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Election Review: Women Turn out most, Millennials turn out least and the One Constituency which went 100% for the PDM

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Deandrea Hamilton

Editor

 

 

Turks and Caicos, February 25, 2025 – To be clear, the Progressive National Party dominated the general elections of the Turks and Caicos Islands, securing the most seats, widening victory margins and solidifying its hold as the favorite choice among voters.

While some have penned that voter absenteeism coupled with ballots cast for other parties or candidates did expose who did not want to see a return of the Washington-Misick led administration, it remained clear that the incumbent government was better able to energize its base.

The PNP won 16 seats of the 19 offered, with voters turning out at 73% according to the official figures.

Election results in the Turks and Caicos, this year have come under special scrutiny. Watchers were keen to weigh in on how the performance and accuracy of the newly instituted electronic voting system – DS200 – and a possible repeat of a high rate of voter non participation would impact the outcome.

According to Statistics obtained from the Elections Office by Magnetic Media, nearly seven percent or 475 more women turned out to participate in the national vote which fell sharply by four percentage points.

In 2021 over 2,000 did not participate.  In this 2025 runoff, it grew to over 2,500 registered electors skipping the process.  It is the lowest voter turnout, on record, for the Turks and Caicos Islands despite the strong gains recorded for the winning party, the Progressive National Party.

It is reported that: 3,707 or 53.4% women and 3232 or 46.5% men turned up to cast a ballot.  Each person received one ballot with two sections for voting.  An area to vote for the constituency and another area to vote for the all-island contenders.

Voters turned out strongest when polls opened, with the 7-8 a.m. hour boasting the biggest bounce for the British overseas territory.  Statistics revealed that between 800-1000 people cast their ballots earliest in the day.  The 9,385 voters on the register had 12 hours to vote, with polls closing at 7 p.m.

Voting dropped off significantly around noon, but picked up again between 1-3 p.m., this despite many schools being closed to accommodate the Elections Office needs for polling stations and government’s closure of all offices on Election Day.

For many, they had the entire day to vote and with the new DS200 activated, the process was deemed easier and faster.

In the Turks and Caicos Islands, registered voters between the ages of 35 and 54 turned out in the most impressive numbers.  Those within this age span accounted for half of all the voters on February 7, which was roughly 3,000 people.

Least in the voter pool were younger electors. Statistics reveal there were around 300 from this sect.  Senior voters, over 75-years old, amounted to just under 400 people country-wide.

Almost 1,200 voters in the age range of 25-34 cast a ballot and just over 800 individuals between the ages of 65-74 participated in the general election in 2025.

The top performing constituencies in terms of how many voters were attracted to the polls on election day were: North and Middle Caicos, South Caicos and Grand Turk South & Salt Cay; respectively.  In these constituencies, there was no sweep for any party.

ED 4, North and Middle, also known as the Twin Islands where the race was between incumbent Arlington Musgrove (PNP) and Denaz Williams, (PDM), the voters turned out at 86.07% or 525 voters.  Musgrove would win this seat by 227 votes, a massive widening of the margin of victory since the 2021 run-off when the PNP won the seat by 73 votes.

Second for highest voter turnout was the island of South Caicos or ED3.

There were three candidates, namely: John Malcolm (PNP), the incumbent; Hynetta Forbes (PDM) and Tamell Seymour, who ran independent after missing out on the nod for PNP endorsement.  Seymour pulled an upset and with 84.17% voter turnout, got 165 votes which topped his nearest contender by 61 votes.

Completing the top three for best performing constituencies in terms of voter participation was Electoral District 2.  It featured Edwin Astwood, leader of the People’s Democratic Movement and possible premier.

Astwood lost ground but managed to hold onto the seat, which he has held for four consecutive terms now.  The turnout was 78.42%, which meant 752 voters cast a ballot.  Astwood lost popularity in the three-way race, securing 363 votes; his PNP contender, Walter Gardiner getting, a not too distant, 315 votes and Derek Been had 58 votes in support of his candidacy.

