All political appointees have to go, says Premier

Shrinking revenues have forced the government of this British Overseas Territory, Turks and Caicos Island to terminate the services of political appointees, according to a report on www.cananews.net.



Premier Galmore Williams said today that the decision taken on the advice of the Ministry of Finance will result in the discontinuation of the services of all political appointees, effective September 30, 2009.



He said the move has become necessary to \"better enable government to work within the constraints of its ever shrinking revenue intake which has gone from an average of approximately USD$18 million per month last year to approximately some USD$9 million per month this year\".



Williams said regrets having to take such action, having wrestled long and hard with the issue. However, he expected the move to provide the government with room to implement measures to stimulate the economy, which has been slowing in recent months.



\"Coupled with the other measures that we have put in place and others yet to be implemented, this course of action will assure us of the opportunity to turn around our economy in the quickest possible time, while lessening the impact that the current worldwide recession will otherwise have on our wider community,\" he said.



The Premier also said efforts were being made to ensure that as many of the affected individuals as possible are given other job opportunities before the end of September.



The Turks and Caicos government faces an uncertain future; with the British government preparing to suspend the territory\'s constitution and implement direct rule after a Commission of Inquiry probing widespread allegations of corruption under the watch of former Premier Michael Misick said it had found \"clear signs of political amorality and immaturity and of general administrative incompetence\".