House Of Assembly | Turks and Caicos Islands Government

HISTORY OF ELECTIONS IN THE TURKS AND CAICOS
BY DEREK H TAYLOR

The first recorded elections in the Turks and Caicos Islands took place in 1797 when Colonel Alexander Murray, the King’s Agent approved, the request of the Bermudian Settlers for the election of a board of representatives to serve for a period of 12 months (1 year) only. The settlers pointed out the difficulty of obtaining decisions from Nassau in New Providence, the capital and seat of Government for the Bahamas and the Turks & Caicos Islands. This move resulted in Board of Assembly being establish with the elections of seven representatives who were authorized to enact and pass Resolutions having effect for one year.

These Elections took place annually for nine (9) years up until 1805, when they were said to have been suspended by an Order in Council from and by the Bahamas Legislative dispatch on the 29^th April 1804. This resulted in the Turks & Caicos Islands not having Elected Representatives from 1805-1849.

It was in 1848 that Queen Victoria granted a separation from the Bahamas and introduced the Presidency system and in 1849, elections were held under this new system to fill four seats in the new Legislature. There were only some 250 settlers who were qualified to vote. (Note: There were also 2-4 crown nominees.)

Again in 1873, 26 years after its reintroduction in 1849, local elections were abolished when the Islands became a dependency of Jamaica.

Eighty-six years (86) later (1873 – 1959) under a new Constitution (July 1959) elections were held allowing the vote to all adult British subjects who were resident in the islands for more than 12 months.

In 1962 after Jamaica gained its Independence, in August of that year, a new Constitution was introduced. In September fresh elections were held for the first time by secret ballot on a basis of universal adult suffrage and a new Legislature was elected with a majority of unofficial members and a three-year term instead five years.

In 1965 elections were held and the Constitution was amended making provisions for the Governor of the Bahamas to be the Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands by virtue of this Document also shared the same Court of Appeal with the Bahamas.

Elections were held in 1968 and 1969 under a new Constitution, The Legislature was renamed State Council, embodying Executive (an Advisory Body) and the Legislative Council.

The Elections of 1972 saw for the first time a candidate from the First Political Party (The Labour Party) contested and won a seat in the State Council. In 1973, the Bahamas gained its Independence and the Turks and Caicos Islands saw the appointment of a resident Governor. A Constitutional Commission was requested in 1973 to review the State Council. The Junkanoo Club incident took place in 1975, followed by a Commission of Inquiry into same, hence the Chief Justice SMALL Report.

In 1967, Elections were held that ushered in the Ministerial system of Government and four-year term of membership within the Legislative Council and Executive Council (A Chief Minister and three other Ministers, the Governor or President, the Chief Secretary, the Attorney General and the Financial Secretary as official members.)

The Parliament of the Turks and Caicos Islands evolved from the relationship that existed between the Islands as a dependency of the Crown Colony of the United Kingdom and the Administration of the islands affairs through Jamaica and the Bahamas. The first Parliamentary Election was held in September 1976 under a Party System.

The 1976 Elections was fought along Political Party Lines, PDM and PNO (which was later changed to PNP). The PDM formed the Government in 1976.

The issue of Independence was highlighted in the 1980 Elections; that year the PNP formed the Government. It must be noted that there were bi-elections in 1980, North Back Salina, Grand Turk and in South Caicos North, Salt Cay, North Caicos East (Bottle Creek) in 1985 and in 2003 as was stated above, South Caicos North and Five Cays Providenciales seats.

The PNP was re-elected in the 1984 General Elections.

On July 4^th, 1986, the report of the Commission of Enquiry investigating evidence of arson, corruption and mal administration in the Turks and Caicos Islands was submitted. Prior to this in March 1985, the Chief Minister, the Minister of Development and Commerce and Parliamentary Secretary were arrested and convicted in Miami on narcotics charges. An interim Constitution Order came into effect July 24^th, 1986 for a period of two years unless continued or revoked earlier. A Constitutional Commission was appointed on September 15^th, 1986 to review the Turks and Caicos 1976 Constitution and make recommendations, taking into consideration the various events that took place over the past few years.

Elections took place on March 3^rd, 1988 with the PDM winning 11 of the 13 seats in the enlarged Legislative Council from a Council from a multi-member Constituency as recommended by the Constitutional Commission.

Elections were held in 1991 with the PNP becoming the Government.

Between 1991 and 1995, the TCI Constitution was amended allowing a Minister of Government to assume the portfolio responsibility of Finance.

The Elections of 1995, 1999 and 2003 were won by the PDM. However, by a Court Order in 2003, two constituencies (South Caicos, North and Five Cays, Providenciales) were ordered in bi-elections. The PNP won the bi-elections and became the Government in August 2003.

The TCI new Constitution came into effect on August 7, 2006 with the name of the Chief Minister was changed from Chief Minister to Premier. Provisions were also made for a Deputy Governor, four Appointed Members, the House name was also changed from Legislative Council to House of Assembly and Executive Council to Cabinet, with Appointed Members being qualified to hold Ministerial positions except for the Minister of Finance and fifteen Elected Members.

In 2007 elections were held and the PNP became the Government winning 13 of the 15 seats and for the first time an appointed member was given the portfolio of Minister of Education.

In 2009 the House of Assembly was dissolved and an Interim Administration took over role of leadership for the Turks and Caicos Islands in the place of parliament representation was the establishment of an Advisory Council and the Consultative Forum.

In November 2012, General Elections were held following the establishment of the Constitution Order of 2011. The Progressive National Party succeeded in this election by winning 8 seats with the People’s Democratic Movement with a total of 7.

Elections was called and took place in December 2016 with the People’s Democratic Movement emerged victorious and won ten (10) of the fifteen seats, hence a new government was formed.

In 2018 for the first time in the history of Parliament a member crossed the floor choosing to leave the PDM to becoming an Independent Member of the House of Assembly.

There is continuous registration of electors (voters) in the Turks and Caicos Islands, with the 30^th November each year being the qualifying date.