Government returned in Turks and Caicos election, new Ministers sworn in
By Courtney S. Robinson
Turks and Caicos Government Information Officer
Newly sworn in Ministers of Government and Members of Executive Council, L to R: Hon. Noel Skippings, Hon. Clarence Selver, Hon. Derek Taylor, Hon. Delroy Williams, Hon. Sean Astwood and Hon. Oswald Skippings Photo by Courtney S. Robinson, Government Information Officer
The Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) once again became the party of choice for the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Being returned to Government for the third consecutive term in office, therefore making history, here in the Turks and Caicos on Thursday, April 24th 2003. No other political party has ever attained such a feat.
On Friday, April 25th, His Excellency the Governor, Mr. James Poston, swore in the new Ministers of Government and Members of the Executive Council for the term 2003 - 2007, at his Waterloo residence.
Those sworn in were Chief Minister for the Turks and Caicos, the Honourable Derek Hugh Taylor, Deputy Chief Minister, the Honourable Clarence Wesley Selver, Honourable Oswald O'Neal Skippings, Honourable Noel Terrence Skippings, Honourable Sean Rickard Astwood and the Honourable Vaden Delroy Williams.
Moments after being sworn as the new Ministers of the Turks and Caicos Executive Council, Chief Minister Taylor gave light to his team.
They include two new and youngest members to the Executive Council, the Honourable Delroy Williams and Honourable Sean Astwood. Mr. Taylor stated that along with these new young and mature members of the Executive Council, the Government would be far better able to navigate through more troubled waters more smoothly.
He reminded all that as Ministerial Government, the Peoples Democratic Movement Administration has recently completed two full terms in office and is now going on to its third term.
He said, "As we stated in our manifesto, we have had our bronze years, between 1995 and 1999, and then 1999 and this year 2003, our silver years, and 2003 and beyond our golden years," adding "So there will be golden opportunities ahead of us, and as any good Olympian you have to continue to go there to ensure that you are able to obtain the gold".
Chief Minister Taylor concluded his remarks by saying that, as a Government their aim will be to continue to move towards the goals for all the people of these Turks and Caicos Islands.
Deputy Chief Minister Clarence Selver stated that the swearing in not only observed as a historic occasion, but that as a party with the Peoples Democratic Movement beginning its third term in office, that is a significant to the growth and maturity of the party itself.
Giving respect to the younger members of the party, Honourable Selver Said "within any organisation you must also help young people coming into the organisation, to clear that path for as the organisation will surely die as any living organisation would, the old must give way the new".
He closed by informing all that the two new members are full of energy, full of ideas and more in tuned with the younger sector of the Country and will be able to bring a new dimension to the party and the Government of the Turks and Caicos on a whole.
The Honourable Oswald Skippings, Minister for Tourism and Immigration said that in spite of all the tribulations and obstacles, "in spite of all the corruptions and conspiracies God has allowed the Peoples, Democratic Movement to prevail once again".
His Excellency the Governor, Mr. James Poston said that he was very glad that the elections were conducted in a peaceable and an orderly fashion.
"Congratulations to all those took part and congratulations to both sides, because both sides made a big effort, fought it well and the results no doubt reflect the will the people feel". He then congratulated all who where then sworn in as Members for the Turks and Caicos Executive Council.
The returns when called in showed that the competition was stiff from the opposition, the Progressive National Party. When the last return for the night was called in, it showed that the PDM had won the 2003 General Election. The outcome, the PDM had won seven seats, with the PNP winning six out of the overall thirteen.