PREMIER CONDEMNS DEFACING OF JAGS MCCARTNEY MONUMENT SITE
The unpatriotic and senseless actions of careless and disrespectful individuals responsible for the crude defacing of the proposed monument site is unacceptable. Efforts to enhance the communities of the Turks and Caicos Islands should be celebrated and cherished, not defaced with such crude imagery and language.
The erection of the JAGS McCartney statue in the Nation’s Capital, recognizing one of our country’s earliest contributors to the development of this great nation and the only named National Hero in the Turks and Caicos Islands, the late Most Honourable JAGS McCartney, is a place that should be reverenced by all.
Honourable JAGS McCartney has made great contributions to education and to the development of politics in the Turks and Caicos Islands and the growth of our nation – this monument structure, in his honour should be treated with the utmost respect and care and will stand as a symbol of National Pride.
Although it is disappointing to see an initiative that is supposed to invoke positivity and national pride, defaced in such a way, we will not let this irresponsible act take away from the significance of placing a statue in honour of our country’s only named National Hero. This initiative is a joint effort between the Turks and Caicos Islands Government and a private sector contributor, Mr. Franklyn Missick. I would like to pause here to thank Mr. Missick for his contribution to the preservation of the history of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The Office of the Premier, Local Government and Community Affairs through its Community Enhancement Programme will see the continuation of efforts to promote national pride in the installation of another JAGS McCartney monument at the JAGS McCartney International Airport in Grand Turk and in Providenciales.
To those individuals who seek to destroy and deface public and private property, your actions show the lack of pride and patriotism for the history of the Turks and Caicos Islands. These actions are not acceptable and the perpetrators will be found and brought to justice.
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