Ms Kate Sullivan, TCI Constitutional and Electoral Reform Adviser, today outlined the next steps for her review of constitutional and electoral arrangements in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Following the interest shown by Turks and Caicos Islands residents throughout 2010, Ms Sullivan added a second opportunity for the public to comment on formal proposals for change. Her revised recommendations were published in November for this purpose and the deadline for comments and reactions was 14 January 2011.
Ms Sullivan said: I welcome the responses I have already received to my revised recommendations from individuals and groups in the Turks and Caicos Islands. I am also grateful to the Consultative Forum for convening yesterdays meeting. I would like to give some more time for reflection on the discussion in the Forum, and to provide the opportunity for further comments on my revised recommendations.
Once British ministers have considered the recommendations for possible constitutional change, a draft constitutional Order in Council will be prepared to incorporate those changes. It is hoped that the draft Order will be ready for publication in the Turks and Caicos Islands in February. This will be followed by a further period of consultation.
In order to not impede this important next stage of the process, Ms Sullivan is encouraging all interested persons to submit their views on her revised recommendations as soon as possible. The final deadline for comments on these is 31 January. Interested persons are welcome to make a written response to some or all of the revised recommendations. Such responses can be made via:tciconstitution@hotmail.com
or
PO Box 68 Grand Turk
Ms Sullivan has published her report on the Governors Office website and copies are available from the Governors Office in Grand Turk at Waterloo and from the Governors Office in Providenciales at the Hilly Ewing Building.
