fp Turks and Caicos

Floyd Hall – The Deputy Premier and Minister of Finance – appeared before the Commission of Inquiry yesterday, setting the tone for a dramatic finish to his testimony that conflicted with the testimony of The Premier’s, The Hon. Dr. Michael E. Misick MP – in important ways.

There were four main differences:

First, asked whether Cabinet ever adopted a Code of Conduct, Hall answered that it was adopted, “subject to changes” such as the removal of references to the UK house of Parliament. (The UK supplied the sample draft). The Premier’s evidence was it was never adopted and not “in force” because he never signed it. When asked whether he felt bound by its terms and conditions in any respect, The Premier answered again that it was not “in force”.

Hall’s answer in that connection was that whilst the Code was not yet ‘in force’ he felt himself bound by its terms and conditions, because they reflected a general principle of good governance.
Asked if he thought the above, why he never adhered to the Register of Members Interests and declared his business interests, Hall replied that in hindsight, it was imprudent not to have done so. He said, and it was proved, that he had consistently listed his interests, save for gifts and political contributions.
Mr. Milne – Counsel to the Inquiry – put it to Hall that it seemed curious that he should have left those areas unreported. Again, Hall said it was imprudence on his part, and that a habit of non-disclosure formed around this practice, which must in future be corrected.

The second issue was that of the sale of land on Water Cay to a Mr. Peter Wehrli for the benefit of Mr. Aulden “Smokey” Smith. (Hall explained that Smith obtained the grant of land from a previous government). Minister Hall intimated that he had on three separate occasions loaned Mr. Smith - a lifelong friend - $25,000, for a total of $75,000. He said Mr. Smith had fallen on hard times, and he, Hall, had become concerned about whether his funds would be returned.

The Premier, to a Mr. Peter Wehrli, eventually arranged Sale of the land in question. Hall was repaid. Milne asked why it was so important that Peter Wehrli was designated as the buyer? Hall explained that he did not know Wehrli, but that as he was the largest landowner on Water Cay, it seemed he would have the greatest interest in acquiring any available land to be had there.
Smokey repaid Hall and gave him $125,000 for his kindness in lending him money in the first instance.

Milne sought to frame the struggle Hall endured with the loan to his friend. He asked in a number of ways whether Hall was a wealthy man and could hold out on his loans indefinitely. No said, Hall. This opened the third area of contention between the Premier and Deputy Premier relating to a loan of $150,000 dollars. Milne wanted to say if the Smith loan was so onerous, how could Hall have loaned The Premier twice as much?

It was the Premier’s testimony that Hall loaned him this sum for his wedding. Hall denied flatly that that was the case. He said that his brother, Mr. Quentin Hall made the loan and that The Premier was fully aware of that fact. Milne asked the Deputy Premier whether it was then necessary for The Premier to have mention Hall in this connection at all? There was no reason said Hall.

The fourth issue had potential for drama. It was the relationship between Hall, his wife and a Mr. Simon Padgett. Padgett had entered into a partnership with Mrs. Lisa Hall – who is known for her beauty and sterling personality. Milne raised the spectre of the shares Mrs. Hall owned in REMAX Realty, and why it was that Mrs. Hall was “given” shares. The Deputy Premier explained that Mrs. Hall was not given shares at all, but worked solely on commission and had to pay in her share capital from any dividends from the share earnings.

Hall’s testimony began on Martin Luther King’s Birthday and ends on Inauguration Day for President Elect Barack Obama.