Progressive National Party
AbbreviationPNP
LeaderWashington Misick (Premier)
ChairpersonCalvin Greene
Secretary-GeneralSonia Williams
Founded1976
IdeologySocial democracy
Christian democracy[1]
Political positionCentre-left[2][3]
House of Assembly
14 / 15
Website
http://www.tcipnp.me/

The Progressive National Party is a political party in the Turks and Caicos Islands, currently led by Washington Misick.[4] The PNP holds 14 of the 15 seats in the House of Assembly and has been the government since 20 Feb 2021.

History

More Information: The PNP: A History

Origins

Before party politics was introduced in the Turks and Caicos, a group called the Progressive National Organisation (PNO) was advocating for constitutional reform that would allow for local people to be elected to government roles to represent themselves rather than the old system of UK appointees having the final say in all matters.[5] The advocates for these changes included Hon. NJS Francis and Headley Durham of Grand Turk; Alexander Henry "Shorty" Smith of Salt Cay; Hon. Hilly Ewing of Providenciales; Charles Nathaniel Misick of North Caicos; and Dan Malcolm and Hon. Norman Saunders of South Caicos. These men would go on to be the founding members of the PNO and subsequently petitioned, organised, and paid for the 1976 constitution that made party politics possible and made a big step towards the autonomy and independence they all longed for.[5]

Electoral history

1976 election

Once the constitution was in full effect, the PNO became the Progressive National Party and Norman Saunders was elected leader of the party.

Neither the PNP nor the opposing party, People's Democratic Movement (PDM), won the election as six (6) seats were necessary to declare victory. The PDM had won five and the PNP won four and two seats were held by independent candidates. Liam McGuire of South Caicos, one of the independent candidates, approached the PNP alongside Danny Williams of North Caicos requesting to be given the role of Minister of Development in exchange for joining the party and giving them the seats needed to secure the victory. The PNP unanimously declined as they saw McGuire as a "foreigner" who "should not hold a permanent office in the government." McGuire refused to take a non-ministerial role and, with Williams, joined the PDM making them the first government of the TCI.[6][5]

2003 election

At the 2003 legislative elections, the party won six out of 13 seats. It won two extra seats at a by-election on 7 August 2003, bringing the party to power.

2007 election

In the 9 February 2007 elections the party won 13 out of 15 seats, the largest margin in history until the 2021 general election.

2016 election

Their 2016 election opponents were the People's Democratic Movement and the Progressive Democratic Alliance.

Electoral performance

Election Leader No. of votes Share of votes Seats Result
1976 Norman Saunders 1,008 42.0%
4 / 11
 Opposition
1980 Norman Saunders 1,724 60.3%
8 / 11
 Government
1984 Norman Saunders 1,965 61.2%
8 / 11
 Government
1988 Daniel Malcolm 2,727 29.6%
2 / 13
 Opposition
1991 Washington Misick 4,834 40.8%
8 / 13
 Government
1995 Washington Misick 1,887 45.8%
4 / 13
 Opposition
1999 Washington Misick 1,849 40.8%
4 / 13
 Opposition
2003 Michael Misick 2,725 49.8%
7 / 13
 Government
2007 Michael Misick 3,609 60.8%
13 / 15
 Government
2012 Rufus Ewing 2,833 44.8%
8 / 15
 Government
2016 Rufus Ewing 2,645 42.7%
5 / 15
 Opposition
2021 Washington Misick 3,572 55.2%
14 / 15
 Government

References

  1. ↑ "Manifesto" (PDF). www.caribbeanelections.com. 2016. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  2. ↑ "Manifesto" (PDF). www.caribbeanelections.com. 2016. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  3. ↑ "British Turks and Caicos Islands to hold general elections". Foreign Brief. foreignbrief. 18 February 2021. Retrieved 7 March 2021..
  4. ↑ Isles, Delana. "TCI will maintain stable S&P rating - Opposition leader". Turks and Caicos Weekly News. Retrieved 2021-02-13.
  5. 1 2 3 "The PNP: A History". online.fliphtml5.com. Retrieved 2021-02-26.
  6. ↑ "Progressive National Party - TCI". www.tcipnp.me. Retrieved 2021-02-26.


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