United Kingdom approves 28 constitutional proposals for Turks and Caicos Islands

The UK’s Foreign Commonwealth Development Office has approved three of 28 bipartisan constitutional proposals that will directly impact future general elections in the Turks and Caicos Islands. For the first time in almost eight years, the UK Government has agreed to several constitutional reform proposals put forward by a bipartisan group of TCI leaders intended to give the territory greater autonomy over its domestic affairs. [...] The UK government agreed in principle to extend the House of Assembly term from four to five years. His Majesty’s government also agreed in principle that members of the House of Assembly should be elected. Further, the UK government also agreed to the renaming of the House of Assembly to Parliament, so members of the House of Assembly would become MPs. [...] Coupled with these proposed amendments, one of the proposals still on the table is the creation of parliamentary secretaries who would perform the role of junior ministers and the removal of the UK’s power to disallow bills passed by the House of Assembly. The territory is also lobbying for clear consultation, notification and discussion processes between the British government and the Turks and Caicos Islands government, especially if the UK is going to implement laws for the territory.
Read the full article here: Turks and Caicos Weekly News