Cheshire Hall & Richmond Hill with 66.57%; Blue Hills with 69.42% and The Bight 70.26% drew the least number of voters out to their election races.  Almost 500 people did not vote in Cheshire Hall and Richmond Hill, though Sammy Been, the PNP incumbent won comfortably by 199 votes over his PDM challenger, Finbar Grant.

It was an improvement for Been who last time, in 2021, had 76 more votes than the PDM.

Overall, 6939 voters turned out to the polls nationwide and informed the Elections Office and these voters leaned strongly toward the PNP when it came to the All-Island candidates.

Legally, each party was allowed to nominate nine individuals to vie for the nine All-Island seats.  The Progressive National Party unapologetically swept this category for a second consecutive time.

Interesting however was the performance of the PDM’s All-Island candidates in their leader’s constituency in Grand Turk South.  It was the only district which gave the PDM a sweeping victory for its all-island slate.  ED2 faithfully returned Edwin Astwood and gave his nine All-Island candidates their unwavering support.  The PDM’s nine finished as the top nine in ED2, pushing the PNP down but only in this one district.

It would be a futile fact when there were nine other districts where voters would be able to make a choice; in those nine constituencies, the PNP dominated.

Almost 50% of voters decided E. Jay Saunders would certainly make a competent member of the House of Assembly, he led the all-island category and finished with the most votes.  Saunders climbed from an arguable third place last election and now commanded 4,614; this reflected 406 more votes over his nearest contender, Washington Misick.

Contrast that again with the top performing PDM candidate in the all-island race, which was Robert Been who racked up a total of 2,767 votes; it would be a difference of 1,847.

The PDM has two seats in the new parliament, which was on Friday February 21, 2025 sworn in and set in motion.  An independent holds one of the parliamentary places.

While these 2025 General Election results are widely accepted as the final outcome of the February 7 national poll, which was deemed a free and fair election by Election Observers; the PDM has filed a Supreme Court petition challenging the validity of the results in a call for the Court to render them null and void.

Government

Tamica Prospere Appointed Director of Learning and Development

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Turks and Caicos, September 6, 2025 – The Office of the Deputy Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands is pleased to announce the appointment of Mrs. Tamica Prospere as the Director of the Department of Learning and Development within the Office of the Deputy Governor.

Mrs. Prospere holds a Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) Associate Diploma in Organisational Learning and Development (RQF Level 5), a Bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of the West Indies (UWI) and an Associate Degree in Education, also from UWI. She has further enhanced her credentials with certifications and coursework in content delivery, human resource management, talent management, and training and development from esteemed institutions, including Mico University College and CIPD.

With a strong foundation in public service and education in St. Lucia, Mrs. Prospere dedicated over a decade to classroom teaching at the secondary school level, beginning in 2002. During her tenure, she educated a diverse student body across various subjects, including Mathematics, Information Technology, and Life Skills, all aimed at fostering students’ personal and social well-being. She also facilitated community adult learning programs, showcasing her enduring commitment to promoting inclusive and varied educational opportunities.

Her career in public service in the Turks and Caicos Islands began in 2014 as a teacher at Marjorie Basden High School. From 2019, she served as the Learning and Development Manager for the legacy Customs Department and later for the TCI Border Force. In this role, she made significant contributions to improvements and championed a culture of professional growth.

Mrs. Prospere has been a strong advocate for leadership development through several key programmes. She conceptualised and introduced the Leading Effectively through Accountability and Development (LEAD) programme for the management team, which has successfully run for three consecutive years, with its most recent leadership reinforcement event held in 2025. Additionally, she implemented several programmes in partnership with educational institutions, resulting in 27 Border Force officers earning continuing professional development (CPD) certifications in supervisory management from UWI and 10 managers completing the Dynamic Leadership course with the Caribbean Maritime University.

She played a pivotal role in developing operational strategic plans and frameworks for both the Customs Department and the TCI Border Force. Mrs. Prospere spearheaded the creation and delivery of professional programmes, such as the Customs Broker Certification Programme. She introduced a Learning Management System (LMS) to facilitate scalable learning for aspiring Customs Brokers.

