TCI Sun
Premier Rufus Ewing & Attorney General Huw Shepheard
Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands, Dr. Rufus Ewing, said he disapproves and objects to the renewal of Attorney General Huw Shepheard’s contract.
In a press release issued by recently-appointed Senior Press and Protocol Officer Althea Been, Dr. Ewing said that Governor Ric Todd’s extension of Shepheard’s contract “can only be termed as a total disregard for the people of these islands and the Office of the Premier of the Turks & Caicos Islands”.
Shepheard, who is from Wales in the United Kingdom, was first appointed in September 2010 for three years. Governor Todd granted him another three years, which will take him up to 2016.
The Premier said he was informed of the AG’s contract extension on Monday August 19th during his weekly meeting with the Governor.
According to the press statement, while Premier Ewing recognizes the contributions that Shepherd has made during his tenure, he was “very clear on his disapproval and stated that he was not in support of the renewal of the Attorney General’s contract for several reasons”, all of which he outlined to the Governor.
The main concern that the Premier raised with the Governor was the fact that there are many qualified Turks and Caicos Islands lawyers who are capable of efficiently performing the roles and functions of the Attorney General, including the current Deputy Attorney General Mrs. Rhondalee Braithwaite Knowles.
“The Premier has constantly agitated for the employment of qualified Turks and Caicos Islanders in key positions within Government and the Private Sector alike and sees this appointment as counter-productive to the advancement of our people,” the press release added.
Premier Ewing said that with September marking the last month for Ric Todd as Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands, and with the impending arrival of the newly appointed Governor Mr. Peter Beckingham, who is scheduled to take up residence within the Turks and Caicos Islands in October 2013, “the decision to renew should have been forgone so that the new Governor, at the very least, could be given the opportunity to make an appointment of his choice”.
Earlier this year, Premier Ewing made strident calls for Britain to recall Governor Ric Todd, Attorney General Huw Shepheard and then Chief Financial Officer Hugh McGarel-Groves. McGarel-Groves was fired from his post and Governor Todd is moving on to another diplomatic post.
Commenting on the AG’s contract renewal, Governor Ric Todd said: “I have made the decision to extend Mr Shepheard’s contract based on his pivotal role in the reform of the laws of the TCI during the term of the Interim Administration, and believe that his staying on provides essential stability and continuity to the territory as it continues to demonstrate to investors and visitors that we are a well governed nation.”
The Governor has confirmed Shepheard’s extension in line with the powers given to his office by the TCI Constitution Order 2011 section 91(2).
Shepheard said, “I am delighted to be asked to continue to serve the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands as Attorney General. I look forward to working with my colleagues in Chambers, in Cabinet and in the House of Assembly to continue the reform of the laws of the Islands to provide for sustainable development and the maintenance of good governance.”
