Michael Misick, the former Premier of the
Turks and Caicos Islands
, says he has sought political asylum in an undisclosed country because of “political persecution”.
Misick made the revelation
in a media statement
on Monday March 19
th
, after it was announced by the Special Investigations and Prosecution Team (SIPT)
earlier that day that they obtained an arrest warrant for the former
leader and a “Red Notice” which was authorized by the International
Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol).
“My
reason for doing so (seeking political asylum) is simple because of the
political persecution that is taking place to me and my family, former
Cabinet Ministers and their families and a select few developers who
supported me and my Progressive National Party during my tenure as
Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands,” Misick said in a media
statement.
“Let
be clear. I am not a fugitive, and will never be a fugitive. I have
applied for political asylum from another country and I am merely
seeking protection from political persecution. I will continue to bring
challenges to clear my name and that of my government and colleagues. I
dream to return to my homeland as an independent, victorious, proud and
free nation.”
Misick said he is convinced that he is being persecuted
because of
his
views and firm plan to move
the Turks and Caicos Islands
towards
Independence
.
“
This plan goes counter to the British and their supporters in the
Turks and Caicos Islands
.
That is why stories were fabricated by the opposition, the British and
their supporters in order to call for a Commission of Inquiry
,
”
he added.
Earlier
on Monday, a statement from SIPT about the warrant of arrest said: “For
the past several months the SIPT has sought to secure the attendance of
Mr Misick at its offices in Providenciales in respect of allegations of
corruption and money laundering during his time in office. Every
opportunity has been given to Mr Misick to voluntarily surrender to the
SIPT’s jurisdiction for interview. Despite previous indications from Mr
Misick’s solicitors that he would attend for interview, he has failed to
do so.”
The
international warrant and “Red Notice” was announced days after Misick
publicly criticized Governor Ric Todd for swearing on the
Government-owned Radio Turks and Caicos. The former Premier also issued a
press statement in which he called on the UK Foreign and Commonwealth
Office and the Foreign Affairs Committee of the UK Parliament to launch
an investigation into the Interim Government which was appointed in
August 2009 when the
UK
imposed direct rule in the
Turks and Caicos Islands
.
Interpol requests are normally issued for the arrest of wanted persons with a view to extradition.
A
n Interpol Red Notice is the closest instrument to an international arrest warrant in use today.
Interpol does not have the authority to issue arrest warrants in
the formal sense of the word, as this is the domain of the sovereign member states.
An
Interpol notice
or
international notice
is issued by Interpol to share information between its members. There
are seven types, six of which are known by their colour codes: red,
blue, green, yellow, black, and orange.
Interpol
will only issue notices if it is satisfied that all the conditions for
processing the information have been fulfilled. For example, a notice
will not be published if it violates Article 3 of the US Constitution,
which forbids the Organization from undertaking any intervention or
activities of a political, military, religious or racial character.
Meantime,
Misick, who said he made the announcement about asylum “with a heavy
heart”, stressed that there was no way he or any of the accused could
receive a fair trial.
He
said: “There is no way that I, or any of the persons that have been
accused by Helen Garlick and her team, can get a fair trial.
The
British Government, aided by two governors, Gordon Wetherell and now
Ric Todd, have abolished our fundamental right to jury trial. They have
also suspended democracy. The Governor and the prosecutor control the
executive, the legislative and the judiciary. They have changed so many
laws such as the Proceeds of Crime Bill, laws pertaining to evidence,
laws pertaining to hearsay all in an attempt to convict me and my
colleagues.”
Misick continued: “If we have done something illegal why is there a need to change so many laws
in
order to secure a conviction? Why could we not be tried under the same
system that thousands of people were tried under over the years? Why did
they have to abolish our Parliament and the Executive? Is it so that
they, including the prosecutor, can change the laws and the entire
judicial system uninhibited without the normal checks and balances that
exist in a democracy to ensure their goal which is the conviction of me
and my colleagues?
If
another country had done this, the British would have been outraged and
they would seek international sanctions against that country. This is
double-standard and political persecution of the highest order. They
have sought to politically persecute us because we desire to live in an
independent
Turks and Caicos Islands
, where the rule of law applies to everyone; where the rules and laws can’t be changed to get rid of a person or
government because you disagree with their political views and goals.”
Misick, was in charge of the
Turks and Caicos Islands
between 2003 and 2009, added: “You have the situation where the
Governor appoints the prosecutor, she will choose the judge and the
Governor appoints who she chooses. The Governor at a public meeting has
already announced that we are guilty, therefore the whole notion of a
trial is a show. We know, and all Turks and Caicos Islanders know, that
the verdict has already been decided by the Foreign and Commonwealth
Office, the Governor the prosecutor and the Judges that they have
chosen. All of the laws and rules that have been changed, were done on
the recommendation of the Special Prosecutor to ensure a conviction.
This is a complete set-up for a modern-day John Crow political lynching.
I will not be part of that. I have therefore sought protection from
another country in accordance with the United Nations Convention on
Human Rights and the human rights laws of that country, as it is my
right to do and the right of any person that is being politically
persecuted.
”
The former Premier said Robin Auld came to
Turks and Caicos Islands
with specific instructions from the Foreign Office as to what the outcome of the Commission of Inquiry will be.
“In
short, the outcome was pre-determined,” Misick added. “To add insult to
injury, they have bypassed the entire legal system by appointing a
Special Prosecutor whose primary goal is to get rich of the backs of
Turks and Caicos Islands
’
tax payers and to make a name for herself. Helen Garlick has already
collected over $20 million of Turks and Caicos Islands tax payers’ money
and is slated to collect at least another $10 million in 2012, at a
time when the interim government is laying off hundreds of civil
servants, cutting pensions and other benefits and increasing taxes.
There is no way that I, or any of the persons that have been accused by
Helen Garlick and her team, can get a fair trial.
The
British Government, aided by two governors, Gordon Wetherell and now
Ric Todd, have abolished our fundamental right to jury trial.”