Editing Turks and Caicos Islands (section)

==Politics==
{{Main|Politics of the Turks and Caicos Islands}}
[[File:Cockburn Town.jpg|thumb|A street in [[Cockburn Town]], the capital of the Turks and Caicos Islands]]

The Turks and Caicos Islands are a [[British Overseas Territory]].<ref name="cia.gov"/> As a British territory, its sovereign is [[Monarchy of the United Kingdom|King]] [[Charles III]] of the United Kingdom, represented by a [[Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands|governor]] appointed by the monarch, on the advice of the [[Foreign Office]].<ref name="cia.gov"/> With the election of the territory's first Chief Minister, [[James Alexander George Smith McCartney|J. A. G. S. McCartney]], the islands first adopted a [[Constitution of the Turks and Caicos Islands|constitution]] on 30 August 1976. The national holiday, Constitution Day, is celebrated annually on 30 August.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.flaginstitute.org/wp/event/turks-and-caicos-islands-constitution-day/|title=Turks and Caicos Islands – Constitution Day (National Day)|website=www.flaginstitute.org|access-date=6 August 2018|archive-date=6 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180806181318/https://www.flaginstitute.org/wp/event/turks-and-caicos-islands-constitution-day/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The territory's legal system is based on English [[common law]], with a small number of laws adopted from Jamaica and the Bahamas. Suffrage is universal for those over 18 years of age. English is the official language. [[Grand Turk]] is the administrative and political capital of the Turks and Caicos Islands and [[Cockburn Town]] has been the seat of government since 1766.

The Turks and Caicos Islands participate in the [[Caribbean Development Bank]], is an associate in [[CARICOM]], a member of the [[Universal Postal Union]] and maintains an [[Interpol]] sub-bureau. The United Nations [[Special Committee on Decolonization]] includes the territory on the [[United Nations list of non-self-governing territories]].

Under the new Constitution that came into effect in October 2012, legislative power is held by a unicameral [[House of Assembly (Turks and Caicos Islands)|House of Assembly]], consisting of 19 seats, 15 elected and four appointed by the governor; of elected members, five are elected at large and 10 from single-member districts for four-year terms.<ref name="cia.gov"/>

In the [[2021 Turks and Caicos Islands general election|2021 elections]] the [[Progressive National Party (Turks and Caicos Islands)|Progressive National Party]] won in a landslide and [[Washington Misick]] became Premier.<ref name="BBC-Top-jobs"/>

===Administrative divisions===
{{Main|Districts of the Turks and Caicos Islands}}
The Turks and Caicos Islands are divided into six administrative districts (two in the Turks Islands and four in the Caicos Islands), headed by district commissioners. For the [[Turks and Caicos Islands House of Assembly|House of Assembly]], the Turks and Caicos Islands are divided into 15 electoral districts (four in the Turks Islands and eleven in the Caicos Islands).

===Judiciary===
The judicial branch of government is headed by a Supreme Court; appeals are heard by the Court of Appeal and final appeals by the United Kingdom's [[Judicial Committee of the Privy Council]].<ref name="cia.gov"/> There are three justices of the Supreme Court, a Chief Justice and two others. The Court of Appeal consists of a president and at least two justices of appeal.

Magistrates' Courts are the lower courts and appeals from Magistrates' Courts are sent to the Supreme Court.

As of April 2020, the Chief Justice is Justice [[Mabel Agyemang]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Isles |first=Delana |title=New chief justice takes the bench |url=https://tcweeklynews.com/new-chief-justice-takes-the-bench-p10499-127.htm |url-status=live |date=4 April 2020 |newspaper=Turks and Caicos Weekly News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211216014042/https://tcweeklynews.com/new-chief-justice-takes-the-bench-p10499-127.htm |archive-date=2021-12-16}}</ref>

==== List of chief justices ====
{{Main|Category: Chief justices of the Turks and Caicos Islands}}
* 1985–1987: [[John Fieldsend|John Charles Rowell Fieldsend]]
* 1987–1990: [[Frederick Smith (barrister)|Frederick Smith]]
* 1998–2004: [[Richard Ground|Richard William Ground]]
* 2004–2007: Christopher James Ellis Gardner
* 2008–2012: [[Gordon Ward (judge)|Frederick Gordon Roy Ward]]
* 2014–2020: [[Margaret Ramsay-Hale]]
* 2020–present: [[Mabel Agyemang|Mabel Maame Agyemang]]

===Public safety===
Policing is primarily the responsibility of the [[Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force]]. Customs and border enforcement is the responsibility of the Border Force. At times these may be supported by the [[Turks and Caicos Islands Regiment]].

