Britain slams premier's CARICOM speech

PROVIDENCIALES (CMC):

Britain's Foreign Secretary William Hague has taken Rufus Ewing, the premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), to task following a recent speech to Caribbean Community (CARICOM) heads of government.

In a scathing letter, Hague described the presentation at the inter-session meeting of CARICOM heads of Government last month as a "substantial misrepresentation to the people of the TCI and to the leaders of the Caribbean".

"I have seen the speech you gave to CARICOM heads of government on February 18, about the relationship between the Turks and Caicos Islands and the United Kingdom. I regret to say you substantially misrepresent both the past and the present situation to both the people of the TCI and to the leaders of the Caribbean," Hague said.

Hague went on to remind Ewing that the previous government run by his Progressive National Party "left behind a chaotic situation including, through incompetence, abuse of power and corruption, rapidly deteriorating public finances".