Caribbean News Now!

By Caribbean News Now contributor

PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands -- In what he describes as an open letter to Helen Garlick, the head of the special investigation and prosecution team (SIPT), former Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) premier, Michael Misick, is seeking to return to the TCI by means of a private plane chartered by his family. Misick is currently detained by authorities in Brazil pending the outcome of an extradition request by Britain to return him to the TCI to face questions in connection with alleged malfeasance while in office.

In the letter addressed to Garlick, Misick promises that, if the charter flight is allowed, he will not use it to escape.

Ironically, the issue of Misick’s frequent use of private jets while premier featured prominently in the 2008-2009 Commission of Enquiry, whose report detailing widespread and systemic government corruption on the part of Misick and other cabinet ministers ultimately led to the imposition of direct rule of the territory by Britain.

According to former finance minister Floyd Hall, Misick caused the TCI government to lease a private plane for his use at a cost of $165,000 per month over a two-year contract.

Misick’s former wife, Lisa Raye McCoy Misick, testified that in August 2005 she was making two and three trips per month to the TCI via private jet at a cost of $100,000 per round trip.

Prior to his arrest in December last year, Misick had been residing in Brazil since October 2011. He reportedly benefited from a one year window permitted by Brazil for Misick to make a case for continued residency based on political asylum. This it appears was refused and expired in October 2012.

The Brazilian police indicated they were aware of location of Misick’s residence but could not enter the apartment because it belonged to an unnamed female.

Misick was arrested at a Rio de Janeiro airport reportedly about to board a plane to the city of Sao Paulo where he claimed he was planning to consult an attorney about the possibility of appealing for a further review to extend his right to stay in Brazil legally.

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