THE Chief Minister of the Turks & Caicos Islands will be the guest speaker at the Progressive Labour Party's annual conference banquet next month.

Michael Misick, who took over as the government leader of the Caribbean territory two months ago will speak to the PLP faithful at a dinner to end of the party's Annual Delegates Conference week at the Fairmont Hamilton Princess Hotel on November 1.

The PLP's acting public relations officer, Senator Walter Roban, said yesterday: "The party welcomes Chief Minister Misick and sees great significance in his visit with the close connections that the Turks & Caicos Islands have with Bermuda as an overseas territory and through a history that dates back more than three centuries."

Mr. Misick was born in Bottle Creek, North Caicos and is a graduate of the Turks & Caicos High, the Miami Lakes Technical Institute, and the University of Buckingham, where he obtained a degree in law.

He was first elected to the Legislative Council in 1991 and became Minister of Tourism, Transportation and Communications. He was re-elected in 1995 and was subsequently re-elected Leader Designate of the Progressive National Party in March 2002.

He was sworn in as Chief Minister on August 16 this year.

The Annual Delegates Conference will open on Monday, October 27 at the Devonshire Recreation Club, with the first night being open to the public and featuring an opening address by Premier Alex Scott.

Two days later a round-table discussion, open to the public, will be staged, although final details have yet to be released.

The November 1 banquet will start at 7 p.m. and for more information, ring PLP headquarters on 292-2264.