Upcoming FDA Project in the Turks and Caicos Islands

"Turks and Caicos Islands Restoration of Democracy" project Project Information: "Turks and Caicos Islands Restoration of Democracy" project Project Location: Local: Turks and Caicos Islands Project Management: Mr. Stephen Garvey, FDA Executive Director, will oversee the project; Mr. Chris Burke, founder of TCI Watch, will manage the project; and Mr. Alvin Henger, a descendant of the Islands and well respected public figure, will help manage the project. Project Summary: Project to act as an impetus to help restore democracy on the Turks and Caicos Islands. Determine the “Belongers’” basic overall priorities of the Turks and Caicos Islands (in terms of municipal policies and expenditure), and use those priorities as a basis to evaluate the expenditures and policies of the UK governance of the Turks and Caicos Islands. (1 “Belonger” citizen panel, reflecting a cross-section of Turks and Caicos Islands, will be formed to access and assess public opinion about the Turks and Caicos’ priorities. Other means to access public opinion, including online survey and door to door survey. 2 other “Belonger” citizen panels will be formed (independent of each other) to evaluate, rank, and grade the candidates/parties in the 2011 Turks and Caicos Islands election. The panels will use the established priorities as a basis to evaluate, rank, and grade the candidates/parties. Main feature of the project: Democratic Dialogue and Constitutional Processes Marginalized or Vulnerable Groups: Addressing the needs of marginalized or vulnerable groups is a key objective of the project. The needs of marginalized groups are critical to the project, because those needs will help form the basic, overall priorities of Turks and Caicos citizens. To not include a segment of the Turks and Caicos local public in the project would weaken the credibility of the results. The more, diverse participation in the project, the more credible the project will be, and consequently the more impact the project will have. Hence, the FDA has a significant interest in including all segments of the Turks and Caicos local public in the project. Project Description: Problem being addressed: As of August of 2009, Turks and Caicos Islands ceased to be a democracy, with the UK installing a dictatorship via a one-person rule. The purpose of the project is to restore the Turks and Caicos democracy so that the local people have the final as to the direction and future of the Islands. Moreover, project will help ensure that the restored democracy is robust and consistent with the principle of government of, by and for the people. Objectives/Purpose: Restore democracy to the Turks and Caicos Islands. Help ensure the legitimacy of the democracy restored. Promote greater inclusion of the Turks and Caicos local public in the political process. Encourage increased political empowerment of the Turks and Caicos local public. Help inform the Turks and Caicos public about democracy and their political representatives. Create greater public accountability of political representatives. Key Activities: 1. Formation of a citizen panel, comprised of a cross-section of Turks and Caicos Belongers--in terms of age, gender, occupation, and ethnicity. 2. 8 public forums held on the eight Turks and Caicos Islands. (The citizen panel will host the events.) 3. Door to door survey (in addition to public forums) to access marginalized groups. 4. Evaluation of the public input. Produce a report on the Turks and Caicos public priorities (in terms of government policies and expenditure.) 5. Formation of 2 other citizen panels. These citizen panels will evaluate, rank, and grade the UK imposed governor, Gordon Wetherell based on the established priorities of the Turks and Caicos local people. Produce a report. 6. Release the evaluation report to the public, media, and government. 7. Evaluate, rank, and grade the candidates and parties running in the 2011 Turks and Caicos Islands election. Produce a report. Outputs/Deliverable Products: 1. Extensive data on the Turks and Caicos public's priorities. 2. Report on the basic, overall priorities of the Turks and Caicos local people. 3. Report on the UK imposed governor, Gordon Wetherell, in the context of the basic, overall priorities of the Turks and Caicos public. 4. Report on the candidates and parties in the 2011 election, in the context of the basic, overall priorities of the Turks and Caicos public. 5. A website which contains all the reports and public data, barring confidentiality and/or anonymity agreements. Results/Outcomes: Increased involvement of the Turks and Caicos local people in the political process. Establish new public mechanisms to hold political representatives accountable. Increased democratic empowerment of the people of Turks and Caicos Islands. Increased connection between the Turks and Caicos people and the Turks and Caicos government. Increased public accountability of political representatives. More informed Turks and Caicos voters. Increased Turks and Caicos voter turnout. Restored democracy to the Turks and Caicos Islands (not guaranteed by the project) Established watchdog mechanisms over the democracy restored. Overall improvement of democracy in Turks and Caicos Islands. Monitoring and Evaluation: Measurement will be by comparative analysis techniques and survey/interview. The project will measure public participation in the political process and changes in government policies and expenditures. The FDA will be responsible for measuring. Innovation: The project is innovative, because it is using evaluation as a means to improve and strengthen democracy. Also, the project utilizes innovative democratic mechanisms to empower and include the people, and hold political representatives accountable. Sustainability: The achievements will be maintained by performing subsequent evaluation reports on the next Turks and Caicos Islands election and reassessment of the Turks and Caicos local public's basic priorities. The FDA needs your help to advance democracy! The FDA needs to raise $34,500 to cover the TCI project expenses. If you believe in the Turks and Caicos Islands Restoration of Democracy project, and the importance of restoring and advancing democracy on the Islands, please donate to this project: If you would like more project information, please Contact the FDA | Home | About the FDA | Donate to the FDA | FDA Membership | Affiliated Organization | Contact the FDA |