Juan Ponce De Leon first discovered these uninhabited islands in 1512. Locals claim that the islands were the first landfall of Christopher Columbus in 1492. For several centuries the islands changed hands between the French, Spanish and British. They remained virtually uninhabited until 1678 when they were settled by a group of Bermudians who started to extract salt and timber. Loyalists established Cotton plantations after the American Revolution. But this was short lived. By 1820 the cotton crop had failed and the majority of planters moved on.

The islands became a formal part of the Bahamas in 1799. In 1848 the islanders petitioned for and were granted separate colonial status with an elected Legislative Board and an administrative President. In 1872 the islands were annexed by Jamaica and remained tied to them until Jamaica became independent in 1962. The TCI then became a Crown colony with an Administrator rather than a Governor. In 1965 the Governor of the Bahamas also became the Governor of TCI. When the Bahamas became independent in 1973 TCI finally got their own Governor.

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Coat of Arms

The Coat of Arms of the Turks and Caicos Islands were granted in 1965.

The Arms consist of a shield bearing a conch shell, lobster, and cactus on a yellow background. The dexter and sinister supporters are flamingos. The crest is a pelican between two sisal plants representing connection to the rope industry.

The shield from the arms feature on the Flag of the Turks and Caicos Islands, and on the defaced Union Flag of the Governor.

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The Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) form the south-eastern extremity of the Bahamas chain and lie 90 miles north of Haiti and the Dominican Republic and 575 miles south-east of Miami (a 75 minute flight from Miami). The territory comprises some 40 islands and cays (pronounced keys) split into two groups by a deep-water channel, with a total land area of 193 square miles. Only six of the islands are permanently inhabited: Grand Turk (where the capital Cockburn Town is situated); Salt Cay; South Caicos; Middle Caicos; North Caicos and Providenciales (known as Provo, where the majority of the tourism development is). There are a number of exclusive hotel developments and holiday homes on smaller cays. Limited rainfall plus poor soil and a limestone base restrict the possibilities for agricultural development.

The climate is warm throughout the year but tempered by constant trade winds. The average annual temperature is 27C and the rainfall ranges from 21 inches in the eastern islands to 40 inches in the west. The islands are rocky, semi-barren and covered with cacti and thorny acacia trees. Over 30 protected areas have been designated to conserve the delicate ecosystems and wildlife habitats of the creeks, sand flats, lagoons, and marshy wetlands. There are 200 miles of white beaches.

Premier and Minister of Planning, Tourism, Development and District Administration

The Turks and Caicos Islands are an internal self-governing British Overseas Territory with a ministerial system of government. The 2006 Constitution provides for a Governor appointed by HM the Queen, a Cabinet and an elected House of Assembly. The Governor is responsible for external affairs, defence, internal security, the regulation of international financial services and certain other matters but is otherwise normally required to act on the advice of Cabinet. There is a ministerial system including the Premier and six other Ministers with the responsibility for the business of government exercised in accordance with policies decided by Cabinet. The Cabinet consists of the Governor (presiding officer), the Premier, six other Ministers and the Attorney General. The House of Assembly comprises a Speaker, 15 elected members, 4 appointed members and the Attorney General.

The 2006 Constitutional Order came into force in August 2006. In February 2007 a general election was called and the governing Progressive National Party (PNP) were returned with a substantial majority, winning 60% of the vote and 13 seats of the 15 seats.