The Turks and Caicos Islands Tourist Board has neither a tourism minister nor a tourism director, now that Lindsay Musgrove has resigned his post as tourism director.

"There is a restructuring going on at the tourist board, and I was asked to reapply for the job that I have held for six years and to assist in sending other staff members home. I refused and so I resigned," Musgrove said.

Ralph Higgs, former deputy director of the board, now is acting tourism director.

Musgrove, who lives on Grand Turk, said he hopes to become active in the Grand Turk Cruise Center and the cruise industry.

The tourism minister’s position has been vacant since March when Michael Misick, the embattled premier who also oversaw the tourist board, resigned following official inquiries into alleged corruption, mismanagement and abuse of authority.

The Turks and Caicos was placed under the direct rule of Britain on Aug. 14 until general elections are held in July 2011.