(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) A Ministerial Fact-Finding Mission from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) ended a three-day visit to the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) on Wednesday 26 June.

This Mission, led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration of The Bahamas, the Honourable Frederick A. Mitchell was mandated by CARICOM’s Community to review the situation in the Turks and Caicos Islands, following the return of Parliamentary democracy to the islands last year, after three years of direct rule from London. TCI is an Associate Member of CARICOM.

Members of the Mission included the Foreign Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, the Honourable Patrice Nisbett, and the Designated Special Envoy of the President of Haiti to CARICOM, Mr. Peterson Noel. Accompanying the delegation were, Ambassador Picewell Forbes, High Commissioner of The Bahamas to CARICOM and Assistant Secretary General Foreign and Community Relations at the CARICOM Secretariat Ambassador Colin Granderson.

Meetings were held in Grand Turk and Providenciales Islands with a wide spectrum of representatives including the Governor His Excellency Damian Todd, the Cabinet led by Premier the Honourable Dr Rufus Ewing, the Parliamentary Opposition, Speaker of the House, former Ministers, the Private Sector, Bar Association and legal-advocacy groups, the Religious community, Youth and Non-Governmental Organisations ( NGOs).

The delegation will present its findings and recommendations to the CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting being held in Trinidad and Tobago on 4-6 July 2013.