Corruption in the Caribbean  

A string of allegedly corrupt politicians will appear in Court tomorrow (6 December 2011) in the Turks and Caicos Islands, a tiny British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean, made famous by the tax cheat Michael Ashcroft who is a “belonger”.After a laborious two year investigation, charges are now being laid by the independent special prosecutor, Helen Garlick, who has been looking at the sale of Crown land to developers and the granting of belongerships in return for favours.Politicians were selling for their personal gain permissions to buy Crown land. They also had a hand in deciding who could become a “belonger” – a citizen of the Turks and Caicos who has the right to buy land.For years there has been talk of well connected politicians taking secret commissions, bribes and inducements from developers, eager to exploit the islands’ tourist potential.A leading developer,...