HUNDREDS CAN’T VOTE E-mail: sun@suntci.com
Fax: (649) 941-3281
Tel: (649) 946-8542
VOLUME 8 - No. 26
www.suntci.com
$1.00
JUNE 29TH - JULY 6TH, 2012
By Vivian Tyson Senior SUN Editor
Hundreds of persons, including many Belongers who were born in this country, some who have Turks and Caicos Islands or British passports, and several who would have voted in previous elections, will not be able to vote in the elections on November 9th, 2012. These people have been victims of the new verification process which falls under the Ministry of Border Control and Labour. The SUN can confirm that many persons who showed up to register have been turned away after claiming that they were given the run-around by certain officials. It is also understood that in past elections, in addition to persons who had Belonger stamped in their passports, some naturalized individuals were allowed to vote, since they were holders of TCI or British passports, but the new system apparently changed all that, and only persons who have been declared as Turks and Caicos Islanders would be able to cast their ballots. At a PNP news conference at that party’s headquarters on Thursday, June 28, party leader Dr. Rufus Ewing said that, while a number of persons were under the false notion that their Permanent Residence Certificate (PRC) issued beyond certain time could automatically guarantee them registration to vote, there were others that were more than qualified to be registered, but were denied. He said that while the PNP was in agreement that there was a need for the verification of Belongership status, and the issuance of TCI elector’s
BUTTERFIELD MOTORS OPENS $10 MILLION CHEVROLET DEALERSHOP
The Turks and Caicos Islands has another reason to believe the economy is on the mend when Butterfield Motors, a subsidiary of Butterfield Gold unveiled a $10-million Chevrolet dealership along the Leeward Highway on Providenciales. The opening took place on Thursday, July 28, in the presence of a group of movers and shakers of the business and political landscape. Ernesto Hernandez, President of General Motors Mexico, Caribbean and Central America was on hand to witness the grand opening of the high-end car dealership. Among the individuals invited to bring greetings were Chief Financial Officer of the TCI Government, Hugh McGarel-Groves; PNP Leader, Dr. Rugus Ewing; owner of Butterfield Motors, Rosita Butterfield and Hernandez. PDM Leader Derek Taylor, who was down to bring greetings, was a no-show. From left in photo are – Chief Operating Officer for Butterfield Motors, Adulson Butterfield; Ernesto Hernandez, Rosita Butterfield and Albray Butterfield Sr.
card, the party could not agree to the method currently used, since the it allowed for unreasonable restrictions to the acquisition of the Turks and Caicos Islander Status Card, and by extension restricting eligible Turks and Caicos Islanders access to exercise their voting franchise.
PNP AGAINST CARL ‘FLYER’ SIMMONS ON EBC – STORY ON PAGE 5
“There were a number of people who were misguided and were not knowledgeable of the fact that they are Belongers by virtue of them having a passport. And Immigration Department has to be telling them that not because you hold a Turks and Caicos
Islands Passport means that you are eligible to vote. You have all the privileges but you do not have the right to vote. Only a Belonger has the right to vote. Continused on PG2
GOVERNOR SAYS NOTHING WILL STOP VAT
US SPY PLANES FLYING NEAR TCI
– STORY ON PAGE 7
– STORY ON PAGE 18