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PRESS RELEASE – CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM TALKS
JOINT STATEMENT FROM THE PREMIER, HON. CHARLES WASHINGTON MISICK, THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION, HON. EDWIN A ASTWOOD AND UK DELEGATION LEAD, ADAM PILE OBE.
#TurksandCaicos, October 19, 2023 – This week a Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) bipartisan delegation held talks with a delegation from the UK on reform of the Turks and Caicos Islands Constitution.
The Hon. Premier and the Hon. Leader of the Opposition led the TCI delegation, which included the Deputy Premier, Hon. Erwin J. Saunders, the Attorney-General, Hon. Rhondalee Braithwaite-Knowles OBE, KC, Elected Member, Hon. Akierra M.D. Missick, Opposition Appointed Member, Hon. Alvin K. Garland, Former Premier, Hon. Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson, Hon. Ariel Misick, KC, Sir Jeffrey Jowell KCMG KC and Mr. Allan Wood, KC.
The UK Delegation was comprised of a team of senior British officials led by the Deputy Director for the Overseas Territories, Adam Pile OBE. Her Excellency the Governor, Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam and Her Excellency the Deputy Governor, Anya Williams MBE were also in attendance at the talks.
The talks were open, honest, and productive, reaching agreement on many of the reforms and agreeing to take
The Hon. Premier noted: “Over the course of the last eight years, there has been notable progress made towards advancing the TCI Constitution. It is with great pleasure that I acknowledge the strides we have taken towards achieving long-term goals and bringing us closer to full democratic management of the TCI.”
The Hon. Leader of the Opposition noted: “It was with great obligation to the people of the Turks and Caicos that my team and I took part in this Constitution reform exercise. Though much more work is needed to achieve the ideal constitution for our people of the Turks and Caicos Islands, I am grateful for the advancements that have been achieved thus far coming out of this round of discussions. I am looking forward to seeing these recommendations from our people being inscribed in our country’s constitution.”
Adam Pile OBE, Deputy Director (FCDO) noted: “The UK welcomes the cross-party work in the TCI on constitutional reform, and will work to progress the proposals in good faith and at pace, recognising the advances made in good governance since 2012. Any changes to the constitution need to help deliver stability, prosperity and enhance modern democratic government”.
The two delegations agreed to consider the points raised during the talks and the press ahead with a further round of talks soon. As part of the talks, the delegations met with the TCI Youth Parliament and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.