General elections were held in the Turks and Caicos Islands on 3 March 1988.General Election Results - 3 March 1988 Caribbean Elections They were the first after the suspension of the islands' constitution between 1986 and 1988, which followed Chief Minister Norman Saunders leaving office in March 1985 after being arrested on suspicion of drug smuggling (he was later found guilty and jailed)Indicted Minister Quits Post Sun Sentinel, 23 March 1985U.s. Fears Drug Trade Will Heat Up As Economy In Caribbean Worsens Sun Sentinel, 19 March 1995 and the next Chief Minister Nathaniel Francis resigning in July 1986 after a British parliamentary inquiry accused him of corruption.Turks and Caicos government dissolved UPI, 25 July 1986
The result was a victory for the opposition People's Democratic Movement (PDM), which won eleven of the thirteen seats in the Legislative Council. Following the elections, PDM leader Oswald Skippings became Chief Minister. Daniel Malcolm, leader of the Progressive National Party (PNP) and Ariel Misick, leader of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) both lost their seats.
Electoral system The thirteen members of the Legislative Council were elected from five multi-member constituencies with two or three seats. The number of seats was increased from 11 in 1984.
Campaign A total of 39 candidates contested the elections, with the PDM, PNP and NDA all running full slates of 13 candidates.
Results
References