Witnesses too frightened to give evidence as intimidation and brutality grip the idyllic islandsBy Bridget Morris
LURID tales of corruption, intimidation and brutality on far-flung paradise islands owned by Britain have triggered calls for an urgent Foreign Office inquiry into the way that UK overseas territories govern themselves.
With their palm-fringed beaches and coral reefs, the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) enjoy a reputation as a favoured destination for tourists looking for some Caribbean sunshine.
But beneath the tropical idyll, the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee (FAC) found "a palpable climate of fear" which could have come straight from the pages of a Graham Greene novel.
In a highly critical report, the committee accused the Foreign Office of being "too hands off" amid concerns about "rampant" corruption within the islands' government and the suppression of freedom of speech.
It pointed also to suspicions of "political interference" in the islands' judicial system, which some witnesses had linked to a recent series of arson attacks on the islands' main courthouse and the offices of the attorney general.
The committee called for the British government to establish a commission of inquiry, with full protection for witnesses who come forward to give evidence.
At the centre of the corruption claims is the islands' premier, Michael Misick, who is alleged to have built up a multi-million-dollar fortune since he was elected to power in 2003.
In its report, the committee noted that Misick was currently under investigation by US law enforcement agencies over the alleged rape of an American citizen.
The committee's report, however, concentrated on claims that Misick and his fellow government ministers had enriched themselves by selling off Crown land to property developers for their own personal gain.
Since 2000, the islands have enjoyed one of the fastest rates of economic growth anywhere in the world as the rapid growth of tourism fuelled a development boom.
However, the committee said that when it launched its inquiry into the administration of Britain's overseas territories, it was surprised to be contacted by more than 50 of the islands' residents with allegations of corruption.
Many were too scared to give evidence publicly, and when a delegation of MPs from the committee went to visit the islands themselves, they found people were frightened even to be seen meeting them.
"We witnessed this climate of fear for ourselves when we visited the Turks and Caicos Islands," the report said.
"Alarmingly for a British overseas territory, many individuals expressed great concern about being seen to be talking to British parliamentarians, and some individuals declined to meet us altogether for this reason."
One of the few prepared to speak out was opposition leader Floyd Seymour.
He claimed that within a year of coming to power, Misick had bought a $2.3 million (£1.2m) property without a mortgage, even though he had declared assets of only $50,000 (£25,000) when he entered office.
Seymour alleged that other ministers who were so hard up they had driven borrowed cars before entering government also now had multi-million dollar homes.
Another witness told the committee: "It appears that any and every investment in the country is gotten as a result of a kick-back to a government minister or his/her immediate family."
The MPs also heard claims of corruption in the award of government contracts and interference in the broadcast of radio and television programmes featuring the opposition party.
Following their visit, the MPs said they were given a DVD of a meeting of Misick's party where he denounced the opposition as "traitors" for giving evidence to the inquiry, while an advert appeared in the local press threatening members of the opposition who had written to the committee.
"It is deplorable and totally unacceptable for any individual who has assisted the committee with its inquiry to be subjected to threats, intimidation or personal sanctions or violence in any form," the report said.
When he appeared before the committee in London last December, Misick categorically denied allega- tions of corruption, saying that such claims were always made in small countries.
However, the MPs strongly condemned the failure of the Foreign Office or the islands' British-appointed governor, Richard Tauwhare, to take action in the face of such serious allegations.
"The onus has been placed on local people to substantiate allegations in TCI," the report said.
"This approach is entirely inappropriate given the palpable climate of fear on TCI. In such an environment, people will be afraid to publicly come forward with evidence.
"We conclude that the UK government must find a way to assure people that a formal process with safeguards is under way, and therefore recommend that it announces a commission of inquiry, with full protection for witnesses."
