Country name
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Turks and Caicos Islands

Data code TK

Dependency status dependent territory of the UK

Government type NA

National capital Grand Turk

Administrative divisions none (dependent territory of the UK)

Independence none (dependent territory of the UK)

National holiday Constitution Day, 30 August (1976)

Constitution introduced 30 August 1976, suspended in 1986, restored and revised 5March 1988

Legal system based on laws of England and Wales with a small number adopted fromJamaica and The Bahamas

Suffrage 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II of the UK (since 6 February 1953), represented byGovernor John KELLY (since NA September 1996)
head of government: Chief Minister Derek H. TAYLOR (since 31 January 1995)
cabinet: Executive Council consists of three ex officio members and five appointedby the governor from among the members of the Legislative Council
elections: none; the queen is a hereditary monarch; governor appointed by the queen;chief minister appointed by the governor

Legislative branch unicameral Legislative Council (19 seats, of which 13 are popularlyelected; members serve three-year terms)
elections: last held 31 January 1995 (next to be held by NA December 1998)
election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PDM 8, PNP 4, independent(Norman SAUNDERS) 1

Judicial branch Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders Progressive National Party (PNP), Washington MISICK; People's DemocraticMovement (PDM), Derek H. TAYLOR; United Democratic Party (UDP), Wendal SWANN

International organization participation Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau)

Diplomatic representation in the US none (dependent territory of the UK)

Diplomatic representation from the US none (dependent territory of the UK)

Flag description blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and thecolonial shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield is yellowand contains a conch shell, lobster, and cactus

NOTE: The information regarding Turks and Caicos Islands on this page is re-published from the 1997 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Turks and Caicos Islands Government 1997 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Turks and Caicos Islands Government 1997 should be addressed to the CIA.