By Kathy
Clarence Jolly had vision for moving the TCI forward.
By Dr. Carlton Mills and Debby-Lee Mills
Clarence T. Jolly Sr. (as he liked to be known), was a Turks & Caicos man with a vision for moving his country forward. Sadly, he was perceived by some as an invader of a territory that was apparently reserved for politicians who had spent their entire lives in the country. His contributions to the TCI, though short-lived, had a trail-blazing impact, as he undoubtedly laid the foundation for the political parties that exist today. His contributions must never be forgotten.
Political turmoil is not a strange phenomenon in the Turks & Caicos Islands (TCI). The country has experienced numerous turnovers over the course of its history. The Bermudians occupied the Islands harvesting salt undisturbed for close to three centuries. As salt generated insurmountable wealth for investors, the Crown saw the need to exercise more control over this lucrative industry.
The first attempt at direct Crown control took place in 1766, followed by linking the TCI with the Bahamas in 1799. This relationship lasted until 1848. It was followed by a 25-year period of the Presidency (1848–1874). From 1874 to 1962, the Crown placed the TCI under the administration of Jamaica. Following Jamaica’s independence in 1962, the Crown in 1965 placed the TCI for a second time under the administration of the Bahamas. It was evident that something had to be done to bring about stability in the country.
As the 1970s approached, the Bahamas expressed their desire for independence from Britain. This was granted on July 10, 1973. This move by the Bahamas towards political independence created a huge dilemma and a deep sense of uneasiness for Turks & Caicos Islanders residing in the Bahamas since the late 1950s and early 1960s. Many of these Islanders, men in particular, had left the TCI at an early age due to the closure of the salt industry. Salt, the once lucrative economic backbone of the economy, experienced serious decline due to global competition and the inability of the salt proprietors to mechanize the industry. These factors resulted in the closure of this once-thriving industry in South Caicos and Grand Turk in 1964 and the eventual closure in Salt Cay in 1972. The Bahamian rumour mill quickly circulated the worrisome news that as soon as the Bahamas gained their independence, all TC Islanders would be deported.Subsequently, several long-resident TC Islanders made their way back home even though deportation rumours, in some cases, did not apply to their situation.
As the Bahamas was transitioning towards political autonomy, the TCI was also on the verge of internal political changes in order to start the process of preparing themselves for the unknown. One such change took place in 1969 when the Crown amended the 1962 constitution and introduced a new form of government called the State Council.
This new body, the State Council, had an Executive Arm as well as a Legislative Arm. The Legislative Arm gave advice after consultation with the Executive Arm. The Administrator wielded all power. If there were any discrepancies, he could consult with the Governor in the Bahamas. The Administrator also could establish committees to conduct certain areas of business at his pleasure.The life of the State Council ranged from not less than four years and nine months to not more than five years.
Another major event took place in 1970 when two outstanding Turks & Caicos Islanders, Clarence Jolly and George Selver (Senior) returned home from the Bahamas where they had made significant investments. Mr. Jolly was born in Bottle Creek, North Caicos on September 14, 1911. He was a family man, who like many men during his time migrated to the Bahamas at a young age in search of a better life.
While in the Bahamas, Mr. Jolly engaged in several business ventures. He set up a shipping company which traded between Florida, the Bahamas, and the TCI. As a result, he was able to establish contacts with the TCI through regular visits to his homeland. Mr. George Selver, during his tenure in the Bahamas, also engaged in several business ventures. Being the entrepreneur that he was, he had established businesses in Grand Turk where he also took up residence.
Immediately upon his return home in 1970, Mr. Jolly jumped into action. It was apparent that he had kept abreast with the political climate back in the TCI. His years of experience in the Bahamas bolstered his enthusiasm to stake his claim in the political affairs of his homeland. His timing was perfect, as one of the members of the State Council in Grand Turk had to vacate his post due to health reasons. This opened the door for a by-election. Mr. Jolly immediately registered to contest the by-election seat but was unsuccessful in his bid. His loss could have been because of he not yet being well known by the electorate.
This defeat was not the only challenge that Mr. Jolly encountered.The fact that he was a Bahamian citizen stirred up conflict with the current members of the State Council—the governing political body of the day. They put the wheels in motion to discredit him. The case was made that since he possessed dual citizenship, he should not have been allowed to enter the political arena in the Turks & Caicos Islands. However, Mr. Jolly’s place of birth was North Caicos, which gave him ultimate rights to TCI citizenship and all rights to contest elections. Additionally, there was no election ordinance exempting persons with dual citizenship at that time.
The State Council members did not stop there. Once it was widely established what Mr. Jolly’s political intentions were, he was met with further opposition. The State Council members accused him and the other men who had returned to the TCI of indulging in a certain amount of crude political propaganda during a major sporting event. The Council members felt that this group was ultimately setting the stage for their entry into local politics—which could become a direct threat to their own future membership in the State Council.
The protest by the State Council members did not end there. They then engaged in a vigorous in-house debate over the legitimacy of Clarence Jolly to contest the seat in the by-election. Members wanted to rule immediately on this application as a precursor to future applications.They viewed Mr. Jolly as an “outsider” who came to the Islands with the sole intention to participate in the local elections. They intended to guard this process as sacredly and securely as they possibly could.
