Turks & Caicos Chief Minister responds to opposition leader over gay cruise

Chief Minister,  Michael
Misick at a press conference
Wednesday

by Bridgette V Newman

Friday, April 8, 2005

TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDS: “He who is without sin, Let him cast the first stone” these were the words echoed by Turks & Caicos Chief Minister, Michael Misick, Wednesday as he responded to a press release issued by the Leader of the Opposition, Derek Taylor entitled “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.”

Taylor, in his release issued on Tuesday, accused the Government of allowing a cruise ship carrying 2,000 gay and lesbian tourists to dock in Grand Turk He went on to express his party’s outrage with the actions of a financially and morally bankrupt government that, in the words of Taylor, “is prepared to prostitute our future all in the name of development and financial gain.”

Taylor contends that the country is in dire financial straits, which he says will be revealed in the coming weeks. He said, “Had it not been for the draw down of loan moneys, the country would be experiencing a significant overdraft at the end of March 2005.”

In his response, Chief Minister Misick began by assuring the citizens of the country that neither he nor his Ministers were aware of the plans for the cruise ship carrying “gay and lesbian tourists” to visit the shores of Grand Turk.

He continued by saying, “Whilst as a government we respect civil liberties, the freedom of choice and we do refrain from discriminating, we are in no way supportive of or encourage the alternative lifestyle of these individuals. We regret that our people and especially our children have been exposed to this type of activity and express concern in this regard.”

Misick said his government considered every word relating to the 2,000 gay and lesbian tourists to be very hypocritical of the Leader of the People’s Democratic Movement considering it was his signature that made gay and lesbian relationships legal in the Islands.

It was under the PDM’s administration that the White Paper was signed; accepting the alternative lifestyle in the islands and at the same time the same Government facilitated Club Mediterranean in hosting a gay convention.

In regard to the country’s financial status, the Chief Minister said, “My Government and I are in awe that the leader of the Opposition would attempt to tie this incident to the financial affairs of this country. His assessment on what is taking place is incorrect and his expression of these thoughts is appalling. I will state again, as has been stated before, the Turks and Caicos Islands is not broke. As at March 31 2005, the country had US$17 million in the bank and in excess of US$6 million in reserve. Since then our position has improved and we expect our financial performance in the ensuing years to be the best this country has ever enjoyed.”

He concluded by assuring the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands that his Government continues to be for the people and affirmed his government’s commitment to upholding and preserving the country’s moral standards, while seeking avenues of development that are consistent with the country’s culture and will provide significant returns on its investment.

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