The worldwide assets of the former Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands, Michael Misick, have been frozen by Court order according to reports in the T&C Sun newspaper.

The islands have been governed by London since Misick was forced to stand down following widespread allegations of corruption now being investigated by the UK appointed Special Prosecutor, Helen Garlick.

Misick had a close relationship with Michael Ashcroft who cheated his way into the House of lords in 2000 after promising to pay full UK taxes on his worldwide income. He reneged on that promise, ending his non dom status in March 2010.

The British Caribbean Bank, run by Ashcroft’s son Andrew, advanced Misick a $5m loan in early 2007 when Misick was building a mansion on land he had bought from Lord Ashcroft’s company, Leeward.

Misick’s former wife, LisaRaye McCoy has talked of the relationship between her former husband and Ashcroft.

"He has been to the house several times and we have been out to eat and we have met at Nikki Beach.”  (a nightclub run by Ashcroft’s son Andrew)

I’d like to know more about the precise business relationship between Misick and Michael Ashcroft and his constellation of companies.

Helen Garlick’s report on corruption in the Turks and Caicos is expected by September.

Goodbye Afghanistan

Canada’s combat operations in Afghanistan end this week after nine years, 157 troop deaths and at a staggering cost of C$11 billion. (see attachment from Canadian House of Commons Library)

It requires the triumph of hope over experience to believe Canada’s positive legacy will long endure.

The shiny new schools and medical facilities are there. But for how long?

Corruption lubricates the machinery of the State. It is deeply embedded and the Karzai Government appears largely indifferent to it. The Afghan President’s brother is under scrutiny for alleged racketeering.

The idea that the Afghan National Army and the Afghan Police can make Afghanistan secure is risible.

It is not remotely possible.

Select Committees should take evidence on oath

The latest shocking revelations about the News of the World make the case, yet again, for witnesses before House of Commons Select Committees to give evidence on oath.

When I was in the old Gasworks I tried and failed to get this through. 

But this change is needed now as never before.

Taking evidence on oath would alter the whole dynamic of Select Committee meetings. Witnesses would have to think carefully about what they said.

The consequences of knowingly lying to a Committee would be spelt out in all necessary detail.

Would the former NoTW editor and Cameron aide, Andy Coulson have behaved any differently when he went before the Culture Select Committee if he had sworn first to tell the whole truth?

Would he have stuck to the now ludicrous line that the NoTW’s phone hacking operation was the work of one or two rogue journalists?

I think not.

Closure of Police Stations

I see that police station closures are on the cards. Time for East Lancashire’s MPs for the moment to put to one side their charity runs, restaurant competitions and “Save the Pub” campaigns and stand up and be counted.

The last time there was a serious threat to local police stations was back in 1995-6, under the Major Government.

I believed then, and still do, that a police station is a place of refuge. It is more than bricks and mortar.

Towns feel safer when there is a police station, open for business.

It really is as simple as that.

Attachments:

Afghanistan Canadian Policy Towards.pdf

[Canada and Afghanistan]

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