Premier Promotes Political Newcomers; Names Jamell Robinson as his Deputy Premier 

By Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer

#TurksandCaicos, March 9, 2024 – Washington Misick, TCI Premier referred to them as young men as he ushered Jamell Robinson into his new position as Deputy Premier and Kyle Knowles, new to the Cabinet and named the Minister with Responsibility for Public Safety and Utilities respectively.

One, a political newbie, the other following in a path traversed by his father, though with his own flair, both have racked up impressive achievements in their short tenure as first time elected representatives.

Knowles is still basking in his first term as a political representative.

The Wheeland MP who flipped the seat for the PNP won with just a three vote margin over Vaden Delroy Williams, former Minister of Immigration in the 2021 elections.

Since then he’s cemented his role as Wheelands voice especially in regards to the ongoing crisis at the country’s largest dump site which sits in his constituency. He was appointed head of the Solid Waste Task Force and then won the vote as Chairman of the Progressive National Party.

When a fire erupts there, it’s Knowles that media and residents reach out to, updates about ongoing mitigation efforts and the eventual handover of the dump to private contractors for fixing all saw significant contribution from the member.

A determined husband and father, with only three years in his political cache he’s now been promoted to Cabinet Minister. It’s a significant pay jump for the 36-year-old who now holds responsibility for several areas including utilities.

Jamell Robinson has a bit more experience than Knowles in the political arena having been raised by a fiercely vocal politician, Royal Robinson and others including his grandmother, Rosita Butterfield, who served as the first woman in the TCI parliament. Yet Robinson, as an all island candidate, was also fresh to the role.

His father, Royal Robinson, was a Health Minister and Deputy Premier in his tenure in the early 2000’s the younger Robinson has now also served both as Health Minister and Deputy Premier with the added distinction of holding the position of Minister of Physical Planning and Infrastructure Development.

Both Robinson and Knowles who will now serve on the Cabinet for the final year of the PNP’s tenure.