By Caribbean News Global contributor
PROVIDENCIALES, TCI – The governing People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) chat groups and other records, ostensibly have been compromised, if conferring to information obtained and published by the Progressive National Party (PNP).
Former premier Michael Misick published detailed accounts of the internal communications, between the members of the party’s National General Council (NGC) and other chat groups by his assertions – details a plot by the hierarchy of the party after a failure of that Party to finish its national convention, to have its elected member and chairman Doug Parnell, serve as a rotating minister before the polls next year.
Misick’s detailed publication on his facebook page follows reported information about recent events that ostensibly referenced “tap telephonic calls and messaging” in the Turks and Caicos Islands points to the move for legislation and legal enforcement.
Phone companies in the Turks and Caicos Islands do have the ability to provide access to authorities on devices of known suspect (s) with the appropriate warrant. But, Police and other law enforcement have complained that the process is too onerous – advocate for an instantaneous procedure, to deter and solve unlawful activity.
WhatsApp messaging and calls are what the Police are most concerned about according to persons familiar with the move for legislation to give “listening powers” and access to law enforcement. Currently, WhatsApp calls are encrypted and the Police can only access phone-to-phone calls with a warrant.
The PDM and PNP run various chat groups which have been compromised – hacked and/or leaked – from internal phones before. The PNP’s apparent influence and technical competence is a major concern for many in the PDM and the country, as the political atmosphere continues to intensify.
The PDM government has until March 2021 to conduct the polls.
