Politics of the Turks and Caicos Islands

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Turks and Caicos Islands
This article is part of the series: Politics and government of the Turks and Caicos Islands

Governor Richard Tauwhare Premier Michael Misick Legislative Council Political parties Elections
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Politics of the Turks and Caicos Islands takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic dependency, whereby as of August 9, 2006 the Premier is the head of government, and of a pluriform multi-party system. The islands are an internally self-governing overseas territory of the United Kingdom. The United Nations Committee on Decolonization includes the Turks and Caicos Islands on the United Nations list of Non-Self-Governing Territories. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the Legislative Council. The Judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. Military defence is the responsibility of the United Kingdom. The capital of the Turks and Caicos Islands is Cockburn Town on Grand Turk. The islands were under Jamaican jurisdiction until 1962, when they assumed the status of a crown colony. The governor of the Bahamas oversaw affairs from 1965 to 1973. With Bahamian independence, the islands received a separate governor in 1973. Although independence was agreed upon for 1982, the policy was reversed and the islands are presently a British overseas territory. The islands adopted a constitution on August 30, 1976, which is Constitution Day, the national holiday. The constitution was suspended in 1986, but restored and revised March 5, 1988. The territory's legal system is based on English common law, with a small number of laws adopted from Jamaica and the Bahamas. Suffrage is universal for those over 18 years of age. English is the official language. The death penalty was fully abolished on the Islands in 2002 when it was removed as a penalty for piracy and treason. [1]

1 Executive branch
2 Legislative branch
3 Political parties and elections
4 Foreign relations
5 See also

[edit] Executive branch

As a British territory, Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom is the sovereign, represented by a governor. The head of government is the premier. The Executive Council consists of three ex officio members and five appointed by the governor from among the members of the Legislative Council. No direct elections are held for the executive; the governor is officially appointed by the British monarch (in practice by the British Prime Minister), and the premier appointed by the governor (but would usually be the head of the largest party in the Legislative Council).

Main office holders
Office	Name	Party	Since
Queen	Elizabeth II		6 February 1952
Governor	Richard Tauwhare		11 July 2005
Premier	Michael Misick	PNP	9 August 2006

[edit] Legislative branch

The Legislative Council has 19 members, 13 members elected for a four year term in single-seat constituencies, 3 members ex officio, 3 appointed members and a Speaker chosen from outside the council.

[edit] Political parties and elections

Elections were held March 4, 1999, and again in 2003. The Progressive National Party, led by Hon. Dr. Micheal Misick holds eight seats, and the People's Democratic Movement, led by Derek H. Taylor, holds five seats. The United Democratic Party, led by Wendal Swann, received a small fraction of the popular vote, but not enough to earn a seat.

[discuss] – [edit]
**Summary of the 24 April 2003 Turks and Caicos Legislative Council election results**
Parties	%	Seats
People's Democratic Movement	.	7
Progressive National Party	.	6
Total (turnout %)		13
Source: Rulers. After by-elections 7 August 2003 the PNP has 8 and the PDM 5 seats.

[edit] Foreign relations

Turks and Caicos participates in the Caribbean Development Bank, is an associate in Caricom, and maintains an Interpol sub-bureau. Defence is the responsibility of the United Kingdom. In December of 2004 the Turks and Caicos Islands sought to become a new associate member to the Association of Caribbean States article.