2012 Turks and Caicos Islands general election explained

Country:Turks and Caicos Islands
Type:parliamentary
Previous Election:Turks and Caicos Islands general election, 2007
Previous Year:2007
Next Election:2016 Turks and Caicos Islands general election
Election Date:9 November 2012
Seats For Election:15 of the 21 seats in the House of Assembly
Party1:Progressive National Party (Turks and Caicos Islands)
Image1:Rufus Ewing 2013 (cropped).jpg
Leader1:Rufus Ewing
Seats1:8
Popular Vote1:2,833
Percentage1:44.89%
Party2:People's Democratic Movement (Turks and Caicos Islands)
Leader2:Oswald Skippings
Seats2:7
Popular Vote2:3,164
Percentage2:50.13%
Premier
Before Election:None
Before Party:Office suspended
After Election:Rufus Ewing
After Party:Progressive National Party (Turks and Caicos Islands)
Election Name:2012 Turks and Caicos Islands general election
Next Year:2016

General elections were held in Turks and Caicos Islands on 9 November 2012. The PNP won the election, winning eight seats with the PDM winning seven.[1] The PNP won most of its seats by narrow margins over the PDM, while the PDM won its seats by wide margins over the PNP, with the result that despite winning fewer seats and thereby losing the election, the PDM garnered more overall votes nationwide.

Background

In 2009 the British government had imposed direct rule over the islands after an inquiry discovered evidence of corruption and incompetence in the islands' government. The islands' government was suspended for two years and the British-appointed governor given executive power over the territory.[2]

On 12 June 2012 British Foreign Secretary William Hague announced that fresh elections would be held in November 2012, stating that there had been "significant progress with an ambitious reform programme" and that there had been "sufficient progress, on the milestones and on putting in place robust financial controls"[3]

A new constitution came into force on 15 October 2012. The terms of the election are specified in the constitution.[4]

Electoral system

Following the 2007 elections, the number of single-member constituencies was reduced from 15 to 10.[5] However, an additional five members were elected at-large at the national level,[5] with voters able to vote for up to five at-large candidates.[6] According to a report on 12 October, there were 6,896 verified electors in the Electors Register, with an additional 349 to be published in a supplementary register later.[7]

Candidates

On Nomination Day, 25 October, a total of thirty-seven candidates were officially nominated. Among them were fifteen each from the Progressive National Party (PNP) and the People's Democratic Movement (PDM), five from the newly formed People's Progressive Party (PPP), and two independents.[8]

The below list of candidates comes from the Turks and Caicos Islands Elections Office.[9] Election results were confirmed on November 9, 2012, for local voting districts,[10] and on November 12, 2012, for the at-large seats.[11]

Results

By constituency

ConstituencyCandidatePartyVotes
1. Grand Turk NorthGeorge Alexander Lightbournebgcolor=Progressive National Party353
Derek Anthonio Rolle336
2. Grand Turk SouthEdwin Astwoodbgcolor=People's Democratic Movement524
Rex Elton Swann292
3. South CaicosNorman Benjamin Saundersbgcolor=Progressive National Party219
Edith Andrea Cox132
4. Middle and North CaicosRicardo Don Hue Gardinerbgcolor=Progressive National Party261
Ashwood Leon Forbes250
5. LeewardAkierra M. Missickbgcolor=Progressive National Party337
Ezra Ringo Tyrone Taylor305
Bennett Williams4
6. The BightPorsha Monique Stubbs Smithbgcolor=Progressive National Party335
Sonny Alexander Forbes294
Dorell Monique Pratt DelancyPeople's Progressive Party36
7. Cheshire Hall and Richmond Hill
(results voided in February 2013)
Amanda A. Misickbgcolor=Progressive National Party394
Isaac Oral Selver364
Edward E. SmithPeople's Progressive Party58
8. Blue HillsGoldray McMillin Ewingbgcolor=People's Democratic Movement347
Adrian Carlyle Williams232
Wendal D. WilsonPeople's Progressive Party84
9. Five CaysSean Rickard Astwoodbgcolor=People's Democratic Movement347
Thomas I.N. Ewing253
Harold CharlesPeople's Progressive Party103
10. WheelandVaden Delroy Williamsbgcolor=People's Democratic Movement265
Gregory O'Neal Lightbourne157
Zhavargo J. JollyPeople's Progressive Party29
All Island District
5 elected at-large
Sharlene Linette Cartwright Robinsonbgcolor=People's Democratic Movement3,427
Rufus Washington Ewingbgcolor=Progressive National Party3,252
Derek Taylorbgcolor=People's Democratic Movement3,191
Charles Washington Misickbgcolor=Progressive National Party3,107
Josephine Connollybgcolor=People's Democratic Movement3,023
Carlos W. Simons2,899
Samuel I. Harvey2,896
Oswald O'Neal Skippings2,894
Wayne Newton Garland2,806
Royal Stephenson Robinson2,700
Oswald M. Simons233

Subsequent by-election

PDM candidate Isaac Selver filed an election petition in the Supreme Court regarding the results in Electoral District 7, in which he had lost to Amanda Misick of the PNP by 30 votes. Selver's petition stated that PPP candidate Edward Smith was ineligible to stand for election by reason of his dual citizenship and dual allegiance to the United States and the Turks and Caicos Islands, and that the 58 votes that went to Smith had affected the outcome of the election and could have resulted in Selver's victory over Misick. In a December 2012 interview, Smith claimed that he had renounced U.S. citizenship by taking an oath of allegiance to the Queen in order to take up a position in the Turks and Caicos government. However, he had used his United States passport to travel to the United States in July 2012 after that oath. On 7 February 2013, the Supreme Court ruled the election void.[12] [13] A by-election was held on 22 March 2013. Amanda Misick won with 455 votes against Isaac Selver's 385.[14]

Notes and References

  1. http://suntci.com/pnp-wins-seats-pdm-p435-108.htm{{Dead link|date=April 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
  2. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8202339.stm UK imposes Turks and Caicos rule
  3. http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/news/latest-news/?view=PressS&id=774772682 Foreign Secretary statement announces elections in the Turks and Caicos Islands
  4. http://tcweeklynews.com/governor-todd-signs-constitution-proclamation-p2808-127.htm Governor Todd Signs Constitution Proclamation
  5. http://tcweeklynews.com/political-party-leaders-pleased-with-proposed-boundaries-p2758-1.htm Political Party Leaders Pleased With Proposed Boundaries
  6. http://www.tcinewsnow.com/local.php?news_id=5455&start=&category_id=2 Basic election ballot rules released
  7. News: Election results will be delayed. Vivian. Tyson. Turks & Caicos Sun. 2012-10-12. 2012-11-09.
  8. News: 37 candidates nominated. Vivian. Tyson. Turks & Caicos Sun. 2012-10-25. 2012-10-30.
  9. Web site: List of nominated candidates for General Elections 2012. Turks & Caicos Islands Elections Office. 2012-10-25. 2012-10-30.
  10. http://www.guide2turksandcaicos.com/news/178/Turks-and-Caicos-Islands-Election-Results "Turks and Caicos Islands Election Results"
  11. http://tcweeklynews.com/atlarge-results-stand-p3170-1.htm "At-Large results stand"
  12. News: Dr. Smith says he renounced US Citizenship. Vivian. Tyson. Turks and Caicos Sun. 2012-11-26. 2012-11-26.
  13. News: Court declares Provo district election void. TCI News Now. 2013-02-07. 2013-02-07.
  14. News: Amanda Missick wins by-election -PNP maintains power . Turks and Caicos Weekly News . 25 March 2013.