The islands were part of the UK's Jamaican colony until 1962, when they assumed the status of a separate crown colony upon Jamaica's independence. The governor of The Bahamas oversaw affairs from 1965 to 1973. With Bahamian independence, the islands received a separate governor in 1973. Although independence was agreed upon for 1982, the policy was reversed and the islands remain a British overseas territory.
(Source: The World Factbook 2009. Washington, DC: Central
Intelligence Agency, 2009)
For more information
about Turks and Caicos Islands:
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/index.html
