The AJ visits the Turks and Caicos Islands

Premier Michael Miseck with entrepenuer Dr Cem Kinay at the Island's groundbreaking

Over the weekend the British media picked up on a damming report by a select committee of MPs that brought up accusations of corruption and suppression of freedom of speech on the islands.
 
It also raised allegations of political interference in the islands' judicial system, and claims that ministers had enriched themselves by selling off Crown land to developers.

Turks and Caicos Chief Minister Michael Misick is alleged to have built up a multi-million-dollar fortune since he was elected to power in 2003. In its report the committee of MPs notes that Misick is currently under investigation by US law enforcement agencies over the alleged rape of an American citizen.

Two weeks prior to this, I was on the islands, an observer at the ground-breaking ceremony of the island of Dellis Cay, a development unconnected to the Select Committee's concerns. 

This private island will have 54 beach houses, 17 villas and a hotel, designed by an all-star architectural cast including Piero Lissoni, David Chipperfield, Chad Oppenheim, Kengo Kuma, Shigeru Ban and Carl Ettensperger. all under the watchful eye of masterplanner Zaha Hadid. 

Villa design by Zaha Hadid

   
At the ceremony Misick was nattily dressed in an all-white Louis Vuitton and Tommy Hilfiger outfit, and was partnered by UK governor Richard Tauwhare in a more sombre – and less hot-weather-friendly – get-up of chinos and polo shirts. Before the bishop blessed 'what we believe will be one of the world's greatest architectural masterpieces' Dr Kinay announced that a secondary school would be donated to the community.

A view of the Dellis Cay Island

 
Later, Tauwhare outlined the strategy of the islands development to me. 'The idea is to get the type of top-end real estate development that will attract a certain band of tourists,' he said.
 
Hollywood stars Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta Jones are among that demographic, and have had their names down for a villa since January 2007.
 
As well as providing some unwelcome heat to Tauwhare and Misick, the media furore will come as an extra headache to Dr Kinay's team, who are already faced with a difficult challenge of managing the project of architects across several continents.
 
'It's tricky getting architects of this quality to work on a job, but to get them to complement each other, to produce different designs without competing with each other, that's a bitch.' So says villa buyer Ed Razek, senior creative at lingerie firm Victoria's Secret. 'It's easier to get the United Nations to sit down together and agree on something.'

Kengo Kuma Spa at the Mandarin Oriental Dellis Cay

 
Managing design integrity and big egos aren't the only challenges faced by the team. Every piece of construction equipment needs to be shipped onto the island, and a complete infrastructure of roads, sewers and desalination plants needs to be built. Parts of the island are to be raised by 2m, using sand dredged from the sea.
 
The construction workers will live on the island for the duration of the complex's construction. Hakan Okabas, an engineer from Dr Kinay's small team, says: 'We will create a mini city, with cafés and restaurants as well as accommodation for the 600-800 workers.' 
 
Construction of the first phase is aimed to complete within the next year. 

Beach villa by Piero Lissoni

  

 

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