SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS WARNS AGAINST “TREATING”

PRESS RELEASE

FROM THE ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT

Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 6^th February 2025 – Political campaigning is well on the way for Turks and Caicos Islands General Elections that is scheduled to be held February 7^th 2025 and the Supervisor of Elections take the opportunity of reminding Candidates, Political Parties and Independent Candidates or anyone associated with them of the need to comply with the provisions of the Election Ordinance, and in particular he reminds what is expected by virtue of Section 81 of the said Ordinance which reads:

1. Every person who corruptly, by himself or by any other person, either before, during or after an election, directly or indirectly, give or provides or pays, wholly or in part, the expenses of giving or providing any food, drink, entertainment, or provision to or for any person for the purpose of corruptly influencing that person or any other person, to vote or to refrain from voting at such election, or on account of such person or any other person having voted or refrained from voting at such election;
2. Every voter who corruptly accepts or takes any such food, drink, entertainment, or provision.

The Supervisor also explained that “Treating” has been illegal for many years and in the past, leading up to the General Election some people choose to ignore the offence of Treating and such behavior he said will not be ignored.

The person offering this kind of inducement is committing a serious criminal offence and so is any member of the public who accepts a gift or cash.

The Supervisor has also warned that he will follow up upon all reports received and will not hesitate to collaborate with the Police to initiate criminal investigation.

Political Party bodies and Candidates should make it known through their organization or campaign machinery of the need to comply with the law so as to uphold the law and ensure a level playing field between campaigns in the best interest of voters in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Anyone who is found guilty of Treating under the Election Ordinance shall on summary conviction be liable to a fine of $5,000 or to imprisonment for twelve months or both.

Please avoid any activity that attracts the attention of treating and any other provision of the Election Ordinance

Lister Dudley Lewis

Supervisor of Elections