PNP supporters celebrate in Grand Turk

The Progressive National Party under Michael Misick won 13 seats in Friday's elections against two for the People's Democratic Movement, which is led by Floyd Seymour.

The election was the first held under a new constitution in the British colony passed last August that added two electoral districts, according to the Government Information Service.

The Turks and Caicos, whose capital is Grand Turk, has a population of about 32,000 and an economy based on tourism - the islands boast one of the world's longest coral reef systems - as well as offshore finance and fishing.

The islands became famous in February 1962 when US astronaut John Glenn splashed down in waters off Grand Turk after he became the first US citizen to orbit the earth.

Situated about 575 miles (1,000 km) southeast of Miami and north of Haiti, Turks and Caicos is made up of around 40 islands, eight of which are inhabited.

The islands were declared a crown colony and dependency of Jamaica in 1874. In 1962, they became a British crown colony.

Seven years later, the powers held by the governor of the Bahamas were transferred to the governor of Turks and Caicos and in 1976 ministerial government and elections were introduced.

The islands have a governor appointed by Britain's Queen Elizabeth, an executive council and a legislative council.