PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands (CMC) – The main opposition People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) is promising all citizens including ‘Belongers’, that they will have a “fair share” of the wealth of the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) if it is elected to office in the December 15 general election.

PDM Leader Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson made the pledge as the party launched plans for a national wealth fund, titled the “Assue Wealth Fund”.

Cartwright-Robinson said if elected into office, her government would make all citizens shareholders of this wealth fund, and disburse shares to them from birth, which they can cash in at retirement.

“A PDM Government believes that all our Belongers must have a fair share in the wealth of our country. A PDM Government is committed to not just create savings for our people, but to actually put that money back into your pockets…”, Cartwright-Robinson said.

She accused the Rufus Ewing-led Government of having led the TCI into an abyss for which the citizens are suffering.

Promising good governance, prudent fiscal management and a fair share of the wealth to all Belongers, Cartwright-Robinson called on citizens to invest in their future and the future of their children by voting for the PDM on Thursday.

“For too long the Belongers of the Turks and Caicos Islands have been denied their rightful share of the wealth of our country. For too long those holding political office have diverted funds away from where it rightfully belongs: it belongs in the pockets of all our Belongers. For too long we have had to tolerate the empty promises of false and weak leaders in the previous governments. No more… the time for talk is over, the time for action is now!”

The PDM leader referred to how wealth funds in several other countries such as Abu Dhabi, Alaska, Chile, Botswana and Trinidad and Tobago have been used to save and sometimes even earn revenue for the people of those countries.

She said that considerable savings are available if there was effective management of the economy, something the Ewing-led PNP government had failed miserably at.

“The money is here. The money is in the Turks and Caicos. The problem is that our funds under our present funding structures are being mismanaged, misappropriated and poorly invested! A PDM Government will be able to realise a significant surplus by proper, efficient and prudent management of the economy.

“A PDM Government will encourage further direct foreign, domestic and Diaspora investment. A PDM Government will diversify the economy by developing and growing a businesses and financial service sector. A PDM Government will create more jobs,” she said.

Cartwright-Robinson said one of the major benefits of the Assue Wealth Fund will be to reduce the cost of living of Belongers in the Turks and Caicos Islands, by easing the burden of utility costs. Belongers are set to enjoy a fixed annual rebate on utility costs (electricity and water) and a fixed annual rebate on Internet costs under a PDM government, she added.

Both the ruling Progressive National Party (PNP) and the PDM have announced their lists of 15 candidates. This includes five running “at large”, who will vie for votes from all of the 10 separate election districts.

A new party, the Progressive Democratic Association (PDA), is led by former PDM leader Oswald Skippings, who during the 2012 election failed to win his own

Several independent candidates, including former premier Michael Misick, who has been charged with a list of criminal offences relating to his 2003-2009 administration, are also contesting the election that was originally scheduled for December 5.

Ewing has told voters said that Our Vision 2020 will be in your hands on Progress Day “.