Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands

The Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands is the political leader and head of government. The post of premier is the equivalent to chief minister or prime minister in other British Overseas Territories. It is the highest political level that can be attained within the British colonial system. Prior to 2006, the position was known as the Chief Minister of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands
Coat of Arms of the Turks and Caicos Islands
Flag of the Turks and Caicos Islands
Incumbent Washington Misick since 20 February 2021
Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands Cabinet of the Turks and Caicos Islands
Style	The Honourable
Member of	Cabinet Parliament
Nominator	Political parties
Appointer	Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands
Term length	At the governor's pleasure
Formation	31 August 1976
First holder	James Alexander George Smith McCartney as Chief Minister
Deputy	Deputy Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands (Jamell Robinson)[1]

The premier and Cabinet (consisting of all the most senior ministers) are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to King Charles III, to the Parliament, to their political party and ultimately to the electorate.

The current premier is Charles Washington Misick, since 20 February 2021.

Constitutional background

A new constitution, after being laid in the Turks and Caicos Legislative Council and receiving Queen Elizabeth II's signature, entered into force on 9 August 2006. The new constitution of the Turks and Caicos Islands changed the title of Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister to Premier and Deputy Premier.

On 14 August 2009, the United Kingdom suspended the Turks and Caicos' self-government after allegations of ministerial corruption. The prerogative of the ministerial government and the House of Assembly are vested in the islands' incumbent governor for a period of up to two years, with possible extensions.^[2]

List

(Dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office)

PDM   PNP
No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office			Political party	Elected	Notes
			Took office	Left office	Time in office
Chief Ministers (1976–2006)
1		James Alexander George Smith McCartney (1945–1980)	31 August 1976	9 May 1980	3 years, 191 days	People's Democratic Movement	1976	Died in office
2		Oswald Skippings (born 1953)	19 June 1980	4 November 1980	138 days	People's Democratic Movement	—	First tenure
3		Norman Saunders (born 1943)	4 November 1980	28 March 1985	4 years, 144 days	Progressive National Party	1980 1984
4		Nathaniel Francis (1912–2004)	28 March 1985	25 July 1986	1 year, 119 days	Progressive National Party	—
Office suspended (25 July 1986 – 3 March 1988)
(2)		Oswald Skippings (born 1953)	3 March 1988	3 April 1991	3 years, 31 days	People's Democratic Movement	1988	Second tenure
5		Washington Misick (born 1950)	3 April 1991	31 January 1995	3 years, 303 days	Progressive National Party	1991	First tenure
6		Derek Hugh Taylor (born 1951)	31 January 1995	15 August 2003	8 years, 196 days	People's Democratic Movement	1995 1999
7		Michael Misick (born 1966)	15 August 2003	9 August 2006	2 years, 359 days	Progressive National Party	2003	Brother of Washington Misick
Premiers (2006–present)
1		Michael Misick (born 1966)	9 August 2006	23 March 2009	2 years, 226 days	Progressive National Party	2007
2		Galmo Williams (born 1966)	23 March 2009	14 August 2009	144 days	Progressive National Party	—
Office suspended (14 August 2009 – 13 November 2012)
3		Rufus Ewing (born 1968)	13 November 2012	20 December 2016	4 years, 37 days	Progressive National Party	2012
4		Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson (born 1971)	20 December 2016	20 February 2021	4 years, 62 days	People's Democratic Movement	2016
5		Washington Misick (born 1950)	20 February 2021	Incumbent	4 years, 176 days	Progressive National Party	2021 2025	Second tenure

See also

• List of current heads of government in the United Kingdom and dependencies
• Politics of the Turks and Caicos Islands
• Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands