Minister Musgrove Backs Status Amendment Bill, Says ‘Voice of the People Must Prevail’

By Deandrea Hamilton | Editor

Grand Turk, Turks and Caicos Islands — Minister of Physical Planning and Infrastructure Development, Hon. Arlington Musgrove, has voiced strong support for the Turks and Caicos Islands Status (Amendment) Bill 2025, calling it a decisive step toward preserving national identity and reinforcing democratic accountability in decisions about Islander status.

Speaking during the July 25th sitting of the House of Assembly, Minister Musgrove said the amendment reflects his government’s commitment to placing the interests of Turks and Caicos Islanders above all else. “We are taking decisive steps to ensure that decisions about who becomes a Turks and Caicos Islander reflect the will, interest, and identity of our people,” he declared.

One of the key changes proposed in the bill is to shift decision-making authority from the Governor acting alone to the Governor in Cabinet — a body that includes elected representatives. This, Musgrove emphasized, restores power to those chosen by the people. “The proposed amendments reaffirm the role of democratic representation in matters of national belonging,” he said.

The bill also seeks to add the Permanent Secretary as an ex-officio member of the Status Commission, providing additional administrative oversight to ensure decisions align with government policies and priorities.

Minister Musgrove was clear in his opposition to what he called the “unilateral granting” of Islander status, referencing past decisions — such as the controversial grant to 49 individuals — that bypassed local input. He argued that such actions eroded public trust and disrespected the value of Islander status.

“My government strongly opposes the granting of Islander Status to individuals with no genuine or meaningful connection to these islands,” he said. “This bill is about restoring confidence in the system.”

The Minister framed the legislation as part of a broader effort to uphold transparency and accountability in nation building. “We are sending a clear message today that the voice of the people matters… and that my good government will always put Turks and Caicos Islanders first,” Musgrove stated.

He urged his parliamentary colleagues to back the amendment, closing with a message of unity and national pride.