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Turks and Caicos Islands are an overseas territory of the United Kingdom
consisting of two groups of tropical island located in the Caribbean. The
two island groups are in the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of the
Bahamas, north of Haiti, and 575 miles from Miami, Florida, at 21°45′N 71°35′W.
The territory is geographically part of the Bahamas, but funnily enough, not politically.
There are thirty islands that total 166 square miles (430 kmē), primarily of low,
flat limestone with extensive marshes and mangrove swamps. The weather is
usually sunny and relatively dry, but suffers frequent hurricanes. The
islands have limited natural fresh water resources; private cisterns
collect rainwater for drinking. The primary natural resources are spiny
lobster and conch. The United Nations Committee on Decolonization includes
the Turks and Caicos Islands on the United Nations list of
Non-Self-Governing Territories. Grand Turk is the administrative and
political capital of the Turks & Caicos Islands and Cockburn Town has
been the seat of government since 1766. The islands were under Jamaican
jurisdiction until 1962, when they assumed the status of a crown colony.
The governor of the Bahamas oversaw affairs from 1965 to 1973. With
Bahamian independence, the islands received a separate governor in 1973.
Although independence was agreed upon for 1982, the policy was reversed
and the islands are presently a British overseas territory. The islands
adopted a constitution on August 30, 1976, which is Constitution Day, the
national holiday. The constitution was suspended in 1986, but restored and
revised March 5, 1988. The territory's legal system is based on English
common law, with a small number of laws adopted from Jamaica and the
Bahamas. Suffrage is universal for those over 18 years of age. English is
the official language. As a British territory, Queen Elizabeth II of the
United Kingdom is the sovereign, represented by a governor. The head of
government is the chief minister. The Executive Council consists of three
ex officio members and five appointed by the governor from among the
members of the Legislative Council. No elections are held; the monarch is
hereditary, the governor appointed by the monarch, and the chief minister
appointed by the governor. The unicameral Legislative Council consists of
19 seats, 13 popularly elected; members serve four-year terms. Elections
were held March 4, 1999, and again in 2003. The Progressive National
Party, led by Hon. Dr. Michael Misick holds eight seats, and the People's
Democratic Movement, led by Derek H. Taylor, holds five seats. The United
Democratic Party, led by Wendal Swann, received a small fraction of the
popular vote, but not enough to earn a seat. The judicial branch of
government is headed by a Supreme Court. Turks and Caicos participates in
the Caribbean Development Bank, is an associate in Caricom, and maintains
an Interpol sub-bureau. Defence is the responsibility of the United
Kingdom. In December of 2004 the Turks and Caicos Islands sought to become
a new associate member to the Association of Caribbean States article. |
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