Misick and Astwood lead TCI Constitutional Talks; here were the stated Objectives

Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer

#TurksandCaicos, October 23, 2023 – A British delegation spent four days meeting in high-level, bi-partisan sessions with Turks and Caicos politicians as they negotiated what should be included in the country’s updated Constitution.

Washington Misick, TCI Premier, and Edwin Astwood, Opposition Leader, are the joint heads of the local bipartisan team that met senior British Officials in Grand Turk from October 16 to 19.

The TCI government in announcing the all-important meetings appeared quite certain about the progression of talks as they expect a Constitution Amendment Order to be tabled in the House of Assembly this year.

Included in that Amendment the TCI wants:

• The House of Assembly to be officially referred to as Parliament. The renaming would make HOA members simply Members of Parliament.
• The creation of parliamentary secretaries which would perform the role of junior ministers. This could help to relieve the burden on ministers who carry very heavy portfolios without actually increasing the number of Cabinet members.
• The removal of the UK’s power to disallow bills passed by the House of Assembly. This would make it so that elected representatives have the final say on laws passed in the country.
• The government is also seeking stricter boundaries for the appointed Governor as they want written direction regarding the areas that the governor is directly responsible for where he has no day-to-day jurisdiction.
• TCIG also wants the Governor to have less financial input and proposes the removal of his/her power to regulate international financial services.

The proposed document was described as ‘the most significant set of changes to the Constitution since it was implemented.’

The current constitution  was implemented in 2012 after a corruption scandal involving ministers and others from the Michael Misick led PNP Administration.  The three year partial suspension of the TCI Constitution Order 2006 resulted in a British takeover and a new document which limited the powers of the election government.

From the onset, the new TCI Constitution was labelled “regressive” with several bi-partisan commissions convened to funnel the thoughts of the electorate to the British government.  Much of it gained no traction, partly due to the lack of cohesion between the governing and opposition parties.

Apprehensions have now mellowed and the Turks and Caicos appears to be on the cusp of getting a Constitution which restores operating and managerial powers to the elected administration.

Premier Washington Misick reiterated that the Turks and Caicos Islands has the “capacity to govern with competence and integrity.”