Constitutional Reform will open the door to a Referendum on whether or not Islanders want to go Independent

By Deandrea Hamilton & Shanieka Smith

Editorial Staff

#TurksandCaicos, November 25, 2022 – When the Turks and Caicos Islands gets its amendments to the Constitution, they will allow for a referendum to be held and one of the first issues which could take center stage is whether or not the TCI wants to become Independent of the British.

A near 12-year long stalemate is expected to end within the Washington Misick-led regime with decisive action and agreed changes to the Turks and Caicos Islands Constitution Order 2011, coming within the next two years, he said.

“So yes, a number of things have happened in the last two years that’s prevented the progress of this, but we are making progress now but yes, I feel very positive, that there will be a resolution to this during before the end of this term in government, of this administration’s term in office,” confirmed Washington Misick, TCI Premier.

The Premier was responding to one of the many hard-hitting, conscientious questions posed at a Monday November 21 town hall meeting held in Providenciales.

The premier was particularly excited about a certain clause in the Constitution, which would enable issues with deep impact and meaning to go to the masses for a popular vote.  The right to a referendum on major matters facing the people of the Turks and Caicos is among the proposals the two political parties will be approved by the UK.

“Under the current arrangement with the UK, if we want to decide we want to become an independent country tomorrow, all we need to do is ask for that.  One of the things in the proposed amendments to the constitution is a clause that speaks to referenda.  In other words, any major issues that’s going to impact the entire population of this country, would go to a referendum. So the country would decide if it wants to go to independence or not.”

Residents will be allowed to vote “yes or no.”

The country’s top elected leader said government is a mere three weeks away now from welcoming in the Constitutional consultant who will progress the bi-partisan ideologies which the Progressive National Party (PNP) and the opposition, People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) have long agreed are needed for an advanced constitution.

“…a meeting between myself and the leader of the opposition and the consultant to be able to decide on what should be the final request to the United Kingdom government.”

The current Premier recalled recommendations that had been made for a constitutional reform during the Rufus Ewing Administration, which were not addressed. He said that during the Cartwright-Robinson Administration the same proposal was resubmitted and minor amendments were made, but there remained no change.

After thorough discussion, a resolution was made in the legislature and re-submitted to the UK, but it was not supported.

Presently, a consultant has been appointed and is expected to do for the Turks and Caicos, what was done for fellow British overseas territory, the Cayman Islands… deliver a constitution the people feel satisfies all parties at the negotiation table.

Premier Misick added that he will be meeting with the Leader of the Opposition within the next few weeks.

“The constitution is not the PNP constitution or the PDM constitution; it is the constitution of the Turks and Caicos Islands,” reminded the Premier.