The Turks and Caicos Islands Constitution Order 2011

Governor’s reserved power

72.—(1) If the Governor considers that the enactment of legislation is necessary or desirable—

(a) for the purpose of securing compliance with an international obligation;

(b) to ensure compliance with the Statement of Governance Principles for the time being in effect;

(c) to ensure that sufficient funds have been appropriated, within four months of the commencement of each financial year, for the effective operation of committees of the House of Assembly, the courts, the Attorney General’s Chambers, and each institution protecting good governance; or

(d) to give effect, with or without modifications, to the recommendations contained in a report of an Electoral District Boundary Commission,

but, after consultation with the Premier, it appears to the Governor that the Cabinet is unwilling to support the introduction into the House of Assembly of a bill for the purpose or that the House is unlikely to pass a bill introduced into it for the purpose, the Governor may, with the prior approval of a Secretary of State, cause a bill for the purpose to be published in the Gazette and may (notwithstanding that the bill has not been passed by the House) assent to it on behalf of Her Majesty; but the bill shall be so published for at least 21 days prior to assent unless the Governor certifies by writing under his or her hand that the matter is too urgent to permit such delay in the giving of assent and so informs a Secretary of State.

(2) If any member of the Cabinet so desires, he or she may, within 30 days of the publication of a bill under subsection (1), submit to the Governor a statement in writing of his or her comments on such publication, and the Governor shall forward such statement, or a copy of it, as soon as practicable to a Secretary of State.

(3) The powers conferred on the Governor by subsection (1) shall be exercised by the Governor in his or her discretion.