Skippings weighs in on expat’s ‘racist, disrespectful’ email

BY DELANA ISLES

The controversy aroused by an email purportedly emanating from the account of a Canadian expatriate has ruffled the feathers of statesman and former Chief Minister, Hon Oswald Skippings.

Skippings – who by his own admission is unafraid to tackle controversial issues that affect TCI and its people – this week called out the email writer for his disrespectful and disparaging statements that directly reference TCI’s government officials.

As reported last week, when the PNP’s Jameka Williams spoke on the issue, the email reads: “Yup- it is because we have leftist minded idiots in government, which is a double wammy since government people here historically were already idiots even when they were not leftists. It’s painful here on a good day”.

The former chief minister pondered how Turks Islanders could “justifiably” be called “idiots” since they have for years welcomed, embraced and financially empowered prejudiced “haters like this individual, who come here as an ordinary worker, takes business opportunities and jobs away from Turks and Caicos Islanders, then disrespect and belittle our governments and people with derogatory, degrading and disparaging accusations”. However, he noted that whilst there are “racist haters” living among us, whom we have welcomed to our shores and among other benefits, given permanent residence”, residents cannot allow these persons to cause others to overlook the fact that there are genuinely friendly and respectful peoples from different nations, be it white, black, brown or yellow, who have assimilated into TCI communities.

Skippings is calling on everyone to exhibit more respect and to unite local farmers by patronising the Kew Town Farmers Market.

Ms Ruth Missick, daughter of well-known farmer Mr Manny Missick, thanked the government for the grant and said that farmers would be looking forward to even more support in the future.

North Caicos farmer, Courtney Missick, who benefitted from the Farm Upgrade Grant and the Disaster Relief grant, expressed gratitude to the Government for the resources provided. and embrace each other to help build the Turks and Caicos Islands.

He said the funds were used to relocate his farm.

Missick said: “Great things are coming” in the near future to include Agro Tourism as part of his Farm Business.

He stated that people need to demonstrate maturity and show love when they encounter such malevolent hate, and not allow it to distort their sense of reasoning and responsible governance, and if there are justifiable grounds to legitimately deal with such “idiots”, then they do so.

He is calling for unity and vision in purpose and efforts to build a buoyant and sustainable economy with healthy, progressive and empowered people, in a peaceful, safe and secured Turks and Caicos Islands.