TCI Constitution

The Cabinet 31. (1) There shall be a Cabinet for the Turks and Caicos Islands, which shall consist of— (a) the Governor; (b) a Premier appointed by the Governor in accordance with subsection (2); (c) not more than six other Ministers appointed by the Governor, acting in accordance with the advice of the Premier, from among the elected or appointed members of the House of Assembly, one of whom shall, in accordance with such advice, be appointed by the Governor as Deputy Premier; and (d) the Deputy Governor and the Attorney General. (2) The Governor shall appoint as Premier the elected member of the House of Assembly who demonstrates to the Governor in writing that he or she commands the support of a majority of the elected members of the House. (3) Notwithstanding subsection (2), the Governor shall not appoint as Premier a person who has held office as Premier during two consecutive parliamentary terms unless at least one parliamentary term has expired since he or she last held that office; and for the purposes of this subsection a parliamentary term shall be deemed to be a period commencing when the House of Assembly first meets after being constituted under this Constitution or after its dissolution at any time, and terminating when the House is next dissolved. (4) Appointments of the Premier and the other Ministers shall be made by the Governor by instrument under the public seal. (5) If occasion arises for making an appointment of any Minister between a dissolution of the House of Assembly and the polling in the next following general election, a person who was a member of the House immediately before the dissolution may be appointed as a Minister as if he or she were still a member of the House. (6) The Governor shall, without delay, report to Her Majesty through a Secretary of State every appointment made under this section. Oaths 32. The members of the Cabinet, other than the Governor, shall each, before entering on the duties of his or her office as such member, make before the Governor oaths of allegiance and for the due execution of his or her office in the forms set out in the Schedule to this Constitution.