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Dear Sir:

I hope that this article can be forwarded to the officials of the Foreign Affairs Committee (“FAC”) so that the mismanagement and racism by the British interim government can be halted to avoid further unnecessary deaths in our community.

In February of this year the CEO demanded that the former Chief Environmental Health Officer submit an application of severance pay. I believe, Mr Robinson’s reluctance was merely due to the fact the Environmental Health Department was severely understaffed and under-resourced. At the time Mr Robinson was forced to leave, the department had nine vacant positions for environmental health officers. Also at that time, the country was faced with the threat of cholera, and TB from neighbouring countries.

Currently, North Caicos, South Caicos and Salt Cay are without environmental health officers. For the record, EHO are responsible for inspecting hotels, restaurants, port facilities and conducting surveillance in the communities, among other things. Despite the desperate state of the department, CEO Boyle forced the director to leave, already weakening the department.

Public officers were told that if a person accepted severance pay, then established rules mandated that that public officer would have to leave his or her post. However, days after Mr Robinson left the post, the post was advertised, supposedly to be filled by an expatriate for double the salary, like we saw this week in the budget. Sad to say, the department still has one environmental health officer (EHO) in Grand Turk (retiree Roy Adams!!) and two in Provo. There is only public health nurse in Provo.

It is virtually impossible for these officers to undertake the duties they are supposed to do. This is sheer madness and incompetent irresponsibility on the part of the interim government, the Governor, the CFO and the CEO. You are all systematically destroying this country with your arrogance and penchant to cut for the sake of cutting.

Now there is a viral outbreak in the country, an epidemic, and one tourist has died. Two months ago, another tourist died because the DECR did not have the funds to install a swimming zone. Two days ago, the airport in Providenciales was once again closed, and flights diverted elsewhere. Where are the staff and resources, Mr CEO, for staff to perform duties and to provide the services needed to keep this country operational?

I understand that persons are blaming the acting PS for not sending staff to the hotel; however, this is not fair, but this is what the British interim government wants us to do – fight against ourselves. There is absolutely no staff! Further the CEO insists on keeping Nadia Astwood in the post of Chief Medical Officer, who is completely out of her depth and incompetent at best.

The corruption here is to pander to Cynthia Astwood, who corroborates all the wrongdoings of the British government, like the appointment of the Director of Investment Agency and the Director of Prosecutions. Where in the world would you have a trainee doctor serve as your chief medical officer? Only in the TCI; this is ridiculous and the CEO and Governor knows it. The interim government is gifted at finding puppets to serve their petty and unworthy causes.

Overall, the situation that we are now facing in this country is tantamount to bio-terrorism. It is a time bomb waiting to happen, with no surveillance at our ports and airports, cholera, TB, and other diseases are bound to transmit to the population here. This is so wrong. Patrick Boyle is the worst CEO this country has ever had – hurry up and go back to England.

David Forbes

Reads: 2148


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Les Maddams:

I read your comments and wonder why you are blaming the people who are trying to help?? If it was not for the previous locally elected governments who stole and squandered the funds of the islands and the people then there would be enough money in the reserves for many projects. Racism seems to come mainly from a minority of locals who blame the British for everything, maybe you would like what we have in the UK where I pay 50% of my income in tax and gas/diesel/petrol is about $9 a gallon and we STILL have huge problems.. there is a WORLD financial crisis going on and only a fool would think everything would get better in only a couple of years, as if by the wave of a magic wand..the British are there to help the island recover and stop the situation getting any worse!!