Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicosIslands, February 22, 2024 – The stakes are raised for General Elections in the Turks and Caicos Islands as the country on Monday learned, there will be four new constituency positions open for a newly formed Parliament.
The changes come with the confirmation that bi-partisan amendments to the Turks and Caicos Islands Constitution will take effect after the elections, which are constitutionally due in 2025.
The striking changes were also announced in tandem with news that the House of Assembly would finally be returning to its original location, the NJS Francis Building after being displaced by Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017.
“We are giving our people more power to hire and fire all of their political representatives,” said Washington Misick, TCI Premier, during his Monday February 19 State of the State Address.
Delivered from Grand Turk for the first time under this administration, the event was packed, hundreds tuned in online as well; all were treated to the announcement that a set of political constitutional advancements regarding the House of Assembly, which had been hotly debated, would take place after residents go to the polls.
The changes will directly affect voting locally:
Appointed members will be phased out, putting an end to the positions of: Governor’s Appointed Member (2); Opposition Appointed Member and Government Appointed Member. It opens up four more spots for voters to choose elected representatives.
The government has not indicated whether these four spots will be listed as all Island candidates but hinted that new constituencies will be created.
The political term will move from the current four to five years, giving politicians an additional year to achieve their mandate. While the government and opposition have expressed confidence in their ability to deliver on their promises in the current term of four years, several ministers, including the Premier, have gone on record complaining that the turnaround time in government processes is too slow.
The Turks and Caicos House of Assembly will also be changed, becoming a Parliament
“I thank the opposition for their support as we seek to change an overly restrictive constitution. In this matter, our goals are aligned for the benefit of our people,” Misick said during the event.
Bi-partisan partnership was credited for more than just the changes to the House of Assembly. The government and major stakeholders, including the Opposition, have contributed to a National Development Plan to be unveiled soon.
Infrastructure is another sector where partnerships have been fostered.
“There has been tentative agreement from the opposition that together the two parties should build an infrastructure pipeline for the next 25 years so that there could be no argument about what is critical to the development of this country thereafter,” said the Premier.
The government is currently undertaking a suite of infrastructure projects, including the redevelopment of South Dock, the main shipment port for the islands.