The behaviour of the State Council did not sit well with Mr. Jolly and his group.They felt as if they were being treated as prophets without honour, respect, and dignity in their own country.
Following the debate by the State Council, a report was received from the Supervisor of Elections entitled: “Re: By-Election—Clarence Jolly.” The report cited the following:
•Clarence Jolly was born in the Turks & Caicos Islands. His domicile of origin rests therefore in the Islands.
•Mr. Clarence Jolly left the Islands some time ago and took up residence and commenced business in the Bahamas. It appears that he acquired domicile of choice there.
•About twelve months ago, Mr. Jolly became interested in the development of these Islands. From time to time, he returned home, residing at his house in Bottle Creek. He made development proposals to the Government. He also expressed at the time his intentions to return home so that he would be able to execute his plans. At this time, Mr. Jolly’s domicile of choice in the Bahamas was lost owing to his uncertain future there. His domicile therefore reverted to domicile of origin being the Turks & Caicos Islands.
•At that time, Mr. Jolly had two residences (Bahamas and TCI). He need not actually reside permanently in one or the other to have resident qualification.
Following the report, the Supervisor of Elections concluded that Mr. Clarence Jolly was lawfully resident in the Islands at the time of his constitutional nomination. He therefore advised that Mr. Jolly was qualified for elected membership at the by-election which was held on April 15, 1970.
This ruling was the initial spark that re-ignited and re-energized the political desire of Mr. Jolly and his group. They pressed forward with their political agenda.
The foregoing political fiasco brought about by the State Council did not go unnoticed by Britain. Mr. R.N. Poshett from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), in an unprecedented response, wrote a letter dated October 21, 1971. His letter echoed dismay at the reaction of the members of the State Council towards Mr. Jolly’s actions. He pointed out that the intention behind the State Council’s behaviour seemed to be that of preserving control of government of the Islands for the indigenous inhabitants. In this letter he also pointed out how difficult it was to wean the State Council away from this negative way of thinking.
Mr. Poshett further stated that in essence there seemed to be two matters for clarification that were the driving force behind the State Council’s extensive discussions concerning Mr. Jolly. One such matter was the qualifying period for enfranchisement and for qualification as a potential elected member of the State Council. The second issue was whether the right to vote pertained to an individual ordinarily residing in the Islands five out of seven years immediately preceding the date of his nomination.
The Administrator made it unequivocally clear that the term “residence” means that any Turks & Caicos Islander who owns a home and spends a few months in the TCI is qualified to contest a seat in the election.
The following also comprised the qualifications for electors:
•Be a British subject age 21 or above;
•Resident in the TCI for 12 months preceding the qualifying date or domiciled and resident in the Islands;
•He or she had to be ordinarily resident in their electoral district.
In summary, Mr. Poshett’s firm position was that it was evident that Mr. Jolly was viewed by members of the State Council as a possible political threat because he was publicly critical of their form of governance at the time.
In January 1972, following the favourable rulings by the Election Supervisor and the FCO, Mr. Jolly went full steam ahead in forming the first active political party in the TCI, a few months ahead of the general election. Mr. George Selver (Senior) was also instrumental in the formation of this political party. The two men later gained the support of State Council member Mr. Headley Durham, Nathaniel (Bops) Francis, and James A.G.S. McCartney (JAGS) of Grand Turk. Another key player was Mr. Paul S. Higgs from Bottle Creek, North Caicos. These men would also contest seats in their respective constituencies on behalf of the new political party.
The party now fully established was named the Turks & Caicos Labour Party (TCLP). They strategically engaged in holding political meetings throughout the Islands as a means of marketing the party. Their primary focus was in Grand Turk where their base was established.
The TCLP officials further embarked on putting a firm structure in place. They established a Candidates Selection Committee which was given the responsibility to choose candidates for the upcoming election to present to the State Council later in the year. One of its mandates was to attract foreign investment as a means of boosting the economic state of the Islands.
Additionally, the TCLP was promoted as being the “people’s party.” Mr. Jolly explained this meant that the party was designed and formed for the benefit and improvement of the entire population. The TCLP promoted inclusivity. It pledged to give each individual an equal opportunity to develop himself. According to Mr. Jolly, the party belonged to the people of the TCI—not to its founders Clarence Jolly and George Selver.
Its formation was based on the core principle of being a constructive voice in the Legislative Assembly. The main intention of the party was to elevate the political level of thinking and standards of living in the Islands. The ultimate goal was to put the TCI on the same level politically, socially, and economically as their partners in the region so that its people could eventually be on the competitive global stage. Their goal was to give the people of the TCI a new self-image, self-worth, and self-awareness.