Moreover, she led the implementation of several significant projects, most notably the Regional Clearance System in the TCI and a comprehensive revamp of customs procedures at Howard Hamilton International Airport, which greatly enhanced operational efficiency. She also facilitated key engagements that strengthened partnerships with leading regional bodies, including the Caribbean Customs Legislation and Enforcement Council (CCLEC), the border security team within CARICOM IMPACS, and the customs advisory arm of CARTAC. These collaborations were instrumental in securing vital technical assistance for training.

Speaking on the appointment, Mrs. Prospere said, “I am honoured to step into this role and lead the Learning and Development Directorate. I believe that a world-class public service is built together. I’m dedicated to partnering with civil servants at all levels to foster a dynamic learning environment where we can collectively develop the skills needed to be adaptable, exceed standards, and deliver truly exceptional service to the public.”

In congratulating Mrs. Prospere, Deputy Governor and Head of the Public Service, H.E. Anya Williams stated, “We are pleased to extend congratulations to Mrs. Tamica Prospere on her appointment as the new Director of the Department of Learning and Development within the Office of the Deputy Governor.

With over a decade of dedicated service in the field of training and development, Mrs. Prospere has consistently demonstrated a deep commitment to building capacity and strengthening the public service workforce in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Her innovative and strategic approach to learning has transformed teams and empowered individuals, ensuring the public service is well-equipped to meet the demands of a constantly evolving landscape.

As the government continues its efforts to enhance service delivery through robust and comprehensive training initiatives, we are confident that Mrs. Prospere’s leadership will be instrumental in advancing a culture of excellence, collaboration and continuous growth across the public sector.

Congratulations Mrs. Prospere, on your well-deserved promotion. We look forward to working with you to shape the future of learning and development in the Public Service in the Turks and Caicos Islands.”

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Government

Melissa Holland Appointed as Public Service Information Officer

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Turks and Caicos, September 6, 2025 – The Office of the Deputy Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands is proud to announce the appointment of Ms. Melissa Holland as the new Public Service Information Officer within the Office of the Deputy Governor.

Ms. Holland holds an Associate Degree in Business from Turks and Caicos Community College, a Creative Suite Certificate in Website Development from StackSkills, and an Administrative Professional Certification from the College of Administrative Professionals. She has also engaged in continuous learning through Coursera.

Over the course of her career, Ms. Holland has accumulated valuable experience in various roles. She began her journey as a Clerical Officer at the Ministry of Education from June 2007 to May 2009 and was promoted to Secretary to the CEO from December 2009 to April 2010. Subsequently, she served as the Assistant to the Director of Sales, Marketing & Rentals at Apes Hill Club in Barbados from May 2011 to July 2014. Ms. Holland then took on the role of Office Assistant at Growing Soul Records in Miami, FL, from August 2014 to October 2015, followed by another position as an Office Assistant at Arrow Electronics in Denver, CO, from November 2015 to June 2018.

In June 2018, she became a Multimedia Specialist at Shop Genesis and later transitioned to the role of Creative Director at Black Sage Analytics from September 2020 to 2022. More recently, she served as an Administrative Officer at the Ministry of Health and Human Services from December 2022 to March 2023, before moving to the Ministry of Immigration and Border Services as an Administrative Officer from March 2023 to August 2025. She acted as the Communications Officer for Border Force in September 2023.

Upon her appointment, Ms. Holland shared her enthusiasm, stating, “My journey from capturing moments through lifestyle photography to creating designs that honor the vibrance of Caribbean culture has been shaped by both creativity and faith. Stepping into the role of Public Service Information Officer is a privilege and an exciting opportunity to unite my love for storytelling with service. Guided by Proverbs 3:5-6, I trust God to continue directing my path and using my gifts for a greater purpose”.

Her Excellency Anya Williams, Deputy Governor and Head of the Public Service, congratulated Ms. Holland, stating, “We are delighted to congratulate Ms. Melissa Holland on her appointment as Public Service Information Officer and to welcome her to our team in the Office of the Deputy Governor.

In this important role, Ms. Holland will be responsible for the accurate and timely dissemination of both internal and external communications related to the operations of the public service, including circulars, notices, appointment announcements and other official updates.

