fp Turks and Caicos

Abuse amounting to intimidation of Consultative Forum members for their votes in favor of a bill to allow prosecutors and judges to also request non-jury trials in criminal cases in the Supreme Court is deplorable, His Excellency the Gov. Gordon Wetherell said in a statement Nov. 12.

“Sadly, some of those members who voted in favour of the bill were subsequently subjected to deplorable abuse, tantamount to intimidation, by a small group of individuals,” the governor said of comments made on local radio programs. “Furthermore, I find it disturbing that some people were able to use a public radio show to insult forum members. This is deeply distressing and reflects badly on the territory.

“Such behaviour sits uncomfortably with the values which Turks and Caicos Islanders rightly take pride in. Members of the Consultative Forum give up a considerable amount of time for forum meetings and in preparation for them.

“Their recommendations provide a valuable contribution to the government in its efforts to restore the TCI’s governance after years of maladministration. To carry out their roles effectively, members of the forum must be free to express their views candidly and without fear of retribution,” the governor stated.

"Since its inception, the deliberations of the Consultative Forum have been greatly assisted by the attendance of public officers and others who have explained to the Forum and the public of the Turks and Caicos the factual background to matters occupying the Forum's attention and have answered the Forum's questions. I welcome the spirit of cooperation demonstrated by those who have attended before the Forum and should like to encourage anyone who is asked to attend the Form to do so and provide such information as the Forum may require,"  His Excellency the Gov. Gordon Wetherell said in a second statement to show his support of the Consultative Forum Nov. 13.

The forum voted 9-6 to approve a bill that will allow not only a defendant but a prosecutor or judge to request a trial without a jury in a criminal case in the Supreme Court.

The judge would make the decision, but that ruling could be appealed to the three-judge Court of Appeal. The judge who made the ruling then would not be the judge who tried the case.

Those voting in favor were Cynthia Astwood, David Bowen, Rev. Scott Brennen, Guilane Brutus, Lillian Misick, Patricia Simons, Delton Jones, interim government CEO Mark Capes and Attorney General Huw Shepheard.

Those voting against were Rev. Derek Hamilton, Sharlene Cartwright, Drexwell Seymour, Courtney Missick, Karen Delancy and Dr. Linda Williams.
Member Ethlyn Gibbs was not present.

Click HERE to read more about the jury trial bill.