Current Governor: HE Dr John Freeman
Current Premier: Hon Sharlene Linette Cartwright-Robinson

The Turks and Caicos Islands is a country in the Caribbean, 575 miles southeast of Miami, Florida, USA. This country consists of two island groups, the Caicos islands (West Caicos, Providenciales, North Caicos, Middle Caicos, East Caicos, and South Caicos), and the Turks islands (Grand Turk and Salt Cay). Population at the 2012 Census was stated to be 31,458.

The Hon. N.J.S. Francis Building, Grand Turk, the Turks and Caicos House of Assembly.

Government

The Turks and Caicos is not a sovereign country, but is an overseas territory of the United Kingdom (a colony). Our status as a British Overseas Territory means that we don’t have a seat in the United Nations, our own Olympic team, or the ability to issue our own passports. Defence and external affairs are the responsibility of the UK Government.

Queen Elizabeth is the head of state, and is represented locally by an appointed governor (usually for a four year term but it varies).

Head of government is the locally elected Premier (previously titled Prime Minister), who is elected for a four-year term. Two main local political parties exist, the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) and the People’s National Party (PNP). A third party, the People Progressive Party (PPP) was formed to contest the November 2012 elections. The PPP did not win any seats and was disbanded.

Plandon Cay Cut.

Independence

Both political parties have at some point stated independence to be a goal. Independence was previously agreed for 1982, but failure of the PDM to win the election caused a policy reversal, and a suspension of the constitution in 1986 because of government corruption caused the independence movement to fade. The independence movement has been revitalized following the British interim administration from 2009 to 2012.

The Turks and Caicos and the European Union

Nearly all of the 42.5% voting population hold British Citizenship (or are able to claim British Citizenship under the British Overseas Territories Act 2002) in addition to British Overseas Territory Citizenship and local Turks and Caicos Islander status. Thus, they are full European Union citizens, with the right to live and work anywhere in the 27 nation bloc. However, this is not a reciprocal right. Even British Citizens do not have the right to live and work in the Turks and Caicos, and must apply for residence and work permits like any other foreigner.

The Turks and Caicos is regarded as an Overseas Country or Territory (OCT), and enjoys a special status. Mostly, this is a one-way set of privileges concerning free trade and customs duties (parent countries can’t imposed duties or restrictions on trade from their OCTs). In addition, sections from Euratom (European Atomic Energy Community) and the ECHR (European Convention on Human Rights) apply, but none of the other policies, laws, and directives are applicable.

The European Union has provided funding for a variety of projects throughout the islands, such as visitor centres at Little Water Cay (Iguana Island) and Cheshire Hall Plantation , and the majority of the funding for the North and Middle Caicos Causeway.