Attorney Hired for NEW TCI Constitution, Premier announces during State of the State Address

By Dana Malcolm 

Staff Writer

#TurksandCaicos, March 1, 2023 – The UK must start treating the TCI as grownups was the decisive statement from Washington Misick, TCI Premier in announcing that he, with the support of the opposition, would be expediting the push for constitutional reform.

“We must constantly review our relationship with the United Kingdom. As we decisively demonstrate our capacity to govern with competence and integrity the UK must recognize, accept and endorse that we have the authority over domestic affairs. We are not asking- we’ve paid our price” He said, to thunderous applause and cheering from the gathered guests.

The Premier made the unyielding statement at the yearly State of the State Address held on February 27th to mark the second year of the PNP Government’s tenure; an address where the the mantra: “we are delivering for you” was repeatedly recited as the country’s leader listed what has been done and what is yet to come.

While admitting that the process on Constitutional reform had been delayed, it is now sufficiently clear that as times change so too must the constitution evolve best serve the people.  In that vein, the Washington Misick Administration has now retained  constitutional expert Sir Jeffery Jowell KC who has extensive experience, having advised on drafts of the highest law in different countries globally.

Jowell will arrive in the TCI in March and will meet with the government, opposition and other stakeholders, likely in an effort to advise the government on how best to translate the current needs and desires of TC Islanders into tangible proposed law that can be presented to the UK for review.

“To ultimately create a politically independent country with self assured and confident people we need a modern and active constitution.” Misick said. “I think for the last 16 years- if I must say so, not in a condescending way, we’ve been on our best behaviour and so in the same way that other territories have benefitted from this it should be recognized for TCI.”

An important part of any new constitution the Premier says must be increased power for country representatives to negotiate with the rest of the region without a need to ask for a letter of entrustment from the UK.  He qualified his statements by adding that the country had had in his opinion a ‘pretty decent’ relationship with the UK and they were not meeting much resistance on this request but maintained,

“The mere fact that we have to ask [for a letter] is archaic.”

Political Independence is still a hot button issue in the Turks and Caicos with some residents demanding a clean split from the British immediately and others not so sure. The constitutional suspension from 2009-2012 is an abrasive memory for many as the government still struggles to throw off restrictions imposed during that period.

Misick says the government wants to have final decisions made by the end of this year.