Opposition Looks Like Clear Winners Of Turks and Caicos Elections

The PDM’s Sharlene Cartwright Robinson

By NAN Contributor

News Americas, PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos, Fri. Dec. 16, 2016: The Opposition People`s Democratic Movement (PDM) led by Sharlene Cartwright Robinson seems like the clear winner of Thursday’s election in the Turks and Caicos Islands, according to initial results.

As of late last night, the People`s Democratic Movement was leading the ruling Progressive National Party (PNP) led by Premier Dr. Rufus Ewing, 7-3.

Cartwright Robinson is a lawyer and led a team called “The Dream Team” to the election and had accused the Ewing-led government of having led the TCI into an abyss for which the citizens are suffering.

The PDM had promising all citizens including “‘Belongers,’ that they will have a “fair share” of the wealth of the Turks and Caicos Islands if it is elected to office. Cartwright-Robinson had said if elected into office, her government would make all citizens shareholders of this wealth fund, and disburse shares to them from birth, which they can cash in at retirement.

“A PDM government believes that all our Belongers must have a fair share in the wealth of our country. PDM Government is committed to not just create savings for our people, but to actually put that money back into your pockets, even as we secure your financial stability for the future! Your children and our grandchildren will be shareholders in the future of a prosperous Turks and Caicos Islands,” Cartwright-Robinson said before the election.

Voters in the Turks and Caicos Islands went to the polls on Thursday, December 15, 2016 to elect a new government. The 7,800 voters had three choices: the ruling PNP; the PDM and the People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) led by Oswald Skippings.

The PNP had won the last election by eight seats to the PDM seven in 2012.

Polling stations Island wide closed at 7 p.m. last night on the island of 51,430 where the Queen is the hereditary head of state. Thirty one candidates across the 10 Electoral Districts in the Turks and Caicos Islands and an additional 21 contested the election.

The elected Premier is appointed by the governor to serve a 4-year term. In the Legislative Council, 13 members are elected by simple majority in single-member constituencies and 3 members are appointed by the governor, the government, and the opposition. The remaining 3 seats are reserved for the Speaker of the House, the Chief Secretary, and the Attorney General.