Greater British presence for TCI after elections

UK official also revealed that after the elections there would also be a greater British presence in the territory to ensure the principles of good governance and reforms are properly adhered to. (File photo)

PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos, February 8, 2010 – All appears to be on track for residents of Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI), currently under British direct rule, to vote in general elections next year. But regardless of the outcome, there will be a greater British presence in the island than before.
 
Director of Overseas Territories in the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office Colin Roberts Colin Roberts has insisted that it will not be business the way it was prior to the UK suspending parts of the TCI constitution in August last year.
 
He said the British government was determined there would be no repeat of the mistakes of the past.
 
“Elections will be held on schedule in mid-2011 but there will not be a simple return to the same political situation that existed before August 2009,” Roberts said.
 
The UK official also revealed that after the elections there would also be a greater British presence in the territory to ensure the principles of good governance and reforms are properly adhered to.
 
He said it is still to be determined just how many additional personnel would be put in place, but he insisted that “it would not be characterised as a heavy presence”.
 
“We have not defined the arrangements which will be put in place after 2011. We are going to do this through this review and through consultation with the people of the TCI and my message to everybody and to tall of the stakeholders is to engage in that consultation process,” he said.
 
“Our objective is that the people of the TCI should manage their own affairs as much as possible. It’s always been our intention to keep our presence to a minimum,” Roberts added.

He added that in preparation for elections, there would be a review of the current electoral system. The process, which he said would involve wide consultation, is expected to last six months.
 
“Our objective in looking at the electoral system is to see whether there are aspects which have contributed to the corrupt practices we have seen here and if there are adjustments that can be made to reduce the risk of that kind of corrupt practice,” Roberts explained.

“The end result must be to put in place arrangements to give the people of the TCI, and also the international community, confidence that the reforms are irreversible and that the principles of good governance will be upheld.”