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Dear Sir:

The closing of TCInvest is timely and some kind of reorganization was needed a long time ago. At the indulgence of many chief ministers, governments allowed the agency to wander. Conrad Higgs was no help and is perhaps the biggest reason why the Governor had to do what he did. As an inward investment agency, there were some successes over the years. A KPMG report also showed that the agency needed to be reformed or die.

What is surprising is that there was no wider consultation on the proposed closure of this agency. During the 2009 public hearings of the Robyn Auld Commission it was revealed that Mike Misick verbally told the agency not to check out the Devco and it would seem that this verbal request was complied with despite the rules being in place. It cannot help that Conrad Higgs was found with 10 acres of land in the national park system.

Can the agency carry out a true mandate of national development? I am sure but where would the agency go with a lack of funding and it functioning as a bureaucracy within a wider bureaucracy? However, what is lamentable is that, at a time when the islands need investment, we may be starting over again. Is it possible that they could have just removed Conrad Higgs, reduced spending and lead at this time on investment? Is this the time to change course or “stay the course”.

The public has certainly benefitted from the Small Business Program and the services of Lillian Misick and Sophia Thomas. They have helped many persons in the TCI get business plans and loans. There were many success stories. The loans portfolio and the lending arm needed reform and a reduced interest rate structure because the lending rates were greater than the commercial banks in some instances. In some cases the interest rates were low. People visiting the agency have found these persons, Lillian Misick and Sophia Thomas, to be helpful, along with Clayton Been. Maybe we could find another way to address these issues.

One proposal may have been to merge the boards with the Tourist Board and let them function as a powerful marketing and tourism investment entity. For me it matters not. There is a greater need to spur investment to the islands and get these islands back on track. Maybe the decision can be dealt with again with wider public consultation. The emphasis must now be on inward investment, getting money into the islands and people back to work. The fundamentals are there. In many other cases we are reaping what the previous regime has sown.

Excellency, you may be invited to reconsider this decision. One can understand the rationale but this may be time to “stay the course.”

Samsune Taylor

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