PROVIDENCIALES (CMC):

Premier Michael Misick on Wednesday night fired his Minister of Health and Human Services Lillian Boyce, who was among nine ruling party MPs who last month said they no longer had confidence in his leadership and called for his resignation.

In a one paragraph notice, aired on state television station on Wednesday night, the premier said that after "careful thought and consideration", he had instructed Governor Gordon Wetherall to revoke Boyce's appointment in keeping with Section 30 (2) b of the Constitution of the British Overseas Territory.

Internal leadership struggle

Misick's action comes at the height of a recent bitter internal leadership struggle that has threatened to split the ruling Progressive National Party government at its core.

It also follows a pre-Cabinet meeting held at the premier's office on Wednesday morning at which Boyce reportedly accused Misick of misleading the public in his address to the country late Tuesday night.