A scalpel or a hacket? How to judge Dellis Cay in latest development stall
October 14, 2009 By: Chris Burke
It is not difficult to sense the desperation in the air in Turks and Caicos. My word, with confirmation of imposed new taxes, rescinding Turks and Caicos citizen's flight discounts and the closing of the Islands' most sought-after holiday destinations, it is almost as if the atmosphere has turned from gold to gray.
What is behind all of this sudden and aggressive change happening in the islands? I wondered why nobody was questioning this? Is it all Michael Misick? All of these changes have taken place in less than a one year's time. Could there be more amiss than what meets the eye?
I cannot begin to tell you how many people have contacted me in despair scratching at opportunities to be heard. Why are they calling on me - an outsider? It is simple. No one else will listen or do not want to hear.
The interim UK government is somehow convinced that all Turks and Caicos Islanders are "cut from the same cloth" as Michael Misick, or are in Misick's "back pocket." Geez Chris ... how did anybody get that impression? As the pieces come together, I have learned that this entire debacle could well be the brain child and set-up of a handful of people and they know who they are.
Before I tell you what I think of Dellis Cay's development stall, I will let you in on my intentions. It is a lot more benign than local blogger and village idiot Shaun Malcolm gives me credit for. I actually started investigating developers, yes developers, in June 2009 to find how they were linked to Misick and how they were involved in bringing down the Turks and Caicos government. But what I found was almost the opposite. (All but one passed the smell test.) Michael Misick was discredited easily for cause, his personal life and Hollywood antics; the public justifiably backed up allegations against him hook, line and sinker. But that was a no-brainer and paved the way to set up developers as well, for giving officials "bribes".
Could this be a handful of people in concert with a greedy goal making these aggressive allegations? Bare with me whilst I lay out just one common sense fact just for emphasis on my point.
Let's look at this single snap shot for a moment. I will use Dellis Cay as an example and it's not because I want to impress Catherine Zeta-Jones who purchased a villa on the Island. It just happens to be the latest development to be stalled.
As my colleague Candace Williams uncovered, Cem Kinay's development on Dellis Cay has cost more than $500 Million US dollars. Not $50 Million, $500 Million. That's half a Billion dollars, with a "B".
This is where I have to ask myself the common sense question about Cem Kinay and bribes. He is investing $500 Million US dollars in a development, yet he is accused of bribing Michael Misick with $50 thousand US dollars? What I have uncovered is that there was a question about a campaign contribution for which there are no restrictions or laws against, in Turks and Caicos. For all we know (and I will find out) he also donated the same to other political parties as well. A simple check could have easily revealed that Cem Kinay is known for his donations to the arts, medicine (he's a medical doctor) and politics. We just recently uncovered a story about a donation by Cem Kinay to Elton John for his Aids Foundation. Now don't tell me that he was bribing Elton John?
Why would this billionaire (I'm assuming because he founded Club Med) who moved here from Europe, fresh off the boat, risk his entire development for $50,000 dollars? Even assuming it is true that he gave a campaign contribution, why is this so nefarious and exploited? Okay, for argument's sake, let's assume it was nefarious. Come on! $50,000 is a big jump to try to destroy the man and the economy of Turks and Caicos. Balance the $50,000 with hundreds of millions of dollars in tourism revenue, jobs and economic stimulus. Come on, this does not add up. Something is not making sense here.
Okay -- do not write me and tell me that I should refrain from responding to Shaun Malcolm because he will use it as fuel. I am learning to discipline myself. But I need to point out that one of Shaun Malcolm's "anonymous" "letters" to the editor, just yesterday, on TCI Journal blatantly accuses Cem Kinay of Dellis Cay of bribery and corruption. No wonder he lost his funding and is looking for new investors. TCI Journal accuses the guy of being a crook whenever it can. Furthermore, the Turks and Caicos Sun news reported yesterday that Shaun Malcolm through TCI Journal sent anonymous letters to Kinay's investors and partners making this warning allegation.
Here is the animal that Shaun Malcolm is jumping up and down screaming about. My colleague Candace telephoned Dr. Kinay's office for comment about the development stall. She reported back to me a brief conversation that she had with a staffer of Dr. Kinay who basically said that he feels bad for the people who were laid off and sent home from Dellis Cay. The man could be out $500 MILLION dollars and he is feeling for the people who were laid off?! Oh yeah, that wreaks of a bad guy?
You know what really does wreak? The imagined conspiracy of everyone being corrupt; it is pitiful and unfounded. The Turks and Caicos citizens are so corrupt that the UK was "somehow" convinced to terminate jury trials because they are "not fair enough and could not be trusted to sit on a jury panel"? Everyone is corrupt? Either this is a wild imagination run amuck or ...
All I know at this time is that there needs to be some serious investigation on behalf of the rights of the people. Where are the pitch forks and torches (pardon the pun "The Torch"). Is Malcolm trying to point the finger away from himself and distract everyone while he runs off with the prize? I will let time and the public be the judge of that.