===Military and defence===
The defence of the [[Turks and Caicos Islands]] is the responsibility of the [[United Kingdom]]. The [[Royal Navy]] maintains a persistent presence in the [[Caribbean]] through the [[List of Royal Navy deployments|Atlantic Patrol Task (North)]] mission.<ref name=":1" /> [[HMS Medway]], a [[River-class offshore patrol vessel|River-class]] offshore patrol vessel, is regularly deployed to the region, including visits to the Turks and Caicos Islands.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=HMS Medway visits Turks and Caicos during Caribbean patrols |url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news/2024/november/29/20241129-hms-medway-visits-turks-and-caicos-during-patrols |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=www.royalnavy.mod.uk |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Candlin |first=Alex |date=2024-12-01 |title=HMS Medway strengthens UK's commitment to allies during Caribbean hurricane season |url=https://www.forcesnews.com/services/navy/hms-medway-strengthens-uks-commitment-allies-during-caribbean-hurricane-season |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=www.forcesnews.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=HMS Medway {{!}} Royal Navy |url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/organisation/units-and-squadrons/river-class/hms-medway |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=www.royalnavy.mod.uk |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Patrol Ship's Visit Underscores Caribbean Commitment |url=https://www.navyleaders.com/news/patrol-ships-visit-underscores-caribbean-commitment |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=Navy Leaders 2022 |language=en-GB}}</ref> During a visit in November 2024, HMS Medway conducted disaster response exercises and engaged with local authorities to reinforce the [[United Kingdom|UK]]'s commitment to regional security and humanitarian assistance.<ref name="cia.gov"/><ref name=":1">{{cite web | url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2020/january/20/200120-hms-medway-sets-sail-for-the-caribbean | title=HMS Medway sets sail for the Caribbean | publisher=Royal Navy | date=20 January 2020 | access-date=18 October 2022 | archive-date=10 May 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220510053232/https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2020/january/20/200120-hms-medway-sets-sail-for-the-caribbean | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Royal Navy ship demonstrates commitment to Caribbean security during visit to Turks and Caicos Islands |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/royal-navy-ship-demonstrates-commitment-to-caribbean-security-during-visit-to-turks-and-caicos-islands |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}</ref> In response to a surge in gang-related violence in 2022, the [[Royal Fleet Auxiliary]] deployed [[RFA Tideforce]] to the Turks and Caicos Islands.<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-12 |title=RFA Tideforce deployed to Turks and Caicos Islands to help tackle surge in gang violence |url=https://www.forcesnews.com/uk/rfa-tideforce-deployed-turks-and-caicos-islands-combat-surge-gang-violence |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=www.forcesnews.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Bird |first=Rebecca |date=2022-11-08 |title=‘Barbaric’ homicides surge in Turks and Caicos amid drug-related violence |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/nov/08/turks-and-caicos-homicides-surge-gang-violence |access-date=2025-05-14 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Equipped with a Wildcat helicopter, Tideforce provided surveillance support to local law enforcement agencies to address the escalating security concerns.<ref name=":4">{{cite web | url=https://maritime-executive.com/article/royal-navy-deploys-to-help-fight-gang-violence-in-turks-caicos | title=Royal Navy Deploys to Help Fight Gang Violence in Turks & Caicos | access-date=4 November 2022 | archive-date=4 November 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221104003201/https://maritime-executive.com/article/royal-navy-deploys-to-help-fight-gang-violence-in-turks-caicos | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Royal Navy helps suppress surge in gang violence on UK Overseas Territory |url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news/2022/november/02/221101-tideforce-suppresses-gang-violence-in-turks-and-caicos |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=www.royalnavy.mod.uk |language=en}}</ref>

====Turks and Caicos Islands Regiment====
{{Main|Turks and Caicos Islands Regiment}}In December 2019, [[Nigel Dakin|Governor Nigel Dakin]] announced the formation of the [[Turks and Caicos Islands Regiment]], with assistance from the [[Ministry of defence|UK's Ministry of Defence]]. The regiment is modeled after similar units in other [[British Overseas Territories]] and focuses on national security, disaster response, and engineering support.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tcweeklynews.com/tci-to-build-its-own-military-regiment-p10218-127.htm|title=TCI to build its own military regiment|website=tcweeklynews.com|access-date=17 December 2019|archive-date=16 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191216110839/http://tcweeklynews.com/tci-to-build-its-own-military-regiment-p10218-127.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

In spring 2020, a Security and Assistance Team from the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|United Kingdom Ministry of Defence]] arrived in Turks and Caicos to assist with the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the Turks and Caicos Islands|COVID-19 pandemic]], the [[2020 Atlantic hurricane season]], and to help build the new Turks and Caicos Regiment.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://turksandcaicostourism.com/arrival-of-a-security-assistance-team-in-tci-from-the-uk/|title=Arrival Of A Security Assistance Team In TCI From The Uk|date=23 April 2020|access-date=8 August 2020|archive-date=8 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200708173218/http://turksandcaicostourism.com/arrival-of-a-security-assistance-team-in-tci-from-the-uk/|url-status=live}}</ref> The regiment became operational in 2020, with [[Lieutenant colonel|Lieutenant Colonel]] Ennis Grant appointed as its first [[commanding officer]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-03 |title=In The News |url=https://www.tcicadetcorps.com/in-the-news/ |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=Turks & Caicos Islands Cadet Corps |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":5" /> Since its inception, the regiment has participated in various training exercises and operations, including joint disaster response drills with HMS Medway during its 2024 visit.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=https://tcweeklynews.com/tci-regiment-gets-its-first-commanding-officer-p10693-127.htm|title=TCI Regiment gets its first commanding officer|website=tcweeklynews.com|access-date=7 July 2020|archive-date=22 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200822163703/https://tcweeklynews.com/tci-regiment-gets-its-first-commanding-officer-p10693-127.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":2" />