In The Diaspora
Norman Girvan is Professor at the Institute of International Relations of the University of the West Indies. He is a former Secretary General of the Association of Caribbean States.
By Norman Girvan, reporter at large for CAP News
CAP (Caribbean Anansi Press) is an imaginary agency headquartered all over the Caribbean and its diasporas dedicated to bringing independent, Caribbean-centered news and views “to the World Wide Web from the spider’s web”. This satirical essay on double standards and imperial power addresses the news that on August 14th, the Turks and Caicos, a CARICOM associate member and British Overseas territory with a population of less than 40,000, had their elected premier, cabinet and assembly removed and their constitution suspended by the British Government on August 14th in response to widespread allegations of systemic corruption. The islands will be run for the time being by Gordon Wetherell, incumbent governor and the Queen’s representative. The move brings to mind Guyana in 1953, when the constitution was suspended 133 days after the PPP, at the time led by Cheddi Jagan and Forbes Burnham, swept to power. The suspension set in motion the tragic forces that led to the break up of what was then a broad-based, multiracial, anti-colonial coalition.
CARICOM has condemned the imposition of direct rule in the Turks and Caicos, and stated that a more sustainable and beneficial response would have been to involve the people in all efforts to resolve the crisis of confidence in public administration.
QUEEN ELIZABETH DISMISSES U.K. GOVERNMENT, IMPOSES DIRECT RULE FROM THE PALACE – NORMAN’S DREAM
London, August 18 (CAP News). In a dramatic break with long-established Constitutional practice, Queen Elizabeth II last night announced that she had dismissed the government of Prime Minister Gordon Brown, dissolved Parliament and directly assumed executive powers to the Crown.
The move came after months of revelations of financial impropriety by scores, if not hundreds, of members of the British parliament from both sides of the House of Commons. The Palace statement said that elections would be held as soon as the conditions of honest government in the U.K. had been re-established. However, no time-frame was put on this.
In an exclusive interview with CAP News, the Queen said she was especially concerned to avoid the perception of double standards in the treatment of the Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Last week London dismissed the government of the British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean and imposed direct rule after a row over alleged corruption centering on former Premier Michael Misick and others in the ruling elite.
“It is true that the majority of our subjects in the United Kingdom are white, while the majority of our subjects in the Turks and Caicos Islands are black” she said. “But that does not mean that our British subjects are any less deserving of good governance and of the right to be saved from the excesses of those who, after all, were elected to serve them”, she explained; adding that there had been a “complete collapse” in the British public’s confidence in the institutions of government.
“What is good for the Turks and Caicos is good for Great Britain” she pronounced. “All our subjects are equal in the eyes of the Crown”. The Queen said she acted on a suggestion of her representative in Jamaica, Governor General Sir Patrick Allen.
“I have a duty to listen to my appointed representatives,” she intoned; “especially when they make sense”. The Turks and Caicos Islands were once a dependency of Jamaica; and Sir Patrick was concerned that singling them out for direct rule would hurt Jamaica’s image for tourism and investment. “By applying the same standards to the British isles as to the Turks and Caicos Islands,” she explained; “We are leveling the playing field”. The Queen said she was also persuaded by the impeccable logic of former TCI Premier Galmore Williams, who took over five months ago after Misick’s resignation.
Williams is reported as having told BBC Radio that the TCI “had not been given the same opportunities as British politicians to make amends when they were accused of wrongdoing”, pointing out that “In the British parliament, they (politicians) have had clear signs of incorrect practices but their parliament hasn’t been dissolved, their parliament hasn’t been taken away.”
“That point was decisive for me”, the Queen admitted. “After all, the allegations of corruption in the Turks and Caicos were mainly about one individual aided by a handful of people. In the U.K., it pains me to say, it concerned a large number of Parliamentarians. They ought to have known better”.
Queen Elizabeth dismissed the highly publicised plans of the U.K. Parliament to clean up the system by which Members claim expenses that are ultimately borne by taxpayers. “That’s rather like asking a bank robber to arrest, try, sentence and imprison himself; don’t you think?” she told our reporter. “Frankly, we are not amused”.
The Queen is also denying speculation that her move is comparable to the coup in Honduras, where President Manuel Zelaya was recently ousted by soldiers. “It may be the case that President Zelaya had become uncomfortably close to that awful man who is running Venezuela” she conceded, “While British Prime Minister Gordon (Brown), and especially Tony (Blair) before him, had become uncomfortably close to the criminal who used to run America”. “But that had nothing at all to do with our decision”, she insisted. “What is more, I like the new U.S. President, Mr. Obama. I especially like his wife. She even hugged me once. You know, she did me a great favour. I hadn’t been hugged in years”. “And I hugged her back. You see, I am not prejudiced.”
Contacted at his private residence after his hurried departure from Downing Street, ousted Prime Minister Gordon Brown was philosophical about the sudden turn of events. “Her Majesty’s action is a bit unusual”, he agreed, “but I understand her thinking and respect it”. “An election was due next year anyway”, he mused; “and I would have lost it.
At least this saves me from indignity of being defeated by the conservative challenger David Cameron”. “And I have left an awful mess in the British economy for him to deal with. I rather think I am going to enjoy watching him try.”
