General elections were held in the Turks and Caicos Islands on 3 March 1988.[1] They were the first after the suspension of the islands' constitution between 1986 and 1988, which followed Chief Minister Norman Saunders leaving office in March 1985 after being arrested on suspicion of drug smuggling (he was later found guilty and jailed)[2][3] and the next Chief Minister Nathaniel Francis resigning in July 1986 after a British parliamentary inquiry accused him of corruption.[4]
The thirteen members of the Legislative Council were elected from five multi-member constituencies with two or three seats.[1] The number of seats was increased from 11 in 1984.[1]
Campaign
A total of 39 candidates contested the elections, with the PDM, PNP and NDA all running full slates of 13 candidates.[1]