#TurksandCaicos, February 3, 2021 – If there is a low voter turn-out on General Election day on February 19 in the Turks and Caicos Islands, it will be Covid-19 and not voter apathy that keeps them away, said Washington Misick, PNP Party Leader.
“There
is always some of that,” said Misick in a one on one interview with Magnetic
Media in response to a question on whether he believed people are weary of
party politics, “I think that has been overplayed. I think people are ready to put this election
behind them and as I walk through the country, more and more people,
particularly young people express their eagerness to express their opinions by
voting. I don’t believe that the level
of apathy is as high as we may think.”
With 591
new cases of the coronavirus for Turks and Caicos logged between January 1 and
February 1, Misick is concerned that voters may be fearful of the contagion and
opt to stay at home.
“It had
been predicted by the scientists that in the flu season, this infection, this
pandemic would actually be worse. It has
now turned out to be a teachable moment.
The virus is not only in the general population but I think it is
seriously starting to affect front end workers including poll workers, so that
is a major concern.”
Misick
said he is hoping for a smooth flow on General Election day, free of situations
which could delay the outcome and delay a new government taking shape and
getting to work.
“This
is an important milestone and hopefully we will not have any incidents that
would create a constitutional impasse that causes us to have to shift the date
of the actual polling.”
There
is no electronic voting in Turks and Caicos.
There is also no advanced polling in the TCI.
House
of Assembly Members before the dissolution of parliament on Christmas Eve 2020
had rejected a proposal of advanced polling; the overarching view of both sides
being there was too much room for ballot tampering.
Turks
and Caicos House of Assembly Members agreed with the move for electronic
voting, but that idea was shelved as the country did not have enough time to
implement the system.
COVID
positive voters and quarantined individuals will be allowed to vote, say
officials, though exactly how has yet to be announced despite the General
Election being a mere 16 days away.
Charles
Washington Misick, Leader of the Progressive National Party is nominated as an
All Island Candidate and vying for a third consecutive term as a member of the
House under the 2016 Constitution; which altered the composition of the House
of Assembly for the Turks and Caicos.
Misick,
who is a former chief minister and finance minister has a background in
business, hotel development, real estate and economics. With his wife and party deputy leader at his
side, he turned in his nomination documents at the Bethany Baptist Church in
the Wheeland District.
Nomination
Day for the Turks and Caicos was held January 29; a total of 38 people have
offered themselves for office including 18 in the All-Island or At-Large
category.
