The Turks and Caicos Islands are 500 miles south-east of Miami

Premier Michael Misick, who made the annnouncement, said he was confident his ruling Progressive National Party would be elected to a second term.

Mr Misick is campaigning on his record and has the slogan 'A promise Made, A Promise Kept'.

"My government stands proudly on our record of achievement," he told reporters.

The governing Progressive National Party held eight of the 13 seats in the outgoing legislature.

The People's Democratic Movement controlled the other five.

Two seats have been added since the last election to bring the number to 15.

Rising Crime

Mr Misick's party secured victory in the 2003 vote only after winning two by-elections called three months after the Supreme Court cancelled earlier results in the general election.

The two seats had previously been declared for the PDM which gave the party a slender one-seat majority.

Among the main issues in this year's campaign will be rising crime.

Just before calling the election, Mr Misick announced that he intended to bring in a company owned by the former New York Mayor, Rudolph Guiliani, to advise the government on crime and security.

The opposition People's Democratic Movement has criticised the government of not doing enough to tackle crime and corruption.