TCI Christian Community “Deeply Troubled” calls on Govt & AG to appeal Ruling

Garfield Ekon

Staff Writer

#TurksandCaicos, April 7, 2024 – The Christian community is “deeply troubled” over the judicial ruling, which granted Richard Sankar gaining Turks and Cacaos Islander residence status, after marrying a man to give him the standing.

In a statement, the Christian Council and The Grand Turk Ministerial Fraternal say they have taken note that the Judge maintains that the laws in the TCI do not allow “same sex marriages,” and the Judge in setting out his reasoning was careful to say that denying marriage to same sex couples is not itself discriminatory.

The statement added that the Judge used the TCI Constitution in his reasoning, and stated that the Constitution gives protection from discrimination, based on sexual orientation, and the group is puzzled that their elected representatives could enact such a law.

Anthony Gruchot

“We are deeply concerned, and question how is it that a Law passed by a duly elected Government, and upheld to be the standard by a people in their own country can be set aside in favour of what we believe to still be a minority? We are not stating that minorities do not have rights, but how can their rights be greater than the masses who stand on the Law of the Land?,” the group questioned.

It further argued that they cannot reconcile how it is that the same Constitution that defines marriage can be used to support what seems contradictory, and they cannot accept that the rights of the law-abiding majority should and can be set aside.

“We believe that this Ruling is troubling and goes not only against the Laws as stated on the Books and recognised in the Constitution but goes against the rights of the people who ought to have confidence in their Laws. We believe this Ruling goes to the root of who we are as a people: our Christian heritage and cultural norms,” the Council said.

Sanker and his spouse won a claim for his same-sex partner to work in the Islands, in line with permissions granted under the TCI Constitution.  That landmark ruling was handed down by Justice Anthony Gruchot recently, upholding his partner’s right to work in the TCI, as typically provided for heterosexual spouses.

In condemning the decision, the Council said they believe it has trampled on the Constitutional rights of the majority, “sidelined our Law, offended our cultural norms and attacked our Christian heritage,” and the action is unacceptable and therefore “we call on the Government and the Hon Attorney General to appeal this Ruling,” they said.

Continuing, the Council said as a people, they have fought for a “Christian preamble” to the TCI’s Constitution, and was given it in the 2011 Constitution Order, and they maintain that they are a Christian nation, and are not hateful, intolerant, or homophobic.