Opposition PDM Writes UK Minister, Calls for Transparency and Balance on Proposed Constitutional Changes

The Office of the Leader of the Opposition has formally written to the Honourable Stephen Doughty MP, Minister of State for Europe, North America and Overseas Territories, after a detailed presentation to the Party's National General Council on a report commissioned by Party Leader Hon. Douglas Parnell concerning reported proposals for mid-term constitutional amendments affecting the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Doug Parnell, Leader of the Opposition

The correspondence, dated 6 July 2026, was sent in connection with reported requests for constitutional amendments that may include the appointment of an additional Minister, the creation of two Parliamentary Under-Secretary positions, and the removal of the two-term limit on the office of Premier.

Hon. Edwin A. Astwood said the Opposition does not object in principle to constitutional refinement where it genuinely serves good governance. However, he said any amendment that enlarges the Executive must be matched by corresponding measures to strengthen Parliament, scrutiny, accountability, and democratic balance.

"This is a matter of national importance," Hon. Astwood said. "If the Constitution is to be reopened to expand the Executive, then the same constitutional opportunity must be used to ensure that Parliament remains capable of holding the Executive to account. Good governance requires balance."

The letter notes that following the 2025 General Election, the Government holds sixteen of the nineteen elected seats in Parliament, while the People's Democratic Movement holds two seats and one seat is held by an Independent Member. The Opposition states that this creates an institutional imbalance in which Parliament's ability to provide effective scrutiny of the Executive is severely weakened if either a new Minister or 2 parliamentary secretaries are added.

This proposal is not about changing who governs. It is about ensuring that Parliament remains able to perform its constitutional role of scrutiny, debate, and accountability, even where one party holds an overwhelming majority of elected seats.

The Opposition has therefore asked the UK Minister to ensure that any proposed constitutional amendment to permit an additional Minister and two Parliamentary Under-Secretaries also includes provision for the reintroduction of four appointed Members of Parliament.

Under the proposal advanced in the letter, two Members would ordinarily be appointed on the recommendation of the Premier and two on the recommendation of the Leader of the Opposition.

However, in exceptional supermajority circumstances where one party holds fifteen or more of the nineteen elected seats, all four appointed Members would be recommended by the Leader of the Opposition for the limited purpose of preserving minimum parliamentary scrutiny, debate, and representation.

The Opposition emphasized that this proposed safeguard is objective and party-neutral. It would apply equally to any party in Government, now or in the future, where that party holds fifteen or more of the nineteen elected seats.

Appointed Members would not be introduced to frustrate the elected Government. They would serve as a limited parliamentary safeguard to support debate, committee work, scrutiny, and representation, particularly in circumstances where the elected Opposition is numerically too small to provide effective institutional oversight on its own.

The Opposition has also proposed that appointed Members should not vote on motions of confidence or no confidence in the Government, as was the case in prior years. Hon. Astwood said this safeguard makes clear that the proposal is not intended to overturn the Government's elected mandate or interfere with who forms the Government.

"This proposal would not affect who commands the confidence of Parliament. It would not alter Cabinet. It would not prevent the Premier from managing the Government. It would not take away the Government's elected majority," Hon. Astwood said. "Its purpose is narrower and constitutionally proper: to protect Parliament's ability to scrutinise, debate, and represent the people."

The letter also raises concern about the reported request to remove the two-term limit on the office of Premier, describing such a proposal as a matter of grave constitutional significance requiring rigorous scrutiny, full transparency, and direct consultation with the Leader of the Opposition before any position is taken.

"Term limits are not a technical detail," Hon. Astwood said. "They are a democratic safeguard. Any proposal to remove them must be handled with full transparency, proper consultation, and the highest level of constitutional scrutiny."

Hon. Astwood said the Opposition is especially concerned that constitutional amendments should not be considered in isolation. "The issue is not simply one amendment here or another amendment there," Hon. Astwood said. "The cumulative effect matters. Expanding the Executive and removing term limits would both strengthen executive power. If those matters are being considered, then parliamentary balance and accountability must be considered at the same time."

Constitutional reform is not an abstract legal matter. It affects how decisions are made, how public money is appropriated, how laws are passed, how communities are heard, and how elected leaders are held accountable between elections. The Opposition PDM believes the people must be informed whenever constitutional changes are being considered.

The Opposition PDM has formally requested direct consultation with Minister Doughty and his officials before any draft Order in Council is settled in July or October of this year. It has also asked that no draft Order in Council be finalised or submitted for approval without the Opposition having had the opportunity to review and respond to its terms.

The Opposition is calling on the Government to confirm publicly whether these constitutional amendments have been formally requested, what consultation has taken place, and whether the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands will be given an opportunity to understand and respond before any changes are advanced.

No constitutional amendment affecting the structure of Parliament, the size of the Executive, or the tenure of the Premier should be finalised behind closed doors.

The Office of the Leader of the Opposition said the position advanced is fair, balanced, and in the national interest. It recognises the Government's electoral mandate while insisting that constitutional change must preserve Parliament's role as a genuine institution of scrutiny and democratic representation.

"This is not about blocking constitutional reform," Hon. Astwood said. "This is about ensuring that reform is balanced, transparent, and fair to the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands. A supermajority in Parliament does not mean unanimity in the country. The voices of all citizens must still be heard."

The Opposition said it will continue to engage responsibly on these matters and keep the public informed as developments unfold.