Saunders is also the longest-serving Member of the House of Assembly in the Turks and Caicos Islands,[1] nearing 50 years of service, the first Chief Minister to win consecutive elections in 1980[2] and 1984,[3] the only politician in the nation to win as an independent candidate, and the first leader of the opposition.
In 1976, after a 5–4–2 result in the election, and the two independent candidates siding with the People's Democratic Movement, Saunders became the first Leader of the Opposition in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
At this point, Saunders led the party to both the largest mandate, and the first consecutive victory in the nation, which has only happened two other times in history.
In 2007, Saunders was a part of, at the time, the largest mandate in the Turks and Caicos Islands' House of Assembly history, when the Progressive National Party won 13-2 seats.
In recognition of Saunders' 49 years of service, it was announced that the newly renovated South Caicos Airport will be named after him.