Contact Us

secretary@tcibc.org
(649)-946-4650

Office

TCI Bar Council, P.O Box 260, Regent House West,
Regent Village, Grace Bay, Providenciales, Turks
and Caicos Islands, BWI

Kenisha L. Bacchus

Kenisha L Bacchus is a Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Gold Awardee and Leadership Awardee. She is UK Chevening Scholarship Alumni (2014/2015) with extensive legal, anti-money laundering, and financial regulatory experience spanning over twenty years. She is a lawyer and has been admitted to practice law in the Turks & Caicos Islands Bar and St. Vincent & Grenadines. Mrs. Bacchus is currently the Deputy Managing Director of the TCI Financial Services Commission. She joined the TCI Government in 2001 as Crown Counsel within the Attorney General’s Chambers and the Commission in 2004 heading AML/CFT Compliance. Kenisha regularly speaks and provides training at various local and international supervisory and industry forums. She has also served as an expert assessor for the OECD Global Forum on the Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes and the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF).

Kenisha holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a Master of Laws (LL.M.) specialising in International Corporate Governance and Financial Regulation. She also holds a Bachelor of Laws Degree (LLB Hons) and a Legal Education Certificate. She is a Fellow of the International Compliance Association (FICA).

Shantae Francis

I am currently the Treasurer of the TCI Bar Association. I am a graduate of the University of Leeds where I obtained a Bachelors of Laws LLB (Hons.) I have also attended BPP University where I received a Postgraduate Diploma in the Bar Professional Training Course. I am also an accredited Civil - Commercial Mediator which I obtained from ADR-ODR International. I am also currently completing a Master’s Degree in Law with Business.

I am member of Lincoln’s Inn and was called to the bar in England and Wales in 2017 and in Turks and Caicos Islands in 2019.

SELVYN HAWKINS

Selvyn Hawkins is a proud Turks and Caicos Islander. He possesses a Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science (International/Comparative Government) from Savannah State University; an LLB (Hons) from the University of Buckingham; a Diploma in Professional Legal Practice from the City Law School (London); a Masters in International Law (MIL) from the University of Sydney, Australia (focus on Int. Human Rights/ Int. Negotiation and Conflict Resolution / Law, Justice and Development); and a Master of Arts in Biblical Studies from Alphacrucis College via Hillsong College (Australia). He is currently converting his Master of Arts degree to a Master of Divinity (MDiv) with Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California, with specific focus on church planting and growth, missiology, black and contemporary theology. He is also a certified Court Assisted Mediator, trained as such by the University of West Indies.

Selvyn is called to the Bar of England and Wales as a Barrister by the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple and is admitted to the Bar of the Turks and Caicos Islands as an attorney-at Law. He currently serves as President of the Turks and Caicos Islands Bar Council, Deputy Chairman for the Board of Governors for the Turks and Caicos Islands Community College, and Chairman for the Turks and Caicos Islands Airports Authority.

Tremmaine Harvey

Tremmaine has been practicing as an attorney since 2007 in the areas of corporate and commercial law, real estate law, tourism and resort development, and banking and finance. She advises clients on all aspects of corporate and commercial law, business structure and investments, draft contracts and various legal documents. She acts for clients in high value land transactions and have been involved in tourism development projects from the idea phase to construction to completion, obtaining requisite operational licenses to completion, sales and ongoing daily management legal advice. She has been engaged as counsel to various commercial banks throughout her practice in drafting securitization documents, leading foreclosure and recovery proceedings and providing legal advice. She believes in providing clients with superior service and have earned a reputation for efficiency which manifests in repeat and new clients. Tremmaine has served in various leadership capacities including Chair of the 2012 Electoral Boundaries Commission, Deputy Chairman of the Invest TC Agency (2015-2018), Commissioner of the Turks and Caicos Islands Integrity Commission (2019-present), current Chair of the Turks and Caicos Islands Medical and Dentistry Professions Council and current member of the Turks and Caicos Bar Council.

KERCHELLE E. BAIN

Kerchelle E. Bain is a practising Attorney and Certified Mediator in the Turks and Caicos Islands. She has experience in a variety of practice areas but currently focuses on Family, Property and Dispute Resolution matters. She was appointed Secretary to the Bar Council in 2018 where she served until her election to member in April 2021.

