Party official defends Turks and Caicos Premier's lifestyle

Lloyd Stubbs, the Public Relations Officer for the ruling Progressive Nation-al Party (PNP) in the Turks and Caicos Islands, has been quoted in an August 24 Miami Herald article about Premier Michael Misick and his controversial lifestyle as asking, "A brother can't make some money?''

However, the Miami Herald front page article entitled "A fairy-tale romance takes a tawdry turn" and especially the quoted comments by Stubbs are likely to raise more questions than they answer.

In response to allegations and questions surrounding Misick’s financial status and extravagant spending, Stubbs is further quoted by the Miami Herald as saying, ''It's not like he bought a $10 million house out of his pocket. He is paying a bank loan," and adding, "Michael is a businessman."

As previously reported, Misick’s salary as Premier is $150,000 annually, which represents just a fraction of the yearly cost of servicing a $10 million mortgage and is bound to raise renewed questions as to where the substantial difference is coming from.

This British territory has been plagued by scandal and rumours of extensive corruption within the government to the point where, last month, the governor appointed a Commission of Enquiry to look into the allegations. The Commission is expected to report its finding no later than November of this year.

Arabella Smith, Senior Policy Advisor and Press Secretary to the Premier, declined to comment on matters surrounding the Premier's personal life. She also indicated that he would not be making any further statements in relation to the Miami Herald article.

Former Chief Minister and deputy leader of the opposition Peoples’ Democratic Movement (PDM), Oswald Skippings, was nowhere near as reticent.

"It is a pity that the Premier, Hon. Michael Misick, does not have the common decency to resign his office and spare our country the perpetual international disgrace and embarrassment. It appears as if the drama is getting more intense daily and more widespread as well," Skippings said.

This was publicity that the country could definitely do without, Skippings added, and reiterated his call for the Premier to "do the decent thing and resign from office." (Caribbean Net News)