As most of you know, Turks & Caicos Islands is a British Crown Colony, with a similar government structure to the Cayman Islands, and Anguilla, among others. Recently, the British Government asserted control of the Turks & Caicos Islands Government after an Oversight Committee found significant evidence of corruption in the elected PNP government during the run up prior to the world – wide economic down turn in September, 2008.

The Governor has now assumed all government responsibilities, subject to the Turks & Caicos Islands constitution and other legislation, instructions of the British Foreign Secretary and the scrutiny of Parliament in London. The Chief Executive is Mark Capes, and there is an Advisory Council and a Consultative Forum (consisting of native and expatriate Belongers) to advise the Governor and Chief Executive, along with a cadre of international experts to assist with the process. There are also a number of Private Sector initiatives including the Tourism Working Group and the Council of Business and Professional Associations, which demonstrate the commitment of the Turks & Caicos Islands community as we, like many other much larger countries around the world, work through a difficult economy and prepare for our next growth cycle. The Turks & Caicos Real Estate Association (TCREA) is represented on the Consultative Forum and Turks & Caicos Sotheby’s International Realty President Joe Zahm has a key role on the forum.

The Government’s mission is to “put the Turks & Caicos Islands on a durable track towards re -establishing good governance, sound financial management and sustainable development”. The Government aims to promote three core values:

• Transparency
• Accountability
• Responsibility

Its top priorities will be:

• Security
• Prosperity
• Integrity

We remain confident that the system of the government in the Turks & Caicos Islands remains a real strength when compared to many other island destinations, and that the appropriate steps are being taken to ensure that the country, and Turks & Caicos Islands brand, is revitalized and will be better than ever in the months and years to come.