TNAG-0926-FCO40-1144-Future-of-the-Dependent-Territories-1980 — Page 84

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publicity over Antigua's alleged involvement in the shipment of arms to South Africa, would not wish to be placed in a position where they were held responsible internationally for the affairs of territories over which they had no powers of control. As he had already said, a statutory Public Service Commission was different. The Chief Minister repeated that he was talking of taking away the Governor's absolute and discretionary power. HC Duff suggested that the Chief Minister should discuss with the Governor taking a paper in the Executive Council recommending certain changes in the constitution along the lines of, for example, Anguilla. The Chief Minister said that the Anguilla constitution did not go far enough; the TCG wanted the power to make senior appointments such as the Attorney-General etc.

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Mr Duff then asked whether the Ministers had considered the effect an announcemnt of constitutional change on the lines they sought would have on private investment. The Chief Minister believed that it would have little effect. The territory had no private investment as it was and conversations they had had with investors led them to believe that investors would prefer the TCG to control things.

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Mr Maguire asked whether the sort of constitution granted to the Associated States would be available to the Turks and Caicos Islands. dr buff said that any move to Associated Statehood on the Lines OT the West Indies Act 1967 was

out. It had been a useful experiment but one that on balance had too many disadvantages and it would not be repeated.

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At this point Mr Duff handed the Chief Minister and Mr Maywire a copy of a letter on constitutional advance (Duff's letter of

2 May to Strong) and suggested on return the Ministers should discuss the whole matter with the Governor. Further than that we not go

could Finally Mr Duff pointed out that the views he had expressed were those of officials and that the request of the Turks and Caicos Islands Government had not yet been put to MinistersÀ

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Distribution:

PS/Mr Ridley

PS/Mr Marten

Sir A Parsons

Mr Stratton

Mr Rushford, Legal Advisers

WIAD (to enter)

HK GD

Governor, Grand Turk (2 copies)

British High Commission, Bridgetown Development Division, Bridgetown

Chanceries :

Washington UKMIS New York