have to thank him for standing in the gap to represent the Turks & Caicos Islands, when neither the Premier nor the Governor saw it fit to be in attendance at this high-level meeting, dealing with an issue that potentially causes the Greatest danger to Turks & Caicos lives and livelihood.
I, as Leader of the Opposition, would have happily gone in his stead to represent my people and my country.
As Premier, I - Edwin A. Astwood, would have been the first person in that Caricom meeting, traveling with a team of government heads, in particular the Minister of Immigration, the Permanent Secretary responsible for National Security, and the Commissioner of Police.
The Turks and Caicos concerns and experience would only be presented by us on behalf of our people, not by someone representing another country’s interest. “He who feels it- knows it”.
Such careless behavior is the modus operandi of an uninterested Premier Misick, who just can't seem to be bothered with what matters most to our people and our country. Should he persist with this unconcerned behavior, and to save our country, the people will have to fire him before elections like how he fired Honourable EJ.
Footnote: The Premier has announced a news conference for Thursday, March 14, to address the Haiti Crisis and National Security in the TCI.