Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands — Douglas Parnell, the leader of the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) in the Turks and Caicos Islands, has rejected as untrue recent reports appearing in local and online publications and has threatened to take legal action for defamation.
The controversy appears to stem from two articles that appeared in a recent edition of the Turks and Caicos Sun newspaper, both of which were subsequently republished online by the TCI Journal.
The articles in question claim that Parnell pleaded guilty to and was therefore convicted of serious charges of fraud in the United States some years ago.
Following the initial publication of the articles in the Sun some two weeks ago, Parnell appeared on local television and vigorously challenged the accuracy of the Sun’s reports.
“Articles in the Turks and Caicos Sun unlawfully and wrongfully state that I pleaded guilty to criminal charges in the United States and that I have been convicted of one or more criminal offences in that country. This is a complete and utter lie!” Parnell said at the time.
