Turks and Caicos under direct rule after corruption report

Britain has suspended the constitution of its tropical dependent territory the Turks & Caicos Islands after an inquiry concluded its autonomous government was corrupt. The London-appointed governor Governor Gordon Wetherell will assume government responsibilities for two years. He said the probe had provided evidence “in abundance pointing to a high probability of systemic corruption or other serious dishonesty.” The 22,900 population archipelago’s former premier Michael Misick had been paid US$288,000 annually in wages and allowances: UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown earns just US$243,000.