Before European colonization, the Turks and Caicos Islands were inhabited by Taino 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.
Cockburn Town is the capital city of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The music of Turks and Caicos Islands is best known for its ripsaw music. It is accompanied by an array of instruments, including maracas, triangles, box guitar, conga drums, goat and cowskin drums, accordion, concertina and, most prominently and uniquely, the carpenter saw.
The Turks and Caicos Islands national football team is the national team of the Turks and Caicos Islands and is controlled by the Turks and Caicos Islands Football Association.
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.
The majority of the population of the Turks and Caicos Islands are Christian. The Religious groups were; Protestant, 72.8% (Baptists 35.8%, Church of God 11.7%, Roman Catholics11.4%, Anglicans 10%, Methodists 9.3%, Seventh-Day Adventists 6%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.8% and Other 14%
The Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands is the political leader and head of government. The post of Premier is the equivalent to Chief Minister or Prime Minister in other British Overseas Territories. It is the highest political level that can be attained within the British colonial system. Prior to 2006, the position was known as the Chief Minister of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The House of Assembly is the legislature of the British Overseas Territory of the Turks and Caicos Islands. The name of the house was changed from the Legislative Council of the Turks and Caicos Islands to its present name following the implementation of the new constitution on 9 August 2006.
The Turks and Caicos Islands are divided into five administrative districts, and the Island of Grand Turk; four of these are headed by District Commissioners, and Providenciales District is run by the Permanent Secretary of the Office of the Premier in Providenciales. The Island of Grand Turk is directly administered by the TCI Government.
Mahala Wynns was Deputy Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) August 9, 2006-October 15, 2013.She was also the acting Governor of the TCI in 2005 and 2008.
Scouting and Guiding in the Turks and Caicos Islands exist as branches of the parent organisations in the United Kingdom.
The Turks and Caicos Islands cricket team is the team that represents the British overseas territory of the Turks and Caicos Islands in international cricket.
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to the Turks and Caicos Islands:
Christopher Bryan is a former association football player from the Turks and Caicos Islands. Between 1999 and 2006, he won six caps and scored two goals for his country. He was the first player from the Islands to score in an international fixture. After retiring from football in 2006, he became the President of the Turks and Caicos Islands Football Association.
This is a survey of the postage stamps and postal history of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The Turks and Caicos Islands passport is a British passport issued to British Overseas Territories citizens with a connection to the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The Constitution of the Turks and Caicos Islands, in its present form, was passed in 2011.
Turks and Caicos Islands national basketball team represents the Turks and Caicos Islands in international competitions. It is administrated by the Turks and Caicos Islands Basketball Federation.
