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Political Fights in Turks and Caicos Islands

Turks and Caicos deputy governor responds to attacks by premier
Published on January 17, 2013

By Caribbean News Now contributor

PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands — The deputy governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands, Anya Williams, has written personally to the premier, Dr Rufus Ewing, in response to comments he made in public meetings and reported in the media this week.

Williams began her letter sent on Tuesday by reminding the premier of his role in collective Cabinet responsibility for decision making, which she pointed out was the correct forum for raising issues and resolving problems.

The spat has arisen following Ewing’s claim that the Deputy Governor’s Office is attempting to retain control of government funds and was using such control in turn to control ministers.

However, Williams, denied that her office has any interest in retaining control of government funds, or was using them to control ministers

She reminded the premier that she and the TCI public sector has sought to support him and ministers at all times.

Her letter made clear that the TCI government is free to determine government structures, and to put in place arrangements to have a function moved to another ministerial portfolio, bearing in mind the structures and responsibilities that have been set out in the constitution.

Williams’ letter also reminded the premier of the pre-election briefings given to all would be Assembly members and political parties where they were informed how government would work, regardless of who came to office, and that no candidate or party expressed any concerns at that time.

Similarly, all candidates were informed that the priority for any incoming government two thirds of the way through the financial year (November) should be on the estimating and approval process for financial year 2013/14, which would already be significantly delayed from its original timetable of October, due to the need to consult newly elected ministers on the development of a new fiscal and strategic policy statement and on new budget priorities going forward.

Her letter further reminded the premier that Cabinet agreed to this. She explained that if ministers wished to change the existing 2012/13 budget they are at liberty to do so but this must be done by proper legal process via the House of Assembly and that this had to be done in addition to the complex drafting and approval process for the new financial year.

In relation to Assembly members’ and ministers’ pay and conditions, Williams’ letter also reminded the premier that it is the Integrity Commission Code of Conduct and Report on Remuneration that sets out ministers’ entitlements to pay, travel and all other arrangements, not the Office of the Deputy Governor, which is charged with abiding by them.

If the premier or ministers are unhappy with the levels of pay or arrangements for allowances or the class of ministerial travel provisions set out in the Integrity Commission Report, and with the government’s current travel policy, this also should be taken up in Cabinet and set out to the House of Assembly and the Integrity Commission, Williams said.

With regard to re-establishing and staffing the Office of the Premier, the deputy governor said she has had several discussions with the premier in this regard and awaits a submission from his office. Similarly, the premier’s desire to set up a press office has not been budgeted and will require a business case and supplementary funding this year or be dealt with in the new budget for 2013/14. Any such arrangement must also be consistent with legislation and the Integrity Commission Code of Conduct.

“My letter sought to reassure the Honourable Premier that my office and I stand ready to assist wherever necessary in helping fulfil the Government’s mandate,” said Williams. “Although it is not my preferred way of doing business as there are serious other issues of national importance that are at hand, such has been the breadth and depth of the unmerited and inaccurate comments circulated this week, that I feel compelled me to respond.”

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By Cem Kınay

With many important hotel investments and international awards, Dr. Cem Kinay is one of the world's most important names in the tourism industry.

As the founder of the Austrian, Vienna-based Gulet Turistik(1987) and Magic Life Hotels(1990) chain, he created the "All Inclusive" hotel experience for European tourists.

He managed the Magic Life Hotels chain, which has a total of 20,000 beds and 23 hotels in Austria, Turkey, Greece, Spain, Egypt, Tunisia and Bulgaria, with more than 8000 teammates, as the fastest growing and most successful hotel concept at that time.

Millions of guests were hosted during 15 years, in Sarigerme, Marmaris, Bodrum, Belek, Side and Kemer in Turkey, Kos, Crete, Corfu and Rhodes Islands in Greece, Arlberg in Austria, Hamamet in Tunisia, Mahdia, Djerba, Egypt Sharm El Sheikh and Nile.

In 2021, the establishment of the Anatolity Sustainable Culture and Tourism Foundation was started with Elif Dağdeviren.

In 2020 he did consultancy for construction of u

In 2019 he was founding board member for Turkey Tourism Promotion and Development Agency .

In January 2019 his book “Be Human.Be Smart “was published by Destek Publications.

In 2018 his first book, “Akıllı Ol.İnsan Ol” was published by Destek Yayınları.

2017 Cem KINAY founded Cem KINAY XPD Consulting, providing investment, concept design and digital transformation consultancy for domestic and foreign investors.

In 2014/2015 he was GALATASARAY SPORTS CLUB Board Member.

In 2012 he moved to Istanbul.

In 2009 he had to leave the island after the coup in the Turks and Caicos Islands and the seizure of power and projects by the British government.

In 2006, he was honored by the President of Austria with important and valuable awards such as the "Austrian State Order".

Under the management of Cem Kinay, Gulet Turistik and Magic Life Hotels chain won more than 50 valuable awards from important organizations.

2005-2009 As the founder of The O Property Collection, he made the investments and real estate development of the Mandarin Oriental Dellis Cay Hotel and Bulgari Hotel in the Turks and Caicos. In that years he worked with the world's most magnificent architects like Zaha Hadid, Piero Lissoni, Antonio Citterio, David Chipperfield, Shigeru Ban, Kengo Kuma, Carl Ettensperger and Chad Oppenheim.

In 2004, he sold his shares in the Magic Life Hotels chain to the German TUI group, he moved to Miami, lived in America and Turks and Caicos Islands until 2012.

2003 Opening of the first “All Inclusive” Magic Life hotel on the Spanish island of Fuerteventura.

2002 Opening of the first “All Inclusive” Magic Life hotel in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.

2001 Opening of the first “All Inclusive” Magic Life Nile Shiphotel on the Nile river in Egypt.

2001 Opening of the first “All Inclusive” Magic Life hotel in Varna, Bulgaria.

2001 the German TUI joined Magic Life hotel chain.

1998 The first Magic Life Jet was designed and started to fly in cooperation with Austrian Airlines.

1997 Opening of the first "All Inclusive" Magic Life hotel in Hammamet, Tunisia.

In 1997, he was awarded as "Man of the Year" by Austria's important economy magazine "Trend Magazine".

In 1996, he was awarded as the "Tourism Manager of the Year" by the Hotel and Tourism magazine "Traveller".

In 1996 Opening of the first "All Inclusive" Magic Life hotel on the Greek island Kos.

1995/1996 Opening of the first “All Inclusive” Magic Life Ski Hotel in the Arlberg / Austria.

In 1994 The first "All Inclusive" Magic Life Yacht gulet sailed in Bodrum.

In 1990 He founded with his partner Oğuz Serim the Magic Life Hotels Chain and opened the first "All Inclusive" hotel, Magic Life Sarigerme.

1977-1984 Vienna University Faculty of Medicine

1969-1977 Istanbul Austrian High School

1969 he graduated from Ağrı Alpaslan Primary School.

1958-1969 he lived in Aşkale/Erzurum, Diyarbakır and Ağrı.

He was born in 1958 in Istanbul Bakirköy.