DESIREE DOWNES

Desiree Downes hails from Guyana. She is an Attorney-at-Law called to the Guyana Bar on 22 October 1999.

Ms. Downes holds a Degree in Public Management and av Bachelor of Laws Degree, both obtained from the University of Guyana, Guyana; a Legal Education Certificate obtained from the Hugh Wooding Law School, Trinidad and Tobago; and a Master of Laws (LL.M) in Drafting Legislation, Regulation and Policy from the University of London, School of Advanced Study (Institute of Advanced Legal Studies), United Kingdom.

Desiree is the Principal Legislative Drafter in the Attorney General’s Chambers, Turks and Caicos Islands, where she bears responsibility for the work of the Legislative Drafting Division. She began her legal career in the Attorney General’s Chambers, Guyana as State Counsel in 1999. She also served as Senior Legislative Drafter for a brief period in the Attorney General’s Chambers, Bahamas. In 2013 Desiree received an honorary MBE (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) award from Her Majesty the Queen for her services to legislative drafting in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

She is a Caribbean Financial Action Task Force trained anti-money laundering and prevention of the financing of terrorism assessor.

Ms. Downes serves as the Attorney General’s representative on the Bar Council.

JERWINA TAYLOR

Jerwina Taylor is a graduate of Oxford Brookes University,where she obtained her law degree (LLB Hons) in 2012. She was admitted to the Turks and Caicos Bar as an Attorney in 2014. Jerwina is an Associate at Karam & Missick Attorneys, where her principal areas of practice include debt recovery, personal injury, employment, family and probate. She is an elected member of the TCI Bar Council for the term 2018/ 19. Jerwina also serves as Chair of the TCI Junior Bar Committee.

OREIKA SELVER, LL. B (HONS.)

Oreika Selver, LL. B (Hons.), qualified Barrister & Attorney-at-Law, Member of Middle Temple Inns of Court (2007); Admitted to the Bar of England & Wales (2008) and the Turks & Caicos Bar (2009).From 2011 – 2016 she was engaged as a criminal trial attorney, appearing before the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal with the Director of Public Prosecutions; Ms. Selver has had regular speaking engagements at local high schools and she has lectured at the TCI Community College in Hospitality and Intellectual Property Law. Ms. Selver is currently In-house Counsel/Legal & Compliance Officer at the Invest Turks and Caicos Agency – an investment promotion agency, that is responsible for inward and local investment to the Islands.

In 2017/2018 Ms. Selver served as Acting Deputy Magistrate in the Turks and Caicos Islands and has been a member of the TCI Bar Council from 2012 – 2018. Ms. Selver was elected as President of the TCI Bar Council on 17th March 2018.

The Courts, Tribunals and Judiciary of the

Turks and Caicos Islands

The Turks and Caicos Islands are a constitutional democracy under the British Crown. The judges and magistrates appointed to preside or sit in any court of the Turks and Caicos Islands in the exercise of their judicial functions are independent from the legislative and executive branches of government which is a constitutional requirement. The legislature and the Cabinet are constitutionally required to uphold the rule of law and judicial independence and are required to ensure that adequate funds are provided to support the judicial administration in the Islands.

The Judicial Service Commission for the Turks and Caicos Islands is created by Section 86 of the Constitution. It advises H.E. the Governor with respect to judicial appointments, disciplinary control over persons holding the offices of Chief Justice, President of the Court of Appeal, registrar and deputy registrar, and removal from office persons holding or acting in the offices of registrar and deputy registrar (Section 87). The Chairman of the Judicial Service Commission is appointed by H.E. the Governor acting in his/her discretion; two other members are appointed by H. E. the Governor acting after consultation with the Premier and Leader of the Opposition from among persons who hold or have held high judicial office.

The Current members of the Judicial Service Commission for the Turks and Caicos Islands are:

  • Chairman of the Judicial Service Commission: Hon. Justice Hillary Phillips KC
  • Member: Justice Zaila McCalla
  • Member: Dame Janice Pereira

Court of Appeal for the Turks and Caicos Islands

The Court of Appeal for the Turks and Caicos Islands is established by Section 80(1) of the Constitution of the Turks and Caicos Islands with a President and Justices of Appeal appointed by H. E. the Governor acting after consultation with the President of the Court.

