The Turks and Caicos Islands are a British Overseas Territory consisting of the larger Caicos Islands and smaller Turks Islands,two groups of tropical islands in the Lucayan Archipelago of the Atlantic Ocean and northern West Indies. They are known primarily for tourism and as an offshore financial centre. The resident population in 2023 was estimated by The World Factbook at 59,367,making it the third-largest of the British overseas territories by population. However,according to a Department of Statistics estimate in 2022,the population was 47,720.
Michael Eugene Misick is a Turks and Caicos Islander politician who was the 7th Chief Minister of the Turks and Caicos Islands from 15 August 2003 to 9 August 2006 and was the 1st Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands from 9 August 2006 to 23 March 2009. Misick is a member of the Progressive National Party (PNP) and became chief minister when his party,after eight years as the opposition party,gained two parliamentary seats in by-elections. In addition to being premier,he was also the minister for Civil Aviation,Commerce and Development,Planning,District Administration,Broadcasting Commission,Tourist Board,Turks and Caicos Investment Agency,and Tourism. Several other members of Misick's family have been politicians in the Turks and Caicos Islands,and important leaders in the PNP. Washington Misick,his brother,is the current Premier,former Chief Minister and former Minister of Finance.
Before European colonization,the Turks and Caicos Islands were inhabited by Taíno and Lucayan peoples. The first recorded European sighting of the islands now known as the Turks and Caicos occurred in 1512. In the subsequent centuries,the islands were claimed by several European powers with the British Empire eventually gaining control. For many years the islands were governed indirectly through Bermuda,the Bahamas,and Jamaica. When the Bahamas gained independence in 1973,the islands received their own governor,and have remained a separate autonomous British Overseas Territory since. In August 2009,the United Kingdom suspended the Turks and Caicos Islands' self-government following allegations of ministerial corruption. Home rule was restored in the islands after the November 2012 elections.
Politics of the Turks and Caicos Islands takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic dependency,whereby as of August 9,2006 the Premier is the head of government,and of a multi-party system. The islands are an internally self-governing overseas territory of the United Kingdom. The United Nations Committee on Decolonization includes the Turks and Caicos Islands on the United Nations list of non-self-governing territories. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the Legislative Council.
Mahala Wynns is a Turk and Caicos Islander politician who served as the Deputy Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) from 9 August 2006 to 15 October 2013. She was also the Acting Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands in 2005 and 2008.
John Philip Kelly,CMG,LVO,MBE is an Irish-born British diplomat who was Governor of the British overseas territory of the Turks and Caicos Islands from October 1996 to January 2000.
Michael John Bradley,CMG,QC was Governor of the Turks and Caicos from January 1987 to June 1993. Bradley was succeeded by Martin Bourke in June 1993.
Geoffrey Colin Guy CMG,CVO,OBE was the last Commissioner and the first Administrator of the Turks and Caicos from 1958 to 1959 and 1959 to 1965 respectively. Mr. Guy was succeeded by John Anthony Golding in 1965. He was administrator during Hurricane Donna,which in 1960 devastated agriculture on the island. He was managing director of the salt industry on the islands and used profits from the commodity to build airstrips and lay the foundation for today's main industry –tourism.
Sir Geoffrey Doyne Adams served as the British Ambassador to Egypt from 2018 to 2021,as a member of the British Diplomatic Service. He was Ambassador to the Netherlands from 2013 to 2017.
Sir John Edgar Galsworthy was a British diplomat,ambassador to Mexico 1972–1977,and counsellor to the UK delegation to the EEC. He was knighted KCVO in 1975 on the occasion of the Queen's state visit to Mexico.
Damian Roderic Todd is a career British diplomat who has served as Ambassador to Slovakia,Ambassador to Poland,Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands and High Commissioner to Cyprus.
General elections were held in Turks and Caicos Islands on 9 November 2012. The PNP won the election,winning eight seats with the PDM winning seven. The PNP won most of its seats by narrow margins over the PDM,while the PDM won its seats by wide margins over the PNP,with the result that despite winning fewer seats and thereby losing the election,the PDM garnered more overall votes nationwide.
John Patrick George Freeman is a retired British diplomat who until July 2019 was Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Charles David Stephen Drace-Francis,is a retired British diplomat.
Alan Charlton is a British former diplomat who was Ambassador to Brazil from 2008 to 2013. Following retirement from his diplomatic career,he has been active writing books,promoting relations between the United Kingdom and Latin America,lecturing on cruise ships and volunteering with the Samaritans.
David Gordon Crawford was a British diplomat who was ambassador to Qatar and to Bahrain.
Thomas Stuart Francis Fletcher CMG is a British diplomat and writer who has served as Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator since 2024.
Peter Beckingham is a British retired diplomat,who was Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands 2013–2016.
Alison Mary Blake,is a British diplomat who is currently serving as Governor of the Falkland Islands and Commissioner of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. She previously served as High Commissioner to Bangladesh and Ambassador to Afghanistan.
Nigel John Dakin (born 28 February 1964 is a British diplomat and soldier who served as Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands between 15 July 2019 and 29 March 2023.
