A string of allegedly corrupt politicians will appear in Court tomorrow (6 December 2011) in the Turks and Caicos Islands, a tiny British Overseas Territory in the Caribbean, made famous by the tax cheat Michael Ashcroft who is a “belonger”.

After a laborious two year investigation, charges are now being laid by the independent special prosecutor, Helen Garlick, who has been looking at the sale of Crown land to developers and the granting of belongerships in return for favours.

Politicians were selling for their personal gain permissions to buy Crown land. They also had a hand in deciding who could become a “belonger” – a citizen of the Turks and Caicos who has the right to buy land.

For years there has been talk of well connected politicians taking secret commissions, bribes and inducements from developers, eager to exploit the islands’ tourist potential.

A leading developer, Jak Civre, is facing prosecution.

Chai Misick, the brother of the former premier, Michael Misick, is among those charged with offences including bribery and money laundering.

Michael Misick has not, as yet, been charged though his worldwide assets were frozen in June this year.

Meanwhile, the diminutive UK International Development Minister and former oil trader, Alan Duncan, has arrived on the Islands. The local press lost no time in reporting on his sexuality and the expenses claimed by the millionaire MP.

Duncan’s Department (DFID) has just spent over £5 million to improve the quality of governance in a British territory plagued by corruption where, it seems, legions of politicians had their fingers in the till.

The Islands most famous citizen, Michael Ashcroft, has so far remained silent on the corruption is his own back yard. But we know he has a deep interest in dishonest politicians.

In a written question in the Lords in October, he brazenly asks the Government how many projects funded by DFID over the past five years have been stopped due to the discovery of corruption.

He then wonders aloud if the £445,000 spent by the Committee on Standards in Public Life on the funding of political parties “represents good value for money”.

Say what you like, the old fraudster has a certain chutzpah.