First Female Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands
Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson Elected to Office in Recent Elections
The colonial style government building on Grand Turk still looks the same.
Its view still showcases amazing ocean views; the white coral sand is still as soft as baby powder.
And the flag flying outside remains unchanged.
But there is one big difference; and it’s wearing high heels.
On December 15, 2016 Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson was elected the first female premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI). She led her party the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) which won 10 of the 15 seats and ousted Premier Dr Rufus Ewing and his Progressive National Party (PNP).
Her election win is an achievement in a long list of firsts for this woman. Cartwright-Robinson was the first female member of the Kiwanis and the first female to be elected leader of any political party in the islands. She was the first woman to serve as party Vice Chairman, Secretary General and National Chairman and Deputy Leader. She also became the first leader of the opposition.
Get to Know Premier Cartwright-Robinson
A lawyer by profession since called to the bar in 1998, Cartwright-Robinson has spent the better part of her life serving her country. She has been a member of the Governor’s appointed Consultative Forum and the TCI Constitutional Review Committee and has served on the Legislative Council and chaired many of its select Committees. But her enthusiasm and efforts extend beyond government involvement to church and civic activities. She is well known throughout the islands for her work with youth and has served as National Youth Director (since 2006) and Legal Counsel (since 2000) for the TCI Baptist Union. Cartwright-Robinson was also the first female member, secretary and President of the TCI Kiwanis and the first President of the TCI Cancer Foundation.
A recipient of the 2012 Person of the Year, Cartwright-Robinson is definitely a trail blazer. It’s clear from her speech at the National Heroes Day Celebrations in 2013 that she’s someone who lives her life from a deeply held conviction about giving back to community. Her words are a call to islanders to a life of service.
“We each have a role to play and we ought to take it seriously and do something great for our community and our country,” she states in her National address.
After years of breaking the gender barrier and successfully taking on countless roles both in and outside government, Cartwright-Robinson has practiced what she preaches. Her new role as Premier, the highest position in the land, is the ultimate evidence of this. But for this woman, she is really only getting started.
