Turks and Caicos Premier to resign March 31
Caribbean Net
PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands: In a press statement on Friday, Premier Michael Misick announced that he will resign as Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands and that he will not be seeking re-election as leader of the Progressive National Party (PNP) at a special convention of the party due to be held on February 28.
Misick said it was decision he believed was in the best interest of moving the party and the country forward.
Turks and Caicos Premier, Michael Misick
He acknowledged that “in recent months, there has been much discontent among some ministers and PNP elected members… It now appears to me that the divide within the party is too deep.”
“I have decided that I will not seek the leadership of my party on 28th February 2009. This is a decision that I have not arrived at lightly,” Misick said.
“I would further like to announce that effective 31st March, I will resign as Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands, allowing the new leader of the Progressive National Party to be sworn in as Premier. The period February 28th 2009 to March 31st 2009 will allow for an orderly transition,” he added.
Also on Friday, Deputy Premier Floyd Hall resigned citing what he termed as “this lame duck situation in which we find ourselves”, with the House of Assembly prorogued so that there is no clear path forward as to when and by what means the new session of parliament will commence.
Hall also referred to the Commission of Inquiry into government corruption that recently concluded its public hearings.
“Regrettably, I did not fare as well as I had hoped. I wish, however, to make it clear at the outset that I have done nothing illegal or corrupt,” Hall said.
“I have, however, over the years as Minister made certain errors of judgment. During the course of the Commission those errors of judgment have been magnified and the Commission is being invited to interpret all of my actions in the worst possible light,” he acknowledged.
Misick referred to the resignations of Deputy Premier Floyd Hall and Minister of Home Affairs Galmore Williams and the steps he has taken to replace them.
The Premier said he will assume responsibility for Development and Finance; Lillian Boyce, Deputy Premier and Minister of Home Affairs and Public Safety; Jeffrey Hall, Minister of Works, Transportation, Telecommunication and Aviation; McAllister Hanchell, Minister of Tourism, Planning and Environment; Royal Robinson, Minister of Health and Human Services; Carlton Mills, Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Culture; and Gregory Lightbourne, Minister of Natural Resources.
Misick also made mention of the Commission of Inquiry's oral hearings, which he described as “far-reaching and intrusive; beyond the normal parameter of any Inquiry."
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