| Premier, The Hon. Galmo Williams Makes Bold Move, Signaling New Era | | Print | |
| Friday, 03 April 2009 10:02 | |||
 Premier of The Turks and Caicos Islands, The Hon. Galmo Williams MP spent his second week in office delivering on his promise to improve the standards in government, with the primary focus on transparency in government. As a first step in his administration’s “Transparency In Government” initiative, Premier Williams has gone beyond what the rules require and made his interests under The Legislative Council (Registration Of Interests) Ordinance, available for public viewing.Premier Williams, who took the unprecedented step of publishing his interests on the internet, stated that “Upon launching my bid for leadership of this country on February 19, 2009, I stated that If I am elected as Premier, I would move swiftly and judiciously to create ways to promote internationally acceptable good governance practices and firmly adhered to them without fear or favor, across the board in our country or abroad. Making my Registration of Interests available for public viewing, and most importantly public scrutiny, is the first step in that direction.” The new Premier stated that the form of good governance his administration will insist on will be transparency, accountability, and fiscal discipline. In a move to push his good governance agenda throughout all of government the new Premier has stated that his administration will insist on transparency, accountability, and fiscal discipline. “We have an obligation to lead by example. Therefore, I have directed all Cabinet Ministers to declare forthwith their interests under The Legislative Council (Registration Of Interests) Ordinance, and make them available for public viewing. Premier Williams has made a pledge to always lead by example, and has urged the people of the Turks & Caicos Islands to stand with his government.” The move is a break from the usual parliamentary practice in the Westminster System. Under those auspices, members are required only to enter their interests on the register. Normally, members hedge on the side of generality and brevity. However, William’s precedent extends beyond that in two ways: Detail and publicity. The detail speaks for itself. In the case of publicity, traditionally, only after the registrar releases the Register does members of the public get to see it, if they care to trudge to the Houses of Parliament. Should this become the standard in Turks and Caicos, it would mean a more advanced approach has been adopted here than anywhere else in the Westminster System, other than Singapore. This push is part of a comprehensive programme over the first 10 days of the Williams Administration. In that time, Williams and his Cabinet have: a. Released a 90 Day Plan b. Undertaken to release their List of Interest publicly. c. Initiated the Development of a New Lands Policy d. Moved to open Parliament on or about the 14th April 2009 These moves, whilst promised during William’s fight for he PNP leadership, are, in part intended as a message to the British that Turks and Caicos Islanders can handle their affairs. The Hon. Don-hue Gardiner – Chairman of the PNP suggested that: “These efforts are not just for the British. First they tell the world, whatever happens, that we were ready to do the right things. Second, they are an appeal to the Opposition to understand what this process means, not in terms of political parties, but the country and it may send a message to the British to say, what would we do differently. That is how statesmen behave in a time of crisis.” The five page document includes a detailed list of assets and liabilities of Premier Williams and his wife Althena Ewing Williams. It defines all companies where he holds corporate shares; a list of 16 companies including Gilley's Enterprises Ltd., TCI Bank and Provo Travel. Additionally it includes all properties held by the Premier and his spouse or the various companies for which they are investors. An index was also included to list the monthly income they each receive from their various investments and employment. Premier Galmo Williams’ Registration of Interests has been made available to the public on the Progressive National Party, of which he is the party leader, at www.mypnp.tc
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