Opposition Leader wants Referendum on Four New Elected Members; “Get the pulse of the People”

Garfield Ekon

Staff Writer

#TurksandCaicos, June 25, 2024 – The Leader of the Opposition in the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), Hon. Edwin Astwood has voted against an all-elected House of Assembly, arguing that the citizens of the islands need to decide the way forward on Constitutional reform.

With the motion passed, moving the House from five to a nine-member All Island elected Assembly ahead of the next General Election, Mr. Astwood said he opted for a ‘no’ vote when the motion was put to members, as enough time is available to have consultations with the people on how to expand its parliament to a fully elected membership.

“We see then having consultations on other things like electricity and districts administration, and I told them from then time that lets get the pulse of the people,” and if the citizens want all seats to be elected “we have no issue in how they will be allocated, we just want the input from the people,” he said during an interview with Magnetic Media.

During the recent debate in the Assembly, he said the process is being rushed and bypassing the voice of the people, and his party would only “fully support” the wishes of the people.

During an October 2023 Constitutional discussion with officials of the United Kingdom (UK) Government, which was a bipartisan forum, held in Grand Turk, it was agreed to move to a fully elected House of Assembly, with four additional elected members replacing the members appointed by the Governor, the Premier, and the Leader of the Opposition.

“The People’s Democratic Movement and myself fully support the replacement of appointed members with elected members. We fully support an all-elected House of Assembly,” he said, adding that a Referendum would ensure that the people’s voices are heard.

Expressing doubt about time available for the change that the Premier has proposed, with an election in the air, the Leader of the Opposition said the current administration is in favour of the increase and immediate change, without the people saying what they would and want, and the British Government supports the increase, and “that is the difference,” as the people must make the decision for themselves.

Stressing that he wants the people to make a choice, and not having the Governor, Deputy Governor, Leader of the Opposition, someone from the United Kingdom (UK) and the Attorney General deciding for them, Mr. Astwood said “we are here to represent the people.”

“Whatever the people say, I am here serving, and I will do it for them. Give the people a chance to get their input on how they want their four seats to be distributed. We want the people to have a choice on this,” he told the House in a passionate monologue.

While declaring that the UK Government is not supporting his position, he said they are instead in favour of positions by their “foot soldiers” on the Island, underscoring that “my agenda is not their agenda, that is why they are not supporting me,” he argued.

Asserting that the “British Government is not supporting my point of view, they are supporting the Premier point of view,” as he accused the Progressive National Party (PNP) administration member of being “foot soldiers” for the UK Government.

Mr. Astwood chided the Premier for not sticking to critical governance issues, especially the powers vested in the Cabinet, noting that no Government is hamstrung by appointed members, and powers should be in elected representatives of the people.

Debate on the motion took place on Thursday June 13, 2024.