We are confident that Ms. Holland’s diverse background and professional expertise will be invaluable in fulfilling these responsibilities and we look forward to the meaningful contributions she will undoubtedly bring to the team.

Congratulations, Ms. Holland, on your new appointment!”

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    Government

    Andy Missick Appointed Juvenile Manager

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    Turks and Caicos, September 6, 2025 – The Office of the Deputy Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Andy Missick as the Juvenile Manager within the Department of Rehabilitation and Community Services in the Ministry of Public Safety and Utilities.

    Mr. Missick holds a Bachelor’s Degree with Honours in Social Work from the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College.

    His professional experience includes serving as a Registration Officer at the Financial Services Commission for three years, a Social Worker for the Turks and Caicos Islands Government for one year and as a Probation Officer in the Department of Rehabilitation & Community Supervision from 2023 until his recent promotion.

    Sharpening his skills in the area of rehabilitation, Mr. Missick has completed professional training in the following areas: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Case Management, Risk Assessment, Intake and Interviewing Techniques, Counseling, Report Writing, Conflict Resolution and Mediation, Reentry and Reintegration Planning, Community Resource Networking, Motivational Interviewing (MI), Behavior Modification, and Social Skills Training.

    Known for his contributions to Youth Leadership and Representation in the Turks and Caicos Islands and elsewhere, Mr. Missick currently serves as the Male CARICOM Youth Ambassador since 2023 and is a currently a Youth Parliamentarian having representing the Turks and Caicos Islands at the 12th Annual Commonwealth Youth Parliament in Wellington, New Zealand; the 10th Commonwealth Youth Ministers Meeting in London, United Kingdom and the Caribbean Youth Summit 2023 in Kingston, Jamaica.

    In addition to his professional roles, Mr. Missick is involved in community service and volunteerism through the Rotaract Club of Providenciales, where he has been an active member for seven years. He has held various leadership positions, including Sergeant-at-Arms, Foundation Chair, Youth Service Director, Wellness Chair, Fundraising Director, Vice President and currently serves as the President.

    Speaking on his appointment, Mr. Missick stated, “I am extremely grateful for the opportunity. Growing up in the Turks and Caicos, I have seen far too many young lives cut short. Some lost to violence, some to poor choices and some to the weight of circumstances they never asked for. Those experiences are etched into me and they are the reason I feel such deep gratitude and responsibility in being appointed Juvenile Manager. This is more than a role; it is a calling to stand in the gap for our youth, to remind them that they are not defined by their mistakes but by the greatness still inside of them. I believe in second chances, I believe in opportunity, and I believe that with guidance, accountability and hope, our young people can rise above their struggles and become the leaders of tomorrow.

    I anchor myself in the words of Mark 10:45: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve.” True leadership is service, and in serving our youth, I serve the future of the Turks and Caicos Islands. This appointment is not just about today. It is about building a legacy of hope, discipline and purpose for tomorrow”.

    In congratulatory remarks, Deputy Governor and Head of the Public Service, H.E. Anya Williams, said, “It gives me great pleasure to officially congratulate Mr. Andy Missick on his appointment as Juvenile Manager with the Department of Rehabilitation and Community Services, within the Ministry of Public Safety.

    The post of Juvenile Manager is a critical role, focused on shaping the future of our islands by supporting, guiding and rehabilitating at-risk youth. The Juvenile Manager plays a key part in ensuring that young individuals are given every opportunity to grow into productive, empowered citizens who contribute meaningfully to society.

    Mr. Missick brings to this position a wealth of experience, a deep passion for youth empowerment and a proven track record of service and leadership. His longstanding commitment to the development of young people in the Turks and Caicos Islands is well known, having served with distinction as a CARICOM Youth Ambassador, Youth Parliamentarian and a dedicated member of the Rotaract. Through these platforms, he has consistently advocated for youth engagement, policy development and community service, earning the respect of peers and stakeholders alike.

    We are confident that Mr. Missick will continue to inspire and implement innovative initiatives that uplift our youth and strengthen our communities.

    Congratulations, Mr. Missick, on your well-deserved promotion. We look forward to the positive impact you will undoubtedly make in this vital role.”

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