In 1984 Clement Howell resigned his post as Headteacher and joined the political arena where he announced his candidacy to become the representative for Providenciales in the Legislative Council of the Turks and Caicos Islands. After the elections of 1984 he took the oath of office as the Member of the Legislative Council for Providenciales and Leader of the Official Opposition. He held both posts until the constitution was suspended in 1986. With the new arrangements for governing the territory in the absence of ministerial government, Clement Howell was among those selected to serve on an Advisory Council to the Governor. Under pressure from members of his party, Mr. Howell later resigned as a member of the advisory council and by mid 1987 he was superseded as leader of the PDM by another of the party's loyals.