Bahamas PM Comments on Turks & Caicos Federation
Many of you may have missed the statement made by former Turks & Caicos Premier, Michael Misick, but last week he announced that “The people of the Turks and Caicos Islands have expressed an interest in their territory becoming an autonomous state under the Bahamas government, thereby creating a federation between the countries”. In response to this statement, our own Prime Minister released his own statement which I have copied below. It will be interesting to see how the relationship between the Bahamas and TCI plays out in the coming years. We will continue to hope for the best for TCI and its residents, since we ourselves maintain close ties with our own TCI estate agent, Titus de Boer.
Statement by Rt. Hon. Hubert A. Ingraham, Prime Minister
My colleagues and I have taken note of the comments reportedly made by former Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands Michael Misick in an interview with The Tribune suggesting that the time has come to explore the possibility of creating a federation between The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos.
We are fully conscious of the fact that The Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos share the same archipelago and, indeed, at one time together constituted a colony of Great Britain administered from Nassau.
We are also keenly aware of, and treasure, the close familial ties between the people of The Bahamas and the people of Turks and Caicos that has existed for many generations despite the accidents of history that separated us constitutionally.
Like the rest of the Caribbean Community we have been dismayed at the recent turn of events in the Turks and Caicos Islands that resulted in the suspension of their Constitution and the imposition of direct rule by Great Britain.
The people of The Bahamas and Turks and Caicos will be aware that we have been in consultation with Caricom and have been a party to certain diplomatic initiatives designed to help bring about a resolution of the current crisis. We consider that the priority of all concerned at this time must be a resolution of the crisis that will restore normality and constitutional order to Turks and Caicos.
When that is achieved, my colleagues and I would be happy to discuss the further strengthening of our historic relationship in accordance with the will of the people of The Bahamas and the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands.