Whichever political party forms the next government of the Turks and Caicos Islands will have to contend with a “greater British presence” in this country for quite some time.

That’s the strong message which was issued by the Director of Overseas Territories in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Mr. Colin Roberts who told a national press conference on Wednesday February 3, 2010, that the British Government is taking strong and serious steps to safeguard against whatever situations prevailed prior to August 2009 when parts of the Turks and Caicos Islands’ Constitution were suspended and an Interim Government sworn in.

Roberts, the quintessential diplomat, said the British intend to hold elections here by mid-2011, but he was quick to add that prior to that, there will be a drastic review of the current constitutional, electoral and political systems; and that after elections are called whenever, more Brits will be here to keep vigil over the Turks and Caicos Islands.

The review of the constitutional, political and electoral arrangements here, including the electoral system and the political systems here will involve a “process of wide consultation” , he says, and the aim is to complete it over the next six months.