Premier deserves national support

A whole lot, much of it gossip, diatribe and wild speculation, has been spoken and written about the sexual assault allegations made against Premier Hon. Dr. Michael Misick.

Not surprisingly, the international media, especially blogs, supermarket tabloids and gossip sites, have been having a field day with this story. For them, this is par for the course. Anytime a high profile person is accused of something like this, they relish the moment.

But what is perhaps most shocking, some would say deprecating, is the extent to which some locals have gone and are willing to go in their quest to add fuel to the fire of speculation and feed fodder to the rumour mill.

The unvarnished truth is that the Premier is innocent until proven guilty. He has categorically denied the accusations made against him and he must be taken at his word.

We go further. This newspaper strongly believes that the Premier has been framed and that these accusations are part of a major, sinister plot to topple Premier Misick, undermine the stability of the Progressive National Party (PNP) Government and tarnish the good reputation of the Turks and Caicos Islands . All the signs are there.

The Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, who also found himself being accused wrongfully but was subsequently absolved, was right when he spoke about the politics of personal destruction that is spreading throughout the Caribbean.

The leader of any country is a moving target and a walking bull's eye. Premier Misick is no exception.

He finds himself in the enviable position of being one of the youngest leaders in the world and the head one of the most rapidly developing countries on the planet.

Impressive as these credentials may be, there are also sufficient to attract and spark staggering proportions of envy and jealousy, not only locally, but regionally and internationally.

It should therefore disappoint right-thinking people that those who have the most to lose, are themselves in the vanguard of perpetuating a surge of vicious propaganda about their own Premier and their own country.

So far as the international media and journalism hooligans are concerned, these allegations are about getting the most hits on websites, selling papers and generating posts on their blogs.

They do not have to live or work in the Turks and Caicos Islands , and they can afford to be reckless and nonsensical in what they report, even when aided and abetted by local accomplices. It is a rather strange mentality that welcomes, engages in and perpetuates wanton destruction of their own.

As expected, the Opposition has led a charge for the Premier to step aside in the middle of an investigation that is clearly based on false allegations and a wicked plot by money-hungry miscreants who see the Turks and Caicos Islands as a gold mine.

For the Premier to even contemplate stepping aside or resigning from office, would not only be senseless, but it would be politically suicidal and certainly not in the national interest.

Anyone who believes that even in the worst case scenario, the Premier steps aside, that these allegations will go away, is a dreamer.

Premier Misick must not be distracted or daunted by these allegations. He must stay focused and continue on the path of bringing about meaningful and progressive change to the people and the country he has been chosen to lead.

The sternest test for any individual is the ability to turn adversity into good fortune, and through full and strong national support for the Premier, there is no doubt that this too shall pass.