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NAVIGATION
Turks and Caicos Islands
GOVERNMENT
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Country name:
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conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Turks and Caicos Islands |
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Dependency status:
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overseas territory of the UK |
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Government type:
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NA |
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Capital:
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Grand Turk (Cockburn Town) |
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Administrative divisions:
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none (overseas territory of the UK) |
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Independence:
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none (overseas territory of the UK) |
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National holiday:
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Constitution Day, 30 August (1976) |
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Constitution:
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introduced 30 August 1976; suspended in 1986; restored and revised 5 March 1988 |
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Legal system:
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based on laws of England and Wales, with a few adopted from Jamaica and The Bahamas |
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1953), represented by Governor Jim POSTON (since 16 December 2002)
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party is appointed chief minister by the governor head of government: Chief Minister Derek H. TAYLOR (since 31 January 1995) cabinet: Executive Council consists of three ex officio members and five appointed by the governor from among the members of the Legislative Council |
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Legislative branch:
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unicameral Legislative Council (19 seats, of which 13 are popularly elected; members serve four-year terms)
elections: last held 24 April 2003 (next to be held NA 2007) election results: percent of vote by party - PDM 53.8%, PNP 46.2%; seats by party - PDM 7, PNP 6 |
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Judicial branch:
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Supreme Court |
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Political parties and leaders:
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People's Democratic Movement or PDM [Derek H. TAYLOR]; Progressive National Party or PNP [Washington MISICK]; United Democratic Party or UDP [Wendal SWANN] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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NA |
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International organization participation:
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Caricom (associate), CDB, Interpol (subbureau) |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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none (overseas territory of the UK) |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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none (overseas territory of the UK) |
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Flag description:
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blue, with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrant and the colonial shield centered on the outer half of the flag; the shield is yellow and contains a conch shell, lobster, and cactus |
ECONOMY
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Economy - overview:
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The Turks and Caicos economy is based on tourism, fishing, and offshore financial services. Most capital goods and food for domestic consumption are imported. The US is the leading source of tourists, accounting for more than half of the 93,000 visitors in 1998. Major sources of government revenue include fees from offshore financial activities and customs receipts. Tourism fell by 6% in 2002 but appeared to be picking up at yearend. |
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $231 million (2000 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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4.9% (2000 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $9,600 (2000 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: NA%
industry: NA% services: NA% |
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Population below poverty line:
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NA% |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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4% (1995) |
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Labor force:
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4,848 (1990 est.) |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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about 33% in government and 20% in agriculture and fishing; significant numbers in tourism, financial, and other services |
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Unemployment rate:
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10% (1997 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $47 million
expenditures: $33.6 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997-98 est.) |
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Industries:
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tourism, offshore financial services |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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NA% |
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Electricity - production:
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5 million kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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4.65 million kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh (2001) |
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Oil - production:
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NA (2001 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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NA bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - exports:
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NA (2001) |
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Oil - imports:
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NA (2001) |
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Agriculture - products:
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corn, beans, cassava (tapioca), citrus fruits; fish |
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Exports:
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$169.2 million (2000) |
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Exports - commodities:
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lobster, dried and fresh conch, conch shells |
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Exports - partners:
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US, UK |
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Imports:
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$175.6 million (2000) |
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Imports - commodities:
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food and beverages, tobacco, clothing, manufactures, construction materials |
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Imports - partners:
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US, UK |
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Debt - external:
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$NA |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$4.1 million (1997) |
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Currency:
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US dollar (USD) |
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Currency code:
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USD |
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Exchange rates:
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the US dollar is used |
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Fiscal year:
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calendar year |