Michael Misick’s crusade won’t halt final report
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Gordon Wetherell made it clear the UK is still poised to surge ahead with the suspension of the constitution to give the country the “breathing space” it desperately needs.
In an exclusive interview with the Weekly News, he said the former Premier’s legal battle through the British courts would not delay next week’s submission of the final report.
And he spoke for the first time about the “extraordinary” allegations made against him during Michael Misick’s bitter tirade on a radio chat show last week.
He said Islanders would soon see for themselves that he was neither a “dictator” nor “arrogant”, as charged by the ex-leader.
There is no denying the former High Commissioner to Ghana has a momentous task ahead.
Mr Wetherell revealed some of the extent of the challenges facing him when he takes over the TCI’s reins.
Not least is the string of unpaid bills as a result of the fiscal incompetence which has left the country in dire straits.
But he says he is up to the task of putting the Islands back on the road to recovery – and has already begun to compile a list of potential candidates to assist him with policy making.
Mr Wetherell said public reaction to the UK’s no nonsense stance in the wake of the scandal-plagued corruption probe had been “positive”.
“There’s a view that there are serious issues of governance and some breathing space is needed so they can be put right.
“Implementing new institutions and legislation will allow the TCI to go forward confidently on a sound basis of good governance.
“I would hope people will see intervention as smart, well targeted and only designed to last as long as is necessary to get the reforms into place.
“Hopefully we can have elections when they are due in around two years’ time.”
A date has yet to be confirmed for an appeal lodged by Mr Misick to bar the UK from seizing control of the country.
The former Premier claims the move violates EU law and announced last week he would rather risk jail than halt his fight for independence.
The case is due to be heard by the Court of Appeal after being thrown out by the High Court.
The Governor said he did not envisage the legal crusade as posing a threat to Britain’s plans.
“The way the case was resolved in the High Court suggested the action being taken was proportionate and appropriate in the circumstances but I will have to wait for the judicial ruling.”
He confirmed reports that he had requested a recording of last Wednesday’s ‘Expressions’ show in which Mr Misick was interviewed by talk show host Robert Hall.
“I didn’t hear the programme myself but I heard about it from a friend. I found it extraordinary that allegations were being made about me that are not true.
“There was an allegation that I spent $20,000 in the Amanyara. It just never happened, I have never spent a night there.
“I would hope that people will see the evidence for themselves. I am not a dictator or an arrogant individual.”
Mr Wetherell said he did not yet know whether he would take legal action in light of the claims.
He continued that good governance of the country would be a team effort.
“There’s a lot of support out there from the people of the TCI. I am looking forward to working with the consultative forum and advisory council when they are constituted.
“It’s not just me on my own. There’s a general wish among the population to take the opportunity to put certain things right in the TCI.
“We can then move forward on the basis of sound governance with the TCI represented as a jurisdiction where the rule of law applies.”
The Governor would not be drawn on who the potential advisors may be.
But he said: “I am making progress on clarifying in my own mind who I would like on those bodies.
“I have a list in my head which I am keeping open.”
He admitted the assignment was unlike any he had been tasked with before.
“Being a governor is different from being an ambassador or a high commissioner where you represent one country to another.
“But I have broad experience of managing missions in different circumstances in different parts of the world which makes me more adaptable to dealing with different situations and people.”
Mr Wetherell said work to restore the country to a healthy financial state was already well underway.
Experts have been enlisted from London to help the Permanent Secretary and staff get Government coffers back into shape.
Next comes the hefty chore of devising the budget to ensure it matches revenue projections for the next 12 months.
“Work is being done to identify the real size of the overdraft and unpaid bills. Work also has to be done with some of the bigger debtors to reschedule repayments so it can be done in an orderly fashion.”
He said it was essential to “instill certain disciplines” in the way public finances are managed.
“Spending departments need proper control and proper cash management so they can stay within budget.
“The TCI is not a poor country. It’s got into a position where financial mismanagement over a period of years has created a significant hole in public finances which we need to restore.”
The Governor said money spent on tourism marketing – which famously skyrocketed by 600 per cent under Mr Misick’s watch – had left a number of debts.
“Tourism is very important to the country. How best it can be marketed is an issue which will need to be looked at.
“That’s also an area with unpaid bills.”
He continued that “steps are in place” towards clawing back some of the country’s misappropriated assets via a civil recovery board.
Mr Wetherell added that tackling crime was another key area with greater communication between police and community groups of paramount importance.
by Gemma Handy