PRESS RELEASE: On Friday, 19th February, the electorate of the Turks and Caicos Islands go to the polls to select a Government to lead the Territory through the next four years.
I have been advised by
the Supervisor of Elections that everything is in place for the election to go
ahead. I’ve been advised by the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) that there is
nothing to stop the election taking place, and I’ve been advised by the
Commissioner that the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force can police
the election. Much preparatory and contingency work has gone into this
election and their confidence in making their reports to me give me confidence
that the election will be free, fair and secure.
This will be an election
like none have so far been. It’s taking place at a time of pandemic when there
is community spread and when the COVID numbers are high. To prevent those
voting, who are either COVID positive or in quarantine, would have undoubtedly
significantly impacted the election result, hence the political, health and
good governance consensus that their right to vote must be protected and honoured.
To do that you will see
changes. The election workers will be in full PPE and working behind
Plexiglas screens. You, the electorate will be asked to strictly adhere
to all the protocols in place, to socially distance and to ensure you spend the
minimum amount of time in the vicinity of the polling booth. The election
count will take longer than in the past and so the result will likely be known
later than usual. Polls close three hours later in Providenciales than is
normal and there are precautions that have to be taken in terms of protecting
those involved in the count that will add time.
Elections are quite
rightly moments of excitement and expectation but we ask all those
participating in the election to be mature, considered and considerate to your
fellow citizens. I’d ask the candidates, those actively supporting the
candidates and of course their supporters to remember that the population are
voting, amongst other things, on who will manage the next phase of the COVID
pandemic, so please do not only be responsible, but be seen to be responsible.
The candidates have their
agents able to observe the process and I have asked for two different teams of
on-the ground election observers to be present in the Islands: CARICOM and
the . Washington DC based ‘International Foundation for
Electoral Systems’ are already here and you will see them throughout the
Islands tomorrow. The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association is also conducting
a virtual observation of the election. All three will produce reports. I,
myself, intend to visit every Island on election day so I can witness the
election first hand.
Two final points. The
first in regard to ‘treating’. As the Supervisor of Elections has already made
clear, this is an illegal act. If a candidate has offered you a financial or
material inducement to vote, for them, at the very least you have been given
wonderful evidence of why you should neither trust them, nor vote for
them. If a candidate has attempted to buy your vote you now know that this
person: someone who wants to sit in the legislature; someone who the Territory
will rely on to pass laws; to scrutinise legislation; to oversee government
spending; someone the Territory will rely on to enforce the rules and fund
those that do; are quite prepared themselves to break the law. In the
privacy of the polling station don’t vote for someone you know by their
actions, rather than their words, are corrupted and corruptible before the next
government is even formed.
Finally the overwhelming
message is – if you have the vote, then use it. Those who are Turks and
Caicos Islanders are rightly proud of their heritage and a defining part of
Turks and Caicos Islanders status is the right to vote. Don’t
be deterred from voting. Many people have worked hard to ensure the right you
have, is a right you should be able to exercise and enjoy on 19th February.
Every single vote here matters, and if it is cast we will ensure that every
single vote is both counted and therefore counts.
I end by offering my very best wishes to every
candidate, be they independent or hold a party affiliation while offering
thanks for the amazing amount of work done by those who organised, those who
will oversee, administer and assure the election.