The Current members of the Court of Appeal for the Turks and Caicos Islands are:

  • President: Justice C. Dennis Morrison KC
  • Member: Justice Bernard Turner
  • Member: Justice Humphrey Stollmeyer
  • Member: Justice Jacqueline Cornelius Thorne
  • Member: Justice Ian Winder
  • Member: Justice K. Neville Adderley
  • Member: Justice Stanley John

The Supreme Court of the Turks and Caicos Islands

The Supreme Court of the Turks and Caicos Islands is a Superior Court of Record, being constituted by Section 77 of the Constitution of the Turks and Caicos Islands and the Supreme Court Ordinance CAP 2.02. The Supreme Court is a creature of statute but exercises any jurisdiction conferred upon it by the Supreme Court Ordinance CAP 2.02, any other law and the jurisdiction vested in the High Court of Justice in England (Section 3). Most criminal trials on indictment and some civil trials are heard by a Justice of the Supreme Court sitting with a jury pursuant to the Jury Ordinance CAP 2.09. Any Turks and Caicos Islander qualified to be registered as an elector aged between 21 years and 65 years and not otherwise disqualified or exempted, is qualified and liable to serve on a jury. Juries ordinarily consist of six members but all cases of treason, murder and piracy require juries of twelve persons (s.22 Jury Ordinance CAP 2.09). In civil cases, the Turks and Caicos Civil Rules 2000 are the applicable rules of Court which are based on the former Rules of the Supreme Court of England prior to the Civil Procedure Rules of England and Wales.

The current Justices of the Supreme Court of the Turks and Caicos Islands, appointed by H.E. the Governor are:

  • Chief Justice of the Supreme Court: Chief Justice Mrs. Mabel Agyemang
  • Justice of the Supreme Court: Justice Tanya Lobban-Jackson
  • The Registrar of the Supreme Court: Narendra Lalbeharry
  • Deputy Registrar of the Supreme Court: Ms. Carnetta Skippings
  • Court Administrator: Mrs. Barbara Jervis

Both the Magistrate’s Court and the Supreme Court have jurisdiction in relation to children and family matters under various recent legislation including the Matrimonial Causes Ordinance CAP 11.04, the Children (Care and Protection) Ordinance 2015, the Family Law (Guardianship, Custody and Access to Children) Ordinance 2015 and other Ordinances

Magistrate’s Court

The Magistrate’s Court for the Turks and Caicos Islands is a statutory body established by Section 3 of the Magistrate’s Court Ordinance CAP 2.03 with summary jurisdiction for both criminal and civil cases. The current magistrates (appointed by H.E.the Governor) are:

  • Chief Magistrate: Hon. Jolyon Hatmin
  • Resident Magistrate: Hon. Mrs. Oreika Selver- Gardiner
  • Resident Magistrate: Hon. Ms. Keri-Ann Kemble
  • Resident Magistrate Grand Turk: Hon. Patricia Arana
  • Clerk of Court (Providenciales): Ms. Waynette Henfield
  • Clerk of Court (Grand Turk): Ms. Kandra Williams

Labour Tribunal

The Labour Tribunal is a statutory body established by Section 93 of the Employment Ordinance CAP 17.08 (as amended by the Employment (Amendment) Ordinance 2018). The Labour Tribunal has jurisdiction to hear and determine any labour dispute or complaint or other matter referred to it under the Employment Ordinance or any other Ordinance. The composition of the Labour Tribunal is prescribed by Section 94 of the Employment Ordinance CAP 17.08.

  • President: Mary Doreen Quelch Missick
  • Vice President: Wendal Swann
Representative of employers
  • Member: Arnelle Taylor
  • Member: Samuel Williams
  • Member: Kenya Forbes-Jagger
  • Member: Yolander Forbes
  • Attorney Representative: Amelle Taylor
  • Member: Mary Cunningham
Representative of employees
  • Member: Dorn Fulford
  • Member: Mr. Carlis Williams
  • Member: Edward Hall
  • Member: Kerchelle Bain
  • Member: Wandy Delancy
  • Member: Vernon Alco Williams
  • Member: Veronica Rigby

Coroners Ordinance

The Coroners Ordinance CAP 2.05 provides for a Coroner for the Turks and Caicos Islands. The present Coroner of the Islands is Hon. McKia Mills. The Coroner may appoint from time to time a deputy Coroner.

Visit the Turks and Caicos Judiciary