Duckers & Diving: Feeling the heat in paradise
CONTINUING his updates from around the world, our globetrotting diarist catches up with a former colleague who is feeling the heat in more ways than one.
It seems paradise comes with some pretty hot politics in the Turks and Caicos … and one-time Midlands journalist and PR, Dale Le Vack, is in the thick of it – being branded “a British colonialist propaganda reporter” by one angry local.
Le Vack has recently started working for WIV Cable after getting himself remarried in the Philippines at the ripe old age of 65. (New wife Mae, like his previous wife, who tragically died, is from there.)
The background is that in 2009 the UK imposed direct rule on the Turks and Caicos, a British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean, after an inquiry found widespread evidence of government corruption and incompetence. Power was transferred to a UK-appointed governor. Politicians were accused of selling crown land for personal gain.
Le Vack, a former Stratford Herald scribbler, reports: “Whitehall is focused on the Turks and Caicos because of forthcoming corruption trials of former local politicians and planned elections when the Governor’s interim administration will hand over to one of the political parties.
“There could be a tug of war between London and Washington over some of the worst of the bad boys because the FBI also wants them. It should all be very interesting.
“Simon Fraser, the head of Her Majesty’s Diplomatic Service and Permanent Under-Secretary at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, was here on a fact-finder on behalf of William Hague. I interviewed him and found him unusually forthcoming for a senior mandarin. Of course to me he’s just a youngster … probably late forties or early fifties!”
An interview that had bloggers commenting on Le Vack’s alleged “bias and prejudice” on the issue of independence.
Nevertheless, Le Vack is soldiering on.
“The job is a fulfilling one and the attitude of the staff here at WIV Cable is very positive even though much of the equipment needs updating and the building housing the studio is gradually crumbling. There is a rumour Cable and Wireless may launch a rival service to ours in this region so I do not have much time to turn round Channel Four and make it the preferred option for viewers. 
“I am working very hard, perhaps 12 hours a day, but this keeps me occupied and I return home at night exhausted and ready for a sleep. I seem to be doing all the ‘serious’ interviews and have interviewed the Governor twice.”
A founder of Claverdon rugby club, Le Vack is finding a few reminders of home – despite the change of scenery and temperature.
“Twice a week in the evening the floodlights go on and the Turks and Caicos RFC are training on their pitch. I’m too old to play now, of course, but I may join as a social member.
“Sadly, cricket has become extinct here – only 20 years ago there were many clubs playing to a high standard.”