In the view of the TCLP founders, the current members of the State Council were mentally obscured and possessed a darkened view of progress. Their mindset took the country backwards over 150 years. The TCLP presented a new vision of progress which would take the country forward with a new outlook of hope and prosperity. The essence of the party was captured in the words of its leader, Clarence Jolly, “The man who waits to be shown the way is a stupid fellow; but the man who strives to find the way, he is the one to follow.” (Conch News, 1972)
Mr. Clarence Jolly, being a natural orator, emphasized the concept of the party as a people’s party in a letter to the local newspaper, Conch News, in 1972. In this letter, he expressed delight over the proposed development for the Islands. He also cautioned that succession planning must play an integral part in the development as a way of ensuring opportunities and empowering local people. In his opinion, this can only come about if the government identified Turks & Caicos Islanders who are highly qualified and placed them in top level positions currently being held by expatriates. He believed such action would help in gearing locals to be the architects and designers of their own and the country’s future. He went on to stress the need for young people to emulate the high-quality leadership that was being displayed by members of the TCLP. These men had benefited from international exposure and were willing to pass on their knowledge to future generations.
Mr. Jolly not only “talked the talk,” but he also “walked the walk.” This was noted by the editor of the Conch News who pointed out that along with his brother and friends, Mr. Jolly laid the foundation in Bottle Creek for what they termed “American financed work.” The objective of this development, according to Mr. Jolly, was to encourage Turks & Caicos Islanders to become builders, technicians, and operators in every possible conceivable profession. In the long run, this would create a more prosperous and affluent TCI.
During the TCLP’s vigorous all-island campaign, trouble was brewing under the surface. Two members of the State Council, Norman Saunders and Hilly Ewing, became openly vocal and critical in their responses to the formation of the TCLP. They expressed their concerns in letters to the local newspaper. Norman Saunders threatened that if Jolly and Selver thought that with the formation of the TCLP they will create automatic confidence in investors, they had better think again. He strongly condemned the leadership of the party for what he termed “bluffing the people” and that its formation was premature at the time.
He further noted that the current Constitution made no provision to accommodate party politics at the time. Furthermore, if the TCLP members by any stretch of the imagination were to win a majority of seats, according to the Constitution, they could not form a government nor could they share information that was discussed at the State Council meetings with party affiliates, as such information was deemed confidential. This was a tactic to discourage people from supporting the TCLP.
Despite the aforementioned trials, Mr. Jolly was adamant in his response to the letters that were written to the Conch News by both members of the State Council. He referred to those men as being politically blind and being unable to effectively lead the TCI. He saw both individuals as stumbling blocks in moving the country forward. He noted that, “No one man can stop the wheels of time, no barrier can stand against the controversial forces of the people of a country, a people who want to move up with the changing scenes of the ages.”
This new challenge by members of the State Council in no way deterred the actions of the TCLP. They went on to contest the election in September 1972 where Jolly won his seat in Grand Turk. Paul Higgs of Bottle Creek, North Caicos also contested the seat for the party in that constituency but lost by a very slim margin.
The TCLP officials contested the election results. The Supreme Court held its session in Bottle Creek, North Caicos. This was an historical event, as for the first time in the country’s history, the Supreme Court held a hearing outside of the capital, Grand Turk. Notwithstanding these efforts, the election results were upheld by the Court.
Despite its best intentions, the Turks & Caicos Labour Party (TCLP) unfortunately did not stand the test of time. Internal strife and accusations of financial misappropriations saw the demise of the first political party of the TCI.
Members of the Grand Turk sect were persistently critical of Jolly’s leadership. The sad mindset of the day, “Turks versus Caicos (or Caucos)”, played a major part in the divisiveness of the Islands. The TCLP politicians in Grand Turk felt that the party leadership should be someone from Grand Turk. This negative trend of thought eventually forced Mr. Jolly out of the party’s leadership role—a party that he had formed. Mr. Jolly had also invested excessive time, finances, and energy into creating the TCLP. To have the party swept out from under his feet in this form was most disheartening and disingenuous. Nathaniel Francis, a Grand Turk member. also eventually withdrew from the party. The now disillusioned Clarence Jolly packed up and returned to the Bahamas. The once well-intentioned and benignant TCLP finally disintegrated.
This writer is not in a position to predict what would have happened if the TCLP had survived. Would the party have made a positive difference? Despite their failure to gain traction, the movers and shakers of this party must be commended for their vision, strength, and courage in making such a political leap at a time when party politics was not the order of the day in the TCI.
One can only assume that the formation of this party may have set the foundation for the birth of party politics in the Islands four years later (1976). In fact, the Right Excellent James Alexander George Smith McCartney (JAGS), who contested a seat in the 1972 election on the TCLP ticket in Grand Turk, went on to form the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) in 1976. On the other hand, Norman Saunders and Nathaniel Francis joined forces to form the People’s National Organization (PNO), now the Progressive National Party (PNP). Norman Saunders, one of the strongest opponents of the TCLP formation, became the leader of the PNO and Nathaniel (Bops) Francis became the deputy leader. Headley Durham contested the election in Grand Turk’s Second District (Over Back) as an independent candidate but lost to Francis.
Perhaps the opposing individuals registered animosity against the founding members of the TCLP because they were not the ones at the forefront, having been active in the local political arena long before. What was striking was that—although the leadership of the TCLP were “raw boned” Turks & Caicos Islanders—they were still viewed by the local politicians as being “outsiders.” Their time spent outside the country seemingly erased any credence bestowed by their place of birth.